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vi(1)
NAME
vi, vedit, view - Edits files with a full screen display
SYNOPSIS
Normal Syntax
vi [-ls] [-R] | [-r] [-c subcommand] [-t tag] [-w number] [-x] [-v]
[+[subcommand]] [-] [file...]
Read-only Syntax
view [-l] [-R] | [-r] [-t tag] [-c subcommand] [-w number] [-x] [-v]
[+[subcommand]] [-] [file...]
Novice Version Syntax
vedit [-l] [-R] | [-r] [-t tag] [-w number] [-x] [-v] [-] [file...]
The vi command is a display editor that is based on an underlying line
editor (ex).
STANDARDS
Interfaces documented on this reference page conform to industry standards
as follows:
vi: XCU5.0
vedit: XCU5.0
view: XCU5.0
ex: XCU5.0
Refer to the standards(5) reference page for more information about
industry standards and associated tags.
OPTIONS
-c subcommand
Performs the specified ex subcommand before editing begins.
This subcommand may actually consist of several commands separated by
vertical line (|) characters.
-l Indents appropriately for LISP code, and accepts the (, ), {, }, [, and
] characters (parentheses, braces, and brackets) as text rather than
interpreting them as vi subcommands. The LISP modifier is active in
open or visual modes.
-r Recovers file after an editor or system crash. If you do not specify a
file, vi displays a list of all saved files.
-s [Tru64 UNIX] Invokes vi in open mode. (Silent mode.)
-R Sets the readonly option to protect the file against overwriting.
[Tru64 UNIX] This option is automatically invoked if you use the view
command.
-t tag
Edits the file containing the tag and positions the editor at its
definition. To use this option, you must first create a database of
function names and their locations using the ctags command.
-v [Tru64 UNIX] Invokes the visual editor. When the -v option is
specified, an enlarged set of subcommands is available, including
screen editing and cursor movement features. This option has no effect
when vi is specified, but is honored for compatibility with historical
conventions.
-w number
Sets the default window size to number. This is useful when you use
the editor over a low-speed line.
-x [Tru64 UNIX] Prompts for an encryption key and then unencrypts the
file. If the file specified is not encrypted or an incorrect key is
entered, garbled text is displayed.
- [Tru64 UNIX] Suppresses all interactive user feedback. If you use
this option, file input/output errors do not generate an error message.
+[subcommand]
Performs the ex subcommand before editing begins. If you do not
specify subcommand, the cursor is placed on the last line of the file.
This option is obsolescent.
This subcommand may actually consist of several commands separated by
vertical line (|) characters.
OPERANDS
file
The file argument specifies the files to be edited. If you supply more
than one file on the command line, vi edits each file in the order
specified.
DESCRIPTION
The ex editor subcommands can be used within the vi editor, because vi is
based on ex. The view command is a read-only version of vi; the readonly
option is set to protect files during browsing. The vedit command is a
version of vi intended for beginners. In it, the report option is set to
1, the showmode option is set, and the novice option (making vedit a line
editor, rather than a screen editor) is set. (For more information on
these options, see Setting Options.)
When you use vi, changes you make to a file are reflected on your display.
The position of the cursor on the display indicates its position within the
file. The subcommands affect the file at the cursor position.
[Tru64 UNIX] You can encrypt a file using the :X subcommand. Ensure that
you remember the encryption key because an easy means to unencrypt a file
does not exist. Only the first 6 characters of a key are significant.
Limitations of the vi Editor
The maximum limits of the vi editor are as follows:
· [Tru64 UNIX] 2048 bytes per line
· [Tru64 UNIX] 256 bytes per global command list
· [Tru64 UNIX] 128 bytes in the previous inserted and deleted text
· [Tru64 UNIX] 128 bytes in a shell escape command
· [Tru64 UNIX] 128 bytes in a string-valued option
· [Tru64 UNIX] 100 bytes in a tag name
· [Tru64 UNIX] 128 map macros with 2048 bytes total.
Editing Modes
The vi editor has the following operational modes:
Command mode
When you start the vi editor, it is in Command mode. Any subcommand
can be entered from this mode, except commands that can only be used in
the Text Input mode (those subcommands that make corrections during
text insertion). When subcommands and the other modes end, vi returns
to Command mode. Pressing the <Esc> key cancels a partial subcommand.
Text Input mode
Entered by the a, A, i, I, o, O, cx (where x represents the scope of
the subcommand), C, s, S, and R subcommands. After entering one of
these commands, you can enter text into the editing buffer at the
current cursor position. To return to Command mode, press <Esc> for
normal exit or press the Interrupt key sequence to end abruptly.
Last Line mode
Some subcommands (those with the prefix : (colon), / (slash), ?
(question mark), or !!) read input on a line displayed at the bottom of
the screen. When you enter the initial character, vi places the cursor
at the bottom of the screen, where you enter the remaining characters
of the command. Press <Return> to perform the subcommand and enter the
Interrupt key sequence to cancel it.
When !! is used, the cursor moves only after the two exclamation points
are entered. When : is used, special meaning is given to the following
characters if used as counts before a command:
% All lines, regardless of cursor position
$ Last line
. Current line
Setting Options
The vi editor allows you to customize options so that you can use the
editor for a specific task. Use the set command to set or change an
option. To view the current setting of all options, enter :set all while
in vi Command mode. To view the current setting of options that may be set
to a value, enter a line of the form :set option.
Some options are set to a string or a number value; other options are
simply turned on or off. To change an option that is set to a value, enter
a command in the form :set option=value. To toggle an option that can be
set to on or off, enter a line of the form :set option to set it to on or
:set nooption to set it to off.
Options can be abbreviated in a set command. The following table lists
some of vi's options, along with abbreviations and descriptions:
Option Abbreviation Description
[no]autoindent ai
Indents automatically in
Text mode to the
indentation on the
previous line by using the
spacing between tab stops
specified by the
shiftwidth option. The
default is noai. To back
the cursor up to the
previous tab stop, type
<Ctrl-d>. This option is
not in effect for global
commands.
[no]autoprint ap
Prints the current line
after any command that
changes the editing
buffer. The default is ap.
This option applies only
to the last command in a
sequence of commands on a
single line, and is not in
effect for global
commands.
[no]autowrite aw
Writes the editing buffer
to the file automatically
before the :n, :ta,
<Ctrl-a>, and !
subcommands if the editing
buffer was changed since
the last write command.
The default is noaw.
[no]beautify bf
Prevents user from
entering control
characters (except for
tab, newline, and
formfeed) in the editing
buffer during text entry.
The default is nobf. This
option does apply to
command input.
closepunct cp=
The default is
cp='".,;)]}.
directory dir=
Displays the directory
that contains the editing
buffer. The default is
dir=/var/tmp.
[no]edcompatible ed
Retains global (g) and
confirms (c) subcommand
suffixes during multiple
substitutions and causes
the read (r) suffix to
work like the r
subcommand. The default
is noed.
[no]errorbells eb
Precedes error messages
with an <Alert> character.
Setting this option off
(noeb) does not suppress
the alerting in visual
mode. The default is
noeb.
[no]exrc "!
If not set, ignores any
.exrc file in the current
directory during
initialization, unless the
current directory is that
named by the HOME
variable. The default is
noexrc.
[no]flash fl
Uses visual flash rather
than audible bell. The
default is fl.
hardtabs ht=
Tells vi the distance
between the hardware tab
stops on your display.
The default is ht=8.
[no]ignorecase ic
Ignores the distinction
between uppercase and
lowercase while searching
for regular expressions.
The default is noic.
[no]lisp lisp
Enters vi in LISP mode.
In this mode, vi
appropriately indents for
LISP code and the (, ), {,
}, [[, and ]]. The
default is nolisp.
[no]list list
Displays text with tabs
and the end of lines
marked. Tabs are
displayed as ^I and the
end of lines as $. The
default is nolist.
[no]magic magic
Treats the characters .,
[, and * as special
characters in scans. In
Off mode, only the (, ),
and $ characters retain
special meanings; however,
special meaning of other
characters can still be
invoked by preceding the
character with a \
(backslash). The default
is magic.
[no]mesg mesg
Permits other users to use
the talk or write commands
to write to the terminal
when in visual mode. The
shell level mesg n command
takes precedence over the
mesg option. If a mesg y
command was issued before
vi (or ex) was started,
set nomesg can be used to
suppress message, but a
set mesg input can not
override a mesg n command.
The default is mesg.
[no]modeline modeline
Runs an editor command
line if found in the first
five and the last five
lines of the file. An
editor command line may be
anywhere in a line. To be
recognized as a command
line, it must contain a
space or a tab followed by
the string ex: or vi:.
The command line is ended
by a second : (colon).
The editor tries to
interpret any data between
the first and second : as
editor commands. The
default is nomodeline.
[no]novice novice
The default is nonovice.
[no]number nu
Displays lines prefixed
with their line numbers.
The default is nonu.
[no]optimize opt
Speeds up the operation of
terminals that do not have
cursor addressing. The
default is noopt.
paragraphs para=
Defines macro names that
start paragraphs. The
default is
para=IPLPPPQPP LIpplpipnpbp.
Single letter nroff
macros, such as .P must
include the space as a
quoted character if
respecifying a paragraph.
partialcharacter pc=
The default is pc=-.
[no]prompt prompt
Prompts for command mode
input with a : (colon).
When not set, no prompt is
displayed. The default is
prompt.
readonly "
Allows writing to a
different file. In
addition, the write can be
forced by using the !
(exclamation point)
character (see the editor
command write). The
default is off, unless the
file lacks write
permission or the -R
option is specified.
[no]redraw re
Simulates a smart display
on a dumb display. The
default is nore.
[no]remap remap
Enables following of map
keys. For example, if
remap is set, map u k map
r u causes r to map to k.
If noremap is set, r maps
to u. The default is
remap.
report report=
Sets the number of
repetitions of a command
before a message is
displayed. For
subcommands that can
produce a number of
messages, such as global
subcommands, the messages
are displayed when the
command is completed. The
default is report=5.
scroll scr=
Sets the number of lines
to be scrolled when you
scroll the screen up or
down. The default scroll
is one-half the size of
the screen.
sections sect=
Defines macro names that
start sections. The
default is
sect=NHSHH HUuhsh+c.
Single letter nroff
macros, such as .P must
include the space as a
quoted character if
respecifying a paragraph.
shell sh=
Defines the shell for ! or
:! commands. The default
is the value of the SHELL
environment variable.
shiftwidth sw=
Sets the distance for the
software tab stops used by
autoindent, the shift
commands (> and <), and
the text input commands
(<Ctrl-d> and <Ctrl-t>) to
allow the editor to indent
text and move back to a
previous indentation. The
default is sw=8.
[no]showmatch sm
Shows the matching open
parenthesis ( or open
brace { as you type the
close parenthesis ) or
close brace }. The
default is nosm.
[no]showmode smd
Displays mode indicator at
the bottom of the screen
when in the insert or
replace mode. The default
is nosmd.
[no]slowopen slow
Postpones updating the
display during inserts.
The default is noslow.
[no]sourceany
Allows the use of the
source command on a file
that a user does not own.
The default is
nosourceany.
tabstop ts=
Sets the distance between
tab stops when a file is
displayed. The default is
ts=8.
taglength tl=
Determines length of tag.
The default is tl=0.
[no]tags tag
Specifies a list of
possible file names of tag
files. The default is
tag=tags /usr/lib/tags.
term term=
Sets the kind of display
you are using. The
default is term=$TERM,
where $TERM is the value
of the TERM shell
variable.
[no]terse terse
Allows vi to display the
short form of messages.
The default is noterse.
[no]timeout to
Sets a time limit of 2
seconds on entry of
characters. This limit
allows the characters in a
macro to be entered and
processed as separate
characters when timeout is
set. To resume use of the
macro, set notimeout. The
default is to.
ttytype tty= Same as term.
[no]warn warn
Displays a warning message
before the ! subcommand
executes a shell command
if this is the first time
you issued a shell command
after a given set of
changes were made in the
editing buffer, but not
written to a file. The
default is warn.
window wi=
Sets the number of lines
displayed in one window of
text. The default is
dependent on the baud rate
at which you are
operating: 600 baud or
less / 8 lines, 1200
baud / 16 lines, higher
speeds / full screen
minus 1.
wrapmargin wm=
Sets the margin for
automatic wordwrapping
from one line to the next.
A value of wm=8, for
example, causes vi to wrap
additional characters to
the next line when the
cursor is 8 characters or
less from the right
margin. A value of 0
indicates no wordwrapping.
The default is wm=0.
[no]wrapscan ws
Allows string searches to
wrap from the end of the
editing buffer to the
beginning. The default is
ws.
wraptype wt=
(For editing Japanese)
Controls wrapping of
Japanese words. Setting
wraptype=general causes
general-purpose wrap on
word breaks, where word
break is defined as
whitespace or space
between two nonASCII
characters. Setting
wraptype=general is a
combination of word and
flexible. Setting
wraptype=word causes wrap
on words. Setting
wraptype=rigid causes wrap
on column and before
closing punctuation.
Setting wraptype=flexible
causes wrap on column, but
closing punctuation may
extend past the margin.
The default is wt=word.
[no]writeany wa
Turns off the checks
usually made before a
write command. The
default is nowa.
Defining Macros
If you use a subcommand or sequence of subcommands frequently, you can
create a macro that issues the subcommand or sequence when you call a
macro. To create a macro, enter the sequence of subcommands into an
editing buffer named with a letter of the alphabet. When used as buffer
names, lowercase ASCII letters a through z overlay the contents of the
buffer, while uppercase ASCII letters A through Z append text to the
previous contents of the buffer, allowing the building of a macro piece by
piece.
To invoke the macro, enter @x, where x is the letter name of the buffer.
Enter @@ to repeat the last macro you invoked.
Mapping Keys
You can use the map command to set a keystroke to a subcommand or a
sequence of subcommands. To set a key mapping, enter :map key subcommand
where key is the key to which you want to assign a subcommand or sequence
of subcommands and subcommand is the subcommand or sequence of subcommands.
For example, to set @ to delete lines, enter:
:map @ dd
In this example, @ is the key to which the subcommand is assigned and dd is
the subcommand.
In the next example, a subcommand sequence is mapped to a key:
:map * {>}
The * (asterisk) is the key to which the subcommand sequence is assigned
and {>} is the subcommand sequence. The { (open brace) moves the cursor to
the beginning of the paragraph and the > (right angle bracket) indents the
paragraph to the next shiftwidth.
To display the list of the current key mappings while you are in Command
mode, enter the :map command. You can also remove a key mapping. To
remove a key mapping, enter :unmap string or :unmap! string where string is
the string used after the :map command to set the key and subcommand
sequence. For example, to remove key mapping for the previous example,
enter:
:unmap *
If function keys are defined for your terminal, they can be put in a map or
unmap command by typing <Ctrl-v> then pressing the desired key. In this
way, function keys that are unused during editing can be mapped to useful
editing subcommand sequences.
If the ! (exclamation point) character is appended to the command name map
(map!), the mapping is effective during input mode rather than during
visual mode.
Abbreviations
You can define abbreviations for long phrases that you use often. The vi
editor then automatically expands these abbreviations whenever you enter
them in insert mode. Only single-byte characters can appear in abbr_string;
abbr_string cannot contain Asian multibyte characters.
To define an abbreviation, enter:
:abbr abbreviation phrase
where abbreviation is the abbreviation you specify for the longer text
specified by phrase. For example, to specify the abbreviation imho for the
phrase In my humble opinion, enter:
:abbr imho In my humble opinion
Keeping a Customized Change
When you customize vi from the vi command line, the customized editor is in
effect until you exit the editor. If you want to reuse such things as
option settings and key mappings, you must put them in the .exrc file in
your home directory or define the EXINIT environment variable. The vi
editor processes the commands given in the EXINIT variable or reads the
.exrc file each time you invoke it. Here is an example of an .exrc file:
set ai aw
set wm=5
map @ dd
Users with both a .exrc file and an EXINIT environment variable will find
that the vi editor no longer reads the .exrc file. This change was made to
meet the specifications of XPG4.
The standard provides for an approximation of the old behavior. A new
variable, named exrc, is defined. When this variable is set by the commands
in the EXINIT environment variable, the editor reads .exrc in the current
directory for additional startup commands. For example:
setenv EXINIT 'set ai terse magic bf wm=1 exrc'
[Tru64 UNIX] Additionally, the editor refuses to read the .exrc file if
its mode grants write permission to anyone other than the owner; this
restriction prevents certain security breaches. No overt indication is
given when such a refusal occurs.
vi Character Sets
The collation sequence, as defined by the value of the LC_COLLATE
environment variable, defines the alphanumeric set used by your system.
This table affects the performance of vi macros and subcommands.
The vi editor uses the collation sequence to distinguish between a small
word and a big word. A small word is bounded by letters or numbers as
defined in the collation table. For example, isn't is two small words.
The ' (apostrophe) is not a number or an alphabetic character, and it
bounds both the small word t and the small word isn. A big word is bounded
by spaces, tabs, or newline indicators. For example, stop is a big word.
For more information, see the section Moving to Words.
Subcommand Syntax
[named_buffer] [operator] [number] argument
Surrounding brackets indicate optional items.
[named_buffer]
A temporary text storage area.
[operator]
Specifies the subcommand or action; instructs the vi editor.
[number]
A whole decimal value that specifies either the extent of the action or
a line address. The vi editor interprets this number in one of the
following ways:
· Go to line number:
5G
10z<Return>
· Go forward number columns.
25<Space>
· Scroll number of lines:
10<Ctrl-d>
10<Ctrl-u>
· Delete number lines:
6dd
· The % means all. To yank all lines:
%y
(The preceding command replaces 1,$y.)
argument
Specifies what to act on. This can be a text object (a character,
word, sentence, paragraph, section, or character string) or a text
position (a line, position in the current line, or screen position).
Moving Within a File
Enter the following subcommands in Command mode. You can cancel an
incomplete subcommand by pressing the <Esc> key.
<Left Arrow>, h, <Ctrl-h>
Moves the cursor one character to the left.
<Down Arrow>, j, <Ctrl-j>, <Ctrl-n>
Moves the cursor down one line, remaining in the same column.
<Up Arrow>, k, <Ctrl-p>
Moves the cursor up one line, remaining in the same column.
<Right Arrow>, l <Space>
Moves the cursor one character to the right.
Long lines: Lines over one screen width are wrapped but not broken.
When using the Up Arrow or Page Up key, @ lines are added at the bottom
of the screen when too few physical lines are available to display the
complete line. The Down Arrow key moves the entire line off the screen
at once.
Character Positioning Within a Line
Enter the following subcommands in Command mode.
^ Moves the cursor to the first nonspace character.
0 Moves the cursor to the beginning of the line.
$ Moves the cursor to the end of the line.
fx Moves the cursor to the next x character.
Fx Moves the cursor to the last x character.
tx Moves the cursor to one column before the next x character.
Tx Moves the cursor to one column after the last x character.
; Repeats the last f, F, t, or T subcommand.
, Repeats the last f, F, t, or T subcommand in the opposite direction.
number<Space>
Moves the cursor to the specified column.
Moving to Words
Enter the following subcommands in Command mode.
w Moves the cursor to the next small word.
b Moves the cursor to the previous small word.
e Moves the cursor to the end of the next small word.
W Moves the cursor to the next big word.
B Moves the cursor to the previous big word.
E Moves the cursor to the end of the next big word.
Moving by Line Positioning
Enter the following subcommands in Command mode.
G Moves to the line number given as preceding argument, or the end of the
file if no preceding count is given.
H Moves the cursor to the top line on the screen.
L Moves the cursor to the last line on the screen.
M Moves the cursor to the middle line on the screen.
+ Moves the cursor to the next line, at its first nonspace character.
- Moves the cursor to the previous line, at its first nonspace character.
<Return>
Moves the cursor to the next line, at its first nonspace character.
Moving to Sentences, Paragraphs, or Sections
Enter the following subcommands in Command mode. You can cancel an
incomplete subcommand by pressing the <Esc> key.
( Places the cursor at the beginning of the previous sentence (or the
previous S-expression if you are in LISP mode).
) Places the cursor at the beginning of the next sentence (or the next
S-expression if you are in LISP mode).
{ Places the cursor at the beginning of the previous paragraph (or at the
next list if you are in LISP mode).
} Places the cursor at the beginning of the next paragraph, at the next
section if you are in C mode, or at the next list if you are in LISP
mode.
| Requires a count; the cursor is placed in that column (if possible).
]] Places the cursor at the next section, or function if you are in LISP
mode.
[[ Places the cursor at the previous section, or function if you are in
LISP mode.
Paging and Scrolling
<Ctrl-u>
Scrolls up (default 12 lines).
<Ctrl-d>
Scrolls down (default 12 lines).
<Ctrl-f>
Pages forward one screen.
<Ctrl-b>
Pages backward one screen.
<Ctrl-y>
Scrolls the window up one line.
<Ctrl-e>
Scrolls the window down one line.
<Ctrl-m>
Moves to the first non-white character in the next line. A count
specifies the number of lines to go forward.
<Ctrl-t>
Inserts shiftwidth white space in input mode, if at the beginning of
the line or preceded only by white space. This inserted space can only
be backed over using <Ctrl-d>.
<Ctrl-[>
Cancels a partially formed command; sounds the bell if there is none.
In input mode, terminates input mode.
When entering a command on the bottom line of the screen (ex command
line or search pattern with / or ?), terminates input and executes
command.
z+ Pages up.
z^ Pages down.
Searching for Patterns
The following commands allow you to search for patterns within a file.
Patterns can be regular expressions as described for grep.
/pattern
Places the cursor at the next line containing pattern.
/ Repeats the last search for pattern in the direction of the end of the
file.
?pattern
Places the cursor at the next previous line containing pattern.
? Repeats the last search for pattern in the direction of the beginning
of the file.
n Repeats the last search for pattern in the same direction.
N Repeats the last search for pattern in the opposite direction.
/pattern/+number
Places the cursor at the numberth line after the line matching pattern.
?pattern?-number
Places the cursor at the numberth line before the line matching
pattern.
% Finds the parenthesis or brace that matches the one at the current
cursor position.
Marking and Returning
Enter the following subcommands in Command mode. You can cancel an
incomplete subcommand by pressing the <Esc> key.
`` Moves the cursor to the same cursor position of the previous current
line.
'' Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous current line.
mx Marks the current position with the letter specified by x.
`x Moves the cursor to the same cursor position of line marked x.
'x Moves the cursor to the beginning of the line marked x.
Adjusting the Screen
Enter the following subcommands in Command mode. An incomplete subcommand
can be canceled by pressing the <Esc> key.
<Ctrl-l>
Clears and redraws the screen.
<Ctrl-r>
Redraws the screen and eliminates blank lines marked with a @.
z<Return>
Redraws the screen with the current line at the top of the screen.
z- Redraws the screen with the current line at the bottom of the screen.
z. Redraws the screen with the current line at the center of the screen.
/pattern/z
Redraws the screen with the line containing pattern at the top.
/pattern/z+
Redraws the screen with the line containing pattern at the top.
/pattern/z-
Redraws the screen with the line containing pattern at the bottom.
/pattern/z.
Redraws the screen with the line containing pattern at the center.
znumber<Return>
Makes the window number lines long.
Adding Text to a File--Text Input Mode
The following subcommands are entered in Command mode and bring the vi
editor into Text Input mode to allow you to add text to your file. End
Text Input mode by pressing the <Esc> key.
atext
Inserts text after the cursor.
Atext
Adds text to the end of the line.
itext
Inserts text before the cursor.
Itext
Inserts text before the first nonspace character in the line.
o Adds an empty line below the current line.
O Adds an empty line above the current line.
Changing Text While in Input Mode
Use the following commands only while in Text Entry mode. They have
different meanings in Command mode.
<Ctrl-h>
Erases the last character.
<Ctrl-w>
Erases the last small word. (For more information about small words,
see the section vi Character Sets.)
\ Quotes the Erase and Kill characters.
<Esc>
Ends insertion, back to Command mode.
Quit key sequence
Interrupts, terminates insert or <Ctrl-d>.
<Ctrl-d>
Goes back to the previous autoindent stop.
^<Ctrl-d>
Ends autoindent for this line only.
0<Ctrl-d>
Moves the cursor back to the left margin.
<Ctrl-v>
Quotes a nonprinting character.
Changing Text from Command Mode
Use the following subcommands in Command mode. An incomplete subcommand
can be canceled by pressing the <Esc> key.
C Changes the rest of the line (c$).
c Must be followed by a movement command. Deletes the specified region
of text and enters input mode to replace it with the entered text. If
more than part of a single line is affected, the deleted text is saved
in the numeric buffers. If only part of the current line is affected,
the last character to be deleted is marked with a $. A count is passed
through to the move command. If the command is cc, the whole of the
current line is changed.
cc Changes a line.
cw Changes a word.
D Deletes the rest of the line (d$) and puts it into the undo buffer.
d Must be followed by a movement command. Deletes the specified region
of text. If more than part of a line is affected, the text is saved in
the numeric buffers. A count is passed through to the move command.
If the command is dd, the whole of the current line is deleted.
dd Deletes a line and puts it into the undo buffer.
dw Deletes a word and puts it into the undo buffer.
J Joins lines.
rx Replaces the current character with the character specified by x.
R Overwrites characters.
s Substitutes characters (cl).
S Substitutes lines (cc).
u Undoes the previous change.
x Deletes a character.
X Deletes characters before cursor (dh).
<< Shifts one line to the left.
<L Shifts all lines from the cursor to the end of the screen to the left.
(The < character describes a range upon which the L subcommand acts.)
>> Shifts one line to the right.
>L Shifts all lines from the cursor to the end of the screen to the right.
(The > character describes a range upon which the L subcommand acts.)
~ Changes the letter at the cursor to the opposite case.
Copying and Moving Text
Use the following subcommands in Command mode. An incomplete subcommand
can be canceled by pressing <Esc>.
p (P)
Puts back text in the undo buffer after (before) the cursor.
"xp (xP)
Puts back text from the buffer x after (before) the cursor. You must
precede the character x with a double quote.
"xdobject
Deletes object into the buffer x. You must precede the character x
with a double quote.
yobject
Yanks object into the undo buffer (for example, yw to yank a word).
"xyobject
Yanks object into buffer x. You must precede the character x with a
double quote.
Y Places the line in the undo buffer.
Restoring and Repeating Changes
Use the following subcommands in Command mode. An incomplete subcommand
can be canceled by pressing the <Esc> key.
u Undoes the last command.
U Restores the current line if the cursor has not left the line since the
last change.
. Repeats the last change or increments the np command.
Note that this command is not meant for use with a macro. Enter @@ to
repeat a macro.
"np Retrieves the nth last delete of a complete line or block of lines.
You must precede the character n with a double quote.
Saving Changes to a File
Use the following subcommands in Command mode. An incomplete subcommand
can be canceled by pressing <Esc>. If you are using these subcommands
within the ex editor, do not type the : (colon).
:w Writes the editing buffer contents to the original file.
:w file
Writes the editing buffer contents to the named file.
:w! file
Overwrites file with the editing buffer contents.
:X [Tru64 UNIX] Prompts you to enter an encryption key. When you save
the file, it is written in encrypted form. For subsequent edits of the
encrypted file, use the -x option to display the file in its
unencrypted form.
Interrupting, Cancelling, and Exiting vi
Q Enters the ex editor in Command mode.
ZZ Exits vi, saving changes, if any were made.
:q Quits vi. If you have changed the contents of the editing buffer, vi
displays a warning message and does not quit.
:q! Quits vi, discarding the editing buffer with no warning.
:sh Runs a shell. You can return to vi by pressing <Ctrl-d>.
:w !command
Runs the file through the specified shell command (causes no change to
the file).
:!command
Runs command, then returns.
:!! Repeats the last :!command command.
n!!command
Executes the shell command identified by command and replaces the
number of lines specified by n with the output of command. If n is not
specified, the default is 1. If command expects standard input, the
lines specified are used as input. (10!!sort sorts the next 10 lines.)
!linescommand
Works like n!!command, except that lines is a line address (for
example, !Gsort sorts the rest of the file).
Quit key sequence
Interrupts a subcommand.
Editing a Second File
Enter the following subcommands in Command mode. An incomplete subcommand
can be canceled by pressing the <Esc> key.
:e file
Edits file. If you are using this subcommand from the ex editor, do
not type the : (colon).
:e! Reedits the current file and discards all changes.
:e + file
Edits file, starting at the end.
:e +number
Edits file, starting at the line number.
:e # and <Ctrl-a>
Edits the alternate file. The alternate file is usually the previous
current file name. However, if changes are pending on the current file
when a new file is called, the new file becomes the alternate file.
:r file
Reads the file into the editing buffer by adding new lines below the
current line. If you are using this subcommand from the ex editor, do
not type the : (colon).
:r !command
Runs the shell command identified by command and places its output in
the file by adding new lines below the current cursor position.
Using a Tags File
The ctags command makes a tags file from the specified C, Pascal, FORTRAN,
yacc, lex, or LISP source files. A tags file gives the locations of
function and type definitions in a group of files. To use the next three
commands, you must first create a database of function names and their
locations (called a tags file) using the ctags command.
:ta tag
Edits a file containing tag at the location of tag. If the tag is in
another file and the current file has been changed (and noaw is set), a
warning is posted. If you are using this subcommand from the ex editor,
do not type the : (colon).
<Ctrl-]>
Finds the word at the cursor in the tags file then displays the proper
file, placing the cursor at the tag. If the tag is in the current
file, moves cursor to it. Same as :ta, but the tag is the word to the
right of the cursor.
<Ctrl-t>
Returns to the file and line where the cursor was positioned when
<Ctrl-]> was entered.
Editing a List of Files
Enter the following subcommands in Command mode.
:n Edits the next file in the list entered on the command line.
:n file ...
Specifies a new list of files to edit.
Displaying File Information
[Tru64 UNIX] Enter the following subcommand in Command mode to show the
current file name, the current line number, the number of lines in the
file, and the percentage of lines of the file that are before the cursor:
<Ctrl-g>
EXIT STATUS
The following exit values are returned:
0 Successful completion.
>0 An error occurred.
ASYNCHRONOUS EVENTS
The following actions are taken upon receipt of signals:
SIGINT
The current editor command is aborted and vi returns to the command
level and prompts for another command.
SIGCONT
The screen is refreshed if in visual mode.
SIGHUP
If the current buffer has changed since the last e or w command, vi
attempts to save the current file in a state such that it can be
recovered later by an ex -r or vi -r command.
ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
The following environment variables affect the execution of vi:
COLUMNS
Overrides the system-selected horizontal screen size.
EXINIT
Determines a list of ex commands to be executed at startup before the
first file is read. The list can include multiple commands separated
by a vertical line (|) character.
HOME
Determines the pathname of a directory searched at startup for a file
named .exrc.
LANG
Provides a default value for the internationalization variables that
are unset or null. If LANG is unset or null, the corresponding value
from the default locale is used. If any of the internationalization
variables contain an invalid setting, the utility behaves as if none of
the variables had been defined.
LC_ALL
If set to a non-empty string value, overrides the values of all the
other internationalization variables.
LC_COLLATE
Determines the locale for the behavior of ranges, equivalence classes,
and multicharacter collating elements within regular expressions.
LC_CTYPE
Determines the locale for the interpretation of sequences of bytes of
text data as characters (for example, single-byte as opposed to
multibyte characters in arguments and input files), the behavior of
character classes within regular expressions, the classification of
characters as upper- or lower-case letters, the case conversion of
letters, and the detection of word boundaries.
LINES
Overrides the system-selected vertical screen size, used as the number
of lines in a screenful and the vertical screen size in visual mode.
LC_MESSAGES
Determines the locale for the format and contents of diagnostic
messages written to standard error.
NLSPATH
Determines the location of message catalogues for the processing of
LC_MESSAGES.
PATH
Determines the search path for the shell command specified in the
editor commands shell, read and write and the visual-mode command !.
SHELL
Determines the preferred command-line interpreter for use in !, shell,
read and other commands with an operand of the form !string. For the
shell command the program will be invoked with the single argument -i,
for all others it will be invoked with the two arguments -c and string.
If this variable is null or not set, the sh command will be used.
TERM
Determines the name of the terminal type. If this variable is unset or
null, a default terminal type that provides most capabilities is used.
SEE ALSO
Commands: ctags(1), edit(1), ed(1), ex(1), grep(1), mesg(1), nroff(1),
sed(1)
Files: terminfo(4)
Environment: environ(5)
Standards: standards(5)
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Alphabetical
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