vi Basics

Starting vi and dabbling with it

vi
i  # get into input mode
:a # add text after the cursor

In input mode, type anything you want.

Saving in vi:

Esc

Get out of input mode and into command mode

:w vi_file_name  # save as a vi file

Enter

If you have saved the file once, just use

Esc

:w

Enter

Exiting vi:

Esc

:q # quit vi

If you haven't saved your latest changes, vi will not quit and will tell you to use ! to override.

:q! # quit without saving

We can use : wq to save and quit vi.
If you want to save a file over an existing file, use :w! existingfilename in command mode. The ! forces vi to overwrite the original.

Adding and deleting text

vi

i

type some you want to add.

Esc

Choose a command, based on what you want to do:

 :a   # Adds text after the cursor
 :A   # Adds test after the current line
 :i   # Inserts text before the cursor
 :I   # Inserts text at the beginning of the current line
 :o   # Inserts a blank line after the current line
 :O   # Inserts a blank line after before the current line

 :x   # Deletes one character under the cursor
 :X   # Deletes one character behind the cursor
 :dd  # Deletes the current line
 :5dd # Deletes five lines from the current line
 :r   # Replaces the character under the cursor
 :R   # Replaces the existing text 

 :y   # Copies the current line
 :p   # Pastes the copied line 
 :u   # Undoes the last change
 :U   # Undoes all changes on the current line

Importing files into vi:

vi vi_file
ESC
:r import_file

Searching and replacing in vi

find a string of text in vi

vi vi_file

Esc

 /text   # look for "text"

Enter

get the first result, and press N to find the next one.

search and replace in vi:

vi vi_filename

Esc

 :%s/text/newtext   # replace "text" with "newtext"

Turning off the color in vi

:syntax off

Page tree