Learn Vim

Mode

VIM has multiple modes: basic mode and derived mode

Basic mode

Normal mode

Default mode, the first time you open a file with VIM, you enter this mode. Also called command mode

Use Ctrl + g to display the current file name and some other information

Visual mode

In Normal mode, enter v , V or Ctrl + v to enter visual mode. This mode can select an editing area, and then perform insert , delete , replace , change case etc. operations on the selected file content.

• Character selection mode: select all characters passed by the cursor, enter v in normal mode

• Line selection mode: select all lines passed by the cursor, enter V in normal mode

• Block selection mode: select all text in a rectangular box, enter Ctrl + v in normal mode

Use o to switch between the top left and bottom right of the selected area

Select mode

• Use mouse or cursor key to highlight text

• Any input will replace the highlighted text

• Enter insert mode

https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv12497070

Insert mode

You can insert your input into the current document

Enter insert mode from normal mode

• i 光标的前一个字符处
• I 光标当前行的行首
• a 光标的后一个字符处
• A 光标当前行的行尾
• o 光标当前行的下一行
• O 光标当前行的上一行

Command-Line mode

Enter command-line mode from normal mode

Some commonly used commands

• :set number display line number, short for :se[t] nu[mber]
• :set nonumber close display line number, short for :se[t] nonu[mber]
• :set relativenumber display relative line number, short for se[t] rnu , this will set :se nu at the same time, the current line will display the absolute line number, and the upper and lower parts will display the relative line number
• :w save the current edited file
• :wq save the current edited file and exit
• :w! force to save the current file
• :q exit vim
• :q! force exit
• :write [fileName] save the current file as fileName and open
• :saveas [fileName] save the current file as fileName, short for :sav [fileName]
• / search, n find the previous, N find the previous

reference

https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv12686699

Ex mode

Ex means Execute

Use gQ in normal mode to enter, use :visual to exit

https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv12497070

Vim text editing commands

Insert

Enter insert mode from normal mode

• i the previous character of the cursor
• I the beginning of the current line
• a the next character of the cursor
• A the end of the current line
• o the next line below the cursor
• O the previous line above the cursor

Delete

In normal mode

• x delete the one character at the cursor position
• dd delete the line where the cursor is located
• d0 delete the beginning of the current line
• d$ delete the end of the current line
• db 、dB delete the beginning of the current word
• dw 、dW delete the end of the current word
• cb 、cB delete the beginning of the current word, and enter insert mode
• cw 、cW delete the end of the current word, and enter insert mode

Copy, paste

In normal mode

• yw copy the content from the cursor position to the end of the current word

• yy copy the current line

• p copy the copied text content to the next character of the cursor

• P copy the copied text content to the previous character of the cursor

Replace

• r replace the one character at the cursor position
• R replace until the ESC key is pressed

Undo

• u undo
• U undo the content

Save

• :w save the current edited file
• :wq save the current edited file and exit
• :w! force to save the current file

Save as

• :write [fileName] save the current file as fileName and open
• :saveas [fileName] save the current file as fileName, short for :sav [fileName]

Vim position

• In normal mode, you can use h 、j 、k 、l to move left , down , up , right

• gg to the beginning of the current line

• G to the end of the current line

Reference

• http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/
• https://www.runoob.com/linux/linux-vim.html