The default command to save a text file in Vi is:w. Keep in mind that you can't use Vi commands while you're in the Insert Mode. Therefore, you will have to switch to Normal mode by pressing the Esc key. To save a file in Vi, enter into Normal mode by hitting Esc on your keyboard. Vim allows us to save and restore those tab sessions! Steps: Open any number of tabs you wish to work with; From any tab, press Esc and enter the command mode; Type:mksession header-files-work.vim and hit enter; Your current session of open tabs will be stored in a file header-files-work.vim; To see restore in action, close all tabs and Vim. To save a file and exit Vim: 1. Switch to command mode by pressing the ESC key.
File TypeVim Settings File
| Developer | N/A |
| Popularity | |
| Category | Settings Files |
| Format | Text |
What is a VIM file?
- A vim swap file (at least on Mac OS X) is named with a '.swp' file extension, and seems to exist as long as you are editing a file in vim. The vim backup/tilde file is the filename that has a ' character appended to the end of it, and when these are left in your current directory, they're pretty annoying.
- Vim recognizes three file formats (unix, dos, mac) that determine what line ending characters (line terminators) are removed from each line when a file is read, or are added to each line when a file is written. A file format problem can display ^M characters, or can prevent scripts from running correctly. This tip explains how to avoid problems, and how to convert from one file format to.
Settings file used by Vim, a text editing program often used by source code developers; commonly used to save settings, such as syntax highlighting rules, for the text editor when it is opened; can be referenced within the .VIMRC settings file.
NOTE: The '.vim' name is also used for a hidden directory used by Vim, but this is not the same as the VIM file type.
Open over 400 file formats with File Viewer Plus.Programs that open VIM files
On Mac OS X (and Linux), vi is symlinked to vim (vi improved), a more modern free software version. Vim It is the default editor when changing a crontab.
If you gave vi a whirl and don't see the beauty of it, give the nano editor a try. It also ships with Mac OS X.
note: a chunk of this small guide came from a web page I found long ago, but I don't remember where so I can't give proper credit. I've added and changed things from the original text.
Vi has two modes, command and insert (really, three if you count replace mode). Command mode is used to navigate, search, and issue other commands. Insert mode is used to enter text.
Vi starts in command mode.
You can precede most commands with a number indicating how many times to perform a command. For example, entering 99 followed by the down arrow will move the cursor down 99 lines. '99x' will delete 99 characters.
While in command mode (case sensitive)- move the cursor with arrow keys; if there aren't any arrow keys, use j,k,h,l
- i - change to insert mode (before cursor)
- a - change to insert mode (after cursor)
- A - change to insert mode (at end of line)
- r - replace one character
- R - overwrite text
- x - delete one character
- dd - delete one line
- yy - yank line (copy)
- p - paste deleted or yanked text after cursor
- P - paste deleted or yanked text before cursor
- G - go to end of the file
- 1G - go to top of the file
- J - merge next line with this one
- / - search, follow / with text to find
- :wq - write file and quit
- :q! - quit without saving
- %s/old/new/g - substitute; replace 'old' with 'new' on all lines
- :g/pattern/d - delete all lines that match the pattern
- ESC - change to command mode
- any text typed is entered at the cursor
Save Vim File Mac
- Type 'vi file.txt' at command prompt
- Move cursor to where new text will be added
- Type 'i' to change to insert mode
- Type new text
- Type ESC to go back to command mode
- type ':wq' and ENTER to write the file and quit