Re: Stack Messages

[Robert Holmgren]

_Re_ drive "d:" and directory "cd \path" commands sending the cursor to the
CMline "like it or not", I think Harry is right on this point (whether executed
with BX...Q2 or not). Indeed, it's been true for a long time, and formerly
required XPL preparation to ensure that you knew where the cursor started out
before you executed these commands, in order to restore the cursor's proper
position afterward. (This is immensely easier now with $TX, but it used to be
ridiculous: enter Insert mode func SI, make a space character, get the ,
backdelete, get a second , if the two s differed you were in Text,
otherwise on the CMline.) The real persistent problem is that both "d:" and
"cd \path" commands wipe out the existing content of the CMline, which
therefore must be captured on entry and restored on exit -- a pain if you wish
to do this with accuracy ($CM doesn't cut it). I think that the reason XyWrite
blanks the header is (or was) that the old (III+ era) CM command (does it still
exist?) allowed you to display the current "D:" and "\PATH" in place of
"CM"
and "PRMPT" up on the left edge of the header (hence the "CMline"==CoMmand
line; Xy4 displays this info by default); and the character length of displayed
information changed each time you changed the default drive|directory -- so the
whole header was rubbed out and re-written. Something like that anyway...