TOPS-10 SOS Reference Manual

This document is the reference manual for the SOS text editor, a utility program for the TOPS-10 operating system. It provides comprehensive instructions for both beginners and experienced users on how to create, edit, and maintain files.

Key topics covered include:

• Getting Started: How to start the SOS program using SOS or R SOS commands, file naming conventions, and creating new files.
• Operational Modes: Detailed descriptions of Input mode (entering text), Alter mode (character-by-character editing), and Edit mode (line-by-line editing).
• Command Reference: Complete documentation for SOS commands such as COPY, DELETE, END, FIND, GO, HELP, INSERT, JOIN, JUSTIFICATION, KILL, LIST, MARK, NUMBER, PRINT, REPLACE, SUBSTITUTE, TRANSFER, INVERT, WORLD, and EXTEND.
• Options and Switches: Information on tailoring the SOS environment using options like BAK, BASIC, C128, EXPERT, INCREMENT, ISAVE, LOWER, MAXLN, NOBAK, SEQUENCE, and UNSEQUENCE, including the use of SWITCH.INI files.
• File Handling: Management of files, including the use of temporary buffer files (nnnSOS.TEM and nnnSOS.TMP), backup file creation (.Qxt and .Zxt), and procedures for recovering from system crashes.
• Special Features: Using special matching and replacement characters, and line contents specifications for advanced editing.
• Appendices: Summaries of commands and options, an SOS character table, standard file extensions, and a comprehensive list of error messages with explanations and solutions.