VIM memo

vim commands list vim cheat sheet

copy and paste

• dd cut the line where the cursor is
• p paste the text after the line where the cursor is

How to Exit

• :q[uit] Quit Vim. This fails when changes have been made.
• :q[uit]! Quit without writing.
• :cq[uit] Quit always, without writing.
• :wq Write the current file and exit.
• :wq! Write the current file and exit always.
• :wq {file} Write to {file}. Exit if not editing the last
• :wq! {file} Write to {file} and exit always.
• :[range]wq[!] [file] Same as above, but only write the lines in [range].
• ZZ Write current file, if modified, and exit.
• ZQ Quit current file and exit (same as ":q!").

Editing a File

• :e[dit] Edit the current file. This is useful to re-edit the current file, when it has been changed outside of Vim.
• :e[dit]! Edit the current file always. Discard any changes to the current buffer. This is useful if you want to start all over again.
• :e[dit] {file} Edit {file}.
• :e[dit]! {file} Edit {file} always. Discard any changes to the current buffer.
• gf Edit the file whose name is under or after the cursor. Mnemonic: "goto file".

Inserting Text

• a Append text after the cursor [count] times.
• A Append text at the end of the line [count] times.
• i Insert text before the cursor [count] times.
• I Insert text before the first non-blank in the line [count] times.
• gI Insert text in column 1 [count] times.
• o Begin a new line below the cursor and insert text, repeat [count] times.
• O Begin a new line above the cursor and insert text, repeat [count] times.

Inserting a file

• :r[ead] [name] Insert the file [name] below the cursor.
• :r[ead] !{cmd} Execute {cmd} and insert its standard output below the cursor.

Deleting Text

• <Del> or x Delete [count] characters under and after the cursor
• X Delete [count] characters before the cursor
• d{motion} Delete text that {motion} moves over
• dd Delete [count] lines
• D Delete the characters under the cursor until the end of the line
• {Visual}x or {Visual}d Delete the highlighted text (for {Visual} see Selecting Text).
• {Visual}CTRL-H or {Visual} When in Select mode: Delete the highlighted text
• {Visual}X or {Visual}D Delete the highlighted lines
• :[range]d[elete] Delete [range] lines (default: current line)
• :[range]d[elete] {count} Delete {count} lines, starting with [range]