Depends heavily on the editor software. One editor I remember trying (I don't remember which one now) used Ctrl-left-click to start and end a block copy. Quite easy to use, one hand for the mouse and one for the Ctrl key, then Ctrl-C or -X then Ctrl-V to copy/cut and paste.
Sometimes combinations of mouse and keyboard are more usable than either one alone. OTOH, my day-to-day PC editor under Windows (EditPlus) uses Alt-C to start a block copy, then Ctrl-C or Ctrl-X to copy or cut and Ctrl-V to paste the block. I hardly have to think about it -- it Just Works. I've been tempted once or twice to pay for UltraEdit, but have not done so yet. It looks pretty good, and UltraEdit is available for Windows, Mac and Linux, but it isn't cheap (though also not extraordinarily expensive for what you get). There is also a free version of the MS Visual Code editor which I also haven't tried yet. On Linux I often use the Midnight Commander view/edit programs (mcview/mcedit) for quick browses and edits, but not for serious coding. "vi" and it's descendants are not intuitive to me, nor is emacs. Nano is OK, but again not my cup of tea for serious writing (code or text). Midnight Commander is awesome for file tree navigation from a console session in both Windows and Linux. Highly recommended. I just wish I could figure out how to tell it to STAY in the directory that I navigated to when I exit, rather than going back to the directory where I started. Peter -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Seymour J Metz Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2021 11:29 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: ISPF for mainframe Linux You have to carve the bird at the joints. How about a comparison of block copy using keyboard versus mouse? -- ________________________________________ From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> on behalf of Pew, Curtis G <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2021 11:23 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: ISPF for mainframe Linux On Jan 28, 2021, at 10:04 AM, Joel C. Ewing <[email protected]> wrote: > > I would be willing to bet the the stopwatch studies cited were based > on a highly restricted cases. The context was comparing command-key sequences to clicking buttons or selecting menu items. Remembering the command-key sequence takes as long as moving the mouse, but the brain doesn't perceive the time passing while remembering, while it does perceive the time passing while manipulating the mouse. -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN This message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail and delete the message and any attachments from your system. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
