VIM 5.7 for BeOS

Introduction
 
Vim is an almost compatible version of the UNIX editor Vi. Many new features have been added: multi level undo, syntax highlighting, command line history, on-line help, filename completion, block operations, etc. There is also a Graphical User Interface (GUI) available.
 
Installation
 
The zip file contains a SoftwareValet package. Vim was configurated to use /boot/home/config directory. The following directories will be used: Don't forget to add /boot/home/config/bin to your PATH environment variable.
 
If you choose "Standard Install", SoftwareValet will install two sample files in /boot/home. You have to rename these files if you want vim to use them. Just remove " (sample)" from their names. Exact names should be: Upgrading info: if you're upgrading from Vim 5.5, 5.6a or 5.6 to 5.7, don't forget to delete vim55 or vim56 folder in /home/config/share/vim as it will not be used by Vim 5.7.
 
Download
 
The following file contains the latest VIM binary port for BeOS 4.5 and 5.0 (Intel platform only): Additionnal files: Links Mini-FAQ about the BeOS VIM port
 
* 1 Where to find more documentation about VIM?
 
In Vim! Vim is a self-documented application. The package contains a lot of help files available in a Vim session. You may use the "Help" menu or type the :help command.
 
If you neved used Vi(m) before, you should take a look at the Vim tutorial. Launch the vimtutor program (in /boot/home/config/ bin). You should also visit the Official Vim Site.
 
* 2 'Warning, Intel CPU detected... PPC has a much better architecture' What's the deal?!
 
Olaf Seibert, the BeOS port author surely do not like Intel PCs! He put some funny messages in the program. And here is what Olaf says about it in the Vim online documentation: (:help beos)
 
WARNING: Intel "architecture" detected! *beos-ppc* or, Waiter, there is a fly in my soup! This means that you have made a poor choice of hardware platform. You'll be pleased to know that the Intel (compatibe) CPU that's inside your computer is nothing more than a souped-up 8-bit machine. Or perhaps I should not say that: it's an insult to other 8-bit CPUs. However, apart from the occasional derisory remark, you have nothing to fear from Vim. If you don't like them, "Use The Source, Luke!", and remove them. However, the copyright that I claim on the files os_beos* and gui_beos* prevents you from making your changed version available to others. I don't think this is an unreasonable limitation.
 
* 3 How to launch multiple instances of VIM?
 
By default, Vim is configurated as a single instance application. It means that each time you want to open a document with Vim, it's opened in the running Vim instance, in a new Vim buffer.
 
To change this, locate the vim program (/boot/home/config/bin/vim) and open the "File Type" properties (Opt/Alt/F) Select "Multiple Launch" instead of "Single Launch".
 
* 4 How to change fonts and colors?
 
You'll find tips in the online documentation by typing the following command: :help beos
 
You should also take a look at the sample .gvimrc file that I put in the archive. When you want to use a font, the important thing is to escape the spaces found in the font name with an antislash as in the following example: set guifont=Lucida\ Console/Regular/11
 
* 5 When I type 'vim' in a terminal window, it launches VIM version 4.0 and displays an error message...
 
BeOS comes with an old vim release (4.5) without any GUI. If you want to use Vim 5.X instead of the old one, you may: Anyway, you still can use the old vim by using the vi command instead of the vim one.