How to Use Vi Editor - Beginner's Guide
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nia @niania

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How to Use Vi Editor - Beginner's Guide

Publish Date: Mar 1
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Day 11 - 22th Jan 2025

Quick Summary: Create file, edit and save the file

  1. vi <filename.txt > - if the file doesn't exist, this makes file with file name.

  2. i- enter insert mode.

  3. Write your contents in the file.

  4. esc

  5. :wq

  6. enter!


Most Important Concepts for Using vi

1. Modes in vi

  • Command Mode: Default mode when you open vi. You can navigate and execute commands here.
  • Insert Mode: Used for editing text. Enter this mode by pressing i.
  • Escape Mode: Press Esc to return to Command mode.

2. Basic Navigation

  • h: Move left
  • l: Move right
  • k: Move up
  • j: Move down
  • Ctrl + d: Scroll down
  • Ctrl + u: Scroll up

3. Editing

  • i: Insert before the cursor.
  • a: Append after the cursor.
  • o: Open a new line below the cursor.
  • dd: Delete the current line.
  • x: Delete the character under the cursor.
  • u: Undo the last action.
  • Ctrl + r: Redo the last undone action.

4. Saving and Exiting

  • :w: Save changes.
  • :q: Quit.
  • :wq: Save and quit.
  • :q!: Quit without saving.

5. Search

  • /text: Search forward for "text".
  • ?text: Search backward for "text".
  • n: Repeat the search in the same direction.
  • N: Repeat the search in the opposite direction.

6. Copy, Paste, and Cut

  • yy: Copy (yank) the current line.
  • p: Paste the copied text after the cursor.
  • dd: Cut the current line.

7. Replace Text

  • :s/old/new/: Replace the first occurrence of "old" with "new" on the current line.
  • :s/old/new/g: Replace all occurrences of "old" with "new" on the current line.
  • :%s/old/new/g: Replace all occurrences in the entire file.

Quick Tips

  • Always press Esc to ensure you're in Command mode before executing commands.
  • Practice basic navigation and saving before diving into advanced features.
  • To exit quickly without saving (if you're stuck), press Esc and type :q!.

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