vim Editor Tutorial

To start vi, simply enter the vi command:

$ vi

You can also start vi with a session editing a particular file. For example:

$ vi script1

This command tells vi to edit a file named script1 in the current directory. Vi can create the file if it does not exist.

You can pass more than one file name on the command line. For example:

$ vi script1 script2 script3

Vi shows each file one at a time. The :n command (see the second table following) jumps to the next file.

When you start vi, the editor places you in command mode. Thus, any keys you start typing are assumed to be commands. Unlike emacs, you cannot just start typing text. Instead, you have to enter a command to switch to insert mode. The most common command to enter insert mode is a lowercase i, short for insert.

The following table lists the commands to switch over to insert mode.

Vi Insert Command Purpose

i Inserts before the current character

I Inserts at the beginning of the line

a Appends after (to the right of) the current character

A Appends at the end of the current line

o Inserts a new line after the current line

O Inserts a new line before the current line

Once in insert mode, the text you type gets entered into the file you are editing. Press Esc to exit insert mode.

Some versions of vi display text at the bottom of the editor telling you that you are in insert mode, such as the following:

-- INSERT --

But many versions of vi provide no feedback as to which mode you are in. If you&rsquore ever unsure, just press Esc twice. If you are already in command mode, vi merely beeps at you. When you get into command mode, vi beeps at you.

One of the best descriptions of vi is that it is a program that beeps at you a lot.