Re: Insert/Overwrite mode

> On Sun, Jan 01, 2012 at 01:56:07PM -0800, Richard L. Dery wrote:
>
>I'm preparing an introductory class on word processing and have a couple
>of questions.
>
>All of the materials I've been using to prepare for the class mention
>that overwrite mode is rarely used, and is typically entered by
>accidentaly pressing the Insert key.
>
>Here are the questions:
>
>What good is overwrite mode?
>
>Why is it included in word processing software?

As a avid VI/VIM user and from past experience in the 80's, overwrite mode
prevents having to hold the delete key down to delete an entire line or more.

VIM uses a replace mode to perform similar, but in my experience it saves
pushing several keys to delete and create anew.

Nowadays, since Windows, one can use the mouse to select and cut/delete text --
and now replace mode is rarely used. But all VIM'ers and typers will testify
using replace mode is much quicker and prevents the hands from leaving the
keyboard and reaching for the mouse and then return once again to the keyboard
and finding proper key placement.

Aside from this, you're likely looking for the reason for creating replace
mode, but I think I may have already described this above. Another neat tidbit
is using line editors. Line editors were invented before today's text editors
and I'm pretty sure from my recent research replacement mode is a feature of
the line editors. (The ed/ex line editor, and the later grep/vi/vim/sed/awk.)

-- 
Roger
http://rogerx.freeshell.org/
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