Vi is a screen editor for Linux, Unix and other Unix-like operating systems. Pronounced (vee-aye), vistands for visual instrument. It is a widely-used default text editor for Unix-based systems and is shipped with vitually all versions of Unix.
To startup vi:
vi filename
Vi has three main modes Command mode, Insert mode and Command-Line mode.
The editor begins in command mode, where cursor movement and copy/paste commands can be issued. If you are ever unsure which mode you’re in, press Esc to return to command mode.
Insert text (Insert mode):
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Open line above cursor
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O | ||||||
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Insert text at beginning of line
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I |
Insert text at cursor
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i |
append text after cursor
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a |
Append text at line end
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A |
|
Open line below cursor
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o |
Switch to Command mode:
Switch to command mode: [ESC]
Most commands execute as soon as typed except for “colon” commands which execute when you press the return key.
Cursor Movement (command mode):
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Scroll Backward 1 screen
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[ctrl] b | ||||
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Scroll Up 1/2 screen
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[ctrl] u | ||||
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Go to beginning of line
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0 |
Go to line n
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nG |
Go to end of line
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$
|
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Scroll Down 1/2 screen
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[ctrl] d |
Go to line number ##
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:##
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||
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Scroll Forward 1 screen
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[ctrl] f | ||||
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Go to last line
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G | ||||
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Scroll by sentence f/b
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( ) | ||||
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Scroll by word f/b
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w b |
Move left, down, up, right
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h j k l |
Left 6 chars
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6h
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|
Scroll by paragraph f/b
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{ } |
Move left, down, up, right
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← ↓ ↑ → Arrow Keys |
Go to line #6
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6G
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Delete text (command mode):
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Change word
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cw |
Replace one character
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r | ||
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Delete word
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dw |
Delete text at cursor
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x |
Delete entire line (to buffer)
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dd |
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Delete (backspace) text at cursor
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X |
Delete 5 lines (to buffer)
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5dd | ||
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Delete current to end of line
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D |
Delete lines 5-10
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:5,10d |
Editing (command mode):
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Copy line
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yy |
Copy n lines
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nyy |
Copy lines 1-2 /paste after 3
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:1,2t3 |
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Paste above current line
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P | ||||
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Paste below current line
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p |
Move lines 4-5 /paste after 6
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:4,5m6 | ||
| Find the next t | ft |
Join previous line
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J | ||
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Search backward for string
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?string |
Search forward for string
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/string |
Find next stringoccurrence
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n |
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% (entire file)
s (search and replace) /old text with new/ c (confirm) g (global – all) |
:%s/oldstring/newstring/cg |
Ignore case during search
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:set ic | ||
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Repeat last command
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. |
Undo previous command
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u |
Undo all changes to line
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U |
Save and Quit (command mode):
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Save changes to buffer
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:w
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Save changes and quit vi
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ZZ or :wq
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Save file to new file
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:w file
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Quit without saving
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:q!
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Save lines to new file
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:10,15w file
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In general a number n preceding any vi command will tell vi to repeat that command n times.
:syntax on Turn on syntax highlighting
:syntax off Turn off syntax highlighting
:set number Turn on Line numbering (shorthand :set nu)
:set nonumber Turn off Line numbering (shorthand :set nonu)
:set ignorecase Ignore case sensitivity when searching
:set noignorecase Restore case sensitivity (default)
:set autoindent Turn on Auto-indentation
Use the command >> to indent and the << command to outdent
:set shiftwidth=4 Set indentation to four spaces
:set noautoindent Turn off Auto-indentation
Change all Windows CR/LF to Unix style LF line endings in the current file:
:g/^M/s///g
(To enter the ^M, type CTRL-V CTRL-M)
Command-line mode
Command-line mode commands are typed at the bottom of the screen.
To enter Command-line mode from Command mode, push colon : a colon will appear at the bottom.
Command-line (Ex) commands:
q [Enter]If you haven’t made any modifications, or have already saved them beforehand.
quit [Enter]If you haven’t made any modifications, or have already saved them beforehand.
q! [Enter]ignore any modifications and quit.
w [Enter]Save and return to Command mode.
wq [Enter]Save and quit.
x [Enter]Save and quit, same as wq
The Ex mode is similar to the command line mode as it also allows you to enter Ex commands. Unlike the command-line mode you won’t return to normal mode automatically. You can enter an Ex command by typing a Q in normal mode and leave it again with the :visualcommand. Note that the Ex mode is designed for Batch processing and as such won’t support mappings or command-line editing.
The vi editor was an update on the earlier ex (and ed) editors, it introduced a Visual Interactive mode which was contracted to give the name vi.
Related:
Full list of VI commands
Programmers Vim cheat sheet
VIM tutor
Learning the vi Editor – How to use the vi editor.
How to grok vi – Stack Overflow
vim.spf13 – The Ultimate Vim Distribution
bcvi – Back Channel vi – remote file editing with SSH
book – Practical vim by Drew Neil
book – Learning the vi & vim Editor
MacVim & MacVim vs TextMate
