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Vi

From TriWiki

The vi editor is important, if for no other reason that you are likely to find vi on any Linux or posix system. Once you learn it you should be able to edit files on most systems. For one Trilug members comments on learning vi see Rick D learns vi.

Contents 1 vi clones and extensions 1.1 Vim 1.2 Others 1.2.1 nvi 1.2.2 elvis 1.2.3 vile 2 Navigation 2.1 Basic keys 2.2 Other commands 2.3 Searching 2.4 Search and replace 3 Command Basics 4 Useful links

[edit] vi clones and extensions

There have been several implementations of vi, although they provide extensions which you might not find everywhere. To get the full value of learning vi, you need to first learn vi and not the extensions.

Depending on the distribution or user settings, the vi command may actually invoke any of these clones.

[edit] Vim

Vim is a clone of vi which is popular in the Linux world, mainly because of its more intuitive usage when in edit mode, and its extended features. Most distributions provide a fully configured vim with syntax highlighting for most text file types, useful default settings, and intuitive key bindings.

Something useful to remember for Vim is the command :help for getting help.

[edit] Others

[edit] nvi

[edit] elvis

[edit] vile

[edit] Navigation

When opening a file you will initially be in command mode. For vi you need to be in command mode to navigate through the file. Vim is often configured to allow you to use the arrow keys for basic navigation when in edit mode, in addition to the standard navigation mechanisms.

[edit] Basic keys

• h - left
• l - right
• j - down
• k - up

These can be confusing at first, but with a little practice they'll come naturally. You may not want to use them all the time, but at least remember what they are ... you never know when you'll run across a machine that doesn't have the arrow keys bound, or has an older version of vi.

A useful feature of vi is that you can repeat any command (those that you don't enter at the prompt) mutliple times by typing the number of times you want to repeat it, before typing the command. In terms of navigation, typing 5<down> will take you 5 lines down, for example.

Often the page down and up keys will also be bound for you.

[edit] Other commands

• $ - end of this line
• ^ - beginning of the text in this line
• 0 - beginning of this line
• w - beginning of next word
• e - end of this word
• b - beginning of this word
• G - end of file
• <line number>G - go to specified line number
• H - top of the screen
• L - bottom of the screen
• M - middle of the screen

[edit] Searching

In command mode, type a forward slash (/), which will then take you to a prompt at the bottom of the screen where you can type the text you want to search for. Hit enter to start the search. Search results will be hilighted, and the cursor will be placed at the first search result. To get to the next result, type n; or N to get to the previous search result.

To search backwards, type a question mark (?) in command mode, and then enter your search expression at the prompt. When searching backwards, the n and N commands are reversed, because you're working backwards.

If you're tired of seeing everything hilighted, type the command :nohls (no hilight search).

[edit] Search and replace

To replace all instances in a document, in command mode type:

   :%s/<search term>/<replace with>/<options>

Options:

• g - global replace. That is, multiple occurrances on one line.
• c - confirm each replacement. You will be provided with a y/n/q/a (yes/no/quit/all) at each search result.

For example:

   :%s/this/that/

To search and replace only in a range of lines, in command mode type:

   :<start line>,<end line>s/<search term>/<replace with>/<options>

For example:

   :5,33s/this/that/gc

[edit] Command Basics

Note: for commands which specify an optional number (num), leaving the number out implies doing the action once.

• Insert text:

   i <begin typing>

• Insert text at the beginning of the line:

   I <begin typing>

• Append text:

   a <begin typing>

• Append text at the end of the line:

   A <begin typing>

• Delete num characters:

   [num]x

• Delete num characters backwards (backspace):

   [num]X

• Exit edit mode

   Esc

• Overwrite text:

   R <begin typing>

• Overwrite num characters:

   [num]r <type character>

• Change num words:

   c[num]w <begin typing>
   
   or
   
   [num]cw <begin typing>

• Change from current position to end of line:

   c$ <begin typing>

• Change from current position to beginning of line:

   c0 <begin typing>

• Change from current position to beginning of text on current line:

   c^ <begin typing>

• Delete num words:

   d[num]w
   
   or
   
   [num]dw

• Delete from current position to end of line:

   d$

• Delete from current position to beginning of line:

   d0

• Delete from current position to beginning of text on current line:

   d^

• Delete num lines:

   <num>dd

• Copy num lines:

   <num>yy

• Paste after current cursor position:

   p (lower case)

• Paste before current cursor position:

   P (upper case)

Note that any of the deletes mentioned above populate the default register, and are available for pasting.

• Repeat previous command:

   . (dot)

• Save file

   :w [filename]
   
   The filename is only necessary if you want to save to a different file.

• Quit vi

   :q

• Save changes and quit

   :wq

• Quit without saving changes

   :q!

• Edit a file

   :e <filename>

• Paste the contents of a file into the current file, at the current cursor position:

   :r <filename>

• Paste the output of a command line process into the current file, at the current cursor position:

   :r !<command>

[edit] Useful links

• Mastering the VI editor - tutorial
• VI Helpfile - a quick reference
• Vi Lovers Home Page - useful information
• Vim - Vim Home
• Vim Tips - more than you needed or wanted to know about Vim
• Vim Docs - the Vim :help online