Lesson 4.1: CURSOR LOCATION AND FILE STATUS
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** Type CTRL-G to show your location in the file and the file status.
Type G to move to a line in the file. **
Note: Read this entire lesson before executing any of the steps!!
1. Hold down the Ctrl key and press g . We call this CTRL-G.
A message will appear at the bottom of the page with the filename and the
position in the file. Remember the line number for Step 3.
NOTE: You may see the cursor position in the lower right corner of the screen
This happens when the 'ruler' option is set (explained in lesson 6).
2. Press G to move you to the bottom of the file.
Type gg to move you to the start of the file.
3. Type the number of the line you were on and then G . This will
return you to the line you were on when you first pressed CTRL-G.
Lesson 4.2: THE SEARCH COMMAND
** Type / followed by a phrase to search for the phrase. **
1. In Normal mode type the / character. Notice that it and the cursor
appear at the bottom of the screen as with the : command.
2. Now type 'errroor'
3. To search for the same phrase again, simply type n .
To search for the same phrase in the opposite direction, type N .
4. To search for a phrase in the backward direction, use ? instead of / .
5. To go back to where you came from press CTRL-O (Keep Ctrl down while
pressing the letter o). Repeat to go back further. CTRL-I goes forward.
Note: "errroor" is not the way to spell error; errroor is an error.
Note: When the search reaches the end of the file it will continue at the
start, unless the 'wrapscan' option has been reset.
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Lesson 4.3: MATCHING PARENTHESES SEARCH
** Type % to find a matching ),], or } . **
1. Place the cursor on any (, [, or { in the line below marked --->.
2. Now type the % character.
3. The cursor will move to the matching parenthesis or bracket.
4. Type % to move the cursor to the other matching bracket.
5. Move the cursor to another (,),[,],{ or } and see what % does.
---> This ( is a test line with ('s, ['s ] and {'s } in it. ))
Note: This is very useful in debugging a program with unmatched parentheses!
Typson 4.4: THE SUBSTITUTE COMMAND
** Type :s/old/new/g to substitute 'new' for 'old'. **
1. Move the cursor to the line below marked --->.
2. Type :s/thee/the
first occurrence of "thee" in the line.
3. Now type :s/thee/the/g . Adding the g flag means to substitute
globally in the line, change all occurrences of "thee" in the line.
---> thee best time to see thee flowers is in thee spring.
4. To change every occurrence of a character string between two lines,
type :#,#s/old/new/g where #,# are the line numbers of the range
of lines where the subsitution is to be done.
:%s/old/new/gc to find every occurrence in the whole file,
with a prompt wether to substitute or not.
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LESSON 4 SUMMARY
1. CTRL-G displays your location in the file and the file status.
G moves to the end of the file.
number G moves to that line number.
gg moves to the first line.
2. Typing / followed by a phrase searches FORWARD for the phrase.
Typing ? followed by a phrase searches BACKWARD for the phrase.
After a search type n to find the next occurrence in the same direction
or N to search in the opposite direction.
CTRL-O takes you back to older positions, CTRL-I to newer positions.
3. Typing % while the cursor is on a (,),[,],{, or } goes to its match.
4. To substitute new for the first old in a line type :s/old/new
To substitute new for all 'old's on a line type :s/old/new/g
To substitute all occurrences in the file type :%s/old/new/g
To ask for confirmation each time add 'c' :%s/old/new/gc