Vi Command

From Luke Jackson

vi -- Linux/Unix/Mac OS X Basic Text Editor

Introduction

You can use vi to edit files via SHELL. It is very helpful when are you are managing a system remotely.

Usage

usage: vim [arguments] [file ..]       edit specified file(s)
   or: vim [arguments] -               read text from stdin
   or: vim [arguments] -t tag          edit file where tag is defined
   or: vim [arguments] -q [errorfile]  edit file with first error

Arguments

--                   Only file names after this
-v                   Vi mode (like "vi")
-e                   Ex mode (like "ex")
-s                   Silent (batch) mode (only for "ex")
-d                   Diff mode (like "vimdiff")
-y                   Easy mode (like "evim", modeless)
-R                   Readonly mode (like "view")
-Z                   Restricted mode (like "rvim")
-m                   Modifications (writing files) not allowed
-M                   Modifications in text not allowed
-b                   Binary mode
-l                   Lisp mode
-C                   Compatible with Vi: 'compatible'
-N                   Not fully Vi compatible: 'nocompatible'
-V[N]                Verbose level
-D                   Debugging mode
-n                   No swap file, use memory only
-r                   List swap files and exit
-r (with file name)  Recover crashed session
-L                   Same as -r
-T <terminal>        Set terminal type to <terminal>
-u <vimrc>           Use <vimrc> instead of any .vimrc
--noplugin           Don't load plugin scripts
-o[N]                Open N windows (default: one for each file)
-O[N]                Like -o but split vertically
   +                    Start at end of file
   +<lnum>              Start at line <lnum>
--cmd <command>      Execute <command> before loading any vimrc file
-c <command>         Execute <command> after loading the first file
-S <session>         Source file <session> after loading the first file
-s <scriptin>        Read Normal mode commands from file <scriptin>
-w <scriptout>       Append all typed commands to file <scriptout>
-W <scriptout>       Write all typed commands to file <scriptout>
-x                   Edit encrypted files
-i <viminfo>         Use <viminfo> instead of .viminfo
-h  or  --help       Print Help (this message) and exit
--version            Print version information and exit

Examples

Show Line Numbers

While editing a document (and not inserting text), type the following to turn on line numbers:

:set number

If you tire of the line numbers, enter the following command to turn them off:

:set nonumber