ex, vi, view - text editor
ex [-FRrSsv] [-c cmd] [-t tag] [-w size] [file ...]
vi [-eFRrS] [-c cmd] [-t tag] [-w size] [file ...]
view [-eFrS] [-c cmd] [-t tag] [-w size] [file ...]
ex is a line-oriented text editor; vi is a screen-oriented
text editor.
ex and vi are different interfaces to the same program, and
it is possible
to switch back and forth during an edit session. view
is the equivalent
of using the -R (read-only) option of vi.
This manual page is the one provided with the nex/nvi versions of the
ex/vi text editors. nex/nvi are intended as bug-for-bug
compatible replacements
for the original Fourth Berkeley Software Distribution (4BSD)
ex and vi programs. For the rest of this manual page,
nex/nvi is used
only when it's necessary to distinguish it from the historic
implementations
of ex/vi.
This manual page is intended for users already familiar with
ex/vi. Anyone
else should almost certainly read a good tutorial on the
editor before
this manual page. See the SEE ALSO section below, for
a list of additional
materials. If you're in an unfamiliar environment,
and you absolutely
have to get work done immediately, read the section
after the
options description, entitled ``Fast Startup''. It's probably enough to
get you going.
The following options are available:
-c cmd Execute cmd on the first file loaded. Particularly useful for
initial positioning in the file, although cmd is
not limited to
positioning commands. This is the POSIX 1003.2
interface for
the historic ``+cmd'' syntax. nex/nvi supports
both the old
and new syntax.
-e Start editing in ex mode, as if the command name
were ex.
-F Don't copy the entire file when first starting to
edit. (The
default is to make a copy in case someone else
modifies the
file during your edit session.)
-R Start editing in read-only mode, as if the command
name was
view, or the readonly option was set.
-r Recover the specified files, or, if no files are
specified,
list the files that could be recovered. If no recoverable
files by the specified name exist, the file is
edited as if the
-r option had not been specified.
-S Run with the secure edit option set, disallowing
all access to
external programs.
-s Enter batch mode; applicable only to ex edit sessions. Batch
mode is useful when running ex scripts. Prompts,
informative
messages and other user oriented messages are
turned off, and
no startup files or environment variables are
read. This is
the POSIX 1003.2 interface for the historic ``-''
argument.
nex/nvi supports both the old and new syntax.
-t tag Start editing at the specified tag (see ctags(1)).
-w size Set the initial window size to the specified number of lines.
-v Start editing in vi mode, as if the command name
was vi.
Command input for ex/vi is read from the standard input. In
the vi interface,
it is an error if standard input is not a terminal.
In the ex
interface, if standard input is not a terminal, ex will read
commands
from it regardless; however, the session will be a batch
mode session,
exactly as if the -s option had been specified.
ex/vi exits 0 on success, or greater than 0 if an error occurs.
This section will tell you the minimum amount that you need
to do simple
editing tasks using vi. If you've never used any screen editor before,
you're likely to have problems even with this simple introduction. In
that case you should find someone that already knows vi and
have them
walk you through this section.
vi is a screen editor. This means that it takes up almost
the entire
screen, displaying part of the file on each screen line, except for the
last line of the screen. The last line of the screen is
used for you to
give commands to vi, and for vi to give information to you.
The other fact that you need to understand is that vi is a
modeful editor,
i.e. you are either entering text or you are executing
commands, and
you have to be in the right mode to do one or the other.
You will be in
command mode when you first start editing a file. There are
commands
that switch you into input mode. There is only one key that
takes you
out of input mode, and that is the <escape> key. (Key names
are written
using less-than and greater-than signs, e.g. <escape> means
the
``escape'' key, usually labeled ``Esc'' on your terminal's
keyboard.) If
you're ever confused as to which mode you're in, keep entering the
<escape> key until vi beeps at you. (Generally, vi will
beep at you if
you try and do something that's not allowed. It will also
display error
messages.)
To start editing a file, enter the command
vi file_name
The command you should enter as soon as you start editing is
:set verbose showmode
This will make the editor give you verbose error messages
and display the
current mode at the bottom of the screen.
The commands to move around the file are:
h Move the cursor left one character.
j Move the cursor down one line.
k Move the cursor up one line.
l Move the cursor right one character.
<cursor-arrows>
The cursor arrow keys should work, too.
/text Search for the string ``text'' in the file, and move
the cursor
to its first character.
The commands to enter new text are:
a Append new text, after the cursor.
i Insert new text, before the cursor.
O Open a new line above the line the cursor is on,
and start entering
text.
o Open a new line below the line the cursor is on,
and start entering
text.
<escape> Once you've entered input mode using one of the a,
i, O or o
commands, use <escape> to quit entering text and
return to command
mode.
The commands to copy text are:
p Append the copied line after the line the cursor is
on.
yy Copy the line the cursor is on.
The commands to delete text are:
dd Delete the line the cursor is on.
x Delete the character the cursor is on.
The commands to write the file are:
:w Write the file back to the file with the name that
you originally
used as an argument on the vi command line.
:w file_name
Write the file back to the file with the name
file_name.
The commands to quit editing and exit the editor are:
:q Quit editing and leave vi (if you've modified the
file, but not
saved your changes, vi will refuse to quit).
:q! Quit, discarding any modifications that you may have
made.
One final caution: Unusual characters can take up more than
one column on
the screen, and long lines can take up more than a single
screen line.
The above commands work on ``physical'' characters and
lines, i.e. they
affect the entire line no matter how many screen lines it
takes up and
the entire character no matter how many screen columns it
takes up.
The following section describes the commands available in
the command
mode of the vi editor. In each entry below, the tag line is
a usage synopsis
for the command character.
<control-A>
Search forward for the current word.
[count] <control-B>
Page backwards count screens.
[count] <control-D>
Scroll forward count lines. If count is not given,
scroll forward
half the number of lines in the current screen.
[count] <control-E>
Scroll forward count lines, leaving the current line
and column
as is, if possible.
[count] <control-F>
Page forward count screens.
<control-G>
Display the file information.
[count] <control-H>
[count] h
Move the cursor back count characters in the current
line.
[count] <control-J>
[count] <control-N>
[count] j
Move the cursor down count lines without changing
the current
column.
<control-L>
<control-R>
Repaint the screen.
[count] <control-M>
[count] +
Move the cursor down count lines to the first nonblank character
of that line.
[count] <control-P>
[count] k
Move the cursor up count lines, without changing the
current column.
<control-T>
Return to the most recent tag context.
[count] <control-U>
Scroll backwards count lines. If count is not given, scroll forward
half the number of lines in the current screen.
<control-W>
Switch to the next lower screen in the window, or to
the first
screen if there are no lower screens in the window.
[count] <control-Y>
Scroll backwards count lines, leaving the current
line and column
as is, if possible.
<control-Z>
Suspend the current editor session.
<escape>
Execute ex commands or cancel partial commands.
<control-]>
Push a tag reference onto the tag stack.
<control-^>
Switch to the most recently edited file.
[count] <space>
[count] l
Move the cursor forward count characters without
changing the
current line.
[count] ! motion shell-argument(s) <carriage-return>
Replace text with results from a shell command.
[count] # #|+|-
Increment or decrement the number under the cursor.
If the
trailing character is a `#' or `+', the number is
incremented.
If the trailing character is a `-', the number is
decremented.
[count] $
Move the cursor to the end of a line.
% Move to the matching character.
& Repeat the previous substitution command on the current line.
'<character>
`<character>
Return to a context marked by the character
character. The first
form returns to the beginning of the line marked by
character.
The second form returns to the first character of
the context
marked by character.
[count] (
Back up count sentences.
[count] )
Move forward count sentences.
[count] ,
Reverse find character count times.
[count] -
Move to the first non-blank of the previous line,
count times.
[count] .
Repeat the last vi command that modified text.
/RE <carriage-return>
/RE/ [offset] <carriage-return>
?RE <carriage-return>
?RE? [offset] <carriage-return>
N
n Search forward (`/') or backward (`?') for a regular
expression.
n and N repeat the last search in the same or opposite directions,
respectively. If offset is specified, the
cursor is
placed offset lines before or after the matched regular expression.
0 Move to the first character in the current line.
: Execute an ex command.
[count] ;
Repeat the last character find count times.
[count] < motion
[count] > motion
Shift lines left or right.
@ buffer
Execute a named buffer.
[count] A
Enter input mode, appending the text after the end
of the line.
If a count argument is given, the characters input
are repeated
count - 1 number of times.
[count] B
Move backwards count bigwords.
[buffer] [count] C
Change text from the current position to the end-ofline. If
buffer is specified, ``yank'' the deleted text into
buffer.
[buffer] D
Delete text from the current position to the end-ofline. If
buffer is specified, ``yank'' the deleted text into
buffer.
[count] E
Move forward count end-of-bigwords.
[count] F <character>
Search count times backward through the current line
for
character.
[count] G
Move to line count, or the last line of the file if
count is not
specified.
[count] H
Move to the screen line count - 1 lines below the
top of the
screen.
[count] I
Enter input mode, inserting the text at the beginning of the
line. If a count argument is given, the characters
input are repeated
count - 1 number of times.
[count] J
Join lines.
[count] L
Move to the screen line count - 1 lines above the
bottom of the
screen.
M Move to the screen line in the middle of the screen.
[count] O
Enter input mode, appending text in a new line above
the current
line. If a count argument is given, the characters
input are repeated
count - 1 number of times.
[buffer] P
Insert text from a buffer.
Q Exit vi (or visual) mode and switch to ex mode.
[count] R
Enter input mode, replacing the characters in the
current line.
If a count argument is given, the characters input
are repeated
count - 1 number of times.
[buffer] [count] S
Substitute count lines. If buffer is specified,
``yank'' the
deleted text into buffer.
[count] T <character>
Search backwards, count times, through the current
line for the
character after the specified character.
U Restore the current line to its state before the
cursor last
moved to it.
[count] W
Move forward count bigwords.
[buffer] [count] X
Delete count characters before the cursor. If
buffer is specified,
``yank'' the deleted text into buffer.
[buffer] [count] Y
Copy (or ``yank'') count lines into the specified
buffer, or the
default buffer if none is specified.
ZZ Write the file and exit vi.
[count] [[
Back up count section boundaries.
[count] ]]
Move forward count section boundaries.
^ Move to the first non-blank character on the current
line.
[count] _
Move down count - 1 lines, to the first non-blank
character.
[count] a
Enter input mode, appending the text after the cursor. If a
count argument is given, the characters input are
repeated count
-1 number of times.
[count] b
Move backwards count words.
[buffer] [count] c motion
Change a region of text.
[buffer] [count] d motion
Delete a region of text.
[count] e
Move forward count end-of-words.
[count] f <character>
Search forward, count times, through the rest of the
current line
for <character>.
[count] i
Enter input mode, inserting the text before the cursor. If a
count argument is given, the characters input are
repeated count
-1 number of times.
m <character>
Save the current context (line and column) as
<character>.
[count] o
Enter input mode, appending text in a new line under
the current
line. If a count argument is given, the characters
input are repeated
count - 1 number of times.
[buffer] p
Append text from a buffer.
[count] r <character>
Replace count characters.
[buffer] [count] s
Substitute count characters in the current line
starting with the
current character.
[count] t <character>
Search forward, count times, through the current
line for the
character immediately before <character>.
u Undo the last change made to the file.
[count] w
Move forward count words.
[buffer] [count] x
Delete count characters.
[buffer] [count] y motion
Copy (or ``yank'') a text region specified by count
and motion
into a buffer.
[count1] z [count2] type
Redraw, optionally repositioning and resizing the
screen. If
count2 is specified, limit the screen size to count2
lines. The
following type characters may be used:
+ If count1 is specified, place the line
count1 at the top
of the screen. Otherwise, display the
screen after the
current screen.
<carriage-return>
Place the line count1 at the top of the
screen.
. Place the line count1 in the center of the
screen.
- Place the line count1 at the bottom of the
screen.
^ If count1 is given, display the screen before the screen
before count1 (i.e. 2 screens before). Otherwise, display
the screen before the current screen.
[count] {
Move backward count paragraphs.
[column] |
Move to a specific column position on the current
line. If
column is omitted, move to the start of the current
line.
[count] }
Move forward count paragraphs.
[count] ~
Reverse the case of the next count character(s).
[count] ~ motion
Reverse the case of the characters in a text region
specified by
the count and motion. Only in effect if the tildeop
option is
set.
<interrupt>
Interrupt the current operation. The <interrupt>
character is
usually <control-C>.
VI TEXT INPUT COMMANDS [Toc] [Back] The following section describes the commands available in
the text input
mode of the vi editor.
<nul> Replay the previous input.
<control-D>
Erase to the previous shiftwidth column boundary.
^<control-D>
Erase all of the autoindent characters, and reset
the autoindent
level.
0<control-D>
Erase all of the autoindent characters.
<control-T>
Insert sufficient <tab> and <space> characters to
move forward to
the next shiftwidth column boundary.
<erase>
<control-H>
Erase the last character.
<literal next>
Escape the next character from any special meaning.
The
<literal next> character is usually <control-V>.
<escape>
Resolve all text input into the file, and return to
command mode.
<line erase>
Erase the current line.
<control-W>
<word erase>
Erase the last word. The definition of word is dependent on the
altwerase and ttywerase options.
<control-X>[0-9A-Fa-f]+
Insert a character with the specified hexadecimal
value into the
text.
<interrupt>
Interrupt text input mode, returning to command
mode. The
<interrupt> character is usually <control-C>.
The following section describes the commands available in
the ex editor.
In each entry below, the tag line is a usage synopsis for
the command.
<end-of-file>
Scroll the screen.
! argument(s)
[range] ! argument(s)
Execute a shell command, or filter lines through a
shell command.
" A comment.
[range] nu[mber] [count] [flags]
[range] # [count] [flags]
Display the selected lines, each preceded with its
line number.
@ buffer
* buffer
Execute a buffer.
[range] <[< ...] [count] [flags]
Shift lines left.
[line] = [flags]
Display the line number of line. If line is not
specified, display
the line number of the last line in the file.
[range] >[> ...] [count] [flags]
Shift lines right.
ab[breviate] lhs rhs
vi only. Add lhs as an abbreviation for rhs to the
abbreviation
list.
[line] a[ppend][!]
The input text is appended after the specified line.
ar[gs] Display the argument list.
bg vi only. Background the current screen.
[range] c[hange][!] [count]
The input text replaces the specified range.
chd[ir][!] [directory]
cd[!] [directory]
Change the current working directory.
[range] co[py] line [flags]
[range] t line [flags]
Copy the specified lines after the destination line.
cs[cope] add | find | help | kill | reset
Execute a Cscope command.
[range] d[elete] [buffer] [count] [flags]
Delete the lines from the file.
di[splay] b[uffers] | c[onnections] | s[creens] | t[ags]
Display buffers, Cscope connections, screens or
tags.
[Ee][dit][!] [+cmd] [file]
[Ee]x[!] [+cmd] [file]
Edit a different file.
exu[sage] [command]
Display usage for an ex command.
f[ile] [file]
Display and optionally change the file name.
[Ff]g [name]
vi mode only. Foreground the specified screen.
[range] g[lobal] /pattern/ [commands]
[range] v /pattern/ [commands]
Apply commands to lines matching (`global') or not
matching (`v')
a pattern.
he[lp] Display a help message.
[line] i[nsert][!]
The input text is inserted before the specified
line.
[range] j[oin][!] [count] [flags]
Join lines of text together.
[range] l[ist] [count] [flags]
Display the lines unambiguously.
map[!] [lhs rhs]
Define or display maps (for vi only).
[line] ma[rk] <character>
[line] k <character>
Mark the line with the mark <character>.
[range] m[ove] line
Move the specified lines after the target line.
mk[exrc][!] file
Write the abbreviations, editor options and maps to
the specified
file.
[Nn][ext][!] [file ...]
Edit the next file from the argument list.
pre[serve]
Save the file in a form that can later be recovered
using the ex
-r option.
[Pp]rev[ious][!]
Edit the previous file from the argument list.
[range] p[rint] [count] [flags]
Display the specified lines.
[line] pu[t] [buffer]
Append buffer contents to the current line.
q[uit][!]
End the editing session.
[line] r[ead][!] [file]
Read a file.
rec[over] file
Recover file if it was previously saved.
res[ize] [+|-]size
vi mode only. Grow or shrink the current screen.
rew[ind][!]
Rewind the argument list.
se[t] [option[=[value]] ...] [nooption ...] [option? ...]
[all]
Display or set editor options.
sh[ell]
Run a shell program.
so[urce] file
Read and execute ex commands from a file.
[range] s[ubstitute] [/pattern/replace] [options] [count]
[flags]
[range] & [options] [count] [flags]
[range] ~ [options] [count] [flags]
Make substitutions.
su[spend][!]
st[op][!]
<suspend>
Suspend the edit session. The <suspend> character
is usually
<control-Z>.
[Tt]a[g][!] tagstring
Edit the file containing the specified tag.
[Tt]agn[ext][!]
Edit the file containing the next context for the
current tag.
tagp[op][!] [file | number]
Pop to the specified tag in the tags stack.
[Tt]agp[rev][!]
Edit the file containing the previous context for
the current
tag.
tagt[op][!]
Pop to the least recent tag on the tags stack,
clearing the
stack.
una[bbreviate] lhs
vi only. Delete an abbreviation.
u[ndo] Undo the last change made to the file.
unm[ap][!] lhs
Unmap a mapped string.
ve[rsion]
Display the version of the ex/vi editor.
[line] vi[sual] [type] [count] [flags]
ex mode only. Enter vi.
[Vi]i[sual][!] [+cmd] [file]
vi mode only. Edit a new file.
viu[sage] [command]
Display usage for a vi command.
[range] w[rite][!] [>>] [file]
[range] w[rite] [!] [file]
[range] wn[!] [>>] [file]
[range] wq[!] [>>] [file]
Write the file.
[range] x[it][!] [file]
Exit the editor, writing the file if it has been
modified.
[range] ya[nk] [buffer] [count]
Copy the specified lines to a buffer.
[line] z [type] [count] [flags]
Adjust the window.
There are a large number of options that may be set (or unset) to change
the editor's behavior. This section describes the options,
their abbreviations
and their default values.
In each entry below, the first part of the tag line is the
full name of
the option, followed by any equivalent abbreviations. The
part in square
brackets is the default value of the option. Most of the
options are
boolean, i.e. they are either on or off, and do not have an
associated
value.
Options apply to both ex and vi modes, unless otherwise
specified.
altwerase [off]
vi only. Select an alternate word erase algorithm.
autoindent, ai [off]
Automatically indent new lines.
autoprint, ap [on]
ex only. Display the current line automatically.
autowrite, aw [off]
Write modified files automatically when changing
files.
backup [""]
Back up files before they are overwritten.
beautify, bf [off]
Discard control characters.
cdpath [environment variable CDPATH, or current directory]
The directory paths used as path prefixes for the cd
command.
cedit [no default]
Set the character to edit the colon command-line
history.
columns, co [80]
Set the number of columns in the screen.
comment [off]
vi only. Skip leading comments in shell, C and C++
language
files.
directory, dir [environment variable TMPDIR, or /tmp]
The directory where temporary files are created.
edcompatible, ed [off]
Remember the values of the `c' and `g' suffixes to
the substitute
commands, instead of initializing them as unset for
each new command.
escapetime [1]
The 10th's of a second ex/vi waits for a subsequent
key to complete
an <escape> key mapping.
errorbells, eb [off]
ex only. Announce error messages with a bell.
exrc, ex [off]
Read the startup files in the local directory.
extended [off]
Regular expressions are extended (i.e. egrep(1)
style) expressions.
filec [no default]
Set the character to perform file path completion on
the colon
command line.
flash [on]
Flash the screen instead of beeping the keyboard on
error.
hardtabs, ht [0]
Set the spacing between hardware tab settings. This
option currently
has no effect.
iclower [off]
Makes all regular expressions case-insensitive, as
long as an upper-case
letter does not appear in the search
string.
ignorecase, ic [off]
Ignore case differences in regular expressions.
keytime [6]
The 10th's of a second ex/vi waits for a subsequent
key to complete
a key mapping.
leftright [off]
vi only. Do left-right scrolling.
lines, li [24]
vi only. Set the number of lines in the screen.
lisp [off]
vi only. Modify various search commands and options
to work with
Lisp. This option is not yet implemented.
list [off]
Display lines in an unambiguous fashion.
lock [on]
Attempt to get an exclusive lock on any file being
edited, read
or written.
magic [on]
Treat certain characters specially in regular expressions.
matchtime [7]
vi only. The 10th's of a second ex/vi pauses on the
matching
character when the showmatch option is set.
mesg [on]
Permit messages from other users.
mesgcat [/usr/share/vi/catalog/]
Selects a message catalog to be used to display error and informational
messages in a specified language.
modelines, modeline [off]
Read the first and last few lines of each file for
ex commands.
This option will never be implemented.
noprint [""]
Characters that are never handled as printable characters.
number, nu [off]
Precede each line displayed with its current line
number.
octal [off]
Display unknown characters as octal numbers, instead
of the default
hexadecimal.
open [on]
ex only. If this option is not set, the open and
visual commands
are disallowed.
optimize, opt [on]
vi only. Optimize text throughput to dumb terminals. This option
is not yet implemented
paragraphs, para [IPLPPPQPP LIpplpipbp]
vi only. Define additional paragraph boundaries for
the { and }
commands.
path [""]
Define additional directories to search for files
being edited.
print [""]
Characters that are always handled as printable
characters.
prompt [on]
ex only. Display a command prompt.
readonly, ro [off]
Mark the file and session as read-only.
recdir [/var/tmp/vi.recover]
The directory where recovery files are stored.
redraw, re [off]
vi only. Simulate an intelligent terminal on a dumb
one. This
option is not yet implemented.
remap [on]
Remap keys until resolved.
report [5]
Set the number of lines about which the editor reports changes or
yanks.
ruler [off]
vi only. Display a row/column ruler on the colon
command line.
scroll, scr [($LINES - 1) / 2]
Set the number of lines scrolled.
searchincr [off]
Makes the / and ? commands incremental.
sections, sect [NHSHH HUnhsh]
vi only. Define additional section boundaries for
the [[ and ]]
commands.
secure [off]
Turns off all access to external programs.
shell, sh [environment variable SHELL, or /bin/sh]
Select the shell used by the editor.
shellmeta [~{[*?$`'"]
Set the meta characters checked to determine if file
name expansion
is necessary.
shiftwidth, sw [8]
Set the autoindent and shift command indentation
width.
showmatch, sm [off]
vi only. Note matching `{' and `(' for `}' and `)'
characters.
showmode, smd [off]
vi only. Display the current editor mode and a
``modified''
flag.
sidescroll [16]
vi only. Set the amount a left-right scroll will
shift.
slowopen, slow [off]
Delay display updating during text input. This option is not yet
implemented.
sourceany [off]
Read startup files not owned by the current user.
This option
will never be implemented.
tabstop, ts [8]
This option sets tab widths for the editor display.
taglength, tl [0]
Set the number of significant characters in tag
names.
tags, tag [tags]
Set the list of tags files.
term, ttytype, tty [environment variable TERM]
Set the terminal type.
terse [off]
This option has historically made editor messages
less verbose.
It has no effect in this implementation.
tildeop [off]
Modify the ~ command to take an associated motion.
timeout, to [on]
Time out on keys which may be mapped.
ttywerase [off]
vi only. Select an alternate erase algorithm.
verbose [off]
vi only. Display an error message for every error.
w300 [no default]
vi only. Set the window size if the baud rate is
less than 1200
baud.
w1200 [no default]
vi only. Set the window size if the baud rate is
equal to 1200
baud.
w9600 [no default]
vi only. Set the window size if the baud rate is
greater than
1200 baud.
warn [on]
ex only. This option causes a warning message to be
printed on
the terminal if the file has been modified since it
was last
written, before a ! command.
window, w, wi [environment variable LINES - 1]
Set the window size for the screen.
windowname [off]
Change the icon/window name to the current file name
even if it
can't be restored on editor exit.
wraplen, wl [0]
vi only. Break lines automatically, the specified
number of
columns from the left-hand margin. If both the
wraplen and
wrapmargin edit options are set, the wrapmargin value is used.
wrapmargin, wm [0]
vi only. Break lines automatically, the specified
number of
columns from the right-hand margin. If both the
wraplen and
wrapmargin edit options are set, the wrapmargin value is used.
wrapscan, ws [on]
Set searches to wrap around the end or beginning of
the file.
writeany, wa [off]
Turn off file-overwriting checks.
COLUMNS The number of columns on the screen. This value
overrides any
system or terminal specific values. If the COLUMNS
environment
variable is not set when ex/vi runs, or the columns
option is
explicitly reset by the user, ex/vi enters the value into the
environment.
EXINIT A list of ex startup commands; read if the variable
NEXINIT is
not set.
HOME The user's home directory, used as the initial directory path
for the startup $HOME/.nexrc and $HOME/.exrc files.
This value
is also used as the default directory for the vi cd
command.
LINES The number of rows on the screen. This value overrides any system
or terminal specific values. If the LINES environment variable
is not set when ex/vi runs, or the lines option is explicitly
reset by the user, ex/vi enters the value into
the environment.
NEXINIT A list of ex startup commands.
SHELL The user's shell of choice (see also the shell option).
TERM The user's terminal type. The default is the type
``unknown''.
If the TERM environment variable is not set when
ex/vi runs, or
the term option is explicitly reset by the user,
ex/vi enters
the value into the environment.
TMPDIR The location used to stored temporary files (see
also the
directory edit option).
SIGALRM vi/ex uses this signal for periodic backups of
file modifications
and to display ``busy'' messages when operations are
likely to take a long time.
SIGHUP
SIGTERM If the current buffer has changed since it was
last written in
its entirety, the editor attempts to save the modified file so
it can be later recovered. See the vi/ex reference manual section
Recovery for more information.
SIGINT When an interrupt occurs, the current operation is
halted and
the editor returns to the command level. If interrupted during
text input, the text already input is resolved into the file as
if the text input had been normally terminated.
SIGWINCH The screen is resized. See the vi/ex reference
manual section
Sizing the Screen for more information.
/bin/sh The default user shell.
/etc/vi.exrc System-wide vi startup file.
/tmp Temporary file directory.
/var/tmp/vi.recover The default recovery file directory.
$HOME/.nexrc First choice for user's home directory
startup file.
$HOME/.exrc Second choice for user's home directory
startup
file.
.nexrc First choice for local directory startup file.
.exrc Second choice for local directory
startup file.
ctags(1), egrep(1)
The "Vi Quick Reference" card,
/usr/share/doc/usd/12.vi/vi.summary.
"An Introduction to Display Editing with Vi",
/usr/share/doc/usd/12.vi/.
This document is the closest thing available to an introduction to the vi
screen editor.
"Ex Reference Manual", /usr/share/doc/usd/13.ex/. This document is the
final reference for the ex editor.
"Ex: A Tutorial", /usr/share/doc/usd/11.edit/. This document is the
closest thing available to an introduction to the ex editor.
"Vi/Ex Reference Manual", /usr/share/doc/usd/13.viref/.
This document is
the final reference for the nex/nvi text editors.
Roff source for all of these documents is distributed with
nex/nvi in the
vi/docs/USD.doc directory of the nex/nvi source code.
The files autowrite, input, quoting, and structures found in
the
vi/docs/internals directory of the nex/nvi source code.
nex/nvi is close to IEEE Std 1003.2 (``POSIX.2''). That
document differs
from historical ex/vi practice in several places; there are
changes to be
made on both sides.
The nex/nvi replacements for the ex/vi editor first appeared
in 4.4BSD.
The vi program is freely redistributable. You are welcome
to copy, modify
and share it with others under the conditions listed in
the LICENSE
file. If any company (not individual!) finds vi sufficiently useful that
you would have purchased it, or if any company wishes to redistribute it,
contributions to the authors would be appreciated.
OpenBSD 3.6 October 10, 1996
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