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VIM(1) VIM(1)
NNAAMMEE
vim - Vi IMproved, a programmers text editor
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vviimm [options] [file ..]
vviimm [options] -t tag
vviimm [options] -e [errorfile]
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VViimm is a text editor that is upwards compatible to vi. It
can be used to edit any ASCII text. It is especially use-
ful for editing programs.
There are a lot of enhancements above vi: multi level
undo, multi windows and buffers, command line editing,
filename completion, on-line help, visual selection, etc..
Read difference.doc for a summary of the differences
between vi and Vim.
Most often VViimm is started to edit a single file with the
command
vim file
More generally VIM is started with:
vim [options] [filelist]
If the filelist is missing, the editor will start with an
empty buffer. Otherwise exactly one out of the following
three may be used to choose one or more files to be
edited.
file .. A list of file names. The first one (alphabet-
ically) will be the current file and read into
the buffer. The cursor will be positioned on
the first line of the buffer. You can get to
the other files with the ":next" command.
-t {tag} The file to edit and the initial cursor posi-
tion depends on a "tag", a sort of goto label.
{tag} is looked up in the tags file, the asso-
ciated file becomes the current file and the
associated command is executed. Mostly this is
used for C programs. {tag} then should be a
function name. The effect is that the file
containing that function becomes the current
file and the cursor is positioned on the start
of the function (see reference.doc, section
"tag searches").
-e [errorfile]
Start in quickFix mode. The file [errorfile]
is read and the first error is displayed. If
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[errorfile] is omitted the file name is
obtained from the 'errorfile' option (defaults
to "AztecC.Err" for the Amiga, "errors" on
other systems). Further errors can be jumped
to with the ":cn" command. See reference.doc
section 5.5.
OOPPTTIIOONNSS
The options, if present, must precede the filelist. The
options may be given in any order.
-r Recovery mode. The swap file is used to
recover a crashed editing session. The swap
file is a file with the same file name as the
text file with ".swp" appended. See refer-
ence.doc, chapter "Recovery after a crash".
-v View mode. The 'readonly' option will be set.
You can still edit the buffer, but will be
prevented from accidently overwriting a file.
If you do want to overwrite a file, add an
exclamation mark to the Ex command, as in
":w!". The -v option also implies the -n
option (see below). The 'readonly' option can
be reset with ":set noro" (see reference.doc,
options chapter).
-b Binary. A few options will be set that makes
it possible to edit a binary or executable
file.
+[num] For the first file the cursor will be posi-
tioned on line "num". If "num" is missing, the
cursor will be positioned on the last line.
+/pat For the first file the cursor will be posi-
tioned on the first occurrence of "pat" (see
reference.doc, section "pattern searches" for
the available search patterns).
+{command}
-c {command}
{command} will be executed after the first
file has been read. {command} is interpreted
as an Ex command. If the {command} contains
spaces it must be enclosed in double quotes
(this depends on the shell that is used).
Example: Vim "+set si" main.c
-x (Amiga only) Vim is not restarted to open a
new window. This option should be used when
Vim is executed by a program that will wait
for the edit session to finish (e.g. mail).
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VIM(1) VIM(1)
The ":sh" and ":!" commands will not work.
-o[N] Open N windows. When N is omitted, open one
window for each file.
-n No swap file will be used. Recovery after a
crash will be impossible. Handy if you want to
edit a file on a very slow medium (e.g.
floppy). Can also be done with ":set uc=0".
Can be undone with ":set uc=200".
-s {scriptin}
The script file {scriptin} is read. The char-
acters in the file are interpreted as if you
had typed them. The same can be done with the
command ":source! {scriptin}". If the end of
the file is reached before the editor exits,
further characters are read from the keyboard.
-w {scriptout}
All the characters that you type are recorded
in the file {scriptout}, until you exit VIM.
This is useful if you want to create a script
file to be used with "vim -s" or ":source!".
-T terminal Tells Vim the name of the terminal you are
using. Should be a terminal known to Vim
(builtin) or defined in the termcap file.
-d device Open "device" for use as a terminal. Only on
the Amiga. Example: "-d con:20/30/600/150".
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Vim documentation:
reference.doc:
A complete reference of Vim (long)
windows.doc:
Explanation of the multi windows and buffers
commands and options
index: Overview of all command characters (useful
when adding new mappings)
difference.doc:
Overview of the differences between vi and Vim
unix.doc: Unix-specific comments
vim.hlp: File used by the on-line help (short)
AAUUTTHHOORR
Most of VIM was made by Bram Moolenaar.
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VIM(1) VIM(1)
VIM is based on Stevie, worked on by: Tim Thompson, Tony
Andrews and G.R. (Fred) Walter
BBUUGGSS
Probably.
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These are the contents of the former NiCE NeXT User Group NeXTSTEP/OpenStep software archive, currently hosted by Netfuture.ch.