From 572643330993c2d1efc27da8f1a659fe52f938e9 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Nathan Cooper <nathanacooper@proton.me>
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2026 18:26:50 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 1/7] Add view_files for viewing several files in one call

---
 fastcore/_modidx.py   |  3 ++-
 fastcore/editskill.py |  4 ++--
 fastcore/tools.py     | 13 ++++++++++++-
 nbs/12_tools.ipynb    | 41 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 4 files changed, 57 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/fastcore/_modidx.py b/fastcore/_modidx.py
index d380de33..a8200d0e 100644
--- a/fastcore/_modidx.py
+++ b/fastcore/_modidx.py
@@ -743,7 +743,8 @@
                                 'fastcore.tools.replace_lines': ('tools.html#replace_lines', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
                                 'fastcore.tools.str_replace': ('tools.html#str_replace', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
                                 'fastcore.tools.strs_replace': ('tools.html#strs_replace', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
-                                'fastcore.tools.view_file': ('tools.html#view_file', 'fastcore/tools.py')},
+                                'fastcore.tools.view_file': ('tools.html#view_file', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
+                                'fastcore.tools.view_files': ('tools.html#view_files', 'fastcore/tools.py')},
             'fastcore.transform': {},
             'fastcore.utils': {},
             'fastcore.xdg': { 'fastcore.xdg._path_from_env': ('xdg.html#_path_from_env', 'fastcore/xdg.py'),
diff --git a/fastcore/editskill.py b/fastcore/editskill.py
index 86a4b46d..334c5d51 100644
--- a/fastcore/editskill.py
+++ b/fastcore/editskill.py
@@ -52,13 +52,13 @@
 
 from fastcore.tools import (insert_line, str_replace, strs_replace, replace_lines, del_lines, ast_replace,
     file_insert_line, file_str_replace, file_strs_replace, file_replace_lines, file_del_lines, file_ast_replace,
-    view_file, create_file, line_hash, lnhash, lnhash_at)
+    view_file, view_files, create_file, line_hash, lnhash, lnhash_at)
 from fastcore.nbio import (read_nb, write_nb, new_nb, mk_cell, validate_nb, validate_cell, repair_nb, repair_cell,
     view_cell, cell_insert_line, cell_str_replace, cell_strs_replace, cell_replace_lines, cell_del_lines, cell_ast_replace, Notebook, NbCell, find_cells, summary_nb)
 
 __all__ = ['insert_line', 'str_replace', 'strs_replace', 'replace_lines', 'del_lines', 'ast_replace',
     'file_insert_line', 'file_str_replace', 'file_strs_replace', 'file_replace_lines', 'file_del_lines', 'file_ast_replace',
-    'view_file', 'create_file', 'line_hash', 'lnhash', 'lnhash_at',
+    'view_file', 'view_files', 'create_file', 'line_hash', 'lnhash', 'lnhash_at',
     'read_nb', 'write_nb', 'new_nb', 'mk_cell', 'validate_nb', 'validate_cell', 'repair_nb', 'repair_cell',
     'view_cell', 'cell_insert_line', 'cell_str_replace', 'cell_strs_replace', 'cell_replace_lines', 'cell_del_lines', 'cell_ast_replace', 'Notebook', 'NbCell', 'find_cells', 'summary_nb']
 
diff --git a/fastcore/tools.py b/fastcore/tools.py
index bbb27f49..553d2988 100644
--- a/fastcore/tools.py
+++ b/fastcore/tools.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 # %% auto #0
 __all__ = ['file_insert_line', 'file_str_replace', 'file_strs_replace', 'file_replace_lines', 'file_del_lines',
            'file_ast_replace', 'insert_line', 'str_replace', 'strs_replace', 'replace_lines', 'del_lines', 'line_hash',
-           'lnhash', 'lnhash_at', 'view_file', 'create_file', 'file_edit', 'ast_replace']
+           'lnhash', 'lnhash_at', 'view_file', 'view_files', 'create_file', 'file_edit', 'ast_replace']
 
 # %% ../nbs/12_tools.ipynb #578246d2
 import zlib
@@ -185,6 +185,17 @@ def view_file(
     fmt = (lambda i,l: lnhash(i,l)+l) if lnhashs else (lambda i,l: f'{i}: {l}') if nums else (lambda i,l: l)
     return PrettyString('\n'.join(fmt(i,l) for i,l in enumerate(lines[start_line-1:end_line], start_line)))
 
+# %% ../nbs/12_tools.ipynb #aaba417a
+def view_files(
+    *paths:str, # Paths to view (each expands `~` if needed)
+    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view (applied to each file)
+    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line)
+    nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?
+    lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?
+):
+    "Show several files, each preceded by a `# file <path>` header"
+    return PrettyString('\n'.join(f'# file {p}\n{view_file(p, start_line, end_line, nums=nums, lnhashs=lnhashs)}' for p in paths))
+
 # %% ../nbs/12_tools.ipynb #424d09e1
 def create_file(
     path:str, # Path to create (expands `~` if needed)
diff --git a/nbs/12_tools.ipynb b/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
index cb7b4dc0..62f545c3 100644
--- a/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
+++ b/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
@@ -552,6 +552,47 @@
     "res"
    ]
   },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "id": "aaba417a",
+   "metadata": {},
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "#| export\n",
+    "def view_files(\n",
+    "    *paths:str, # Paths to view (each expands `~` if needed)\n",
+    "    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view (applied to each file)\n",
+    "    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line)\n",
+    "    nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?\n",
+    "    lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?\n",
+    "):\n",
+    "    \"Show several files, each preceded by a `# file <path>` header\"\n",
+    "    return PrettyString('\\n'.join(f'# file {p}\\n{view_file(p, start_line, end_line, nums=nums, lnhashs=lnhashs)}' for p in paths))"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "markdown",
+   "id": "a6223841",
+   "metadata": {},
+   "source": [
+    "`view_files` reads several files in one call, following the `view_msgs`/`lnhashview_cells` convention: a `# file <path>` header before each, and any line range applied to each file separately."
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "id": "325d8a6a",
+   "metadata": {},
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "p2 = Path(tmp.name)/'other.txt'\n",
+    "p2.write_text('one\\ntwo\\n')\n",
+    "res = view_files(test_path, p2, start_line=2, end_line=2)\n",
+    "test_eq(res, f'# file {test_path}\\n2: beta\\n# file {p2}\\n2: two')\n",
+    "res"
+   ]
+  },
   {
    "cell_type": "code",
    "execution_count": null,

From 20717a119f9e22cf8b8bc05abd034b6ba7e3594c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Nathan Cooper <nathanacooper@proton.me>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2026 14:13:38 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 2/7] Rework: view_file takes *args instead of adding
 view_files

---
 fastcore/_modidx.py   |  4 ++--
 fastcore/editskill.py |  4 ++--
 fastcore/tools.py     | 37 ++++++++++++++---------------
 nbs/12_tools.ipynb    | 55 ++++++++++++++++++-------------------------
 4 files changed, 45 insertions(+), 55 deletions(-)

diff --git a/fastcore/_modidx.py b/fastcore/_modidx.py
index a8200d0e..cf5fbaaf 100644
--- a/fastcore/_modidx.py
+++ b/fastcore/_modidx.py
@@ -732,6 +732,7 @@
                                'fastcore.test.test_stdout': ('test.html#test_stdout', 'fastcore/test.py'),
                                'fastcore.test.test_warns': ('test.html#test_warns', 'fastcore/test.py')},
             'fastcore.tools': { 'fastcore.tools._norm_lines': ('tools.html#_norm_lines', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
+                                'fastcore.tools._view_file': ('tools.html#_view_file', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
                                 'fastcore.tools.ast_replace': ('tools.html#ast_replace', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
                                 'fastcore.tools.create_file': ('tools.html#create_file', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
                                 'fastcore.tools.del_lines': ('tools.html#del_lines', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
@@ -743,8 +744,7 @@
                                 'fastcore.tools.replace_lines': ('tools.html#replace_lines', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
                                 'fastcore.tools.str_replace': ('tools.html#str_replace', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
                                 'fastcore.tools.strs_replace': ('tools.html#strs_replace', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
-                                'fastcore.tools.view_file': ('tools.html#view_file', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
-                                'fastcore.tools.view_files': ('tools.html#view_files', 'fastcore/tools.py')},
+                                'fastcore.tools.view_file': ('tools.html#view_file', 'fastcore/tools.py')},
             'fastcore.transform': {},
             'fastcore.utils': {},
             'fastcore.xdg': { 'fastcore.xdg._path_from_env': ('xdg.html#_path_from_env', 'fastcore/xdg.py'),
diff --git a/fastcore/editskill.py b/fastcore/editskill.py
index 334c5d51..86a4b46d 100644
--- a/fastcore/editskill.py
+++ b/fastcore/editskill.py
@@ -52,13 +52,13 @@
 
 from fastcore.tools import (insert_line, str_replace, strs_replace, replace_lines, del_lines, ast_replace,
     file_insert_line, file_str_replace, file_strs_replace, file_replace_lines, file_del_lines, file_ast_replace,
-    view_file, view_files, create_file, line_hash, lnhash, lnhash_at)
+    view_file, create_file, line_hash, lnhash, lnhash_at)
 from fastcore.nbio import (read_nb, write_nb, new_nb, mk_cell, validate_nb, validate_cell, repair_nb, repair_cell,
     view_cell, cell_insert_line, cell_str_replace, cell_strs_replace, cell_replace_lines, cell_del_lines, cell_ast_replace, Notebook, NbCell, find_cells, summary_nb)
 
 __all__ = ['insert_line', 'str_replace', 'strs_replace', 'replace_lines', 'del_lines', 'ast_replace',
     'file_insert_line', 'file_str_replace', 'file_strs_replace', 'file_replace_lines', 'file_del_lines', 'file_ast_replace',
-    'view_file', 'view_files', 'create_file', 'line_hash', 'lnhash', 'lnhash_at',
+    'view_file', 'create_file', 'line_hash', 'lnhash', 'lnhash_at',
     'read_nb', 'write_nb', 'new_nb', 'mk_cell', 'validate_nb', 'validate_cell', 'repair_nb', 'repair_cell',
     'view_cell', 'cell_insert_line', 'cell_str_replace', 'cell_strs_replace', 'cell_replace_lines', 'cell_del_lines', 'cell_ast_replace', 'Notebook', 'NbCell', 'find_cells', 'summary_nb']
 
diff --git a/fastcore/tools.py b/fastcore/tools.py
index 553d2988..b3a58b8b 100644
--- a/fastcore/tools.py
+++ b/fastcore/tools.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 # %% auto #0
 __all__ = ['file_insert_line', 'file_str_replace', 'file_strs_replace', 'file_replace_lines', 'file_del_lines',
            'file_ast_replace', 'insert_line', 'str_replace', 'strs_replace', 'replace_lines', 'del_lines', 'line_hash',
-           'lnhash', 'lnhash_at', 'view_file', 'view_files', 'create_file', 'file_edit', 'ast_replace']
+           'lnhash', 'lnhash_at', 'view_file', 'create_file', 'file_edit', 'ast_replace']
 
 # %% ../nbs/12_tools.ipynb #578246d2
 import zlib
@@ -167,34 +167,33 @@ def lnhash_at(
     return lnhash(line, s[line-1])
 
 # %% ../nbs/12_tools.ipynb #806c957b
-def view_file(
-    path:str, # Path to view (expands `~` if needed)
-    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view
-    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line - handy when the file size is unknown)
-    nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?
-    lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?
-):
-    "Read file contents, optionally limited to 1-based line range"
-    path = Path(path).expanduser()
-    lines = path.read_text().splitlines()
+def _view_file(path, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs):
+    lines = Path(path).expanduser().read_text().splitlines()
     if not lines: return ''
     if end_line is None: end_line = len(lines)
     if end_line < 0: end_line = len(lines)+end_line+1
     if not (1 <= start_line <= len(lines)): return f'error: Invalid start_line {start_line}. Valid range: 1-{len(lines)}'
     if end_line > len(lines): end_line = len(lines)
     fmt = (lambda i,l: lnhash(i,l)+l) if lnhashs else (lambda i,l: f'{i}: {l}') if nums else (lambda i,l: l)
-    return PrettyString('\n'.join(fmt(i,l) for i,l in enumerate(lines[start_line-1:end_line], start_line)))
+    return '\n'.join(fmt(i,l) for i,l in enumerate(lines[start_line-1:end_line], start_line))
 
-# %% ../nbs/12_tools.ipynb #aaba417a
-def view_files(
-    *paths:str, # Paths to view (each expands `~` if needed)
-    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view (applied to each file)
-    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line)
+def view_file(
+    *args:str|int, # Paths to view (each expands `~` if needed); up to two int args are `start_line`/`end_line`
+    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view
+    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line - handy when the file size is unknown)
     nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?
     lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?
 ):
-    "Show several files, each preceded by a `# file <path>` header"
-    return PrettyString('\n'.join(f'# file {p}\n{view_file(p, start_line, end_line, nums=nums, lnhashs=lnhashs)}' for p in paths))
+    "Read one or more files, optionally limited to 1-based line range; each file follows a `# file <path>` header when several"
+    lns = [o for o in args if isinstance(o,int)]
+    paths = [o for o in args if not isinstance(o,int)]
+    if not paths: raise TypeError("view_file() requires at least one path")
+    if len(lns)>2: raise TypeError(f"At most two int args (start_line, end_line), got {len(lns)}")
+    if lns: start_line = lns[0]
+    if len(lns)==2: end_line = lns[1]
+    res = [_view_file(p, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs) for p in paths]
+    if len(res)==1: return PrettyString(res[0])
+    return PrettyString('\n'.join(f'# file {p}\n{r}' for p,r in zip(paths,res)))
 
 # %% ../nbs/12_tools.ipynb #424d09e1
 def create_file(
diff --git a/nbs/12_tools.ipynb b/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
index 62f545c3..4dcbe26c 100644
--- a/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
+++ b/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
@@ -459,23 +459,33 @@
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
     "#| export\n",
-    "def view_file(\n",
-    "    path:str, # Path to view (expands `~` if needed)\n",
-    "    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view\n",
-    "    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line - handy when the file size is unknown)\n",
-    "    nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?\n",
-    "    lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?\n",
-    "):\n",
-    "    \"Read file contents, optionally limited to 1-based line range\"\n",
-    "    path = Path(path).expanduser()\n",
-    "    lines = path.read_text().splitlines()\n",
+    "def _view_file(path, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs):\n",
+    "    lines = Path(path).expanduser().read_text().splitlines()\n",
     "    if not lines: return ''\n",
     "    if end_line is None: end_line = len(lines)\n",
     "    if end_line < 0: end_line = len(lines)+end_line+1\n",
     "    if not (1 <= start_line <= len(lines)): return f'error: Invalid start_line {start_line}. Valid range: 1-{len(lines)}'\n",
     "    if end_line > len(lines): end_line = len(lines)\n",
     "    fmt = (lambda i,l: lnhash(i,l)+l) if lnhashs else (lambda i,l: f'{i}: {l}') if nums else (lambda i,l: l)\n",
-    "    return PrettyString('\\n'.join(fmt(i,l) for i,l in enumerate(lines[start_line-1:end_line], start_line)))"
+    "    return '\\n'.join(fmt(i,l) for i,l in enumerate(lines[start_line-1:end_line], start_line))\n",
+    "\n",
+    "def view_file(\n",
+    "    *args:str|int, # Paths to view (each expands `~` if needed); up to two int args are `start_line`/`end_line`\n",
+    "    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view\n",
+    "    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line - handy when the file size is unknown)\n",
+    "    nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?\n",
+    "    lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?\n",
+    "):\n",
+    "    \"Read one or more files, optionally limited to 1-based line range; each file follows a `# file <path>` header when several\"\n",
+    "    lns = [o for o in args if isinstance(o,int)]\n",
+    "    paths = [o for o in args if not isinstance(o,int)]\n",
+    "    if not paths: raise TypeError(\"view_file() requires at least one path\")\n",
+    "    if len(lns)>2: raise TypeError(f\"At most two int args (start_line, end_line), got {len(lns)}\")\n",
+    "    if lns: start_line = lns[0]\n",
+    "    if len(lns)==2: end_line = lns[1]\n",
+    "    res = [_view_file(p, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs) for p in paths]\n",
+    "    if len(res)==1: return PrettyString(res[0])\n",
+    "    return PrettyString('\\n'.join(f'# file {p}\\n{r}' for p,r in zip(paths,res)))"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -552,31 +562,12 @@
     "res"
    ]
   },
-  {
-   "cell_type": "code",
-   "execution_count": null,
-   "id": "aaba417a",
-   "metadata": {},
-   "outputs": [],
-   "source": [
-    "#| export\n",
-    "def view_files(\n",
-    "    *paths:str, # Paths to view (each expands `~` if needed)\n",
-    "    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view (applied to each file)\n",
-    "    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line)\n",
-    "    nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?\n",
-    "    lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?\n",
-    "):\n",
-    "    \"Show several files, each preceded by a `# file <path>` header\"\n",
-    "    return PrettyString('\\n'.join(f'# file {p}\\n{view_file(p, start_line, end_line, nums=nums, lnhashs=lnhashs)}' for p in paths))"
-   ]
-  },
   {
    "cell_type": "markdown",
    "id": "a6223841",
    "metadata": {},
    "source": [
-    "`view_files` reads several files in one call, following the `view_msgs`/`lnhashview_cells` convention: a `# file <path>` header before each, and any line range applied to each file separately."
+    "`view_file` also reads several files in one call: extra string args are more paths, each shown under a `# file <path>` header, with any line range applied to each file separately. Up to two int args keep working as positional `start_line`/`end_line`, and a single path renders exactly as before, with no header.\n"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -588,7 +579,7 @@
    "source": [
     "p2 = Path(tmp.name)/'other.txt'\n",
     "p2.write_text('one\\ntwo\\n')\n",
-    "res = view_files(test_path, p2, start_line=2, end_line=2)\n",
+    "res = view_file(test_path, p2, 2, 2)\n",
     "test_eq(res, f'# file {test_path}\\n2: beta\\n# file {p2}\\n2: two')\n",
     "res"
    ]

From bc1e3a2df3764cccca7dd4fbbfd8d100a7460d1d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Nathan Cooper <nathanacooper@proton.me>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2026 14:21:26 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 3/7] Drop int arg sniffing: start_line/end_line are
 keyword-only with *paths

---
 fastcore/tools.py  |  9 ++-------
 nbs/12_tools.ipynb | 17 ++++++-----------
 2 files changed, 8 insertions(+), 18 deletions(-)

diff --git a/fastcore/tools.py b/fastcore/tools.py
index b3a58b8b..85a8a12e 100644
--- a/fastcore/tools.py
+++ b/fastcore/tools.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 File tools wrap the primitives with path I/O, returning unified diffs of what changed ("none: No changes." / "error: ..." otherwise). The path is the first argument, e.g:
 
-    view_file('~/a/b.py', 3)
+    view_file('~/a/b.py', start_line=3)
     create_file('~/a/b/c.py', 'content here')
     file_str_replace('myfile.py', 'old_name', 'new_name')
     file_del_lines('myfile.py', 2, 4)
@@ -178,19 +178,14 @@ def _view_file(path, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs):
     return '\n'.join(fmt(i,l) for i,l in enumerate(lines[start_line-1:end_line], start_line))
 
 def view_file(
-    *args:str|int, # Paths to view (each expands `~` if needed); up to two int args are `start_line`/`end_line`
+    *paths:str, # Paths to view (each expands `~` if needed)
     start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view
     end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line - handy when the file size is unknown)
     nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?
     lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?
 ):
     "Read one or more files, optionally limited to 1-based line range; each file follows a `# file <path>` header when several"
-    lns = [o for o in args if isinstance(o,int)]
-    paths = [o for o in args if not isinstance(o,int)]
     if not paths: raise TypeError("view_file() requires at least one path")
-    if len(lns)>2: raise TypeError(f"At most two int args (start_line, end_line), got {len(lns)}")
-    if lns: start_line = lns[0]
-    if len(lns)==2: end_line = lns[1]
     res = [_view_file(p, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs) for p in paths]
     if len(res)==1: return PrettyString(res[0])
     return PrettyString('\n'.join(f'# file {p}\n{r}' for p,r in zip(paths,res)))
diff --git a/nbs/12_tools.ipynb b/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
index 4dcbe26c..3cfa0acd 100644
--- a/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
+++ b/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@
     "#| export\n",
     "File tools wrap the primitives with path I/O, returning unified diffs of what changed (\"none: No changes.\" / \"error: ...\" otherwise). The path is the first argument, e.g:\n",
     "\n",
-    "    view_file('~/a/b.py', 3)\n",
+    "    view_file('~/a/b.py', start_line=3)\n",
     "    create_file('~/a/b/c.py', 'content here')\n",
     "    file_str_replace('myfile.py', 'old_name', 'new_name')\n",
     "    file_del_lines('myfile.py', 2, 4)\n",
@@ -470,19 +470,14 @@
     "    return '\\n'.join(fmt(i,l) for i,l in enumerate(lines[start_line-1:end_line], start_line))\n",
     "\n",
     "def view_file(\n",
-    "    *args:str|int, # Paths to view (each expands `~` if needed); up to two int args are `start_line`/`end_line`\n",
+    "    *paths:str, # Paths to view (each expands `~` if needed)\n",
     "    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view\n",
     "    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line - handy when the file size is unknown)\n",
     "    nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?\n",
     "    lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?\n",
     "):\n",
     "    \"Read one or more files, optionally limited to 1-based line range; each file follows a `# file <path>` header when several\"\n",
-    "    lns = [o for o in args if isinstance(o,int)]\n",
-    "    paths = [o for o in args if not isinstance(o,int)]\n",
     "    if not paths: raise TypeError(\"view_file() requires at least one path\")\n",
-    "    if len(lns)>2: raise TypeError(f\"At most two int args (start_line, end_line), got {len(lns)}\")\n",
-    "    if lns: start_line = lns[0]\n",
-    "    if len(lns)==2: end_line = lns[1]\n",
     "    res = [_view_file(p, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs) for p in paths]\n",
     "    if len(res)==1: return PrettyString(res[0])\n",
     "    return PrettyString('\\n'.join(f'# file {p}\\n{r}' for p,r in zip(paths,res)))"
@@ -534,7 +529,7 @@
     }
    ],
    "source": [
-    "view_file(test_path, 2, 30)"
+    "view_file(test_path, start_line=2, end_line=30)"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -556,7 +551,7 @@
     }
    ],
    "source": [
-    "res = view_file(test_path, 2, 3, lnhashs=True)\n",
+    "res = view_file(test_path, start_line=2, end_line=3, lnhashs=True)\n",
     "test_eq(res.splitlines()[0], f'{lnhash_at(test_content, 2)}beta')\n",
     "test_eq(view_file(test_path, nums=False), test_content[:-1])\n",
     "res"
@@ -567,7 +562,7 @@
    "id": "a6223841",
    "metadata": {},
    "source": [
-    "`view_file` also reads several files in one call: extra string args are more paths, each shown under a `# file <path>` header, with any line range applied to each file separately. Up to two int args keep working as positional `start_line`/`end_line`, and a single path renders exactly as before, with no header.\n"
+    "`view_file` also reads several files in one call: extra paths are shown each under a `# file <path>` header, with any line range applied to each file separately. A single path renders exactly as before, with no header.\n"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -579,7 +574,7 @@
    "source": [
     "p2 = Path(tmp.name)/'other.txt'\n",
     "p2.write_text('one\\ntwo\\n')\n",
-    "res = view_file(test_path, p2, 2, 2)\n",
+    "res = view_file(test_path, p2, start_line=2, end_line=2)\n",
     "test_eq(res, f'# file {test_path}\\n2: beta\\n# file {p2}\\n2: two')\n",
     "res"
    ]

From a8f28d7cc55f4f7137ae85699559e59aebda16ca Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Nathan Cooper <nathanacooper@proton.me>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2026 14:34:06 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 4/7] doc

---
 nbs/12_tools.ipynb | 41 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----
 1 file changed, 37 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/nbs/12_tools.ipynb b/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
index 3cfa0acd..8435bd12 100644
--- a/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
+++ b/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
@@ -182,7 +182,18 @@
    "execution_count": null,
    "id": "8079ef9d",
    "metadata": {},
-   "outputs": [],
+   "outputs": [
+    {
+     "data": {
+      "text/plain": [
+       "'a-b\\nb a'"
+      ]
+     },
+     "execution_count": null,
+     "metadata": {},
+     "output_type": "execute_result"
+    }
+   ],
    "source": [
     "res = str_replace('keep q\\nfix q\\nkeep q', 'q', 'y', re_filter='fix')\n",
     "test_eq(res, 'keep q\\nfix y\\nkeep q')\n",
@@ -492,7 +503,7 @@
     {
      "data": {
       "text/plain": [
-       "'/var/folders/51/b2_szf2945n072c0vj2cyty40000gn/T/tmpaax7zfjh/test.txt'"
+       "'/tmp/tmpsjvautdg/test.txt'"
       ]
      },
      "execution_count": null,
@@ -570,7 +581,21 @@
    "execution_count": null,
    "id": "325d8a6a",
    "metadata": {},
-   "outputs": [],
+   "outputs": [
+    {
+     "data": {
+      "text/plain": [
+       "# file /tmp/tmpsjvautdg/test.txt\n",
+       "2: beta\n",
+       "# file /tmp/tmpsjvautdg/other.txt\n",
+       "2: two"
+      ]
+     },
+     "execution_count": null,
+     "metadata": {},
+     "output_type": "execute_result"
+    }
+   ],
    "source": [
     "p2 = Path(tmp.name)/'other.txt'\n",
     "p2.write_text('one\\ntwo\\n')\n",
@@ -929,7 +954,15 @@
    ]
   }
  ],
- "metadata": {},
+ "metadata": {
+  "solveit": {
+   "default_code": true,
+   "mode": "learning",
+   "use_thinking": true,
+   "use_tools": false,
+   "ver": 2
+  }
+ },
  "nbformat": 4,
  "nbformat_minor": 5
 }

From 1885770a8f3720293719069019a536534c4cc2af Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Nathan Cooper <nathanacooper@proton.me>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2026 14:41:45 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 5/7] view_cell takes several cell ids via *args

---
 fastcore/_modidx.py   |  1 +
 fastcore/editskill.py |  2 +-
 fastcore/nbio.py      | 33 ++++++++++++++++++++-------------
 nbs/13_nbio.ipynb     | 35 ++++++++++++++++++++++-------------
 4 files changed, 44 insertions(+), 27 deletions(-)

diff --git a/fastcore/_modidx.py b/fastcore/_modidx.py
index cf5fbaaf..37cf61a2 100644
--- a/fastcore/_modidx.py
+++ b/fastcore/_modidx.py
@@ -572,6 +572,7 @@
                                'fastcore.nbio._split_cell': ('nbio.html#_split_cell', 'fastcore/nbio.py'),
                                'fastcore.nbio._split_mime': ('nbio.html#_split_mime', 'fastcore/nbio.py'),
                                'fastcore.nbio._unparse_dir': ('nbio.html#_unparse_dir', 'fastcore/nbio.py'),
+                               'fastcore.nbio._view_cell': ('nbio.html#_view_cell', 'fastcore/nbio.py'),
                                'fastcore.nbio.cell2xml': ('nbio.html#cell2xml', 'fastcore/nbio.py'),
                                'fastcore.nbio.cell_edit': ('nbio.html#cell_edit', 'fastcore/nbio.py'),
                                'fastcore.nbio.cells2xml': ('nbio.html#cells2xml', 'fastcore/nbio.py'),
diff --git a/fastcore/editskill.py b/fastcore/editskill.py
index 86a4b46d..c8aa1e2b 100644
--- a/fastcore/editskill.py
+++ b/fastcore/editskill.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 - An operation on a whole carrier takes the carrier as its noun: verb_carrier. `view_file`, `create_file`, `read_nb`, `write_nb`, `view_cell`, `validate_nb`; in the dialog layer `view_msg` and `view_dlg`. Coined verbs follow the same shape: `lnhashview_cell` is "lnhashview this cell". When the verb's object is instead the medium's unit, and that unit names its carrier uniquely, no prefix is needed - the unit noun is the carrier signal: `find_msgs`, `add_msg`, `del_msgs` (msgs live only in dialogs), `find_cells`, `summary_nb`'s rows (cells live only in notebooks).
 - An operation within a carrier already owns its noun (`insert_line`, `del_lines`, `replace_lines`, `str_replace`), so the carrier prefixes as a namespace and the op name survives intact: carrier_op, as in `file_del_lines`, `cell_del_lines`, `msg_del_lines`. The bare op names are the text-level primitives, and every carrier version keeps the identical signature after its address arguments, so each family is learned once and recognized everywhere.
 
-The exceptions are deliberate and closed. `str_replace` keeps the name and argument order established by Anthropic's text editor tool. Instrument-named ops put the instrument first and elide their unit: `ast_replace` (the AST pattern is how the edit finds its target) and `exhash` (hash-verified line addresses travel inside its commands), carrier-prefixed like any other line-level op: `file_ast_replace`, `msg_ast_replace`, `file_exhash`, `cell_exhash`. Converters are named x2y (`nb2dict`, `cell2xml`; in aidialog, `dlg` on exactly one side of every converter), and on a held object the converter is a `to_y` method (`nb.to_dict()`). Plural marks arity: `view_cell` takes one cell, `lnhashview_cells` several, `del_msgs` many.
+The exceptions are deliberate and closed. `str_replace` keeps the name and argument order established by Anthropic's text editor tool. Instrument-named ops put the instrument first and elide their unit: `ast_replace` (the AST pattern is how the edit finds its target) and `exhash` (hash-verified line addresses travel inside its commands), carrier-prefixed like any other line-level op: `file_ast_replace`, `msg_ast_replace`, `file_exhash`, `cell_exhash`. Converters are named x2y (`nb2dict`, `cell2xml`; in aidialog, `dlg` on exactly one side of every converter), and on a held object the converter is a `to_y` method (`nb.to_dict()`). A singular view takes one or more targets (`view_file`, `view_cell`); plural names remain for inherently group operations (`del_msgs` many).
 
 ## Parameters
 
diff --git a/fastcore/nbio.py b/fastcore/nbio.py
index 4b682a41..3296d9fd 100644
--- a/fastcore/nbio.py
+++ b/fastcore/nbio.py
@@ -315,18 +315,7 @@ def wrapper(path:str, cell_id:str, *args, **kw):
 __pyskill_params__ = {'replace_params': ('start_line', 'end_line', 'n_matches', 're_filter', 'invert_filter', 'use_regex')}
 
 # %% ../nbs/13_nbio.ipynb #421b2b9c
-def view_cell(
-    path:str, # Notebook file to read
-    cell_id:str, # Id of the cell to view (exact, or unique prefix)
-    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view
-    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line)
-    nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?
-    lnhashs:bool=False, # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?
-    incl_out:bool=False, # Append the cell's outputs in an `<out>` block?
-    trunc_out:bool=True # Truncate included outputs to ~512 chars?
-):
-    "View a cell's source, optionally limited to 1-based line range"
-    cell = _nb_cell(read_nb(path), cell_id)
+def _view_cell(cell, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs, incl_out, trunc_out):
     lines = cell.source.splitlines()
     if not lines: return ''
     if end_line is None or end_line > len(lines): end_line = len(lines)
@@ -336,7 +325,25 @@ def view_cell(
     res = '\n'.join(fmt(i,l) for i,l in enumerate(lines[start_line-1:end_line], start_line))
     if incl_out and (o := render_text(cell.get('outputs') or [])):
         res += f"\n<out>\n{truncstr(o, 512) if trunc_out else o}\n</out>"
-    return PrettyString(res)
+    return res
+
+def view_cell(
+    path:str, # Notebook file to read
+    *cell_ids:str, # Ids of the cells to view (each exact, or a unique prefix)
+    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view
+    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line)
+    nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?
+    lnhashs:bool=False, # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?
+    incl_out:bool=False, # Append each cell's outputs in an `<out>` block?
+    trunc_out:bool=True # Truncate included outputs to ~512 chars?
+):
+    "View one or more cells' sources, optionally limited to 1-based line range; each cell follows a `# cell <id>` header when several"
+    if not cell_ids: raise TypeError("view_cell() requires at least one cell id")
+    nb = read_nb(path)
+    cells = [_nb_cell(nb, c) for c in cell_ids]
+    res = [_view_cell(c, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs, incl_out, trunc_out) for c in cells]
+    if len(res)==1: return PrettyString(res[0])
+    return PrettyString('\n'.join(f'# cell {c.id}\n{r}' for c,r in zip(cells,res)))
 
 # %% ../nbs/13_nbio.ipynb #86453c0f
 def _is_text(x):
diff --git a/nbs/13_nbio.ipynb b/nbs/13_nbio.ipynb
index 9005b88f..310e7e89 100644
--- a/nbs/13_nbio.ipynb
+++ b/nbs/13_nbio.ipynb
@@ -1214,18 +1214,7 @@
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
     "#| export\n",
-    "def view_cell(\n",
-    "    path:str, # Notebook file to read\n",
-    "    cell_id:str, # Id of the cell to view (exact, or unique prefix)\n",
-    "    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view\n",
-    "    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line)\n",
-    "    nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?\n",
-    "    lnhashs:bool=False, # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?\n",
-    "    incl_out:bool=False, # Append the cell's outputs in an `<out>` block?\n",
-    "    trunc_out:bool=True # Truncate included outputs to ~512 chars?\n",
-    "):\n",
-    "    \"View a cell's source, optionally limited to 1-based line range\"\n",
-    "    cell = _nb_cell(read_nb(path), cell_id)\n",
+    "def _view_cell(cell, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs, incl_out, trunc_out):\n",
     "    lines = cell.source.splitlines()\n",
     "    if not lines: return ''\n",
     "    if end_line is None or end_line > len(lines): end_line = len(lines)\n",
@@ -1235,7 +1224,25 @@
     "    res = '\\n'.join(fmt(i,l) for i,l in enumerate(lines[start_line-1:end_line], start_line))\n",
     "    if incl_out and (o := render_text(cell.get('outputs') or [])):\n",
     "        res += f\"\\n<out>\\n{truncstr(o, 512) if trunc_out else o}\\n</out>\"\n",
-    "    return PrettyString(res)"
+    "    return res\n",
+    "\n",
+    "def view_cell(\n",
+    "    path:str, # Notebook file to read\n",
+    "    *cell_ids:str, # Ids of the cells to view (each exact, or a unique prefix)\n",
+    "    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view\n",
+    "    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line)\n",
+    "    nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?\n",
+    "    lnhashs:bool=False, # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?\n",
+    "    incl_out:bool=False, # Append each cell's outputs in an `<out>` block?\n",
+    "    trunc_out:bool=True # Truncate included outputs to ~512 chars?\n",
+    "):\n",
+    "    \"View one or more cells' sources, optionally limited to 1-based line range; each cell follows a `# cell <id>` header when several\"\n",
+    "    if not cell_ids: raise TypeError(\"view_cell() requires at least one cell id\")\n",
+    "    nb = read_nb(path)\n",
+    "    cells = [_nb_cell(nb, c) for c in cell_ids]\n",
+    "    res = [_view_cell(c, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs, incl_out, trunc_out) for c in cells]\n",
+    "    if len(res)==1: return PrettyString(res[0])\n",
+    "    return PrettyString('\\n'.join(f'# cell {c.id}\\n{r}' for c,r in zip(cells,res)))"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -1259,6 +1266,8 @@
     "test_eq(str(view_cell(tmp_nb, cid)), '1: a=1\\n2: print(a)')\n",
     "test_eq(str(view_cell(tmp_nb, cid, start_line=2, nums=False)), 'print(a)')\n",
     "test_eq(str(view_cell(tmp_nb, cid, lnhashs=True)).splitlines()[0], lnhash(1,'a=1')+'a=1')\n",
+    "cid2 = read_nb(tmp_nb).cells[1].id\n",
+    "test_eq(str(view_cell(tmp_nb, cid, cid2, end_line=1)), f'# cell {cid}\\n1: a=1\\n# cell {cid2}\\n1: # title')\n",
     "res = cell_str_replace(tmp_nb, cid, 'a=1', 'a=2')\n",
     "assert '-a=1' in str(res) and '+a=2' in str(res)\n",
     "test_eq(read_nb(tmp_nb).cells[0].source, 'a=2\\nprint(a)')\n",

From cd3644204ce6f65593975c836e8886af66ed272d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Nathan Cooper <nathanacooper@proton.me>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2026 15:11:40 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 6/7] Go plural: view_file/view_cell become
 view_files/view_cells

---
 fastcore/_modidx.py   |  4 ++--
 fastcore/editskill.py | 12 ++++++------
 fastcore/nbio.py      |  8 ++++----
 fastcore/tools.py     |  8 ++++----
 nbs/12_tools.ipynb    | 16 ++++++++--------
 nbs/13_nbio.ipynb     | 22 +++++++++++-----------
 6 files changed, 35 insertions(+), 35 deletions(-)

diff --git a/fastcore/_modidx.py b/fastcore/_modidx.py
index 37cf61a2..8338c159 100644
--- a/fastcore/_modidx.py
+++ b/fastcore/_modidx.py
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@
                                'fastcore.nbio.unpack_frames': ('nbio.html#unpack_frames', 'fastcore/nbio.py'),
                                'fastcore.nbio.validate_cell': ('nbio.html#validate_cell', 'fastcore/nbio.py'),
                                'fastcore.nbio.validate_nb': ('nbio.html#validate_nb', 'fastcore/nbio.py'),
-                               'fastcore.nbio.view_cell': ('nbio.html#view_cell', 'fastcore/nbio.py'),
+                               'fastcore.nbio.view_cells': ('nbio.html#view_cells', 'fastcore/nbio.py'),
                                'fastcore.nbio.write_nb': ('nbio.html#write_nb', 'fastcore/nbio.py')},
             'fastcore.net': { 'fastcore.net.HTTP4xxClientError': ('net.html#http4xxclienterror', 'fastcore/net.py'),
                               'fastcore.net.HTTP5xxServerError': ('net.html#http5xxservererror', 'fastcore/net.py'),
@@ -745,7 +745,7 @@
                                 'fastcore.tools.replace_lines': ('tools.html#replace_lines', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
                                 'fastcore.tools.str_replace': ('tools.html#str_replace', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
                                 'fastcore.tools.strs_replace': ('tools.html#strs_replace', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
-                                'fastcore.tools.view_file': ('tools.html#view_file', 'fastcore/tools.py')},
+                                'fastcore.tools.view_files': ('tools.html#view_files', 'fastcore/tools.py')},
             'fastcore.transform': {},
             'fastcore.utils': {},
             'fastcore.xdg': { 'fastcore.xdg._path_from_env': ('xdg.html#_path_from_env', 'fastcore/xdg.py'),
diff --git a/fastcore/editskill.py b/fastcore/editskill.py
index c8aa1e2b..60ae03fd 100644
--- a/fastcore/editskill.py
+++ b/fastcore/editskill.py
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@
 
 Two name shapes cover the toolkit, and the pivot is the verb's direct object:
 
-- An operation on a whole carrier takes the carrier as its noun: verb_carrier. `view_file`, `create_file`, `read_nb`, `write_nb`, `view_cell`, `validate_nb`; in the dialog layer `view_msg` and `view_dlg`. Coined verbs follow the same shape: `lnhashview_cell` is "lnhashview this cell". When the verb's object is instead the medium's unit, and that unit names its carrier uniquely, no prefix is needed - the unit noun is the carrier signal: `find_msgs`, `add_msg`, `del_msgs` (msgs live only in dialogs), `find_cells`, `summary_nb`'s rows (cells live only in notebooks).
+- An operation on a whole carrier takes the carrier as its noun: verb_carrier. `view_files`, `create_file`, `read_nb`, `write_nb`, `view_cells`, `validate_nb`; in the dialog layer `view_msgs` and `view_dlg`. Coined verbs follow the same shape: `lnhashview_cells` is "lnhashview these cells". When the verb's object is instead the medium's unit, and that unit names its carrier uniquely, no prefix is needed - the unit noun is the carrier signal: `find_msgs`, `add_msg`, `del_msgs` (msgs live only in dialogs), `find_cells`, `summary_nb`'s rows (cells live only in notebooks).
 - An operation within a carrier already owns its noun (`insert_line`, `del_lines`, `replace_lines`, `str_replace`), so the carrier prefixes as a namespace and the op name survives intact: carrier_op, as in `file_del_lines`, `cell_del_lines`, `msg_del_lines`. The bare op names are the text-level primitives, and every carrier version keeps the identical signature after its address arguments, so each family is learned once and recognized everywhere.
 
-The exceptions are deliberate and closed. `str_replace` keeps the name and argument order established by Anthropic's text editor tool. Instrument-named ops put the instrument first and elide their unit: `ast_replace` (the AST pattern is how the edit finds its target) and `exhash` (hash-verified line addresses travel inside its commands), carrier-prefixed like any other line-level op: `file_ast_replace`, `msg_ast_replace`, `file_exhash`, `cell_exhash`. Converters are named x2y (`nb2dict`, `cell2xml`; in aidialog, `dlg` on exactly one side of every converter), and on a held object the converter is a `to_y` method (`nb.to_dict()`). A singular view takes one or more targets (`view_file`, `view_cell`); plural names remain for inherently group operations (`del_msgs` many).
+The exceptions are deliberate and closed. `str_replace` keeps the name and argument order established by Anthropic's text editor tool. Instrument-named ops put the instrument first and elide their unit: `ast_replace` (the AST pattern is how the edit finds its target) and `exhash` (hash-verified line addresses travel inside its commands), carrier-prefixed like any other line-level op: `file_ast_replace`, `msg_ast_replace`, `file_exhash`, `cell_exhash`. Converters are named x2y (`nb2dict`, `cell2xml`; in aidialog, `dlg` on exactly one side of every converter), and on a held object the converter is a `to_y` method (`nb.to_dict()`). Views take one or more targets, so they use the plural name whatever the count: `view_files`, `view_cells`, and the dialog layer's `view_msgs`.
 
 ## Parameters
 
@@ -52,14 +52,14 @@
 
 from fastcore.tools import (insert_line, str_replace, strs_replace, replace_lines, del_lines, ast_replace,
     file_insert_line, file_str_replace, file_strs_replace, file_replace_lines, file_del_lines, file_ast_replace,
-    view_file, create_file, line_hash, lnhash, lnhash_at)
+    view_files, create_file, line_hash, lnhash, lnhash_at)
 from fastcore.nbio import (read_nb, write_nb, new_nb, mk_cell, validate_nb, validate_cell, repair_nb, repair_cell,
-    view_cell, cell_insert_line, cell_str_replace, cell_strs_replace, cell_replace_lines, cell_del_lines, cell_ast_replace, Notebook, NbCell, find_cells, summary_nb)
+    view_cells, cell_insert_line, cell_str_replace, cell_strs_replace, cell_replace_lines, cell_del_lines, cell_ast_replace, Notebook, NbCell, find_cells, summary_nb)
 
 __all__ = ['insert_line', 'str_replace', 'strs_replace', 'replace_lines', 'del_lines', 'ast_replace',
     'file_insert_line', 'file_str_replace', 'file_strs_replace', 'file_replace_lines', 'file_del_lines', 'file_ast_replace',
-    'view_file', 'create_file', 'line_hash', 'lnhash', 'lnhash_at',
+    'view_files', 'create_file', 'line_hash', 'lnhash', 'lnhash_at',
     'read_nb', 'write_nb', 'new_nb', 'mk_cell', 'validate_nb', 'validate_cell', 'repair_nb', 'repair_cell',
-    'view_cell', 'cell_insert_line', 'cell_str_replace', 'cell_strs_replace', 'cell_replace_lines', 'cell_del_lines', 'cell_ast_replace', 'Notebook', 'NbCell', 'find_cells', 'summary_nb']
+    'view_cells', 'cell_insert_line', 'cell_str_replace', 'cell_strs_replace', 'cell_replace_lines', 'cell_del_lines', 'cell_ast_replace', 'Notebook', 'NbCell', 'find_cells', 'summary_nb']
 
 __pyskill_params__ = {'replace_params': ('start_line', 'end_line', 'n_matches', 're_filter', 'invert_filter', 'use_regex')}
diff --git a/fastcore/nbio.py b/fastcore/nbio.py
index 3296d9fd..d04711ca 100644
--- a/fastcore/nbio.py
+++ b/fastcore/nbio.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Reading and writing Jupyter notebooks
 
-Cell tools apply `fastcore.tools`' string editing primitives to one notebook cell's source, addressed by path and cell id, mirroring that module's file tools: the same operations and parameters, with `path, cell_id` in place of `path`. Each editor (including the structural `cell_ast_replace`) returns a diff of the change, and `view_cell` shows a cell's source with optional line numbers or exhash addresses.
+Cell tools apply `fastcore.tools`' string editing primitives to one notebook cell's source, addressed by path and cell id, mirroring that module's file tools: the same operations and parameters, with `path, cell_id` in place of `path`. Each editor (including the structural `cell_ast_replace`) returns a diff of the change, and `view_cells` shows one or more cells' sources with optional line numbers or exhash addresses.
 
 Naming and parameter conventions shared across the editing toolkit are documented in `fastcore.editskill`, which also re-exports this module's editing tools.
 
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 # %% auto #0
 __all__ = ['langs', 'cell_insert_line', 'cell_str_replace', 'cell_strs_replace', 'cell_replace_lines', 'cell_del_lines',
            'cell_ast_replace', 'nb_lang', 'NbCell', 'dict2nb', 'read_nb', 'mk_cell', 'new_nb', 'first_code_ln',
-           'dir_tag', 'nb2dict', 'nb2str', 'write_nb', 'cell_edit', 'view_cell', 'validate_cell', 'validate_nb',
+           'dir_tag', 'nb2dict', 'nb2str', 'write_nb', 'cell_edit', 'view_cells', 'validate_cell', 'validate_nb',
            'repair_cell', 'repair_nb', 'preferred_out', 'join_out', 'mk_stream', 'mk_result', 'mk_display', 'mk_error',
            'concat_streams', 'preferred_msg_out', 'render_output', 'render_outputs', 'render_text', 'item2xml',
            'cell2xml', 'cells2xml', 'Notebook', 'CellRow', 'CellRows', 'summary_nb', 'find_cells', 'select_cells',
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ def _view_cell(cell, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs, incl_out, trunc_out):
         res += f"\n<out>\n{truncstr(o, 512) if trunc_out else o}\n</out>"
     return res
 
-def view_cell(
+def view_cells(
     path:str, # Notebook file to read
     *cell_ids:str, # Ids of the cells to view (each exact, or a unique prefix)
     start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ def view_cell(
     trunc_out:bool=True # Truncate included outputs to ~512 chars?
 ):
     "View one or more cells' sources, optionally limited to 1-based line range; each cell follows a `# cell <id>` header when several"
-    if not cell_ids: raise TypeError("view_cell() requires at least one cell id")
+    if not cell_ids: raise TypeError("view_cells() requires at least one cell id")
     nb = read_nb(path)
     cells = [_nb_cell(nb, c) for c in cell_ids]
     res = [_view_cell(c, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs, incl_out, trunc_out) for c in cells]
diff --git a/fastcore/tools.py b/fastcore/tools.py
index 85a8a12e..a259ffb9 100644
--- a/fastcore/tools.py
+++ b/fastcore/tools.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 File tools wrap the primitives with path I/O, returning unified diffs of what changed ("none: No changes." / "error: ..." otherwise). The path is the first argument, e.g:
 
-    view_file('~/a/b.py', start_line=3)
+    view_files('~/a/b.py', start_line=3)
     create_file('~/a/b/c.py', 'content here')
     file_str_replace('myfile.py', 'old_name', 'new_name')
     file_del_lines('myfile.py', 2, 4)
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 # %% auto #0
 __all__ = ['file_insert_line', 'file_str_replace', 'file_strs_replace', 'file_replace_lines', 'file_del_lines',
            'file_ast_replace', 'insert_line', 'str_replace', 'strs_replace', 'replace_lines', 'del_lines', 'line_hash',
-           'lnhash', 'lnhash_at', 'view_file', 'create_file', 'file_edit', 'ast_replace']
+           'lnhash', 'lnhash_at', 'view_files', 'create_file', 'file_edit', 'ast_replace']
 
 # %% ../nbs/12_tools.ipynb #578246d2
 import zlib
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ def _view_file(path, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs):
     fmt = (lambda i,l: lnhash(i,l)+l) if lnhashs else (lambda i,l: f'{i}: {l}') if nums else (lambda i,l: l)
     return '\n'.join(fmt(i,l) for i,l in enumerate(lines[start_line-1:end_line], start_line))
 
-def view_file(
+def view_files(
     *paths:str, # Paths to view (each expands `~` if needed)
     start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view
     end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line - handy when the file size is unknown)
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ def view_file(
     lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?
 ):
     "Read one or more files, optionally limited to 1-based line range; each file follows a `# file <path>` header when several"
-    if not paths: raise TypeError("view_file() requires at least one path")
+    if not paths: raise TypeError("view_files() requires at least one path")
     res = [_view_file(p, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs) for p in paths]
     if len(res)==1: return PrettyString(res[0])
     return PrettyString('\n'.join(f'# file {p}\n{r}' for p,r in zip(paths,res)))
diff --git a/nbs/12_tools.ipynb b/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
index 8435bd12..bbe81610 100644
--- a/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
+++ b/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@
     "#| export\n",
     "File tools wrap the primitives with path I/O, returning unified diffs of what changed (\"none: No changes.\" / \"error: ...\" otherwise). The path is the first argument, e.g:\n",
     "\n",
-    "    view_file('~/a/b.py', start_line=3)\n",
+    "    view_files('~/a/b.py', start_line=3)\n",
     "    create_file('~/a/b/c.py', 'content here')\n",
     "    file_str_replace('myfile.py', 'old_name', 'new_name')\n",
     "    file_del_lines('myfile.py', 2, 4)\n",
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@
     "    fmt = (lambda i,l: lnhash(i,l)+l) if lnhashs else (lambda i,l: f'{i}: {l}') if nums else (lambda i,l: l)\n",
     "    return '\\n'.join(fmt(i,l) for i,l in enumerate(lines[start_line-1:end_line], start_line))\n",
     "\n",
-    "def view_file(\n",
+    "def view_files(\n",
     "    *paths:str, # Paths to view (each expands `~` if needed)\n",
     "    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view\n",
     "    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line - handy when the file size is unknown)\n",
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@
     "    lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?\n",
     "):\n",
     "    \"Read one or more files, optionally limited to 1-based line range; each file follows a `# file <path>` header when several\"\n",
-    "    if not paths: raise TypeError(\"view_file() requires at least one path\")\n",
+    "    if not paths: raise TypeError(\"view_files() requires at least one path\")\n",
     "    res = [_view_file(p, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs) for p in paths]\n",
     "    if len(res)==1: return PrettyString(res[0])\n",
     "    return PrettyString('\\n'.join(f'# file {p}\\n{r}' for p,r in zip(paths,res)))"
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@
     }
    ],
    "source": [
-    "view_file(test_path, start_line=2, end_line=30)"
+    "view_files(test_path, start_line=2, end_line=30)"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -562,9 +562,9 @@
     }
    ],
    "source": [
-    "res = view_file(test_path, start_line=2, end_line=3, lnhashs=True)\n",
+    "res = view_files(test_path, start_line=2, end_line=3, lnhashs=True)\n",
     "test_eq(res.splitlines()[0], f'{lnhash_at(test_content, 2)}beta')\n",
-    "test_eq(view_file(test_path, nums=False), test_content[:-1])\n",
+    "test_eq(view_files(test_path, nums=False), test_content[:-1])\n",
     "res"
    ]
   },
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@
    "id": "a6223841",
    "metadata": {},
    "source": [
-    "`view_file` also reads several files in one call: extra paths are shown each under a `# file <path>` header, with any line range applied to each file separately. A single path renders exactly as before, with no header.\n"
+    "`view_files` takes one or more paths: several files are shown each under a `# file <path>` header, with any line range applied to each file separately, and a single path renders bare, with no header.\n"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@
    "source": [
     "p2 = Path(tmp.name)/'other.txt'\n",
     "p2.write_text('one\\ntwo\\n')\n",
-    "res = view_file(test_path, p2, start_line=2, end_line=2)\n",
+    "res = view_files(test_path, p2, start_line=2, end_line=2)\n",
     "test_eq(res, f'# file {test_path}\\n2: beta\\n# file {p2}\\n2: two')\n",
     "res"
    ]
diff --git a/nbs/13_nbio.ipynb b/nbs/13_nbio.ipynb
index 310e7e89..ccb1353e 100644
--- a/nbs/13_nbio.ipynb
+++ b/nbs/13_nbio.ipynb
@@ -1127,7 +1127,7 @@
    "metadata": {},
    "source": [
     "#| export\n",
-    "Cell tools apply `fastcore.tools`' string editing primitives to one notebook cell's source, addressed by path and cell id, mirroring that module's file tools: the same operations and parameters, with `path, cell_id` in place of `path`. Each editor (including the structural `cell_ast_replace`) returns a diff of the change, and `view_cell` shows a cell's source with optional line numbers or exhash addresses.\n",
+    "Cell tools apply `fastcore.tools`' string editing primitives to one notebook cell's source, addressed by path and cell id, mirroring that module's file tools: the same operations and parameters, with `path, cell_id` in place of `path`. Each editor (including the structural `cell_ast_replace`) returns a diff of the change, and `view_cells` shows one or more cells' sources with optional line numbers or exhash addresses.\n",
     "\n",
     "Naming and parameter conventions shared across the editing toolkit are documented in `fastcore.editskill`, which also re-exports this module's editing tools."
    ]
@@ -1226,7 +1226,7 @@
     "        res += f\"\\n<out>\\n{truncstr(o, 512) if trunc_out else o}\\n</out>\"\n",
     "    return res\n",
     "\n",
-    "def view_cell(\n",
+    "def view_cells(\n",
     "    path:str, # Notebook file to read\n",
     "    *cell_ids:str, # Ids of the cells to view (each exact, or a unique prefix)\n",
     "    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view\n",
@@ -1237,7 +1237,7 @@
     "    trunc_out:bool=True # Truncate included outputs to ~512 chars?\n",
     "):\n",
     "    \"View one or more cells' sources, optionally limited to 1-based line range; each cell follows a `# cell <id>` header when several\"\n",
-    "    if not cell_ids: raise TypeError(\"view_cell() requires at least one cell id\")\n",
+    "    if not cell_ids: raise TypeError(\"view_cells() requires at least one cell id\")\n",
     "    nb = read_nb(path)\n",
     "    cells = [_nb_cell(nb, c) for c in cell_ids]\n",
     "    res = [_view_cell(c, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs, incl_out, trunc_out) for c in cells]\n",
@@ -1263,11 +1263,11 @@
     "tmp_nb = Path('tmp_cells.ipynb')\n",
     "write_nb(new_nb([mk_cell('a=1\\nprint(a)'), mk_cell('# title', 'markdown')]), tmp_nb)\n",
     "cid = read_nb(tmp_nb).cells[0].id\n",
-    "test_eq(str(view_cell(tmp_nb, cid)), '1: a=1\\n2: print(a)')\n",
-    "test_eq(str(view_cell(tmp_nb, cid, start_line=2, nums=False)), 'print(a)')\n",
-    "test_eq(str(view_cell(tmp_nb, cid, lnhashs=True)).splitlines()[0], lnhash(1,'a=1')+'a=1')\n",
+    "test_eq(str(view_cells(tmp_nb, cid)), '1: a=1\\n2: print(a)')\n",
+    "test_eq(str(view_cells(tmp_nb, cid, start_line=2, nums=False)), 'print(a)')\n",
+    "test_eq(str(view_cells(tmp_nb, cid, lnhashs=True)).splitlines()[0], lnhash(1,'a=1')+'a=1')\n",
     "cid2 = read_nb(tmp_nb).cells[1].id\n",
-    "test_eq(str(view_cell(tmp_nb, cid, cid2, end_line=1)), f'# cell {cid}\\n1: a=1\\n# cell {cid2}\\n1: # title')\n",
+    "test_eq(str(view_cells(tmp_nb, cid, cid2, end_line=1)), f'# cell {cid}\\n1: a=1\\n# cell {cid2}\\n1: # title')\n",
     "res = cell_str_replace(tmp_nb, cid, 'a=1', 'a=2')\n",
     "assert '-a=1' in str(res) and '+a=2' in str(res)\n",
     "test_eq(read_nb(tmp_nb).cells[0].source, 'a=2\\nprint(a)')\n",
@@ -1277,7 +1277,7 @@
     "cell_replace_lines(tmp_nb, cid, new_content='b=3')\n",
     "test_eq(read_nb(tmp_nb).cells[0].source, 'b=3\\n')  # replace_lines yields a line block, so a trailing newline\n",
     "assert str(cell_str_replace(tmp_nb, cid, 'q', 'r')).startswith('error:')\n",
-    "with expect_fail(KeyError, 'no cell id'): view_cell(tmp_nb, 'zzzz')\n",
+    "with expect_fail(KeyError, 'no cell id'): view_cells(tmp_nb, 'zzzz')\n",
     "tmp_nb.unlink()"
    ]
   },
@@ -2029,7 +2029,7 @@
    "id": "19c31347",
    "metadata": {},
    "source": [
-    "`view_cell` composes with output rendering: `incl_out=True` appends the rendered outputs in an `<out>` block (`trunc_out=False` lifts the ~512-char cap)."
+    "`view_cells` composes with output rendering: `incl_out=True` appends the rendered outputs in an `<out>` block (`trunc_out=False` lifts the ~512-char cap)."
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -2043,8 +2043,8 @@
     "vouts = [dict(output_type='execute_result', metadata={}, data={'text/plain': ['1']}, execution_count=1)]\n",
     "write_nb(new_nb([mk_cell('a=1\\nprint(a)', outputs=vouts)]), vnb)\n",
     "vcid = read_nb(vnb).cells[0].id\n",
-    "test_eq(str(view_cell(vnb, vcid, incl_out=True)), '1: a=1\\n2: print(a)\\n<out>\\n1\\n</out>')\n",
-    "assert '<out>' not in str(view_cell(vnb, vcid))\n",
+    "test_eq(str(view_cells(vnb, vcid, incl_out=True)), '1: a=1\\n2: print(a)\\n<out>\\n1\\n</out>')\n",
+    "assert '<out>' not in str(view_cells(vnb, vcid))\n",
     "vnb.unlink()"
    ]
   },

From d552ac6c6c07eba4ee3e9cfa367251e12a9c65c1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Nathan Cooper <nathanacooper@proton.me>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2026 15:19:39 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 7/7] Restore view_file as the Anthropic-familiar single-file
 form alongside view_files

---
 fastcore/_modidx.py   |  2 +-
 fastcore/editskill.py |  6 ++---
 fastcore/tools.py     | 29 +++++++++++++--------
 nbs/12_tools.ipynb    | 59 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++---------------
 4 files changed, 61 insertions(+), 35 deletions(-)

diff --git a/fastcore/_modidx.py b/fastcore/_modidx.py
index 8338c159..bbe50ac8 100644
--- a/fastcore/_modidx.py
+++ b/fastcore/_modidx.py
@@ -733,7 +733,6 @@
                                'fastcore.test.test_stdout': ('test.html#test_stdout', 'fastcore/test.py'),
                                'fastcore.test.test_warns': ('test.html#test_warns', 'fastcore/test.py')},
             'fastcore.tools': { 'fastcore.tools._norm_lines': ('tools.html#_norm_lines', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
-                                'fastcore.tools._view_file': ('tools.html#_view_file', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
                                 'fastcore.tools.ast_replace': ('tools.html#ast_replace', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
                                 'fastcore.tools.create_file': ('tools.html#create_file', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
                                 'fastcore.tools.del_lines': ('tools.html#del_lines', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
@@ -745,6 +744,7 @@
                                 'fastcore.tools.replace_lines': ('tools.html#replace_lines', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
                                 'fastcore.tools.str_replace': ('tools.html#str_replace', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
                                 'fastcore.tools.strs_replace': ('tools.html#strs_replace', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
+                                'fastcore.tools.view_file': ('tools.html#view_file', 'fastcore/tools.py'),
                                 'fastcore.tools.view_files': ('tools.html#view_files', 'fastcore/tools.py')},
             'fastcore.transform': {},
             'fastcore.utils': {},
diff --git a/fastcore/editskill.py b/fastcore/editskill.py
index 60ae03fd..be382181 100644
--- a/fastcore/editskill.py
+++ b/fastcore/editskill.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 - An operation on a whole carrier takes the carrier as its noun: verb_carrier. `view_files`, `create_file`, `read_nb`, `write_nb`, `view_cells`, `validate_nb`; in the dialog layer `view_msgs` and `view_dlg`. Coined verbs follow the same shape: `lnhashview_cells` is "lnhashview these cells". When the verb's object is instead the medium's unit, and that unit names its carrier uniquely, no prefix is needed - the unit noun is the carrier signal: `find_msgs`, `add_msg`, `del_msgs` (msgs live only in dialogs), `find_cells`, `summary_nb`'s rows (cells live only in notebooks).
 - An operation within a carrier already owns its noun (`insert_line`, `del_lines`, `replace_lines`, `str_replace`), so the carrier prefixes as a namespace and the op name survives intact: carrier_op, as in `file_del_lines`, `cell_del_lines`, `msg_del_lines`. The bare op names are the text-level primitives, and every carrier version keeps the identical signature after its address arguments, so each family is learned once and recognized everywhere.
 
-The exceptions are deliberate and closed. `str_replace` keeps the name and argument order established by Anthropic's text editor tool. Instrument-named ops put the instrument first and elide their unit: `ast_replace` (the AST pattern is how the edit finds its target) and `exhash` (hash-verified line addresses travel inside its commands), carrier-prefixed like any other line-level op: `file_ast_replace`, `msg_ast_replace`, `file_exhash`, `cell_exhash`. Converters are named x2y (`nb2dict`, `cell2xml`; in aidialog, `dlg` on exactly one side of every converter), and on a held object the converter is a `to_y` method (`nb.to_dict()`). Views take one or more targets, so they use the plural name whatever the count: `view_files`, `view_cells`, and the dialog layer's `view_msgs`.
+The exceptions are deliberate and closed. `str_replace` keeps the name and argument order established by Anthropic's text editor tool. Instrument-named ops put the instrument first and elide their unit: `ast_replace` (the AST pattern is how the edit finds its target) and `exhash` (hash-verified line addresses travel inside its commands), carrier-prefixed like any other line-level op: `file_ast_replace`, `msg_ast_replace`, `file_exhash`, `cell_exhash`. Converters are named x2y (`nb2dict`, `cell2xml`; in aidialog, `dlg` on exactly one side of every converter), and on a held object the converter is a `to_y` method (`nb.to_dict()`). Views take one or more targets, so they use the plural name whatever the count: `view_files`, `view_cells`, and the dialog layer's `view_msgs`; `view_file` stays alongside `view_files` as the single-file form, keeping the name and positional line range established by Anthropic's text editor tool.
 
 ## Parameters
 
@@ -52,13 +52,13 @@
 
 from fastcore.tools import (insert_line, str_replace, strs_replace, replace_lines, del_lines, ast_replace,
     file_insert_line, file_str_replace, file_strs_replace, file_replace_lines, file_del_lines, file_ast_replace,
-    view_files, create_file, line_hash, lnhash, lnhash_at)
+    view_file, view_files, create_file, line_hash, lnhash, lnhash_at)
 from fastcore.nbio import (read_nb, write_nb, new_nb, mk_cell, validate_nb, validate_cell, repair_nb, repair_cell,
     view_cells, cell_insert_line, cell_str_replace, cell_strs_replace, cell_replace_lines, cell_del_lines, cell_ast_replace, Notebook, NbCell, find_cells, summary_nb)
 
 __all__ = ['insert_line', 'str_replace', 'strs_replace', 'replace_lines', 'del_lines', 'ast_replace',
     'file_insert_line', 'file_str_replace', 'file_strs_replace', 'file_replace_lines', 'file_del_lines', 'file_ast_replace',
-    'view_files', 'create_file', 'line_hash', 'lnhash', 'lnhash_at',
+    'view_file', 'view_files', 'create_file', 'line_hash', 'lnhash', 'lnhash_at',
     'read_nb', 'write_nb', 'new_nb', 'mk_cell', 'validate_nb', 'validate_cell', 'repair_nb', 'repair_cell',
     'view_cells', 'cell_insert_line', 'cell_str_replace', 'cell_strs_replace', 'cell_replace_lines', 'cell_del_lines', 'cell_ast_replace', 'Notebook', 'NbCell', 'find_cells', 'summary_nb']
 
diff --git a/fastcore/tools.py b/fastcore/tools.py
index a259ffb9..4e17943e 100644
--- a/fastcore/tools.py
+++ b/fastcore/tools.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 File tools wrap the primitives with path I/O, returning unified diffs of what changed ("none: No changes." / "error: ..." otherwise). The path is the first argument, e.g:
 
-    view_files('~/a/b.py', start_line=3)
+    view_file('~/a/b.py', 3)
     create_file('~/a/b/c.py', 'content here')
     file_str_replace('myfile.py', 'old_name', 'new_name')
     file_del_lines('myfile.py', 2, 4)
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 # %% auto #0
 __all__ = ['file_insert_line', 'file_str_replace', 'file_strs_replace', 'file_replace_lines', 'file_del_lines',
            'file_ast_replace', 'insert_line', 'str_replace', 'strs_replace', 'replace_lines', 'del_lines', 'line_hash',
-           'lnhash', 'lnhash_at', 'view_files', 'create_file', 'file_edit', 'ast_replace']
+           'lnhash', 'lnhash_at', 'view_file', 'view_files', 'create_file', 'file_edit', 'ast_replace']
 
 # %% ../nbs/12_tools.ipynb #578246d2
 import zlib
@@ -167,27 +167,36 @@ def lnhash_at(
     return lnhash(line, s[line-1])
 
 # %% ../nbs/12_tools.ipynb #806c957b
-def _view_file(path, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs):
-    lines = Path(path).expanduser().read_text().splitlines()
+def view_file(
+    path:str, # Path to view (expands `~` if needed)
+    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view
+    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line - handy when the file size is unknown)
+    nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?
+    lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?
+):
+    "Read file contents, optionally limited to 1-based line range"
+    path = Path(path).expanduser()
+    lines = path.read_text().splitlines()
     if not lines: return ''
     if end_line is None: end_line = len(lines)
     if end_line < 0: end_line = len(lines)+end_line+1
     if not (1 <= start_line <= len(lines)): return f'error: Invalid start_line {start_line}. Valid range: 1-{len(lines)}'
     if end_line > len(lines): end_line = len(lines)
     fmt = (lambda i,l: lnhash(i,l)+l) if lnhashs else (lambda i,l: f'{i}: {l}') if nums else (lambda i,l: l)
-    return '\n'.join(fmt(i,l) for i,l in enumerate(lines[start_line-1:end_line], start_line))
+    return PrettyString('\n'.join(fmt(i,l) for i,l in enumerate(lines[start_line-1:end_line], start_line)))
 
+# %% ../nbs/12_tools.ipynb #3ffec660
 def view_files(
     *paths:str, # Paths to view (each expands `~` if needed)
-    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view
-    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line - handy when the file size is unknown)
+    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view (applied to each file)
+    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line)
     nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?
     lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?
 ):
-    "Read one or more files, optionally limited to 1-based line range; each file follows a `# file <path>` header when several"
+    "View one or more files, each after a `# file <path>` header when several; any line range applies to each file separately"
     if not paths: raise TypeError("view_files() requires at least one path")
-    res = [_view_file(p, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs) for p in paths]
-    if len(res)==1: return PrettyString(res[0])
+    res = [view_file(p, start_line, end_line, nums=nums, lnhashs=lnhashs) for p in paths]
+    if len(res)==1: return res[0]
     return PrettyString('\n'.join(f'# file {p}\n{r}' for p,r in zip(paths,res)))
 
 # %% ../nbs/12_tools.ipynb #424d09e1
diff --git a/nbs/12_tools.ipynb b/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
index bbe81610..8accf905 100644
--- a/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
+++ b/nbs/12_tools.ipynb
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@
     "#| export\n",
     "File tools wrap the primitives with path I/O, returning unified diffs of what changed (\"none: No changes.\" / \"error: ...\" otherwise). The path is the first argument, e.g:\n",
     "\n",
-    "    view_files('~/a/b.py', start_line=3)\n",
+    "    view_file('~/a/b.py', 3)\n",
     "    create_file('~/a/b/c.py', 'content here')\n",
     "    file_str_replace('myfile.py', 'old_name', 'new_name')\n",
     "    file_del_lines('myfile.py', 2, 4)\n",
@@ -470,28 +470,23 @@
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
     "#| export\n",
-    "def _view_file(path, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs):\n",
-    "    lines = Path(path).expanduser().read_text().splitlines()\n",
+    "def view_file(\n",
+    "    path:str, # Path to view (expands `~` if needed)\n",
+    "    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view\n",
+    "    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line - handy when the file size is unknown)\n",
+    "    nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?\n",
+    "    lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?\n",
+    "):\n",
+    "    \"Read file contents, optionally limited to 1-based line range\"\n",
+    "    path = Path(path).expanduser()\n",
+    "    lines = path.read_text().splitlines()\n",
     "    if not lines: return ''\n",
     "    if end_line is None: end_line = len(lines)\n",
     "    if end_line < 0: end_line = len(lines)+end_line+1\n",
     "    if not (1 <= start_line <= len(lines)): return f'error: Invalid start_line {start_line}. Valid range: 1-{len(lines)}'\n",
     "    if end_line > len(lines): end_line = len(lines)\n",
     "    fmt = (lambda i,l: lnhash(i,l)+l) if lnhashs else (lambda i,l: f'{i}: {l}') if nums else (lambda i,l: l)\n",
-    "    return '\\n'.join(fmt(i,l) for i,l in enumerate(lines[start_line-1:end_line], start_line))\n",
-    "\n",
-    "def view_files(\n",
-    "    *paths:str, # Paths to view (each expands `~` if needed)\n",
-    "    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view\n",
-    "    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line - handy when the file size is unknown)\n",
-    "    nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?\n",
-    "    lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?\n",
-    "):\n",
-    "    \"Read one or more files, optionally limited to 1-based line range; each file follows a `# file <path>` header when several\"\n",
-    "    if not paths: raise TypeError(\"view_files() requires at least one path\")\n",
-    "    res = [_view_file(p, start_line, end_line, nums, lnhashs) for p in paths]\n",
-    "    if len(res)==1: return PrettyString(res[0])\n",
-    "    return PrettyString('\\n'.join(f'# file {p}\\n{r}' for p,r in zip(paths,res)))"
+    "    return PrettyString('\\n'.join(fmt(i,l) for i,l in enumerate(lines[start_line-1:end_line], start_line)))"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -540,7 +535,7 @@
     }
    ],
    "source": [
-    "view_files(test_path, start_line=2, end_line=30)"
+    "view_file(test_path, 2, 30)"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -562,18 +557,40 @@
     }
    ],
    "source": [
-    "res = view_files(test_path, start_line=2, end_line=3, lnhashs=True)\n",
+    "res = view_file(test_path, 2, 3, lnhashs=True)\n",
     "test_eq(res.splitlines()[0], f'{lnhash_at(test_content, 2)}beta')\n",
-    "test_eq(view_files(test_path, nums=False), test_content[:-1])\n",
+    "test_eq(view_file(test_path, nums=False), test_content[:-1])\n",
     "res"
    ]
   },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "id": "3ffec660",
+   "metadata": {},
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "#| export\n",
+    "def view_files(\n",
+    "    *paths:str, # Paths to view (each expands `~` if needed)\n",
+    "    start_line:int=1, # Starting line to view (applied to each file)\n",
+    "    end_line:int=None, # End line (defaults to last line if None; may be past EOF, which clamps to the last line)\n",
+    "    nums:bool=True, # Show line numbers?\n",
+    "    lnhashs:bool=False # Show exhash `lineno|hash|` addresses instead of line numbers?\n",
+    "):\n",
+    "    \"View one or more files, each after a `# file <path>` header when several; any line range applies to each file separately\"\n",
+    "    if not paths: raise TypeError(\"view_files() requires at least one path\")\n",
+    "    res = [view_file(p, start_line, end_line, nums=nums, lnhashs=lnhashs) for p in paths]\n",
+    "    if len(res)==1: return res[0]\n",
+    "    return PrettyString('\\n'.join(f'# file {p}\\n{r}' for p,r in zip(paths,res)))"
+   ]
+  },
   {
    "cell_type": "markdown",
    "id": "a6223841",
    "metadata": {},
    "source": [
-    "`view_files` takes one or more paths: several files are shown each under a `# file <path>` header, with any line range applied to each file separately, and a single path renders bare, with no header.\n"
+    "`view_files` is the plural companion (`view_file` keeps the single-file name and positional line range models know from Anthropic's text editor tool): one or more paths, several files shown each under a `# file <path>` header, with any line range applied to each file separately, and a single path rendered bare.\n"
    ]
   },
   {