VI
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vi command line text editor
Most used commands are in white vi(1)
NAME
vi, view, vedit - screen-oriented (visual) display editors based on ex
SYNOPSIS
vi [-t tag] [-r file] [-L] [-wn] [-R] [-x] [-C] [-c command] file ...
view [-t tag] [-r file] [-L] [-wn] [-R] [-x] [-C] [-c command] file ...
vedit [-t tag] [-r file] [-L] [-wn] [-R] [-x] [-C] [-c command] file ...
DESCRIPTION
vi (visual) is a display-oriented text editor based on an underlying line
editor ex(1). It is possible to use the command mode of ex from within
vi and vice-versa. The visual commands are described on this manual
page; how to set options (like automatically numbering lines and
automatically starting a new output line when you type carriage return)
and all ex line editor commands are described on the ex(1) reference
page.
When using vi, changes you make to the file are reflected in what you see
on your terminal screen. The position of the cursor on the screen
indicates the position within the file.
Invocation Options
The following invocation options are interpreted by vi (previously
documented options are discussed in the NOTES section at the end of this
manual page):
-t tag Edit the file containing the tag and position the editor at
its definition.
-r file Edit file after an editor or system crash. (Recovers the
version of file that was in the buffer when the crash
occurred.)
-L List the name of all files saved as the result of an editor
or system crash.
-wn Set the default window size to n. This is useful when
using the editor over a slow speed line.
-R Readonly mode; the readonly flag is set, preventing
accidental overwriting of the file.
-x Encryption option; when used, vi simulates the X command of
ex and prompts the user for a key. This key is used to
encrypt and decrypt text using the algorithm of crypt(1).
The X command makes an educated guess to determine whether
text read in is encrypted or not. The temporary buffer
file is encrypted also, using a transformed version of the
key typed in for the -x option. See crypt(1).
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vi(1) vi(1)
-C Encryption option; same as the -x option, except that vi
simulates the C command of ex. The C command is like the X
command of ex, except that all text read in is assumed to
have been encrypted.
-c command Begin editing by executing the specified editor command
(usually a search or positioning command). When used with
-t, the specified command is given after moving to the tag.
The file argument indicates one or more files to be edited.
The view invocation is the same as vi except that the readonly flag is
set.
The vedit invocation is intended for beginners. It is the same as vi
except that the report flag is set to 1, the showmode and novice flags
are set, and magic is turned off. These defaults make it easier to learn
how to use vi.
vi Modes
Command Normal and initial mode. Other modes return to command mode
upon completion. ESC (escape) is used to cancel a partial
command.
Input Entered by setting any of the following options: a A i I o O
c C s S R . Arbitrary text can then be entered. Input mode
is normally terminated with ESC character, or, abnormally,
with an interrupt.
Last line Reading input for : / ? or !; terminate by typing a carriage
return; an interrupt cancels termination.
COMMAND SUMMARY
In the descriptions, CR stands for carriage return and ESC stands for the
escape key.
Sample commands
<- v ^ -> arrow keys move the cursor
h j k l same as arrow keys
itextESC insert text
cwnewESC change word to new
easESC pluralize word (end of word; append s;
escape from input state)
x delete a character
dw delete a word
dd delete a line
3dd delete 3 lines
u undo previous change
ZZ exit vi, saving changes
:q!CR quit, discarding changes
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vi(1) vi(1)
/textCR search for text
^U ^D scroll up or down
:cmdCR any ex or ed command
Counts before vi commands
Numbers can be typed as a prefix to some commands. They are interpreted
in one of these ways.
line/column number z G |
scroll amount ^D ^U
repeat effect most of the rest
Interrupting, canceling
ESC end insert or incomplete cmd
DEL (delete or rubout) interrupts
File manipulation
ZZ if file modified, write and exit; otherwise, exit
:wCR write back changes
:w!CR forced write, if permission originally not valid
:qCR quit
:q!CR quit, discard changes
:e nameCR edit file name
:e!CR reedit, discard changes
:e + nameCR edit, starting at end
:e +nCR edit starting at line n
:e #CR edit alternate file
:e! #CR edit alternate file, discard changes
:w nameCR write file name
:w! nameCR overwrite file name
:shCR run shell, then return
:!cmdCR run cmd, then return
:nCR edit next file in arglist
:n argsCR specify new arglist
^G show current file and line
:tag tagCR position cursor to tag (see ctags(1)), save position
:popCR return to previous tag's position
In general, any ex or ed command (such as substitute or global) can be
typed, preceded by a colon and followed by a carriage return.
Positioning within file
^F forward screen
^B backward screen
^D scroll down half screen
^U scroll up half screen
nG go to the beginning of the specified line
(end default), where n is a line number
/pat next line matching pat
?pat previous line matching pat
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n repeat last / or ? command
N reverse last / or ? command
/pat/+n nth line after pat
?pat?-n nth line before pat
]] next section/function
[[ previous section/function
( beginning of sentence
) end of sentence
{ beginning of paragraph
} end of paragraph
% find matching ( ) { or }
^] :tag command using word after the cursor as the tag
^T return to previous tag's position (:pop command)
Adjusting the screen
^L clear and redraw window
^R clear and redraw window if ^L is -> key
zCR redraw screen with current line at top of window
z- redraw screen with current line at bottom of window
z. redraw screen with current line at center of window
/pat/z-CR move pat line to bottom of window
zn. use n-line window
^E scroll window down 1 line
^Y scroll window up 1 line
Marking and returning
`` move cursor to previous context
'' move cursor to first non-white space in line
mx mark current position with the ASCII lower-case letter x
`x move cursor to mark x
'x move cursor to first non-white space in line marked by x
Line positioning
H top line on screen
L last line on screen
M middle line on screen
+ next line, at first non-white
- previous line, at first non-white
CR return, same as +
v or j next line, same column
^ or k previous line, same column
Character positioning
^ first non white-space character
0 beginning of line
$ end of line
l or -> forward
h or <- backward
^H same as <- (backspace)
space same as -> (space bar)
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vi(1) vi(1)
fx find next x
Fx find previous x
tx move to character prior to next x
Tx move to character following previous x
; repeat last f F t or T
, repeat inverse of last f F t or T
n| move to column n
% find matching ( { ) or }
Words, sentences, sections, and paragraphs
w forward a word
b back a word
e end of word
) to next sentence
} to next paragraph
]] next section/function
[[ previous section/function
( back a sentence
{ back a paragraph
W forward a blank-delimited word
B back a blank-delimited word
E end of a blank-delimited word
A paragraph is a superset of a section. In addition to the delimiters
set by the paragraph and section variables, a section is defined as a
line starting with a { or a formfeed. A paragraph starts with those, a
blank line, or the beginning of a file. These definitions are XPG4
compliant, and somewhat different than earlier releases. To use the
older definitions, set the variable oldparagraphs.
Corrections during insert
^H erase last character (backspace)
^W erase last word
erase your erase character, same as ^H (backspace)
kill your kill character, erase this line of input
\ quotes your erase and kill characters
ESC ends insertion, back to command mode
DEL interrupt, terminates insert mode
^D backtab one character; reset left margin
of autoindent
^^D caret (^) followed by control-d (^D);
backtab to beginning of line;
do not reset left margin of autoindent
0^D backtab to beginning of line;
reset left margin of autoindent
^T insert shiftwidth spaces.
^V quote non-printable character
Insert and replace
a append after cursor
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vi(1) vi(1)
A append at end of line
i insert before cursor
I insert before first non-blank
o open line below
O open above
rx replace single char with x
RtextESC replace characters
Operators
Operators are followed by a cursor motion, and affect all text that would
have been moved over. For example, since w moves over a word, dw deletes
the word that would be moved over. Double the operator, for example, dd
to affect whole lines.
d delete
c change
y yank lines to buffer
< left shift
> right shift
! filter through command
Miscellaneous Operations
C change rest of line (c$)
D delete rest of line (d$)
s substitute chars (cl)
S substitute lines (cc)
J join lines
x delete characters (dl)
X delete characters before cursor (dh)
Y yank lines (yy)
Yank and Put
Put inserts the text most recently deleted or yanked; however, if a
buffer is named (using the ASCII lower-case letters a-z), the text in
that buffer is put instead.
3yy yank 3 lines
3yl yank 3 characters
p put back text after cursor
P put back text before cursor
"xp put from buffer x
"xy yank to buffer x
"xd delete into buffer x
Undo, Redo, Retrieve
u undo last change
U restore current line
. repeat last change
"dp retrieve d'th last delete
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vi(1) vi(1)
AUTHOR
vi and ex were developed by The University of California, Berkeley
California, Computer Science Division, Department of Electrical
Engineering and Computer Science.
FILES
/tmp default directory where temporary work files are placed; it can be
changed using the directory option (see the ex set command)
/usr/share/lib/terminfo/?/*
compiled terminal description database
NOTES
Two options, although they continue to be supported, have been replaced
in the documentation by options that follow the Command Syntax Standard
(see intro(1)). A -r option that is not followed with an option-argument
has been replaced by -L and +command has been replaced by -c command.
vi has a limit of 15,687,678 editable lines. Attempts to edit or create
files larger than this limit cause vi to terminate with an appropriate
error message.
Several changes have been made and bugs fixed for XPG4 compliance. See
the discussion about paragraphs above, for one case. Additionally, the e
(move to end of word) command had bugs skipping over single letter words,
and skipped one to few words, when the current position was the last
letter in a word. Formerly, the ordering of the -c and -t options was
not defined, and the command was executed before moving to the tag. The
order is now reversed. If a file is readonly, the ! override must now be
used whenever you write the file, not just the first time.
Tampering with entries in /usr/lib/terminfo/?/* (for example, changing or
removing an entry) can affect programs such as that expect the entry to
be present and correct. In particular, removing the "dumb" terminal may
cause unexpected problems.
The regular expression has been changed to XPG4 compliance, please see
regcomp(5).
SEE ALSO
ctags(1), ed(1), edit(1), ex(1), regcomp(5), vi(1).
BUGS
In insert mode, software tabs using ^T work only immediately after the
autoindent.
Left and right shifts on intelligent terminals do not make use of insert
and delete character operations in the terminal.