Mac OS X in a Nutshell

Name

vi

Synopsis

vi [options] [files]

A screen-oriented text editor based on ex. See Chapter 17 for more information on vi and ex. Options -c, -C, -L, -r, -R, and -t are the same as in ex.

Options

-c command

Enter vi and execute the given vi command.

-e

Edit in ex mode.

-F

Do not make a temporary backup of the entire file.

-l

Run in LISP mode for editing LISP programs.

-r file

Recover and edit file after an editor or system crash.

-R

Read-only mode. Files can’t be changed.

-S

No other programs can be run, vi is put in secure edit mode.

-s

This option works only when ex mode is being used. It enters into batch mode.

-t tag

Edit the file containing tag, and position the editor at its definition.

-w n

Set default window size to n; useful when editing via a slow dial-up line.

+

Start vi on last line of file.

+n

Start vi on line n of file.

+/pat

Start vi on line containing pattern pat. This option fails if nowrapscan is set in your . exrc file.