The document provides an introduction to the vi editor, detailing its history, characteristics, and usage within Linux and Unix systems. It covers the modes of vi, common commands, and how to exit the editor. Originally created by Bill Joy in 1976, vi remains a fundamental tool for text editing in Unix environments.

1. Introduction to
vi editor

2.  Index
WHAT IS VI EDITOR?
HISTORY OF VI.
CHARACTERISTIC OF VI.
STARTING VI .
MODE IN VI EDITOR.
COMMON VI COMMAND.
HOW TO EXIT FROM VI .

3.  The visual editor on the Linux.
 The vi editor comes with every version of Linux or Unix.
 Using vi is similar to using other editors in that you can see your file on the screen .
 The vi editor is the most popular editor in linux. The current version is really "vim", but to
invoke it simply type "vi".
 Before vi the primary editor used on Unix was the line editor - User was able to see/edit only
one line of the text at a time
What is Vi editor?

4. History of Vi editor
 Vi was originally written by Bill Joy in 1976.
 Who is Bill Joy you ask?
- He co-founded Sun Microsystems in 1982 and served as chief
scientist until 2003.

5. Characterstics of Vi.
 A very powerful.
 Move from point to point in the file, and make changes.
 Available on all UNIX systems.
 It is hard to learn, specially for windows
 users.
 The vi editor is:

6. Starting Vi
Type vi <filename> at the shell prompt.
After pressing enter the command prompt disappears and you
see tilde(~)
characters on all the lines
These tilde characters indicate that the line is blank

7. Vi mode
Command mode.
 Accessed by typing Esc .
 In this mode all the keys pressed by the user are interpret
to the editor command.
 There are three modes in vi :-
Input mode
 Accessed by typing “i” .
 This mode permits insertion of new text, editing of existing text
 or replacement of existing text.

8.  The bottom line of the vi screen is called ex mode.
 When you start vi by default it is in command mode
 You exit the input mode by pressing the Esc key to get back
to the command mode.
 Ex mode( Last Line Mode)

9.  Moving Cursor Position
 You can move around only when you are in the command mode .
 Arrow keys usually works(but may not) .
 The standard keys for moving cursor are:-
- h-for left
- l - for right
- j- for down
- k - for up

10. COMMON VI COMMAND
x - deletes the current character.
 d - is the delete command but pressing only d will not delete
 anything you.
need to press a second key
- dw - deletes to end of word
- dd - deletes the current line
- d0 - deletes to beginning of line
 There are many more keys to be used with delete command .

11. • The vi commands can be used followed by a number such as
•
• n<command key(s)>
- For example dd deletes a line 5dd will delete five lines
• yy - (yank) copy current line to buffer
• nyy - Where n is number of lines
• p - Paste the yanked lines from buffer to the line below

12. How to exit for Vi.
 ZZ is for save and Exit (Note this command is uppercase)
 :q <enter> is to exit, if you have not made any changes to the file

13. Thanks