VIM(1)			    General Commands Manual			VIM(1)



NAME
       vim - Vi IMproved, a programmer's text editor

SYNOPSIS
       vim [options] [file ..]
       vim [options] -
       vim [options] -t tag
       vim [options] -q [errorfile]

       ex gex
       view
       gvim gview vimx evim eview
       rvim rview rgvim rgview

DESCRIPTION
       Vim  is a text editor that is upwards compatible to Vi.	It can be used
       to edit all kinds of plain text.	 It is especially useful  for  editing
       programs.

       There  are a lot of enhancements above Vi: multi level undo, multi win-
       dows and buffers, syntax highlighting, command line  editing,  filename
       completion,   on-line   help,   visual  selection,  etc..   See	":help
       vi_diff.txt" for a summary of the differences between Vim and Vi.

       While running Vim a lot of help can be obtained from the	 on-line  help
       system, with the ":help" command.  See the ON-LINE HELP section below.

       Most often Vim 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 four may be used  to	choose
       one or more files to be edited.

       file ..	   A  list  of	filenames.   The first one will be the current
		   file and read into the buffer.  The cursor  will  be	 posi-
		   tioned on the first line of the buffer.  You can get to the
		   other files with the ":next" command.  To edit a file  that
		   starts with a dash, precede the filelist with "--".

       -	   The	file  to  edit	is read from stdin.  Commands are read
		   from stderr, which should be a TTY.

       -t {tag}	   The file to edit and the initial cursor position depends on
		   a  "tag",  a sort of goto label.  {tag} is looked up in the
		   tags file, the associated file becomes the current file and
		   the	associated  command  is executed.  Mostly this is used
		   for C programs, in which case {tag}	could  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 ":help tag-commands".

       -q [errorfile]
		   Start  in  quickFix mode.  The file [errorfile] is read and
		   the first error is displayed.  If [errorfile]  is  omitted,
		   the	filename  is  obtained	from  the  'errorfile'	option
		   (defaults to "AztecC.Err" for the  Amiga,  "errors.err"  on
		   other  systems).   Further errors can be jumped to with the
		   ":cn" command.  See ":help quickfix".

       Vim behaves differently, depending on the name of the command (the exe-
       cutable may still be the same file).

       vim	 The "normal" way, everything is default.

       ex	 Start	in Ex mode.  Go to Normal mode with the ":vi" command.
		 Can also be done with the "-e" argument.

       view	 Start in read-only mode.  You will be protected from  writing
		 the files.  Can also be done with the "-R" argument.

       gvim gview
		 The GUI version.  Starts a new window.

       gex	 Starts	 a  new	 gvim window in Ex mode. Can also be done with
		 the "-e" argument to gvim

       vimx	 Starts gvim in "Vi" mode similar to  "vim",  but  with	 addi-
		 tional features like xterm clipboard support

       evim eview
		 The GUI version in easy mode.	Starts a new window.  Can also
		 be done with the "-y" argument.

       rvim rview rgvim rgview
		 Like the above, but with restrictions.	 It will not be possi-
		 ble  to  start	 shell	commands, or suspend Vim.  Can also be
		 done with the "-Z" argument.

OPTIONS
       The options may be given in  any	 order,	 before	 or  after  filenames.
       Options without an argument can be combined after a single dash.

       +[num]	   For	the  first  file the cursor will be positioned 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 positioned in the
		   line with  the  first  occurrence  of  {pat}.   See	":help
		   search-pattern" 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
		   Note: You can use up to 10 "+" or "-c" commands.

       -S {file}   {file}  will be sourced after the first file has been read.
		   This is equivalent to -c "source  {file}".	{file}	cannot
		   start with '-'.  If {file} is omitted "Session.vim" is used
		   (only works when -S is the last argument).

       --cmd {command}
		   Like using "-c", but the command is	executed  just	before
		   processing  any  vimrc file.	 You can use up to 10 of these
		   commands, independently from "-c" commands.

       -A	   If Vim has been compiled with ARABIC	 support  for  editing
		   right-to-left  oriented  files and Arabic keyboard mapping,
		   this option starts Vim in Arabic  mode,  i.e.  'arabic'  is
		   set.	 Otherwise an error message is given and Vim aborts.

       -b	   Binary  mode.  A few options will be set that makes it pos-
		   sible to edit a binary or executable file.

       -C	   Compatible.	Set the 'compatible' option.  This  will  make
		   Vim	behave	mostly	like  Vi,  even	 though	 a .vimrc file
		   exists.

       -d	   Start in diff mode.	There should between two to eight file
		   name	 arguments.  Vim will open all the files and show dif-
		   ferences between them.  Works like vimdiff(1).

       -d {device} Open {device} for use as a terminal.	 Only  on  the	Amiga.
		   Example: "-d con:20/30/600/150".

       -D	   Debugging.	Go  to debugging mode when executing the first
		   command from a script.

       -e	   Start Vim in Ex mode, just like the executable  was	called
		   "ex".

       -E	   Start Vim in improved Ex mode, just like the executable was
		   called "exim".

       -f	   Foreground.	For the GUI version, Vim  will	not  fork  and
		   detach from the shell it was started in.  On the Amiga, 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).	On  the	 Amiga
		   the ":sh" and ":!" commands will not work.

       --nofork	   Foreground.	 For  the  GUI	version, Vim will not fork and
		   detach from the shell it was started in.

       -F	   If Vim has been compiled with  FKMAP	 support  for  editing
		   right-to-left  oriented  files  and Farsi keyboard mapping,
		   this option starts Vim in  Farsi  mode,  i.e.  'fkmap'  and
		   'rightleft'	are  set.  Otherwise an error message is given
		   and Vim aborts.

       -g	   If Vim has been compiled  with  GUI	support,  this	option
		   enables  the	 GUI.	If  no GUI support was compiled in, an
		   error message is given and Vim aborts.

       -h	   Give a bit of help about the	 command  line	arguments  and
		   options.  After this Vim exits.

       -H	   If Vim has been compiled with RIGHTLEFT support for editing
		   right-to-left oriented files and Hebrew  keyboard  mapping,
		   this	 option	 starts	 Vim  in Hebrew mode, i.e. 'hkmap' and
		   'rightleft' are set.	 Otherwise an error message  is	 given
		   and Vim aborts.

       -i {viminfo}
		   Specifies  the  filename to use when reading or writing the
		   viminfo file, instead of the	 default  "~/.viminfo".	  This
		   can	also  be used to skip the use of the .viminfo file, by
		   giving the name "NONE".

       -L	   Same as -r.

       -l	   Lisp mode.  Sets the 'lisp' and 'showmatch' options on.

       -m	   Modifying files is disabled.	 Resets	 the  'write'  option.
		   You	can still modify the buffer, but writing a file is not
		   possible.

       -M	   Modifications not allowed.  The  'modifiable'  and  'write'
		   options  will be unset, so that changes are not allowed and
		   files can not be written.  Note that these options  can  be
		   set to enable making modifications.

       -N	   No-compatible  mode.	 Resets the 'compatible' option.  This
		   will make Vim behave a bit better, but less Vi  compatible,
		   even though a .vimrc file does not exist.

       -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".

       -nb	   Become an editor server for NetBeans.   See	the  docs  for
		   details.

       -o[N]	   Open N windows stacked.  When N is omitted, open one window
		   for each file.

       -O[N]	   Open N windows side by side.	 When N is omitted,  open  one
		   window for each file.

       -p[N]	   Open N tab pages.  When N is omitted, open one tab page for
		   each file.

       -R	   Read-only mode.  The 'readonly' option will	be  set.   You
		   can still edit the buffer, but will be prevented from acci-
		   dentally overwriting a file.	 If you do want to overwrite a
		   file,  add  an  exclamation	mark  to the Ex command, as in
		   ":w!".  The -R option  also	implies	 the  -n  option  (see
		   above).   The  'readonly'  option  can  be reset with ":set
		   noro".  See ":help 'readonly'".

       -r	   List swap files, with  information  about  using  them  for
		   recovery.

       -r {file}   Recovery  mode.  The swap file is used to recover a crashed
		   editing session.  The swap file is a	 file  with  the  same
		   filename as the text file with ".swp" appended.  See ":help
		   recovery".

       -s	   Silent mode.	 Only when started as "Ex" or  when  the  "-e"
		   option was given before the "-s" option.

       -s {scriptin}
		   The	script file {scriptin} is read.	 The characters 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.

       -T {terminal}
		   Tells  Vim  the  name  of the terminal you are using.  Only
		   required when the automatic way doesn't work.  Should be  a
		   terminal  known  to Vim (builtin) or defined in the termcap
		   or terminfo file.

       -u {vimrc}  Use the commands in the file {vimrc}	 for  initializations.
		   All	the  other  initializations  are skipped.  Use this to
		   edit a special kind of files.  It can also be used to  skip
		   all	initializations by giving the name "NONE".  See ":help
		   initialization" within vim for more details.

       -U {gvimrc} Use the commands in the file {gvimrc} for  GUI  initializa-
		   tions.   All the other GUI initializations are skipped.  It
		   can also be used to skip all GUI initializations by	giving
		   the	name "NONE".  See ":help gui-init" within vim for more
		   details.

       -V[N]	   Verbose.  Give messages about which files are  sourced  and
		   for	reading and writing a viminfo file.  The optional num-
		   ber N is the value for 'verbose'.  Default is 10.

       -v	   Start Vim in Vi mode, just like the executable  was	called
		   "vi".   This	 only has effect when the executable is called
		   "ex".

       -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!".	If the {scriptout} file exists, characters are
		   appended.

       -W {scriptout}
		   Like -w, but an existing file is overwritten.

       -x	   Use encryption when writing files.  Will prompt for a crypt
		   key.

       -X	   Don't  connect to the X server.  Shortens startup time in a
		   terminal, but the window title and clipboard	 will  not  be
		   used.

       -y	   Start Vim in easy mode, just like the executable was called
		   "evim" or "eview".  Makes Vim behave like a	click-and-type
		   editor.

       -Z	   Restricted  mode.   Works  like  the executable starts with
		   "r".

       --	   Denotes the end of the options.  Arguments after this  will
		   be  handled	as  a  file  name.  This can be used to edit a
		   filename that starts with a '-'.

       --clean	   Do not use  any  personal  configuration  (vimrc,  plugins,
		   etc.).   Useful to see if a problem reproduces with a clean
		   Vim setup.

       --echo-wid  GTK GUI only: Echo the Window ID on stdout.

       --help	   Give a help message and exit, just like "-h".

       --literal   Take file name arguments literally,	do  not	 expand	 wild-
		   cards.   This has no effect on Unix where the shell expands
		   wildcards.

       --noplugin  Skip loading plugins.  Implied by -u NONE.

       --remote	   Connect to a Vim server and make it edit the files given in
		   the rest of the arguments.  If no server is found a warning
		   is given and the files are edited in the current Vim.

       --remote-expr {expr}
		   Connect to a Vim server, evaluate {expr} in	it  and	 print
		   the result on stdout.

       --remote-send {keys}
		   Connect to a Vim server and send {keys} to it.

       --remote-silent
		   As  --remote,  but  without	the  warning when no server is
		   found.

       --remote-wait
		   As --remote, but Vim does not exit  until  the  files  have
		   been edited.

       --remote-wait-silent
		   As --remote-wait, but without the warning when no server is
		   found.

       --remote-tab[-wait][-silent]
		   As --remote but use tab page per file

       --role	   Set a unique role to identify the main window

       --serverlist
		   List the names of all Vim servers that can be found.

       --servername {name}
		   Use {name} as the server name.  Used for the	 current  Vim,
		   unless used with a --remote argument, then it's the name of
		   the server to connect to.

       --socketid {id}
		   GTK GUI only: Use the GtkPlug  mechanism  to	 run  gvim  in
		   another window.

       --startuptime {file}
		   During startup write timing messages to the file {fname}.

       --version   Print version information and exit.

ON-LINE HELP
       Type  ":help"  in Vim to get started.  Type ":help subject" to get help
       on a specific subject.  For example: ":help ZZ" to  get	help  for  the
       "ZZ"  command.	Use <Tab> and CTRL-D to complete subjects (":help cmd-
       line-completion").  Tags are present to jump from one place to  another
       (sort of hypertext links, see ":help").	All documentation files can be
       viewed in this way, for example ":help syntax.txt".

FILES
       /usr/share/vim/vim90/doc/*.txt
		      The Vim documentation files.  Use ":help	doc-file-list"
		      to get the complete list.

       /usr/share/vim/vim90/doc/tags
		      The  tags file used for finding information in the docu-
		      mentation files.

       /usr/share/vim/vim90/syntax/syntax.vim
		      System wide syntax initializations.

       /usr/share/vim/vim90/syntax/*.vim
		      Syntax files for various languages.

       /usr/share/vim/vimrc
		      System wide Vim initializations.

       ~/.vimrc	      Your personal Vim initializations.

       /usr/share/vim/gvimrc
		      System wide gvim initializations.

       ~/.gvimrc      Your personal gvim initializations.

       /usr/share/vim/vim90/optwin.vim
		      Script used for the ":options" command, a	 nice  way  to
		      view and set options.

       /usr/share/vim/vim90/menu.vim
		      System wide menu initializations for gvim.

       /usr/share/vim/vim90/bugreport.vim
		      Script to generate a bug report.	See ":help bugs".

       /usr/share/vim/vim90/filetype.vim
		      Script  to  detect  the type of a file by its name.  See
		      ":help 'filetype'".

       /usr/share/vim/vim90/scripts.vim
		      Script to detect the type of a  file  by	its  contents.
		      See ":help 'filetype'".

       /usr/share/vim/vim90/print/*.ps
		      Files used for PostScript printing.

       For recent info read the VIM home page:
       <URL:http://www.vim.org/>

SEE ALSO
       vimtutor(1)

AUTHOR
       Most of Vim was made by Bram Moolenaar, with a lot of help from others.
       See ":help credits" in Vim.
       Vim is based on Stevie, worked on by: Tim Thompson,  Tony  Andrews  and
       G.R. (Fred) Walter.  Although hardly any of the original code remains.

BUGS
       Probably.  See ":help todo" for a list of known problems.

       Note  that a number of things that may be regarded as bugs by some, are
       in fact caused by a too-faithful reproduction of Vi's  behaviour.   And
       if  you	think  other things are bugs "because Vi does it differently",
       you should take a closer look at the vi_diff.txt file  (or  type	 :help
       vi_diff.txt  when  in  Vim).   Also have a look at the 'compatible' and
       'cpoptions' options.



				  2021 Jun 13				VIM(1)