Chapter 3: Modifying and Saving Files

Modify the document

You have learned how to control the cursor, open files, switch files, and find content in files. These operations are all performed in Vim's normal mode. Now, it's time to enter another mode of Vim - insert mode, and learn how to modify the file.

Insert

• i insert before the current character
• a insert after the current character
• I insert at the beginning of the line
• A insert at the end of the line
• o insert in the next line
• O insert in the previous line

Note: Any of the above commands will cause Vim to enter insert mode. After entering this mode, the cursor will change, and the text you enter will appear directly in the document. Press Esc or Ctrl-[ or Ctrl-C to exit insert mode.

Delete (and save to Vim clipboard)

• s delete the current character and enter INSERT mode
• S delete the current line and save it to the Vim clipboard, and enter INSERT mode (equivalent to cc)
• x delete the current character, equivalent to Delete in insert mode
• X delete the previous character, equivalent to Backspace in insert mode
• dd delete the current line and save it to the Vim clipboard
• d<X> delete the specified content and save it to the Vim clipboard
• cc delete the current line and save it to the Vim clipboard, and enter INSERT mode
• c<X> delete the specified content and save it to the Vim clipboard, and enter

Vim's command grammar

This is the most useful pattern in Vim: many edits can be read as [count] + operator + motion.

• The operator says what to do: d deletes, c changes, and y copies.
• The motion says how far: w to the next word, $ to line end, } to the next paragraph.
• A count repeats the action: 2dw deletes two words; d2w does the same.

Thus dw means “delete to the next word,” c$ means “change to line end,” and y} means “copy to the next paragraph.” Each new motion you learn immediately becomes a new way to delete, change, or copy; there is no separate shortcut list.

Note: Repeating an operator makes it linewise: dd, cc, and yy. After deleting, c enters Insert mode while d stays in Normal mode.

Copy

• yy copy the current line to the Vim clipboard
• y<X> copy the specified content to the Vim clipboard

Paste

• p paste after the current position
• P paste before the current position

Merge

• J merge the current line with the next line

Try copying and pasting in the text below

Delete this line
Paste below this line
Cut ABC and paste it in front of XYZ to make this part look like
Cut and paste it in front of ABC XYZ.

On an ordinary line, try dw, u, c$, type a few characters, Esc, then u. Before each command, say its operator and range. Finish by undoing any remaining practice edits.

Replace

• r<X> replace the current character with X
• gu<X> convert the specified text to lowercase
• gU<X> convert the specified text to uppercase
• :%s/<search>/<replace>/g replace every match on every line in the file

:s works on the current line and replaces only its first match by default. % expands the range to the whole file, g replaces every match per line, and adding c (gc) asks for confirmation at each match.

Try changing the case of the following text

Change this line to UPPERCASE, THEN TO lowercase.

There is a more interesting command g~<X>, first locate the cursor to the line of text above, execute 0g~$ to see what happened.

Undo, Redo

• u undo
• Ctrl-r redo

Save file

• :w save the current file
• :wa save all files
• :wq or ZZ save and exit
• :q! or ZQ force exit without saving
• :saveas <new filename> save the file as <new filename>
• :w <new filename> save a copy of the file as <new filename> and continue editing the original file

You can try to save the current (perhaps already changed beyond recognition) file as a copy, and then continue learning the next chapter.