CED

The CED command executes the data collection editor.

Format

CED {DICT} file.name {id...}

where

file.name

is the name of the file containing the data to be edited.

id	is a list of ids for the record(s) to be edited. If omitted, the default select list is used. If this is not active, the user is prompted for the record ids.

The CED command allows creation, viewing or editing of a data collection in a collection file or a JSON string from a normal file. The same functionality for a data collection variable within a QMBasic application is available using the !CED() subroutine.

On entry to the collection editor, the top level item within the collection is displayed, showing the names, data types and values of each element of the item. If the item is an array, the element numbers are displayed as their names. A marker in the leftmost column identifies the currently selected element.

The following keys are available:

Cursor up/down

Select previous/next item

Page up/down

Move to previous/next page

F1 or ?

Display help screen

F3	Rename element

F4	Change element data type

F5 or Ctrl-C

Copy selected element

F6 or Ctrl-X

Cut selected element

F7 or Ctrl-V

Paste previously copied/cut element

Ctrl-Q

Quit from any level

Ctrl-S

Save changes, continuing edit

Del	Delete selected element

Ins or Ctrl-I

Insert a new element

Return

Dive into selected element

Esc	Return to parent element or exit from action on a data element

The F3 (rename) action prompts for the new name and applies it to the selected element.

The F4 (change element type) action prompts for a new data type. Only those that are valid translations of the selected item are offered.

F5, F6 and F7 or their control key equivalents operate in a similar manner to copy/cut/paste in Windows applications. When pasting, a prompt appears asking for the new name.

The Del key deletes the currently selected item without saving it for later pasting.

The Ins key prompts for an item name, data type and value. When inserting a collection or array, an empty item is inserted to which values can be added separately.

Using the Return key to dive into an element which is a further collection or an array displays the elements within that item. The current element path is displayed at the bottom of the screen.

Using the Return key to dive into a data element allows the element to be modified. Use of Return commits the change, use of Esc exits without changing the data.

When editing is complete, entry of Q at the top level item or use of Ctrl-Q at any level exits from the editor, offering to save changes if appropriate.