VI Editor with Commands in Linux/Unix

 

VI Editor with Commands in Linux/Unix 

·        It is available in almost all Linux Distributions

·        It works the same across different platforms and Distributions

·        It is user-friendly. Hence, millions of Linux users love it and use it for their editing needs

There are advanced versions of the vi editor available, and the most popular one is VIM which is Vi Improved. Some of the other ones are Elvis, Nvi, Nano, and Vile.

To work on VI editor, you need to understand its operation modes. They can be divided into two main parts.

vi Command mode:

·        The vi editor opens in this mode, and it only understands commands

·        In this mode, you can, move the cursor and cut, copy, paste the text

·        This mode also saves the changes you have made to the file

·        Commands are case sensitive. You should use the right letter case.

vi Editor Insert mode:

·        This mode is for inserting text in the file.

·        You can switch to the Insert mode from the command mode  by pressing 'i' on the keyboard

·        Once you are in Insert mode, any key would be taken as an input for the file on which you are currently working.

·        To return to the command mode and save the changes you have made you need to press the Esc key

How to use vi editor

To launch the VI Editor -Open the Terminal (CLI) and type

vi <filename_NEW> or <filename_EXISTING>

And if you specify an existing file, then the editor would open it for you to edit. Else, you can create a new file.

Note: You should be in the "command mode" to execute these commands. VI editor is case-sensitive so make sure you type the commands in the right letter-case.

Saving and Closing the file

Shift+zz - Save the file and quit

:w - Save the file but keep it open

:q - Quit without saving

:wq - Save the file and quit

You should be in the command mode to exit the editor and save changes to the file.

Moving within a file

k - Move cursor up

j - Move cursor down

h - Move cursor left

l - Move cursor right

You need to be in the command mode to move within a file. The default keys for navigation are mentioned below else; You can also use the arrow keys on the keyboard.

VI Editing commands

i - Insert at cursor (goes into insert mode)

a - Write after cursor (goes into insert mode)

A - Write at the end of line (goes into insert mode)

ESC - Terminate insert mode

u - Undo last change

U - Undo all changes to the entire line

o - Open a new line (goes into insert mode)

dd - Delete line

3dd - Delete 3 lines.

D - Delete contents of line after the cursor

C - Delete contents of a line after the cursor and insert new text. Press ESC key to end insertion.

dw - Delete word

4dw - Delete 4 words

cw - Change word

x - Delete character at the cursor

r - Replace character

R - Overwrite characters from cursor onward

s - Substitute one character under cursor continue to insert

S - Substitute entire line and begin to insert at the beginning of the line

~ - Change case of individual character