FTE configuration files are version specific, and must be recompiled with each new version of the editor.

On startup, editor will attempt to load a configuration file with the basename as the executable and extension `.CNF`. The configuration file is produced by compiling source files with CFTE.

If the command line option `-!` is used, editor will not attempt to load a configuration file and will use default built-in settings.

# Compiling configuration

Configuration files are compiled using CFTE program.

cfte should be invoked on `main.fte`, for example:

    [C:\FTE] cfte config\main.fte
    $ cfte config/main.fte

This will automatically compile all `*.fte` files included from `main.fte` and produce `fte-new.cnf` if there are no errors in source files.

When configuration source files are sucessfully compiled, the resulting file `fte-new.cnf` should be copied to `fte.cnf` and `ftepm.cnf`, or under Unix to `~/.fterc`

After FTE is properly configured with the above procedure, you can select Options/Recompile Configuration from FTE menu bar, and FTE will invoke CFTE to recompile the configuration.

# Configuration file syntax

Comments start with character `#` and last until the end of line.

Strings can be specified using any of `' " /` characters.

Single quoted strings perform no substitution. To enter `'` or `\` into a string precede it with a backslash.

Double quoted strings perform the following substitutions:

        \t  ->  ^I, tab character
        \r  ->  ^M, CR
        \n  ->  ^J, LF
        \e  ->  ^[, escape character
        \v  ->  ^L, vertical tab
        \b  ->  ^H, backspace
        \a  ->  ^G, bell

Strings started by `/` character require no escaping (except for '/'). Mostly useful for specifying regular expressions without double backslashes that are necessary in single and double quoted strings.