---
name: "dvtm-editor"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "dvtm"
version: "0.15+40.g311a8c0-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dvtm-editor"
---

# dvtm-editor(1)

make a text editor act as a filter

## NAME

**dvtm-editor** – make a text editor act as a filter

## SYNOPSIS

**dvtm-editor** ARGS...

## DESCRIPTION

The **dvtm-editor** is a file buffering utility used by the [dvtm(1)](/dvtm/1.md) terminal multiplexer to implement its copy mode. It reads the standard input and saves it to a temporary file, then opens an editor according to the ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES.

If the invoked editor terminates with a non-zero exit status or the file modification time remains unchanged, **dvtm-editor** does not output anything.  Otherwise, it outputs the content of the modified temporary file to stdout.

All command line arguments are forwarded verbatim. [dvtm(1)](/dvtm/1.md) uses this to adjust the initial view port by passing **+n**, meaning the start of line **n** should be displayed.

## ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

**dvtm-editor** will try to find the user editor by checking these variables in order:

- DVTM\_EDITOR

  Permitting to invoke an editor specific to dvtm, or set particular flags.

- VISUAL, EDITOR

  Falling back to global defaults: VISUAL and EDITOR.

If no editor is found, [vi(1)](/vi/1.md) is used.

## FILES

The temporary files are created according to the template: */tmp/dvtm-editor.XXXXXX*.

*/dev/tty* is opened to obtain a controlling tty which is used for the standard input/output streams of the invoked editor.

## NOTES

Using [vis(1)](/vis/1.md) as editor is particularly convenient because **:wq!** in visual mode will reduce the file to the currently active selection(s).

## SEE ALSO

[vi(1)](/vi/1.md), [dvtm(1)](/dvtm/1.md), [dvtm-pager(1)](/dvtm-pager/1.md)

## AUTHOR

dvtm is written by Marc André Tanner ⟨*mat* *at* *brain-dump.org*⟩