vi - screen oriented (visual) display editor based on ex

vi [-t tag] [-r] [+lineno] name ...

Vi (visual) is a display oriented text editor based on ex (UCB). Ex and vi run the same code; it is possible to get to the command mode of ex from within vi and vice-versa.

The "Vi Quick Reference" card and the "Introduction to Display Editing with Vi" provide full details on using vi.

See ex (UCB).

ex (UCB), vi (UCB), "Vi Quick Reference" card, "An Introduction to Display Editing with Vi".

Scans with / and ? begin on the next line, skipping the remainder of the current line.

Software tabs using ^T work only immediately after the autoindent.

Left and right shifts on intelligent terminals don't make use of insert and delete character operations in the terminal.

The wrapmargin option can be fooled since it looks at output columns when blanks are typed. If a long word passes through the margin and onto the next line without a break, then the line won't be broken.

Insert/delete within a line can be slow if tabs are present on intelligent terminals, since the terminals need help in doing this correctly.

Occasionally inverse video scrolls up into the file from a diagnostic on the last line.

Saving text on deletes in the named buffers is somewhat inefficient.

The source command does not work when executed as :source; there is no way to use the :append, :change, and :insert commands, since it is not possible to give more than one line of input to a : escape. To use these on a :global you must Q to ex command mode, execute them, and then reenter the screen editor with vi or open.