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):
Open line above cursor Insert text at beginning of line Insert text at cursor append text after cursor Append text at line end Open line below cursorSwitch 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):
Scroll Backward 1 screen Scroll Up 1/2 screen Go to beginning of line Go to line n Go to end of line Scroll Down 1/2 screen Go to line number ## Scroll Forward 1 screen Go to last line Scroll by sentence f/b Scroll by word f/b Move left, down, up, right Left 6 chars Scroll by paragraph f/b Move left, down, up, right Go to line # 6Delete text (command mode):
Change word Replace one character Delete word Delete text at cursor Delete entire line (to buffer) Delete (backspace) text at cursor Delete 5 lines (to buffer) Delete current to end of line Delete lines 5-10Editing (command mode):
Copy n lines Copy lines 1-2 /paste after 3 Paste above current line Paste below current line Move lines 4-5 /paste after 6 Join previous line Search backward for string Search forward for string Find next string occurrence % (entire file)Save and Quit (command mode):
Save changes to buffer Save changes and quit vi Save file to new file :w file Quit without saving Save lines to new file : 10,15 w fileIn 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 :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 :visual command. Note that the Ex mode is designed for Batch processing and as such won’t support mappings or command-line editing.
vi is pronounced as the two letters: "vee eye"
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 .
“vi was written for a world that doesn’t exist anymore - unless you decide to get a satellite phone and use it to connect to the Net at 2400 baud” ~ Bill Joy
Full list of VI commands
VIM tutor
Learning the vi Editor - How to use the vi editor.
History and effective use of Vim - Joe Nelson.
How to grok vi - Stack Overflow.
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
