VI Quick Reference

VI Quick Reference


tcl Index Level id-prompt
Syntax
Category Unix
Type Definition
Description lists the most commonly used vi commands.

Please note: vi is a case sensitive editor. The command "A" is different from the command "a".

Invoking vi:

vi filename

Insert  Mode

In insert mode, the keyboard behaves like a typewriter. Keystrokes appear as screen text after typing any of the following commands.

i      Insert text at the cursor
A      Append text at the end of the line
a      Append text after the cursor
O      Open a new line of text above the cursor
o      Open a new line of text below the cursor
<ESC>  Exit insert mode & invoke command mode)

Command  Mode

In command mode, keystrokes perform functions such as moving the cursor, searching for patterns, or quitting from the document.  All commands are referenced from the current cursor position.

Cursor  Movement

Arrow Keys   Move one space in any direction
G            Go to the last line in the file
nG           Go to line "n"
w            Move forward to the next word
b            Move backwards to the previous word
$            Move to the end of the line
0            Move to the beginning of the line
<ctrl>+d     Scroll down 1/2 screen
<ctrl>+u     Scroll up 1/2 screen
<ctrl>+b     Scroll up Full
<ctrl>+f     Scroll down Full

Searching

/string   Search for a "string" (pattern) of characters
n         Search for the next occurrence of the "string"
:%s/str1/str2/g   Replace all occurrences of str1 with str2

Deleting  Text

x    Delete a single character
dw   Delete a word
dd   Delete an entire line
ndd  Delete an "n" number of lines
d$   or
D    Delete from the cursor to the end of the line

Copying  Text
yy   Copy (yank) a line to the buffer
nyy  Copy (yank) an "n" number of lines to the buffer
P    Paste text from the buffer

Changing  Text
r    Mark a single character for replacement
cw   Mark a word for changing
cc   Mark a line for changing

Miscellaneous  Commands
j        Join a line with the one below it
!cmd     Execute a Unix command
:r file  Read a file into vi
.        Repeat the last command
u        Undo the last command

Saving  and  Exiting
u    Write (save) the file
:q!  Quit the file without saving changes
ZZ   Write (save) the file and quit vi

Options
See Also vi
Example
Warnings
Compatibility D3/Unix
tcl Index Level id-prompt