You can specify an absolute character position, or a position relative to the current position of the text cursor. In a textual region, the positive directions are right and down, the same direction in which English text is written. You can specify movement in a negative direction; for example, the action statement below moves the text cursor 10 columns to the left and 5 lines up.

move -10 columns -5 lines

The column number and line number of a textual region refer to the entire textual region, not just to the part of the textual region that is in the window. For example, the window of a particular textual region might show only columns 5 through 45 of lines 13 through 18. A textual region has only positive lines and columns; you cannot address a non-positive (0 or below) line or column number.

If you define a textual region without specifying any contents for it, it will contain no columns or lines.