book

Learning the vi and Vim Editors, 8th Edition

by Arnold Robbins, Elbert Hannah

November 2021

Beginner

545 pages

13h 21m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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Preface
Scope of This BookHow the Material Is PresentedDiscussion of vi CommandsConventionsKeystrokesCautions, Notes, and TipsProblem ChecklistsWhat You Need to Know Before StartingUsing Code ExamplesO’Reilly Online LearningHow to Contact UsAbout the Previous EditionsAbout the Eighth EditionWhat’s NewVersionsAcknowledgments from the Sixth EditionAcknowledgments from the Seventh EditionAcknowledgments for the Eighth Edition
I. vi and Vim Fundamentals
1. Introducing vi and Vim
Text Editors and Text EditingText EditorsText EditingA Brief Historical PerspectiveOpening and Closing FilesOpening a File from the Command LineOpening a File from the GUIProblems Opening FilesModus OperandiSaving and Quitting a FileQuitting Without Saving EditsProblems Saving FilesExercises
2. Simple Editing
vi CommandsMoving the Cursor in Command ModeSingle MovementsNumeric ArgumentsMovement Within a LineMovement by Text BlocksSimple EditsInserting New TextAppending TextChanging TextChanging CaseDeleting TextMoving TextCopying TextRepeating or Undoing Your Last CommandMore Ways to Insert TextNumeric Arguments for Insert CommandsJoining Two Lines with JProblems with vi CommandsMode IndicatorsReview of Basic vi Commands
3. Moving Around in a Hurry
Movement by ScreensScrolling the ScreenRepositioning the Screen with zRedrawing the ScreenMovement Within a ScreenMovement by LineMovement by Text BlocksMovement by SearchesRepeating SearchesCurrent Line SearchesMovement by Line NumberThe G (Go To) CommandReview of vi Motion Commands
4. Beyond the Basics
More Command CombinationsOptions When Starting vi and VimAdvancing to a Specific PlaceRead-Only ModeRecovering a BufferMaking Use of RegistersRecovering DeletionsYanking to Named RegistersMarking Your PlaceOther Advanced EditsReview of Register and Marking Commands
5. Introducing the ex Editor
ex CommandsExercise: The ex EditorProblem Getting to Visual ModeEditing with exLine AddressesDefining a Range of LinesLine-Addressing SymbolsSearch PatternsRedefining the Current Line PositionGlobal SearchesCombining ex CommandsSaving and Exiting FilesRenaming the BufferSaving Part of a FileAppending to a Saved FileCopying a File into Another FileEditing Multiple FilesInvoking Vim on Multiple FilesUsing the Argument ListCalling in New FilesFilename ShortcutsSwitching Files from Command ModeEdits Between Filesex Command Summaries
6. Global Replacement
The Substitute CommandConfirming SubstitutionsDoing Things Globally Across the FileContext-Sensitive ReplacementPattern-Matching RulesMetacharacters Used in Search PatternsPOSIX Bracket ExpressionsMetacharacters Used in Replacement StringsMore Substitution TricksPattern-Matching ExamplesSearch for General Class of WordsBlock Move by PatternsMore ExamplesA Final Look at Pattern MatchingDeleting an Unknown Block of TextSwitching Items in a Textual DatabaseUsing :g to Repeat a CommandCollecting Lines
7. Advanced Editing
Customizing vi and VimThe :set CommandThe .exrc FileAlternate EnvironmentsSome Useful OptionsExecuting Unix CommandsFiltering Text Through a CommandSaving CommandsWord AbbreviationUsing the map CommandMapping with a LeaderProtecting Keys from Interpretation by exA Complex Mapping ExampleMore Examples of Mapping KeysMapping Keys for Insert ModeMapping Function KeysMapping Other Special KeysMapping Multiple Input Keys@-FunctionsExecuting Registers from exUsing ex ScriptsLooping in a Shell ScriptHere DocumentsSorting Text Blocks: A Sample ex ScriptComments in ex ScriptsBeyond exEditing Program Source CodeIndentation ControlA Special Search CommandUsing TagsEnhanced Tags
II. Vim

8. Vim (vi Improved): Overview and Improvements over vi
About VimOverviewAuthor and HistoryWhy Vim?Compare and Contrast with viCategories of FeaturesPhilosophyAids and Easy Modes for New UsersBuilt-In HelpStartup and Initialization OptionsCommand-Line OptionsBehaviors Associated to Command NameSystem and User Configuration FilesEnvironment VariablesNew Motion CommandsVisual Mode MotionExtended Regular ExpressionsExtended UndoIncremental SearchingLeft-Right ScrollingSummary
9. Graphical Vim (gvim)
General Introduction to gvimStarting gvimUsing the MouseUseful MenusCustomizing Scrollbars, Menus, and ToolbarsScrollbarsMenusToolbarsTooltipsgvim in Microsoft Windowsgvim in the X Window SystemRunning gvim in Microsoft Windows WSLInstalling gvim in WSL 2Installing an X Server for WindowsConfiguring the X Server for WindowsGUI Options and Command Synopsis
10. Multiple Windows in Vim
Initiating Multiwindow EditingMultiwindow Initiation from the Command LineMultiwindow Editing Inside VimOpening WindowsNew WindowsOptions During SplitsConditional Split CommandsWindow Command SummaryMoving Around Windows (Getting Your Cursor from Here to There)Moving Windows AroundMoving Windows (Rotate or Exchange)Moving Windows and Changing Their LayoutWindow Move Commands: SynopsisResizing WindowsWindow Resize CommandsWindow Sizing OptionsResizing Command SynopsisBuffers and Their Interaction with WindowsVim’s Special BuffersHidden BuffersBuffer CommandsBuffer Command SynopsisPlaying Tag with WindowsTabbed EditingClosing and Quitting WindowsSummary
11. Vim Enhancements for Programmers
Folding and Outlining (Outline Mode)The Fold CommandsManual FoldingOutliningA Few Words About the Other Fold MethodsAuto and Smart IndentingVim autoindent Extensions to vi’s autoindentsmartindentcindentindentexprA Final Word on IndentationKeyword and Dictionary Word CompletionInsertion Completion CommandsSome Final Comments on Vim AutocompletionTag StackingSyntax HighlightingGetting StartedCustomizationRolling Your OwnCompiling and Checking Errors with VimMore Uses for the Quickfix List WindowSome Final Thoughts on Vim for Writing Programs
12. Vim Scripts
What’s Your Favorite Color (Scheme)?Conditional ExecutionVariablesThe execute CommandDefining FunctionsA Nice Vim Piggybacking TrickTuning a Vim Script with Global VariablesArraysDynamic File Type Configuration Through ScriptingAutocommandsChecking OptionsBuffer VariablesThe exists() FunctionAutocommands and GroupsDeleting AutocommandsSome Additional Thoughts About Vim ScriptingA Useful Vim Script ExampleMore About VariablesExpressionsExtensionsA Few More Comments About autocmdInternal FunctionsResources
13. Other Cool Stuff in Vim
Spell It! (i-t)For a Different Take on Words, Try ThesaurusEditing Binary FilesDigraphs: Non-ASCII CharactersEditing Files in Other PlacesNavigating and Changing DirectoriesBackups with VimHTML Your TextWhat’s the Difference?viminfo: Now, Where Was I?The viminfo OptionThe mksession CommandWhat’s My Line (Size)?Abbreviations of Vim Commands and OptionsA Few Quickies (Not Necessarily Vim-Specific)More Resources
14. Some Vim Power Techniques
Several Convenience MapsExiting Vim SimplifiedResize Your WindowDouble Your FunMoving into the Fast LaneFinding a Hard-to-Remember CommandAnalyzing a Famous SpeechSome More Use CasesHitting the Speed LimitEnhancing the Status LineSummary
III. Vim in the Larger Milieu
15. Vim as IDE: Some Assembly Required
Plug-In ManagersFinding Just the Right Plug-InWhy Do We Want an IDE?Doing It YourselfEditorConfig: Consistent Text Editing SetupNERDTree: File Tree Traversal Within Vimnerdtree-git-plug-in: NERDTree with Git Status IndicatorsFugitive: Running Git from Within VimCompletionTermdebug: Use GDB Directly Within VimAll-in-One IDEsCoding Is Great, but What If I’m a Writer?Conclusion
16. vi Is Everywhere
IntroductionImproving the Command-Line ExperienceSharing Multiple ShellsThe readline LibraryThe Bash ShellOther ProgramsThe .inputrc FileOther Unix ShellsThe Z Shell (zsh)Keep As Much History As You CanCommand-Line Editing: Some Closing ThoughtsWindows PowerShellDeveloper ToolsThe Clewn GDB DriverCGDB: Curses GDBVim Inside Visual StudioVim for Visual Studio CodeUnix UtilitiesMore or Less?screenAnd …, Browsers!WasaviVim + Chromium = Vimiumvi for MS Word and OutlookHonorable Mention: Tools with Some vi FeaturesGoogle MailMicrosoft PowerToysSummary
17. Epilogue
IV. Appendixes
A. The vi, ex, and Vim Editors
Command-Line SyntaxCommand-Line OptionsReview of vi OperationsCommand ModeInsert ModeSyntax of vi CommandsStatus-Line Commandsvi CommandsMovement CommandsInsert CommandsEdit CommandsSaving and ExitingAccessing Multiple FilesWindow Commands (Vim)Interacting with the SystemMacrosMiscellaneous Commandsvi ConfigurationThe :set CommandExample .exrc Fileex BasicsSyntax of ex CommandsAddressesAddress SymbolsOptionsAlphabetical Summary of ex Commands
B. Setting Options
Heirloom and Solaris vi OptionsVim 8.2 Options
C. The Lighter Side of vi
Accessing the FilesExample FilesSource for clewnOnline vi Tutorialvi Powered!vi for Java LoversThe Vim ClutchAmaze Your Friends!The Vi Lovers Home PageA Different vi CloneTastes Great, Less Fillingvi Quotes
D. vi and Vim: Source Code and Building
Nothing Like the OriginalWhere to Get VimGetting Vim for Unix and GNU/LinuxGetting Vim for Windows EnvironmentsGetting Vim for the Macintosh EnvironmentOther Operating Systems
Index
About the Authors

Content preview from Learning the vi and Vim Editors, 8th Edition

Part I. vi and Vim Fundamentals

Part I is designed to get you started quickly with the vi and Vim editors. It provides the advanced skills that will let you use them most effectively. These chapters cover the functionality of the original, core vi, providing commands you can use on any version. Later chapters cover advanced features in Vim. This part contains the following chapters:

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Learning the vi and Vim Editors, 8th Edition

by Arnold Robbins, Elbert Hannah

Part I. vi and Vim Fundamentals

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