TSE supports a Pascal-based macro language (SemWare Application Language or SAL), regular expression search and replace, keystroke recording and playback, full undo and redo, shortcut key assignment (both as configuration and on the fly) that allow extensive modification of the functionality of the text editor, and other features.

[8] It was functionally equivalent to TSE Junior v4.00e with support for OS/2's system-wide clipboard and long filenames.

[9] QEdit was rewritten and significantly expanded, and eventually released as The SemWare Editor (TSE) 1.0.

Earlier versions of TSE operated in the console window in text-only mode with limited character sets and colors.

The SemWare Application Language (SAL) uses a Pascal-like notation supporting procedural functions and procedures, local and global variables, constants, a preprocessor including common #include and #ifdef keywords, iterative and recursive control structures, and many text-editing-specific functions.

Many functions are available to access and manipulate buffers and their contents, effectively acting as very large text containers.