VIM Command

Working with files Vim command Action :e filenameOpen a new file. You can use the Tab key for automatic file name completion, just like at the shell command prompt.:w filenameSave changes to a file. If you don't specify a file name, Vim saves as the file name you were editing. For saving the file under a different name, specify the file name.:qQuit Vim. If you have unsaved changes, Vim refuses to exit.:q!Exit Vim without saving changes.:wqWrite the file and exit.:x

Almost the same as :wq, write the file and exit if you've made changes to the file. If you haven't made any

changes to the file, Vim exits without writing the file.

Moving around in the file These Vim commands and keys work both in command mode and visual mode.Vim command Action j or Up ArrowMove the cursor up one line.k or Down ArrowDown one line.h or Left ArrowLeft one character.l or Right ArrowRight one character.eTo the end of a word.ETo the end of a whitespace-delimited word.bTo the beginning of a word.BTo the beginning of a whitespace-delimited word.0To the beginning of a line.^To the first non-whitespace character of a line.$To the end of a line.HTo the first line of the screen.MTo the middle line of the screen.LTo the the last line of the screen.:n Jump to line number n . For example, to jump to line 42, you'd type :42Inserting and overwriting text Vim command Action iInsert before cursor.IInsert to the start of the current line.aAppend after cursor.AAppend to the end of the current line.oOpen a new line below and insert.OOpen a new line above and insert.CChange the rest of the current line.rOverwrite one character. After overwriting the single character, go back to command mode.REnter insert mode but replace characters rather than inserting.The ESC keyExit insert/overwrite mode and go back to command mode.Deleting text Vim command Action xDelete characters under the cursor.XDelete characters before the cursor.dd or :dDelete the current line.Entering visual mode Vim command Action vStart highlighting characters. Use the normal movement keys and commands to select text for highlighting.VStart highlighting lines.The ESC keyExit visual mode and return to command mode.Editing blocks of text Note: the Vim commands marked with (V) work in visual mode, when you've selected some text. The other commands work in the command mode, when you haven't selected any text.Vim command Action ~Change the case of characters. This works both in visual and command mode. In visual mode, change the case of highlighted characters. In command mode, change the case of the character uder cursor.> (V)Shift right (indent).< (V)Shift left (de-indent).c (V)Change the highlighted text.y (V)Yank the highlighted text. In Windows terms, "copy the selected text to clipboard."d (V)Delete the highlighted text. In Windows terms, "cut the selected text to clipboard."yy or :y or YYank the current line. You don't need to highlight it first.dd or :dDelete the current line. Again, you don't need to highlight it first.pPut the text you yanked or deleted. In Windows terms, "paste the contents of the clipboard". Put characters after the cursor. Put lines below the current line.PPut characters before the cursor. Put lines above the current line.Undo and redo Vim command Action uUndo the last action.UUndo all the latest changes that were made to the current line.Ctrl + rRedo.Search Vim command Action /pattern Search the file for pattern .nScan for next search match in the same direction.NScan for next search match but opposite direction.Replace Vim command Action :r s/foo /bar /a Substitute foo with bar . r determines the range and a determines the arguments.The range (r ) can benothingWork on current line only.numberWork on the line whose number you give.%The whole file.Arguments (a ) can begReplace all occurrences in the line. Without this, Vim replaces only the first occurrences in each line.iIgnore case for the search pattern.IDon't ignore case.cConfirm each substitution. You can type y to substitute this match, n to skip this match, a to substitute this and all the remaining matches ("Yes to all"), and q to quit substitution.Examples:452s/foo /bar /Replace the first occurrence of the word foo with bar on line number 452.:s/foo /bar /gReplace every occurrence of the word foo with bar on current line.:%s/foo /bar /gReplace every occurrence of the word foo with bar in the whole file.:%s/foo /bar /giThe same as above, but ignore the case of the pattern you want to substitute. This replaces foo , FOO , Foo , and so on.:%s/foo /bar /gcConfirm every substitution.:%s/foo /bar /cFor each line on the file, replace the first occurrence of foo with bar and confirm every substitution.