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How to Create and Edit Text Files

Create and Edit Text Files

  • vi/vim : Full screen editors; vi is always available since it is a POSIX requirement, vim may need to beinstalled)
  • vi filename: Multiple modes:
  • Command mode allows for navigation and the entering of commands using combinations of one or more letters; these can be prefixed with numeric values for repetition
  • Ex mode allow file manipulation; to enter this mode, type a colon (:) followed by the command desired
  • Insert mode to edit text; enter this post by pressing i

  • The ESC key always returns to command mode

  • vi command examples:

  • h: Move one character left
  • jMove down line
  • k Move up line
  • lMove one character right
  • HMove to top of screen
  • L Move to bottom of screen
  • GMove to end of file
  • 0Move to beginning of line
  • $ Move to end of line
  • iInsert at current position
  • IInsert at beginning of line
  • xDelete character
  • ddDelete line
  • oCreate a blank line after current line
  • O Create a blank line before current line

  • Additional commands can be found in the vi/vim man pages

  • Text files can be created by various methods outside of vi, vim or other editors:

  • touch testfile.txt: Creates a blank file called testfile.txt owned by the current user in the current directory
  • echo "Some value" > testfile.txt : Creates a file called testfile.txt, owned by the current user in the current directory, containing the text following the echo command (in this instance, “Some value”)
  • Redirection of almost any command will take the output and place it into a file