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Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +00001===============================================================================
2= W e l c o m e t o t h e V I M T u t o r - Version 1.7 =
3===============================================================================
4
5 Vim is a very powerful editor that has many commands, too many to
6 explain in a tutor such as this. This tutor is designed to describe
7 enough of the commands that you will be able to easily use Vim as
8 an all-purpose editor.
9
Bram Moolenaard1caa942020-04-10 22:10:56 +020010 The approximate time required to complete the tutor is 30 minutes,
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +000011 depending upon how much time is spent with experimentation.
12
13 ATTENTION:
14 The commands in the lessons will modify the text. Make a copy of this
Bram Moolenaar37c64c72017-09-19 22:06:03 +020015 file to practice on (if you started "vimtutor" this is already a copy).
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +000016
17 It is important to remember that this tutor is set up to teach by
18 use. That means that you need to execute the commands to learn them
19 properly. If you only read the text, you will forget the commands!
20
Bram Moolenaar72540672018-02-09 22:00:53 +010021 Now, make sure that your Caps-Lock key is NOT depressed and press
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +020022 the j key enough times to move the cursor so that lesson 1.1
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +000023 completely fills the screen.
24~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
25 Lesson 1.1: MOVING THE CURSOR
26
27
28 ** To move the cursor, press the h,j,k,l keys as indicated. **
29 ^
30 k Hint: The h key is at the left and moves left.
31 < h l > The l key is at the right and moves right.
32 j The j key looks like a down arrow.
33 v
34 1. Move the cursor around the screen until you are comfortable.
35
36 2. Hold down the down key (j) until it repeats.
37 Now you know how to move to the next lesson.
38
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +020039 3. Using the down key, move to lesson 1.2.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +000040
41NOTE: If you are ever unsure about something you typed, press <ESC> to place
42 you in Normal mode. Then retype the command you wanted.
43
44NOTE: The cursor keys should also work. But using hjkl you will be able to
45 move around much faster, once you get used to it. Really!
46
47~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
48 Lesson 1.2: EXITING VIM
49
50
51 !! NOTE: Before executing any of the steps below, read this entire lesson!!
52
53 1. Press the <ESC> key (to make sure you are in Normal mode).
54
55 2. Type: :q! <ENTER>.
56 This exits the editor, DISCARDING any changes you have made.
57
Bram Moolenaarfb539272014-08-22 19:21:47 +020058 3. Get back here by executing the command that got you into this tutor. That
59 might be: vimtutor <ENTER>
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +000060
61 4. If you have these steps memorized and are confident, execute steps
62 1 through 3 to exit and re-enter the editor.
63
64NOTE: :q! <ENTER> discards any changes you made. In a few lessons you
65 will learn how to save the changes to a file.
66
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +020067 5. Move the cursor down to lesson 1.3.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +000068
69
70~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
71 Lesson 1.3: TEXT EDITING - DELETION
72
73
74 ** Press x to delete the character under the cursor. **
75
76 1. Move the cursor to the line below marked --->.
77
78 2. To fix the errors, move the cursor until it is on top of the
79 character to be deleted.
80
81 3. Press the x key to delete the unwanted character.
82
83 4. Repeat steps 2 through 4 until the sentence is correct.
84
85---> The ccow jumpedd ovverr thhe mooon.
86
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +020087 5. Now that the line is correct, go on to lesson 1.4.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +000088
89NOTE: As you go through this tutor, do not try to memorize, learn by usage.
90
91
92
93~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
94 Lesson 1.4: TEXT EDITING - INSERTION
95
96
97 ** Press i to insert text. **
98
99 1. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->.
100
101 2. To make the first line the same as the second, move the cursor on top
Bram Moolenaar4c92e752019-02-17 21:18:32 +0100102 of the character BEFORE which the text is to be inserted.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000103
104 3. Press i and type in the necessary additions.
105
106 4. As each error is fixed press <ESC> to return to Normal mode.
107 Repeat steps 2 through 4 to correct the sentence.
108
109---> There is text misng this .
110---> There is some text missing from this line.
111
112 5. When you are comfortable inserting text move to lesson 1.5.
113
114
115
116~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
117 Lesson 1.5: TEXT EDITING - APPENDING
118
119
120 ** Press A to append text. **
121
122 1. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->.
123 It does not matter on what character the cursor is in that line.
124
125 2. Press A and type in the necessary additions.
126
127 3. As the text has been appended press <ESC> to return to Normal mode.
128
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200129 4. Move the cursor to the second line marked ---> and repeat
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000130 steps 2 and 3 to correct this sentence.
131
132---> There is some text missing from th
133 There is some text missing from this line.
134---> There is also some text miss
135 There is also some text missing here.
136
137 5. When you are comfortable appending text move to lesson 1.6.
138
139~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
140 Lesson 1.6: EDITING A FILE
141
142 ** Use :wq to save a file and exit. **
143
144 !! NOTE: Before executing any of the steps below, read this entire lesson!!
145
146 1. Exit this tutor as you did in lesson 1.2: :q!
147 Or, if you have access to another terminal, do the following there.
148
149 2. At the shell prompt type this command: vim tutor <ENTER>
150 'vim' is the command to start the Vim editor, 'tutor' is the name of the
151 file you wish to edit. Use a file that may be changed.
152
153 3. Insert and delete text as you learned in the previous lessons.
154
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200155 4. Save the file with changes and exit Vim with: :wq <ENTER>
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000156
157 5. If you have quit vimtutor in step 1 restart the vimtutor and move down to
158 the following summary.
159
160 6. After reading the above steps and understanding them: do it.
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200161
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000162~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
163 Lesson 1 SUMMARY
164
165
166 1. The cursor is moved using either the arrow keys or the hjkl keys.
167 h (left) j (down) k (up) l (right)
168
169 2. To start Vim from the shell prompt type: vim FILENAME <ENTER>
170
171 3. To exit Vim type: <ESC> :q! <ENTER> to trash all changes.
172 OR type: <ESC> :wq <ENTER> to save the changes.
173
174 4. To delete the character at the cursor type: x
175
176 5. To insert or append text type:
177 i type inserted text <ESC> insert before the cursor
178 A type appended text <ESC> append after the line
179
180NOTE: Pressing <ESC> will place you in Normal mode or will cancel
181 an unwanted and partially completed command.
182
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200183Now continue with lesson 2.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000184
185~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
186 Lesson 2.1: DELETION COMMANDS
187
188
189 ** Type dw to delete a word. **
190
191 1. Press <ESC> to make sure you are in Normal mode.
192
193 2. Move the cursor to the line below marked --->.
194
195 3. Move the cursor to the beginning of a word that needs to be deleted.
196
197 4. Type dw to make the word disappear.
198
199 NOTE: The letter d will appear on the last line of the screen as you type
200 it. Vim is waiting for you to type w . If you see another character
201 than d you typed something wrong; press <ESC> and start over.
202
203---> There are a some words fun that don't belong paper in this sentence.
204
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200205 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the sentence is correct and go to lesson 2.2.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000206
207
208~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
209 Lesson 2.2: MORE DELETION COMMANDS
210
211
212 ** Type d$ to delete to the end of the line. **
213
214 1. Press <ESC> to make sure you are in Normal mode.
215
216 2. Move the cursor to the line below marked --->.
217
218 3. Move the cursor to the end of the correct line (AFTER the first . ).
219
220 4. Type d$ to delete to the end of the line.
221
222---> Somebody typed the end of this line twice. end of this line twice.
223
224
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200225 5. Move on to lesson 2.3 to understand what is happening.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000226
227
228
229
230
231~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
232 Lesson 2.3: ON OPERATORS AND MOTIONS
233
234
235 Many commands that change text are made from an operator and a motion.
236 The format for a delete command with the d delete operator is as follows:
237
238 d motion
239
240 Where:
241 d - is the delete operator.
242 motion - is what the operator will operate on (listed below).
243
244 A short list of motions:
245 w - until the start of the next word, EXCLUDING its first character.
246 e - to the end of the current word, INCLUDING the last character.
247 $ - to the end of the line, INCLUDING the last character.
248
249 Thus typing de will delete from the cursor to the end of the word.
250
251NOTE: Pressing just the motion while in Normal mode without an operator will
252 move the cursor as specified.
253
254~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
255 Lesson 2.4: USING A COUNT FOR A MOTION
256
257
258 ** Typing a number before a motion repeats it that many times. **
259
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200260 1. Move the cursor to the start of the line below marked --->.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000261
262 2. Type 2w to move the cursor two words forward.
263
264 3. Type 3e to move the cursor to the end of the third word forward.
265
266 4. Type 0 (zero) to move to the start of the line.
267
268 5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with different numbers.
269
270---> This is just a line with words you can move around in.
271
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200272 6. Move on to lesson 2.5.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000273
274
275
276
277~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
278 Lesson 2.5: USING A COUNT TO DELETE MORE
279
280
281 ** Typing a number with an operator repeats it that many times. **
282
283 In the combination of the delete operator and a motion mentioned above you
284 insert a count before the motion to delete more:
285 d number motion
286
287 1. Move the cursor to the first UPPER CASE word in the line marked --->.
288
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200289 2. Type d2w to delete the two UPPER CASE words.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000290
291 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with a different count to delete the consecutive
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200292 UPPER CASE words with one command.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000293
294---> this ABC DE line FGHI JK LMN OP of words is Q RS TUV cleaned up.
295
296
297
298
299
300~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
301 Lesson 2.6: OPERATING ON LINES
302
303
304 ** Type dd to delete a whole line. **
305
306 Due to the frequency of whole line deletion, the designers of Vi decided
307 it would be easier to simply type two d's to delete a line.
308
309 1. Move the cursor to the second line in the phrase below.
310 2. Type dd to delete the line.
311 3. Now move to the fourth line.
312 4. Type 2dd to delete two lines.
313
314---> 1) Roses are red,
315---> 2) Mud is fun,
316---> 3) Violets are blue,
317---> 4) I have a car,
318---> 5) Clocks tell time,
319---> 6) Sugar is sweet
320---> 7) And so are you.
321
Bram Moolenaar4466ad62020-11-21 13:16:30 +0100322Doubling to operate on a line also works for operators mentioned below.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000323
324~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
325 Lesson 2.7: THE UNDO COMMAND
326
327
328 ** Press u to undo the last commands, U to fix a whole line. **
329
330 1. Move the cursor to the line below marked ---> and place it on the
331 first error.
332 2. Type x to delete the first unwanted character.
333 3. Now type u to undo the last command executed.
334 4. This time fix all the errors on the line using the x command.
335 5. Now type a capital U to return the line to its original state.
336 6. Now type u a few times to undo the U and preceding commands.
337 7. Now type CTRL-R (keeping CTRL key pressed while hitting R) a few times
338 to redo the commands (undo the undo's).
339
340---> Fiix the errors oon thhis line and reeplace them witth undo.
341
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200342 8. These are very useful commands. Now move on to the lesson 2 Summary.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000343
344
345
346
347~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
348 Lesson 2 SUMMARY
349
350
351 1. To delete from the cursor up to the next word type: dw
352 2. To delete from the cursor to the end of a line type: d$
353 3. To delete a whole line type: dd
354
355 4. To repeat a motion prepend it with a number: 2w
356 5. The format for a change command is:
357 operator [number] motion
358 where:
359 operator - is what to do, such as d for delete
360 [number] - is an optional count to repeat the motion
361 motion - moves over the text to operate on, such as w (word),
362 $ (to the end of line), etc.
363
364 6. To move to the start of the line use a zero: 0
365
366 7. To undo previous actions, type: u (lowercase u)
367 To undo all the changes on a line, type: U (capital U)
368 To undo the undo's, type: CTRL-R
369
370~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
371 Lesson 3.1: THE PUT COMMAND
372
373
374 ** Type p to put previously deleted text after the cursor. **
375
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200376 1. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000377
378 2. Type dd to delete the line and store it in a Vim register.
379
380 3. Move the cursor to the c) line, ABOVE where the deleted line should go.
381
382 4. Type p to put the line below the cursor.
383
384 5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 to put all the lines in correct order.
385
386---> d) Can you learn too?
387---> b) Violets are blue,
388---> c) Intelligence is learned,
389---> a) Roses are red,
390
391
392
393~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
394 Lesson 3.2: THE REPLACE COMMAND
395
396
397 ** Type rx to replace the character at the cursor with x . **
398
399 1. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->.
400
401 2. Move the cursor so that it is on top of the first error.
402
403 3. Type r and then the character which should be there.
404
405 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the first line is equal to the second one.
406
407---> Whan this lime was tuoed in, someone presswd some wrojg keys!
408---> When this line was typed in, someone pressed some wrong keys!
409
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200410 5. Now move on to lesson 3.3.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000411
412NOTE: Remember that you should be learning by doing, not memorization.
413
414
415
416~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
417 Lesson 3.3: THE CHANGE OPERATOR
418
419
420 ** To change until the end of a word, type ce . **
421
422 1. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->.
423
424 2. Place the cursor on the u in lubw.
425
426 3. Type ce and the correct word (in this case, type ine ).
427
428 4. Press <ESC> and move to the next character that needs to be changed.
429
430 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the first sentence is the same as the second.
431
432---> This lubw has a few wptfd that mrrf changing usf the change operator.
433---> This line has a few words that need changing using the change operator.
434
435Notice that ce deletes the word and places you in Insert mode.
Bram Moolenaar4466ad62020-11-21 13:16:30 +0100436 cc does the same for the whole line.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000437
438
439~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
440 Lesson 3.4: MORE CHANGES USING c
441
442
443 ** The change operator is used with the same motions as delete. **
444
445 1. The change operator works in the same way as delete. The format is:
446
447 c [number] motion
448
449 2. The motions are the same, such as w (word) and $ (end of line).
450
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200451 3. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000452
453 4. Move the cursor to the first error.
454
455 5. Type c$ and type the rest of the line like the second and press <ESC>.
456
457---> The end of this line needs some help to make it like the second.
458---> The end of this line needs to be corrected using the c$ command.
459
460NOTE: You can use the Backspace key to correct mistakes while typing.
461
462~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
463 Lesson 3 SUMMARY
464
465
466 1. To put back text that has just been deleted, type p . This puts the
467 deleted text AFTER the cursor (if a line was deleted it will go on the
468 line below the cursor).
469
470 2. To replace the character under the cursor, type r and then the
471 character you want to have there.
472
473 3. The change operator allows you to change from the cursor to where the
474 motion takes you. eg. Type ce to change from the cursor to the end of
475 the word, c$ to change to the end of a line.
476
477 4. The format for change is:
478
479 c [number] motion
480
481Now go on to the next lesson.
482
483
484
485~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
486 Lesson 4.1: CURSOR LOCATION AND FILE STATUS
487
488 ** Type CTRL-G to show your location in the file and the file status.
489 Type G to move to a line in the file. **
490
491 NOTE: Read this entire lesson before executing any of the steps!!
492
493 1. Hold down the Ctrl key and press g . We call this CTRL-G.
494 A message will appear at the bottom of the page with the filename and the
495 position in the file. Remember the line number for Step 3.
496
497NOTE: You may see the cursor position in the lower right corner of the screen
498 This happens when the 'ruler' option is set (see :help 'ruler' )
499
500 2. Press G to move you to the bottom of the file.
501 Type gg to move you to the start of the file.
502
503 3. Type the number of the line you were on and then G . This will
504 return you to the line you were on when you first pressed CTRL-G.
505
506 4. If you feel confident to do this, execute steps 1 through 3.
507
508~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
509 Lesson 4.2: THE SEARCH COMMAND
510
511
512 ** Type / followed by a phrase to search for the phrase. **
513
514 1. In Normal mode type the / character. Notice that it and the cursor
515 appear at the bottom of the screen as with the : command.
516
517 2. Now type 'errroor' <ENTER>. This is the word you want to search for.
518
519 3. To search for the same phrase again, simply type n .
520 To search for the same phrase in the opposite direction, type N .
521
522 4. To search for a phrase in the backward direction, use ? instead of / .
523
524 5. To go back to where you came from press CTRL-O (Keep Ctrl down while
525 pressing the letter o). Repeat to go back further. CTRL-I goes forward.
526
527---> "errroor" is not the way to spell error; errroor is an error.
528NOTE: When the search reaches the end of the file it will continue at the
529 start, unless the 'wrapscan' option has been reset.
530
531~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
532 Lesson 4.3: MATCHING PARENTHESES SEARCH
533
534
535 ** Type % to find a matching ),], or } . **
536
537 1. Place the cursor on any (, [, or { in the line below marked --->.
538
539 2. Now type the % character.
540
541 3. The cursor will move to the matching parenthesis or bracket.
542
543 4. Type % to move the cursor to the other matching bracket.
544
545 5. Move the cursor to another (,),[,],{ or } and see what % does.
546
547---> This ( is a test line with ('s, ['s ] and {'s } in it. ))
548
549
550NOTE: This is very useful in debugging a program with unmatched parentheses!
551
552
553
554~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
555 Lesson 4.4: THE SUBSTITUTE COMMAND
556
557
558 ** Type :s/old/new/g to substitute 'new' for 'old'. **
559
560 1. Move the cursor to the line below marked --->.
561
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200562 2. Type :s/thee/the <ENTER> . Note that this command only changes the
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000563 first occurrence of "thee" in the line.
564
565 3. Now type :s/thee/the/g . Adding the g flag means to substitute
566 globally in the line, change all occurrences of "thee" in the line.
567
568---> thee best time to see thee flowers is in thee spring.
569
570 4. To change every occurrence of a character string between two lines,
571 type :#,#s/old/new/g where #,# are the line numbers of the range
572 of lines where the substitution is to be done.
573 Type :%s/old/new/g to change every occurrence in the whole file.
574 Type :%s/old/new/gc to find every occurrence in the whole file,
575 with a prompt whether to substitute or not.
576
577~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
578 Lesson 4 SUMMARY
579
580
581 1. CTRL-G displays your location in the file and the file status.
582 G moves to the end of the file.
583 number G moves to that line number.
584 gg moves to the first line.
585
586 2. Typing / followed by a phrase searches FORWARD for the phrase.
587 Typing ? followed by a phrase searches BACKWARD for the phrase.
588 After a search type n to find the next occurrence in the same direction
589 or N to search in the opposite direction.
590 CTRL-O takes you back to older positions, CTRL-I to newer positions.
591
592 3. Typing % while the cursor is on a (,),[,],{, or } goes to its match.
593
594 4. To substitute new for the first old in a line type :s/old/new
595 To substitute new for all 'old's on a line type :s/old/new/g
596 To substitute phrases between two line #'s type :#,#s/old/new/g
597 To substitute all occurrences in the file type :%s/old/new/g
598 To ask for confirmation each time add 'c' :%s/old/new/gc
599
600~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
601 Lesson 5.1: HOW TO EXECUTE AN EXTERNAL COMMAND
602
603
604 ** Type :! followed by an external command to execute that command. **
605
606 1. Type the familiar command : to set the cursor at the bottom of the
607 screen. This allows you to enter a command-line command.
608
609 2. Now type the ! (exclamation point) character. This allows you to
610 execute any external shell command.
611
612 3. As an example type ls following the ! and then hit <ENTER>. This
613 will show you a listing of your directory, just as if you were at the
614 shell prompt. Or use :!dir if ls doesn't work.
615
616NOTE: It is possible to execute any external command this way, also with
617 arguments.
618
619NOTE: All : commands must be finished by hitting <ENTER>
620 From here on we will not always mention it.
621
622
623~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
624 Lesson 5.2: MORE ON WRITING FILES
625
626
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200627 ** To save the changes made to the text, type :w FILENAME **
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000628
629 1. Type :!dir or :!ls to get a listing of your directory.
630 You already know you must hit <ENTER> after this.
631
632 2. Choose a filename that does not exist yet, such as TEST.
633
634 3. Now type: :w TEST (where TEST is the filename you chose.)
635
636 4. This saves the whole file (the Vim Tutor) under the name TEST.
637 To verify this, type :!dir or :!ls again to see your directory.
638
639NOTE: If you were to exit Vim and start it again with vim TEST , the file
640 would be an exact copy of the tutor when you saved it.
641
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200642 5. Now remove the file by typing (Windows): :!del TEST
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000643 or (Unix): :!rm TEST
644
645
646~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
647 Lesson 5.3: SELECTING TEXT TO WRITE
648
649
650 ** To save part of the file, type v motion :w FILENAME **
651
652 1. Move the cursor to this line.
653
654 2. Press v and move the cursor to the fifth item below. Notice that the
655 text is highlighted.
656
657 3. Press the : character. At the bottom of the screen :'<,'> will appear.
658
659 4. Type w TEST , where TEST is a filename that does not exist yet. Verify
Bram Moolenaarc0f15ce2010-08-01 19:11:06 +0200660 that you see :'<,'>w TEST before you press <ENTER>.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000661
Bram Moolenaar97cc2382012-10-03 21:46:54 +0200662 5. Vim will write the selected lines to the file TEST. Use :!dir or :!ls
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000663 to see it. Do not remove it yet! We will use it in the next lesson.
664
665NOTE: Pressing v starts Visual selection. You can move the cursor around
666 to make the selection bigger or smaller. Then you can use an operator
667 to do something with the text. For example, d deletes the text.
668
669~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
670 Lesson 5.4: RETRIEVING AND MERGING FILES
671
672
673 ** To insert the contents of a file, type :r FILENAME **
674
675 1. Place the cursor just above this line.
676
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200677NOTE: After executing Step 2 you will see text from lesson 5.3. Then move
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000678 DOWN to see this lesson again.
679
680 2. Now retrieve your TEST file using the command :r TEST where TEST is
681 the name of the file you used.
682 The file you retrieve is placed below the cursor line.
683
684 3. To verify that a file was retrieved, cursor back and notice that there
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200685 are now two copies of lesson 5.3, the original and the file version.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000686
687NOTE: You can also read the output of an external command. For example,
688 :r !ls reads the output of the ls command and puts it below the
689 cursor.
690
691
692~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
693 Lesson 5 SUMMARY
694
695
696 1. :!command executes an external command.
697
698 Some useful examples are:
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200699 (Windows) (Unix)
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000700 :!dir :!ls - shows a directory listing.
701 :!del FILENAME :!rm FILENAME - removes file FILENAME.
702
703 2. :w FILENAME writes the current Vim file to disk with name FILENAME.
704
705 3. v motion :w FILENAME saves the Visually selected lines in file
706 FILENAME.
707
708 4. :r FILENAME retrieves disk file FILENAME and puts it below the
709 cursor position.
710
711 5. :r !dir reads the output of the dir command and puts it below the
712 cursor position.
713
714
715~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
716 Lesson 6.1: THE OPEN COMMAND
717
718
719 ** Type o to open a line below the cursor and place you in Insert mode. **
720
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200721 1. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000722
723 2. Type the lowercase letter o to open up a line BELOW the cursor and place
724 you in Insert mode.
725
726 3. Now type some text and press <ESC> to exit Insert mode.
727
728---> After typing o the cursor is placed on the open line in Insert mode.
729
730 4. To open up a line ABOVE the cursor, simply type a capital O , rather
731 than a lowercase o. Try this on the line below.
732
733---> Open up a line above this by typing O while the cursor is on this line.
734
735
736
737
738~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
739 Lesson 6.2: THE APPEND COMMAND
740
741
742 ** Type a to insert text AFTER the cursor. **
743
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200744 1. Move the cursor to the start of the first line below marked --->.
745
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000746 2. Press e until the cursor is on the end of li .
747
748 3. Type an a (lowercase) to append text AFTER the cursor.
749
750 4. Complete the word like the line below it. Press <ESC> to exit Insert
751 mode.
752
753 5. Use e to move to the next incomplete word and repeat steps 3 and 4.
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200754
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000755---> This li will allow you to pract appendi text to a line.
756---> This line will allow you to practice appending text to a line.
757
758NOTE: a, i and A all go to the same Insert mode, the only difference is where
759 the characters are inserted.
760
761~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
762 Lesson 6.3: ANOTHER WAY TO REPLACE
763
764
765 ** Type a capital R to replace more than one character. **
766
767 1. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->. Move the cursor to
768 the beginning of the first xxx .
769
770 2. Now press R and type the number below it in the second line, so that it
771 replaces the xxx .
772
773 3. Press <ESC> to leave Replace mode. Notice that the rest of the line
774 remains unmodified.
775
776 4. Repeat the steps to replace the remaining xxx.
777
778---> Adding 123 to xxx gives you xxx.
779---> Adding 123 to 456 gives you 579.
780
781NOTE: Replace mode is like Insert mode, but every typed character deletes an
782 existing character.
783
784~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
785 Lesson 6.4: COPY AND PASTE TEXT
786
787
788 ** Use the y operator to copy text and p to paste it **
789
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200790 1. Move to the line below marked ---> and place the cursor after "a)".
791
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000792 2. Start Visual mode with v and move the cursor to just before "first".
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200793
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000794 3. Type y to yank (copy) the highlighted text.
795
796 4. Move the cursor to the end of the next line: j$
797
798 5. Type p to put (paste) the text. Then type: a second <ESC> .
799
800 6. Use Visual mode to select " item.", yank it with y , move to the end of
801 the next line with j$ and put the text there with p .
802
803---> a) this is the first item.
804 b)
805
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +0200806 NOTE: You can also use y as an operator: yw yanks one word,
Bram Moolenaar4466ad62020-11-21 13:16:30 +0100807 yy yanks the whole line, then p puts that line.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000808~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
809 Lesson 6.5: SET OPTION
810
811
812 ** Set an option so a search or substitute ignores case **
813
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200814 1. Search for 'ignore' by entering: /ignore <ENTER>
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000815 Repeat several times by pressing n .
816
817 2. Set the 'ic' (Ignore case) option by entering: :set ic
818
819 3. Now search for 'ignore' again by pressing n
820 Notice that Ignore and IGNORE are now also found.
821
822 4. Set the 'hlsearch' and 'incsearch' options: :set hls is
823
824 5. Now type the search command again and see what happens: /ignore <ENTER>
825
826 6. To disable ignoring case enter: :set noic
827
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200828NOTE: To remove the highlighting of matches enter: :nohlsearch
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000829NOTE: If you want to ignore case for just one search command, use \c
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200830 in the phrase: /ignore\c <ENTER>
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000831~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
832 Lesson 6 SUMMARY
833
834 1. Type o to open a line BELOW the cursor and start Insert mode.
835 Type O to open a line ABOVE the cursor.
836
837 2. Type a to insert text AFTER the cursor.
838 Type A to insert text after the end of the line.
839
840 3. The e command moves to the end of a word.
841
842 4. The y operator yanks (copies) text, p puts (pastes) it.
843
844 5. Typing a capital R enters Replace mode until <ESC> is pressed.
845
846 6. Typing ":set xxx" sets the option "xxx". Some options are:
847 'ic' 'ignorecase' ignore upper/lower case when searching
848 'is' 'incsearch' show partial matches for a search phrase
849 'hls' 'hlsearch' highlight all matching phrases
850 You can either use the long or the short option name.
851
852 7. Prepend "no" to switch an option off: :set noic
853
854~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
855 Lesson 7.1: GETTING HELP
856
857
858 ** Use the on-line help system **
859
860 Vim has a comprehensive on-line help system. To get started, try one of
861 these three:
862 - press the <HELP> key (if you have one)
863 - press the <F1> key (if you have one)
864 - type :help <ENTER>
865
866 Read the text in the help window to find out how the help works.
867 Type CTRL-W CTRL-W to jump from one window to another.
868 Type :q <ENTER> to close the help window.
869
870 You can find help on just about any subject, by giving an argument to the
871 ":help" command. Try these (don't forget pressing <ENTER>):
872
873 :help w
874 :help c_CTRL-D
875 :help insert-index
876 :help user-manual
877~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
878 Lesson 7.2: CREATE A STARTUP SCRIPT
879
880
881 ** Enable Vim features **
882
883 Vim has many more features than Vi, but most of them are disabled by
884 default. To start using more features you have to create a "vimrc" file.
885
886 1. Start editing the "vimrc" file. This depends on your system:
887 :e ~/.vimrc for Unix
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200888 :e $VIM/_vimrc for Windows
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000889
890 2. Now read the example "vimrc" file contents:
891 :r $VIMRUNTIME/vimrc_example.vim
892
893 3. Write the file with:
894 :w
895
896 The next time you start Vim it will use syntax highlighting.
897 You can add all your preferred settings to this "vimrc" file.
898 For more information type :help vimrc-intro
899
900~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
901 Lesson 7.3: COMPLETION
902
903
904 ** Command line completion with CTRL-D and <TAB> **
905
906 1. Make sure Vim is not in compatible mode: :set nocp
907
908 2. Look what files exist in the directory: :!ls or :!dir
909
910 3. Type the start of a command: :e
911
912 4. Press CTRL-D and Vim will show a list of commands that start with "e".
913
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200914 5. Type d<TAB> and Vim will complete the command name to ":edit".
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000915
916 6. Now add a space and the start of an existing file name: :edit FIL
917
918 7. Press <TAB>. Vim will complete the name (if it is unique).
919
920NOTE: Completion works for many commands. Just try pressing CTRL-D and
921 <TAB>. It is especially useful for :help .
922
923~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
924 Lesson 7 SUMMARY
925
926
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200927 1. Type :help or press <F1> or <HELP> to open a help window.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000928
929 2. Type :help cmd to find help on cmd .
930
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200931 3. Type CTRL-W CTRL-W to jump to another window.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000932
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200933 4. Type :q to close the help window.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000934
935 5. Create a vimrc startup script to keep your preferred settings.
936
937 6. When typing a : command, press CTRL-D to see possible completions.
938 Press <TAB> to use one completion.
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
947
948 This concludes the Vim Tutor. It was intended to give a brief overview of
949 the Vim editor, just enough to allow you to use the editor fairly easily.
950 It is far from complete as Vim has many many more commands. Read the user
951 manual next: ":help user-manual".
952
953 For further reading and studying, this book is recommended:
954 Vim - Vi Improved - by Steve Oualline
955 Publisher: New Riders
956 The first book completely dedicated to Vim. Especially useful for beginners.
957 There are many examples and pictures.
958 See http://iccf-holland.org/click5.html
959
960 This book is older and more about Vi than Vim, but also recommended:
961 Learning the Vi Editor - by Linda Lamb
962 Publisher: O'Reilly & Associates Inc.
963 It is a good book to get to know almost anything you want to do with Vi.
964 The sixth edition also includes information on Vim.
965
966 This tutorial was written by Michael C. Pierce and Robert K. Ware,
967 Colorado School of Mines using ideas supplied by Charles Smith,
968 Colorado State University. E-mail: bware@mines.colorado.edu.
969
970 Modified for Vim by Bram Moolenaar.
971
972~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~