diff --git a/application.py b/application.py
index 90a040b..dc86f8b 100755
--- a/application.py
+++ b/application.py
@@ -177,6 +177,8 @@ class Application(object):
         for c in string.letters + string.digits + string.punctuation:
             obj = method.InsertString(c)
             self.methods[obj.name] = obj
+            obj = method.OverwriteChar(c)
+            self.methods[obj.name] = obj
 
         # window/slot height/width
         height = self.y - 2
diff --git a/buffer2.py b/buffer2.py
index 11d437e..2c575da 100644
--- a/buffer2.py
+++ b/buffer2.py
@@ -285,7 +285,10 @@ class Buffer(object):
             p2 = Point(0, p.y + 1)
         else:
             p2 = Point(p.x + 1, p.y)
-        self.delete(p, p2, act, force)
+        self.delete(p, p2, act=act, force=force)
+    def overwrite_char(self, p, c, act=ACT_NORM, force=False):
+        self.delete_char(p, act=act, force=force)
+        self.insert_string(p, c, act=act, force=force)
 
     # random
     def count_leading_whitespace(self, y):
diff --git a/method.py b/method.py
index 706a682..1a58f0d 100644
--- a/method.py
+++ b/method.py
@@ -352,12 +352,21 @@ class Exit(Method):
 class InsertString(Method):
     _is_method = False
     def __init__(self, s):
-        self.name = "insert-string-%s" % (s)
+        self.name = "insert-string-%s" % s
         self.args = []
         self.help = "Insert %r into the current buffer." % s
         self.string = s
     def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
         w.insert_string_at_cursor(self.string)
+class OverwriteChar(Method):
+    _is_method = False
+    def __init__(self, c):
+        self.name = 'overwrite-char-%s' % c
+        self.args = []
+        self.help = "Overwrite %r into the current buffer." % c
+        self.char = c
+    def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
+        w.overwrite_char_at_cursor(self.char)
 
 # killing/copying/etc.
 class Kill(Method):
diff --git a/mode/hex.py b/mode/hex.py
index 454b512..9448c14 100644
--- a/mode/hex.py
+++ b/mode/hex.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import string
 import color, mode2
 from lex3 import Grammar, PatternRule, RegionRule
 
@@ -17,5 +18,13 @@ class Hex(mode2.Fundamental):
     }
     def __init__(self, w):
         mode2.Fundamental.__init__(self, w)
+
+        # create all the insert actions for the basic text input
+        for c in string.letters + string.digits + string.punctuation:
+            if c in string.hexdigits:
+                self.add_binding('overwrite-char-%s' % c.lower(), c)
+            else:
+                self.del_binding(c)
+
     def name(self):
         return "Hex"
diff --git a/window2.py b/window2.py
index 43f37b7..8987f17 100644
--- a/window2.py
+++ b/window2.py
@@ -534,6 +534,21 @@ class Window(object):
         self.application.push_kill(copied)
         return copied
 
+    # overwriting
+    def overwrite_char_at_cursor(self, c):
+        self.overwrite_char(self.logical_cursor(), c)
+    def overwrite_char(self, p, c):
+        line = self.buffer.lines[p.y]
+        if p.x >= len(line):
+            self.insert_string(p, c)
+        elif p.x == len(line) - 1:
+            self.buffer.overwrite_char(p, c)
+            if p.y < len(self.buffer.lines):
+                self.cursor = Point(0, p.y + 1)
+        else:
+            self.buffer.overwrite_char(p, c)
+            self.cursor = Point(p.x + 1, p.y)
+
     # insertion
     def insert_string_at_cursor(self, s):
         self.insert_string(self.logical_cursor(), s)