Introduction to Vim

Download and Installation

https://www.vim.org/download.php

From the site above, download and install the appropriate module for your OS.

For Windows, it is recommended to choose gvim_X.X.X_x64_signed.exe.

How to Start

For Windows, you need to register the folder containing vim.exe to the Path environment variable.

How to start:

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vim

When specifying a file name to start:

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vim filename.txt

How to Exit

To exit, type : (colon), then q, and press Enter.

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:q

If you have modified the file, a message saying No write since last change (add ! to override) will be displayed. You can discard the changes and force quit.

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:q!

To save the file and exit:

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:wq

The following has the same meaning:

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:x

You can also exit by pressing z twice while holding down Shift (same as :wq).

Modes

Vim has a Command mode and an Insert mode. When you start Vim, it is in Command mode. Pressing the i key switches to Insert mode.

In Insert mode, you can literally type text. To return from Insert mode to Command mode, press the ESC key.

This switching of input modes is a distinct characteristic of Vim.

Cursor Movement and Scrolling

Here is a summary of cursor movement and scrolling in Command mode.

If you type a Number followed by any of the above movement keys, it will move that many times. (For example, typing 3j will move the cursor down 3 lines from the current position.)

Other Commands