vi editor commands in Linux or Unix OperatingSystems
vi Commands
These commands are used in UNIX / LINUX.
Using vi command, we can create and modify files
When we open Vi by default it will be in command mode if we press ( I, i, a, A), It will
be turn into insert mode.
We type (vi file1) command to open a file or create a file
INSERTING COMMANDS :
1. (i) : It means a character/data allows before the cursor position
2. (I) : To insert Before the first character of the current line
Append commands :
(a) – To append after current cursor position
(A) – To append at the end of the current line
(o) – To open a newline after the current line
(O) – To open newline before the current line
Delete commands :
(x) – To delete a single character at cursor position
(X) – To delete a single character before the cursor position
(dd) – To delete entire line/current line
(D) – To delete from cursor position to end of the line
(dw) – To delete a word
Replace commands :
(r) – To replace a single character at cursor position
(R) – To replace entire multiple characters until we press escape key
Cursor movement commands :
0 (zero) – To move the cursor to the first character of the line (including space)
($) – To move the cursor to the end of the line
(j) – To go to the next line
(k) – To move the cursor to the previous / above the cursor line
(h) – To move the cursor to leftside
(l) – To move the cursor to the right
Note 1 : We need to click the escape key before entering commands if it is in insert mode.
Use escape key to turn from insert mode to command mode.
SAVE AND EXIT COMMANDS :
( : ) (w) (q)
:wq + enter (it is used to save and quit the vi)
:w – it is used to save the file
:q – it is used to quit
:q! – It is used to quit without saving
REPLACE COMMAND :
r — to replace single character
R — to replace more than one character until we press escape key
This command is used to convert lowercase to uppercase and viseversa
Shift + tild (~)
Colon commands : Last line mode commands
If any command starts with ( : ) then it is known as Last line mode commands
: set nu to get line numbers
: 20 to place the cursor at 20 th line
: $ to move the cursor to the last line
: 1 to move the first line
: 1co$ to copy the specific line needed in the last (in this number 1 we can’t change)
: 1co10 to copy and paste the first line after the 10 th line
: 1m15 to move first line to the 15 th line it is replaced to specific line
: 1, 4co$ to copy multiple line to end of the file (in this number can be changed)
see also