Template:NotesOnVi

GENERAL NOTES on vi
Note: Best to press <escape> before using these to put you back in "command" mode rather than editing

• /string and [Enter] (search for the string)
• /^<char> and [Enter] (search for character char at the start of a line)
• : for command prompt
• :1 to go to line 1
• :wq and [Enter] is write & quit
• :q! and [Enter] is quit without writing (if you mess up!)
• :help and [Enter] for help
• Arrow-keys scroll around text
• Ctrl+F to page-Forward through text
• Ctrl+B to page-Back through text
• Shift+A to go into -- INSERT -- mode at end of line
• i to go into -- INSERT -- mode at the cursor
• Shift+R to enter -- REPLACE -- or "Overtype" mode
• [Esc] escape out of -- INSERT -- & -- REPLACE -- mode
• u undo last change
• dd deletion (if pressed twice the object is the current line)
• U undelete (to undelete the last deletion)
• P paste (to paste the last delete)
• w move forward by a word (a word is any string - this includes white space)