Text Editor Basics
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Table of Contents
Overview
Using vi
Before You Begin
Opening a New or Existing File
Editing a File
Navigating within a File
Editing Text in a File
Inserting Changes in a File
Saving Your Work
Ending a vi Session
Getting Help with vi
Overview
This appendix is provided for users unfamiliar with the UNIX text editor vi. It provides the very basics to get you started using the vi editor.
You will find the following information in this appendix:
- Opening a new or existing file.
- Editing a file.
- Ending a vi session.
- Getting help with vi.
Using vi
vi (pronounced vee-eye) is a screen editor supplied with most UNIX systems. Using vi you can create a new file, open an existing file, and insert or modify text in a file. For more information on vi, see the documentation for your particular UNIX operating system.
Before You Begin
Before you begin using vi, you must tell it what type of terminal you are using.
To set your terminal type for using vi:
Type the following.
|
csh |
Example |
|
% set term=terminal_type |
% set term=vt100 |
|
ksh |
Example |
|
% TERM=terminal_type |
% TERM=vt100 |
|
% export TERM |
% export TERM |
Opening a New or Existing File
To open a new or existing file in vi:
Type % vi filename, where filename is the name of the new file you want to create or the name of an existing file. For example, if you opened a new file, it would look like the following.
The tilde (~) along the left margin means that the file doesn't have enough content to fill up the screen.
When you start vi, it prints the filename, number of lines, and number of characters at the bottom of the screen. For example, if you opened an existing file, it would look like the following.
Editing a File
Note: The following guidelines are intended to get you started using vi; they instruct you on how to do simple editing. vi also offers more sophisticated editing. For more information, see the documentation for your particular operating system of UNIX.
In vi, there are two modes of operation: command mode and insert mode.
In command mode you move the cursor around the file, positioning it where you want to make your edits. There are commands to move the cursor forward, backward, left, and right, as well as commands to delete a character or line of text and commands to place you in insert mode.
To enter new text into a file, you must be in insert mode. An important fact to remember about insert mode is that commands that are available in command mode are unavailable in insert mode (except <Esc>). For example, to move the cursor to the left, you press the h key in command mode. However, in insert mode, pressing h inserts the letter h.
To get out of insert mode and back to command mode, press <Esc>. The <Esc> key is defined as <Ctrl> [ (left square bracket) on some computers. Ask your system manager for help if you are unable to locate the <Esc> key.
If you are unsure of what mode you are in, press <Esc> a few times to ensure you are in command mode.
Navigating within a File
To move the cursor around in the file in command mode:
Choose from the following.
- Press h to move the cursor one character to the left.
- Press j to move the cursor down one line.
- Press k to move the cursor up one line.
- Press l to move the cursor one character to the right.
Editing Text in a File
To edit text in the file in command mode:
Choose from the following.
- Press x to delete the character at the current cursor position.
- Press dd to delete the current line.
- Press u to undo your last edit.
Inserting Changes in a File
To insert changes in the file:
You first must switch from command mode to insert mode. Choose from the following.
Note: Press <Esc> to leave insert mode and return to command mode.
- Press a to switch to insert mode and append text to the right of the cursor.
- Press i to switch to insert mode and insert text to the left of the cursor.
- Press o (lowercase letter o) to switch to insert mode and insert a blank line below the line you are currently on.
- Press O (uppercase letter O) to switch to insert mode and insert a blank line above the line you are currently on.
Saving Your Work
If you are editing a long file and you are sure about the changes you have made, it is a good idea to save your changes from time to time as you work.
To save your work without quitting:
Make sure you are in command mode and type :w.
Ending a vi Session
To end a session with vi:
Make sure you are in command mode and choose from the following.
- Type :q! to quit without saving your changes.
- Type ZZ or :x to save and exit the file.
Getting Help with vi
To display online help for vi:
Type % man vi at the operating system prompt. A help screen appears.
Press the <Space Bar> to advance through the text one screen at a time. To exit from online help, press q.
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