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diff --git a/usr.bin/vi/docs/tutorial/vi.beginner b/usr.bin/vi/docs/tutorial/vi.beginner new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..3bf35ac939f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/usr.bin/vi/docs/tutorial/vi.beginner @@ -0,0 +1,741 @@ +Section 1: {^F} {ZZ} + +To get out of this tutorial, type: ZZ (two capital Z's). + +Learning a new computer system implies learning a new text editor. These +tutorial lessons were created by Dain Samples to help you come to grips with +UC Berkeley's screen oriented editor called vi (for VIsual). This tutorial +uses the vi editor itself as the means of presentation. + +For best use of this tutorial, read all of a screen before performing any of +the indicated actions. This tutorial (or, at least, the first half of it) has +been designed to systematically present the vi commands IF THE INSTRUCTIONS +ARE FOLLOWED! If you are too adventuresome, you may find yourself lost. If +you ever find yourself stuck, remember the first line of this section. + +OK, now find the control key on your keyboard; it usually has CTL or CTRL +written on its upper surface. Your first assignment is to hold the control +key down while you press the 'F' key on your keyboard. Please do so now. + + + +Section 2: {^F} {^B} +Many of vi's commands use the control key and some other key in combination, +as with the control and the 'F' key above. This is abbreviated CTL-F, or ^F. + +As you have probably guessed by now, ^F (CTL-F) moves you forward a fixed +number of lines in the file. Throughout the remainder of the tutorial when +you are ready to advance to the next section of text, hit ^F. + +The opposite command is ^B. Just for fun, you might want to try a ^B to see +the previous section again. Be sure to do a ^F to return you here. + +Determine what the cursor looks like on your screen. Whatever it is (a box, +an underscore, blinking, flashing, inverse, etc.) it should now be positioned +in the upper left-hand corner of your screen under or on the S of Section. +Become familiar with your cursor: to use vi correctly it is important to +always know where the cursor is. + +Did you notice that when you do a ^F the cursor is left at the top of the +screen, and a ^B leaves the cursor near the bottom of the screen? Try the two +commands ^B^F again. And now do another ^F to see the next section. + +Section 3: {^F} {^B} +You now have two basic commands for examining a file, both forwards (^F) and +backwards (^B). + +Note that these are vi text editing commands: they are not commands for the +tutorial. Indeed, this tutorial is nothing but a text file which you are now +editing. Everything you do and learn in this tutorial will be applicable to +editing text files. + +Therefore, when you are editing a file and are ready to see more of the text, +entering ^F will get you to the next section of the file. Entering ^B will +show you the previous section. + +Time for you to do another ^F. + + + + + + + +Section 4: {^F} {^B} {^M} (return key) +We will adopt the notation of putting commands in curly braces so we can write +them unambiguously. For example, if you are to type the command sequence +"control B control F" (as we asked you to do above) it would appear as {^B^F}. +This allows clear delineation of the command strings from the text. Remember +that the curly braces are NOT part of the command string you are to type. Do +NOT type the curly braces. + +Sometimes, the command string in the curly braces will be rather long, and may +be such that the first couple of characters of the command will erase from +the screen the string you are trying to read and type. It is suggested that +you write down the longer commands BEFORE you type them so you won't forget +them once they disappear. + +Now locate the return key on your keyboard: it is usually marked 'RETURN', +indicate hitting the return key. In fact, the control-M key sequence is +exactly the same as if you hit the return key, and vice versa. + +Now type {^F}. + + +Section 5: {:q!} {ZZ} {^M} (return key) +Recognize that this tutorial is nothing more than a text file that you +are editing. This means that if you do something wrong, it is possible +for you to destroy the information in this file. Don't worry. If this +happens, type {ZZ} (two capital Z's) or {:q!^M} to leave the tutorial. +Restart the tutorial. Once in the tutorial, you can then page forward +with {^F} until you are back to where you want to be. (There are +easier ways to do this, some of which will be discussed later, but this +is the most straightforward.) + +You may want to write these commands down in a convenient place for quick +reference: {:q!^M} and {ZZ} + +We will assume that you now know to do a {^F} to advance the file + + + + + + + +Section 6: {m} {G} {'} {z} +Now that you know how to get around in the file via ^F and ^B let's look at +other ways of examining a text file. Sometimes it is necessary, in the midst +of editing a file, to examine another part of the file. You are then faced +with the problem of remembering your place in the file, looking at the other +text, and then getting back to your original location. Vi has a 'mark' +command, m. Type {mp}. You have just 'marked' your current location in the +file and given it the name 'p'. The command string below will do three +things: position you at the beginning of the file (line 1), then return you to +the location 'p' that you just marked with the 'm' command, and, since the +screen will not look exactly the same as it does right now, the 'z' command +will reposition the screen. (You may want to write the string down before +typing it: once you type {1G} it will no longer be on the screen.) + +So now type {1G'pz^M} - a one followed by a capital G, followed by the quote +mark, followed by a lower case 'p', then a lower case 'z', then a return +(which is the same as a ^M). The {1G} moves you to line 1, i.e. the beginning +of the file. The {'p} moves you to the location you marked with {mp}. The +{z^M} command will repaint the screen putting the cursor at the top of the +screen. (Now {^F}.) + +Section 7: {m} {G} {'} {z} +Let's look at some variations on those commands. If you wanted to look at +line 22 in the file and return to this location you could type {mp22G'p}. Do +so now, observing that {22G} puts your cursor at the beginning of section 2 in +the middle of the screen. + +Also note that, without the {z^M} command, the line with 'Section 7' on it is +now in the MIDDLE of the screen, and not at the top. Our cursor is on the +correct line (where we did the {mp} command) but the line is not where we +might like it to be on the screen. That is the function of the {z^M} command. +(Remember, ^M is the same as the 'return' key on your keyboard.) Type {z^M} +now and observe the effect. + +As you can see, the 'Section 7' line is now at the top of the screen with the +cursor happily under the capital S. If you would like the cursor line (i.e. +the line which the cursor is on) in the middle of the screen again, you would +type {z.}. If you wanted the cursor line to be at the BOTTOM of the screen, +type {z-}. Try typing {z-z.z^M} and watch what happens. + +{^F} + +Section 8: {z} {m} {'} + +Note that the z command does not change the position of our cursor in the file +itself, it simply moves the cursor around on the screen by moving the contents +of the file around on the screen. The cursor stays on the same line of the +file when using the z command. + +This brings up an important point. There are two questions that the users of +vi continually need to know the answer to: "Where am I in the file?" and +"Where am I on the screen?" The cursor on your terminal shows the answer to +both questions. Some commands will move you around in the file, usually +changing the location of the cursor on the screen as well. Other commands +move the cursor around on the screen without changing your location in the +file. + +Now type {ma}. Your location in the file has been given the name 'a'. If you +type {'p'a} you will see the previous location we marked in section 7, and +then will be returned to the current location. (You will want to do a {z^M} +to repaint the screen afterwards.) Try it. +{^F} + +Section 9: {m} {''} +Now we can move about in our file pretty freely. By using the {m} command we +can give the current cursor position a lower-case-character name, like 'p', +'a', 'e', 'm', or 'b'. Using the {G} command preceded by a line number we can +look at any line in the file we like. Using the single quote command {'} +followed by a character used in an {m} command, we can return to any location +in the file we have marked. + +However, try {m3}, or {mM}. You should hear a beep, or bell. Only lower-case +letters are acceptable to the {m} and {'} commands: numbers, upper-case +letters, and special characters are not acceptable. + +If you type the {'} command with a character that is lower-case alphabetic but +that has not been used in an {m} command, or for which the 'marked' text has +been deleted, you will also get a beep. Try {'i}. You should get a beep +because the command {mi} has never been issued. (Unless you've been +experimenting.) + +The command {''} attempts to return you to the location at which you last +modified some part of your file. However, my experience has been that it is +difficult to predict exactly where you will end up. +Section 10: {^M} {-} +Now do {ma}, marking your position at the top of the screen. Now hit {^M} (or +return) until the cursor is right ... +* <- here, over/under the asterisk. Now +type {mb'a'b} and watch the cursor move from the asterisk to the top of the +screen and back again. + +The {^M} command moves the cursor to the beginning of the next line. Now type +{^M} until the cursor is right ... +* <- here. The command to move the cursor to the beginning of the +previous line is {-}. Practice moving the cursor around on the screen by using +{^M} and {-}. BE CAREFUL to not move the cursor OFF the screen just yet. If +you do, type {'az^M}. + +Now we can move to any line within the screen. Practice moving around in the +file using the {^F}, {^B}, {-}, {^M}, {z}, and {'} commands. When you are +fairly confident that you can get to where you need to be in the file, and +position the cursor on the screen where you want it type {'az^M^F} (which, of +course, moves you back to the beginning of this section, repositions the +cursor at the top of the screen, and advances you to the next section). + +Section 11: scrolling: {^M} +The cursor should now be on the S of 'Section 11', and this should be on the +first line of the screen. If it is not, do {^M} or {-} as appropriate to put +the cursor on the section line, and type {z^M}. + +Type {mc} to mark your place. + +Now type {^M} until the cursor is on the last line of this screen. Now do one +more {^M} and observe the result. This is called scrolling. When you +attempted to move to a line not displayed on the screen, the line at the top of +the screen was 'scrolled off', and a line at the bottom of the screen was +'scrolled on'. The top line with 'Section 11' should no longer be visible. + +Now type {'cz^M} to reset the screen and type {^F} for the next section. + + + + + + + +Section 12: {-} {z} + +The {-} command moves the cursor to the previous line in the file. Now type +{-}, which attempts to move the cursor to the previous line in this file. +However, that line is not on the screen. The resulting action will depend on +your terminal. (Do a {^Mz^M} to reposition the file). On intelligent +terminals (e.g. VT100s, Z19s, Concept 100s), a top line is 'scrolled on' and +the bottom line is 'scrolled off'. Other terminals, however, may not have +this 'reverse scrolling' feature. They will simply repaint the screen with +the cursor line in the middle of the screen. On such terminals it is +necessary to type {z^M} to get the cursor line back to the top of the screen. + + + + + + + + + + +Section 13: +Up until this point, the tutorial has always tried to make sure that the first +line of each screen has on it the section number and a list of the commands +covered in that section. This will no longer be strictly maintained. If you +want the section line at the top of the screen, you now know enough commands to +do it easily: do {^M} or {-} until the cursor is on the section line and +then {z^M}. Also, from this point on, it may not be the case that a {^F} will +put you at the beginning of the next section. Therefore, be aware of where you +are in the file as we look at other commands. You may have to find your way +back to a particular section without any help from the tutorial. If you do not +feel comfortable with this, then it is suggested that you practice moving from +section 1 to section 13, back and forth, using {^M}, {-}, {^F}, and {^B} +commands for a while. + +Also make liberal use of the mark command {m}: if, for example, you make a +habit of using {mz} to mark your current location in the file, then you will +always be able to return to that location with {'z} if the editor does +something strange and you have no idea where you are or what happened. + +And finally, the proscription against experimentation is hereby lifted: play +with the editor. Feel free to try out variations on the commands and move +around in the file. By this time you should be able to recover from any gross +errors. + +Section 14: {^E} {^Y} {^D} {^U} +Let us now look at a few other commands for moving around in the file, and +moving the file around on the screen. Note that the commands we have already +looked at are sufficient: you really don't need any more commands for looking +in a file. The following commands are not absolutely necessary. However, +they can make editing more convenient, and you should take note of their +existence. But it would be perfectly valid to decide to ignore them on this +first pass: you can learn them later when you see a need for them, if you ever +do. + +First, let's clear up some potentially confusing language. In at least one +place in the official document ('An Introduction to Display Editing with Vi' +by William Joy, and Mark Horton, September 1980), the expression "to scroll +down text" means that the cursor is moved down in your file. However, note +that this may result in the text on the screen moving UP. This use of the +word 'scroll' refers to the action of the cursor within the file. However, +another legitimate use of the word refers to the action of the text on the +screen. That is, if the lines on your screen move up toward the top of the +screen, this would be 'scrolling the screen up'. If the lines move down +toward the bottom of the screen, this would be refered to as scrolling down. + +I have tried to maintain the following jargon: 'scrolling' refers to what the +text does on the screen, not to what the cursor does within the file. For the +latter I will refer to the cursor 'moving', or to 'moving the cursor'. I +realize that this is not necessarily consistent with Joy and Horton, but they +were wrong. + +{^E} scrolls the whole screen up one line, keeping the cursor on the same line, +if possible. However, if the cursor line is the first line on the screen, then +the cursor is moved to the next line in the file. Try typing {^E}. + +{^Y} scrolls the screen down one line, keeping the cursor on the same line, if +possible. However, if the cursor line is the last line on the screen, then the +cursor is moved to the previous line in the file. Try it. + +{^D} moves the cursor down into the file, scrolling the screen up. + +{^U} moves the cursor up into the file, also scrolling the screen if the +terminal you are on has the reverse scroll capability. Otherwise the +screen is repainted. + +Note that {^E} and {^Y} move the cursor on the screen while trying to keep the +cursor at the same place in the file (if possible: however, the cursor can +never move off screen), while {^D} and {^U} keep the cursor at the same place +on the screen while moving the cursor within the file. + +Section 15: {/ .. /^M} + +Another way to position yourself in the file is by giving the editor a string +to search for. Type the following: {/Here 1/^M} and the cursor should end up +right ...........................here ^. Now type {/Section 15:/^M} and the +cursor will end up over/on .....................here ^. Now type {//^M} and +observe that the cursor is now over the capital S five lines above this line. +Typing {//^M} several more times will bounce the cursor back and forth between +the two occurrences of the string. In other words, when you type a string +between the two slashes, it is searched for. Typing the slashes with nothing +between them acts as if you had typed the previous string again. + +Observe that the string you type between the two slashes is entered on the +bottom line of the screen. Now type {/Search for x /^M} except replace the 'x' +in the string with some other character, say 'b'. The message "Pattern not +found" should appear on the bottom of the screen. If you hadn't replaced the +'x', then you would have found the string. Try it. + +Section 16: {? .. ?^M} {n} (search strings: ^ $) + +When you surround the sought-for string with slashes as in {/Search/}, the +file is searched beginning from your current position in the file. If the +string is not found by the end of the file, searching is restarted at the +beginning of the file. However, if you do want the search to find the +PREVIOUS rather than the NEXT occurrence of the string, surround the string +with question marks instead of slash marks. + +Below are several occurrences of the same string. +Here 2 Here 2 Here 2 + Here 2 Here 2. +Observe the effect of the following search commands (try them in the +sequence shown): +{/Here 2/^M} {//^M} {??^M} +{/^Here 2/^M} {//^M} {??^M} +{/Here 2$/^M} {//^M} {??^M} + +The first command looks for the next occurrence of the string 'Here 2'. +However the second line of commands looks for an occurrence of 'Here 2' that +is at the beginning of the line. When the up-arrow is the first character of +a search string it stands for the beginning of the line. When the dollar-sign +is the last character of the search string it stands for the end of the line. +Therefore, the third line of commands searches for the string only when it is +at the end of the line. Since there is only one place the string begins a +line, and only one place the string ends the line, subsequent {//^M} and +{??^M} will find those same strings over and over. + +The {n} command will find the next occurrence of the / or ? search +string. Try {/Here 2/^M} followed by several {n} and observe the +effect. Then try {??^M} followed by several {n}. The {n} command +remembers the direction of the last search. It is just a way to save a +few keystrokes. + +Section 17: \ and magic-characters in search strings + +Now type {/Here 3$/^M}. You might expect the cursor to end up +right......^ here. However, you will get "Pattern not found" at the bottom of +the screen. Remember that the dollar-sign stands for the end of the line. +Somehow, you must tell vi that you do not want the end of the line, but a +dollar-sign. In other words, you must take away the special meaning that the +dollar-sign has for the search mechanism. You do this (for any special +character, including the up-arrow ^) by putting a back-slash ('\', not '/') in +front of the character. + +Now try {/Here 3\$/^M} and you should end up nine lines above this one. Try +{//^M} and note that it returns you to the same place, and not to the first +line of this paragraph: the back-slash character is not part of the search +string and will not be found. To find the string in the first line of this +paragraph, type {/Here 3\\\$/^M}. There are three back-slashes: the first takes +away the special meaning from the second, and the third takes away the special +meaning from the dollar-sign. + +Following is a list of the characters that have special meanings in search +strings. If you wish to find a string containing one of these characters, you +will have to be precede the character with a backslash. These characters are +called magic characters because of the fun and games you can have with them +and they can have with you, if you aren't aware of what they do. + + ^ - (up-arrow) beginning of a line + $ - (dollar-sign) end of a line + . - (period) matches any character + \ - (backslant) the escape character itself + [ - (square bracket) for finding patterns (see section #SEARCH) + ] - (square bracket) ditto + * - (asterisk) ditto + +Without trying to explain it here, note that {:set nomagic^M} turns off the +special meanings of all but the ^ up-arrow, $ dollar-sign, and backslash +characters. + +Section 18: {: (colon commands)} {ZZ} + +In this section we will discuss getting into and out of the editor in more +detail. If you are editing a file and wish to save the results the command +sequence {:w^M} writes the current contents of the file out to disk, using the +file name you used when you invoked the editor. That is, if you are at the +command level in Unix, and you invoke vi with {vi foo} where foo is the name +of the file you wish to edit, then foo is the name of the file used by the +{:w^M} command. + +If you are done, the write and quit commands can be combined into a single +command {:wq^M}. An even simpler way is the command {ZZ} (two capital Z's). + +If, for some reason, you wish to exit without saving any changes you have made, +{:q!^M} does the trick. If you have not made any changes, the exclamation +point is not necessary: {:q^M}. Vi is pretty good about not letting you +get out without warning you that you haven't saved your file. + +We have mentioned before that you are currently in the vi editor, editing a +file. If you wish to start the tutorial over from the very beginning, you +could {ZZ}, and then type {vi.tut beginner} in response to the Unix prompt. +This will create a fresh copy of this file for you, which might be necessary +if you accidentally destroyed the copy you were working with. Just do a +search for the last section you were in: e.g. {/Section 18:/^Mz^M}. + +Section 19: {H} {M} {L} + +Here are a few more commands that will move you around on the screen. Again, +they are not absolutely necessary, but they can make screen positioning easier: + +{H} - puts the cursor at the top of the screen (the 'home' position) + +{M} - puts the cursor in the middle of the screen + +{L} - puts the cursor at the bottom of the screen. + +Try typing {HML} and watch the cursor. + +Try typing {5HM5L} and note that 5H puts you five lines from the top of the +screen, and 5L puts you five lines from the bottom of the screen. + +Section 20: {w} {b} {0} {W} {B} {e} {E} {'} {`} + +Up to this point we have concentrated on positioning in the file, and +positioning on the screen. Now let's look at positioning in a line. Put the +cursor at the beginning of the following line and type {z^M}: + +This is a test line: your cursor should initially be at its beginning. + +The test line should now be at the top of your screen. Type {w} several times. +Note that it moves you forward to the beginning of the next word. Now type +{b} (back to the beginning of the word) several times till you are at the +beginning of the line. (If you accidentally type too many {b}, type {w} until +you are on the beginning of the line again.) Type {wwwww} (five w's) and note +that the cursor is now on the colon in the sentence. The lower-case w command +moves you forward one word, paying attention to certain characters such as +colon and period as delimiters and counting them as words themselves. Now +type {0} (zero, not o 'oh'): this moves you to the beginning of the current +line. Now type {5w} and notice that this has the effect of repeating {w} five +times and that you are now back on the colon. Type {0} (zero) again. To +ignore the delimiters and to move to the beginning of the next word using only +blanks, tabs and carriage-returns (these are called white-space characters) to +delimit the words, use the {W} command: upper-case W. {B} takes you back a +word using white-space characters as word delimiters. + +Note that the commands {wbWB} do not stop at the beginning or end of a line: +they will continue to the next word on the next line in the direction specified +(a blank line counts as a word). + +If you are interested in the END of the word, and not the BEGINNING, then use +the {e} and {E} commands. These commands only move forward and there are no +corresponding 'reverse search' commands for the end of a word. + +Also, we have been using the {'} command to move the cursor to a position that +we have previously marked with the {m} command. However, position the cursor +in the middle of a line (any line, just pick one) and type {mk}, marking that +position with the letter k. Now type a few returns {^M} and type {'k}. +Observe that the cursor is now at the beginning of the line that you marked. +Now try {`k}: note that this is the reverse apostrophe, or back-quote, or grave +accent, or whatever you want to call it. Also note that it moves you to the +character that was marked, not just to the line that was marked. + +In addition, the {``} command works just like the {''} command except that you +are taken to the exact character, not just to the line. (I'm still not +sure which exact character, just as I'm still not sure which line.) + +Section 21: {l} {k} {j} {h} + +There are several commands to move around on the screen on a character by +character basis: + +l - moves the cursor one character to the RIGHT +k - moves the cursor UP one line +j - moves the cursor DOWN one line +h - moves the cursor one character to the LEFT + +Section 22: {i} {a} {I} {A} {o} {O} ^[ (escape key) + +For this and following sections you will need to use the ESCAPE key on your +terminal. It is usually marked ESC. Since the escape key is the same as +typing {^[} we will use ^[ for the escape key. + +Probably the most often used command in an editor is the insert command. Below +are two lines of text, the first correct, the second incorrect. Position your +cursor at the beginning of Line 1 and type {z^M}. + +Line 1: This is an example of the insert command. +Line 2: This is an of the insert command. + +To make line 2 look like line 1, we are going to insert the characters +'example ' before the word 'of'. So, now move the cursor so that it is +positioned on the 'o' of 'of'. (You can do this by typing {^M} to move +to the beginning of line 2, followed by {6w} or {wwwwww} to position the cursor +on the word 'of'.) + +Now carefully type the following string and observe the effects: + {iexample ^[} (remember: ^[ is the escape key)} +The {i} begins the insert mode, and 'example ' is inserted into the line: +be sure to notice the blank in 'example '. The ^[ ends insertion mode, +and the line is updated to include the new string. Line 1 should look exactly +like Line 2. + +Move the cursor to the beginning of Line 3 below and type {z^M}: + +Line 3: These lines are examples for the 'a' command. +Line 4: These line are examples for the ' + +We will change line four to look like line three by using the append command. +We need to append an 's' to the word 'line'. Position the cursor on the 'e' +of 'line'. You can do this in several ways, one way is the following: +First, type {/line /^M}. This puts us on the word 'line' in Line 4 +(the blank in the search string is important!). Next, type {e}. The 'e' puts +us at the end of the word. Now, type {as^[ (^[ is the escape character)}. +The 'a' puts us in insert mode, AFTER the current character. We appended the +'s', and the escape ^[ ended the insert mode. + +The difference between {i} (insert) and {a} (append) is that {i} begins +inserting text BEFORE the cursor, and {a} begins inserting AFTER the cursor. + +Now type {Aa' command.^[}. The cursor is moved to the end of the line and the +string following {A} is inserted into the text. Line 4 should now look like +line 3. + +Just as {A} moves you to the end of the line to begin inserting, {I} would +begin inserting at the FRONT of the line. + +To begin the insertion of a line after the cursor line, type {o}. To insert a +line before the cursor line, type {O}. In other words {o123^[} is equivalent +to {A^M123^[}, and {O123^[} is equivalent to {I123^M^[}. The text after the +{o} or {O} is ended with an escape ^[. + +This paragraph contains information that is terminal dependent: you will just +have to experiment to discover what your terminal does. Once in the insert +mode, if you make a mistake in the typing, ^H will delete the previous +character up to the beginning of the current insertion. ^W will delete the +previous word, and one of ^U, @, or ^X will delete the current line (up to the +beginning of the current insertion). You will need to experiment with ^U, @, +and ^X to determine which works for your terminal. + +Section 23: {f} {x} {X} {w} {l} {r} {R} {s} {S} {J} + +Position the cursor at the beginning of line 5 and {z^M}: + +Line 5: The line as it should be. +Line 6: The line as it shouldn't be. + +To make Line 6 like Line 5, we have to delete the 'n', the apostrophe, and the +'t'. There are several ways to position ourselves at the 'n'. Choose +whichever one suits your fancy: + +{/n't/^M} +{^M7w6l} or {^M7w6 } (note the space) +{^M3fn} (finds the 3rd 'n' on the line) + +Now {xxx} will delete the three characters, as will {3x}. + +Note that {X} deletes the character just BEFORE the cursor, as opposed +to the character AT the cursor. + +Position the cursor at line 7 and {z^M}: + +Line 7: The line as it would be. +Line 8: The line as it could be. + +To change line 8 into line 7 we need to change the 'c' in 'could' into a 'w'. +The 'r' (replace) command was designed for this. Typing {rc} is the same as +typing {xic^[} (i.e. delete the 'bad' character and insert the correct +new character). Therefore, assuming that you have positioned the cursor on the +'c' of 'could', the easiest way to change 'could' into 'would' is {rw}. + +If you would like to now change the 'would' into 'should', use the substitute +command, 's': {ssh^[}. The difference between 'r' and 's' is that 'r' +(replace) replaces the current character with another character, while 's' +(substitute) substitutes the current character with a string, ended with an +escape. + +The capital letter version of replace {R} replaces each character by a +character one at a time until you type an escape, ^[. The 'S' command +substitutes the whole line. + +Position your cursor at the beginning of line 9 and {z^M}. + +Line 9: Love is a many splendored thing. +Line 10: Love is a most splendored thing. + +To change line 10 into line 9, position the cursor at the beginning of 'most', +and type {Rmany^[}. + +You may have noticed that, when inserting text, a new line is formed by typing +{^M}. When changing, replacing, or substituting text you can make a new line +by typing {^M}. However, neither {x} nor {X} will remove ^M to make two lines +into one line. To do this, position the cursor on the first of the two lines +you wish to make into a single line and type {J} (uppercase J for 'Join'). + +Section 24: {u} {U} + +Finally, before we review, let's look at the undo command. Position +your cursor on line 11 below and {z^M}. + +Line 11: The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy hound dog. +Line 12: the qwick black dog dumped over the laxy poune fox. + +Type the following set of commands, and observe carefully the effect of each +of the commands: + +{/^Line 12:/^M} {ft} {rT} {fw} {ru} {w} {Rbrown fox^[} {w} {rj} +{fx} {rz} {w} {Rhound dog^[} + +Line 12 now matches line 11. Now type {U} - capital 'U'. And line 12 now +looks like it did before you typed in the command strings. Now type: + +{ft} {rT} {fw} {ru} {^M} {^M} + +and then type {u}: the cursor jumps back to the line containing the second +change you made and 'undoes' it. That is, {U} 'undoes' all the changes on the +line, and {u} 'undoes' only the last change. Type {u} several times and +observe what happens: {u} can undo a previous {u}! + +Caveat: {U} only works as long as the cursor is still on the line. Move the +cursor off the line and {U} will have no effect, except to possibly beep at +you. However, {u} will undo the last change, no matter where it occurred. + +Section 25: review + +At this point, you have all the commands you need in order to make use of vi. +The remainder of this tutorial will discuss variations on these commands as +well as introduce new commands that make the job of editing more efficient. +Here is a brief review of the basic commands we have covered. They are listed +in the order of increasing complexity and/or decreasing necessity (to say that +a command is less necessary is not to say that it is less useful!). These +commands allow you to comfortably edit any text file. There are other +commands that will make life easier but will require extra time to learn, +obviously. You may want to consider setting this tutorial aside for several +weeks and returning to it later after gaining experience with vi and getting +comfortable with it. The convenience of some of the more exotic commands may +then be apparent and worth the extra investment of time and effort +required to master them. + +to get into the editor from Unix: {vi filename} +to exit the editor + saving all changes {ZZ} or {:wq^M} + throwing away all changes {:q!^M} + when no changes have been made {:q^M} +save a file without exiting the editor {:w^M} +write the file into another file {:w filename^M} +insert text + before the cursor {i ...text... ^[} + at the beginning of the line {I ...text... ^[} + after the cursor (append) {a ...text... ^[} + at the end of the line {A ...text... ^[} + after the current line {o ...text... ^[} + before the current line {O ...text... ^[} +delete the character ... + under the cursor {x} + to the left of the cursor {X} +delete n characters {nx} or {nX} (for n a number) +make two lines into one line (Join) {J} +find a string in the file ... + searching forward {/ ...string... /^M} + searching backwards {? ...string... ?^M} +repeat the last search command {n} +repeat the last search command in the + opposite direction {N} +find the character c on this line ... + searching forward {fc} + searching backward {Fc} +repeat the last 'find character' command {;} +replace a character with character x {rx} +substitute a single character with text {s ...text... ^[} +substitute n characters with text {ns ...text... ^[} +replace characters one-by-one with text {R ...text... ^[} +undo all changes to the current line {U} +undo the last single change {u} +move forward in the file a "screenful" {^F} +move back in the file a "screenful" {^B} +move forward in the file one line {^M} or {+} +move backward in the file one line {-} +move to the beginning of the line {0} +move to the end of the line {$} +move forward one word {w} +move forward one word, ignoring punctuation {W} +move forward to the end of the next word {e} +to the end of the word, ignoring punctuation{E} +move backward one word {b} +move back one word, ignoring punctuation {B} +return to the last line modified {''} +scroll a line onto the top of the screen {^Y} +scroll a line onto the bottom of the screen {^E} +move "up" in the file a half-screen {^U} +move "down" in the file a half-screen {^D} +move the cursor to the top screen line {H} +move the cursor to the bottom screen line {L} +move the cursor to the middle line {M} +move LEFT one character position {h} or {^H} +move RIGHT one character position {l} or { } +move UP in the same column {k} or {^P} +move DOWN in the same column {j} or {^N} +mark the current position, name it x {mx} +move to the line marked/named x {'x} +move to the character position named x {`x} +move to the beginning of the file {1G} +move to the end of the file {G} +move to line 23 in the file {23G} +repaint the screen with the cursor line + at the top of the screen {z^M} + in the middle of the screen {z.} + at the bottom of the screen {z-} + +More information on vi can be found in the file vi.advanced, which you can +peruse at your leisure. From UNIX, type {vi.tut advanced^M}. |