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vi editor Learning Unix programming

#1 Reddoug

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Posted 05 September 2010 - 07:21 AM

Hi
Trying to learn Unix programming using vi editor. One step I am having trouble with is getting INSERT to come up. Book say when I type"i" I should get INSERT at bottom of the screen and I do not. I am using Ubuntu 10.4. I am just starting out with this.

Thanks, Doug

#2 cryptodan

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Posted 05 September 2010 - 01:26 PM

Try using "a" its what i use to begin editing a file or creating a new one. If I find that I made a mistake thats when I use "i".

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#3 Reddoug

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Posted 06 September 2010 - 08:33 AM

Thanks for the link. Looks very helpful.

Doug

#4 ejames82

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 08:37 PM

when you first get into the screen that you want to edit, look in the lower left hand corner and notice the character there. if it changes when you press i, then you should be able to edit. when you're done, watch that character (it usually changes from a hyphen to an I, and then back for me), then push esc. after that i type these to save and quit

:
w
q

but it will look like this, substituting the hyphen and the I with

:wq

always watch those characters in the lower left, they "inform" you of your status, so to speak.

then push enter and the file turns into the regular terminal characters

ed@ed-desktop:~$