Finding your way in vi (the editor)

While in command mode (case sensitive)

• move the cursor with arrow keys; if there aren't any arrow keys, use j,k,h,l (Fn + left/right key to navigate to start/end of line)

• 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
• 0 - move to the beginning of the current line
• $ - move to end of line
• H - move to the top of the current window (high)
• M - move to the top of the current window (middle)
• L - move to the top of the current window (low)
• 1G - move to the first line of the file
• 20G - move to the bottom line of the file
• G - move to the last line of the file.

While in insert mode

• ESC - change to command mode
• any text typed is entered at the cursor

Typical vi session

1. Type "vi file.txt" at command prompt
2. Move cursor to where new text will be added
3. Type "i" to change to insert mode
4. Type new text
5. Type ESC to go back to command mode
6. type ":wq" and ENTER to write the file and quit