Using Vi, The Unix Visual Editor - University Of Washington

About vi

vi is Found on Nearly Every Unix Computer

• vi is the standard Unix editor

• Other documents on vi:
  • How To Use The vi Editor
  • Vi Reference
  • Mastering the VI editor - University of Hawaii at Manoa
  • Vi Lovers Home Page
  • Visual Editor (vi): A Tutorial - University of Southwestern Louisiana

vi is Powerful and Fast

• Your terminal displays a section of the file you are editing

• vi can do anything you want

• You don't need to remove your fingers from the standard typing keys-the keys themselves give commands to vi

vi Stays Out of Your Way

• vi has no menus

• vi commands are short

Starting vi

Open a file with vi. Type: vi myfile.txt

• If myfile.txt does not exist, a screen will appear with just a cursor at the top followed by tildes (~) in the first column.

• If myfile.txt does exist, the first few line of the file will appear.

• The status line at the bottom of your screen shows error messages and provides information and feedback, including the name of the file.

vi Modes

Command Mode

• Command mode is the mode you are in when you start (default mode)

• Command mode is the mode in which commands are given to move around in the file, to make changes, and to leave the file

• Commands are case sensitive: j not the same as J

• Most commands do not appear on the screen as you type them. Some commands will appear on the last line: : / ?

Insert (or Text) Mode

• The mode in which text is created. (You must press <Return> at the end of each line unless you've set wrap margin.)

• There is more than one way to get into insert mode but only one way to leave: return to command mode by pressing <Esc>

When in doubt about which mode you are in, press <Esc>

Basic Cursor Movement

From Command Mode k Up one line j Down one line h Left one character l Right one character (or use <Spacebar>) w Right one word b Left one word

NOTE: Many vi commands can take a leading count (e. g., 6k, 7e).

Entering, Deleting, and Changing Text

From Command Mode i Enter text entry mode x Delete a character dd Delete a line r Replace a character R Overwrite text, press <Esc> to end

Setting Basic Options in vi

Displaying Line Numbers

From Command Mode :set nu Display line numbers :set nonu Hide line numbers

Setting Right Margin

From Command Mode :set wm=number Set Wrap Margin number of spaces from right edge of screen :set wm=10 Set Wrap Margin 10 spaces from right edge of screen :set wm=0 Turn off Wrap Margin

Exiting vi

• To exit you must be in command mode-press <Esc> if you are not in command mode

• You must press <Return> after commands that begin with a : (colon)

From Command Mode ZZ Write (if there were changes), then quit :wq Write, then quit :q Quit (will only work if file has not been changed) :q! Quit without saving changes to file

Basics Summary

UNIX ---> vi file ---> COMMAND ---> i I a A o O ---> TEXT SHELL <---- ZZ <------- MODE <------ <Esc> <------ MODE

A Basic vi Session

1. To enter vi, type: vi filename <Return>

2. To enter insert mode, type: i

3. Type in the text: This is easy.

4. To leave insert mode and return to command mode, press: <Esc>

5. In command mode, save changes and exit vi by typing: :wq <Return>

   You are back at the Unix prompt.