Basic Linux VI Command

Basic Linux VI Command

Moving the Cursor

*	j or [or down-arrow]	move cursor down one line
*	k [or up-arrow]	move cursor up one line
*	h or [or left-arrow]	move cursor left one character
*	l or [or right-arrow]	move cursor right one character
*	0 (zero)	move cursor to start of current line (the one with the cursor)
*	$	move cursor to end of current line
	w	move cursor to beginning of next word
	b	move cursor back to beginning of preceding word
	:0 or 1G	move cursor to first line in file
	:n or nG	move cursor to line n
	:$ or G	move cursor to last line in file

Adding, Changing, and Deleting Text

*u UNDO WHATEVER YOU JUST DID;

*	i	insert text before cursor, until hit
	I	insert text at beginning of current line, until hit
*	a	append text after cursor, until hit
	A	append text to end of current line, until hit
*	o	open and put text in a new line below current line, until hit
*	O	open and put text in a new line above current line, until hit

*	r	replace single character under cursor (no needed)
	R	replace characters, starting with current cursor position, until hit
	cw	change the current word with new text, starting with the character under cursor, until hit
	cNw	change N words beginning with character under cursor, until hit; e.g., c5w changes 5 words
	C	change (replace) the characters in the current line, until hit
	cc	change (replace) the entire current line, stopping when is hit
	Ncc or cNc	change (replace) the next N lines, starting with the current line, stopping when is hit

*	x	delete single character under cursor
	Nx	delete N characters, starting with character under cursor
	dw	delete the single word beginning with character under cursor
	dNw	delete N words beginning with character under cursor; e.g., d5w deletes 5 words
	D	delete the remainder of the line, starting with current cursor position
*	dd	delete entire current line
	Ndd or dNd	delete N lines, beginning with the current line; e.g., 5dd deletes 5 lines

	yy	copy (yank, cut) the current line into the buffer
	Nyy or yNy	copy (yank, cut) the next N lines, including the current line, into the buffer
	p	put (paste) the line(s) in the buffer into the text after the current line