Linux vi commands

Invoking vi

If you write a command

vi my_file

you will see the screen with a column of tildes. The editor vi is now in so called command mode.

The screen looks like:

~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~

i Insert text to the left of cursor
a Insert text to the right of cursor

Since you are at the beginning of an empty file it does not matter which of these you type. Write a text:

Thank you for your kind invition.
I will be happy to see you on Ocotober 30th.
I will look forward to meet you and
hearing about your proposals. .

Yours sincerely

Kenny R. .

You need to be in the command mode. If you do not now what mode is actual, press the buttom esc. This keystroke always turns the editor in the command mode. Then you can move along the screen if you keystrokes the button:

Keystroke of Doing
h Cursor is moved one space to the left
j Cursor is moved one line down
k Cursor is moved one line up
l Cursor is moved one space to the right

Deleting Text

If you are in command mode then

Keystroke of Doing
x Delete one character at the cursor
dd Delete one line where the cursor is placed

If you are in command mode and you will write

:set smd nu

(where smd means Show MoDe and nu means NUmber), you will now see the mode at the right down corner (usually) and all lines are numbered.

1  Dear Mr Fisher,
2
3      Thank you for your kind invition.
4  I will be happy to see you on Ocotober 30th.
5  I will look forward to meet you and
6  hearing about your proposals.     .
7
8                                      Yours sincerely
9
10                                               Kenny R.








						   INPUT MODE


                    Now go to the 6^th line - move the cursor 
                    underneath the number 2 press letter x. 
                    Pres i and write number 3 
                    
 
                    

                    File Saving
                    You must be in command mode. You can use then several 
                    tricks to save the file: 
                    

                    
                      
                      
                        Keystrokes 
                        Doing 
                      

                        :x 
                        Write file to the disk and finish 
                      

                        ZZ 
                        Write file to the disk and finish 
                      

                        :w 
                        Write file to the disk and continue 
                    
                    
 
                    

                    Replace Mode
                    Very useful is so called replace mode which 
                    enables overwrite the existing text. 
                    

                    
                      
                      
                        Keystrokes 
                        Doing 
                      

                        :r 
                        Replace one character over the cursor 
                      

                        :R 
                        Overwrite text until the next action (e.g. 
                          keystroke of esc)