• Ref: http://dir.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Software/Text_Editors/vi/

• Syntax: vi file(s)

• Existing file:
  
• New file:
  
• The Most Important Diagram You Will Ever See:
  
• Let's try it:

  $ vi rights-of-man

• Getting out:

  :x<RET> or ZZ

  Exits from vi, saving changes.

  :q!<RET>

  Exits from vi, don't save changes.

• Flying the Cursor:

  h (and left arrow)

  Left one character in current line

  j (and down arrow)

  Down one line

  k (and up arrow)

  Up one line

  l (and right arrow)

  Right one character in current line

• Adding Text:

  i

  Insert text at the cursor position, end with <ESC>.

  a

  Insert text after the cursor position, end with <ESC>.

• Removing Text:

  x

  Remove one character at the cursor position.

  X

  Remove one character before the cursor position,

• Notes:
  • That's all you ``really'' need, everything else just does things faster.
  • Most commands take an optional repeat number in front.
• Advanced Cursor Movement:

  w

  Move to beginning of next word.

  7w

  Seven words forward.

  b

  Move to beginning of previous word.

  e

  Move to end of current word.

  ^

  Move to beginning of current line

  $

  Move to end of current line.

  G

  Move to last line in file.

  1G

  Move to first line in file.

  59G

  Move to fifty-ninth line in file.

  {

  Back one paragraph.

  }

  Forward one paragraph.

• Advanced insertion (all end with <ESC>:

  A

  Append to end of line.

  o

  Open line below current line, insert.

  O

  Open line above current line, insert.

• Advanced deletion:

  D

  Delete from cursor to end of line.

  dd

  Delete current line.

  7dd

  Delete current line and the six following.

  dw

  Delete (rest of) current word.

  7dw

  Delete seven words.

  dG

  Delete from cursor to end of file.

  J

  Join current line with next line.

• Changes (combined delete/insert; end with <ESC>)

  s

  Change character at cursor.

  7s

  Change seven characters starting at cursor.

  cw

  Change word.

  7cw

  Change seven words.

  cc

  Change current line.

  7cc

  Change seven lines.

  C

  Change from cursor to end of line.

• Search/Replace

  /person<RET>

  Search forward to next occurrence of ``person'' (wraps).

  ?person<RET>

  Search backward to prior occurrence of ``person'' (wraps).

  :s/person/citizen<RET>

  Change next ``person'' to ``citizen''

  :1,$s/person/citizen<RET>

  Replace all occurrences of `person' with `citizen'.

• Redo/Undo/Paste

  n

  Redo previous search.

  .

  Redo previous insertion/deletion.

  u

  Undo previous insertion/deletion (very useful).

  p

  Paste previous deletion after cursor.

  P

  Paste previous deletion at cursor.

On to More Shell Stuff...