Learning the Vi Editor

Book excerpt: For many users, working in the Unix environment means usingvi, a full-screen text editor available on most Unix systems. Even those who knowvioften make use of only a small number of its features. Learning the vi Editoris a complete guide to text editing withvi. Topics new to the sixth edition include multiscreen editing and coverage of fourviclones:vim,elvis,nvi, andvileand their enhancements tovi, such as multi-window editing, GUI interfaces, extended regular expressions, and enhancements for programmers. A new appendix describesvi's place in the Unix and Internet cultures. Quickly learn the basics of editing, cursor movement, and global search and replacement. Then take advantage of the more subtle power ofvi. Extend your editing skills by learning to useex, a powerful line editor, from withinvi. For easy reference, the sixth edition also includes a command summary at the end of each appropriate chapter. Topics covered include: Basic editing Moving around in a hurry Beyond the basics Greater power withex Global search and replacement Customizingviandex Command shortcuts Introduction to theviclones' extensions Thenvi,elvis,vim, andvileeditors Quick reference toviandexcommands viand the Internet