12 Simple methods to handle vi editor commands.

Vi Editor is most popular editor in UNIX. vi editor is also called as Visual editor. Below methods describes different vi editor commands from basic to advance.

vi editor modes.

1. Command mode: used for giving commands to editor
2. Insert mode: used for entering the data into the file.

Now How to switch between these two modes:

Press “i”  for INSERT mode now to return it to command mode press Esc button.

Vi editor commands.

1. Open

This method describes the vi editor commands regards to opening & viewing the files in UNIX.

• # vi                   ===> Will  open editor
• # vi <file>        ===> Will  open the file
• # view <file>   ===> Will open the file as read-only

2. Save / Exit

This method describes the vi editor commands regards to saving & exiting the files in UNIX.

• :q                   ===> Will exit the editor
• :w                  ===> Will save
• :w <file>       ===> Will save as
• :wq               ===> Will save and exit
• “:x”               ===>  Same as above
• ZZ                ===> Same as above
• :q!                ===> Will exit forcefully without saving
• :w!               ===>  Will save forcefully

3. Switch between vi editor modes.

With this method of vi editor commands we can switch between the Vi editor modes .

• i                   ===> go to INSERT mode
• Insert          ===> Same as above
• Esc              ===> return to COMMAND mode
• v                  ===> go to VISUAL mode