blob: da28a15313637fe66b1f868f2ebcc82161ca943f [file] [log] [blame]
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
10 The approximate time required to complete the tutor is 25-30 minutes,
11 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
15 file to practise on (if you started "vimtutor" this is already a copy).
16
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
21 Now, make sure that your Shift-Lock key is NOT depressed and press
22 the j key enough times to move the cursor so that Lesson 1.1
23 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
39 3. Using the down key, move to Lesson 1.2.
40
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
58 3. When you see the shell prompt, type the command that got you into this
59 tutor. That would be: vimtutor <ENTER>
60
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
67 5. Move the cursor down to Lesson 1.3.
68
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
87 5. Now that the line is correct, go on to Lesson 1.4.
88
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
102 of the first character AFTER where the text is to be inserted.
103
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
129 4. Move the cursor to the second line marked ---> and repeat
130 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
155 4. Save the file with changes and exit Vim with: :wq <ENTER>
156
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.
161
162~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
183Now continue with Lesson 2.
184
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
205 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the sentence is correct and go to Lesson 2.2.
206
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
225 5. Move on to Lesson 2.3 to understand what is happening.
226
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
260 1. Move the cursor to the start of the line marked ---> below.
261
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
272 6. Move on to Lesson 2.5.
273
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
289 2. Type d2w to delete the two UPPER CASE words
290
291 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with a different count to delete the consecutive
292 UPPER CASE words with one command
293
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
322
323~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
324 Lesson 2.7: THE UNDO COMMAND
325
326
327 ** Press u to undo the last commands, U to fix a whole line. **
328
329 1. Move the cursor to the line below marked ---> and place it on the
330 first error.
331 2. Type x to delete the first unwanted character.
332 3. Now type u to undo the last command executed.
333 4. This time fix all the errors on the line using the x command.
334 5. Now type a capital U to return the line to its original state.
335 6. Now type u a few times to undo the U and preceding commands.
336 7. Now type CTRL-R (keeping CTRL key pressed while hitting R) a few times
337 to redo the commands (undo the undo's).
338
339---> Fiix the errors oon thhis line and reeplace them witth undo.
340
341 8. These are very useful commands. Now move on to the Lesson 2 Summary.
342
343
344
345
346~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
347 Lesson 2 SUMMARY
348
349
350 1. To delete from the cursor up to the next word type: dw
351 2. To delete from the cursor to the end of a line type: d$
352 3. To delete a whole line type: dd
353
354 4. To repeat a motion prepend it with a number: 2w
355 5. The format for a change command is:
356 operator [number] motion
357 where:
358 operator - is what to do, such as d for delete
359 [number] - is an optional count to repeat the motion
360 motion - moves over the text to operate on, such as w (word),
361 $ (to the end of line), etc.
362
363 6. To move to the start of the line use a zero: 0
364
365 7. To undo previous actions, type: u (lowercase u)
366 To undo all the changes on a line, type: U (capital U)
367 To undo the undo's, type: CTRL-R
368
369~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
370 Lesson 3.1: THE PUT COMMAND
371
372
373 ** Type p to put previously deleted text after the cursor. **
374
375 1. Move the cursor to the first ---> line below.
376
377 2. Type dd to delete the line and store it in a Vim register.
378
379 3. Move the cursor to the c) line, ABOVE where the deleted line should go.
380
381 4. Type p to put the line below the cursor.
382
383 5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 to put all the lines in correct order.
384
385---> d) Can you learn too?
386---> b) Violets are blue,
387---> c) Intelligence is learned,
388---> a) Roses are red,
389
390
391
392~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
393 Lesson 3.2: THE REPLACE COMMAND
394
395
396 ** Type rx to replace the character at the cursor with x . **
397
398 1. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->.
399
400 2. Move the cursor so that it is on top of the first error.
401
402 3. Type r and then the character which should be there.
403
404 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the first line is equal to the second one.
405
406---> Whan this lime was tuoed in, someone presswd some wrojg keys!
407---> When this line was typed in, someone pressed some wrong keys!
408
409 5. Now move on to Lesson 3.3.
410
411NOTE: Remember that you should be learning by doing, not memorization.
412
413
414
415~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
416 Lesson 3.3: THE CHANGE OPERATOR
417
418
419 ** To change until the end of a word, type ce . **
420
421 1. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->.
422
423 2. Place the cursor on the u in lubw.
424
425 3. Type ce and the correct word (in this case, type ine ).
426
427 4. Press <ESC> and move to the next character that needs to be changed.
428
429 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the first sentence is the same as the second.
430
431---> This lubw has a few wptfd that mrrf changing usf the change operator.
432---> This line has a few words that need changing using the change operator.
433
434Notice that ce deletes the word and places you in Insert mode.
435
436
437
438~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
439 Lesson 3.4: MORE CHANGES USING c
440
441
442 ** The change operator is used with the same motions as delete. **
443
444 1. The change operator works in the same way as delete. The format is:
445
446 c [number] motion
447
448 2. The motions are the same, such as w (word) and $ (end of line).
449
450 3. Move to the first line below marked --->.
451
452 4. Move the cursor to the first error.
453
454 5. Type c$ and type the rest of the line like the second and press <ESC>.
455
456---> The end of this line needs some help to make it like the second.
457---> The end of this line needs to be corrected using the c$ command.
458
459NOTE: You can use the Backspace key to correct mistakes while typing.
460
461~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
462 Lesson 3 SUMMARY
463
464
465 1. To put back text that has just been deleted, type p . This puts the
466 deleted text AFTER the cursor (if a line was deleted it will go on the
467 line below the cursor).
468
469 2. To replace the character under the cursor, type r and then the
470 character you want to have there.
471
472 3. The change operator allows you to change from the cursor to where the
473 motion takes you. eg. Type ce to change from the cursor to the end of
474 the word, c$ to change to the end of a line.
475
476 4. The format for change is:
477
478 c [number] motion
479
480Now go on to the next lesson.
481
482
483
484~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
485 Lesson 4.1: CURSOR LOCATION AND FILE STATUS
486
487 ** Type CTRL-G to show your location in the file and the file status.
488 Type G to move to a line in the file. **
489
490 NOTE: Read this entire lesson before executing any of the steps!!
491
492 1. Hold down the Ctrl key and press g . We call this CTRL-G.
493 A message will appear at the bottom of the page with the filename and the
494 position in the file. Remember the line number for Step 3.
495
496NOTE: You may see the cursor position in the lower right corner of the screen
497 This happens when the 'ruler' option is set (see :help 'ruler' )
498
499 2. Press G to move you to the bottom of the file.
500 Type gg to move you to the start of the file.
501
502 3. Type the number of the line you were on and then G . This will
503 return you to the line you were on when you first pressed CTRL-G.
504
505 4. If you feel confident to do this, execute steps 1 through 3.
506
507~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
508 Lesson 4.2: THE SEARCH COMMAND
509
510
511 ** Type / followed by a phrase to search for the phrase. **
512
513 1. In Normal mode type the / character. Notice that it and the cursor
514 appear at the bottom of the screen as with the : command.
515
516 2. Now type 'errroor' <ENTER>. This is the word you want to search for.
517
518 3. To search for the same phrase again, simply type n .
519 To search for the same phrase in the opposite direction, type N .
520
521 4. To search for a phrase in the backward direction, use ? instead of / .
522
523 5. To go back to where you came from press CTRL-O (Keep Ctrl down while
524 pressing the letter o). Repeat to go back further. CTRL-I goes forward.
525
526---> "errroor" is not the way to spell error; errroor is an error.
527NOTE: When the search reaches the end of the file it will continue at the
528 start, unless the 'wrapscan' option has been reset.
529
530~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
531 Lesson 4.3: MATCHING PARENTHESES SEARCH
532
533
534 ** Type % to find a matching ),], or } . **
535
536 1. Place the cursor on any (, [, or { in the line below marked --->.
537
538 2. Now type the % character.
539
540 3. The cursor will move to the matching parenthesis or bracket.
541
542 4. Type % to move the cursor to the other matching bracket.
543
544 5. Move the cursor to another (,),[,],{ or } and see what % does.
545
546---> This ( is a test line with ('s, ['s ] and {'s } in it. ))
547
548
549NOTE: This is very useful in debugging a program with unmatched parentheses!
550
551
552
553~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
554 Lesson 4.4: THE SUBSTITUTE COMMAND
555
556
557 ** Type :s/old/new/g to substitute 'new' for 'old'. **
558
559 1. Move the cursor to the line below marked --->.
560
561 2. Type :s/thee/the <ENTER> . Note that this command only changes the
562 first occurrence of "thee" in the line.
563
564 3. Now type :s/thee/the/g . Adding the g flag means to substitute
565 globally in the line, change all occurrences of "thee" in the line.
566
567---> thee best time to see thee flowers is in thee spring.
568
569 4. To change every occurrence of a character string between two lines,
570 type :#,#s/old/new/g where #,# are the line numbers of the range
571 of lines where the substitution is to be done.
572 Type :%s/old/new/g to change every occurrence in the whole file.
573 Type :%s/old/new/gc to find every occurrence in the whole file,
574 with a prompt whether to substitute or not.
575
576~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
577 Lesson 4 SUMMARY
578
579
580 1. CTRL-G displays your location in the file and the file status.
581 G moves to the end of the file.
582 number G moves to that line number.
583 gg moves to the first line.
584
585 2. Typing / followed by a phrase searches FORWARD for the phrase.
586 Typing ? followed by a phrase searches BACKWARD for the phrase.
587 After a search type n to find the next occurrence in the same direction
588 or N to search in the opposite direction.
589 CTRL-O takes you back to older positions, CTRL-I to newer positions.
590
591 3. Typing % while the cursor is on a (,),[,],{, or } goes to its match.
592
593 4. To substitute new for the first old in a line type :s/old/new
594 To substitute new for all 'old's on a line type :s/old/new/g
595 To substitute phrases between two line #'s type :#,#s/old/new/g
596 To substitute all occurrences in the file type :%s/old/new/g
597 To ask for confirmation each time add 'c' :%s/old/new/gc
598
599~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
600 Lesson 5.1: HOW TO EXECUTE AN EXTERNAL COMMAND
601
602
603 ** Type :! followed by an external command to execute that command. **
604
605 1. Type the familiar command : to set the cursor at the bottom of the
606 screen. This allows you to enter a command-line command.
607
608 2. Now type the ! (exclamation point) character. This allows you to
609 execute any external shell command.
610
611 3. As an example type ls following the ! and then hit <ENTER>. This
612 will show you a listing of your directory, just as if you were at the
613 shell prompt. Or use :!dir if ls doesn't work.
614
615NOTE: It is possible to execute any external command this way, also with
616 arguments.
617
618NOTE: All : commands must be finished by hitting <ENTER>
619 From here on we will not always mention it.
620
621
622~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
623 Lesson 5.2: MORE ON WRITING FILES
624
625
626 ** To save the changes made to the text, type :w FILENAME. **
627
628 1. Type :!dir or :!ls to get a listing of your directory.
629 You already know you must hit <ENTER> after this.
630
631 2. Choose a filename that does not exist yet, such as TEST.
632
633 3. Now type: :w TEST (where TEST is the filename you chose.)
634
635 4. This saves the whole file (the Vim Tutor) under the name TEST.
636 To verify this, type :!dir or :!ls again to see your directory.
637
638NOTE: If you were to exit Vim and start it again with vim TEST , the file
639 would be an exact copy of the tutor when you saved it.
640
641 5. Now remove the file by typing (MS-DOS): :!del TEST
642 or (Unix): :!rm TEST
643
644
645~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
646 Lesson 5.3: SELECTING TEXT TO WRITE
647
648
649 ** To save part of the file, type v motion :w FILENAME **
650
651 1. Move the cursor to this line.
652
653 2. Press v and move the cursor to the fifth item below. Notice that the
654 text is highlighted.
655
656 3. Press the : character. At the bottom of the screen :'<,'> will appear.
657
658 4. Type w TEST , where TEST is a filename that does not exist yet. Verify
Bram Moolenaarc0f15ce2010-08-01 19:11:06 +0200659 that you see :'<,'>w TEST before you press <ENTER>.
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000660
Bram Moolenaar97cc2382012-10-03 21:46:54 +0200661 5. Vim will write the selected lines to the file TEST. Use :!dir or :!ls
Bram Moolenaar8c8de832008-06-24 22:58:06 +0000662 to see it. Do not remove it yet! We will use it in the next lesson.
663
664NOTE: Pressing v starts Visual selection. You can move the cursor around
665 to make the selection bigger or smaller. Then you can use an operator
666 to do something with the text. For example, d deletes the text.
667
668~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
669 Lesson 5.4: RETRIEVING AND MERGING FILES
670
671
672 ** To insert the contents of a file, type :r FILENAME **
673
674 1. Place the cursor just above this line.
675
676NOTE: After executing Step 2 you will see text from Lesson 5.3. Then move
677 DOWN to see this lesson again.
678
679 2. Now retrieve your TEST file using the command :r TEST where TEST is
680 the name of the file you used.
681 The file you retrieve is placed below the cursor line.
682
683 3. To verify that a file was retrieved, cursor back and notice that there
684 are now two copies of Lesson 5.3, the original and the file version.
685
686NOTE: You can also read the output of an external command. For example,
687 :r !ls reads the output of the ls command and puts it below the
688 cursor.
689
690
691~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
692 Lesson 5 SUMMARY
693
694
695 1. :!command executes an external command.
696
697 Some useful examples are:
698 (MS-DOS) (Unix)
699 :!dir :!ls - shows a directory listing.
700 :!del FILENAME :!rm FILENAME - removes file FILENAME.
701
702 2. :w FILENAME writes the current Vim file to disk with name FILENAME.
703
704 3. v motion :w FILENAME saves the Visually selected lines in file
705 FILENAME.
706
707 4. :r FILENAME retrieves disk file FILENAME and puts it below the
708 cursor position.
709
710 5. :r !dir reads the output of the dir command and puts it below the
711 cursor position.
712
713
714~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
715 Lesson 6.1: THE OPEN COMMAND
716
717
718 ** Type o to open a line below the cursor and place you in Insert mode. **
719
720 1. Move the cursor to the line below marked --->.
721
722 2. Type the lowercase letter o to open up a line BELOW the cursor and place
723 you in Insert mode.
724
725 3. Now type some text and press <ESC> to exit Insert mode.
726
727---> After typing o the cursor is placed on the open line in Insert mode.
728
729 4. To open up a line ABOVE the cursor, simply type a capital O , rather
730 than a lowercase o. Try this on the line below.
731
732---> Open up a line above this by typing O while the cursor is on this line.
733
734
735
736
737~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
738 Lesson 6.2: THE APPEND COMMAND
739
740
741 ** Type a to insert text AFTER the cursor. **
742
743 1. Move the cursor to the start of the line below marked --->.
744
745 2. Press e until the cursor is on the end of li .
746
747 3. Type an a (lowercase) to append text AFTER the cursor.
748
749 4. Complete the word like the line below it. Press <ESC> to exit Insert
750 mode.
751
752 5. Use e to move to the next incomplete word and repeat steps 3 and 4.
753
754---> This li will allow you to pract appendi text to a line.
755---> This line will allow you to practice appending text to a line.
756
757NOTE: a, i and A all go to the same Insert mode, the only difference is where
758 the characters are inserted.
759
760~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
761 Lesson 6.3: ANOTHER WAY TO REPLACE
762
763
764 ** Type a capital R to replace more than one character. **
765
766 1. Move the cursor to the first line below marked --->. Move the cursor to
767 the beginning of the first xxx .
768
769 2. Now press R and type the number below it in the second line, so that it
770 replaces the xxx .
771
772 3. Press <ESC> to leave Replace mode. Notice that the rest of the line
773 remains unmodified.
774
775 4. Repeat the steps to replace the remaining xxx.
776
777---> Adding 123 to xxx gives you xxx.
778---> Adding 123 to 456 gives you 579.
779
780NOTE: Replace mode is like Insert mode, but every typed character deletes an
781 existing character.
782
783~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
784 Lesson 6.4: COPY AND PASTE TEXT
785
786
787 ** Use the y operator to copy text and p to paste it **
788
789 1. Go to the line marked with ---> below and place the cursor after "a)".
790
791 2. Start Visual mode with v and move the cursor to just before "first".
792
793 3. Type y to yank (copy) the highlighted text.
794
795 4. Move the cursor to the end of the next line: j$
796
797 5. Type p to put (paste) the text. Then type: a second <ESC> .
798
799 6. Use Visual mode to select " item.", yank it with y , move to the end of
800 the next line with j$ and put the text there with p .
801
802---> a) this is the first item.
803 b)
804
805 NOTE: you can also use y as an operator; yw yanks one word.
806~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
807 Lesson 6.5: SET OPTION
808
809
810 ** Set an option so a search or substitute ignores case **
811
812 1. Search for 'ignore' by entering: /ignore <ENTER>
813 Repeat several times by pressing n .
814
815 2. Set the 'ic' (Ignore case) option by entering: :set ic
816
817 3. Now search for 'ignore' again by pressing n
818 Notice that Ignore and IGNORE are now also found.
819
820 4. Set the 'hlsearch' and 'incsearch' options: :set hls is
821
822 5. Now type the search command again and see what happens: /ignore <ENTER>
823
824 6. To disable ignoring case enter: :set noic
825
826NOTE: To remove the highlighting of matches enter: :nohlsearch
827NOTE: If you want to ignore case for just one search command, use \c
828 in the phrase: /ignore\c <ENTER>
829~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
830 Lesson 6 SUMMARY
831
832 1. Type o to open a line BELOW the cursor and start Insert mode.
833 Type O to open a line ABOVE the cursor.
834
835 2. Type a to insert text AFTER the cursor.
836 Type A to insert text after the end of the line.
837
838 3. The e command moves to the end of a word.
839
840 4. The y operator yanks (copies) text, p puts (pastes) it.
841
842 5. Typing a capital R enters Replace mode until <ESC> is pressed.
843
844 6. Typing ":set xxx" sets the option "xxx". Some options are:
845 'ic' 'ignorecase' ignore upper/lower case when searching
846 'is' 'incsearch' show partial matches for a search phrase
847 'hls' 'hlsearch' highlight all matching phrases
848 You can either use the long or the short option name.
849
850 7. Prepend "no" to switch an option off: :set noic
851
852~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
853 Lesson 7.1: GETTING HELP
854
855
856 ** Use the on-line help system **
857
858 Vim has a comprehensive on-line help system. To get started, try one of
859 these three:
860 - press the <HELP> key (if you have one)
861 - press the <F1> key (if you have one)
862 - type :help <ENTER>
863
864 Read the text in the help window to find out how the help works.
865 Type CTRL-W CTRL-W to jump from one window to another.
866 Type :q <ENTER> to close the help window.
867
868 You can find help on just about any subject, by giving an argument to the
869 ":help" command. Try these (don't forget pressing <ENTER>):
870
871 :help w
872 :help c_CTRL-D
873 :help insert-index
874 :help user-manual
875~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
876 Lesson 7.2: CREATE A STARTUP SCRIPT
877
878
879 ** Enable Vim features **
880
881 Vim has many more features than Vi, but most of them are disabled by
882 default. To start using more features you have to create a "vimrc" file.
883
884 1. Start editing the "vimrc" file. This depends on your system:
885 :e ~/.vimrc for Unix
886 :e $VIM/_vimrc for MS-Windows
887
888 2. Now read the example "vimrc" file contents:
889 :r $VIMRUNTIME/vimrc_example.vim
890
891 3. Write the file with:
892 :w
893
894 The next time you start Vim it will use syntax highlighting.
895 You can add all your preferred settings to this "vimrc" file.
896 For more information type :help vimrc-intro
897
898~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
899 Lesson 7.3: COMPLETION
900
901
902 ** Command line completion with CTRL-D and <TAB> **
903
904 1. Make sure Vim is not in compatible mode: :set nocp
905
906 2. Look what files exist in the directory: :!ls or :!dir
907
908 3. Type the start of a command: :e
909
910 4. Press CTRL-D and Vim will show a list of commands that start with "e".
911
912 5. Press <TAB> and Vim will complete the command name to ":edit".
913
914 6. Now add a space and the start of an existing file name: :edit FIL
915
916 7. Press <TAB>. Vim will complete the name (if it is unique).
917
918NOTE: Completion works for many commands. Just try pressing CTRL-D and
919 <TAB>. It is especially useful for :help .
920
921~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
922 Lesson 7 SUMMARY
923
924
925 1. Type :help or press <F1> or <Help> to open a help window.
926
927 2. Type :help cmd to find help on cmd .
928
929 3. Type CTRL-W CTRL-W to jump to another window
930
931 4. Type :q to close the help window
932
933 5. Create a vimrc startup script to keep your preferred settings.
934
935 6. When typing a : command, press CTRL-D to see possible completions.
936 Press <TAB> to use one completion.
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
945
946 This concludes the Vim Tutor. It was intended to give a brief overview of
947 the Vim editor, just enough to allow you to use the editor fairly easily.
948 It is far from complete as Vim has many many more commands. Read the user
949 manual next: ":help user-manual".
950
951 For further reading and studying, this book is recommended:
952 Vim - Vi Improved - by Steve Oualline
953 Publisher: New Riders
954 The first book completely dedicated to Vim. Especially useful for beginners.
955 There are many examples and pictures.
956 See http://iccf-holland.org/click5.html
957
958 This book is older and more about Vi than Vim, but also recommended:
959 Learning the Vi Editor - by Linda Lamb
960 Publisher: O'Reilly & Associates Inc.
961 It is a good book to get to know almost anything you want to do with Vi.
962 The sixth edition also includes information on Vim.
963
964 This tutorial was written by Michael C. Pierce and Robert K. Ware,
965 Colorado School of Mines using ideas supplied by Charles Smith,
966 Colorado State University. E-mail: bware@mines.colorado.edu.
967
968 Modified for Vim by Bram Moolenaar.
969
970~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~