Vim Commands
How to Exit
Command |
|
:q[uit] |
Quit Vim. This fails when changes have been made. |
:q[uit]! |
Quit without writing. |
:cq[uit] |
Quit always, without writing. |
:wq |
Write the current file and exit. |
:wq! |
Write the current file and exit always. |
:wq {file} |
Write to {file}. Exit if not editing the last |
:wq! {file} |
Write to {file} and exit always. |
:[range]wq[!] |
[file] Same as above, but only write the lines in [range]. |
ZZ |
Write current file, if modified, and exit. |
ZQ |
Quit current file and exit (same as ":q!"). |
Editing a File
Command |
|
:e[dit] |
Edit the current file. This is useful to re-edit the current file, when it has been changed outside of Vim. |
:e[dit]! |
Edit the current file always. Discard any changes to the current buffer. This is useful if you want to start all over again. |
:e[dit] {file} |
Edit {file}. |
:e[dit]! {file} |
Edit {file} always. Discard any changes to the current buffer. |
gf |
Edit the file whose name is under or after the cursor. Mnemonic: "goto file". |
Inserting Text
Command |
|
a |
Append text after the cursor [count] times. |
A |
Append text at the end of the line [count] times. |
i |
Insert text before the cursor [count] times. |
I |
Insert text before the first non-blank in the line [count] times. |
gI |
Insert text in column 1 [count] times. |
o |
Begin a new line below the cursor and insert text, repeat [count] times. |
O |
Begin a new line above the cursor and insert text, repeat [count] times. |
Inserting a file
Command |
|
:r[ead] [name] |
Insert the file [name] below the cursor. |
:r[ead] !{cmd} |
Execute {cmd} and insert its standard output below the cursor. |
Deleting Text
Command |
|
x |
Delete [count] characters under and after the cursor |
X |
Delete [count] characters before the cursor |
d{motion} |
Delete text that {motion} moves over |
dd |
Delete [count] lines |
D |
Delete the characters under the cursor until the end of the line |
{Visual}x or |
|
{Visual}d |
Delete the highlighted text (for {Visual} see [Selecting Text][1]). |
{Visual}CTRL-H or |
|
{Visual} |
When in Select mode: Delete the highlighted text |
{Visual}X or |
|
{Visual}D |
Delete the highlighted lines |
:[range]d[elete] |
Delete [range] lines (default: current line) |
:[range]d[elete] {count} |
Delete {count} lines, starting with [range] |
Changing (or Replacing) Text
Command |
|
r{char} |
replace the character under the cursor with {char}. |
R |
Enter Insert mode, replacing characters rather than inserting |
\~ |
Switch case of the character under the cursor and move the cursor to the right. If a [count] is given, do that many characters. |
\~{motion} |
switch case of {motion} text. |
{Visual}\~ |
Switch case of highlighted text |
Substituting
Command |
|
:[range]s[ubstitute]/{pattern}/{string}/[c][e][g][p][r][i][I] [count] |
For each line in [range] replace a match of {pattern} with {string}. |
:[range]s[ubstitute] [c][e][g][r][i][I] [count] :[range]&[c][e][g][r][i][I] [count] |
Repeat last :substitute with same search pattern and substitute string, but without the same flags. You may add extra flags |
The arguments that you can use for the substitute commands:
[c] Confirm each substitution. Vim positions the cursor on the matching
string. You can type:
'y' to substitute this match
'n' to skip this match
to skip this match
'a' to substitute this and all remaining matches {not in Vi}
'q' to quit substituting {not in Vi}
CTRL-E to scroll the screen up {not in Vi}
CTRL-Y to scroll the screen down {not in Vi}.
[e] When the search pattern fails, do not issue an error message and, in
particular, continue in maps as if no error occurred.
[g] Replace all occurrences in the line. Without this argument,
replacement occurs only for the first occurrence in each line.
[i] Ignore case for the pattern.
[I] Don't ignore case for the pattern.
[p] Print the line containing the last substitute.
Copying and Moving Text
Command |
|
"{a-zA-Z0-9.%#:-"} |
Use register {a-zA-Z0-9.%#:-"} for next delete, yank or put (use uppercase character to append with delete and yank) ({.%#:} only work with put). |
:reg[isters] |
Display the contents of all numbered and named registers. |
:reg[isters] {arg} |
Display the contents of the numbered and named registers that are mentioned in {arg}. |
:di[splay] [arg] |
Same as :registers. |
["x]y{motion} |
Yank {motion} text [into register x]. |
["x]yy |
Yank [count] lines [into register x] |
["x]Y |
yank [count] lines [into register x] (synonym for yy). |
{Visual}["x]y |
Yank the highlighted text [into register x] (for {Visual} see [Selecting Text][1]). |
{Visual}["x]Y |
Yank the highlighted lines [into register x] |
:[range]y[ank] [x] |
Yank [range] lines [into register x]. |
:[range]y[ank] [x] {count} |
Yank {count} lines, starting with last line number in [range] (default: current line), [into register x]. |
["x]p |
Put the text [from register x] after the cursor [count] times. |
["x]P |
Put the text [from register x] before the cursor [count] times. |
["x]gp |
Just like "p", but leave the cursor just after the new text. |
["x]gP |
Just like "P", but leave the cursor just after the new text. |
:[line]pu[t] [x] |
Put the text [from register x] after [line] (default current line). |
:[line]pu[t]! [x] |
Put the text [from register x] before [line] (default current line). |
Undo/Redo/Repeat
Command |
|
u |
Undo [count] changes. |
:u[ndo] |
Undo one change. |
CTRL-R |
Redo [count] changes which were undone. |
:red[o] |
Redo one change which was undone. |
U |
Undo all latest changes on one line. {Vi: while not moved off of it} |
. |
Repeat last change, with count replaced with [count]. |
Moving Around
Basic motion commands:
k
h l
j
Command |
|
h or |
[count] characters to the left (exclusive). |
l or |
[count] characters to the right (exclusive). |
k or CTRL-P |
[count] lines upward |
j CTRL-J or CTRL-N |
[count] lines downward (linewise). |
0 |
To the first character of the line (exclusive). |
|
To the first character of the line (exclusive). |
^ |
To the first non-blank character of the line |
$ or |
To the end of the line and [count - 1] lines downward |
g0 or g |
When lines wrap ('wrap on): To the first character of the screen line (exclusive). Differs from "0" when a line is wider than the screen. When lines don't wrap ('wrap' off): To the leftmost character of the current line that is on the screen. Differs from "0" when the first character of the line is not on the screen. |
g^ |
When lines wrap ('wrap' on): To the first non-blank character of the screen line (exclusive). Differs from "^" when a line is wider than the screen. When lines don't wrap ('wrap' off): To the leftmost non-blank character of the current line that is on the screen. Differs from "^" when the first non-blank character of the line is not on the screen. |
g$ or g<End&gr; |
[count] lines upward, on the first non-blank character (linewise). |
+ or CTRL-M |
[count] lines downward, on the first non-blank character (linewise). |
_ |
[count] - 1 lines downward, on the first non-blank character (linewise). |
or G |
Goto line [count], default last line, on the first non-blank character. |
or gg |
Goto line [count], default first line, on the first non-blank character. |
or w |
[count] words forward |
or W |
[count] WORDS forward |
e |
Forward to the end of word [count] |
E |
Forward to the end of WORD [count] |
or b |
[count] words backward |
or B |
[count] WORDS backward |
ge |
Backward to the end of word [count] |
gE |
Backward to the end of WORD [count] |
These commands move over words or WORDS.
A word consists of a sequence of letters, digits and underscores, or a sequence of other non-blank characters, separated with white space (spaces, tabs, ). This can be changed with the 'iskeyword' option.
A WORD consists of a sequence of non-blank characters, separated with white space. An empty line is also considered to be a word and a WORD.
Command |
|
( |
[count] sentences backward |
) |
[count] sentences forward |
{ |
[count] paragraphs backward |
} |
[count] paragraphs forward |
]] |
[count] sections forward or to the next '{' in the first column. When used after an operator, then the '}' in the first column. |
][ |
[count] sections forward or to the next '}' in the first column |
[[ |
[count] sections backward or to the previous '{' in the first column |
[] |
[count] sections backward or to the previous '}' in the first column |
Screen movement commands
Command |
|
z. |
Center the screen on the cursor |
zt |
Scroll the screen so the cursor is at the top |
zb |
Scroll the screen so the cursor is at the bottom |
Marks
Command |
|
m{a-zA-Z} |
Set mark {a-zA-Z} at cursor position (does not move the cursor, this is not a motion command). |
m' or |
|
m` | Set the previous context mark. This can be jumped to with the "''" or "``" command (does not move the cursor, this is not a motion command). |
:[range]ma[rk] {a-zA-Z} |
Set mark {a-zA-Z} at last line number in [range], column 0. Default is cursor line. |
:[range]k{a-zA-Z} |
Same as :mark, but the space before the mark name can be omitted. |
'{a-z} |
To the first non-blank character on the line with mark {a-z} (linewise). |
'{A-Z0-9} |
To the first non-blank character on the line with mark {A-Z0-9} in the correct file |
`{a-z} |
To the mark {a-z} |
`{A-Z0-9} |
To the mark {A-Z0-9} in the correct file |
:marks |
List all the current marks (not a motion command). |
:marks {arg} |
List the marks that are mentioned in {arg} (not a motion command). For example: |
Searching
Command |
|
/{pattern}[/] |
Search forward for the [count]'th occurrence of {pattern} |
/{pattern}/{offset} |
Search forward for the [count]'th occurrence of {pattern} and go {offset} lines up or down. |
/ |
Search forward for the [count]'th latest used pattern |
//{offset} |
Search forward for the [count]'th latest used pattern with new. If {offset} is empty no offset is used. |
?{pattern}[?] |
Search backward for the [count]'th previous occurrence of {pattern} |
?{pattern}?{offset} |
Search backward for the [count]'th previous occurrence of {pattern} and go {offset} lines up or down |
? |
Search backward for the [count]'th latest used pattern |
??{offset} |
Search backward for the [count]'th latest used pattern with new {offset}. If {offset} is empty no offset is used. |
n |
Repeat the latest "/" or "?" [count] times. |
N |
Repeat the latest "/" or "?" [count] times in opposite direction. |
Selecting Text (Visual Mode)
To select text, enter visual mode with one of the commands below, and use [motion commands][2] to highlight the text you are interested in. Then, use some command on the text.
The operators that can be used are:
~ switch case
d delete
c change
y yank
> shift right
Command |
|
v |
start Visual mode per character. |
V |
start Visual mode linewise. |
|
exit Visual mode without making any changes |
How to Suspend
Command |
|
CTRL-Z |
Suspend Vim, like ":stop". Works in Normal and in Visual mode. In Insert and Command-line mode, the CTRL-Z is inserted as a normal character. |
:sus[pend][!] or |
|
:st[op][!] |
Suspend Vim. If the '!' is not given and 'autowrite' is set, every buffer with changes and a file name is written out. If the '!' is given or 'autowrite' is not set, changed buffers are not written, don't forget to bring Vim back to the foreground later! |