Topics

• Starting commands
• Command Mode commands
• Text Insert Mode commands
• File commands

Starting commands

vi myfile

edit the file called myfile

vi +n myfile

edit the file myfile at line n

vi + myfile

edit the file myfile at the end

vi -r

list saved files

vi -r myfile

recover file myfile that aborted during editing

vi file1 file2 ...

edit the specified files in sequence

vi -t tag

start editing at tag

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Text Insert Mode commands

^D

back up over one level of indentation if autoindent set

0^D

kill autoindent

^^D

kill autoindent on this line, restore it on next

^H

delete last input character

^T

if in autoindent mode, insert one shiftwidth blank or tab

^W

delete last input word

ESC

return to command mode from insertion mode (escape key)

INT

interrupt insertion, return to command mode (usually ^C)

erase

delete last character entered (usually delete key or ^H)

kill

delete input on this line (your kill key)

^Q

quote non-printing character

\

escapes ^H, your erase and kill

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File commands

:w

write changes to current file

:w myfile

save changes to myfile

:w! file1

overwrite existing file file1

:wq

write and quit

:q

quit if no changes were made

:q!

quit and don't save changes

:e other

edit another file called other

:e!

reedit, discard changes

:e +n

edit, starting at line n

:e + file1

edit file1 starting at the end

:e #

edit an alternate file

:sh

run shell, then return

:!cmd

run cmd, then return

:n

edit the next file in the argument list to vi

:n args

specify new argument list args

:f

show current file and line (same as ^G)

:ta tag to tag

file entry tag (same as ^])

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