Vim text editor how to#
Vim text editor code#

Vim text editor how to#

# yum -y install vim-enhanced How to Enable Syntax Highlighting in VI and VIM Most of the Linux system already included VIM package, if not then install it using YUM tool.

VIM has another great feature that enable us to Turn Off or Turn On syntax highlighting using option syntax on and syntax off. By default VIM works on all Linux terminals, but some terminals have minimal highlighting capabilities to run. VIM doesn’t show whole file but have some limitations in highlighting particular keywords or text matching a pattern in a file. Syntax highlighting means it can show some parts of text in another fonts and colors. VIM is an alternative and advanced version of VI editor that enables Syntax highlighting feature in VI. In this article, we will show how to turn on syntax highlighting temporarily or permanently in Vi/Vim text editor. Read Also: 10 Reasons Why You Should Use Vi/Vim Text Editor in Linux Syntax highlighting is a simple but useful component in most if not all text editors that are used for programming, scripting, or markup languages, which enables for displaying colored text, notably source code, in different colors (and possibly fonts) corresponding to the category of terms.

Vim text editor code#

Open the Terminal.Įnter the command vi prog.c and it looks like following.One of the easiest ways to boost the readability and context of the text in a configuration file or your source code for various programing languages, is by using a text editor that supports “ syntax highlighting”. Let’s create a simple C Program file called prog.c. y Copy Text at Cursor Y Copy Entire Line at Cursor p Paste Text at Cursor Position P Place Text Before Cursor Position A Simple Example Using VI Editor x Deletes/Cuts Character at Cursor Position X Deletes/Cuts Character Before Cursor (Just like Backspace). dd Delete Entire line at Cursor ndd Delete n number of lines. Command Operation D Delete Text from Cursor Position to End of the Line. Though we can manage editing files with just above commands and operations, following commands are used for quick and efficient editing. Changes may lost :wq Changes Saved and Quit :wq! Forces Editor to Save Content and Quit Copying, Pasting and Deleting Command Operation :w Saves Current File :q Quits Editor :q! Forces the Editor to Quit. There are certain commands we use to save the content and exit this vi editor. Backspace and Delete keys can be used for removing text. Arrow keys can be used for cursor movement. In insert mode we can write text just like any other editors. R Replace all characters, starting under cursor position, until Esc is pressed. r Replace single character under cursor position. This is the only command that will allow you to insert text ABOVE the FIRST line of the file.

O Begins inserting text on a new, empty line, above the current line. This is the only command that will allow you to insert text BELOW the LAST line of the file. o Begins inserting text on a new, empty line, below the current line. A Begins inserting at the end of the current line, no matter where the cursor is positioned on that line. a Begins inserting after the character (append) on which the cursor is positioned. I Inserts text at the beginning of the line, no matter where the cursor is positioned on the current line. Command Operation i Inserts text to the left of the cursor. Note that vi editor should be in command mode to enter any command. Press Esc to return to command mode and then follow these commands. There are other ways to get into insert mode. You should see the text – INSERT – at the bottom of terminal. Simply pressing the key i changes vi editor from command mode to insert mode.