Vi editor

Search and replace

Replace all oldtext to newtext starting at line 1 to last line ($). s means search and g globally - not just once.

:1,$s/oldtext/newtext/g

FAQ

Syntax highlighting

To use syntax highlighting temporarily use the command :syntax on. To switch it off again use :syntax off.

To use syntax highlighting permanently use

[root@mars ~]# <input>echo "syntax on" >> $HOME/.vimrc</input>

Line numbers in vi

To use line numbers temporarily use the command :set number. To switch it off again use :set nonumber.

To use line number permanently use

[root@mars ~]# <input>echo "set number" >> $HOME/.vimrc</input>

Which editor mode are I'm in

Use showmode option. Shown below

[root@mars ~]# <input>echo "set showmode" >> $HOME/.vimrc</input>

Now you can see which mode you are in by looking at the bottom line

1. In insert mode it will write -- INSERT --
2. In replace mode it will write -- REPLACE --
3. In line command mode it will write a colon (:) in the lower left cornor of the screen.
4. In command mode - empty or everything else

VIM and FreeBSD malfunctioning arrow keys in insert mode

Set vim to work in nocompatible mode. Not as old vi.

[root@mars ~]# <input>echo "set nocompatible" >> $HOME/.vimrc</input>

Inserting control characters in documents

Using the <CTRL>-v and A inserts SOH (001) See ASC-II. <CTRL>-v and <ESC> inserts <ESC>. Remember capital letters.

To see non-visible characters use set list turn of again with set nolist

Forcing UTF8 in vim

Add the following lines to your $HOME/.vimrc

Note

Remember to set your terminal to UTF-8

set encoding=utf-8
set fileencoding=utf-8
set fileencodings=utf-8

or

set nocompatible
syntax off
set showmode
set tabstop=4
set encoding=utf-8
set fileencoding=utf-8
set fileencodings=utf-8