vim

Vim is a highly configurable text editor for efficiently creating and changing any kind of text. It is included as "vi" with most UNIX systems and with Apple OS X.

Modes in vim

• Command Mode : everything you type is a command that allows you to move the cursor around, delete and copy text, search for words, save the file, quit, etc.

• Insert Mode: everything you type (save for special keys) is added to the file, as would happen in a word processor; however, you can only move the cursor with the arrow keys, not the mouse.

To create a file with vim:

• Type the command vim file_name.extension (e.g. vim_example.txt) or vi file_name.extension

• The editor starts in command mode.

• We can switch to insert mode by typing i. You should see the message -- INSERT -- appear at the bottom of your window.

• To go back to command mode, press the escape key. The message should now disappear. Toggle back and forth between the two modes.

Command mode cheat sheet:

• Saving and quiting:

  • :w - save

  • :wq - save and quit

  • :q - quit

  • :q! - quit, ignoring changes

  • :u - undo

• Moving the cursor:

  • 0 - first column of the line
  • ^ - first non-blank character of the line
  • $ - jump to the last character of the line
  • w - jump to next word
  • b - jump to word-beginning
  • } - jump over a block of lines
  • % - jump to matching bracket
  • '*' - go to next occurrence of word under cursor
  • '#' - go to previous occurrence of word under cursor

• Copy and Paste

  • yy - copy current line
  • 10yy copy 10 lines
  • p - paste

• Search:

  • /word_to_search - search the document for the next occurrence of word_to_search
  • ?word_to_search - search the document for the previous occurrence of word_to_search