Vi Editor Commands
vi
is a modal editor that works well from a simple command line,
character only terminal. The most important thing to keep in mind
about vi editing is that you will be in either 1 of 2 modes,
Insertion Mode, or Command Mode. Since vi works well from a
character only terminal, it is essential to learn the basics of vi
editing (moving the cursor, inserting text, cut/copy/paste
operations), because some time with only terminal access it will be
the only editor available for you to use.
|
Action |
Key Sequence |
|
Text Entry Mode |
|
|
Enter text entry mode |
i |
|
Exit text entry mode and return to command mode. |
ESC |
|
Cursor Movement |
|
|
Up one line |
UpArrow or k |
|
Down one line |
DownArrow or j |
|
Right one character |
RightArrow or l |
|
Left one character |
LeftArrow or h |
|
To start of line |
Home or ^ |
|
To end of line |
End or $ |
|
Back one word |
b |
|
Forward one word |
w |
|
Forward one screen full of text |
PageDown or CTRL-F |
|
Backward one screen full of text |
PageUp or CTRL-B |
|
Goto line nn |
:nn<Enter> or nnG (1 means first line, $ means last line) |
|
Deleting Text |
|
|
Delete character under cursor |
x |
|
Delete word under cursor |
dw |
|
Delete current line |
dd |
|
Cut / Copy / Paste Text |
|
|
Copy (yank) lines into the paste buffer |
:<range>y<Enter> |
|
Copy (yank) current line into paste buffer |
Y |
|
Insert (put) paste buffer after current line |
p |
|
Searching |
|
|
Search forward from current position for string sss |
/sss<Enter> (/<Enter> or n to repeat last search) |
|
Search backward from current position for string sss |
?sss<Enter> (?<Enter> or N to repeat last search) |
|
|
|
|
Saving and Loading Files |
|
|
Save with current name |
:w<Enter> |
|
Save file as name |
:w <name><Enter> |
|
Save file with current name and exit |
:wq |
|
Quit without saving changes |
:q! |
|
Undo and other Operations |
|
|
Undo the last operation |
u |
|
Redraw the screen |
CTRL-L |