VI(1) VI(1)
NAME
ex, edit, vi - text editor
SYNOPSIS
ex [ option ... ] file ...
edit [ option ... ] file ...
vi [ option ... ] file ...
DESCRIPTION
Ex is elaborated from ed(1). Vi is the display editing
aspect of ex; edit is a simplified subset of ex. The editors
work on several files simultaneously. Vi gets the terminal
type from environment variable TERM.
The options are:
-r file
Recover the file after a crash in the editor. If no
file is specified, list all saved files.
-l Lisp indent mode; give special meaning to editor com-
mands ()[]{}.
-wn Default window size is n lines.
-x Edit encrypted files; a key will be prompted for.
-R Read only; no files will be changed.
+cmd Execute the specified ex command upon entering the edi-
tor.
The editors begin in `command mode'. An ESC character typed
in command mode cancels the command. The commands a A c C i
I o O R s S enter input mode, where arbitrary text may be
entered. ESC or interrupt returns to command mode. The
commands : / ? ! take input from the last line of the
screen, which is ended by a newline, or canceled by an
interrupt.
A number preceding commands z G | specifies a line. A num-
ber before almost any other command causes it to be
repeated.
In the following summary of vi commands ^ means the `con-
trol' key. Commands so marked work in input mode; others
work in command mode.
VI(1) VI(1)
File manipulation
:w write back changes :e! reedit, discarding changes
:w file write file :e + file edit, starting at end
:w! file overwrite file :e + startingat line n
:q quit :sh run shell, then return
:q! quit, discarding changes:! cmd run shell command
:e file edit file :n edit next file argument
: ex-cmd do editor command
Positioning in file
^F forward screen n repeat last \ or ?
^B backward screen /pat/+_ n nth line after or before pat
^D down half screen ( beginning of sentence
^U up half screen ) end of sentence
G to specified line (end d{efault) beginning of paragraph
/ pat next line matching pat } end of paragraph
? pat previous line matching % find matching (){}
Adjusting the screen
^L clear and redraw z. ... at center
^R retype, eliminate @ line/spat/z- pat line at bottom
z redraw, current line atzwinndow use n-line window
z- ... at bottom ^E scroll down one line
^Y scroll up one line
Marking and returning
`` move cursor to previousmcoxntext mark position with letter x
'' ... at first nonwhite in` x move cursor to mark
' x ... at first nonwhite
Line positioning
H top line of screen - previous line, at first nonwhite
L bottom line <newline>same as +
M middle line j next line, same column
+ next line, at first nonwkhite previous line, same column
Character positioning
^ first nonwhite (not CTRLf)x find x forward
0 beginning of line F x find backward
$ end of line t x upto x forward
l forward T x back upto x
h backward ; repeat last f F t
^L ^H same as l h , opposite of ;
<space> same as l | to specified column
% find matching (){}
Words, sentences, paragraphs
w word forward
b word backward
e end of word
) next sentence
( previous sentence
VI(1) VI(1)