vi(1) vi(1)
NAME
vi, view, vedit - screen-oriented (visual) display editor
SYNOPSIS
vi [+command] [-l] [-r file] [-R] [-t tag] [-wn] [-x] name
...
view [+command] [-l] [-r file] [-R] [-t tag] [-wn] [-x] name
...
vedit [+command] [-l] [-r file] [-R] [-t tag] [-wn] [-x]
name ...
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.
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
The following invocation options are interpreted by vi:
-l LISP mode; indents appropriately for lisp
code, the () {} [[ and ]] commands in vi and
open are modified to have meaning for lisp.
-r file Recover file after an editor or system crash.
If file is not specified a list of all saved
files will be printed.
-R Read only mode; the readonly flag is set,
preventing accidental overwriting of the
file.
-t tag Edit the file containing the tag and position
the editor at its definition.
-wn Set the default window size to n. This is
useful when using the editor over a slow
speed line.
-x Encryption mode; a key is prompted for
allowing creation or editing of an encrypted
file. This encryption scheme is not secure.
+command The specified ex command is interpreted
before editing begins.
The name argument indicates files to be edited.
The view invocation is the same as vi except that the
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vi(1) vi(1)
readonly flag is set.
The vedit invocation is intended for beginners. The report
flag is set to 1, and the showmode and novice flags are set.
These defaults make it easier to get started learning the
editor.
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 a i A I o O c C s S R. Text may
then be entered. Input mode is normally
terminated with ESC character, or abnormally
with interrupt.
Last line Reading input for : / ? or !; terminate with
RETURN to execute, interrupt to cancel.
COMMAND SUMMARY
Sample Commands
lw(1.5i) lw(1.7i). <- ↑ -> arrow keys move the cursor h j
k l same as arrow keys itextESCAPE insert text
cwnewESCAPE change word to new easESCAPE pluralize word
x delete a character dw delete a word dd delete a
line 3dd . . . 3 lines u undo previous change ZZ exit
vi, saving changes :q!RETURN quit, discarding changes
/textRETURN search for text CONTROL-u,CONTROL-d scroll up
or down :ex-cmdRETURN any ex or ed command
Counts Before vi Commands
Numbers may be typed as a prefix to some commands. They are
interpreted in one of these ways:
lw(1.5i) lw(1.7i) . line/column number z G | scroll
amount CONTROL-d CONTROL-u repeat effect most of the rest
Interrupting, Canceling
lw(1.5i) lw(1.7i). ESCAPE end insert or incomplete cmd
interrupt your interrupt CONTROL-l reprints screen CONTROL-
r reprint screen if CONTROL-l is -> key
File Manipulation
lw(1.5i)f7 lw(1.7i). :wRETURN write back changes
:qRETURN quit :q!RETURN quit, discard changes
:enameRETURN edit file name :e!RETURN reedit, discard
changes :e+nameRETURN edit, starting at end :e
+nRETURN edit starting at line n :e#RETURN edit alternate
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file :wnameRETURN write file name :w!nameRETURN overwrite
file name :shRETURN run shell, then return
:!cmdRETURN run cmd, then return :nRETURN edit next file
in arglist :nargsRETURN specify new arglist CONTROL-g show
current file and line :tatagRETURN to tag file entry tag
^] :ta, following word is tag
In general, any ex or ed command (such as substitute or
global) may be typed, preceded by a colon and followed by a
RETURN.
Positioning Within File
lw(1.5i) lw(1.7i). CONTROL-f forward screen CONTROL-
b backward screen CONTROL-d scroll down half screen
CONTROL-u scroll up half screen G go to specified line
(end default) /pat next line matching pat ?pat prev line
matching pat n repeat last / or ? N reverse last / or
? /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 }
Adjusting the Screen
lw(1.5i) lw(1.7i). CONTROL-l clear and redraw CONTROL-
r retype, eliminate @ lines zRETURN redraw, current at
window top z-RETURN ... at bottom z.RETURN ... at center
/pat/z-RETURN pat line at bottom zn.RETURN use n line
window CONTROL-e scroll window down 1 line CONTROL-y scroll
window up 1 line
Marking and Returning
lw(1.5i)f7 lw(2.0i). `` move cursor to previous context
'' ... at first non-white in line mx mark current
position with letter x `x move cursor to mark x 'x ...
at first non-white in line
Line Positioning
lw(1.5i)f7 lw(2.0i). 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
RETURN return, same as + or j next line, same column
↑ or k previous line, same column
Character Positioning
lw(1.5i)f7 lw(2.0i). ^ first non-white 0 beginning of
line $ end of line h or -> forward l or <- backwards
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CONTROL-h same as <- space same as -> fx find x
forward Fx f backward tx up to x forward Tx back up to
x ; repeat last f F t or T , inverse of ; | to
specified column % find matching ( { ) or }
Words, Sentences, Paragraphs
lw(1.5i)f7 lw(2.0i). w word forward b back word
e end of word ) to next sentence } to next
paragraph ( back sentence { back paragraph W blank
delimited word B back W E to end of W
Commands for LISP Mode
lw(1.5i)f7 lw(2.0i). ) Forward s-expression } ... but
do not stop at atoms ( Back s-expression { ... but do
not stop at atoms
Corrections During Insert
lw(1.5i) lw(2.0i). CONTROL-h erase last character CONTROL-
w erase last word erase your erase, same as CONTROL-h
kill your kill, erase input this line \ quotes CONTROL-h,
your erase and kill ESCAPE ends insertion, back to
command interrupt your interrupt, terminates insert
CONTROL-d backtab over autoindent ↑CONTROL-d kill
autoindent, save for next 0CONTROL-d ... but at margin
next also CONTROL-v quote non-printing character
Insert and Replace
lw(1.5i)f7 lw(2.0i). a append after cursor i insert
before cursor A append at end of line I insert before
first non-blank o open line below O open above
rx replace single character 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, e.g., dd to affect whole lines.
lw(1.5i)f7 lw(2.0i). d delete c change y yank
lines to buffer < left shift > right shift ! filter
through command = indent for LISP
Miscellaneous Operations
lw(1.5i)f7 lw(2.0i). C change rest of line (c$)
D delete rest of line (d$) s substitute chars (cl)
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vi(1) vi(1)
S substitute lines (cc) J join lines x delete
characters (dl) X ... before cursor (dh) Y yank lines
(yy)
Yank and Put
put inserts the text most recently deleted or yanked. If a
buffer is named, however, the text in that buffer is put
instead.
lw(1.5i)f7 lw(2.0i). p put back text after cursor
P put before cursor "xp put from buffer x "xy yank to
buffer x "xd delete into buffer x
Undo, Redo, Retrieve
lw(1.5i)f7 lw(2.0i). u undo last change U restore
current line "dp retrieve dth last delete
/usr/bin/vi
/usr/bin/view
/usr/bin/vedit
SEE ALSO
ex (1).
``Using vi'' in the Oreo Text Editing Tools.
CAVEATS AND BUGS
Software tabs using CONTROL-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.
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