vi is an editor, text editor like Emacs or CDE

* to start vi you type in vi in the command line
* to add lines in vi hit i with nothing after it, this will enter you into entering mode
* to save a file after you done typing hit to enter command mode then hit :w filename
* then to quit vi enter a :q!
* to load a file from vi enter :e filename
* examples:::

if you wanted to edit the message of the day you would enter this command

vi /etc/motd
from the root or username command line

* to navigate in vi here are some key keys
in command mode, if you are not sure if you are in command mode hit the key a couple times.

* j = moves one line down
* k = moves one line up
* h = moves cursor one character left
* l = moves cursor one character right
* Control+F foward one page
* Control+B backwards one page

* x deletes chacter the curson is on
* dd deletes the line the curson is on

There are alot more advanced commands but these are the basic ones.

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by MystBlade edited by Zuhaib
last modified: 2003-12-16 14:16:44