VI cheatsheet

Basic Usage

vim or vi: Run vim and open the given filename.
:w: Save file.
:x or SHIFT ZZ: Save and exit.
:q: Exit if no changes have been made.
:q!: Exit and undo any changes made.
:set nu: Display line numbers.

Entering Insert mode

i: At the cursor.
a: After the cursor.
I: Before the current line.
A: After the current line.
o: Insert a new line after the current line.
O: Insert a new line before the current line.
C: Ovewrite the whold current line.
ESC: Exit Insert mode.

Movement

h: Move left one character.
j: Move down one character.
k: Move up one character.
l: Move right one character.
w: Move forward one word.
b: Move to the start of the word.
e: Move to the end of the word.
(: Move back one sentence.
): Move forward one sentence.
{: Move back one paragraph.
}: Move forward one paragraph.
^: Move to the beginning of the line.
$: Move to the end of the line.
<n>G: Move to the nth line.
G: Move to the last line.
gg: Move to the first line.
%: Move to the matching bracket.

Deleting

x: Delete a single character.
D: Delete the rest of the line.
dd: Delete the entire current line.
ndw: Delete the next n words.
ndd: Delete the next n lines.
:x,yd: Delete from line x through to line y.

Search and Replace

/pattern: Search for pattern.
n: Find the next occurrence of pattern.
:%s/pattern/replace/g: Replace every occurrence of pattern with replace..

Cut and Paste

p: Paste the clipboard contents.
yy: Yank (copy) a line.
yw: Yank a word.
y$: Yank to the end of the line.