Unit 7 The vi Editor
Course code LX13
Linux Basics
Objectives
After completing this unit, students should be able to use
vi to:
Create and edit files
Manipulate text within a file
Set up defaults for the vi editor
Execute command-line editing
Define the uses for the other forms of vi
vi
Full-screen editor
Two modes of operation
command
text
Utilizes one-letter command
Does not format text
Flexible search and replace facility with pattern matching
Allows for user-defined editing functions using macros
Starting vi
$ vi vifile
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"vifile" New file
Two Modes
Command Input
mode mode
a append text after cursor
A append text at end of line
i insert text at the cursor
I insert text at beginning of line
o add an empty line under cursor
O add an empty line above cursor
s substitute a character with text
<ESC>
Cursor Movement
<ctrl-b>
H
k
<up-arrow>
0 $
b,B w,W
h l
<left-arrow> <right-arrow>
<down-arrow>
j
L
<ctrl-f>
G
Editing Text
To delete a single character x
To delete to the end of the current word dw
To delete to the end of the line d$
To delete to the start of the line d0
To delete the whole line dd
To delete a range of lines :20,40d
Replace text by overtyping Rnewtext
To change to the end of next word c2w
Undo the last change u
Adding Text
Keystroke
i This file contains some lines.
Line 2.
And this is line 3.
Line 4 follows line 3.
The last line is line 5.
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"vifile" New file
Exiting the Editor
Keystroke
This file contains some lines.
<esc> Line 2.
And this is line 3.
Line 4 follows line 3.
The last line is line 5.
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:wq
Search for a Pattern
Keystroke
<esc> This file contains some lines.
Line 2.
And this is line 3.
n Line 4 follows line 3.
The last line is line 5.
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/line
Find and Replace
Keystroke
<esc> This file contains some lines.
Line 2.
And this is lINE 3.
Line 4 follows lINE 3.
The last lINE is lINE 5.
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:g/ line /s// lINE /g
Cut and Paste
Keystroke This file contains some lines.
<esc> Line 2.
And this is lINE 3.
The last lINE is lINE 5.
dd Line 4 follows lINE 3.
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"vifile" 5 lines, 108 characters
Copy and Paste
Keystroke
<esc> This file contains some lines.
Line 2.
And this is lINE 3.
yy Line 4 follows lINE 3.
The last line is lINE 5.
p Line 4 follows lINE 3.
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"vifile" 5 lines, 108 characters
vi - Executing Linux Commands
You can run Linux commands from within vi.
The vi command :! command will execute command in
a subshell. After the completion of command, you will be
placed back in vi.
Examples:
:! ls will execute the ls command
:! bash will give you a shell prompt in which you
can enter a series of commands.
vi Options
Options entered in the vi session change the behavior
of the vi editor:
:set all
:set autoindent/noautoindent
:set number/nonumber
:set list/nolist
:set showmode/noshowmode
:set tabstop=x
:set ignorecase/noignorecase
:set wrapmargin=x
Options can be stored in $HOME/.exrc
Macros can be written and new commands created
Example .exrc
set showmode
set tabstop=5
set list
ab lx linux
ab thansk thanks
ab sohw show
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".exrc" 8 lines, 81 characters
vi Editors
vi Full-screen, full-function editor
view Read-only form of vim. Changes cannot be
saved unless overridden with a force (!)
ex Subset of vim working in line mode, can
access the screen editing capabilities of vim
ed Subset of vim working in line mode, can
access the screen editing capabilities of vim
Command Line Editing
Uses the same keystrokes as vi
Can correct mistakes in the current line
Uses editor keys to edit/re-enter previous lines
$ set -o vi
h j k l
vi Cheat Sheet
Start vi Change text
$ vi file name cw R
Exit vi Delete text
:wq :x :ZZ :q x dd dw
Force Copy/Paste
! yy p
Go to input mode Undo
i a o I A O s u
Go to command mode Cursor Movement
<Esc> h j k l
Checkpoint
1. When using the vi editor, what are the two modes of
operation?
2. While using vi, how do you get to command mode?
3. Which of the following could you use to enter in text?
a. a
b. x
c. i
d. dd
Checkpoint (2)
4. vi can be used to globally change the first occurrence
of a pattern on every line with a given pattern.
True or False?
Unit Summary
The VIM editor is started with the vi command
The VIM editor starts a full-screen editor
VIM has two modes of operation: text mode (input) and
command mode
VIM makes a copy of the file you are editing in an edit
buffer. The contents are not changed until you save the
changes
Subcommands with the : , / , ? , ! read input from a line
displayed at the bottom of the screen.
