Changing the default marking mode

You can change the default marking mode to one of the following choices:

stream Default. This is the marking mode commonly used in most text editors and word processors. Text is selected on a character to character basis.
Unlike the other marking modes, the cursor cannot be moved to another part of the file without deselecting a block of selected text. Once text is selected, the next keyboard action will usually affect the entire selection of text. For example, pressing a keyboard character will replace the entire selected text with that character, and pressing the Delete key will remove the entire selected block.

character Similar to stream, except that the cursor is not coupled with the marked text selection. You can mark a block of text with the mouse, then click the mouse at another location in the file without unmarking the block of text already selected.

element Whole elements are marked. The cursor is not coupled to the marked text selection.

rectangle Rectangular areas can be marked starting at any character position on a line and extending over as many lines as needed. The cursor is not coupled to the marked text selection.

To change the default block marking mode for new files or files already open for editing:

Select File from the main menu bar.
Select Preferences. The Application Preferences dialog appears.
Expand the Editor preferences tree by clicking on the + sign.
Select Block from the expanded list of Editor preference settings. The Block pane appears in the Application Preferences dialog.
Select one of the available block types form the Default block type selection list.
Click Apply to apply the selected block type to the editor.
Click OK to close the Application Preferences dialog.

To change the default block marking mode only for the current file:

Press Esc to open the editor command line.
Enter the following command on the editor command line:
```
set block.defaultType mode
```
where mode is one of the marking modes described above.

To determine the current default block marking mode for the current file:

Press Esc to open the editor command line.
Enter the following command on the editor command line:
```
query current.block.defaultType
```
The current blocking mode is returned in the message area below the editing area.

Marking and manipulating blocks of text
Marking blocks of text
Unmarking a block of text
Manipulating blocks of text

stream	Default. This is the marking mode commonly used in most text editors and word processors. Text is selected on a character to character basis. Unlike the other marking modes, the cursor cannot be moved to another part of the file without deselecting a block of selected text. Once text is selected, the next keyboard action will usually affect the entire selection of text. For example, pressing a keyboard character will replace the entire selected text with that character, and pressing the Delete key will remove the entire selected block.
character	Similar to stream, except that the cursor is not coupled with the marked text selection. You can mark a block of text with the mouse, then click the mouse at another location in the file without unmarking the block of text already selected.
element	Whole elements are marked. The cursor is not coupled to the marked text selection.
rectangle	Rectangular areas can be marked starting at any character position on a line and extending over as many lines as needed. The cursor is not coupled to the marked text selection.