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vi/vim: Text Editing#

  • vi/vim are both text editors for the CLI

  • vi is older but found on most systems

  • vim is vi improved with added functionalities

    • Both are similar to GUIs like Notepad, TextEdit, etc…

Overview#

  • Run by typing vi or vim followed by a filename

  • To exit, press esc then :q or :q!

  • Additional commands are shown below:

# Commands to manage files
    vi <filename>     # Open <filename> in vim
    :help <topic>     # Open up built-in help docs about <topic> if any exists
    :q                # Quit vim
    :q!               # Quit vim without saving file
                      #     ! *forces* :q to execute, hence quitting vim without saving
    :w                # Save current file
    :wq               # Save file and quit vim
    :x                # Save file(only when the file is modified) and quit vim

Optional Text Editing Modes#

  • There are several “mode” options when using vi or vim

    1. Normal Mode - used for editor commands

      • This is generally the default mode and by default hitting esc returns the editor to this mode

    2. Insert Mode - used for typing text

      • Opened text in buffers can be modified with the text entered from the keyboard by hitting i key

    3. Visual Mode - used to select areas of text

      • Commands can be run on the selected area – moving, editing, filtering

        • Visual linewise - selects one or more whole lines by hitting crtl (^) + c

        • Visual blockwise - selects a rectangular block of text across one or more lines by hitting crtl (^) + v

    4. Command-Line Mode

      • Run vi/vim commands by hitting esc then :

When switching between modes:

Make sure you are in Normal Mode by pressing esc. You should no longer see insert on the bottom left of the terminal!

Key Bindings Commands (Normal Mode)#

  • Key or combination of keys on your keyboard can be assigned (bound) with a command

  • Several default key bindings are:

# File Parsing
    gg                # Go to the top of the file
    G (shift + g)     # Go to the bottom of the file
    H                 # Move to the top of the screen
    M                 # Move to the middle of the screen
    L                 # Move to the bottom of the screen
    h                 # Move left one character
    j                 # Move down one line
    k                 # Move up one line
    l                 # Move right one character
    o                 # Make new line below cursor
    O                 # Make new line above cursor

# Undo/Redo
    u                 # Undo
    crtl (^) + R      # Redo

# Search for PATTERN - can be any string
    /PATTERN          # Highlights all occurrences of PATTERN after cursor
    ?PATTERN          # Highlights all occurrences of PATTERN before cursor
    n                 # Moves cursor to next occurrence of PATTERN after search
    N                 # Moves cursor to previous occurrence PATTERN 

# Scrolling
    ctrl (^) + d      # Scroll half page down
    ctrl (^) + u      # Scroll half page up
    ctrl (^) + f      # Scroll one page forward
    ctrl (^) + b      # Scroll one page backwardc

Command Line Mode#

  • To enter this mode, press esc and then :

  • The cursor to move at the bottom of the window in the command box

  • You can then write any command you like and press enter to execute it

# File Parsing
    :NUMBER           # Go to line number, NUMBER (i.e. line 10 = :10)

# Replace PATTERN - like sed command
    :%s/foo/bar/g     # Change 'foo' to 'bar' on every line in the file
    :s/foo/bar/g      # Change 'foo' to 'bar' on the current line
    :%s/\n/\r/g       # Replace new line characters with new line characters
    :'<,'>s/foo/bar/g # Change 'foo' to 'bar on every line in the current visual

Visual Configuration#

:set number           # prefix line numbers (it is a visual guideline, won't modify text)
:set nonumber         # remove line number prefix
:set number!          # toggle number setting
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