You can use a text editor to create procedure and module definitions in external files.  The file must contain assignment statements:  f := proc ... end proc;

The freely available text editor "vim" that runs on all platforms on which Maple runs, ships with a  mode for Maple syntax highlighting. Additionally, the freely available text editor "emacs" that runs on all platforms on which Maple runs, has a major mode, maplev-mode, for Maple syntax highlighting, automatic indentation, syntax checking, and an interface to the Maple help system.

To read the file into a Maple session type: read filename;

Note: If filename contains any unusual characters it must be enclosed in double quotes ( $"$ ).

To save the contents of a Maple session into a file use the save name1, name2, ...namek, fileName command. For example, save a, b, c, "temp.m":. For specific instructions, see save.

Procedures can be read faster by saving them in Maple internal format, that is, saving the filename with the file extension $\.m$. For example,  save "f.m"  and in a later session,  read "f.m" For details, see file.