[NTLUG:Discuss] Terminal Text Editor Question

[Stephen J Baker]

> Maybe one of the 'vi' guys can give a cheat sheat for 'vi'

There is a better way.  Run 'vimtutor'.

About 'modes':

  vi was designed in the days when you'd be about as
  likely to edit on a teletype as on a CRT - and the
  almost universal "ADM-3a" CRT didn't have arrow
  keys,

  A consequence of that it that vi tries to use
  only one case for important commands (Teletypes
  under UNIX couldn't enter uppercase characters)
  - and regular characters are used instead of CTRL
  or ALT. 'vi' is actually just the 'visual' mode
  of the 'ex' editor - which is kinda like EDLIN
  - a line-by-line editor - such as you need if you
  are going to edit on a Teletype.

  Since the alphabetic characters now have to do dual
  use (as cursor keys and other control functions *AND*
  to enter text), it has to have MODES.

  'vi' was a VERY good editor back when it was written,
  but it definitely shows it's age. OTOH, I'd *much*
  rather have 'vi' than any other single editor.

Learning vi:

  If you want to learn 'vi' under Linux, use 'vim' which
  is a 'vi' clone that has a nice 'tutorial' mode. (My 10yr
  old son learned 'vim' in an hour so it shouldn't take
  you more than a week :-)

  Run:

     vimtutor

  ...at any shell prompt.

  If you prefer a more condensed form, run 'vim' without
  parameters, then type ':help' and press return...it'll
  explain itself.

----
Steve Baker                      (817)619-2657 (Vox/Vox-Mail)
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