Quick Reference to the vim editor
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Quick Introduction to the VIM Visual IMproved Editor
ENTERING vim
vim filename Start vim editor with the file called name
The file is created if it doesn't exist.
EDITING MODES
In the vim editor there are two modes:
command mode: This is the default when vim starts up.
insert mode: You need to be in this mode to type text.
Changing modes: Type the letter i to enter insert mode from command mode.
Hit the Escape key to enter command mode from insert mode.
LEAVING vim
ZZ exit from vim, savimng changes.
:q! exit from vim, discarding changes.
:wq exit and save changes.
CURSOR POSITIONING
h moves left one character position.
j moves down one line.
k moves up one line.
l moves right one character position.
NOTE: Normally you will be using the four keys that correspond
to left, down, up, and right arrows on the keyboard.
0 (zero) moves to the beginning of a line.
w moves right one word.
b moves left one word.
CTRL-u moves up 1/2 screen full.
CTRL-d moves down 1/2 screen full.
G moves to the bottom of the file.
nG moves to line number n.
:n moves to line number n
:set number show line numbers for all lines in the file.
CTRL-l clear screen and re-draw.
TEXT MODIFICATION
itextESC inserts text to the left of the cursor.
Insert doesn't cause the cursor to move; text
appears as it is typed, terminate with the ESC key.
atextESC appends (inserts) text to the right of the
cursor, terminate with ESC.
RtextESC Replaces (overprints) characters at the cursor
position, terminate with ESC.
dd deletes the line the cursor is on.
ndd deletes n lines from the cursor position.
D deletes characters from the cursor position to the
end of the line.
x deletes the character at the cursor.
nx deletes n characters to the right of the
cursor.
u undo the last change.
PATTERN SEARCHING
/pat/ positions the cursor at the next occurrence
of the string pat.
NOTES:
CTRL- represents the CTRL key. Hold the CTRL key and press the
following key simultaneously.
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Second Level vim Editing Commands
CURSOR POSITIONING
} move down one paragraph.
{ move up one paragraph.
mx save the current cursor position and label it
with the letter x. (x is any letter)
'x return to the cursor position labeled x.
TEXT MODIFICATION
dw delete the next word.
. (period) repeat last change.
A append at the end of the current line.
P put back deleted line(s). Text deleted with D
and dd commands may be pasted back with the P
command. Text is pasted in before the cursor
position.
:a,bs/old/new/ From line number 'a' to line number 'b', substitute
the pattern 'old' with the pattern 'new'. You
may use any text string which doesn't contain a
carriage return in place of the 'old' and 'new'
strings. Use CTRL-G to tell what line the cursor is
on.
PATTERN SEARCHING
// search for the next occurrence of a previmously
specified search string.
MISCELLANEOUS
:w write out current changes. The vim editor works
on a copy of your file. The :w command causes
the editor to write its copy over the original
which is on the disk.
:w name write out changes to the file name . This is
like the :w command but the changes are written
into the file you specify. (good for making
intermediate copies)
Cut and Paste Move to the start of the text to cut. Use dd
to delete (cut) several lines. Use D to cut only
the end of one line. Move to the place where you
wish to paste the text. Use P to put back the text.
You may need to clean up the spacing after pasting.