vi editor Quick reference Table of Contents Introduction Requirement Creating , opening files in vi  Modes in vi editor Saving & exiting the vi editor vi commands , quick reference Next Steps     Introduction: __________ vi  pronounced as " vee eye " is a unix editor available on  almost all the unix  operating systems , solaris , bsd ,aix , hpux etc. This document is a quick reference to vi editor and will be of help if your are new to unix , learning unix  or just refreshing your vi knowledge after a few years.   Requirements: ____________ In order to work correctly the vi need correct terminal type (TERM) setting  .The TERM setting depends on the type of terminal you have . Commonly used TERM types are vt100 , vt220 and ansi .  In most cases vt100 will  work  fine . In case vi is not able to understand the TERM you have given, it starts in open mode giving you a line by line display . Generally TERM is taken from .profile or /etc/profile  but can be set at the command line as : $TERM=vt100 $export TERM     echo $TERM will display the current TERM set. Create new file or Open existing file in vi __________________________________ vi without any file name will open a  new file where you can enter the text and edit but while coming out you will be asked to enter a valid file name to save the text. vi with a  file name as argument will open that file for editing  if the file already exists it opens it otherwise it creates a new file by the argument. Example :  $vi  testfile Creates or opens the existing file called testfile   Modes in vi ____________  vi operates in following  two modes : i. ) Command Mode : After a file is opened it is opened  in command mode ,that is , input from the keyboard will be treated as vi commands  and you will not see the words you are typing on the screen .    ii.) Insert Mode: To enter the text you have to put vi in insert  by pressing 'i' or 'a'  after which you can add the text and whatever is being type will be seen on the screen. . To switch between these mode Esc key is used .   Esc i  (text mode)  Esc (command mode)    Saving & Exiting  vi editor ______________________  You can exit vi in different ways : 1.) Quit without saving : If you don't want to save the work :q  will take you out without saving your editing in vi. 2.) Write & quit : . Simple :w saves the current file but don't exit. For save and quit  :wq is used in vi.  3.) Forced Quite : An ! (Exclamation sign at the end of  exit commands ( :q! , :wq! )  causes a forced quit from vi  after ignoring editing (for :q!)  or writing (for :wq!) all the changes..

InventioConsulting Offering Unix , Solaris & IT Training Services throughout the UK.

7. Next Steps :

vi editor is all time favorite for the unix admins and there are some books available if you are interested in exploring the more powers of vi editor. The editor is also covered in system administration books so you may find a chapter devoted to vi editor in most of the unix system administration books.

You can purchase unix administration or vi editor books from amazon.com online using the display panel below.

click here to send your feedback about this article .

Copyright © 2000-2005 , Adminschoice.com