File Editing in Linux

Command-Line Text Editors

1. vim

   • Powerful and Customizable

   • To open a file: vim filename

   • Enter Insert mode: i

     • Write anything once in insert mode

   • Save changes and exit: Esc, then :wq!, and Enter

Insert Mode

When you first open a document, you will always start in normal mode and have to enter insert mode. To enter insert mode where the cursor is currently located in the file, press the letter i or the Insert key. Additionally, you can press the letter a (for append) if you would like to enter insert mode at the character after the cursor. To exit insert mode, press the Esc key. When in insert mode, -- INSERT -- will be visible at the bottom of the shell. Navigation in insert mode is done with the standard arrow keys.

Open Insert Mode	Open Saving changes

Editing Features

Here are some important commands to know:

• Undo the previous command, even the last edit in insert mode, with the command u

• Redo the previous command (after undo) with Ctrl-R

• Copy (yank) characters, words, or lines:

  • yl to copy a single character under the cursor

  • yy to copy the current line

  • y#y or #yy where # is replaced with the number of lines you want to copy (i.e. y25y will copy 25 lines).

• Paste (put) characters, words, or lines:

  • p will paste after the cursor for characters and words

  • P will paste before the cursor for characters and words

• Delete characters, words, or lines:

  • dd to delete the current line

  • dw to delete a word

  • d#d or #dd where # is replaced with the number of lines you want to delete (similar to copy).

• Search and Replace:

  • Use / to search for text and n to move to the next occurrence and N to jump to the previous occurrence.

    • /word followed by Enter. Phrases can also be used.

  • Use :%s/old/new/g to replace all occurrences of “old” with “new” in the file

For more features on vim