new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/liboctave/cmd-edit.h
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+/*
+
+Copyright (C) 1996, 1997 John W. Eaton
+
+This file is part of Octave.
+
+Octave is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
+Free Software Foundation; either version 2, or (at your option) any
+later version.
+
+Octave is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+along with Octave; see the file COPYING.  If not, write to the Free
+Software Foundation, 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
+
+*/
+
+#if !defined (octave_cmd_edit_h)
+#define octave_cmd_edit_h 1
+
+#include <cstdio>
+
+#include <string>
+
+class
+command_editor
+{
+protected:
+
+  command_editor (void)
+    : command_number (0) { }
+
+public:
+
+  typedef int (*fcn) (...);
+
+  virtual ~command_editor (void) { }
+
+  static void set_name (const string& n);
+
+  static string readline (const string& prompt);
+
+  static void set_input_stream (FILE *f);
+
+  static FILE *get_input_stream (void);
+
+  static void set_output_stream (FILE *f);
+
+  static FILE *get_output_stream (void);
+
+  static int terminal_rows (void);
+
+  static int terminal_cols (void);
+
+  static void clear_screen (void);
+
+  static string decode_prompt_string (const string& s);
+
+  static void restore_terminal_state (void);
+
+  static void blink_matching_paren (bool flag);
+
+  static void set_paren_string_delimiters (const string& s);
+
+  static void set_completion_append_character (char c);
+
+  static void set_attempted_completion_function (fcn f);
+
+  static void insert_text (const string& text);
+
+  static void newline (void);
+
+  static void clear_undo_list (void);
+
+  static void set_startup_hook (fcn f);
+
+  static void restore_startup_hook (void);
+
+  static int current_command_number (void);
+
+  static void reset_current_command_number (int n);
+
+private:
+
+  // No copying!
+
+  command_editor (const command_editor&);
+
+  command_editor& operator = (const command_editor&);
+
+  static bool instance_ok (void);
+
+  static void make_command_editor (void);
+
+  // The real thing.
+  static command_editor *instance;
+
+protected:
+
+  // To use something other than the GNU readline library, derive a new
+  // class from command_editor, overload these functions as
+  // necessary, and make instance point to the new class.
+
+  virtual void do_set_name (const string&) { }
+
+  virtual string do_readline (const string&) = 0;
+
+  virtual void do_set_input_stream (FILE *) = 0;
+
+  virtual FILE *do_get_input_stream (void) = 0;
+
+  virtual void do_set_output_stream (FILE *) = 0;
+
+  virtual FILE *do_get_output_stream (void) = 0;
+
+  virtual int do_terminal_rows (void) { return 24; }
+
+  virtual int do_terminal_cols (void) { return 80; }
+
+  virtual void do_clear_screen (void) { }
+
+  virtual string do_decode_prompt_string (const string&);
+
+  virtual string newline_chars (void) { return "\n"; } 
+
+  virtual void do_restore_terminal_state (void) { }
+
+  virtual void do_blink_matching_paren (bool) { }
+
+  virtual void do_set_paren_string_delimiters (const string&) { }
+
+  virtual void do_set_completion_append_character (char) { }
+
+  virtual void do_set_attempted_completion_function (fcn) { }
+
+  virtual void do_insert_text (const string&) = 0;
+
+  virtual void do_newline (void) = 0;
+
+  virtual void do_clear_undo_list (void) { }
+
+  virtual void do_set_startup_hook (fcn) { }
+
+  virtual void do_restore_startup_hook (void) { }
+
+  int read_octal (const string& s);
+
+  void error (int);
+
+  void error (const string&);
+
+  // The current command number.
+  int command_number;
+};
+
+#endif
+
+/*
+;;; Local Variables: ***
+;;; mode: C++ ***
+;;; End: ***
+*/