VI Editor shortcuts in Linux

Command Summary

Table of Contents

0.1 Command Summary

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STARTING vi

vi filename => edit a file named “filename”
vi newfile => create a new file named “newfile”

ENTERING TEXT

i => insert text left of cursor
a => append text right of cursor

MOVING THE CURSOR

h => left one space
j => down one line
k => up one line
l => right one space

BASIC EDITING

x    => delete character
nx    => delete n characters
X    => delete character before cursor
dw    => delete word
ndw    => delete n words
dd    => delete line
ndd    => delete n lines
D    => delete characters from cursor to end of line
r    => replace character under cursor
cw    => replace a word
ncw    => replace n words
C    => change text from cursor to end of line
o    => insert blank line below cursor
(ready for insertion)
O    => insert blank line above cursor
(ready for insertion)
J    => join succeeding line to current cursor line
nJ    => join n succeeding lines to current cursor line
u    => undo last change
U    => restore current line

MOVING AROUND IN A FILE

w    => forward word by word
b    => backward word by word
$    => to end of line
0    => (zero) to beginning of line
H    => to top line of screen
M    => to middle line of screen
L    => to last line of screen
G    => to last line of file
1G    => to first line of file
<Control>f    => scroll forward one screen
<Control>b    => scroll backward one screen
<Control>d    => scroll down one-half screen
<Control>u    => scroll up one-half screen
n    => repeat last search in same direction
N    => repeat last search in opposite direction

FIND AND REPLACE A STRING IN THE FILE

:%s/<find-string>/<replace-with-string>/g

CLOSING AND SAVING A FILE

ZZ    => save file and then quit
:w    => save file:wq    => save and quit
:q!    => discard changes and quit file

Please leave a comment if you need further help or support.

Ramesh Kunamaneni (RK)

Greetings!! This is Ramesh Kunamaneni (RK), I have a decade experience in IT and worked for various MNCs. I am happy to share my knowledge in this blog especially on Java, Groovy, Python, DevOps, Agile Methodology, Banking and Payments Domain. Please do watch this space for more interesting articles and updates!!