VI(1) VI(1)
NAME
vi - screen-oriented (visual) display editor based on ex
SYNOPSIS
vi [ -ttag ] [ -r file ] [ -wn ] [ -R ] [ -x ] [ +command ]
name ...
view [ -ttag ] [ -r file ] [ -wn ] [ -R ] [ -x ] [ +command
] name
vedit [ -ttag ] [ -r file ] [ -wn ] [ -R ] [ -x ] [ +command
] 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:
-ttag Edit the file containing the tag and position
the editor at its definition.
-rfile Recover file after an editor or system crash.
If file is not specified a list of all saved
files will be printed.
-wn Set the default window size to n. This is
useful when using the editor over a slow
speed line.
-R Read only mode; the readonly flag is set,
preventing accidental overwriting of the
file.
+command The specified ex command is interpreted
before editing begins.
-x Encryption option; when this option is used,
the file will be encrypted as it is being
written and will require an encryption key to
be read (see crypt(1)). Also, see the
WARNING section at the end of this manual
page.
The name argument indicates files to be edited.
The view invocation is the same as vi except that the
readonly flag is set.
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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 the following options a i A I o O
c C s S R. Arbitrary 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
CR to execute, interrupt to cancel.
COMMAND SUMMARY
Sample commands
<- v ^ -> arrow keys move the cursor
h j k l same as arrow keys
itextESC insert text abc
cwnewESC change word to new
easESC 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!CR quit, discarding changes
/textCR search for text
^U ^D scroll up or down
:ex cmdCR 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 ^D ^U
repeat effect most of the rest
Interrupting, canceling
ESC end insert or incomplete cmd
DEL (delete or rubout) interrupts
^L reprint screen if DEL scrambles it
^R reprint screen if ^L is -> key
File manipulation
:wCR write back changes
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: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
synonym for :e #
: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
:ta tagCR 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
CR.
Positioning within file
^F forward screen
^B backward screen
^D scroll down half screen
^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
^L clear and redraw
^R retype, eliminate @ lines
zCR redraw, current at window top
z-CR ... at bottom
z.CR ... at center
/pat/z-CR pat line at bottom
zn.CR use n line window
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^E scroll window down 1 line
^Y scroll window up 1 line
Marking and returning
`` 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
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
0 beginning of line
$ end of line
h or -> forward
l or <- backwards
^H same as <-
space same as ->
fx find x forward
Fx f backward
tx upto x forward
Tx back upto x
; repeat last f F t or T
, inverse of ;
| to specified column
% find matching ( { ) or }
Words, sentences, 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
Corrections during insert
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^H erase last character
^W erase last word
erase your erase, same as ^H
kill your kill, erase input this line
\ quotes ^H, your erase and kill
ESC ends insertion, back to command
DEL interrupt, terminates insert
^D backtab over autoindent
^^D kill autoindent, save for next
0^D ... but at margin next also
^V quote non-printing character
Insert and replace
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 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, e.g., 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.
However, if a buffer is named, the text in that buffer is
put instead.
p put back text after cursor
P put before cursor
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"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
AUTHOR
vi and ex were developed by The University of California,
Berkeley California, Computer Science Division, Department
of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
FILES
/usr/lib/terminfo/?/* compiled terminal description
database
/usr/lib/.COREterm/?/* subset of compiled terminal
description database, supplied on hard disk d
SEE ALSO
ed(1), edit(1), ex(1).
User's Guide.
WARNING
The -x option is provided with the Security Administration
Utilities, which is available only in the United States.
Tampering with entries in /usr/lib/.COREterm/?/* or
/usr/lib/terminfo/?/* (for example, changing or removing an
entry) can affect programs such as vi(1) that expect the
entry to be present and correct. In particular, removing
the ``dumb'' terminal may cause unexpected problems.
BUGS
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.
ORIGIN
AT&T V.3
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