- Write to a new file
-
:w FileName
- To search a file
-
/ThingToLookFor
- To search and replace
-
:s/ThingToReplace/ThingToWrite
- - globally
-
:%s/ThingToReplace/ThingToWrite/g
- - globally with confirmation
-
:%s/ThingToReplace/ThingToWrite/gc
Useful configuration:
syntax on
- enables syntax highlighting
colorscheme desert
- my favorite colorsheme
set bg=dark
- makes the background dark (and the text bright enough to stand out on it)
set hlsearch
- highlights search results in the file
let fortran_free_source=1
- Ignores the rule that lines in Fortran files should stop after a certain number of characters
set wrap linebreak nolist
- Enable graphical line wrapping without breaking words
set nowrap
- Disable line wrapping
Macros
Recording macros allows you to repeat certain tasks much more efficiently. To record a macro, type q char
where char
is a character that the macro will be tied to (a letter, a number), ex.: q 2
to tie a macro to the 2
key. Once that is done, a message appears at the bottom of the window, showing recording
, indicating that vi is recording your actions so it can reproduce them later. Performing the actions as usual, followed by pressing q
again once out of insert/replace mode, will create the macro. To use it, type @char
where char
is the same as previously, ex.: @2
.
Alternatively, to perform the macro multiple times in a row, you can first time the number of reps, then @ char
: 10@2