IRIS DC1100 manual VI Visual Editor, Insert/Overtype Mode, Command Mode Entering Insert Mode

VI (Visual) Editor

The vi is a text editor. It is small, powerful, and standard on most UNIX systems. The vi often frustrates new users with a unique distinction between its two modes: Command Mode and Insert/Overtype Mode. This distinction, although difficult to become accustomed to for many users, provides great power and ability to the editor. Insert/Overtype Mode is designed for inserting text only. All text manipulations and cursor moving should be done from with in Command Mode.

Entering the vi

#vi

#vi file1 file2 ...

#vi -r file #Recover file from crash

#vi +string file #Execute ex command "string"

#vi @rcfile #Read commands from rcfile

Insert/Overtype Mode

Insert/Overtype Mode is solely for entering text. To leave one of these two modes press the [ESC] key. if you wish to enter the ESC character or any other control character while in insert mode: type [CONTROL]-Vand then the control sequence. The only difference between Insert Mode and Overtype Mode is that characters are placed in front of the text after the cursor in Insert Mode; where as existing characters are overwritten in Overtype Mode.

Command Mode

Entering Insert Mode

ƒa -- append text, after the cursor

ƒi -- insert text, before the cursor

ƒR -- enter Overtype Mode

ƒA -- append text, after end of line

ƒI -- insert text, before first non-whitespace character

ƒo -- open new line below cursor in Insert Mode

ƒO -- open new line above cursor in Insert Mode

viSyntax

vicommands follow the general form:

n operator m object

which means:

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