| N | Command | Meaning
|
| * | h | ^H | <erase> | <*> chars to the left.
|
| * | j | <lf> | ^N | <*> lines downward.
|
| * | l | <sp> | <*> chars to the right.
|
| * | k | ^P | <*> lines upward.
|
| * | $ | To the end of line <*> from the cursor.
|
| - | ^ | To the first CHAR of the line.
|
| * | _ | To the first CHAR <*> - 1 lines lower.
|
| * | - | To the first CHAR <*> lines higher.
|
| * | + | <cr> | To the first CHAR <*> lines lower.
|
| - | 0 | To the first char of the line.
|
| * | | | To column <*> (<ht>: only to the endpoint).
|
| * | f<char> | <*> <char>s to the right (find).
|
| * | t<char> | Till before <*> <char>s to the right.
|
| * | F<char> | <*> <char>s to the left.
|
| * | T<char> | Till after <*> <char>s to the left.
|
| * | ; | Repeat latest 'f'|'t'|'F'|'T' <*> times.
|
| * | , | Idem in opposite direction.
|
| * | w | <*> words forward.
|
| * | W | <*> WORDS forward.
|
| * | b | <*> words backward.
|
| * | B | <*> WORDS backward.
|
| * | e | To the end of word <*> forward.
|
| * | E | To the end of WORD <*> forward.
|
| * | G | Go to line <*> (default EOF).
|
| * | H | To line <*> from top of the screen (home).
|
| * | L | To line <*> from bottom of the screen (last).
|
| - | M | To the middle line of the screen.
|
| * | ) | <*> sentences forward.
|
| * | ( | <*> sentences backward.
|
| * | } | <*> paragraphs forward.
|
| * | { | <*> paragraphs backward.
|
| - | ]] | To the next section (default EOF).
|
| - | [[ | To the previous section (default begin of file).
|
| - | `<a-z> | To the mark.
|
| - | '<a-z> | To the first CHAR of the line with the mark.
|
| - | `` | To the cursor position before the latest absolute
jump (of which are examples '/' and 'G').
|
| - | '' | To the first CHAR of the line on which the cursor
was placed before the latest absolute jump.
|
| - | /<string> | To the next occurrence of <string>.
|
| - | ?<string> | To the previous occurrence of <string>.
|
| - | n | Repeat latest '/'|'?' (next).
|
| - | N | Idem in opposite direction.
|
| - | % | Find the next bracket and go to its match
(also with '{'|'}' and '['|']').
|
| * | a | <*> times after the cursor.
|
| * | A | <*> times at the end of line.
|
| * | i | <*> times before the cursor (insert).
|
| * | I | <*> times before the first CHAR of the line
|
| * | o | On a new line below the current (open).
The count is only useful on a slow terminal.
|
| * | O | On a new line above the current.
The count is only useful on a slow terminal.
|
| * | ><move> | Shift the lines described by <*><move> one
shiftwidth to the right (layout!).
|
| * | >> | Shift <*> lines one shiftwidth to the right.
|
| * | ["<a-z1-9>]p | Put the contents of the (default undo) buffer
<*> times after the cursor.
A buffer containing lines is put only once,
below the current line.
|
| * | ["<a-z1-9>]P | Put the contents of the (default undo) buffer
<*> times before the cursor.
A buffer containing lines is put only once,
above the current line.
|
| * | . | Repeat previous command <*> times.
If the last command before a '.' command
references a numbered buffer, the buffer number
is incremented first (and the count is ignored):
| 1pu.u.u.u.u | 'walk through' buffers 1
through 5 |
| 1P.... | restore them |
|
| * | r<char> | Replace <*> chars by <char> - no <esc>.
|
| * | R | Overwrite the rest of the line,
appending change <*> - 1 times.
|
| * | s | Substitute <*> chars.
|
| * | S | <*> lines.
|
| * | c<move> | Change from begin to endpoint of <*><move>.
|
| * | cc | <*> lines.
|
| * | C | The rest of the line and <*> - 1 next lines.
|
| * | =<move> | If the option 'lisp' is set, this command
will realign the lines described by <*><move>
as though they had been typed with the option
'ai' set too.
|
| - | ~ | Switch lower and upper cases.
|
| * | J | Join <*> lines (default 2).
|
| * | . | Repeat latest command <*> times ('J' only once).
|
| - | & | Repeat latest 'ex' substitute command, e.g.
':s/wrong/good'.
|
| - | :[x,y]s/<p>/<r>/<f> | Substitute (on lines x through y) the pattern
<p> (default the last pattern) with <r>. Useful
flags <f> are 'g' for 'global' (i.e. change every
non-overlapping occurrence of <p>) and 'c' for
'confirm' (type 'y' to confirm a particular
substitution, else <cr>). Instead of '/' any
punctuation CHAR unequal to <lf> can be used as
delimiter.
|
| ^@ | If typed as the first character of the
insertion, it is replaced with the previous
text inserted (max. 128 chars), after which
the insertion is terminated.
|
| ^V | Deprive the next char of its special meaning
(e.g. <esc>).
|
| ^D | One shiftwidth to the left.
|
| 0^D | Remove all indentation on the current line
(there must be no other chars on the line).
|
| ^^D | Idem, but it is restored on the next line.
|
| ^T | one shiftwidth to the right
|
| ^H | <erase> | One char back.
|
| ^W | One word back.
|
| <kill> | Back to the begin of the change on the
current line.
|
| <intr> | like <esc>.
|
| :q | Quit vi, unless the buffer has been changed.
|
| :q! | Quit vi without writing.
|
| ^Z | Suspend vi.
|
| :w | Write the file.
|
| :w <name> | Write to the file <name>.
|
| :w >> <name> | Append the buffer to the file <name>.
|
| :w! <name> | Overwrite the file <name>.
|
| :x,y w <name> | Write lines x through y to the file <name>.
|
| :wq | Write the file and quit vi; some versions quit
even if the write was unsuccessful!
Use 'ZZ' instead.
|
| ZZ | Write if the buffer has been changed, and
quit vi. If you have invoked vi with the '-r'
option, you'd better write the file
explicitly ('w' or 'w!'), or quit the
editor explicitly ('q!') if you don't want
to overwrite the file - some versions of vi
don't handle the 'recover' option very well.
|
| :x [<file>] | Idem [but write to <file>].
|
| :x! [<file>] | ':w![<file>]' and ':q'.
|
| :pre | Preserve the file - the buffer is saved as if
the system had just crashed; for emergencies,
when a ':w' command has failed and you don't
know how to save your work (see 'vi -r').
|
| :f <name> | Set the current filename to <name>.
|
| :cd [<dir>] | Set the working directory to <dir>
(default home directory).
|
| :cd! [<dir>] | Idem, but don't save changes.
|
| :e [+<cmd>] <file> | Edit another file without quitting vi - the
buffers are not changed (except the undo
buffer), so text can be copied from one file to
another this way. [Execute the 'ex' command
<cmd> (default '$') when the new file has been
read into the buffer.] <cmd> must contain no
<sp> or <ht>. See 'vi startup'.
|
| :e! [+<cmd>] <file> | Idem, without writing the current buffer.
|
| ^^ | Edit the alternate (normally the previous) file.
|
| :rew | Rewind the argument list, edit the first file.
|
| :rew! | Idem, without writing the current buffer.
|
| :n [+<cmd>] [<files>] | Edit next file or specify a new argument list.
|
| :n! [+<cmd>] [<files>] | Idem, without writing the current buffer.
|
| :args | Give the argument list, with the current file
between '[' and ']'.
|
| ^G | Give file name, status, current line number
and relative position.
|
| ^L | Refresh the screen (sometimes '^P' or '^R').
|
| ^R | Sometimes vi replaces a deleted line by a '@',
to be deleted by '^R' (see option 'redraw').
|
| [*]^E | Expose <*> more lines at bottom, cursor
stays put (if possible).
|
| [*]^Y | Expose <*> more lines at top, cursor
stays put (if possible).
|
| [*]^D | Scroll <*> lines downward
(default the number of the previous scroll;
initialization: half a page).
|
| [*]^U | Scroll <*> lines upward
(default the number of the previous scroll;
initialization: half a page).
|
| [*]^F | <*> pages forward.
|
| [*]^B | <*> pages backward (in older versions '^B' only
works without count).
|
If in the next commands the field <wi> is present, the windowsize
will change to <wi>. The window will always be displayed at the
bottom of the screen.
| :map <string> <seq> | <string> is interpreted as <seq>, e.g.
':map ^C :!cc %^V<cr>' to compile from within vi
(vi replaces '%' with the current file name).
|
| :map | Show all mappings.
|
| :unmap <string> | Deprive <string> of its mapping. When vi
complains about non-mapped macros (whereas no
typos have been made), first do something like
':map <string> Z', followed by ':unmap <string>'
('Z' must not be a macro itself), or switch to
'ex' mode first with 'Q'.
|
| :map! <string> <seq> | Mapping in append mode, e.g.
':map! \be begin^V<cr>end;^V<esc>O<ht>'.
When <string> is preceded by '^V', no
mapping is done.
|
| :map! | Show all append mode mappings.
|
| :unmap! <string> | Deprive <string> of its mapping (see ':unmap').
|
| :ab <string> <seq> | Whenever in append mode <string> is preceded and
followed by a breakpoint (e.g. <sp> or ','), it
is interpreted as <seq>, e.g. ':ab p procedure'.
A '^V' immediately following <string> inhibits
expansion.
|
| :ab | Show all abbreviations.
|
| :unab <string> | Do not consider <string> an abbreviation
anymore (see ':unmap').
|
| @<a-z> | Consider the contents of the named register a
command, e.g.:
o0^D:s/wrong/good/<esc>"zdd
Explanation:
| o | open a new line
| | 0^D | remove indentation
| | :s/wrong/good/ | this input text is an 'ex' substitute command
| | <esc> | finish the input
| | "zdd | delete the line just created into register 'z'
|
Now you can type '@z' to substitute 'wrong'
with 'good' on the current line.
|
| @@ | Repeat last register command.
|
| Q | ^\ | <intr><intr> | Switch from vi to 'ex'.
|
| : | An 'ex' command can be given.
|
| :vi | Switch from 'ex' to vi.
|
| :sh | Execute a subshell, back to vi by '^D'.
|
| :[x,y]!<cmd> | Execute a shell <cmd> [on lines x through y;
these lines will serve as input for <cmd> and
will be replaced by its standard output].
|
| :[x,y]!! [<args>] | Repeat last shell command [and append <args>].
|
| :[x,y]!<cmd> ! [<args>] | Use the previous command (the second '!') in a
new command.
|
| [*]!<move><cmd> | The shell executes <cmd>, with as standard
input the lines described by <*><move>,
next the standard output replaces those lines
(think of 'cb', 'sort', 'nroff', etc.).
|
| [*]!<move>!<args> | Append <args> to the last <cmd> and execute it,
using the lines described by the current
<*><move>.
|
| [*]!!<cmd> | Give <*> lines as standard input to the
shell <cmd>, next let the standard output
replace those lines.
|
| [*]!!! [<args>] | Use the previous <cmd> [and append <args> to it].
|
| :x,y w !<cmd> | Let lines x to y be standard input for <cmd>
(notice the <sp> between 'w' and '!').
|
| :r!<cmd> | Put the output of <cmd> onto a new line.
|
| :r <name> | Read the file <name> into the buffer.
|
| ai | autoindent - In append mode after a <cr> the
cursor will move directly below the first
CHAR on the previous line. However, if the
option 'lisp' is set, the cursor will align
at the first argument to the last open list.
|
| aw | autowrite - Write at every shell escape.
(useful when compiling from within vi)
|
| dir=<string> | directory - The directory for vi to make
temporary files (default '/tmp').
|
| eb | errorbells - Beeps when you goof
(not on every terminal).
|
| ic | ignorecase - No distinction between upper and
lower cases when searching.
|
| lisp | Redefine the following commands:
| '(', ')' | move backward (forward) over S-expressions |
| '{', '}' | idem, but don't stop at atoms |
| '[[', ']]' | go to previous (next) line beginning with a '(' |
See option 'ai'.
|
| list | <lf> is shown as '$', <ht> as '^I'.
|
| magic |
If this option is set (default), the chars '.',
'[' and '*' have special meanings within search
and 'ex' substitute commands. To deprive such a
char of its special function it must be preceded
by a '\'. If the option is turned off it's just
the other way around. Meta-chars:
| ^<string> | <string> must begin the line |
| <string>$ | <string> must end the line |
| . | matches any char |
| [a-z] | matches any char in the range |
| [<string>] | matches any char in <string> |
| [^<string>] | matches any char not in <string> |
| <char>* | 0 or more <char>s |
| \<<string>\> | <string> must be a word |
|
| nu | number - Numbers before the lines.
|
| para=<string> | paragraphs - Every pair of chars in <string> is
considered a paragraph delimiter nroff macro
(for '{' and '}'). A <sp> preceded by a '\'
indicates the previous char is a single letter
macro. ':set para=P\ bp' introduces '.P' and
'.bp' as paragraph delimiters. Empty lines and
section boundaries are paragraph boundaries too.
|
| redraw | The screen remains up to date. |
| remap | If on (default), macros are repeatedly
expanded until they are unchanged.
Example: if 'o' is mapped to 'A', and 'A'
is mapped to 'I', then 'o' will map to 'I'
if 'remap' is set, else it will map to 'A'.
|
| report=<*> | Vi reports whenever e.g. a delete
or yank command affects <*> or more lines.
|
| ro | readonly - The file is not to be changed.
However, ':w!' will override this option.
|
| sect=<string> | sections - Gives the section delimiters (for '[['
and ']]'); see option 'para'. A '{' beginning a
line also starts a section (as in C functions).
|
| sh=<string> | shell - The program to be used for shell escapes
(default '$SHELL' (default '/bin/sh')).
|
| sw=<*> | shiftwidth - Gives the shiftwidth (default 8
positions).
|
| sm | showmatch - Whenever you append a ')', vi shows
its match if it's on the same page; also with
'{' and '}'. If there's no match, vi will beep.
|
| terse | Short error messages.
|
| to | timeout - If this option is set, append mode
mappings will be interpreted only if they're
typed fast enough.
|
| ts=<*> | tabstop - The length of a <ht>; warning: this is
only IN the editor, outside of it <ht>s have
their normal length (default 8 positions).
|
| wa | writeany - No checks when writing (dangerous).
|
| warn | Warn you when you try to quit without writing.
|
| wi=<*> | window - The default number of lines vi shows.
|
| wm=<*> | wrapmargin - In append mode vi automatically
puts a <lf> whenever there is a <sp> or <ht>
within <wm> columns from the right margin.
|
| ws | wrapscan - When searching, the end is
considered 'stuck' to the begin of the file.
|
| :set <option> | Turn <option> on.
|
| :set no<option> | Turn <option> off.
|
| :set <option>=<value> | Set <option> to <value>.
|
| :set | Show all non-default options and their values.
|
| :set <option>? | Show <option>'s value.
|
| :set all | Show all options and their values.
|