Starting vi
You may use vi to open an already existing file by typing
vi filename
where “filename” is the name of the existing file. Also create a new file by typing
vi newname
where “newname” is the name you wish to give the new file.
To open a new file called “testvi,” enter
vi testvi
At this point you can either exit out of the file or save it (see below for more commands on this).
vi’s two modes:
- command mode
- insert mode
In command mode, the letters of the keyboard perform editing functions (like moving the cursor, deleting text, etc.). To enter command mode, press the escape key.
In insert mode, the letters you type form words and sentences. Unlike many word processors, vi starts up in command mode.
Entering Text In order to begin entering text in this empty file, you must change from command mode to insert mode. To do this, type
i
Nothing appears to change, but you are now in insert mode and can begin typing text.
Basic Editing
Editing commands require that you be command mode. Many of the editing commands have a different function depending on whether they are typed as upper- or lowercase. Often, editing commands can be preceded by a number to indicate a repetition of the command.
Deleting Characters To delete a character from a file, move the cursor until it is on the incorrect letter, then type
x
The character under the cursor disappears. To remove four characters (the one under the cursor and the next three) type
4x
To delete the character before the cursor, type
X
Deleting Words To delete a word, move the cursor to the first letter of the word, and type
dw
This command deletes the word and the space following it.
To delete three words type
3dw
Deleting Lines
To delete a whole line, type
dd
The cursor does not have to be at the beginning of the line. Typing dd deletes the entire line containing the cursor and places the cursor at the start of the next line. To delete two lines, type
2dd
To delete from the cursor position to the end of the line, type
D
Replacing Characters To replace one character with another:
Move the cursor to the character to be replaced.
r
Type the replacement character. The new character will appear, and you will still be in command mode.
Replacing Words To replace one word with another, move to the start of the incorrect word and type
cw
The last letter of the word to be replaced will turn into a $. You are now in insert mode and may type the replacement. The new text does not need to be the same length as the original. Press to get back to command mode. To replace three words, type
3cw
Replacing Lines To change text from the cursor position to the end of the line:
C
Type the replacement text. Press . Inserting Text To insert text in a line:
Position the cursor where the new text should go.
i
Enter the new text.
Undoing To undo your most recent edit, type
u
To undo all the edits on a single line, type
U
Undoing all edits on a single line only works as long as the cursor stays on that line. Once you move the cursor off a line, you cannot use U to restore the line.
Moving Around in a File There are shortcuts to move more quickly though a file. All these work in command mode.
Key Movement — ——– 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 f scroll forward one screen b scroll backward one screen d scroll down one-half screen u scroll up one-half screen Moving by Searching To move quickly by searching for text, while in command mode:
/
Enter the text to search for.
.
The cursor moves to the first occurrence of that text.
To repeat the search in a forward direction, type
n
To repeat the search in a backward direction, type
N
Closing and Saving a File With vi, you edit a copy of the file, rather than the original file. Changes are made to the original only when you save your edits.
:w
To quit vi, and discard any changes your have made since last saving:
:q!