vi

The traditional editor for unix is vi (for visual ).

Vi is a dual-mode editor; one switches from command mode to edit mode, so the effect of any key depends on the context. To edit a file xxx (or to create it in the first place), the command is vi xxx .

Vi starts in the command mode; you will likely want to position the cursor (h, j, k, l) and enter insert mode (i). You can then type. To leave insert mode, press Esc ; to write the file and quit the editor type :wq and press Enter.

Here is a summary of the commands. Note that it is necessary to press Escape to leave any of the open-ended editing modes (for example, i is open-ended, but r is not). The Escape key is a general-purpose reset. The only consequence of pressing escape too many times is a beep.

Essential vi

Commands	:q	quit
	:wq	write, then quit
	:q!	quit, discard changes
	:w name	write under a new name
	Esc	reset (leave input mode)
		There are two definitions of ___word___ letters, digits, underscore, surrounded by others anything surrounded by space
Cursor positioning	h, j, k, l	left, down, up, right
	0, ^, $	start, first nonblank position, end of line
	Enter, -	move one line
	^D, ^U	move half page
	^F, ^B	move full page
	###G	go to line ###
	G	go to bottom
	^L	redraw
	Esc	reset
	w, W	forward word (1) or word (2).
	b, B	backward word
	e, E	end of word
	H, M, L	home, mid screen, lower screen
Editing	i, a	insert before (append after) cursor
	I, A	insert at start of (append to) line
	x, X	delete at (before) cursor
	o, O	open line after (before) current line
	dd	delete a line
	cc	change a line
	cw	change a word
	r	change (replace) one character
	R	overwrite (until reset)
	s	substitute for this character
	S	substitute for this line
	J	join next line to this
	u	undo last change to the line
	U	undo all changes to the line
	yy	yank (paste in) line
	p	put line
Sentences	>, <	forward, backward
Find	fx, Fx	find character 'x' forward, backward
	semicolon, period	find next
	tx, Tx	like f,F but stop one character short.
	/xxx	forward search for xxx.
	?xxx	backward search for xxx.

A.E. Dec 2013