To edit a file that starts with a dash, precede the filelist with a double dash (' -').Ī single dash specifies that the file to edit is to be read from standard input. You can get to the other files with the ' :next' command. The cursor will be positioned on the first line of the buffer. The first one will be the current file and read into the buffer. Main options file.Ī list of one or more file names. Otherwise, one out of the following four options may be used to choose one or more files to be edited. If the filelist is missing, the editor will start with an empty buffer. More generally, the syntax for starting vim is as follows: vim Often, vim is started to edit a single file using the following command. There are a lot of enhancements above Vi: multi level undo, multiple windows and buffers, syntax highlighting, command line editing, file name completion, a complete help system, visual selection, and others. You can also split this command up - for example, type :w and press enter to write the file to disk without quitting or type :q to quit vi without saving the file.Vim is a text editor that is upwards compatible to Vi. Type :wq and press enter to write the file to disk and quit vi.

First, ensure you’re in command mode by pressing the escape key (pressing the escape key again does nothing if you’re already in command mode.) You can save and quit vi from command mode. RELATED: How to Install Notepad++ on Linux (and 5 Alternatives to Try) Saving and Quitting Once you’re done in insert mode, press the escape key to return to command mode. Start typing and Vi will insert the characters you type into the file rather than trying to interpret them as commands. Entering insert mode is easy once you know it exists - just press the i key once after you’ve positioned the cursor in command mode. Position your cursor at the desired location and press the p key to paste the text you copied or cut.Īside from command mode, the other mode you need to know about is insert mode, which allows you to insert text in Vi. Move your cursor to select text, and then press y to copy the selected text or x to cut it. Position the cursor at the left or right side of the text you want to copy and press the v key. You can select, copy, cut and paste text in command mode.

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