Vi Summary

Vi Editor Command Summary Common vi Editor commands This vi editor command summary is provided to help students get a quick start in the use of this editor in the Harris Computer Lab. Bold letters indicate the command and italics indicate a sample file name or a real file which you would enter in your command line. It is recommended that you obtain a current UNIX manual to use in conjunction with this guide. Use the UNIX command “man vi” to learn additional vi commands. The vi editing session operates in two modes, <Esc>+ for insert mode for entering text, and <Esc>+ for operating in command mode. + indicates keystrokes to be entered in sequence. _ indicates a space.

vi Editor command Open a file Save a file Save with new name Quit editing, no save Insert text

Syntax vi file1 <Esc>+<:>+w+! <Esc>+<:>+w+_+file1 <Esc>+<:>+q+! <Esc>+i++<Esc>

Description Open program in command mode Saves a file with current file name Saves a file with new name specified Quit edit session without saving Enter text before cursor until finished, then <Esc>

Append text

Enter text after cursor until finished, then <Esc>

Delete text

<Esc>+a++<Esc> <Esc>+x

Delete line Search for pattern Delete word

<Esc>+dd <Esc>+/+ <Esc> + dw

Position cursor, strike x for each character you wish to remove Position cursor, strike key for each line you wish to remove Position cursor, strike <Esc>+/+”findthis” Delete word (into buffer)

Undo

<Esc> + u

Undo last command

Join two lines Line number

<Esc> + J <Esc> + <:> + nu

Join next line to end of current line Display current line number

(Revised 02/26/04) vi-editor.doc