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2 = W e l c o m e t o t h e V I M T u t o r - Version 1.7 =
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5 Vim is a very powerful editor that has many commands, too many to
6 explain in a tutor such as this. This tutor is designed to describe
7 enough of the commands that you will be able to easily use Vim as
8 an all-purpose editor.
10 The approximate time required to complete the tutor is 25-30 minutes,
11 depending upon how much time is spent with experimentation.
13 ATTENTION:
14 The commands in the lessons will modify the text. Make a copy of this
15 file to practise on (if you started "vimtutor" this is already a copy).
17 It is important to remember that this tutor is set up to teach by
18 use. That means that you need to execute the commands to learn them
19 properly. If you only read the text, you will forget the commands!
21 Now, make sure that your Shift-Lock key is NOT depressed and press
22 the j key enough times to move the cursor so that Lesson 1.1
23 completely fills the screen.
24 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
25 Lesson 1.1: MOVING THE CURSOR
28 ** To move the cursor, press the h,j,k,l keys as indicated. **
29 ^
30 k Hint: The h key is at the left and moves left.
31 < h l > The l key is at the right and moves right.
32 j The j key looks like a down arrow.
33 v
34 1. Move the cursor around the screen until you are comfortable.
36 2. Hold down the down key (j) until it repeats.
37 Now you know how to move to the next lesson.
39 3. Using the down key, move to Lesson 1.2.
41 NOTE: If you are ever unsure about something you typed, press <ESC> to place
42 you in Normal mode. Then retype the command you wanted.
44 NOTE: The cursor keys should also work. But using hjkl you will be able to
45 move around much faster, once you get used to it. Really!
47 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
48 Lesson 1.2: EXITING VIM
51 !! NOTE: Before executing any of the steps below, read this entire lesson!!
53 1. Press the <ESC> key (to make sure you are in Normal mode).
55 2. Type: :q! <ENTER>.
56 This exits the editor, DISCARDING any changes you have made.
58 3. When you see the shell prompt, type the command that got you into this
59 tutor. That would be: vimtutor <ENTER>
61 4. If you have these steps memorized and are confident, execute steps
62 1 through 3 to exit and re-enter the editor.
64 NOTE: :q! <ENTER> discards any changes you made. In a few lessons you
65 will learn how to save the changes to a file.
67 5. Move the cursor down to Lesson 1.3.
70 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
71 Lesson 1.3: TEXT EDITING - DELETION
74 ** Press x to delete the character under the cursor. **
76 1. Move the cursor to the line below marked --->.
78 2. To fix the errors, move the cursor until it is on top of the
79 character to be deleted.
81 3. Press the x key to delete the unwanted character.
83 4. Repeat steps 2 through 4 until the sentence is correct.
85 ---> The ccow jumpedd ovverr thhe mooon.
87 5. Now that the line is correct, go on to Lesson 1.4.
89 NOTE: As you go through this tutor, do not try to memorize, learn by usage.
93 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
94 Lesson 1.4: TEXT EDITING - INSERTION
97 ** Press i to insert text. **
99 1. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->.
101 2. To make the first line the same as the second, move the cursor on top
102 of the first character AFTER where the text is to be inserted.
104 3. Press i and type in the necessary additions.
106 4. As each error is fixed press <ESC> to return to Normal mode.
107 Repeat steps 2 through 4 to correct the sentence.
109 ---> There is text misng this .
110 ---> There is some text missing from this line.
112 5. When you are comfortable inserting text move to lesson 1.5.
116 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
117 Lesson 1.5: TEXT EDITING - APPENDING
120 ** Press A to append text. **
122 1. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->.
123 It does not matter on what character the cursor is in that line.
125 2. Press A and type in the necessary additions.
127 3. As the text has been appended press <ESC> to return to Normal mode.
129 4. Move the cursor to the second line marked ---> and repeat
130 steps 2 and 3 to correct this sentence.
132 ---> There is some text missing from th
133 There is some text missing from this line.
134 ---> There is also some text miss
135 There is also some text missing here.
137 5. When you are comfortable appending text move to lesson 1.6.
139 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
140 Lesson 1.6: EDITING A FILE
142 ** Use :wq to save a file and exit. **
144 !! NOTE: Before executing any of the steps below, read this entire lesson!!
146 1. Exit this tutor as you did in lesson 1.2: :q!
147 Or, if you have access to another terminal, do the following there.
149 2. At the shell prompt type this command: vim tutor <ENTER>
150 'vim' is the command to start the Vim editor, 'tutor' is the name of the
151 file you wish to edit. Use a file that may be changed.
153 3. Insert and delete text as you learned in the previous lessons.
155 4. Save the file with changes and exit Vim with: :wq <ENTER>
157 5. If you have quit vimtutor in step 1 restart the vimtutor and move down to
158 the following summary.
160 6. After reading the above steps and understanding them: do it.
162 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
163 Lesson 1 SUMMARY
166 1. The cursor is moved using either the arrow keys or the hjkl keys.
167 h (left) j (down) k (up) l (right)
169 2. To start Vim from the shell prompt type: vim FILENAME <ENTER>
171 3. To exit Vim type: <ESC> :q! <ENTER> to trash all changes.
172 OR type: <ESC> :wq <ENTER> to save the changes.
174 4. To delete the character at the cursor type: x
176 5. To insert or append text type:
177 i type inserted text <ESC> insert before the cursor
178 A type appended text <ESC> append after the line
180 NOTE: Pressing <ESC> will place you in Normal mode or will cancel
181 an unwanted and partially completed command.
183 Now continue with Lesson 2.
185 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
186 Lesson 2.1: DELETION COMMANDS
189 ** Type dw to delete a word. **
191 1. Press <ESC> to make sure you are in Normal mode.
193 2. Move the cursor to the line below marked --->.
195 3. Move the cursor to the beginning of a word that needs to be deleted.
197 4. Type dw to make the word disappear.
199 NOTE: The letter d will appear on the last line of the screen as you type
200 it. Vim is waiting for you to type w . If you see another character
201 than d you typed something wrong; press <ESC> and start over.
203 ---> There are a some words fun that don't belong paper in this sentence.
205 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the sentence is correct and go to Lesson 2.2.
208 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
209 Lesson 2.2: MORE DELETION COMMANDS
212 ** Type d$ to delete to the end of the line. **
214 1. Press <ESC> to make sure you are in Normal mode.
216 2. Move the cursor to the line below marked --->.
218 3. Move the cursor to the end of the correct line (AFTER the first . ).
220 4. Type d$ to delete to the end of the line.
222 ---> Somebody typed the end of this line twice. end of this line twice.
225 5. Move on to Lesson 2.3 to understand what is happening.
231 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
232 Lesson 2.3: ON OPERATORS AND MOTIONS
235 Many commands that change text are made from an operator and a motion.
236 The format for a delete command with the d delete operator is as follows:
238 d motion
240 Where:
241 d - is the delete operator.
242 motion - is what the operator will operate on (listed below).
244 A short list of motions:
245 w - until the start of the next word, EXCLUDING its first character.
246 e - to the end of the current word, INCLUDING the last character.
247 $ - to the end of the line, INCLUDING the last character.
249 Thus typing de will delete from the cursor to the end of the word.
251 NOTE: Pressing just the motion while in Normal mode without an operator will
252 move the cursor as specified.
254 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
255 Lesson 2.4: USING A COUNT FOR A MOTION
258 ** Typing a number before a motion repeats it that many times. **
260 1. Move the cursor to the start of the line marked ---> below.
262 2. Type 2w to move the cursor two words forward.
264 3. Type 3e to move the cursor to the end of the third word forward.
266 4. Type 0 (zero) to move to the start of the line.
268 5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with different numbers.
270 ---> This is just a line with words you can move around in.
272 6. Move on to Lesson 2.5.
277 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
278 Lesson 2.5: USING A COUNT TO DELETE MORE
281 ** Typing a number with an operator repeats it that many times. **
283 In the combination of the delete operator and a motion mentioned above you
284 insert a count before the motion to delete more:
285 d number motion
287 1. Move the cursor to the first UPPER CASE word in the line marked --->.
289 2. Type d2w to delete the two UPPER CASE words
291 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with a different count to delete the consecutive
292 UPPER CASE words with one command
294 ---> this ABC DE line FGHI JK LMN OP of words is Q RS TUV cleaned up.
300 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
301 Lesson 2.6: OPERATING ON LINES
304 ** Type dd to delete a whole line. **
306 Due to the frequency of whole line deletion, the designers of Vi decided
307 it would be easier to simply type two d's to delete a line.
309 1. Move the cursor to the second line in the phrase below.
310 2. Type dd to delete the line.
311 3. Now move to the fourth line.
312 4. Type 2dd to delete two lines.
314 ---> 1) Roses are red,
315 ---> 2) Mud is fun,
316 ---> 3) Violets are blue,
317 ---> 4) I have a car,
318 ---> 5) Clocks tell time,
319 ---> 6) Sugar is sweet
320 ---> 7) And so are you.
323 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
324 Lesson 2.7: THE UNDO COMMAND
327 ** Press u to undo the last commands, U to fix a whole line. **
329 1. Move the cursor to the line below marked ---> and place it on the
330 first error.
331 2. Type x to delete the first unwanted character.
332 3. Now type u to undo the last command executed.
333 4. This time fix all the errors on the line using the x command.
334 5. Now type a capital U to return the line to its original state.
335 6. Now type u a few times to undo the U and preceding commands.
336 7. Now type CTRL-R (keeping CTRL key pressed while hitting R) a few times
337 to redo the commands (undo the undo's).
339 ---> Fiix the errors oon thhis line and reeplace them witth undo.
341 8. These are very useful commands. Now move on to the Lesson 2 Summary.
346 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
347 Lesson 2 SUMMARY
350 1. To delete from the cursor up to the next word type: dw
351 2. To delete from the cursor to the end of a line type: d$
352 3. To delete a whole line type: dd
354 4. To repeat a motion prepend it with a number: 2w
355 5. The format for a change command is:
356 operator [number] motion
357 where:
358 operator - is what to do, such as d for delete
359 [number] - is an optional count to repeat the motion
360 motion - moves over the text to operate on, such as w (word),
361 $ (to the end of line), etc.
363 6. To move to the start of the line use a zero: 0
365 7. To undo previous actions, type: u (lowercase u)
366 To undo all the changes on a line, type: U (capital U)
367 To undo the undo's, type: CTRL-R
369 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
370 Lesson 3.1: THE PUT COMMAND
373 ** Type p to put previously deleted text after the cursor. **
375 1. Move the cursor to the first ---> line below.
377 2. Type dd to delete the line and store it in a Vim register.
379 3. Move the cursor to the c) line, ABOVE where the deleted line should go.
381 4. Type p to put the line below the cursor.
383 5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 to put all the lines in correct order.
385 ---> d) Can you learn too?
386 ---> b) Violets are blue,
387 ---> c) Intelligence is learned,
388 ---> a) Roses are red,
392 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
393 Lesson 3.2: THE REPLACE COMMAND
396 ** Type rx to replace the character at the cursor with x . **
398 1. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->.
400 2. Move the cursor so that it is on top of the first error.
402 3. Type r and then the character which should be there.
404 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the first line is equal to the second one.
406 ---> Whan this lime was tuoed in, someone presswd some wrojg keys!
407 ---> When this line was typed in, someone pressed some wrong keys!
409 5. Now move on to Lesson 3.3.
411 NOTE: Remember that you should be learning by doing, not memorization.
415 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
416 Lesson 3.3: THE CHANGE OPERATOR
419 ** To change until the end of a word, type ce . **
421 1. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->.
423 2. Place the cursor on the u in lubw.
425 3. Type ce and the correct word (in this case, type ine ).
427 4. Press <ESC> and move to the next character that needs to be changed.
429 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the first sentence is the same as the second.
431 ---> This lubw has a few wptfd that mrrf changing usf the change operator.
432 ---> This line has a few words that need changing using the change operator.
434 Notice that ce deletes the word and places you in Insert mode.
438 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
439 Lesson 3.4: MORE CHANGES USING c
442 ** The change operator is used with the same motions as delete. **
444 1. The change operator works in the same way as delete. The format is:
446 c [number] motion
448 2. The motions are the same, such as w (word) and $ (end of line).
450 3. Move to the first line below marked --->.
452 4. Move the cursor to the first error.
454 5. Type c$ and type the rest of the line like the second and press <ESC>.
456 ---> The end of this line needs some help to make it like the second.
457 ---> The end of this line needs to be corrected using the c$ command.
459 NOTE: You can use the Backspace key to correct mistakes while typing.
461 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
462 Lesson 3 SUMMARY
465 1. To put back text that has just been deleted, type p . This puts the
466 deleted text AFTER the cursor (if a line was deleted it will go on the
467 line below the cursor).
469 2. To replace the character under the cursor, type r and then the
470 character you want to have there.
472 3. The change operator allows you to change from the cursor to where the
473 motion takes you. eg. Type ce to change from the cursor to the end of
474 the word, c$ to change to the end of a line.
476 4. The format for change is:
478 c [number] motion
480 Now go on to the next lesson.
484 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
485 Lesson 4.1: CURSOR LOCATION AND FILE STATUS
487 ** Type CTRL-G to show your location in the file and the file status.
488 Type G to move to a line in the file. **
490 NOTE: Read this entire lesson before executing any of the steps!!
492 1. Hold down the Ctrl key and press g . We call this CTRL-G.
493 A message will appear at the bottom of the page with the filename and the
494 position in the file. Remember the line number for Step 3.
496 NOTE: You may see the cursor position in the lower right corner of the screen
497 This happens when the 'ruler' option is set (see :help 'ruler' )
499 2. Press G to move you to the bottom of the file.
500 Type gg to move you to the start of the file.
502 3. Type the number of the line you were on and then G . This will
503 return you to the line you were on when you first pressed CTRL-G.
505 4. If you feel confident to do this, execute steps 1 through 3.
507 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
508 Lesson 4.2: THE SEARCH COMMAND
511 ** Type / followed by a phrase to search for the phrase. **
513 1. In Normal mode type the / character. Notice that it and the cursor
514 appear at the bottom of the screen as with the : command.
516 2. Now type 'errroor' <ENTER>. This is the word you want to search for.
518 3. To search for the same phrase again, simply type n .
519 To search for the same phrase in the opposite direction, type N .
521 4. To search for a phrase in the backward direction, use ? instead of / .
523 5. To go back to where you came from press CTRL-O (Keep Ctrl down while
524 pressing the letter o). Repeat to go back further. CTRL-I goes forward.
526 ---> "errroor" is not the way to spell error; errroor is an error.
527 NOTE: When the search reaches the end of the file it will continue at the
528 start, unless the 'wrapscan' option has been reset.
530 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
531 Lesson 4.3: MATCHING PARENTHESES SEARCH
534 ** Type % to find a matching ),], or } . **
536 1. Place the cursor on any (, [, or { in the line below marked --->.
538 2. Now type the % character.
540 3. The cursor will move to the matching parenthesis or bracket.
542 4. Type % to move the cursor to the other matching bracket.
544 5. Move the cursor to another (,),[,],{ or } and see what % does.
546 ---> This ( is a test line with ('s, ['s ] and {'s } in it. ))
549 NOTE: This is very useful in debugging a program with unmatched parentheses!
553 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
554 Lesson 4.4: THE SUBSTITUTE COMMAND
557 ** Type :s/old/new/g to substitute 'new' for 'old'. **
559 1. Move the cursor to the line below marked --->.
561 2. Type :s/thee/the <ENTER> . Note that this command only changes the
562 first occurrence of "thee" in the line.
564 3. Now type :s/thee/the/g . Adding the g flag means to substitute
565 globally in the line, change all occurrences of "thee" in the line.
567 ---> thee best time to see thee flowers is in thee spring.
569 4. To change every occurrence of a character string between two lines,
570 type :#,#s/old/new/g where #,# are the line numbers of the range
571 of lines where the substitution is to be done.
572 Type :%s/old/new/g to change every occurrence in the whole file.
573 Type :%s/old/new/gc to find every occurrence in the whole file,
574 with a prompt whether to substitute or not.
576 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
577 Lesson 4 SUMMARY
580 1. CTRL-G displays your location in the file and the file status.
581 G moves to the end of the file.
582 number G moves to that line number.
583 gg moves to the first line.
585 2. Typing / followed by a phrase searches FORWARD for the phrase.
586 Typing ? followed by a phrase searches BACKWARD for the phrase.
587 After a search type n to find the next occurrence in the same direction
588 or N to search in the opposite direction.
589 CTRL-O takes you back to older positions, CTRL-I to newer positions.
591 3. Typing % while the cursor is on a (,),[,],{, or } goes to its match.
593 4. To substitute new for the first old in a line type :s/old/new
594 To substitute new for all 'old's on a line type :s/old/new/g
595 To substitute phrases between two line #'s type :#,#s/old/new/g
596 To substitute all occurrences in the file type :%s/old/new/g
597 To ask for confirmation each time add 'c' :%s/old/new/gc
599 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
600 Lesson 5.1: HOW TO EXECUTE AN EXTERNAL COMMAND
603 ** Type :! followed by an external command to execute that command. **
605 1. Type the familiar command : to set the cursor at the bottom of the
606 screen. This allows you to enter a command-line command.
608 2. Now type the ! (exclamation point) character. This allows you to
609 execute any external shell command.
611 3. As an example type ls following the ! and then hit <ENTER>. This
612 will show you a listing of your directory, just as if you were at the
613 shell prompt. Or use :!dir if ls doesn't work.
615 NOTE: It is possible to execute any external command this way, also with
616 arguments.
618 NOTE: All : commands must be finished by hitting <ENTER>
619 From here on we will not always mention it.
622 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
623 Lesson 5.2: MORE ON WRITING FILES
626 ** To save the changes made to the text, type :w FILENAME. **
628 1. Type :!dir or :!ls to get a listing of your directory.
629 You already know you must hit <ENTER> after this.
631 2. Choose a filename that does not exist yet, such as TEST.
633 3. Now type: :w TEST (where TEST is the filename you chose.)
635 4. This saves the whole file (the Vim Tutor) under the name TEST.
636 To verify this, type :!dir or :!ls again to see your directory.
638 NOTE: If you were to exit Vim and start it again with vim TEST , the file
639 would be an exact copy of the tutor when you saved it.
641 5. Now remove the file by typing (MS-DOS): :!del TEST
642 or (Unix): :!rm TEST
645 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
646 Lesson 5.3: SELECTING TEXT TO WRITE
649 ** To save part of the file, type v motion :w FILENAME **
651 1. Move the cursor to this line.
653 2. Press v and move the cursor to the fifth item below. Notice that the
654 text is highlighted.
656 3. Press the : character. At the bottom of the screen :'<,'> will appear.
658 4. Type w TEST , where TEST is a filename that does not exist yet. Verify
659 that you see :'<,'>w TEST before you press Enter.
661 5. Vim will write the selected lines to the file TEST. Use :!dir or !ls
662 to see it. Do not remove it yet! We will use it in the next lesson.
664 NOTE: Pressing v starts Visual selection. You can move the cursor around
665 to make the selection bigger or smaller. Then you can use an operator
666 to do something with the text. For example, d deletes the text.
668 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
669 Lesson 5.4: RETRIEVING AND MERGING FILES
672 ** To insert the contents of a file, type :r FILENAME **
674 1. Place the cursor just above this line.
676 NOTE: After executing Step 2 you will see text from Lesson 5.3. Then move
677 DOWN to see this lesson again.
679 2. Now retrieve your TEST file using the command :r TEST where TEST is
680 the name of the file you used.
681 The file you retrieve is placed below the cursor line.
683 3. To verify that a file was retrieved, cursor back and notice that there
684 are now two copies of Lesson 5.3, the original and the file version.
686 NOTE: You can also read the output of an external command. For example,
687 :r !ls reads the output of the ls command and puts it below the
688 cursor.
691 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
692 Lesson 5 SUMMARY
695 1. :!command executes an external command.
697 Some useful examples are:
698 (MS-DOS) (Unix)
699 :!dir :!ls - shows a directory listing.
700 :!del FILENAME :!rm FILENAME - removes file FILENAME.
702 2. :w FILENAME writes the current Vim file to disk with name FILENAME.
704 3. v motion :w FILENAME saves the Visually selected lines in file
705 FILENAME.
707 4. :r FILENAME retrieves disk file FILENAME and puts it below the
708 cursor position.
710 5. :r !dir reads the output of the dir command and puts it below the
711 cursor position.
714 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
715 Lesson 6.1: THE OPEN COMMAND
718 ** Type o to open a line below the cursor and place you in Insert mode. **
720 1. Move the cursor to the line below marked --->.
722 2. Type the lowercase letter o to open up a line BELOW the cursor and place
723 you in Insert mode.
725 3. Now type some text and press <ESC> to exit Insert mode.
727 ---> After typing o the cursor is placed on the open line in Insert mode.
729 4. To open up a line ABOVE the cursor, simply type a capital O , rather
730 than a lowercase o. Try this on the line below.
732 ---> Open up a line above this by typing O while the cursor is on this line.
737 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
738 Lesson 6.2: THE APPEND COMMAND
741 ** Type a to insert text AFTER the cursor. **
743 1. Move the cursor to the start of the line below marked --->.
745 2. Press e until the cursor is on the end of li .
747 3. Type an a (lowercase) to append text AFTER the cursor.
749 4. Complete the word like the line below it. Press <ESC> to exit Insert
750 mode.
752 5. Use e to move to the next incomplete word and repeat steps 3 and 4.
754 ---> This li will allow you to pract appendi text to a line.
755 ---> This line will allow you to practice appending text to a line.
757 NOTE: a, i and A all go to the same Insert mode, the only difference is where
758 the characters are inserted.
760 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
761 Lesson 6.3: ANOTHER WAY TO REPLACE
764 ** Type a capital R to replace more than one character. **
766 1. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->. Move the cursor to
767 the beginning of the first xxx .
769 2. Now press R and type the number below it in the second line, so that it
770 replaces the xxx .
772 3. Press <ESC> to leave Replace mode. Notice that the rest of the line
773 remains unmodified.
775 4. Repeat the steps to replace the remaining xxx.
777 ---> Adding 123 to xxx gives you xxx.
778 ---> Adding 123 to 456 gives you 579.
780 NOTE: Replace mode is like Insert mode, but every typed character deletes an
781 existing character.
783 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
784 Lesson 6.4: COPY AND PASTE TEXT
787 ** Use the y operator to copy text and p to paste it **
789 1. Go to the line marked with ---> below and place the cursor after "a)".
791 2. Start Visual mode with v and move the cursor to just before "first".
793 3. Type y to yank (copy) the highlighted text.
795 4. Move the cursor to the end of the next line: j$
797 5. Type p to put (paste) the text. Then type: a second <ESC> .
799 6. Use Visual mode to select " item.", yank it with y , move to the end of
800 the next line with j$ and put the text there with p .
802 ---> a) this is the first item.
803 b)
805 NOTE: you can also use y as an operator; yw yanks one word.
806 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
807 Lesson 6.5: SET OPTION
810 ** Set an option so a search or substitute ignores case **
812 1. Search for 'ignore' by entering: /ignore <ENTER>
813 Repeat several times by pressing n .
815 2. Set the 'ic' (Ignore case) option by entering: :set ic
817 3. Now search for 'ignore' again by pressing n
818 Notice that Ignore and IGNORE are now also found.
820 4. Set the 'hlsearch' and 'incsearch' options: :set hls is
822 5. Now type the search command again and see what happens: /ignore <ENTER>
824 6. To disable ignoring case enter: :set noic
826 NOTE: To remove the highlighting of matches enter: :nohlsearch
827 NOTE: If you want to ignore case for just one search command, use \c
828 in the phrase: /ignore\c <ENTER>
829 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
830 Lesson 6 SUMMARY
832 1. Type o to open a line BELOW the cursor and start Insert mode.
833 Type O to open a line ABOVE the cursor.
835 2. Type a to insert text AFTER the cursor.
836 Type A to insert text after the end of the line.
838 3. The e command moves to the end of a word.
840 4. The y operator yanks (copies) text, p puts (pastes) it.
842 5. Typing a capital R enters Replace mode until <ESC> is pressed.
844 6. Typing ":set xxx" sets the option "xxx". Some options are:
845 'ic' 'ignorecase' ignore upper/lower case when searching
846 'is' 'incsearch' show partial matches for a search phrase
847 'hls' 'hlsearch' highlight all matching phrases
848 You can either use the long or the short option name.
850 7. Prepend "no" to switch an option off: :set noic
852 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
853 Lesson 7.1: GETTING HELP
856 ** Use the on-line help system **
858 Vim has a comprehensive on-line help system. To get started, try one of
859 these three:
860 - press the <HELP> key (if you have one)
861 - press the <F1> key (if you have one)
862 - type :help <ENTER>
864 Read the text in the help window to find out how the help works.
865 Type CTRL-W CTRL-W to jump from one window to another.
866 Type :q <ENTER> to close the help window.
868 You can find help on just about any subject, by giving an argument to the
869 ":help" command. Try these (don't forget pressing <ENTER>):
871 :help w
872 :help c_CTRL-D
873 :help insert-index
874 :help user-manual
875 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
876 Lesson 7.2: CREATE A STARTUP SCRIPT
879 ** Enable Vim features **
881 Vim has many more features than Vi, but most of them are disabled by
882 default. To start using more features you have to create a "vimrc" file.
884 1. Start editing the "vimrc" file. This depends on your system:
885 :e ~/.vimrc for Unix
886 :e $VIM/_vimrc for MS-Windows
888 2. Now read the example "vimrc" file contents:
889 :r $VIMRUNTIME/vimrc_example.vim
891 3. Write the file with:
892 :w
894 The next time you start Vim it will use syntax highlighting.
895 You can add all your preferred settings to this "vimrc" file.
896 For more information type :help vimrc-intro
898 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
899 Lesson 7.3: COMPLETION
902 ** Command line completion with CTRL-D and <TAB> **
904 1. Make sure Vim is not in compatible mode: :set nocp
906 2. Look what files exist in the directory: :!ls or :!dir
908 3. Type the start of a command: :e
910 4. Press CTRL-D and Vim will show a list of commands that start with "e".
912 5. Press <TAB> and Vim will complete the command name to ":edit".
914 6. Now add a space and the start of an existing file name: :edit FIL
916 7. Press <TAB>. Vim will complete the name (if it is unique).
918 NOTE: Completion works for many commands. Just try pressing CTRL-D and
919 <TAB>. It is especially useful for :help .
921 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
922 Lesson 7 SUMMARY
925 1. Type :help or press <F1> or <Help> to open a help window.
927 2. Type :help cmd to find help on cmd .
929 3. Type CTRL-W CTRL-W to jump to another window
931 4. Type :q to close the help window
933 5. Create a vimrc startup script to keep your preferred settings.
935 6. When typing a : command, press CTRL-D to see possible completions.
936 Press <TAB> to use one completion.
944 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
946 This concludes the Vim Tutor. It was intended to give a brief overview of
947 the Vim editor, just enough to allow you to use the editor fairly easily.
948 It is far from complete as Vim has many many more commands. Read the user
949 manual next: ":help user-manual".
951 For further reading and studying, this book is recommended:
952 Vim - Vi Improved - by Steve Oualline
953 Publisher: New Riders
954 The first book completely dedicated to Vim. Especially useful for beginners.
955 There are many examples and pictures.
956 See http://iccf-holland.org/click5.html
958 This book is older and more about Vi than Vim, but also recommended:
959 Learning the Vi Editor - by Linda Lamb
960 Publisher: O'Reilly & Associates Inc.
961 It is a good book to get to know almost anything you want to do with Vi.
962 The sixth edition also includes information on Vim.
964 This tutorial was written by Michael C. Pierce and Robert K. Ware,
965 Colorado School of Mines using ideas supplied by Charles Smith,
966 Colorado State University. E-mail: bware@mines.colorado.edu.
968 Modified for Vim by Bram Moolenaar.
970 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~