vi(1)

NAME

vi − screen-oriented (visual) display editor based on ex

SYNOPSIS

vi [ −t tag ] [ −r file ] [ −l ] [ −L ] [ −wn ] [ −x ] [ −R ] [ −C ] [ -c command ] file ...
view [ -t tag ] [ −r file ] [ −l ] [ −L ] [ −wn ] [ −x ] [ −R ] [ −C ] [ -c command ] file ...
vedit [ −t tag ] [ −r file ] [ −l ] [ −L ] [ −wn ] [ −x ] [ −R ] [ −C ] [ -c command ] file ...

DESCRIPTION

vi (visual) is a display-oriented text editor based on an underlying line editor ex(1). It is possible to use the command mode of ex from within vi and vice-versa. The visual commands are described on this manual page; how to set options (like automatically numbering lines and automatically starting a new output line when you type carriage return) and all ex line editor commands are described on the ex(1) manual page.

When using vi, changes you make to the file are reflected in what you see on your terminal screen. The position of the cursor on the screen indicates the position within the file. The Vi Quick Reference card, the Introduction to Display Editing with Vi and the Ex Reference Manual provide full details on using vi.

INVOCATION

The following invocation options are interpreted by vi:

−t tag Edit the file containing the tag and position the editor at its definition.

−rfile Recover file after an editor or system crash. If file is not specified a list of all saved files will be printed.

−l LISP mode; indents appropriately for lisp code, the () {} [[ and ]] commands in vi and open are modified to have meaning for lisp .

−L List the name of all files saved as the result of an editor or system crash.

−wn Set the default window size to n. This is useful when using the editor over a slow speed line.

−x Encryption option; when used, vi simulates the X command of ex and prompts the user for a key. This key is used to encrypt and decrypt text using the algorithm of the crypt command. The X command makes an educated guess to determine whether text read in is encrypted or not. The temporary buffer file is encrypted also, using a transformed version of the key typed in for the −x option. See crypt(1). Also, see the NOTES section at the end of this manual page.

−C Encryption option; same as the −x option, except that vi simulates the C command of ex. The C command is like the X command of ex, except that all text read in is assumed to have been encrypted.

−R Read only mode; the readonly flag is set, preventing accidental overwriting of the file.

−c command The specified ex command is interpreted before editing begins.

The file argument indicates files to be edited.

The view invocation is the same as vi except that the readonly flag is set.

The vedit invocation is intended for beginners. The report flag is set to 1, and the showmode and novice flags are set. These defaults make it easier to get started learning the editor.

"VI MODES"

Command Normal and initial mode. Other modes return to command mode upon completion. ESC (escape) is used to cancel a partial command.

Input Entered by a i A I o O c C s S R. Arbitrary text may then be entered. Input mode is normally terminated with ESC character, or abnormally with interrupt.

Last line Reading input for : / ? or !; terminate with CR to execute, interrupt to cancel.

COMMAND SUMMARY

Sample commands

← ↓ ↑ →	arrow keys move the cursor
h j k l	same as arrow keys
itextESC	insert text abc
cwnewESC	change word to new
easESC	pluralize word
x	delete a character
dw	delete a word
dd	delete a line
3dd	... 3 lines
u	undo previous change
ZZ	exit vi, saving changes
:q!CR	quit, discarding changes
/textCR	search for text
^U ^D	scroll up or down
:cmdCR	any ex or ed command

Counts before vi commands

Numbers may be typed as a prefix to some commands. They are interpreted in one of these ways.

line/column number	z G \|
scroll amount	^D ^U
repeat effect	most of the rest

Interrupting, canceling

ESC	end insert or incomplete cmd
^?	(delete or rubout) interrupts
^L	reprint screen if ^? scrambles it
^R	reprint screen if ^L is → key

File manipulation

:wCR	write back changes
:qCR	quit
:q!CR	quit, discard changes
:e nameCR	edit file name
:e!CR	reedit, discard changes
:e + nameCR	edit, starting at end
:e +nCR	edit starting at line n
:e #CR	edit alternate file
	synonym for :e #
:w nameCR	write file name
:w! nameCR	overwrite file name
:shCR	run shell, then return
:!cmdCR	run cmd, then return
:nCR	edit next file in arglist
:n argsCR	specify new arglist
^G	show current file and line
:ta tagCR	to tag file entry tag
^]	:ta, following word is tag

In general, any ex or ed command (such as substitute or global) may be typed, preceded by a colon and followed by a CR.

Positioning within file

^F	forward screen
^B	backward screen
^D	scroll down half screen
^U	scroll up half screen
G	go to specified line (end default)
/pat	next line matching pat
?pat	prev line matching pat
n	repeat last / or ?
N	reverse last / or ?
/pat/+n	nth line after pat
?pat?−n	nth line before pat
]]	next section/function
[[	previous section/function
(	beginning of sentence
)	end of sentence
{	beginning of paragraph
}	end of paragraph
%	find matching ( ) { or }

Adjusting the screen

^L	clear and redraw
^R	retype, eliminate @ lines
zCR	redraw, current at window top
z−CR	... at bottom
z.CR	... at center
/pat/z−CR	pat line at bottom
zn.CR	use n line window
^E	scroll window down 1 line
^Y	scroll window up 1 line

Marking and returning

``	move cursor to previous context
´´	... at first non-white in line
mx	mark current position with letter x
`x	move cursor to mark x
´x	... at first non-white in line

Line positioning

H	top line on screen
L	last line on screen
M	middle line on screen
+	next line, at first non-white
−	previous line, at first non-white
CR	return, same as +
↓ or j	next line, same column
↑ or k	previous line, same column

Character positioning

^	first non white
0	beginning of line
$	end of line
h or →	forward
l or ←	backwards
^H	same as ←
space	same as →
fx	find x forward
Fx	f backward
tx	upto x forward
Tx	back upto x
;	repeat last f F t or T
,	inverse of ;
\|	to specified column
%	find matching ( { ) or }

Words, sentences, paragraphs

w	word forward
b	back word
e	end of word
)	to next sentence
}	to next paragraph
(	back sentence
{	back paragraph
W	blank delimited word
B	back W
E	to end of W

Commands for LISP Mode

)	Forward s-expression
}	... but do not stop at atoms
(	Back s-expression
{	... but do not stop at atoms

Corrections during insert

^H	erase last character
^W	erase last word
erase	your erase, same as ^H
kill	your kill, erase input this line
\	quotes ^H, your erase and kill
ESC	ends insertion, back to command
^?	interrupt, terminates insert
^D	backtab over autoindent
↑^D	kill autoindent, save for next
0^D	... but at margin next also
^V	quote non-printing character

Insert and replace

a	append after cursor
i	insert before cursor
A	append at end of line
I	insert before first non-blank
o	open line below
O	open above
rx	replace single char with x
RtextESC	replace characters

Operators

Operators are followed by a cursor motion, and affect all text that would have been moved over. For example, since w moves over a word, dw deletes the word that would be moved over. Double the operator, e.g. dd to affect whole lines.

d	delete
c	change
y	yank lines to buffer
<	left shift
>	right shift
!	filter through command
=	indent for LISP

Miscellaneous Operations

C	change rest of line (c$)
D	delete rest of line (d$)
s	substitute chars (cl)
S	substitute lines (cc)
J	join lines
x	delete characters (dl)
X	... before cursor (dh)
Y	yank lines (yy)

Yank and Put

Put inserts the text most recently deleted or yanked. However, if a buffer is named, the text in that buffer is put instead.

p	put back text after cursor
P	put before cursor
"xp	put from buffer x
"xy	yank to buffer x
"xd	delete into buffer x

Undo, Redo, Retrieve

u	undo last change
U	restore current line
.	repeat last change
"dp	retrieve d’th last delete

NOTES

Two options, although they continue to be supported, have been replaced in the documentation by options that follow the Command Syntax Standard (see intro (1)). A −r option that is not followed with an option-argument has been replaced by −L and +command has been replaced by −c command.

The encryption options are available only in the United States.

CAVEATS AND BUGS

Software tabs using ^T work only immediately after the autoindent.

Left and right shifts on intelligent terminals do not make use of insert and delete character operations in the terminal.

CX/UX User’s Reference Manual

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