Learn about Vi Editor

This article revolves around Vi Editor in which different operational modes and controlling commands are covered with its explanation.

The VIM editor, an upgraded version of the vi editor, is currently also accessible. VIM stands for Vi IMproved in this context. Because of these reasons, vi is typically regarded as the de facto standard in Unix editors.

1. It is typically accessible on all types of Unix systems.
2. All of its implementations are extremely similar.
3. There are few resources needed.
4. Compared to other editors like the ed or the ex, it is easier to use.

The vi editor lets you edit already-existing files or start from scratch when making new ones. This editor can also be used just to read a text file.

Table of contents

• Starting the Vi Editor
• Control Commands
• Important points to be noted

Starting the Vi Editor

The basic commands for using the vi editor are listed in the following table:

Opens a previously opened file in read-only mode.

Operation Modes

The following two modes are frequently seen when using the vi editor:

Command Mode: You can carry out administrative actions in this mode, including saving files, running commands, moving the cursor, cutting (yanking), pasting lines or words, and finding and replacing. Anything you type is treated as a command in this mode.

Insert Mode: You can add text to the file using this mode. In this mode, each character that is written is processed as input and added to the file.

Whenever vi launches, it is in command mode. You must be in the insert mode, for which you type I to enter text. Using the Esc key, you can exit the insert mode and return to the command mode.

Hint: Pressing the Esc key twice will switch you to the command mode if you need clarification on which mode you’re in. You use the vi editor to open a file. Start by entering a few characters, then once you’ve done that, switch to command mode to learn the differences.

Getting Out of Vi

q is the command to close vi. Enter the command mode by typing colon, ‘q,’ and then returning. The editor will notify you if your file has been altered in any manner and prevent you from quitting if it has. The command to exit vi without saving is:q!. Ignore this message. By doing so, you can leave vi without storing any modifications.

The editor’s contents can be saved with the w command. You can use:wq and return or combine the command as mentioned above with the quit command.

The ZZ command is the simplest way to leave vi after saving your modifications. Type ZZ to enter the command mode. The ZZ command functions in a similar manner to the wq command.

You can enter the file name after the:w if you want to state or specify a specific name for the file. For instance, you would type:w filename2 and hit the return key to save the file you were working on as a filename called filename2.

Moving Within a File

You must be in command mode to navigate a file without changing the text (press Esc twice). A few commands to move one character at a time are included in the following table:

The cursor is positioned one character to the right.

To move within a file, the following factors must be taken into account:

1. Case matters in vi. When using the commands, capitalization is important to remember.

2. In vi, you may usually precede a command with the number of times you wish it to happen. As an illustration, 2j shifts the pointer two lines down.

In vi, there are numerous additional ways to navigate a file. Remember that you must be in command mode (press Esc twice). There are a few commands in the following table that can be used to navigate the file:

Control Commands

The Control Key can be used with the following instructions to carry out the tasks listed in the table below:

Editing Files:

You must be in insert mode to edit the file. There are numerous techniques to transition from command mode to insert mode.

Deleting Characters:

The key commands that can be used to remove characters and lines from an open file are listed below:

The majority of commands in vi can be preceded by the number of times you wish the action to happen, as was previously described.

Change Commands

In addition, vi allows you to edit characters, words, or lines without erasing them. The relevant commands are listed below:

Copy and Paste Commands

Using the following instructions, you can copy lines or text from one location and then paste them in another one:

Set Commands

You can use the following to alter how your vi screen seems and feels: command sets. Type: set followed by any of the following commands once you are in the command mode.

Running Commands

Vi can execute commands directly from the editor. You merely need to enter command mode and type:! Command to execute a command.

For instance, you can type:! ls to see the result of ls and inspect whether a file exists before attempting to save your file with that filename.

Important Points to be noted

The ideas listed below will help you succeed with Vi.

To use the commands, you must be in command mode. (To ensure that you are always in command mode, press Esc twice.)

The commands must be used with caution. These take cases into account.

To enter text, you must be in insert mode.