reference/ViEditor.md

How to Use the vi Editor

Starting vi

vi filename -edit a file named "filename"

vi newfile -create a new file named "newfile"

ENTERING TEXT

i -insert text left of cursor

a -append text right of cursorf cursor

Moving the Cursor

To move the cursor to another position, you must be in command mode.

 Key        Cursor Movement
 ---        ---------------
 h            left one space
 j            down one line
 k            up one line
 l            right one space
 w            forward word by word
 b            backward word by word
 $            to end of line
 0 (zero)     to beginning of line
 H            to top line of screen
 M            to middle line of screen
 L            to last line of screen
 G            to last line of file
 1G           to first line of file
 <Control>f   scroll forward one screen
 <Control>b   scroll backward one screen
 <Control>d   scroll down one-half screen
 <Control>u   scroll up one-half screen

BASIC EDITING

  x        delete character
 nx        delete n characters
 X         delete character before cursor
 dw        delete word
 ndw       delete n words
 dd        delete line
 ndd       delete n lines
 D         delete characters from cursor to end of line
 r         replace character under cursor
 cw        replace a word
 ncw       replace n words
 C         change text from cursor to end of line
 o         insert blank line below cursor
              (ready for insertion)
 O         insert blank line above cursor
              (ready for insertion)
 J         join succeeding line to current cursor line
 nJ        join n succeeding lines to current cursor line
 u         undo last change
 U         restore current line

Moving by Searching

• Type / (slash).
• Enter the text to search for.

n            -repeat last search in same direction

N            -repeat last search in opposite direction

Closing and Saving a File

 ZZ     -save file and then quit
 :w     -save file
 :q!    -discard changes and quit file