\chapter{Glossary}

{\smalltype
\begin{description}

\item[Buffer] A {\it buffer} is a block of text that you may examine
and change.  Whenever you edit in Edwin, you change the contents of a buffer.
To preserve a buffer for another time you will use the Chipmunk, you must {\it
save} the buffer to a {\it file} on disk.

\item[Commands] A {\it command} is an instruction you give Edwin through
special keys.  For example, use the {\tt Find File} command to copy a file
from a disk into a new buffer.  Edwin commands are normally used by pressing
the grey function keys across the top of the Chipmunk keyboard.  However, if
you're used to Emacs, you may want to use control and escape sequences,
instead; in Edwin, most of them work exactly as they work in Emacs.  (Use the
\run key whenever you would normally use \key{esc}.)

\item[Cursor] The cursor is the blinking underline visible on the
screen whenever the Chipmunk is waiting for you to type something.  If you
type an ordinary character (letter, number, or punctuation), it will be
inserted at the current cursor position, and the cursor will move past it.

\item[Extended Commands] An {\it extended command} is a command used by name,
rather than by special keys.  To use an extended command, press the \extend
key (\kkey{2}), followed by the name of the command.  Your typing will appear
at the bottom of the screen, in the typein window (see below).  When you've
typed the full name of the extended command, press \key{enter}.

\item[File] A {\it file} is a block of text stored on a disk.  A file
may be copied from a disk into a buffer.  A file is created by saving the
contents of a buffer on a disk.

\item[Kills] The several most recently-deleted regions are kept in the {\it
kill ring}.  Killed text can be retrieved with a {\it yank}.

\item[Mark] The {\it mark} is an invisible point in a buffer.  Many
commands set it to the buffer location where they were performed.  Each buffer
has its own mark.

\item[Modes] Every buffer has one major mode, and maybe some minor modes.  {\it
Major} modes determine special Edwin behavior particular to the language you
are using (e.g., Scheme or English).  {\it Minor} modes add special features
regardless of the language you are using in the buffer.

\item[Point] The current cursor location in each buffer is called the {\it
point}.  The cursor is just a reflection of the point in the current buffer.

\item[Region] Text between the {\it point} and the {\it mark} is called the {\it
region}.

\item[Saving] To {\it save} is to create a disk file from a buffer.  The
file and the buffer are identical, but only the file remains when you logout;
the buffer is erased.

\item[Window] A {\it window} is a rectangular area on the screen.
Each window displays part of some buffer.  Because most buffers are too big to
fit in one window, only part of the buffer is visible at any time; you can see
other parts by using Edwin commands to scroll through the buffer.

\end{description}
}
