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Requirement Creating, Opening Files in VI Modes in VI Editor Saving & Exiting The VI Editor VI Commands, Quick Reference Next Steps

The document provides an introduction and quick reference to using the vi text editor on Unix systems, outlining how to create and open files in vi, the different modes in vi, how to save and exit files, and a reference of common vi commands. It also discusses vi requirements like setting the correct TERM variable and mentions next steps like exploring vi editor books to learn more advanced features.

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86 views5 pages

Requirement Creating, Opening Files in VI Modes in VI Editor Saving & Exiting The VI Editor VI Commands, Quick Reference Next Steps

The document provides an introduction and quick reference to using the vi text editor on Unix systems, outlining how to create and open files in vi, the different modes in vi, how to save and exit files, and a reference of common vi commands. It also discusses vi requirements like setting the correct TERM variable and mentions next steps like exploring vi editor books to learn more advanced features.

Uploaded by

yasabvi
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Requirement
3. Creating , opening files in vi
4. Modes in vi editor
5. Saving & exiting the vi editor
6. vi commands , quick reference
7. Next Steps

Introduction:
__________

vi pronounced as " vee eye " is a unix editor available on almost all the unix operating
systems , solaris , bsd ,aix , hpux etc.

This document is a quick reference to vi editor and will be of help if your are new to unix ,
learning unix or just refreshing your vi knowledge after a few years.

Requirements:
____________
In order to work correctly the vi need correct terminal type (TERM) setting .The TERM setting
depends on the type of terminal you have . Commonly used TERM types are vt100 , vt220 and
ansi . In most cases vt100 will work fine . In case vi is not able to understand the TERM you
have given, it starts in open mode giving you a line by line display .
Generally TERM is taken from .profile or /etc/profile but can be set at the command line as :
$TERM=vt100
$export TERM

echo $TERM will display the current TERM set.

Create new file or Open existing file in vi


__________________________________
vi without any file name will open a new file where you can enter the text and edit but while
coming out you will be asked to enter a valid file name to save the text.
vi with a file name as argument will open that file for editing if the file already exists it opens it
otherwise it creates a new file by the argument.
Example : $vi testfile
Creates or opens the existing file called testfile

Modes in vi
____________
vi operates in following two modes :
i. ) Command Mode : After a file is opened it is opened in command mode ,that is , input from
the keyboard will be treated as vi commands and you will not see the words you are typing on
the screen .

ii.) Insert Mode: To enter the text you have to put vi in insert by pressing 'i' or 'a' after which
you can add the text and whatever is being type will be seen on the screen. . To switch between
these mode Esc key is used . Esc i (text mode) Esc (command mode)

Saving & Exiting vi editor


______________________

You can exit vi in different ways :

1.) Quit without saving : If you don't want to save the work :q will take
you out without saving your editing in vi.
2.) Write & quit : . Simple :w saves the current file but don't exit. For save
and quit :wq is used in vi.
3.) Forced Quite : An ! (Exclamation sign at the end of exit commands
( :q! , :wq! ) causes a forced quit from vi after ignoring editing (for :q!)
or writing (for :wq!) all the changes..

InventioConsulting
Offering Unix , Solaris & IT
Training Services
throughout the UK.

vi commands , quick reference


Moving Cursor in File
Left h
Right i
Up k
Down j
Line
Beginning ^ or B
end $
Sentance :
Next sentance )
Previous sentance (
Paragraph
Next }
Previous {
file
Go to end of file :$
on chacter forword :w
One word forword :W
go to a line number :line_number
display file info . ^g
Inserting and appending text :
inserts text to the left of cursor i
nserts in the beginning of line I
appends text to right of cursor a
appends to the end of line A
Adding new line
add a new line below the current line o
adds a new line above the current line. O
deleting the text :
deletes text above the text x
deletes text character on right of cursor X
deletes line 20 20d
deletes current line dd
delete till end of current line. D
Replacing a character & word
replace the character above the cursor. r
replces characters until Esc is pressed. R
replaces the word from cursor to the end indicated
by $ sign . cw

replaces till end of line. C


Substitute
subistutes current charcater. s
substitutes entire line. S
Undo the last change
undo last change. u
undo changes to the current line. U
Copy and pasting lines
copys the current line into buffer. yy
copies 5 lines from the current line. 5yy
pastes the current buffer. p
Searching
Searches for the word name in the file :/name
n continues search forward. n
N searches backwards N
Saving
saves the text does not quit. :w
saves & quit the editor . :wq!
save ZZ
Quit without saving q!

Search & Replace s/<search-string>/<replace-string>/g .


Repeating last command .
Recovering a unsaved vi file. vi -r filename
7. Next Steps :

vi editor is all time favorite for the unix admins and there are some books available if you are
interested in exploring the more powers of vi editor. The editor is also covered in system
administration books so you may find a chapter devoted to vi editor in most of the unix system
administration books.

You can purchase unix administration or vi editor books from amazon.com online using the
display panel below.

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