/sys$common/syshlp/helplib.hlb EDIT, /TPU, /JOURNAL  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

  /JOURNAL[=journal-file] (default)
  /NOJOURNAL

  Determines the type of journaling, if any.  Journaling records your
  edits so that if a system failure interrupts your editing session,
  you can recover your work.  Processing this qualifier depends on the
  DECTPU application you are using.

  Normally, journal files are deleted when you exit or quit.  If a
  system failure occurs during your editing session, such as a break in
  communications between your terminal and computer, the journal files
  are saved.  For information about recovering your work, see help on
  /RECOVER.

  +--------------------------  NOTE  --------------------------+
  | Journal files record information about the text you edit.  |
  | Therefore, if you are editing confidential data, make sure |
  | the journal files, as well as the text files, are secure.  |
  +------------------------------------------------------------+

  There are two types of journaling, as follows:

  o  Buffer-change journaling creates a journal file for each text
     buffer.  This is the EVE default.  Buffer-change journaling works
     on DECwindows or character-cell terminals.  The journal file name
     derives from the name of the file or buffer being edited and the
     file type .TPU$JOURNAL---for example:

        Text buffers          Buffer-change journal files
        -------------------------------------------------
        MAIN                  MAIN.TPU$JOURNAL
        JABBER.TXT            JABBER_TXT.TPU$JOURNAL
        GUMBO_RECIPE.RNO      GUMBO_RECIPE_RNO.TPU$JOURNAL
        NEW TEST DATA         NEW_TEST_DATA.TPU$JOURNAL
        * TEMP *              __TEMP__.TPU$JOURNAL

     Buffer-change journal files are created in the directory defined
     by the TPU$JOURNAL logical name.  Default is SYS$SCRATCH, which is
     usually your top-level, login directory.  Because buffer-change
     journal files may be quite large---even larger than the files you
     edit---you may want to define TPU$JOURNAL as a different disk and
     directory.

     Some editing operations may be slower because of buffer-change
     journaling, depending on the type or extent of changes, such as
     cutting a large box, or pasting a large amount of text from the
     DECwindows clipboard.

  o  Keystroke journaling creates a single journal file for the editing
     session, regardless of the number of buffers you create.  The
     journal file records every keystroke in the editing session,
     whether text or commands.  To enable keystroke journaling, use
     /JOURNAL= and specify the journal file you want created.  You
     cannot use wildcards to specify the keystroke journal file.
     Default file type is .TJL.

     For example, the following command invokes DECTPU creating a
     keystroke journal file named MYJOURNAL.TJL in your current,
     default directory:

        $ EDIT/TPU /JOURNAL=myjournal

     Keystroke journaling does NOT work on DECwindows and has other
     restrictions affecting recovery (see help on /RECOVER).  Keystroke
     journaling is useful to reproduce a problem (for example, if you
     want to submit an SPR) or to journal an editing session in which
     you create LEARN sequences and define keys interactively.

  If you use keystroke journaling, EVE also creates a buffer-change
  journal file for each text buffer.  This double journaling may slow
  performance, depending on the kind of edits you make.  To disable
  buffer-change journaling for a particular buffer or for all your
  buffers, use SET NOJOURNALING commands during your editing session.

  If you do not want any journaling, use /NOJOURNAL, which disables
  both keystroke journaling and buffer-change journaling.  This may
  make startup and some editing operations faster but risks losing your
  work if a system failure occurs during the editing session.
  Typically you use /NOJOURNAL if you are also using /NOMODIFY,
  /NOOUTPUT, /READ_ONLY, or /NOWRITE to view a file without making any
  changes.  If you invoke EVE with /NOJOURNAL, you can enable buffer-
  change journaling during your editing session by using SET JOURNALING
  commands.

  For more information about journaling and recovery, see the
  Extensible Versatile Editor Reference Manual or use the online help
  in EVE and read the topic called Journal Files.

  +-----------------------------  NOTE  ------------------------------+
  | Although journaling and recovery are quite reliable, the last few |
  | edits before a system failure may be lost.  The safest way to     |
  | protect your work against a system failure is to write out your   |
  | edits frequently---particularly during all-day editing sessions.  |
  +-------------------------------------------------------------------+