SPF/PC is an MS-DOS-based text editor and file manager designed to have an interface that was familiar to those using mainframe SPF and ISPF. Later Microsoft Windows-based versions were named SPF/SE and SPF/SE 365. A version for OS/2 named SPF/2 was also offered. SPF/SE and SPF/SE 365 were released as freeware in 2022 after the death of Tim Tetiva, the author of SPF/PC and SPF/SE.

Overview

SPF/PC was introduced by and successors sold by Command Technology Corporation. Similar to IBM's mainframe based ISPF and is able to edit ASCII and EBCDIC text file as a complete integrated applications development environment (IDE). Typically used for editing source code, invoking compilers, linkers, and debuggers, in a variety of programming languages, such as COBOL, Fortran, and C++. 64-bit Windows can't run SPF/PC (Will run under DOSBox), but it can still be used on 32-bit Windows (e.g. Windows XP or Windows 7 in XP Mode).

Features

• Auto source code backup • Auto save during edit • Background/Foreground compiler and utility support • Edit small or large files (up to 1Gig) • Edit ASCII and EBCDIC text files • Command Line Interface (CLI) • File browser with keyword colorization • File manager • File conversion utilities • COBOL source code support • Hex editor • IBM (3270) and PC command keys • IBM ISPF Style Panels • Keyboard equivalents provided for all mouse operations • Language line numbering support • Language profile support • Line, column and bounds oriented copy, cut, data shift, find, paste, sort with picture strings • Line lengths (records) up to 64,000 characters in fixed or variable formats • Line exclude, change, find, flip, locate, not-exclude • Merge error files created by compilers into source code as notes (type of comment) • Multilevel Undo and Redo • Multiple sequential complex command execution - repeatable with exclude and not-exclude abilities • Print file, screen or highlighted text • Simple and advanced text/file find/replace (search through thousands of files for text) • Sort file lists and text/data • Sort A-Z, Z-A, bounding by columns, line labels etc. • Split screen (horizontal and vertical) • File and Directory comparison • Support for DOS/Windows/Linux/Unix EOL and EOF markers • User enhancements - add, create, modify dialogs, functions, menus and screens • User definable fonts • User definable editor color schemes including several 3270 schemes • User definable file profiles including EOL, EOF, Line Length etc. • User definable cursor, half page and page scrolling • User switchable editor line numbers or not • User definable keyboard and keyboard macros • User modifiable help system

Macro/Scripting Language

SPF/SE 365 uses a C like macro/scripting language. All versions of SPF have the ability to call any interpreter (PHP, BASIC, Powershell, etc.) from within the editor allowing text processing and OS command calls. SPF/SE does not have the REXX interface that SPF/PC had.