| Eric Meyer's VDE is a small, fast text editor and word processor that is surprisingly powerful and customizable, with powerful macro capabilities. It runs under DOS (3+ for current version, 2+ for older versions) and DOS shells (including DesqVIEW, which it recognizes), OS/2, dosemu (the PC emulator for Linux), and Windows 3.x/9x/Me/NT/2K/XP. It can read and edit files in a variety of formats: ASCII, ANSI, Unix, WordStar, WordPerfect, Word and others. VDE runs even on older PCs, including XTs, and supports the HP LX series palmtops. It can access the Windows 3.x/9x clipboard directly, and the Windows NT/2K/XP clipboard with external utilities. |
| Since the release in 2002 of version 1.93D, VDE is no longer a shareware program, but is freeware. While it remains copyrighted by its author, users no longer need pay any registration / licensing fees. The spelling checker, and direct support provided by the author in return for payment of fees, also pass from the scene. But note that other support is available through the VDE email discussion list – See Links / More Sources, below, for signup details. |
| If you want some more detailed info before you download, about the program, versions, and the author, see About VDE. You can Read it now in HTML from US — UK — India — Australia — Argentina. Or, download it (plain text, zipped, 19K) from US — UK — India — Australia — Argentina. |
| Screenshot 1 — Screenshot 2 — Screenshot 3 |
| Download VDE: |
| VDE 1.95, with new Unix file mode, expanded autoformat and more. Get it from any of these locations: US — UK — India — Australia — Argentina. For more locations, see the Alternate Downloads page. 163K download. |
| VDE 1.73A. Still popular, this version is small and efficient, and runs well on low power machines, including HP palmtops. 139K download. |
| VDE 1.65C runs fast even on 8088 or 8086 machines, including HP palmtops. This is the last version that uses ANSI.SYS to support screen output on "generic" PCs: Later releases use direct video output, supporting only IBM compatibles and a few near–compatibles. 150K download. |
| VDE 1.73 in Finnish, Complete translation of the main program, tools and docs. Also includes sample macros, spellchecker, and a nice little freestanding file manager that can be used anywhere (and not hard to figure out, even if you don't know Finnish). 295K download. |
| SUE, the Small Unix Editor from Point to Point Communications, Inc., is the successor to UDE (Unix Display Editor), and is partly based on VDE. Like VDE, it is small, efficient and fast. In addition to Unix file format, it handles DOS and Mac formats, and can translate between formats. It also operates in WordPerfect command mode. Runs under Linux. 136K download. |
| VMC (VDE Macro Compiler), by Evan Slawson, converts VDE's F–key definition files to editable text files and vice versa. Use it as an aid in analyzing macros or writing new ones. Also, older macros which are not compatible with current VDE can be converted to compatible form, with some rewriting and then recompiling with appropriate versions of this utility (see documentation for details). To download, click the version for your working VDE and macros.
The current VMC 1.8 is available from our US site (link above), and also from any of these locations: UK — India — Australia — Argentina. For more locations, see the Alternate Downloads page. It is available at even more download sites, but in packages that do not include the latest patch (see next item). |
| VMC 1.8 Patch (get this only if you already have an old VMC 1.8 package without it. If you don't have VMC 1.8 at all, then get the complete new package, above). What the patch is for: VDE 1.94+, and its installation utility, allow function key definition (.VDF) files to be up to 4K in size, but the original VMC 1.8 allows only 2K. A documented DEBUG script patches the VMC executable, raising the .VDF size limit. You can read the patching guide now in HTML, or download it (plain text, zipped, 723B). |
| VPC (VDE Printer Driver Definition [PDD] Compiler), by Manfred Jainz, is to VDE's PDD files what the VDE Macro Compiler is to macros: It converts PDD files to easily editable text for analysis, customizing, and recompilation. Version 1.86, for VDE 1.86–1.9x. 25K download. |
| VDE2RTF 1.31, by Pavel Zampach, converts a text file with VDE printer codes (bold, italic, etc.) to a Rich Text Format file. It also does code page translations, based on a user–configurable table of correspondences. Package includes executable, other working files, Turbo Pascal source code & docs. 10K download. |
| RTF2VDE 1.01, by Pavel Zampach, converts a Rich Text Format file to a text file with VDE printer codes (bold, italic, etc.). It also does code page translations, based on a user–configurable table of correspondences. Package includes executable, other working files, Turbo Pascal source code & docs. 14K download. |
| VDE Diary, by Pavel Zampach, creates a yearly diary and feeds it to VDE for filling in. For daily use, the package also includes a small utility that opens the diary in VDE to the current date's line. 4K download. |
| VXT&VDF, by Keith Phillips, is a macro analyzer and editor for VDE 1.8x–1.9x. Its real power lies in its ability to work with VDE's installation utility to build macros that verge into large, complex utilities. 74K download. |
| VDE–EXM, by Mark Scardina, works on any HP–LX palmtop computer, to load VDE from a hotkey while other programs are running. 2K download. |
| The Macro Viewer Page links to browser–viewable HTML versions of the latest macros. You can look them over right now, and see what they do, before you download the working files. |
For VDE 1.8x–1.9x:
Unless otherwise noted, these consist of VTF source files that require compiling with VMC 1.8. If a macro is supplied in the ready–to–run VDF format only, it can be decompiled into VTF format, also with VMC 1.8. With or without the decompilation stage, VTF files can be modified before they are compiled (e.g., you might want to change key assignments, or gather a bunch of loose macros into just a few large sets). |
| vfxFind, by John Woodruff, is a miniature search engine that uses an index list to find topics in VDE 1.95's VDE.DOC. It can also be adapted to work on any other text file that the user selects and sets up. A text file (zipped), contains the macro, its documentation, and the index for VDE.DOC. 8K download. |
| The VDE Workspace, by John Woodruff. "Some programs offer a limited menu of the files most recently opened. Some have a permanent 'favorites' list. This workspace macro system enhances those features for VDE". Six macros provide: An editable menu of files; Point and shoot retrieval, with optional use of wildcards and target search strings or page/line numbers; Windows Long File Name support; and more. Also included: Forty-two other macros that perform a wide range tasks – vfxFind, CLIPMAC, box drawing, math expression evaluation, and much more. 24K download. |
| CLIPMAC, by John Woodruff, provides VDE with Clipboard access under Windows NT/2000/XP. Package contains documentation with the macro's source, and a compiled VDK file. 4K download. |
| MARGINS, by John Woodruff, changes ruler settings on–the–fly. 1.3K download. |
| VDK, by John Woodruff, is a macro and batch files for compiling and decompiling *.VDK keyboard macros. 1.6K download. |
| WPM by Donald Campbell, is an expansive set of F–key macros, providing the most complete WordPerfect emulation yet for VDE. A Help utility, updated from the old WP–LITE, is also included. 8.6K download. |
| RULERLN2, by Evan Slawson, is a pair of macros in ready–to–run VDF form: Ruler From Line allows you to store the tab and margin settings for a given file as a line of text in that file. Line From Ruler allows you to grab your current ruler and express it in text form for easy modification. 4.7K download. |
| DIGS and ENV, by digs, is a collection of macros that use VDE commands and/or external utilities to date stamp a file, justify a file or segment, and perform a variety of block actions: Encrypt/decrypt, write or strip HTML tags, change case of HTML tags, extract Internet URLs, sort lines, compress, and print envelopes. 2K download. |
| Macros for LaTeX, by Ronald Michaels, assign LaTeX codes to VDE's F–Keys. 2.4K download. |
| Macro Menu is a set of F–key macros that each call another macro or set of macros. Some of the macro sets listed here are already on the menu. Ready–to–run *.VDF file included, along with the VTF file. 1.8K download. |
| Navigation Tricks is an assortment of combinations of scrolling and switching, for full screen comparison of multiple open files. Ready–to–run VDF file is included, along with the VTF file. 2K download. |
| Big Characters, by Ed Keefe, writes large alphanumeric characters and fancy borders, using ASCII graphics characters. Ready–to–run *.VDF files included, along with the *.VTF files. Updated for VDE 1.92+ from an earlier version. 10K download. |
| Temporarily unavailable. New version coming. Watch this space! HTML Tools. Automated HTML writing programs produce bloated code. Doing tight coding by hand is time consuming. What to do? Try HTML Tools, eight sets of F–key macros that write and manipulate HTML tags and character codes, in any VDE–editable document: Lists, tables and links can be easily assembled and tagged; Font properties can be inserted with a single keystroke for each one; Tags and text can be commented out and then uncommented, etc., etc. There are also macros that strip tags, reducing an HTML document to plain text for quick review of content. Package includes ready–to–run *.VDF files, along with *.VTF files. |
For VDE 1.7x:
Unless otherwise noted, these are ready–to–run *.VDF files. To convert for use in current VDE, you will need to decompile with VMC 1.73, make some revisions, and then recompile with VMC 1.8. |
| RULERLN, by Evan Slawson, lets you save, modify and restore tab and margin settings (Don't try to adapt this one for current VDE — use RULERLN2, above). 4.4K download. |
| ABRV, by Mark Saliers, consists of macros and a customizable table of abbreviations and expanded text. When it's running, you just type abbreviations to get full text. 5.7K download. |
| Merge Text automates merging of multiple text blocks between two document windows. 1.5K download. |
| Note Taker, by Mark Saliers, lets you collect, organize, and quickly access notes taken in VDE. 5.0K download. |
For VDE 1.53–1.65C:
To convert for use in later VDE, you will need to decompile with VMC 1.2, then make some revisions and recompile with VMC 1.73 — VMC 1.8. |
| Big Characters, by Ed Keefe, writes large alphanumeric characters and fancy borders, using ASCII graphics characters. Ready–to–run VDF and VDK files. This is the original package — see VDE 1.8x–1.9 section, above, for the update for current VDE. 7.1K download. |
| **** 1 Apr 2008**** VBX 3.07, by Manfred Jainz, draws lines and boxes using any ASCII characters, and can move, resize, and fill objects it creates or imports. It can open multiple files, has basic text editing capability, and does binary and hex editing. Cut / copy / paste operate across all open files. VBX runs under DOS, DOS shells, and Win3.x/9x/Me/NT/2K/XP. Two variants in package: VBX.EXE uses conventional DOS memory only. VBXV.EXE can use up to 32MB of virtual storage (DOS memory, EMS, XMS, Disk). The number of simultaneously loaded files, or the maximum size of a single open file, is limited only by the amount of available virtual storage when using VBXV.EXE, or to a maximum of 32,767 when using VBX.EXE. While VBX does not require the presence of any other text editor, it is designed to be highly compatible with VDE, which it can call up for major text editing work on a whole file or a marked block, and to access the Win3.x/9x clipboard. Development is ongoing, and the author welcomes comments.
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| MFD 1.21. The Meyer File/Directory Utilities, by Eric Meyer, are six small, powerful, DOS command–line programs that locate, select, display, compare, change, copy, move, rename, delete, and backup files and/or directories. The programs have options and features that are not found in the standard DOS commands. While any of them may be used separately from the others, they have similar interfaces, and a single configuration utility can set user defaults for all of them. Runs under any DOS 3.3+ or Windows. Supports Win32 Long File Names. For more info, read the complete documentation in HTML, at any of these locations: US — UK — India — Australia — Argentina. Download the complete program package (50K) from any of: US — UK — India — Australia — Argentina. For more locations, see the Alternate Downloads page. |
| ZIP 2.22, by Eric Meyer, is a DOS program that transfers files between two computers via direct cable connection. It can be run in an interactive menu mode or from the command–line, to compare directories, back up files or entire directory trees, and more. Default values of parameters can be set with the ZIPSET configuration utility. Another included utility, ZIPDUP, copies ZIP.COM from one computer to another. While ZIP remains a 16–bit program, it preserves Long File Names under Win9x. Requirements: Two PC–compatible machines, from palmtop to laptop to desktop; DOS 3.x or later, or Win3.x/9x, or OS/2; Serial (null modem) or parallel cable. Screenshot. Download (44K) from any of these locations: US — UK — India — Australia — Argentina. For more locations, see the Alternate Downloads page. |
| wsNOTE, by Eric Meyer, is an automatic postprocessor for text files that will be printed from WordStar, or VDE in WordStar mode. It produces numbered footnotes or endnotes, and has some additional formatting features as well. wsNOTE works on files created with WordStar 3.3/4.0, or compatible programs, including of course VDE. Runs on any DOS, and requires only 128K RAM. Try it on that old XT in your closet. Download (29K) from any of: US — UK — India — Australia — Argentina. |
| EuQueuer, by Pete Maclean, is a Win32 command line utility that imports a plain text file (created in VDE or any other editor) into the Eudora emailer as an outgoing message, ready to send. Get more info at the EuQueuer page. 69K download. |
| RGB, by digs, is a chart of color swatches with their HTML codes. Two variants are included in the download package: A DOS EXE that displays the chart (and works fine when called from VDE by a macro), and a PCX file that can be viewed through a separate graphics utility. 35K download. |
| HEXTAB, by digs, is a DOS .COM file that displays, on one 80X25 screen, a character translation table, 7–bit ASCII <–> Hex. Works nicely when called from VDE by a macro. 5.4K download. |
| These utils may be used with VDE, but do not require it. |
| EKB 1.1 (EuroKeyBoard), by Eric Meyer, gives instant access to the upper half (128–255 or 80–FFh) of the standard PC character set (code page 437), including letters that do not appear on the US keyboard, and some other useful symbols as well. Download (5K) from any of: US — UK — India — Australia — Argentina. |
| EKB 1.02 might be needed on some old machines: "EKB [v1.1] now intercepts the keyboard interrupt by the recommended method (int 15h) for PC/AT keyboards. This probably won't work on an old PC or XT, where you should use the older version 1.02 instead (which hooks int 9 and accesses the BIOS key buffer)." Download (4K) from any of: US — UK — India — Australia — Argentina. |
| CTRLCAPS 1.3, by Eric Meyer, gives the Caps Lock key a dual function. When pressed together with Shift, it actually toggles Caps Lock. Otherwise, it acts as an extra Ctrl key, making Ctrl–letter combinations easier to type than they are with the standard AT keyboard configuration. Notes for VDE users: Earlier versions of CTRLCAPS are included in VDE packages up to v1.90. It is built into VDE 1.91 and later, available as an option in VDE's setup utility. Download (3K) from any of: US — UK — India — Australia — Argentina. |
| FIXCAPS 1.2, by Eric Meyer. On the IBM PC keyboard, when Caps Lock is on, the Shift key temporarily cancels it, turning uppercase letters back into lowercase. FIXCAPS provides two alternatives, so you may never again inadvertently type tEXT tHAT lOOKS lIKE tHIS. There are two options: 1) Use of Shift with a letter cancels Caps Lock (as on a typewriter); 2) The Shift key has no effect on typing letters while Caps Lock is on. Download (3K) from any of: US — UK — India — Australia — Argentina. |
| Shift Toggle, by Vik Olliver, is a pair of TSRs that turn the shift keys into Caps Lock toggles, like a typewriter's. When LSHIFTGL is loaded, a press of the Left–Shift key keeps upper case characters on, as if Caps Lock had been pressed. Pressing Left–Shift a second time restores the original state. RSHIFTGL works the same way, but on Right–Shift only. (Yes, it's possible to load and use both programs simultaneously, but don't – trust us, don't). 2K download. |
| AsciiBox, by Paweł Bogusławski, displays a table of the 256 ASCII characters, and writes at the cursor any character the user selects. There is also a one-key write-repeat function. Works at the command line and in programs. Readme files in Polish and English. 5K download. |
