pilotoespacial/notes-for-mastering-vi

This is a repository tracing my carrer using the vi editor

Notas para manejar como un pro el editor de texto VI y sus predecesores, vim, neovim, lvim...

Lesson 1 SUMMARY

1. The cursor is moved using either the arrow keys or the hjkl keys. h (left) j (down) k (up) l (right)

2. To start Neovim from the shell prompt type:

    $ nvim FILENAME

3. To exit Neovim type: <Esc>{normal} :q!{vim} <Enter>{normal} to trash all changes. OR type: <Esc>{normal} :wq{vim} <Enter>{normal} to save the changes.

4. To delete the character at the cursor type: x{normal}

5. To insert or append text type: i{normal} insert text <Esc>{normal} insert before the cursor. A{normal} append text <Esc>{normal} append after the line.

NOTE: Pressing <Esc>{normal} will place you in Normal mode or will cancel an unwanted and partially completed command.

Lesson 2 SUMMARY

1. To delete from the cursor up to the next word type: dw{normal}

2. To delete from the cursor to the end of a line type: d${normal}

3. To delete a whole line type: dd{normal}

4. To repeat a motion prepend it with a number: 2w{normal}

5. The format for a change command is:

   operator   [number]   motion
   

   where:

   operator -   is what to do, such as [d](d) for delete
   [number] -   is an optional count to repeat the motion
   motion   -   moves over the text to operate on, such as:
                   [w](w) (word),
                   [$]($) (to the end of line), etc.
   

6. To move to the start of the line use a zero: 0

7. To undo previous actions, type: u{normal} (lowercase u) To undo all the changes on a line, type: U{normal} (capital U) To undo the undo's, type: <C-r>{normal}

Lesson 3 SUMMARY

1. To put back text that has just been deleted, type p. This puts the deleted text AFTER the cursor (if a line was deleted it will go on the line below the cursor).

2. To replace the character under the cursor, type r and then the character you want to have there.

3. The change operator allows you to change from the cursor to where the motion takes you. Type ce{normal} to change from the cursor to the end of the word, c${normal} to change to the end of a line, etc.

4. The format for change is:

   c   [number]   motion
   

Lesson 4 SUMMARY

1. <C-g>{normal} displays your location and the file status. G{normal} moves to the end of the file. number G{normal} moves to that line number. gg{normal} moves to the first line.

2. Typing /{normal} followed by a phrase searches FORWARD for the phrase. Typing ?{normal} followed by a phrase searches BACKWARD for the phrase. After a search type n{normal} to find the next occurrence in the same direction or N{normal} to search in the opposite direction. <C-o>{normal} takes you back to older positions, <C-i>{normal} to newer positions.

3. Typing %{normal} while the cursor is on a (,),[,],{, or } goes to its match.

4. To substitute new for the first old in a line type

        :s/old/new

To substitute new for all 'old's on a line type

        :s/old/new/g

To substitute phrases between two line #'s type

        :#,#s/old/new/g

To substitute all occurrences in the file type

        :%s/old/new/g

To ask for confirmation each time add 'c'

        :%s/old/new/gc