vi(1) vi(1)NAME vi, view, vedit - invokes the 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... ARGUMENTS +command Interprets the specified ex command before editing begins. -l Starts the LISP mode; indents appropriately for lisp code, the (), {}, [[, and ]] commands in vi and open are modified to have meaning for lisp. name Specifies the name of the file to be edited. -r [file] Recovers file after an editor or system crash. If file is not specified, a list of all saved files will be printed. -R Starts read only mode; the readonly flag is set, preventing accidental overwriting of the file. -t tag Edits the file containing the tag and positions the editor at its definition. -wn Sets the default window size to n. This is useful when using the editor over a slow speed line. -x Starts encryption mode; a key is prompted for allowing creation or editing of an encrypted file. This encryption scheme is not secure. 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 file $HOME/.exrc and the variable EXINIT can be used to establish preferences (initializations) that take effect whenever you run vi or ex. For example, to invoke line numbering mode automatically you could place the following string in the January 1992 1
vi(1) vi(1)exrc file or assign it as a quoted argument to EXINIT, which you would then export: set number When using vi, changes you make to the file are reflected by what you see on your terminal screen. The position of the cursor on the screen indicates the position within the file. The name argument indicates 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. The report flag is set to 1, and the showmode and novice flags are set. These defaults make it easier to initially learn the editor. Modes Command Normal and initial mode. Other modes return to command mode upon completion. ESCAPE is used to cancel a partial command. Input Entered by an a, i, A, I, o, O, c, C, s, S, or 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. Sample Commands <- ↓ ↑ -> 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 2 January 1992
vi(1) vi(1)dw delete a word dd delete a line 3dd delete 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: line/column number z G | scroll amount CONTROL-D CONTROL-U repeat effect most of the rest Interrupting and Canceling ESCAPE ends insert mode or abandons a partially-entered command interrupt interrupts any command that is still underway CONTROL-L reprints screen CONTROL-R reprints screen if CONTROL-L is -> key File Manipulation :wRETURN write back changes January 1992 3
vi(1) vi(1):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 file :wnameRETURN write file name BI :w! name RETURN 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 tag file entry 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 a File CONTROL-F forward screen 4 January 1992
vi(1) vi(1)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 CONTROL-L clear and redraw CONTROL-R retype, eliminate @ lines zRETURN redraw, current at window top z-RETURN ... at bottom January 1992 5
vi(1) vi(1)z.RETURN /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 `` move cursor to previous context '' ... at first nonwhite in line mx mark current position with letter x `x move cursor to mark x 'x ... at first nonwhite in line Line Positioning H top line on screen L last line on screen M middle line on screen + next line, at first nonwhite - previous line, at first nonwhite RETURN return, same as + ↓ j next line, same column ↑ k previous line, same column Character Positioning ^ first nonwhite 0 beginning of line $ end of line 6 January 1992
vi(1) vi(1)h -> forward l <- backward CONTROL-H same as <- space same as -> fx find x forward Fx same as f, but in the backward direction tx moves cursor forward to x Tx back up to x ; repeat last f F t or T , inverse of ; | to specified column % find matching ( { ) or } Words, Sentences, and Paragraphs 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 ) Forward s-expression January 1992 7
vi(1) vi(1)} ... but do not stop at atoms ( Back s-expression { ... but do not stop at atoms Corrections During Insert 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 nonprinting character Insert and Replace a append after cursor i insert before cursor A append at end of line I insert before first nonblank o open line below O open line above rx replace single character with x 8 January 1992
vi(1) vi(1)RtextESCAPE 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 = indent for LISP 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 ... 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. p put back text after cursor P put text before cursor "xp put text from buffer x January 1992 9
vi(1) vi(1)"xy yank text to buffer x "xd delete text into buffer x Undo, Redo, and Retrieve u undo last change U restore current line . repeat last change "dp retrieve dth last delete LIMITATIONS Software tabs using CONTROL-T work immediately after the autoindent only. Left and right shifts on intelligent terminals do not make use of insert and delete character operations in the terminal. FILES $HOME/.exrc File containing ex initialization commands /usr/bin/vi Executable file /usr/bin/view Executable file /usr/bin/vedit Executable file SEE ALSO ex(1) ``Using vi,'' in A/UX Text Editing Tools 10 January 1992