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Forms Mode User's Manual. Node: Top

Forms mode is an Emacs major mode for working with simple textual data bases in a forms-oriented manner. In Forms mode, the information in these files is presented in an Emacs window in a user-defined format, one record at a time. The user can view records or modify their contents.

Forms mode is not a simple major mode, but requires two files to do its job: a control file and a data file. The data file holds the actual data to be presented. The control file describes how to present it.

Forms Example An example: editing the password data base.

Entering and Exiting Forms Mode How to visit a file in Forms mode.

Forms Commands Special commands to use while in Forms mode.

Data File Format How to format the data file.

Control File Format How to control forms mode.

Format Description How to define the forms layout.

Modifying Forms Contents How to modify.

Miscellaneous Forms mode messages and other remarks.

Error Messages List of error messages forms mode can produce.

Long Example A more complex control file example.

Credits Thanks everyone.

Index Index to this manual.

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