How to edit vi editor in Linux?

How to Edit vi Editor in Linux

The vi editor, short for ‘version control’, is one of the most widely used text editors in Linux. It is a powerful tool that allows users to edit and manage files on a system level. Editing vi in Linux can be a bit challenging if you are not familiar with it, but with this article, you will learn the basics of using vi and be able to edit files efficiently.

Setting Up vi

Before you can edit a file in vi, you need to set it up. Here are the steps to follow:

• Open vi: The first step is to open the vi editor. You can do this by running the command vi in your terminal.
• Navigate to the file: Once the vi editor is open, navigate to the file you want to edit using the key. Press to switch to insert mode and + to switch to normal mode.
• Edit the file: To edit the file, type wq to write the changes and then . The changes will be saved to the file.

Basic vi Editing Commands

Here are some basic vi editing commands to get you started:

• : Replace the current line with the next line.
• : Insert a space at the current cursor position.
• <Ctrl+E>: Go to the beginning of the current line.
• <Ctrl+R>: Go to the end of the current line.
• <Ctrl+D>: Delete the current line.
• <Ctrl+Y>: Repeat the last command.
• <Ctrl+G>: Go to the beginning of the line.

Basic Editing Commands

Here are some basic editing commands to get you started:

• : Replace the current line with the next line.
• : Insert a space at the current cursor position.
• <Ctrl+E>: Go to the beginning of the current line.
• <Ctrl+R>: Go to the end of the current line.
• <Ctrl+D>: Delete the current line.
• <Ctrl+Y>: Repeat the last command.
• <Ctrl+G>: Go to the beginning of the line.
• <!>: Display the current buffer.
• : Quit editing the file.

Vi Configuration Files

Vi editors have a few configuration files that store their settings. Here are the settings for a few common configurations:

Configuration File	Settings
.vimrc	Save the vi configuration file with this name in your home directory. The following lines are commonly used: set tabstop=4 set shiftwidth=4 set expandtab filetype=unix
~/.vimrc	Save the vi configuration file with this name in your home directory. The following lines are commonly used: set tabstop=4 set shiftwidth=4 set expandtab filetype=unix

Common Issues and Solutions

Here are some common issues and solutions to help you troubleshoot:

• No file saved: If the vi file is not saved, you will see a red underscore at the top of the screen. Type wq to write the changes and save the file.
• Vi file not detected: If the vi file is not detected, you may need to manually navigate to the file using the <Esc> > keys.
• vi file is very large: If the vi file is very large, you may need to use the <Ctrl+X> <Ctrl+X> <Ctrl+X> command to resize the file.

Advanced vi Editing Techniques

Here are some advanced vi editing techniques to help you improve your editing skills:

• Auto completion: Use the <Tab> key to auto-complete words in the file.
• Word wrapping: Use the <Ctrl+R> key to wrap the text on a line.
• Line splitting: Use the <Ctrl+K> key to split the text on a line.

Vi Plugins

Vi plugins can be useful for many tasks, such as:

• Auto-completion: Use plugins like fish plug-in to add auto-completion features to the vi editor.
• Syntax highlighting: Use plugins like vim-replace to add syntax highlighting to the vi editor.
• Auto-save: Use plugins like luasnip to auto-save the changes to the file.

Conclusion

Editing vi in Linux can be a bit challenging, but with practice and patience, you can become proficient in using the vi editor. This article has covered the basics of using vi, setting up vi, basic vi editing commands, basic editing commands, vi configuration files, common issues and solutions, advanced vi editing techniques, and vi plugins. With this knowledge, you will be able to edit files efficiently and effectively in the vi editor.