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Being a (fairly) complete reference guide to the king of editors. This is not a tutorial, but a compact and usable listing of command and insert mode keys, ex commands and options.
Warning: some vi versions don't support the more esoteric features described in this document. You can edit/redistribute this document freely, as long as you don't make false claims on original authorship.
Author: Maarten Litmaath <maart@nat.vu.nl>
Version: 8
HTML version by: John Arundel <john@splange.freeserve.co.uk>
Rich Salz <rsalz@bbn.com>
Eamonn McManus <emcmanus@cs.tcd.ie>
Diomidis Spinellis <diomidis%ecrcvax.uucp@pyramid.pyramid.com>
Blair P. Houghton <bph@buengc.bu.edu>
Rusty Haddock <{uunet,att,rutgers}!mimsy.umd.edu!fe2o3!rusty>
Panos Tsirigotis <panos@boulder.colorado.edu>
David J. MacKenzie <djm@wam.umd.edu>
Kevin Carothers <kevin@ttidca.tti.com>
Dan Mercer <mercer@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM>
Ze'ev Shtadler <steed@il4cad.intel.com>
Paul Quare <pq@r2.cs.man.ac.uk>
Dave Beyerl <att!ihlpl!db21>
Lee Sailer <UH2@psuvm.psu.edu>
David Gast <gast@cs.ucla.edu>
| default values | 1 |
| <*> | `*' must not be taken literally |
| [*] | `*' is optional |
| ^X | <ctrl>X |
| <sp> | space |
| <cr> | carriage return |
| <lf> | linefeed |
| <ht> | horizontal tab |
| <esc> | escape |
| <erase> | your erase character |
| <kill> | your kill character |
| <intr> | your interrupt character |
| <a-z> | an element in the range |
| N | number (`*' = allowed, `-' = not appropriate) |
| CHAR | char unequal to <ht>|<sp> |
| WORD | word followed by <ht>|<sp>|<lf> |
| N | Command | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| * | h or ^H or <erase> | <erase> <*> chars to the left. |
| * | j or <lf> or ^N | <lf> <*> lines downward. |
| * | l or <sp> | <sp> <*> chars to the right. |
| * | k or ^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. |
| * | + or <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 `['|`]'). |
| :ta <name> | Search in the tags file[s] where <name> is defined (file, line), and go to it. |
| ^] | Use the name under the cursor in a `:ta' command. |
| ^T | Pop the previous tag off the tagstack and return to its position. |
| :[x,y]g/<string>/<cmd> | Search globally [from line x to y] for <string> and execute the `ex' <cmd> on each occurrence. |
| :[x,y]v/<string>/<cmd> | Execute <cmd> on the lines that don't match. |
| u | Undo the latest change. |
| U | Undo all changes on a line, while not having moved off it (unfortunately). |
| :q! | Quit vi without writing. |
| :e! | Re-edit a messed-up file. |
(end with <esc>)
| * | 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. |
| * | >> | Shift <*> lines one shiftwidth to the right. |
| * | ["<a-zA-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-zA-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 |
Everything deleted can be stored into a buffer. This is achieved by putting a `"' and a letter <a-z> before the delete command. The deleted text will be in the buffer with the used letter. If <A-Z> is used as buffer name, the conjugate buffer <a-z> will be augmented instead of overwritten with the text. The undo buffer always contains the latest change. Buffers <1-9> contain the latest 9 LINE deletions (`"1' is most recent).
| * | x | Delete <*> chars under and after the cursor. |
| * | X | <*> chars before the cursor. |
| * | d<move> | From begin to endpoint of <*><move>. |
| * | dd | <*> lines. |
| - | D | The rest of the line. |
| * | <<move> | Shift the lines described by <*><move> one shiftwidth to the left. |
| * | << | Shift <*> lines one shiftwidth to the left. |
| * | . | Repeat latest command <*> times. |
(end with <esc>)
| * | 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 (should be an operator, like `c'). |
| * | 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. |
The basic meta-characters for the replacement pattern are `&' and `~'; these are given as `\&' and `\~' when nomagic is set. Each instance of `&' is replaced by the characters which the regular expression matched. The meta-character `~' stands, in the replacement pattern, for the defining text of the previous replacement pattern. Other meta-sequences possible in the replacement pattern are always introduced by the escaping character `\'. The sequence `\n' (with `n' in [1-9]) is replaced by the text matched by the n-th regular subexpression enclosed between `\(' and `\)'. The sequences `\u' and `\l' cause the immediately following character in the replacement to be converted to upper- or lower-case respectively if this character is a letter. The sequences `\U' and `\L' turn such conversion on, either until `\E' or `\e' is encountered, or until the end of the replacement pattern.
With yank commands you can put `"<a-zA-Z>' before the command, just as with delete commands. Otherwise you only copy to the undo buffer. The use of buffers <a-z> is THE way of copying text to another file; see the `:e <file>' command.
| * | y<move> | Yank from begin to endpoint of <*><move>. |
| * | yy | <*> lines. |
| * | Y | Idem (should be equivalent to `y$' though). |
| - | m<a-z> | Mark the cursor position with a letter. |
| ^@ | If typed as the first character of the insertion, it is replaced with the previous text inserted (max. 128 chars), after which the insertion is terminated. |
| ^V | Deprive the next char of its special meaning (e.g. <esc>). |
| ^D | One shiftwidth to the left, but only if nothing else has been typed on the line. |
| 0^D | Remove all indentation on the current line (there must be no other chars on the line). |
| ^^D | Idem, but it is restored on the next line. |
| ^T | One shiftwidth to the right, but only if nothing else has been typed on the line. |
| ^H or <erase> | One char back. |
| ^W | One word back. |
| <kill> | Back to the begin of the change on the current line. |
| <intr> | Like <esc> (but you get a beep as well). |
In `:' `ex' commands - if not the first CHAR on the line - `%' denotes the current file, `#' is a synonym for the alternate file (which normally is the previous file). As first CHAR on the line `%' is a shorthand for `1,$'. Marks can be used for line numbers too: '<a-z>. In the `:w'|`:f'|`:cd'|`:e'|`:n' commands shell meta-characters can be used.
| :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.
| [*]z[wi]<cr> | Put line <*> at the top of the window (default the current line). |
| [*]z[wi]+ | Put line <*> at the top of the window (default the first line of the next page). |
| [*]z[wi]- | Put line <*> at the bottom of the window (default the current line). |
| [*]z[wi]^ | Put line <*> at the bottom of the window (default the last line of the previous page). |
| [*]z[wi]. | Put line <*> in the centre of the window (default the current line). |
When mapping take a look at the options `to' and `remap' (below).
| :map <string> <seq> | <string> is interpreted as <seq>, e.g. `:map ^C :!cc %^V<cr>' to invoke `cc' (the C compiler) from within the editor (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 in append mode <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 replace `wrong' with `good' on the current line. |
| @@ | Repeat last register command. |
| Q or ^\ or <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 the `w' and the `!'). |
| :r!<cmd> | Put the output of <cmd> onto a new line. |
| :r <name> | Read the file <name> into the buffer. |
| vi [<files>] | Edit the files, start with the first page of the first file. |
The editor can be initialized by the shell variable `EXINIT', which looks like:
EXINIT='<cmd>|<cmd>|...'
<cmd>: set options
map ...
ab ...
export EXINIT (in the Bourne shell)
However, the list of initializations can also be put into a file. If this file is located in your home directory, and is named `.exrc' AND the variable `EXINIT' is NOT set, the list will be executed automatically at startup time. However, vi will always execute the contents of a `.exrc' in the current directory, if you own the file. Else you have to give the execute (`source') command yourself:
:so file
In a `.exrc' file a comment is introduced with a double quote character: the rest of the line is ignored. Exception: if the last command on the line is a `map[!]' or `ab' command or a shell escape, a trailing comment is not recognized, but considered part of the command.
On-line initializations can be given with `vi +<cmd> file', e.g.:
vi +x file
The cursor will immediately jump to line x (default last line).
vi +/<string> file
Jump to the first occurrence of <string>.
You can start at a particular tag with:
vi -t <tag>
Start in the right file in the right place.
Sometimes (e.g. if the system crashed while you were editing) it is possible to recover files lost in the editor by `vi -r file'. A plain `vi -r' command shows the files you can recover. If you just want to view a file by using vi, and you want to avoid any change, instead of vi you can use the `view' or `vi -R' command: the option `readonly' will be set automatically (with `:w!' you can override this option).
| 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 [^a-z] - any char not in the range [<string>] - matches any char in <string> [^<string>] - any char not in <string> <char>* - 0 or more <char>s \<<string> - <string> must begin a word <string>\> - <string> must end a word |
| modeline | When you read an existing file into the buffer, and this option is set, the first and last 5 lines are checked for editing commands in the following form: <sp>vi:set options|map ...|ab ...|!...: Instead of <sp> a <ht> can be used, instead of `vi' there can be `ex'. Warning: this option could have nasty results if you edit a file containing `strange' modelines. |
| 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 at all, vi will beep. |
| taglength=<*> | The number of significant characters in tags (0 = unlimited). |
| tags=<string> | The space-separated list of tags files. |
| 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 (0 = don't put a <lf> in the file, yet put it on the screen). |
| 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. |
To maintain integrity, this document was written using vi.