VI Editor

Starting vi and Saving Files

Starting vi:
vi filename	start editing filename, create it if necessary
Saving the file you're working on and/or leaving vi:
:wq	write the file to disk and quit
:q!	quit without saving any changes
:w! newfile	write all lines from the current file into the file 'newfile', overwriting any existing newfile
:n,m w! newfile	write the lines from n to m, inclusive, into the file newfile, overwriting any existing newfile

Moving the Cursor

Many commands take number prefixes; for example 5w moves to the right by 5 words.

Type:	To Move To:
h	one space to the left (also try left arrow)
j	one line down (also try down arrow)
k	one line up (also try up arrow)
l	one space to the right (also try right arrow)
$	end of current line
^	beginning of current line
Enter	beginning first word on the next line
G	end of file
:n	line n; use :0 to move the beginning of the file
w	beginning of next word; 5w moves to the beginning of the 5th word to the right
e	end of next word
b	beginning of previous word
Ctrl-b	one page up
Ctrl-f	one page down
%	the matching (, ), [, ], {, or } (Press % with your cursor on one of these characters to move your cursor its mate.)

Searching for Text

Type:	To:
/string	search down for string
?string	search up for string
n	repeat last search from present position

Deleting Text

Type:	To:
x	delete single character; 5x deletes 5 characters
dw	delete word; 5dw deletes 5 words
dd	delete line; 5dd deletes ... well you get the idea!
cw	delete word, leaves you in insert mode (i.e. change word)
cc	change line -- delete line and start insert mode
s	change character -- delete character and start insert mode
D	delete from cursor to end of line
C	change from cursor to end of line -- delete and start insert mode
u	undo last change
U	undo all changes to current line
J	join current line with line that follows (press Enter in insert mode to split line)

Inserting Text

Type:	To:
a	append starting right of cursor
A	append at the end of the current line
i	insert starting left of cursor
I	insert at beginning of the current line
o	open line below cursor, then enter insert mode
O	open line above cursor, then enter insert mode
:r newfile	add the contents of the file newfile starting below the current line

Cutting and Pasting

Type:	To:
xp	transpose two characters (two commands, x followed by p)
yy	yank (i.e. copy) one line into a general buffer (5yy to yank 5 lines)
"ayy	yank into the buffer named a
P	put the general buffer back before the current line
"aP	put from buffer a before current line
p	put the general buffer back after the current line
"ap	put from buffer a after the current line

Note: dd or any other delete will save a copy of the deleted string in the same general buffer. Therefore a cut and paste can be done with dd and p, rather than copy and paste with yy and p. But make sure not to overwrite the buffer with some other yank or delete command before you have a chance to paste.

Miscellaneous Commands

Type:	To:
Ctrl-g	show line number of current line
Ctrl-l	redraw the entire display
:!sh	fork a shell; type Ctrl-d to get back to vi
.	repeat last text change command at current cursor position

Customizing vi: the .exrc file

The .exrc file in your login directory is a collection of vi commands to customize that environment. For example, an .exrc file containing:

:set showmode

:set ic

tells vi to show the words INPUT MODE in the lower right-hand corner of the screen when in Insert mode, and :set ic tells the editor to ignore case during searches. To temporarily tell vi to respect case during searches, enter :set noic before searching. When you leave and reenter vi, your .exrc file takes effect again so that case is ignored during searches.

:set showmode	show when you are in insert mode
:set ic	ignore case when searching
:set noic	turn ignore case off
:set nu	turn on line numbering
:set nonu	turn line numbering off