User Commands vi(1) NAME vi, view, vedit - screen-oriented (visual) display editor based on ex SYNOPSIS /usr/bin/vi [ -| -s ] [ -l ] [ -L ] [ -R ] [ -r [ _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e ] ] [ -S ] [ -t _t_a_g ] [ -v ] [ -V ] [ -x ] [ -w_n ] [ -C ] [+_c_o_m_m_a_n_d | -c _c_o_m_m_a_n_d ] _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e ... /usr/bin/view [ -| -s ] [ -l ] [ -L ] [ -R ] [ -r [ _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e ] ] [ -S ] [ -t _t_a_g ] [ -v ] [ -V ] [ -x ] [ -w_n ] [ -C ] [+_c_o_m_m_a_n_d | -c _c_o_m_m_a_n_d ] _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e ... /usr/bin/vedit [ -| -s ] [ -l ] [ -L ] [ -R ] [ -r [ _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e ] ] [ -S ] [ -t _t_a_g ] [ -v ] [ -V ] [ -x ] [ -w_n ] [ -C ] [+_c_o_m_m_a_n_d | -c _c_o_m_m_a_n_d ] _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e ... /usr/xpg4/bin/vi [ -| -s ] [ -l ] [ -L ] [ -R ] [ -r [ _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e ] ] [ -S ] [ -t _t_a_g ] [ -v ] [ -V ] [ -x ] [ -w_n ] [ -C ] [+_c_o_m_m_a_n_d | -c _c_o_m_m_a_n_d ] _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e ... /usr/xpg4/bin/view [ -| -s ] [ -l ] [ -L ] [ -R ] [ -r [ _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e ] ] [ -S ] [ -t _t_a_g ] [ -v ] [ -V ] [ -x ] [ -w_n ] [ -C ] [+_c_o_m_m_a_n_d | -c _c_o_m_m_a_n_d ] _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e ... /usr/xpg4/bin/vedit [ -| -s ] [ -l ] [ -L ] [ -R ] [ -r [ _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e ] ] [ -S ] [ -t _t_a_g ] [ -v ] [ -V ] [ -x ] [ -w_n ] [ -C ] [+_c_o_m_m_a_n_d | -c _c_o_m_m_a_n_d ] _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e ... DESCRIPTION vi (visual) is a display-oriented text editor based on an underlying line editor ex . It is possible to use the com- mand mode of ex from within vi and to use the command mode of vi from within ex . The visual commands are described on this manual page; how to set options (like automatically numbering lines and automatically starting a new output line when you type carriage return) and all ex line editor com- mands are described on the ex(1) manual page. When using vi , changes you make to the file are reflected in what you see on your terminal screen. The position of the cursor on the screen indicates the position within the file. The view invocation is the same as vi except that the readonly flag is set. The vedit invocation is intended for beginners. It is the same as vi except that the report flag is set to 1, the showmode and novice flags are set, and magic is turned off. These defaults make it easier to learn how to use vi . SunOS 5.7 Last change: 18 Jun 1998 1 User Commands vi(1) OPTIONS Invocation Options The following invocation options are interpreted by vi (previously documented options are discussed in the NOTES section of this manual page): - | -s Suppress all interactive user feedback. This is useful when processing editor scripts. -C Encryption option; same as the -x option, except that vi simulates the C command of ex . The C command is like the X command of ex , except that all text read in is assumed to have been encrypted. -l Set up for editing LISP programs. -L List the name of all files saved as the result of an editor or system crash. -r _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e Edit _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e after an editor or system crash. (Recovers the version of _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e that was in the buffer when the crash occurred.) -R Readonly mode; the readonly flag is set, prevent- ing accidental overwriting of the file. -S This option is used in conjunction with the -t _t_a_g option to tell vi that the tags file may not be sorted and that, if the binary search (which relies on a sorted tags file) for _t_a_g fails to find it, the much slower linear search should also be done. Since the linear search is slow, users of large tags files should ensure that the tags files are sorted rather than use this flag. Creation of tags files normally produces sorted tags files. See ctags(1) for more information on tags files. -t _t_a_g Edit the file containing the tag, _t_a_g, and posi- tion the editor at its definition. -v Start up in display editing state using vi . You can achieve the same effect by simply typing the vi command itself. -V Verbose. When ex commands are read by means of standard input, the input will be echoed to stan- dard error. This may be useful when processing ex commands within shell scripts. -w_n Set the default window size to _n. This is useful SunOS 5.7 Last change: 18 Jun 1998 2 User Commands vi(1) when using the editor over a slow speed line. -x Encryption option; when used, vi simulates the X command of ex and prompts the user for a key. This key is used to encrypt and decrypt text using the algorithm of the crypt command. The X command makes an educated guess to determine whether text read in is encrypted or not. The temporary buffer file is encrypted also, using a transformed ver- sion of the key typed in for the -x option. If an empty encryption key is entered (that is, if the return key is pressed right after the prompt), the file will not be encrypted. This is a good way to decrypt a file erroneously encrypted with a mis- typed encryption key, such as a backspace or undo key. +_c_o_m_m_a_n_d | -c _c_o_m_m_a_n_d Begin editing by executing the specified editor _c_o_m_m_a_n_d (usually a search or positioning command). /usr/xpg4/bin/vi If both the -t _t_a_g and the -c _c_o_m_m_a_n_d options are given, the -t _t_a_g option will be processed first. That is, the file containing _t_a_g is selected by -t and then the command is executed. OPERANDS The following operands are supported: _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e A file to be edited. COMMAND SUMMARY vi Modes Command Normal and initial mode. Other modes return to command mode upon completion. _E_S_C (escape) is used to cancel a partial command. Input Entered by setting any of the following options: a A i I o O c C s S R Arbitrary text may then be entered. Input mode is normally terminated with the _E_S_C character, or, abnormally, with an inter- rupt. Last line Reading input for : / ? or !. Terminate by typing a carriage return. An interrupt cancels termina- tion. Sample commands In the descriptions, _C_R stands for carriage return and _E_S_C stands for the escape key. SunOS 5.7 Last change: 18 Jun 1998 3 User Commands vi(1) <- -> down-arrow up-arrow arrow keys move the cursor h j k l same as arrow keys i_t_e_x_t_E_S_C insert _t_e_x_t cw_n_e_w_E_S_C change word to _n_e_w ea_s_E_S_C pluralize word (end of word; append s; escape from input state) x delete a character dw delete a word dd delete a line 3dd delete 3 lines u undo previous change ZZ exit vi , saving changes :q!_C_R quit, discarding changes /_t_e_x_t_C_R search for _t_e_x_t ^U ^D scroll up or down :_c_m_d_C_R any ex or ed command Counts before vi commands Numbers may be typed as a prefix to some commands. They are interpreted in one of these ways: line/column number z G | scroll amount ^D ^U repeat effect most of the rest Interrupting, canceling _E_S_C end insert or incomplete command SunOS 5.7 Last change: 18 Jun 1998 4 User Commands vi(1) _D_E_L (delete or rubout) interrupts File manipulation ZZ if file modified, write and exit; otherwise, exit :w_C_R write back changes :w!_C_R forced write, if permission originally not valid :q_C_R quit :q!_C_R quit, discard changes :e _n_a_m_e_C_R edit file _n_a_m_e :e!_C_R reedit, discard changes :e + _n_a_m_e_C_R edit, starting at end :e +_n_C_R edit, starting at line _n :e #_C_R edit alternate file :e! #_C_R edit alternate file, discard changes :w _n_a_m_e_C_R write file _n_a_m_e :w! _n_a_m_e_C_R overwrite file _n_a_m_e :sh_C_R run shell, then return :!_c_m_d_C_R run _c_m_d, then return :n_C_R edit next file in arglist :n _a_r_g_s_C_R specify new arglist ^G show current file and line :ta _t_a_g_C_R position cursor to _t_a_g In general, any ex or ed command (such as _s_u_b_s_t_i_t_u_t_e or _g_l_o_b_a_l) may be typed, preceded by a colon and followed by a carriage return. Positioning within file F forward screen ^B backward screen SunOS 5.7 Last change: 18 Jun 1998 5 User Commands vi(1) ^D scroll down half screen ^U scroll up half screen _nG go to the beginning of the specified line (end default), where _n is a line number /_p_a_t next line matching _p_a_t ?_p_a_t previous line matching _p_a_t n repeat last / or ? command N reverse last / or ? command /_p_a_t/+_n _nth line after _p_a_t ?_p_a_t?-_n _nth line before _p_a_t ]] next section/function [[ previous section/function ( beginning of sentence ) end of sentence { beginning of paragraph } end of paragraph % find matching ( ) or { } Adjusting the screen ^L clear and redraw window ^R clear and redraw window if ^L is -> key z_C_R redraw screen with current line at top of window z-_C_R redraw screen with current line at bottom of win- dow z._C_R redraw screen with current line at center of win- dow /_p_a_t/z-_C_R move _p_a_t line to bottom of window z_n._C_R use _n-line window ^E scroll window down one line SunOS 5.7 Last change: 18 Jun 1998 6 User Commands vi(1) ^Y scroll window up one line Marking and returning `` move cursor to previous context '' move cursor to first non-white space in line m_x mark current position with the ASCII lower-case letter _x `_x move cursor to mark _x '_x move cursor to first non-white space in line marked by _x Line positioning H top line on screen L last line on screen M middle line on screen + next line, at first non-white space character - previous line, at first non-white space character _C_R return, same as + down-arrow or j next line, same column up-arrow or k previous line, same column Character positioning ^ first non-white space character 0 beginning of line $ end of line l or -> forward h or <- backward ^H same as <- (backspace) space same as -> (space bar) f_x find next _x SunOS 5.7 Last change: 18 Jun 1998 7 User Commands vi(1) F_x find previous _x t_x move to character following the next _x T_x move to character following the previous _x ; repeat last f, F, t, or T , repeat inverse of last f, F, t, or T _n| move to column _n % find matching ( ) or { } Words, sentences, paragraphs w forward a word b back a word e end of word ) to next sentence } to next paragraph ( back a sentence { back a paragraph W forward a blank-delimited word B back a blank-delimited word E end of a blank-delimited word Corrections during insert ^H erase last character (backspace) ^W erase last word erase your erase character, same as ^H (backspace) kill your kill character, erase this line of input \ quotes your erase and kill characters _E_S_C ends insertion, back to command mode _C_T_R_L-C interrupt, suspends insert mode ^D backtab one character; reset left margin of _a_u_t_o_i_n_d_e_n_t SunOS 5.7 Last change: 18 Jun 1998 8 User Commands vi(1) ^^D caret (^) followed by control-d (^D); backtab to beginning of line; do not reset left margin of _a_u_t_o_i_n_d_e_n_t 0^D backtab to beginning of line; reset left margin of _a_u_t_o_i_n_d_e_n_t ^V quote non-printable character Insert and replace a append after cursor A append at end of line i insert before cursor I insert before first non-blank o open line below O open line above r_x replace single character with _x R_t_e_x_t_E_S_C replace characters Operators Operators are followed by a cursor motion and affect all text that would have been moved over. For example, since w moves over a word, dw deletes the word that would be moved over. Double the operator, for example dd, to affect whole lines. d delete c change y yank lines to buffer < left shift > right shift ! filter through command Miscellaneous Operations C change rest of line (c$) D delete rest of line (d$) s substitute characters (cl) SunOS 5.7 Last change: 18 Jun 1998 9 User Commands vi(1) S substitute lines (cc) J join lines x delete characters (dl) X delete characters before cursor dh) Y yank lines (yy) Yank and Put Put inserts the text most recently deleted or yanked; how- ever, if a buffer is named (using the ASCII lower-case letters a - z), the text in that buffer is put instead. 3yy yank 3 lines 3yl yank 3 characters p put back text after cursor P put back text before cursor " .nr )I xp"n put from buffer _x " .nr )I _xy"n yank to buffer _x " .nr )I _xd"n delete into buffer _x Undo, Redo, Retrieve u undo last change U restore current line . repeat last change " .nr )I _dp"n retrieve _d'th last delete USAGE See largefile(5) for the description of the behavior of vi and view when encountering files greater than or equal to 2 Gbyte ( 2**31 bytes). ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES See environ(5) for descriptions of the following environment variables that affect the execution of vi : LC_CTYPE, LC_TIME, LC_MESSAGES, and NLSPATH. FILES /var/tmp default directory where temporary work files are placed; it can be changed using the directory option (see the ex(1) command) SunOS 5.7 Last change: 18 Jun 1998 10 User Commands vi(1) /usr/share/lib/terminfo/?/* compiled terminal description database /usr/lib/.COREterm/?/* subset of compiled terminal description database ATTRIBUTES See attributes(5) for descriptions of the following attri- butes: /usr/bin/vi /usr/bin/view /usr/bin/vedit ____________________________________________________________ | ATTRIBUTE TYPE | ATTRIBUTE VALUE | |______________________________|______________________________| | Availability | SUNWcsu | |______________________________|______________________________| | CSI | Not enabled | |______________________________|______________________________| /usr/xpg4/bin/vi /usr/xpg4/bin/view /usr/xpg4/bin/vedit ____________________________________________________________ | ATTRIBUTE TYPE | ATTRIBUTE VALUE | |______________________________|______________________________| | Availability | SUNWxcu4 | |______________________________|______________________________| | CSI | Enabled | |______________________________|______________________________| SEE ALSO intro(1), ctags(1), ed(1), edit(1), ex(1), attributes(5), environ(5), largefile(5), standards(5) _S_o_l_a_r_i_s _A_d_v_a_n_c_e_d _U_s_e_r'_s _G_u_i_d_e AUTHOR vi and ex were developed by The University of California, Berkeley California, Computer Science Division, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. NOTES Two options, although they continue to be supported, have been replaced in the documentation by options that follow the Command Syntax Standard (see intro(1)). An -r option that is not followed with an option-argument has been replaced by -L and +command has been replaced by -c command . SunOS 5.7 Last change: 18 Jun 1998 11 User Commands vi(1) The message file too large to recover with -r option, which is seen when a file is loaded, indicates that the file can be edited and saved successfully, but if the editing session is lost, recovery of the file with the -r option will not be possible. The editing environment defaults to certain configuration options. When an editing session is initiated, vi attempts to read the EXINIT environment variable. If it exists, the editor uses the values defined in EXINIT; otherwise the values set in $HOME/.exrc are used. If $HOME/.exrc does not exist, the default values are used. To use a copy of .exrc located in the current directory other than $HOME, set the _e_x_r_c option in EXINIT or $HOME/.exrc . Options set in EXINIT can be turned off in a local .exrc only if _e_x_r_c is set in EXINIT or $HOME/.exrc. Tampering with entries in /usr/share/lib/terminfo/?/* or /usr/share/lib/terminfo/?/* (for example, changing or remov- ing an entry) can affect programs such as vi that expect the entry to be present and correct. In particular, removing the "dumb" terminal may cause unexpected problems. Software tabs using ^T work only immediately after the _a_u_t_o_i_n_d_e_n_t. Left and right shifts on intelligent terminals do not make use of insert and delete character operations in the termi- nal. The standard Solaris version of vi will be replaced by the POSIX.2-conforming version (see standards(5)) in the future. Scripts which use the ex family of addressing and features should use the /usr/xpg4/bin version of these utilities. SunOS 5.7 Last change: 18 Jun 1998 12