By default, the last 15 commands entered on the terminal are kept in an
internal buffer (the no. of commands saved can be changed via SET/BUFFER).
To recall (and execute) any of these
commands, simply type the associated command number. This is the number
``xyz'' appearing in the prompt Midas xyz> when that
command was entered. To display the command buffer, simply hit 
.
If you want to recall more than one command at once,
enter all the relevant command
numbers (separated by a semicolon and space), e.g. enter 14; 17; 22
if you
want to repeat the commands numbered 14, 17 and 22 . Also
14; read/keyw in_a; 17 is possible.
To recall commands not by number but by pattern, use :pattern to repeat
the last command matching the specified pattern. For example, if the last
two commands in your command buffer are:
22 READ/IMAGE supernova
23 show/commands
Then, typing 22 as well as :READ or :nova
will execute the command
READ/IMAGE supernova again. Note that for the pattern matching MIDAS
does make a distinction between upper and lower case.
You can also use the vertical arrow keys to navigate up and down through the
command buffer.
Besides repeating complete input lines it is also possible to just use parts
of the last command line.
Each ``token'' of the last command line is saved internally until the
next input. A ``token'' is the information separated by spaces in the
command line. To repeat the tokens on a subsequent command line
merely type a `.' For example, if you have in the command buffer:
READ/KEYWORD in_a
LOAD/IMAGE myframe 0 2,2
Then typing ` . yourframe . . ' as the next command is equivalent to
typing `LOAD/IMAGE yourframe 0 2,2'.
All features described so far apply to genuine MIDAS commands as well as to
host system commands (where the first character of the command line is
the $ sign).
Some words of caution:
In VMS the version number of files may be specified using a
semicolon, e.g.
$ RENAME file.typ;7 lola.bdf.
Typing such a command inside MIDAS will
not work, since the monitor will interpret this input as two Midas commands.
Instead, use a dot to separate the version number, e.g.
Midas 234> $ RENAME file.typ.7 lola.bdf.
In Unix the repetition of tokens may cause trouble. Consider the following:
Midas 123> load/image vaca
Midas 124> $cp /elsewhere/toro.bdf .
The intention was to simply copy the file toro.bdf from somewhere else to
the current directory. But instead of toro.bdf you will find a
strange file named ? in your directory...
In the line `123' only two tokens are entered, so all other 8 tokens are
set to the default value `?'. In line `124' the third token will be set
to the third token in the line above, so it changes to:
Midas 124> $cp /elsewhere/toro.bdf ?
Instead, specify also the result frame completely, e.g.
$cp /elsewhere/toro.bdf toro.bdf.
Preceding a host command by $$ disables the interpretation of specific
symbols by MIDAS, thus
Midas 124> $$cp /elsewhere/toro.bdf .
will actually do the expected copy.