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Agenda. Using vi Editor Starting vi Session Command / Input Modes Entering Text Editing Text Saving vi Session Aborting Editing Session. vi (Visual) Editor. vi is a powerful, interactive, visually-oriented text editor Features: flexibility in performing various tasks
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Agenda • Using vi Editor • Starting vi Session • Command / Input Modes • Entering Text • Editing Text • Saving vi Session • Aborting Editing Session
vi (Visual) Editor • vi is a powerful, interactive, visually-oriented text editor • Features: • flexibility in performing various tasks • ability to view many lines of text as opposed to one line at a time • possible to recover file edited by vi in the event of a “system crash”
Starting vi Session • There are two ways in order to start an editing session with vi: • Enter vi filename (recommended since filename has already been assigned and changes will be saved to filename by enter ZZ while in vi). • Enter vi (filename is not assigned, therefore user has to type <ESC> :w filename <ENTER> and then enter ZZ to save file.
Modes • There are two operational modes while using the vi editor: • Command Mode (default mode when starting) • Mode to allow user to give commands such as to delete text, search for strings, search & replace, save changes, abort editing session without saving changes and exit the vi editor. • Input Mode • Input Mode allows user to enter or edit text. If in command mode press ito enter input mode.
Input Mode • While in input mode, the input mode indicator should appear as INPUT on the bottom of the vi screen. • If this indicator does not appear when you press i then type: • <ESC>:set showmode <ENTER> • After typing or “inserting” text, type <ESC> to return to Command Mode.
Entering Text • Type in your text, but it is recommended to press ENTER before the end of the line (i.e. do not use word-wrap). Also, do not use <SPACE> to end a line. Tilde “~” characters below text represent end of file. • Error Correction (As you type): • CTRL-h Delete a letter • CTRL-w Delete a word • CTRL-u Delete a line
Editing Text • You can move around to text in the screen with the arrow keys while in Insert Mode. • For more advanced editing, you can return to Command Mode and use appropriate editing commands
Editing Commands(Within Command Mode) • Commands: • d Deletes current character • dw Deletes to the end of the word • dd Deletes the current line • u Undo. “Undoes” the last operation that user performed
Saving vi Session • When you create a file using vi, all work performed during vi session is stored in a Word Buffer (temporary storage) until the user saves their work. • When saving, changes in the work buffer are added to a new (empty) file if creating a new file, or changes in work buffer modify existing (previously created) file
Saving vi Session • To save your vi session, you must make sure you are in command mode by pressing <ESC> • To save your changes and exit, enter ZZ(i.e. two capital z’s)
Aborting Editing Session • If you make a huge mistake in your editing session (that undo cannot solve), you can abort your session without modifying the contents your file (dump the work buffer) • To abort the current editing session, press<ESC> :q! <ENTER>