vi

Easy manual for Vi

About Vi

What is Vi

It is the simplest text editor in UNIX.*1
Once you get used to the concept of "mode (command mode and insert mode)", editing file on UNIX will be very easy.

How to run

To run Vi, just type "vi filename" where "filename" is file you want to edit with Vi. If the filename does not exist, a new file with the filename will be created.

How to close

Enter "q![Enter key]" while Vi is activated.
To close at the same time of saving, enter "wq![Enter key]" or "ZZ".

How to save

Enter "w[Enter key]" while Vi is activated.

How to move the cursor

k
↑
h ←  → l
↓
j

Mode

There are command mode and insert mode for Vi. When you run Vi, the command mode is on.
- Command Mode: Mode to edit the character strings
- Insert Mode: Mode to enter the character
- ex mode: ":" will appear on left bottom of the screen. File manipulation or slimer will be done with this mode.
Use [ESC key] to switch mode.
If you are not sure which mode you are in, press [ESC key], you will go back to the command mode.

Key assign from command mode

Command	Key assign
Switch to the insert mode	i
Delete one word	x
Delete one line	dd
Replace one word	cw
Show number of lines	:set number
Show number of lines	:100 (Move to line 100)

Example

(1) Create a new html file

While you are logged in, move to the public directory.
```
% cd public_html
```
1. public_html: If there is no directory, create one.
```
% cd [Enter key]
% mkdir public_html [Enter key]
% cd public_html [Enter key]
```
Specify the filename, and run Vi.
```
% vi index.html [Enter key]
```
The screen like below will appear.
```
~
~
~
~
~
"index.html"  [New File]
```

Enter "i" to switch to the insert mode, and edit.

<html>
<head><title>Hello!</title></html>
<body>
Hello!
</body>
</html>
~
~
"index.html"  [New File]

After you enter </html>, press [Esc key] and enter "ZZ".
Enter "http://web.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~login name/index.html" on a browser, and see if "Hello!" appears.

(2) Edit the administrative file for mailing list

% vi /var/mail-list/Specified directory/Administrative file name

The screen like below will appear.

~
~
~
~
~
~
""Administrative file name"" 0 lines, 0 characters

Enter "i" to switch to the insert mode, and write one email address on each line.

z00000tk@sfc.keio.ac.jp
z00001hk@sfc.keio.ac.jp
~
~
~
~
~
""Administrative file name"" 0 lines, 0 characters

When you finish entering all email addresses, press[Esc key] and enter "ZZ".

*1 It is a single program, that it has more chance to use compared to Emacs (of which the format is very complicated) at the rescue mode in case of trouble on Linux.

Last-Modified: December 20, 2011

The content ends at this position.

MENU

vi