Version 0.6.0: Steuertabellen 2026, record mit negativen Nummern, select-Hinweis

Changelog geordnet
record: 0 und 1 = erste Zeile, negative Nummern zählen vom Ende
2026-10-11 22:55:35 +02:00 · 2026-10-11 22:51:52 +02:00 · 2026-10-11 22:51:43 +02:00 · 2026-10-11 22:48:42 +02:00 · 2026-10-11 22:44:45 +02:00 · 2026-10-11 22:35:37 +02:00
24 changed files with 1626 additions and 16 deletions
@@ -7,6 +7,29 @@ folgen [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/lang/de/). Die Version steht in

 ## [Unveröffentlicht]

+## [0.6.0] - 2026-10-11
+
+### Hinzugefügt
+- Steuertabellen 2026 für `tax`: `demo/taxDE2026`, `taxAT2026`, `taxCH2026` (nur Bundessteuer), `taxLI2026` (nur Landessteuer), erzeugt mit `tools/gen_tax_tables.rb`, mit Tests.
+
+### Geändert
+- `record`: 0 und 1 sind die erste Zeile, negative Zahlen zählen vom Ende (`-1` letzte, `-2` vorletzte ...). Außerhalb der Tabelle kommt eine leere Tabelle, Text und Dezimalzahlen sind ein Fehler. (Vorher lieferten 0, -1 und Text ungewollt Zeilen vom Ende.) `testall.cmds` und `man/record.man` zeigen es.
+- README und `man/row.man` erklären, warum `select` in bash/zsh/ksh einen Syntaxfehler gibt und wie man es trotzdem aufruft.
+
+### Behoben
+- `rdb man` zeigte `\\select` in den Man-Pages als `\elect`: ein doppelter Backslash wird jetzt zuerst geschützt.
+
+## [0.5.0] - 2026-10-11
+
+### Hinzugefügt
+- `pick`: Tabelle auf dem Terminal durchblättern, filtern und eine oder mehrere Zeilen (`-m`) auswählen; die Auswahl geht als Tabelle auf die Standardausgabe. `-k` nimmt die Tasten aus einem String. Dazu `man/pick.man`, Beispiele in `testall.cmds` und Tests (auch mit Pseudo-Terminal).
+
+## [0.4.0] - 2026-10-11
+
+### Hinzugefügt
+- `mask`: Eingabemaske mit eigener Oberfläche (Felder mit Breite, Schaltflächen, Rahmen `-b`, `-s` zeigt das Bild ohne Terminal). Schreibt die Eingabe als Tabelle auf die Standardausgabe. Die Vorlage kommt wie bei `screen` von der Standardeingabe (`mask < entry`). Dazu `man/mask.man`, `demo/maskform` und Tests (auch mit Pseudo-Terminal).
+- `demo/entry`: beschriftete Eingabemaske für `screen` (README erklärt den Unterschied zu `form`).
+
 ## [0.3.0] - 2026-10-11

 ### Hinzugefügt
@@ -77,6 +77,70 @@ Eine Zeile mit `##` erscheint als Überschrift in der Ausgabe, eine mit `#` ist
 ein stiller Kommentar. Neue Befehle brauchen hier ein Beispiel, sonst schlägt der Test
 `test_testall_mentions_every_command` fehl.

+## Vorlagen: `form` und `entry`
+
+- `demo/form` ist eine Vorlage für `report` und `letter`: sie setzt Spaltenwerte in einen Text ein.
+  Sie hat keine Beschriftungen und nennt `Name` zweimal.
+- `demo/entry` ist eine Eingabemaske für `screen`: jedes Feld kommt einmal vor und hat eine
+  Beschriftung. `screen < entry > maske.sh` erzeugt das Skript. Starten:
+  `CLEAR=$(clear.rdb) sh maske.sh > tabelle 2>&1`. Die Tabelle geht auf stderr (wie im Original),
+  daher das `2>&1`. Mit `form` würde die Maske leer und doppelt aussehen.
+
+## Eingabemasken: `mask`
+
+`mask` ist die Variante von `screen` mit eigener Oberfläche (nur Ruby, kein ncurses). Es zeichnet die
+Vorlage (von der Standardeingabe, wie `screen`; ein Dateiname geht auch) selbst und schreibt die Eingabe als Tabelle auf die Standardausgabe, also pipefähig:
+
+```
+mask -b < demo/maskform                  Rahmen (-b), Felder, Schaltflächen
+mask < demo/maskform > neu               Tabelle in eine Datei
+mask < demo/maskform | append -h kunden  oder direkt in eine Tabelle
+mask -s < demo/maskform                  nur das Bild und die Feldpositionen, ohne Terminal
+```
+
+In der Vorlage: `<Spalte>` oder `<Spalte:20>` ist ein Feld (mit Breite), `[ Speichern ]` eine Schaltfläche,
+`[ Abbrechen ]` (oder Cancel, Abort, Quit) bricht ab, `<!date!>` fügt Befehlsausgabe ein. Kommt eine Spalte mehrfach
+vor, ist es ein Feld. Tab/Pfeile wechseln, Enter bestätigt, Esc bricht ab (Status 1, keine Ausgabe).
+
+## Zeilen auswählen: `pick`
+
+`pick` zeigt eine Tabelle auf dem Terminal, man scrollt, filtert und wählt eine oder mehrere Zeilen. Die Tabelle
+kommt von der Standardeingabe, die gewählten Zeilen gehen als Tabelle auf die Standardausgabe, also mitten in der Pipe:
+
+```
+pick < inventory                                  eine Zeile wählen
+pick -m < inventory | total Amount Value          mehrere (Leertaste markiert, a alle)
+column Item Description < inventory | pick -m | jointable - owners
+pick -m -k 'down space down enter' < inventory    Tasten aus einem String (Skripte, Tests)
+```
+
+Pfeile, Bild auf/ab, Pos1/Ende scrollen; `/` filtert (Enter behält den Filter, Esc löscht ihn); Enter wählt;
+Esc bricht ab (Status 1, keine Ausgabe). Ohne Markierung gilt die Zeile unter dem Cursor.
+
+## Steuertabellen 2026 für `tax`
+
+`demo/` enthält vier Tarife für das Steuerjahr 2026 im Format von `tax` (income, tax, percent), jeweils für
+Alleinstehende (Grundtarif). Erzeugt mit `ruby tools/gen_tax_tables.rb`.
+
+| Datei | Land | Quelle | Genauigkeit |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| `taxDE2026` | Deutschland, Einkommensteuer | § 32a EStG (Grundfreibetrag 12 348 €) | Kurvenstücke durch Geraden genähert, Abweichung unter 0,15 € (die Formel rundet ab, `tax` auf) |
+| `taxAT2026` | Österreich, Einkommensteuer | § 33 EStG (0 % bis 13 539 €, dann 20/30/40/48/50/55 %) | exakt, vor Absetzbeträgen |
+| `taxCH2026` | Schweiz, **nur direkte Bundessteuer** | Art. 36 DBG, ESTV-Rundschreiben 2-215-D-2025 | Stufen exakt, das Gesetz rechnet in 100-Franken-Schritten |
+| `taxLI2026` | Liechtenstein, **nur Landessteuer** | Art. 19 SteG (LR 640.0, Fassung 01.07.2026) | exakt |
+
+```
+tax 60000 < demo/taxDE2026         14233
+tax 60000 < demo/taxAT2026         15447
+tax 60000 < demo/taxCH2026           671
+tax 60000 < demo/taxLI2026          1396   (mal 1 + Gemeindezuschlag, 150 % bis 250 %)
+```
+
+Der Betrag ist die Steuer auf das **zu versteuernde** Einkommen. Abzüge, Sozialversicherung, Absetzbeträge,
+Kirchensteuer und Soli sind nicht enthalten. Für die Schweiz kommen Kanton und Gemeinde dazu (sie sind meist
+höher als der Bund), für Liechtenstein der Gemeindezuschlag: gesamt = Landessteuer × (1 + Zuschlag/100).
+Ehepaar- und Alleinerziehendentarife fehlen. Das ist keine Steuerberatung.
+
 ## Befehle

 | Gruppe | Befehle |
@@ -91,7 +155,7 @@ ein stiller Kommentar. Neue Befehle brauchen hier ein Beispiel, sonst schlägt d
 | Text | `cap` `uppercase` `lowercase` `substitute` `trimblank` `padstring` `length` `filesize` `ascii` `chr` `word` `prompt` `not` `path` |
 | Umwandeln | `tabletolist` `listtotable` `listtosh` `tabletofix` `fixtotable` `tabletostruct` `tabletotbl` `tabletofact` `tabletorule` `tabletom4` `tabletosed` `translate` `uniondict` |
 | Datum, Namen | `julian` `gregorian` `computedate` `todaysdate` `soundex` `like` `hashkey` |
-| Berichte | `report` `reportwriter` `screen` `label` `letter` |
+| Berichte | `report` `reportwriter` `screen` `mask` `pick` `label` `letter` |
 | Terminal, Hilfe | `termput` `tset` `clear.rdb` `cursor` `menu` `rdb` `commands` `helpme` `whatis` `whatwill` `howmany` `man` |
 | Betrieb | `testall` `testsearch` `timesearch` `rmcore` `cpdir.rdb` |
 | Buchhaltung (/act) | `act` `chartdup` `foot` `adjust` `balance` `close` `consolidate` `getjournal` `fillform` `calculate` `tax` `cashflow` `calcpay` `w2` `bom` `explode` `sale` `invoice` `cstate` `update.inv` |
@@ -135,6 +199,10 @@ er nicht mehr passt (außer mit `-a`). Beide halten die Indizes aktuell.
  `row`, `compute`, `column`, `sorttable`, `jointable`, `rename`, `validate` und
  `rdb` haben dazu den Abschnitt „Case of Column Names“; er ist die einzige
  Ergänzung gegenüber den Original-Seiten.
+- `select` ist in bash, zsh und ksh ein reserviertes Wort. `select 'Cost > 5' < inventory` endet dort
+  mit `syntax error near unexpected token '<'`, weil die Shell das Schlüsselwort vor dem `PATH` auswertet.
+  Es gibt dasselbe unter dem Namen `row`. Außerdem gehen `\select ...`, `command select ...` und
+  `rdb select ...`.
 - `jointable` braucht keine vorsortierten Tabellen.
 - `ve` ist ein zeilenorientierter Editor, kein Bildschirmeditor.
 - `soundex` nutzt den Standard-Algorithmus. Die Beispielwerte im Handbuch
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+/home/wkh/Development/Coherent/rdb/bin/rdb
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+/home/wkh/Development/Coherent/rdb/bin/rdb
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+                  Mail List Entry Form
+
+Name  : <Name>             Company: <Company>
+Street: <Street>
+City  : <City>             State  : <State>       ZIP: <ZIP>
+Phone : <Phone>
+
+[Speichern] [Abbrechen]
+
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+: paint crt screen
+exec 1>/dev/tty
+cat <<SCREEN
+${CLEAR}                  Mail List Entry Form
+
+Name  :                    Company:          
+Street:         
+City  :                    State  :               ZIP:      
+Phone :        
+SCREEN
+: read user input
+cursor  3  9 ; read Name;
+cursor  3 37 ; read Company;
+cursor  4  9 ; read Street;
+cursor  5  9 ; read City;
+cursor  5 37 ; read State;
+cursor  5 56 ; read ZIP;
+cursor  6  9 ; read Phone;
+: output table head
+exec 1>&2
+echo "Name	Company	Street	City	State	ZIP	Phone"
+echo "----	-------	------	----	-----	---	-----"
+: append row
+echo "$Name	$Company	$Street	$City	$State	$ZIP	$Phone"
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+Mail List Entry
+
+Name   : <Name:24>
+Company: <Company:24>
+Street : <Street:24>
+City   : <City:16>  State: <State:10>  ZIP: <ZIP:9>
+Phone  : <Phone:16>
+
+   [ Save ]   [ Cancel ]
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+income	tax	percent
+------	---	-------
+0	0.00	0
+13539	0.00	20
+21992	1690.60	30
+36458	6030.40	40
+70365	19593.20	48
+104859	36150.32	50
+1000000	483720.82	55
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+income	tax	percent
+------	---	-------
+0	0.00	0
+15200	0.00	0.77
+33200	138.60	0.88
+43500	229.20	2.64
+58000	612.00	2.97
+76200	1152.50	5.94
+82100	1502.95	6.6
+108900	3271.75	8.8
+141500	6140.55	11
+185100	10936.55	13.2
+793900	91298.15	11.85
+794000	91310.00	11.5
@@ -0,0 +1,235 @@
+income	tax	percent
+------	---	-------
+0	0.00	0
+12348	0.00	14.228628
+12598	35.57	14.685882
+12848	72.29	15.143138
+13098	110.14	15.600392
+13348	149.15	16.057648
+13598	189.29	16.514902
+13848	230.58	16.972158
+14098	273.01	17.429413
+14348	316.58	17.886668
+14598	361.30	18.343922
+14848	407.16	18.801178
+15098	454.16	19.258432
+15348	502.31	19.715688
+15598	551.60	20.172942
+15848	602.03	20.630198
+16098	653.60	21.087453
+16348	706.32	21.544707
+16598	760.18	22.001963
+16848	815.19	22.459217
+17098	871.34	22.916473
+17348	928.63	23.373727
+17598	987.06	23.786172
+17799	1034.87	24.012466
+18049	1094.90	24.099825
+18299	1155.15	24.186375
+18549	1215.62	24.272925
+18799	1276.30	24.359475
+19049	1337.20	24.446025
+19299	1398.31	24.532575
+19549	1459.65	24.619125
+19799	1521.19	24.705675
+20049	1582.96	24.792225
+20299	1644.94	24.878775
+20549	1707.14	24.965325
+20799	1769.55	25.051875
+21049	1832.18	25.138425
+21299	1895.02	25.224975
+21549	1958.09	25.311525
+21799	2021.37	25.398075
+22049	2084.86	25.484625
+22299	2148.57	25.571175
+22549	2212.50	25.657725
+22799	2276.64	25.744275
+23049	2341.01	25.830825
+23299	2405.58	25.917375
+23549	2470.38	26.003925
+23799	2535.39	26.090475
+24049	2600.61	26.177025
+24299	2666.05	26.263575
+24549	2731.71	26.350125
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+25049	2863.68	26.523225
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+25799	3063.25	26.782875
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+31549	4658.01	28.773525
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+60049	14252.14	38.640225
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+61049	14639.84	38.986425
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+62299	15129.33	39.419175
+62549	15227.88	39.505725
+62799	15326.64	39.592275
+63049	15425.63	39.678825
+63299	15524.82	39.765375
+63549	15624.24	39.851925
+63799	15723.87	39.938475
+64049	15823.71	40.025025
+64299	15923.77	40.111575
+64549	16024.05	40.198125
+64799	16124.55	40.284675
+65049	16225.26	40.371225
+65299	16326.19	40.457775
+65549	16427.33	40.544325
+65799	16528.69	40.630875
+66049	16630.27	40.717425
+66299	16732.06	40.803975
+66549	16834.07	40.890525
+66799	16936.30	40.977075
+67049	17038.74	41.063625
+67299	17141.40	41.150175
+67549	17244.28	41.236725
+67799	17347.37	41.323275
+68049	17450.68	41.409825
+68299	17554.20	41.496375
+68549	17657.94	41.582925
+68799	17761.90	41.669475
+69049	17866.07	41.756025
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+69879	18213.55	42.000014
+277826	105551.32	45
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+income	tax	percent
+------	---	-------
+0	0.00	0
+15900	0.00	1
+21100	52.00	3
+42300	688.00	4
+74000	1956.00	5
+105700	3541.00	6
+137400	5443.00	6.5
+169200	7510.00	7
+211400	10464.00	8
@@ -23,8 +23,14 @@ rename Owner Person < owners
 ## number / Number: number the rows (number: rows only, Number: rows and the head)
 number < owners
 Number < owners
-## record: print one record (the 3rd row)
+## record: print one record. 0 and 1 are the first row, 3 the third, -1 the last, -2 the one before
 record 3 < inventory
+record 0 < owners
+record -1 < owners
+record -2 < owners
+## beyond the end: an empty table;  not a number: an error
+record 9 < owners
+record abc < owners
 ## rmblank: drop empty rows;  headon / headoff: add or strip the head
 column Item Cost < inventory | rmblank
 headoff < colors
@@ -182,8 +188,16 @@ report form < maillist
 ## label prints mailing labels, letter prints form letters
 label < maillist
 letter form < maillist | head -5
-## screen turns a form into a shell script that asks for the fields
-screen < form | head -6
+## screen turns a form into a shell script that asks for the fields. Use a form with labels
+## and every column once (entry); the report template `form` would give a blank, doubled screen.
+## Run the script with: CLEAR=$(clear.rdb) sh script > table 2>&1   (the table goes to stderr)
+cat entry
+screen < entry
+## mask draws the form itself (fields, buttons, frame) and writes the row as a table on stdout.
+## It needs a terminal, so here only the picture of the form and its fields (-s) is shown.
+## Try it:  mask -b < maskform                  mask < maskform | append -h t
+cat maskform
+mask -s -b < maskform
 ## reportwriter: a sample report with page headings (the date is cut out)
 reportwriter -3 Prices < inventory | grep -v 'Report Date'
 ## tabletom4 / tabletosed / tabletostruct were shown above
@@ -215,6 +229,12 @@ act
 cashflow < cash
 ## tax: look up the tax for an income in a tax table
 tax 20000 < X83
+## tax also works with the real 2026 tables of DE, AT, CH (federal tax only) and LI (Landessteuer,
+## before the municipal surcharge of 150 % to 250 %); see README. Tax on an income of 60000:
+tax 60000 < taxDE2026
+tax 60000 < taxAT2026
+tax 60000 < taxCH2026
+tax 60000 < taxLI2026
 ## explode: parts list -> all subparts with counts (part, amount)
 explode 10001 2 parttable
 ## chartdup: look for duplicate account numbers and short names in chart
@@ -257,3 +277,16 @@ bom ; cat bom
 ## update.inv: change the stock of one item, with record locking (INV names the table)
 cp inventory inv ; printf '7\n9\n\n' | INV=inv update.inv | tail -n +2
 grep '^7' inv
+
+## ===== Choosing rows on the terminal =====
+## pick shows a table, lets you scroll, filter (/) and mark rows (Space, -m), and writes the
+## chosen rows as a table, so it can sit in a pipe. It needs a terminal; -k feeds the keys instead.
+## Try it:  pick -m < inventory | total Amount Value
+## mark the 2nd and 5th row (down, space, down, down, space) and finish with enter
+pick -m -k 'down space down down space enter' < inventory
+## the same chosen rows go on into total
+pick -m -k 'down space down down space enter' < inventory | total Amount Value
+## filter with / (type, enter), then choose the row that is left
+pick -k '/clamps enter enter' < inventory
+## Esc cancels: nothing on stdout, exit status 1
+pick -k esc < inventory ; echo "status $?"
@@ -86,11 +86,29 @@ Number	Item	Owner
 1	1	ann
 2	3	bob
 3	6	cy
-## record: print one record (the 3rd row)
+## record: print one record. 0 and 1 are the first row, 3 the third, -1 the last, -2 the one before
 $ record 3 < inventory
 Item	Amount	Cost	Value	Description
 ----	------	----	-----	-----------
 3	5	8.00	40.00	clamps
+$ record 0 < owners
+Item	Owner
+----	-----
+1	ann
+$ record -1 < owners
+Item	Owner
+----	-----
+6	cy
+$ record -2 < owners
+Item	Owner
+----	-----
+3	bob
+## beyond the end: an empty table;  not a number: an error
+$ record 9 < owners
+Item	Owner
+----	-----
+$ record abc < owners
+record: 'abc' is not a record number (1, 2, 3 ... or -1 for the last)
 ## rmblank: drop empty rows;  headon / headoff: add or strip the head
 $ column Item Cost < inventory | rmblank
 Item	Cost
@@ -735,14 +753,82 @@ McDonalds
 123 Mac Attack
 Memphis, TENN 30000

-## screen turns a form into a shell script that asks for the fields
-$ screen < form | head -6
+## screen turns a form into a shell script that asks for the fields. Use a form with labels
+## and every column once (entry); the report template `form` would give a blank, doubled screen.
+## Run the script with: CLEAR=$(clear.rdb) sh script > table 2>&1   (the table goes to stderr)
+$ cat entry
+                  Mail List Entry Form
+
+Name  : <Name>             Company: <Company>
+Street: <Street>
+City  : <City>             State  : <State>       ZIP: <ZIP>
+Phone : <Phone>
+
+[Speichern] [Abbrechen]
+
+$ screen < entry
 : paint crt screen
 exec 1>/dev/tty
 cat <<SCREEN
-${CLEAR}      
-         
-        
+${CLEAR}                  Mail List Entry Form
+
+Name  :                    Company:          
+Street:         
+City  :                    State  :               ZIP:      
+Phone :        
+
+[Speichern] [Abbrechen]
+SCREEN
+: read user input
+cursor  3  9 ; read Name;
+cursor  3 37 ; read Company;
+cursor  4  9 ; read Street;
+cursor  5  9 ; read City;
+cursor  5 37 ; read State;
+cursor  5 56 ; read ZIP;
+cursor  6  9 ; read Phone;
+: output table head
+exec 1>&2
+echo "Name	Company	Street	City	State	ZIP	Phone"
+echo "----	-------	------	----	-----	---	-----"
+: append row
+echo "$Name	$Company	$Street	$City	$State	$ZIP	$Phone"
+## mask draws the form itself (fields, buttons, frame) and writes the row as a table on stdout.
+## It needs a terminal, so here only the picture of the form and its fields (-s) is shown.
+## Try it:  mask -b < maskform                  mask < maskform | append -h t
+$ cat maskform
+Mail List Entry
+
+Name   : <Name:24>
+Company: <Company:24>
+Street : <Street:24>
+City   : <City:16>  State: <State:10>  ZIP: <ZIP:9>
+Phone  : <Phone:16>
+
+   [ Save ]   [ Cancel ]
+$ mask -s -b < maskform
+┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+│ Mail List Entry                                              │
+│                                                              │
+│ Name   : ________________________                            │
+│ Company: ________________________                            │
+│ Street : ________________________                            │
+│ City   : ________________  State: __________  ZIP: _________ │
+│ Phone  : ________________                                    │
+│                                                              │
+│    [ Save ]   [ Cancel ]                                     │
+└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
+
+Fields:
+  Name	row 4 col 12 width 24
+  Company	row 5 col 12 width 24
+  Street	row 6 col 12 width 24
+  City	row 7 col 12 width 16
+  State	row 7 col 37 width 10
+  ZIP	row 7 col 54 width 9
+  Phone	row 8 col 12 width 16
+  [Save]	row 10 col 6
+  [Cancel]	row 10 col 17 (cancels)
 ## reportwriter: a sample report with page headings (the date is cut out)
 $ reportwriter -3 Prices < inventory | grep -v 'Report Date'
                     Prices
@@ -777,9 +863,9 @@ Item   Amount   Cost     Value     Description
 ## tabletom4 / tabletosed / tabletostruct were shown above
 ## ===== Help and the terminal =====
 $ rdb --version
-rdb 0.2.0
+rdb 0.6.0
 $ howmany
-134
+136
 $ whatis row
   row       - make a new table where rows match logical condition
   row       row 'column condition column-or-value ..' < table
@@ -867,6 +953,16 @@ Date	Amount	Balance	Description
 ## tax: look up the tax for an income in a tax table
 $ tax 20000 < X83
   3369
+## tax also works with the real 2026 tables of DE, AT, CH (federal tax only) and LI (Landessteuer,
+## before the municipal surcharge of 150 % to 250 %); see README. Tax on an income of 60000:
+$ tax 60000 < taxDE2026
+  14233
+$ tax 60000 < taxAT2026
+  15447
+$ tax 60000 < taxCH2026
+    671
+$ tax 60000 < taxLI2026
+   1396
 ## explode: parts list -> all subparts with counts (part, amount)
 $ explode 10001 2 parttable
 Part	Amount
@@ -1039,3 +1135,27 @@ Item Number: (or hit Return key to exit.) Item=7  Amount=5  Cost=175.00  Value=8
 Amount Amount: Item Number: (or hit Return key to exit.) 
 $ grep '^7' inv
 7	9	175.00	1575	scales  
+## ===== Choosing rows on the terminal =====
+## pick shows a table, lets you scroll, filter (/) and mark rows (Space, -m), and writes the
+## chosen rows as a table, so it can sit in a pipe. It needs a terminal; -k feeds the keys instead.
+## Try it:  pick -m < inventory | total Amount Value
+## mark the 2nd and 5th row (down, space, down, down, space) and finish with enter
+$ pick -m -k 'down space down down space enter' < inventory
+Item	Amount	Cost	Value	Description
+----	------	----	-----	-----------
+2	100	0.50	50.00	test tubes
+5	99	2.45	242.55	cleaning cloth
+## the same chosen rows go on into total
+$ pick -m -k 'down space down down space enter' < inventory | total Amount Value
+Item	Amount	Cost	Value	Description
+----	------	----	-----	-----------
+	199		292.55	
+## filter with / (type, enter), then choose the row that is left
+$ pick -k '/clamps enter enter' < inventory
+Item	Amount	Cost	Value	Description
+----	------	----	-----	-----------
+3	6	8.00	48.00	clamps
+## Esc cancels: nothing on stdout, exit status 1
+$ pick -k esc < inventory ; echo "status $?"
+pick: nothing chosen
+status 1
@@ -0,0 +1,275 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require 'io/console'
+require 'open3'
+
+# mask -- a full-screen input form.  It reads the same kind of form as `screen`
+# (text with <Column> fields) but draws it itself and writes the row typed in as
+# a table on the standard output, so it works in a pipe:  mask < entry | append t
+#
+# Besides <Column> the form may contain
+#   <Column:20>   a field 20 characters wide (otherwise as wide as the <...>)
+#   [ Save ]      a button; Cancel, Abort, Quit or Abbrechen cancel, any other accepts
+#   <!command!>   replaced by the first line of the command's output
+# Frames are plain text in the form, or drawn around everything with -b.
+module Rdb
+  module Mask
+    Slot = Struct.new(:row, :col, :width, :name)
+    Button = Struct.new(:row, :col, :text, :label)
+    CANCEL = /\A(cancel|abort|quit|abbrechen)\z/i
+    TOKEN = /<!(.*?)!>|<([^<>!:\n]+?)(?::(\d+))?>|\[ *([^\[\]<>\n]*[^\[\]<>\s]) *\]/
+
+    class Form
+      attr_reader :lines, :slots, :buttons
+
+      def self.parse(text, frame: false)
+        lines = []
+        slots = []
+        buttons = []
+        text.each_line(chomp: true).with_index do |line, row|
+          out = +''
+          pos = 0
+          while (m = TOKEN.match(line, pos))
+            out << line[pos...m.begin(0)]
+            if m[1]
+              out << Open3.capture2('sh', '-c', m[1]).first.lines.first.to_s.chomp
+            elsif m[2]
+              width = m[3] ? m[3].to_i : m[0].size
+              slots << Slot.new(row, out.size, width, m[2].strip)
+              out << ' ' * width
+            else
+              buttons << Button.new(row, out.size, m[0], m[4].strip)
+              out << m[0]
+            end
+            pos = m.end(0)
+          end
+          lines << (out << line[pos..].to_s)
+        end
+        new(lines, slots, buttons).then { |f| frame ? f.framed : f }
+      end
+
+      def initialize(lines, slots, buttons)
+        @lines = lines
+        @slots = slots
+        @buttons = buttons
+      end
+
+      def names
+        @slots.map(&:name).uniq
+      end
+
+      # Fields (first slot of each column) and buttons in reading order.
+      def items
+        fields = @slots.uniq(&:name).map { |s| [:field, s] }
+        (fields + @buttons.map { |b| [:button, b] }).sort_by { |_, o| [o.row, o.col] }
+      end
+
+      def framed
+        w = @lines.map(&:size).max.to_i
+        lines = ["┌#{'─' * (w + 2)}┐"] + @lines.map { |l| "│ #{l.ljust(w)} │" } + ["└#{'─' * (w + 2)}┘"]
+        self.class.new(lines,
+                       @slots.map { |s| Slot.new(s.row + 1, s.col + 2, s.width, s.name) },
+                       @buttons.map { |b| Button.new(b.row + 1, b.col + 2, b.text, b.label) })
+      end
+    end
+
+    # The state of one input session: values, which item has the focus, and the keys.
+    class Session
+      attr_reader :values, :focus, :pos
+
+      def initialize(form)
+        @form = form
+        @items = form.items
+        @values = form.names.to_h { |n| [n, +''] }
+        @focus = 0
+        reset_pos
+      end
+
+      def kind = @items[@focus]&.first
+
+      def current = @items[@focus]&.last
+
+      def field? = kind == :field
+
+      # Feed one key; returns :accept or :cancel when the session ends.
+      def feed(key)
+        case key
+        when "\t", "\e[B", "\e[6~" then move(1)
+        when "\e[Z", "\e[A", "\e[5~" then move(-1)
+        when "\r", "\n" then return enter
+        when "\x03", "\e", "\x04" then return :cancel
+        when "\e[C" then @pos = [@pos + 1, text.size].min if field?
+        when "\e[D" then @pos = [@pos - 1, 0].max if field?
+        when "\e[H", "\e[1~", "\eOH", "\x01" then @pos = 0
+        when "\e[F", "\e[4~", "\eOF", "\x05" then @pos = text.size if field?
+        when "\x7f", "\b" then backspace
+        when "\e[3~" then delete
+        when "\x15" then clear_field
+        when ' '
+          return press unless field?
+
+          insert(key)
+        else insert(key) if key.size == 1 && key.ord >= 32
+        end
+        nil
+      end
+
+      # Plain-text picture of the form (no escapes), for `mask -s` and the tests.
+      def plain
+        grid = @form.lines.map(&:dup)
+        @form.slots.each { |s| grid[s.row][s.col, s.width] = '_' * s.width }
+        grid.join("\n") + "\n"
+      end
+
+      # Escape sequences that paint the whole screen.
+      def render
+        out = +"\e[?25l\e[H\e[2J"
+        @form.lines.each_with_index { |l, r| out << "\e[#{r + 1};1H#{l}" }
+        cursor = nil
+        @form.slots.each do |s|
+          focused = field? && current.name == s.name
+          start = focused ? view_start(s.width) : 0
+          shown = @values[s.name][start, s.width].to_s.ljust(s.width)
+          out << "\e[#{s.row + 1};#{s.col + 1}H\e[#{focused ? 7 : 4}m#{shown}\e[0m"
+          cursor = [s.row + 1, s.col + 1 + @pos - start] if focused && current.equal?(s)
+        end
+        @form.buttons.each do |b|
+          focused = kind == :button && current.equal?(b)
+          out << "\e[#{b.row + 1};#{b.col + 1}H\e[#{focused ? 7 : 1}m#{b.text}\e[0m"
+          cursor = [b.row + 1, b.col + 1] if focused
+        end
+        out << "\e[#{cursor[0]};#{cursor[1]}H" if cursor
+        out << "\e[?25h" if field?
+        out
+      end
+
+      private
+
+      def text = field? ? @values[current.name] : +''
+
+      def reset_pos
+        @pos = field? ? text.size : 0
+      end
+
+      def move(delta)
+        @focus = (@focus + delta) % [@items.size, 1].max
+        reset_pos
+      end
+
+      def enter
+        return press unless field?
+
+        last = @focus == @items.size - 1
+        return :accept if last && @form.buttons.empty?
+
+        move(1)
+        nil
+      end
+
+      def press
+        current.label.match?(CANCEL) ? :cancel : :accept
+      end
+
+      def insert(key)
+        return unless field?
+
+        text.insert(@pos, key)
+        @pos += 1
+      end
+
+      def backspace
+        return unless field? && @pos.positive?
+
+        text.slice!(@pos - 1)
+        @pos -= 1
+      end
+
+      def delete
+        text.slice!(@pos) if field?
+      end
+
+      def clear_field
+        return unless field?
+
+        text.clear
+        @pos = 0
+      end
+
+      def view_start(width)
+        [@pos - width + 1, 0].max
+      end
+    end
+
+    def self.read_key(io)
+      c = io.getch
+      return c unless c == "\e" && io.wait_readable(0.05)
+
+      seq = +"\e#{io.getch}"
+      if seq == "\e["
+        loop do
+          c = io.getch
+          seq << c
+          break if c.ord.between?(0x40, 0x7e)
+        end
+      elsif seq == "\eO"
+        seq << io.getch
+      end
+      seq
+    end
+
+    # Run the form on a terminal; returns the values, or nil when cancelled.
+    def self.run(form, tty)
+      session = Session.new(form)
+      tty.raw do
+        tty.write "\e[?1049h"
+        begin
+          loop do
+            tty.write session.render
+            key = begin
+              read_key(tty)
+            rescue EOFError
+              "\x03"
+            end
+            result = session.feed(key)
+            return (result == :accept ? session.values : nil) if result
+          end
+        ensure
+          tty.write "\e[?25h\e[?1049l"
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+Rdb.register('mask', 'Full-screen input form that writes a table row', 'mask [-b] [-s] [form] < form > table') do |args|
+  frame = !args.delete('-b').nil?
+  show = !args.delete('-s').nil?
+  die 'usage: mask [-b] [-s] [form] < form > table' if args.size > 1
+  file = args.first
+  file.nil? || file == '-' || File.exist?(file) or die("#{file}: no such form")
+  text = file && file != '-' ? File.read(file) : $stdin.read
+  form = Rdb::Mask::Form.parse(text, frame: frame)
+  die "the form has no <field>" if form.names.empty?
+
+  session = Rdb::Mask::Session.new(form)
+  if show
+    print session.plain
+    puts '', 'Fields:'
+    form.slots.each { |s| puts "  #{s.name}\trow #{s.row + 1} col #{s.col + 1} width #{s.width}" }
+    form.buttons.each { |b| puts "  [#{b.label}]\trow #{b.row + 1} col #{b.col + 1}#{b.label.match?(Rdb::Mask::CANCEL) ? ' (cancels)' : ''}" }
+    next
+  end
+
+  tty = begin
+    File.open('/dev/tty', 'r+')
+  rescue SystemCallError
+    die 'no terminal available (mask draws on /dev/tty)'
+  end
+  values = Rdb::Mask.run(form, tty)
+  tty.close
+  if values.nil?
+    warn 'mask: cancelled'
+    exit 1
+  end
+  Rdb::Table.new(form.names, [form.names.map { |n| values[n].tr("\t\r\n", ' ') }]).write
+end
@@ -0,0 +1,218 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require 'io/console'
+
+# pick -- look at a table on the terminal, scroll through it and choose one or
+# several rows.  The table comes in on the standard input, the chosen rows go
+# out on the standard output as a table, so it sits in the middle of a pipe:
+#   column Item Description < inventory | pick -m | total Item
+# The keys are read from /dev/tty (or, for scripts and tests, from -k).
+module Rdb
+  module Pick
+    KEYS = {
+      'up' => "\e[A", 'down' => "\e[B", 'pgup' => "\e[5~", 'pgdn' => "\e[6~",
+      'home' => "\e[H", 'end' => "\e[F", 'enter' => "\r", 'space' => ' ',
+      'esc' => "\e", 'backspace' => "\x7f"
+    }.freeze
+
+    # The state of one session: which rows are shown, where the cursor is,
+    # which rows are marked.  Knows nothing about the terminal.
+    class Session
+      attr_reader :head, :rows, :cursor, :top, :filter, :marked
+
+      def initialize(head, rows, multi: false)
+        @head = head
+        @rows = rows
+        @multi = multi
+        @marked = []
+        @filter = +''
+        @typing = false
+        @cursor = 0
+        @top = 0
+        @height = 20
+        @width = 80
+        refilter
+      end
+
+      def resize(height, width)
+        @height = [height, 1].max
+        @width = [width, 20].max
+        scroll
+      end
+
+      def typing? = @typing
+
+      # Indices (into rows) of the rows that pass the filter.
+      def visible = @visible
+
+      def current = @visible[@cursor]
+
+      # Rows to hand on: the marked ones, else the row under the cursor.
+      def selected
+        idx = @marked.empty? ? [current].compact : @marked.sort
+        idx.map { |i| @rows[i] }
+      end
+
+      # Returns :accept or :cancel when the session is over.
+      def feed(key)
+        @typing ? type(key) : browse(key)
+      end
+
+      def render
+        widths = @head.each_index.map { |i| ([@head[i]] + @rows.map { |r| r[i].to_s }).map(&:size).max }
+        line = ->(cells) { cells.each_with_index.map { |c, i| c.to_s.ljust(widths[i]) }.join('  ').rstrip }
+        out = +"\e[?25l\e[H"
+        out << "\e[K  \e[1m#{fit(line.(@head))}\e[0m\r\n"
+        out << "\e[K  #{fit(widths.map { |w| '-' * w }.join('  '))}\r\n"
+        @height.times do |n|
+          pos = @top + n
+          i = @visible[pos]
+          out << "\e[K"
+          if i
+            text = "#{@marked.include?(i) ? '*' : ' '} #{fit(line.(@rows[i]))}"
+            out << (pos == @cursor ? "\e[7m#{text}\e[0m" : text)
+          end
+          out << "\r\n"
+        end
+        out << "\e[K#{status}"
+        out
+      end
+
+      private
+
+      def fit(text) = text[0, @width - 2]
+
+      def status
+        keys = @typing ? 'type to filter  Enter keep  Esc clear' : "Enter ok#{'  Space mark  a all' if @multi}  / filter  Esc cancel"
+        filter = @filter.empty? && !@typing ? '' : "  /#{@filter}#{'_' if @typing}"
+        "\e[7m #{@visible.empty? ? 0 : @cursor + 1}/#{@visible.size} of #{@rows.size}" \
+          "#{"  marked #{@marked.size}" if @multi}#{filter}  #{keys} \e[0m"
+      end
+
+      def browse(key)
+        case key
+        when "\e[A" then move(-1)
+        when "\e[B" then move(1)
+        when "\e[5~" then move(-@height)
+        when "\e[6~" then move(@height)
+        when "\e[H", "\e[1~", "\eOH" then move(-@visible.size)
+        when "\e[F", "\e[4~", "\eOF" then move(@visible.size)
+        when "\r", "\n" then return selected.empty? ? :cancel : :accept
+        when ' ' then toggle
+        when 'a' then mark_all if @multi
+        when '/' then @typing = true
+        when "\x03", "\e", 'q' then return :cancel
+        end
+        nil
+      end
+
+      def type(key)
+        case key
+        when "\r", "\n" then @typing = false
+        when "\e" then @filter.clear; @typing = false; refilter
+        when "\x03" then return :cancel
+        when "\x7f", "\b" then @filter.chop!; refilter
+        else
+          if key.size == 1 && key.ord >= 32
+            @filter << key
+            refilter
+          end
+        end
+        nil
+      end
+
+      def refilter
+        needle = @filter.downcase
+        @visible = @rows.each_index.select { |i| needle.empty? || @rows[i].join("\t").downcase.include?(needle) }
+        @cursor = [@cursor, [@visible.size - 1, 0].max].min
+        scroll
+      end
+
+      def move(delta)
+        @cursor = (@cursor + delta).clamp(0, [@visible.size - 1, 0].max)
+        scroll
+      end
+
+      def scroll
+        @top = @cursor if @cursor < @top
+        @top = @cursor - @height + 1 if @cursor >= @top + @height
+        @top = 0 if @top.negative?
+      end
+
+      def toggle
+        return unless @multi && current
+
+        @marked.include?(current) ? @marked.delete(current) : @marked << current
+        move(1)
+      end
+
+      def mark_all
+        all = @visible.all? { |i| @marked.include?(i) }
+        all ? @marked -= @visible : @marked |= @visible
+      end
+    end
+
+    def self.run(session, tty)
+      tty.raw do
+        tty.write "\e[?1049h"
+        begin
+          loop do
+            rows, cols = tty.winsize
+            session.resize((rows.zero? ? 24 : rows) - 3, cols.zero? ? 80 : cols)
+            tty.write session.render
+            key = begin
+              Rdb::Mask.read_key(tty)
+            rescue EOFError
+              "\x03"
+            end
+            result = session.feed(key)
+            return result if result
+          end
+        ensure
+          tty.write "\e[?25h\e[?1049l"
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    # Words of a -k script: a name from KEYS, or else every character is one key.
+    def self.script(words)
+      words.split.flat_map { |w| KEYS.key?(w) ? [KEYS[w]] : w.chars }
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+Rdb.register('pick', 'Scroll through a table and choose one or more rows', 'pick [-m] [-k keys] < table > chosenrows') do |args|
+  multi = !args.delete('-m').nil?
+  keys = nil
+  if (i = args.index('-k'))
+    keys = args[i + 1] or die 'usage: pick [-m] [-k keys] < table'
+    args.slice!(i, 2)
+  end
+  die 'usage: pick [-m] [-k "down space enter"] < table > chosenrows' unless args.empty?
+
+  t = table_in
+  die 'pick: the table is empty' if t.rows.empty?
+  session = Rdb::Pick::Session.new(t.head, t.rows, multi: multi)
+
+  result = nil
+  if keys
+    session.resize(21, 80)
+    Rdb::Pick.script(keys).each do |k|
+      result = session.feed(k)
+      break if result
+    end
+  else
+    tty = begin
+      File.open('/dev/tty', 'r+')
+    rescue SystemCallError
+      die 'no terminal available (pick takes its keys from /dev/tty; see -k)'
+    end
+    result = Rdb::Pick.run(session, tty)
+    tty.close
+  end
+  unless result == :accept
+    warn 'pick: nothing chosen'
+    exit 1
+  end
+  Rdb::Table.new(t.head, session.selected).write
+end
@@ -72,8 +72,12 @@ end

 Rdb.register('record', 'Find and output a record from a table', 'record number < table') do |args|
  die 'usage: record number < table' unless args.size == 1
+  die "'#{args[0]}' is not a record number (1, 2, 3 ... or -1 for the last)" unless args[0].match?(/\A[+-]?\d+\z/)
+
+  # 0 and 1 are the first record; -1 is the last, -2 the one before it ...
  t = table_in
-  row = t.rows[args[0].to_i - 1]
+  n = args[0].to_i
+  row = n.negative? ? (t.rows[n] if -n <= t.rows.size) : t.rows[[n, 1].max - 1]
  t.with(rows: row ? [row] : []).write
 end

@@ -81,9 +81,10 @@ end
 # ---- manual pages ---------------------------------------------------------------

 def troff_clean(str)
-  str.gsub(/\\f[BIRP]/, '').gsub('\\e', '\\').gsub('\\(em', ' -- ').gsub('\\(aa', "'")
+  # a literal backslash (\\ or \e) is parked in \0 so that later rules cannot see it
+  str.gsub('\\\\', "\0").gsub(/\\f[BIRP]/, '').gsub('\\e', "\0").gsub('\\(em', ' -- ').gsub('\\(aa', "'")
     .gsub('\\-', '-').gsub('\\&', '').gsub('\\*(UX', 'UNIX').gsub('``', '"').gsub("''", '"').gsub('\\ ', ' ')
-     .gsub(/\\\(..|\\\*\(..|\\[a-z]/, '').gsub('\\\\', '\\')
+     .gsub(/\\\(..|\\\*\(..|\\[a-z]/, '').gsub("\0", '\\')
 end

 def render_man(src)
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true

 module Rdb
-  VERSION = '0.3.0'
+  VERSION = '0.6.0'
 end
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+.TH mask "" "" "/rdb Command"
+.PC "Full-screen input form that writes a table row"
+\fBmask \fB[ -b ] [ -s ] [ \fIform\fB ] < \fIform \fB> \fItable\fR
+.PP
+.II "mask^input form"
+.II "form^full-screen input"
+.I "(Ruby re-creation only; the original /rdb has no such command.)"
+.PP
+The command
+.B mask
+draws
+.I form
+on the terminal, lets the user fill in its fields, and writes the result as
+a one-row table on the standard output.
+Unlike
+.BR screen ,
+it does not write a shell script: it runs the form itself.
+The screen is drawn on
+.BR /dev/tty ,
+so the table can be redirected or piped:
+.DM
+mask < maskform > newrow
+mask < maskform | append -h customer
+.DE
+.PP
+.I form
+is ordinary text.
+Everything is shown as it stands, except:
+.IP "\fB<Column>\fR" 1.2i
+An input field for column
+.IR Column .
+It is as wide as the text between the angle brackets, including the brackets.
+Blanks around the name are ignored, so \fB< City >\fR is column \fBCity\fR.
+.IP "\fB<Column:20>\fR"
+The same, but 20 characters wide.
+Longer input scrolls inside the field.
+.IP "\fB[ Save ]\fR"
+A button.
+A button whose label is
+.BR Cancel ,
+.BR Abort ,
+.B Quit
+or
+.B Abbrechen
+cancels; any other button accepts.
+.IP "\fB<!command!>\fR"
+Replaced by the first line the shell
+.I command
+writes.
+.PP
+If a column occurs more than once in the form, it is one field,
+and every place shows what was typed.
+The table has one column per field, in the order of first appearance.
+Frames are made of characters in the form, for example \fB+---+\fR or
+box-drawing characters.
+.SH Keys
+.nf
+Tab, Down, Enter     next field or button
+Shift-Tab, Up        previous field or button
+Left, Right, Home, End   move inside a field
+Backspace, Delete    erase; Ctrl-U clears the field
+Enter, Space         on a button: press it
+Enter                on the last field of a form without buttons: accept
+Esc, Ctrl-C          cancel
+.fi
+.PP
+When the user cancels,
+.B mask
+writes nothing and exits with status 1.
+.SH Options
+.IP \fB-b\fR 0.5i
+Draw a frame around the whole form.
+.IP \fB-s\fR
+Show the form as a plain picture (fields as underscores) with the position of
+each field and button, and exit.
+This needs no terminal and is useful to check a form.
+.PP
+Like
+.BR screen ,
+.B mask
+reads the form from the standard input.
+A file name argument is also accepted, and
+.B -
+means the standard input.
+.SH Example
+Form
+.BR maskform :
+.DM
+Mail List Entry
+
+Name   : <Name:24>
+City   : <City:16>  State: <State:10>
+ 
+   [ Save ]   [ Cancel ]
+.DE
+.PP
+.DM
+mask -b < maskform > newrow
+.DE
+.PP
+After typing ``Ann'' and ``Rome'', pressing Tab to the buttons and Enter on
+.BR Save ,
+.B newrow
+contains:
+.DM
+Name   City    State
+----   ----    -----
+Ann    Rome
+.DE
+.SH "See Also"
+.B
+cursor,
+report,
+screen
+.R
+.SO rdb
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+.TH pick "" "" "/rdb Command"
+.PC "Scroll through a table and choose one or more rows"
+\fBpick \fB[ -m ] [ -k \fIkeys\fB ] < \fItable \fB> \fIchosenrows\fR
+.PP
+.II "pick^choose rows"
+.II "table^scroll"
+.I "(Ruby re-creation only; the original /rdb has no such command.)"
+.PP
+The command
+.B pick
+shows
+.I table
+on the terminal, lets the user scroll through it, and writes the rows
+that were chosen as a table on the standard output.
+It therefore fits into the middle of a pipe:
+.DM
+column Item Description < inventory | pick -m | jointable - owners
+pick -m < inventory | total Amount Value
+.DE
+.PP
+The table is read from the standard input;
+the keys are read from the terminal (\fB/dev/tty\fR).
+A list is read like a table, and the output is always a table.
+The head and the dash line stay at the top while the rows scroll.
+.SH Keys
+.nf
+Up, Down             move the cursor one row
+PgUp, PgDn           move a page
+Home, End            first or last row
+Enter                choose and finish
+Space                mark the row, move down (with -m)
+a                    mark all shown rows; again, unmark them (with -m)
+/                    filter: type text, shown rows must contain it
+                       (Enter keeps the filter, Esc clears it)
+Esc, q, Ctrl-C       cancel
+.fi
+.PP
+.B pick
+writes the marked rows in table order.
+If no row is marked, it writes the row under the cursor.
+Marks stay when a filter hides the row.
+If the user cancels, or the filter leaves no row to choose,
+.B pick
+writes nothing and exits with status 1.
+.SH Options
+.IP \fB-m\fR 0.5i
+Allow several rows: Space marks, \fBa\fR marks all.
+Without it, Enter chooses the row under the cursor.
+.IP "\fB-k\fR \fIkeys\fR"
+Take the keys from this string instead of the terminal.
+Words are key names:
+.BR up ,
+.BR down ,
+.BR pgup ,
+.BR pgdn ,
+.BR home ,
+.BR end ,
+.BR enter ,
+.BR space ,
+.BR esc ,
+.BR backspace ;
+any other word is typed character by character.
+This is for scripts, demonstrations and tests.
+.SH Example
+.DM
+pick -m -k 'down space down down space enter' < inventory
+.DE
+.PP
+marks the second and the fifth row and prints:
+.DM
+Item   Amount   Cost   Value    Description
+----   ------   ----   ------   --------------
+2      100      0.50   50.00    test tubes
+5      99       2.45   242.55   cleaning cloth
+.DE
+.SH "See Also"
+.B
+display,
+mask,
+row,
+search
+.R
+.SO rdb
@@ -59,6 +59,17 @@ you see output in the following format:
 .DM
 	Item 1 is rubber gloves
 .DE
+.SH "Record Numbers"
+.I "(Ruby re-creation only.)"
+Records are counted from 1.
+The numbers 0 and 1 both mean the first record.
+A negative number counts from the end:
+.B \-1
+is the last record,
+.B \-2
+the one before it, and so on.
+A number beyond either end gives a table without records.
+Anything that is not a whole number is an error.
 .SH "See Also"
 .B
 row,
@@ -191,6 +191,32 @@ Names that are also
 reserved words or are followed by
 .B (
 are never taken for columns.
+.SH "Using select in a Shell"
+.I "(Ruby re-creation only.)"
+.B select
+is another name for
+.BR row ,
+but in
+.BR bash ,
+.B zsh
+and
+.B ksh
+``select'' is a reserved word of the shell.
+The shell recognizes it before it looks for a program, so
+.DM
+select 'Cost > 5' < inventory
+.DE
+.PP
+stops with a syntax error at the ``<''.
+Use the name
+.B row
+instead, or protect the word from the shell:
+.DM
+row 'Cost > 5' < inventory
+\\select 'Cost > 5' < inventory
+command select 'Cost > 5' < inventory
+rdb select 'Cost > 5' < inventory
+.DE
 .SH "See Also"
 .B
 compute,
@@ -1,8 +1,29 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true

 require_relative 'test_helper'
+require 'pty'
+require_relative '../lib/rdb'

 class SelectionTest < RdbCase
+  def test_record_zero_and_one_are_the_first_and_negatives_count_from_the_end
+    { '0' => '1', '1' => '1', '2' => '3', '3' => '6', '-1' => '6', '-2' => '3', '-3' => '1', '+2' => '3' }.each do |n, item|
+      assert_equal [[item]], data(rdb('record', n, file: 'owners')).map { |r| r.first(1) }, "record #{n}"
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_record_beyond_either_end_is_an_empty_table
+    %w[4 9 -4 -9].each { |n| assert_equal [], data(rdb('record', n, file: 'owners')), "record #{n}" }
+  end
+
+  def test_record_rejects_junk
+    %w[abc 2.5 1e3].each do |n|
+      out, err, st = run3('record', n, stdin: File.read(File.join(@dir, 'owners')))
+      refute st.success?, "record #{n} should fail"
+      assert_equal '', out
+      assert_match(/not a record number/, err)
+    end
+  end
+
  def test_row_numeric_condition
    out = rdb('row', 'Cost > 5', file: 'inventory')
    assert_equal %w[3 6 7], data(out).map(&:first)
@@ -523,3 +544,238 @@ class ActTest < RdbCase
    assert_equal [%w[b]], data(out)
  end
 end
+
+class MaskTest < RdbCase
+  def form(text, frame: false) = Rdb::Mask::Form.parse(text, frame: frame)
+
+  def type(session, *keys)
+    keys.each { |k| k.start_with?("\e") || k.size == 1 ? session.feed(k) : k.each_char { |c| session.feed(c) } }
+  end
+
+  def test_parse_fields_buttons_and_width
+    f = form("Name: <Name:10> <  City >\n[ Save ] [Cancel]\n")
+    assert_equal %w[Name City], f.names
+    assert_equal [0, 6, 10], f.slots[0].to_a.first(3)
+    assert_equal 9, f.slots[1].width # the width of "<  City >"
+    assert_equal %w[Save Cancel], f.buttons.map(&:label)
+    assert_equal ["Name: #{' ' * 10} #{' ' * 9}", '[ Save ] [Cancel]'], f.lines
+  end
+
+  def test_command_in_form_and_frame
+    f = form("<!echo hi!> <A>\n", frame: true)
+    assert_equal '│ hi     │', f.lines[1]
+    assert_equal [1, 5], f.slots.first.to_a.first(2)
+  end
+
+  def test_typing_and_navigation
+    s = Rdb::Mask::Session.new(form("<A:5> <B:5> [ OK ] [ Cancel ]\n"))
+    type(s, 'one', "\t", 'two', "\x7f", "\r")
+    assert_equal({ 'A' => 'one', 'B' => 'tw' }, s.values)
+    assert_equal :button, s.kind
+    assert_equal :accept, s.feed("\r")
+  end
+
+  def test_cancel_by_button_and_escape
+    s = Rdb::Mask::Session.new(form("<A:5> [ Save ] [ Abbrechen ]\n"))
+    s.feed("\e[Z")
+    assert_equal :cancel, s.feed(' ')
+    assert_equal :cancel, Rdb::Mask::Session.new(form("<A>\n")).feed("\e")
+  end
+
+  def test_enter_on_last_field_accepts_without_buttons
+    s = Rdb::Mask::Session.new(form("<A:3> <B:3>\n"))
+    assert_nil s.feed("\r")
+    assert_equal :accept, s.feed("\r")
+  end
+
+  def test_same_column_twice_is_one_field
+    s = Rdb::Mask::Session.new(form("<A:3> <A:3>\n"))
+    type(s, 'xy')
+    assert_equal({ 'A' => 'xy' }, s.values)
+    assert_equal %w[A], form("<A:3> <A:3>\n").names
+  end
+
+  def test_show_prints_picture_without_terminal
+    write('f', "Name: <Name:6>\n[ Save ] [ Cancel ]\n")
+    out = rdb('mask', '-s', file: 'f')
+    assert_includes out, "Name: ______\n[ Save ] [ Cancel ]"
+    assert_includes out, "  Name\trow 1 col 7 width 6"
+    assert_includes out, "  [Cancel]\trow 2 col 10 (cancels)"
+    assert_equal out, rdb('mask', '-s', 'f') # a file name works too
+  end
+
+  # Drive mask on a pseudo terminal; its table goes to a file, like in a pipe.
+  def run_on_pty(*keys)
+    out = File.join(@dir, 'mask.out')
+    result = nil
+    PTY.spawn({ 'PATH' => "#{BIN}:#{ENV['PATH']}" }, 'sh', '-c', "cd #{@dir} && mask < f > mask.out") do |r, w, pid|
+      sleep 0.5
+      keys.each do |k|
+        w.write k
+        sleep 0.1
+        r.read_nonblock(65_536) rescue nil
+      end
+      sleep 0.3
+      r.read_nonblock(65_536) rescue nil
+      _, st = Process.wait2(pid)
+      result = [File.exist?(out) ? File.read(out) : '', st.exitstatus]
+    end
+    result
+  end
+
+  def test_mask_on_a_terminal_writes_a_table
+    write('f', "Name: <Name:10>\nCity: <City:10>\n[ Save ] [ Cancel ]\n")
+    table, status = run_on_pty("Ann\r", "Rome\r", "\r")
+    assert_equal 0, status
+    assert_equal "Name\tCity\n----\t----\nAnn\tRome\n", table
+  end
+
+  def test_mask_cancel_writes_nothing
+    write('f', "Name: <Name:10>\n[ Save ] [ Cancel ]\n")
+    table, status = run_on_pty("Ann", "\e[Z", "\r")
+    assert_equal 1, status
+    assert_equal '', table
+  end
+end
+
+class PickTest < RdbCase
+  def session(multi: true, height: 3)
+    t = Rdb::Table.read(File.open(File.join(DEMO, 'inventory')))
+    Rdb::Pick::Session.new(t.head, t.rows, multi: multi).tap { |x| x.resize(height, 80) }
+  end
+
+  def keys(sess, words) = Rdb::Pick.script(words).map { |k| sess.feed(k) }.compact.last
+
+  def test_mark_and_select
+    s = session
+    assert_equal :accept, keys(s, 'down space down down space enter')
+    assert_equal %w[2 5], s.selected.map(&:first)
+  end
+
+  def test_single_mode_takes_the_cursor_row_and_ignores_space
+    s = session(multi: false)
+    assert_equal :accept, keys(s, 'down down space enter')
+    assert_equal %w[3], s.selected.map(&:first)
+  end
+
+  def test_scrolling_keeps_the_cursor_in_view
+    s = session(height: 3)
+    keys(s, 'down down down down')
+    assert_equal [4, 2], [s.cursor, s.top]
+    keys(s, 'end')
+    assert_equal [6, 4], [s.cursor, s.top]
+    keys(s, 'pgup')
+    assert_equal 3, s.cursor
+    keys(s, 'home')
+    assert_equal [0, 0], [s.cursor, s.top]
+  end
+
+  def test_filter_and_clear
+    s = session
+    keys(s, '/clam')
+    assert_predicate s, :typing?
+    keys(s, 'enter')
+    assert_equal [2], s.visible
+    keys(s, '/ esc')
+    assert_equal 7, s.visible.size
+  end
+
+  def test_marks_survive_a_filter_and_a_all_toggles
+    s = session
+    keys(s, 'space /scales enter')
+    assert_equal [0], s.marked
+    keys(s, 'a')
+    assert_equal [0, 6], s.marked.sort
+    keys(s, 'a')
+    assert_equal [0], s.marked
+  end
+
+  def test_cancel_and_empty_choice
+    assert_equal :cancel, keys(session, 'esc')
+    assert_equal :cancel, keys(session, '/zzz enter enter')
+  end
+
+  def test_command_with_keys_script_is_a_filter
+    out = rdb('pick', '-m', '-k', 'down space down down space enter', file: 'inventory')
+    assert_equal %w[2 5], data(out).map(&:first)
+    assert_equal '292.55', data(rdb('total', 'Value', stdin: out)).first[3]
+  end
+
+  def test_command_cancelled_exits_1_with_no_output
+    out, _err, st = run3('pick', '-k', 'esc', stdin: File.read(File.join(@dir, 'inventory')))
+    refute st.success?
+    assert_equal '', out
+  end
+
+  def test_command_reads_a_list
+    out = rdb('pick', '-k', 'down enter', stdin: rdb('tabletolist', file: 'owners'))
+    assert_equal [%w[3 bob]], data(out)
+  end
+
+  def run_on_pty(*key_strokes)
+    out = File.join(@dir, 'pick.out')
+    result = nil
+    PTY.spawn({ 'PATH' => "#{BIN}:#{ENV['PATH']}" }, 'sh', '-c', "cd #{@dir} && pick -m < inventory > pick.out") do |r, w, pid|
+      sleep 0.5
+      key_strokes.each do |k|
+        w.write k
+        sleep 0.1
+        r.read_nonblock(65_536) rescue nil
+      end
+      sleep 0.3
+      r.read_nonblock(65_536) rescue nil
+      _, st = Process.wait2(pid)
+      result = [File.exist?(out) ? File.read(out) : '', st.exitstatus]
+    end
+    result
+  end
+
+  def test_pick_on_a_terminal
+    table, status = run_on_pty("\e[B", ' ', "\e[B", ' ', "\r")
+    assert_equal 0, status
+    assert_equal %w[2 4], data(table).map(&:first)
+  end
+
+  def test_pick_on_a_terminal_cancel
+    table, status = run_on_pty("\e[B", "\e")
+    assert_equal 1, status
+    assert_equal '', table
+  end
+end
+
+class TaxTablesTest < RdbCase
+  def tax(income, table) = rdb('tax', income.to_s, file: table).to_i
+
+  def test_at_2026
+    assert_equal 0, tax(13_539, 'taxAT2026')
+    assert_equal 11_447, tax(50_000, 'taxAT2026') # 6 030.40 + 13 542 * 40 %
+    assert_equal 33_818, tax(100_000, 'taxAT2026')
+  end
+
+  def test_ch_federal_2026
+    assert_equal 0, tax(15_200, 'taxCH2026')
+    assert_equal 401, tax(50_000, 'taxCH2026')
+    assert_equal 2684, tax(100_000, 'taxCH2026')
+    assert_equal 91_310, tax(794_000, 'taxCH2026')
+  end
+
+  def test_li_landessteuer_2026
+    assert_equal 996, tax(50_000, 'taxLI2026')   # 0,04 * x - 1 004
+    assert_equal 3256, tax(100_000, 'taxLI2026') # 0,05 * x - 1 744
+    assert_equal 10_464, tax(211_400, 'taxLI2026')
+    assert_equal 0, tax(15_855, 'taxLI2026')
+  end
+
+  # § 32a EStG: the table is a straight-line approximation of the curved zones
+  def test_de_2026_follows_the_formula
+    [12_348, 14_000, 17_799, 20_000, 33_333, 50_000, 69_878, 100_000, 277_825, 300_000].each do |x|
+      exact = if x <= 12_348 then 0
+              elsif x <= 17_799 then y = (x - 12_348) / 10_000.0; ((914.51 * y) + 1400) * y
+              elsif x <= 69_878 then z = (x - 17_799) / 10_000.0; (((173.10 * z) + 2397) * z) + 1034.87
+              elsif x <= 277_825 then (0.42 * x) - 11_135.63
+              else (0.45 * x) - 19_470.38
+              end
+      assert_in_delta exact.floor, tax(x, 'taxDE2026'), 1, "income #{x}"
+    end
+  end
+end
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+# Writes the 2026 income tax tables in the format of `tax` (income, tax, percent)
+# into demo/. Sources: § 32a EStG (DE), § 33 EStG (AT), Tarif 2026 Art. 36 DBG (CH,
+# ESTV Rundschreiben 2-215-D-2025), Art. 19 SteG LR 640.0, Fassung 01.07.2026 (LI).
+#   ruby tools/gen_tax_tables.rb
+
+DEMO = File.expand_path('../demo', __dir__)
+
+def write_table(name, points)
+  rows = points.map { |i, t, p| [i.to_s, format('%.2f', t), format('%.6f', p).sub(/0+\z/, '').sub(/\.\z/, '')] }
+  File.write(File.join(DEMO, name), "income\ttax\tpercent\n------\t---\t-------\n#{rows.map { |r| r.join("\t") }.join("\n")}\n")
+end
+
+# --- Germany: single assessment, § 32a Abs. 1 (the zones 2 and 3 are curves, so
+# the table approximates them with short straight pieces; error below one euro)
+def de_tax(x)
+  if x <= 12_348 then 0.0
+  elsif x <= 17_799 then y = (x - 12_348) / 10_000.0; ((914.51 * y) + 1400) * y
+  elsif x <= 69_878 then z = (x - 17_799) / 10_000.0; (((173.10 * z) + 2397) * z) + 1034.87
+  elsif x <= 277_825 then (0.42 * x) - 11_135.63
+  else (0.45 * x) - 19_470.38
+  end
+end
+
+de = [12_348] + (12_598..17_798).step(250).to_a + [17_799] + (18_049..69_549).step(250).to_a + [69_879, 277_826]
+pts = de.each_with_index.map do |i, n|
+  nxt = de[n + 1]
+  slope = nxt ? (de_tax(nxt) - de_tax(i)) / (nxt - i) * 100 : 45.0
+  [i, de_tax(i), slope]
+end
+write_table('taxDE2026', [[0, 0.0, 0.0]] + pts)
+
+# --- Austria: § 33 EStG, the tariff before the Absetzbeträge
+at = [[13_539, 20], [21_992, 30], [36_458, 40], [70_365, 48], [104_859, 50], [1_000_000, 55]]
+acc = 0.0
+prev = [0, 0]
+pts = [[0, 0.0, 0.0]]
+at.each do |limit, rate|
+  acc += (limit - prev[0]) * prev[1] / 100.0
+  pts << [limit, acc, rate]
+  prev = [limit, rate]
+end
+write_table('taxAT2026', pts)
+
+# --- Switzerland: direct federal tax, Art. 36 DBG, single persons (without canton and municipality)
+ch = [[0, 0, 0], [15_200, 0, 0.77], [33_200, 138.60, 0.88], [43_500, 229.20, 2.64], [58_000, 612.00, 2.97],
+      [76_200, 1152.50, 5.94], [82_100, 1502.95, 6.60], [108_900, 3271.75, 8.80], [141_500, 6140.55, 11.00],
+      [185_100, 10_936.55, 13.20], [793_900, 91_298.15, 11.85], [794_000, 91_310.00, 11.50]]
+write_table('taxCH2026', ch)
+
+# --- Liechtenstein: Landessteuer, Art. 19 Abs. 1 Bst. a SteG; the municipal surcharge
+# (150 % to 250 % of it) comes on top: total = Landessteuer * (1 + surcharge / 100)
+li_rates = [[15_900, 1], [21_100, 3], [42_300, 4], [74_000, 5], [105_700, 6], [137_400, 6.5], [169_200, 7], [211_400, 8]]
+acc = 0.0
+prev = [15_855, 0]
+pts = [[0, 0.0, 0.0]]
+li_rates.each do |limit, rate|
+  acc += (limit - prev[0]) * prev[1] / 100.0 if prev[1].positive?
+  pts << [limit, acc, rate]
+  prev = [limit, rate]
+end
+write_table('taxLI2026', pts)
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
wkh	1c66773ff4	Version 0.6.0: Steuertabellen 2026, record mit negativen Nummern, select-Hinweis	2026-10-11 22:55:35 +02:00
wkh	e1bdb6c703	Changelog geordnet	2026-10-11 22:51:52 +02:00
wkh	777a3b56e2	record: 0 und 1 = erste Zeile, negative Nummern zählen vom Ende	2026-10-11 22:51:43 +02:00
wkh	d5286c3600	record: Nummern unter 1 und Text sind ein Fehler statt Zeilen vom Ende	2026-10-11 22:48:42 +02:00
wkh	f83d1bd6f8	Steuertabellen 2026 für DE, AT, CH (Bund) und LI (Land) zu tax	2026-10-11 22:44:45 +02:00
wkh	6c0d675c5d	Hinweis zu select (README, row.man); Backslash in rdb man korrigiert	2026-10-11 22:35:37 +02:00
wkh	d2c4343136	Version 0.5.0: pick, Zeilen auf dem Terminal wählen	2026-10-11 22:25:45 +02:00
wkh	e7a7577900	Version 0.4.0: mask, eine Eingabemaske mit eigener Oberfläche	2026-10-11 22:08:38 +02:00
wkh	837a73366d	demo: Eingabemaske entry für screen	2026-10-11 21:54:38 +02:00