Mastering Linux Shell Scripting - Second Edition

Abbreviations

We have already taken one short sojourn into the ~/.vimrc file and we will now revisit this file to look at abbreviations or abbr controls. This file acts as the run control mechanism for the vim text editor, which is likely to be installed on your Linux distribution. Older distributions or Unix variants may have the original vi text editor and will make use of the ~/.exrc file. If you are uncertain of the identity of your version of vi and the correct run control file to use, simply enter the vi command. If a blank page opens, it is indeed vi. However, if a new blank document opens with the vim splash screens, then you are using the improved vim or vi.

Abbreviations allow for a shortcut string to be used in place of a longer ...