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diff --git a/runtime/doc/usr_04.txt b/runtime/doc/usr_04.txt new file mode 100644 index 000000000..619e27813 --- /dev/null +++ b/runtime/doc/usr_04.txt @@ -0,0 +1,514 @@ +*usr_04.txt* For Vim version 7.0aa. Last change: 2004 Jun 08 + + VIM USER MANUAL - by Bram Moolenaar + + Making small changes + + +This chapter shows you several ways of making corrections and moving text +around. It teaches you the three basic ways to change text: operator-motion, +Visual mode and text objects. + +|04.1| Operators and motions +|04.2| Changing text +|04.3| Repeating a change +|04.4| Visual mode +|04.5| Moving text +|04.6| Copying text +|04.7| Using the clipboard +|04.8| Text objects +|04.9| Replace mode +|04.10| Conclusion + + Next chapter: |usr_05.txt| Set your settings + Previous chapter: |usr_03.txt| Moving around +Table of contents: |usr_toc.txt| + +============================================================================== +*04.1* Operators and motions + +In chapter 2 you learned the "x" command to delete a single character. And +using a count: "4x" deletes four characters. + The "dw" command deletes a word. You may recognize the "w" command as the +move word command. In fact, the "d" command may be followed by any motion +command, and it deletes from the current location to the place where the +cursor winds up. + The "4w" command, for example, moves the cursor over four words. The d4w +command deletes four words. + + To err is human. To really foul up you need a computer. ~ + ------------------> + d4w + + To err is human. you need a computer. ~ + +Vim only deletes up to the position where the motion takes the cursor. That's +because Vim knows that you probably don't want to delete the first character +of a word. If you use the "e" command to move to the end of a word, Vim +guesses that you do want to include that last character: + + To err is human. you need a computer. ~ + --------> + d2e + + To err is human. a computer. ~ + +Whether the character under the cursor is included depends on the command you +used to move to that character. The reference manual calls this "exclusive" +when the character isn't included and "inclusive" when it is. + +The "$" command moves to the end of a line. The "d$" command deletes from the +cursor to the end of the line. This is an inclusive motion, thus the last +character of the line is included in the delete operation: + + To err is human. a computer. ~ + ------------> + d$ + + To err is human ~ + +There is a pattern here: operator-motion. You first type an operator command. +For example, "d" is the delete operator. Then you type a motion command like +"4l" or "w". This way you can operate on any text you can move over. + +============================================================================== +*04.2* Changing text + +Another operator is "c", change. It acts just like the "d" operator, except +it leaves you in Insert mode. For example, "cw" changes a word. Or more +specifically, it deletes a word and then puts you in Insert mode. + + To err is human ~ + -------> + c2wbe<Esc> + + To be human ~ + +This "c2wbe<Esc>" contains these bits: + + c the change operator + 2w move two words (they are deleted and Insert mode started) + be insert this text + <Esc> back to Normal mode + +If you have paid attention, you will have noticed something strange: The space +before "human" isn't deleted. There is a saying that for every problem there +is an answer that is simple, clear, and wrong. That is the case with the +example used here for the "cw" command. The c operator works just like the +d operator, with one exception: "cw". It actually works like "ce", change to +end of word. Thus the space after the word isn't included. This is an +exception that dates back to the old Vi. Since many people are used to it +now, the inconsistency has remained in Vim. + + +MORE CHANGES + +Like "dd" deletes a whole line, "cc" changes a whole line. It keeps the +existing indent (leading white space) though. + +Just like "d$" deletes until the end of the line, "c$" changes until the end +of the line. It's like doing "d$" to delete the text and then "a" to start +Insert mode and append new text. + + +SHORTCUTS + +Some operator-motion commands are used so often that they have been given a +single letter command: + + x stands for dl (delete character under the cursor) + X stands for dh (delete character left of the cursor) + D stands for d$ (delete to end of the line) + C stands for c$ (change to end of the line) + s stands for cl (change one character) + S stands for cc (change a whole line) + + +WHERE TO PUT THE COUNT + +The commands "3dw" and "d3w" delete three words. If you want to get really +picky about things, the first command, "3dw", deletes one word three times; +the command "d3w" deletes three words once. This is a difference without a +distinction. You can actually put in two counts, however. For example, +"3d2w" deletes two words, repeated three times, for a total of six words. + + +REPLACING WITH ONE CHARACTER + +The "r" command is not an operator. It waits for you to type a character, and +will replace the character under the cursor with it. You could do the same +with "cl" or with the "s" command, but with "r" you don't have to press <Esc> + + there is somerhing grong here ~ + rT rt rw + + There is something wrong here ~ + +Using a count with "r" causes that many characters to be replaced with the +same character. Example: + + There is something wrong here ~ + 5rx + + There is something xxxxx here ~ + +To replace a character with a line break use "r<Enter>". This deletes one +character and inserts a line break. Using a count here only applies to the +number of characters deleted: "4r<Enter>" replaces four characters with one +line break. + +============================================================================== +*04.3* Repeating a change + +The "." command is one of the most simple yet powerful commands in Vim. It +repeats the last change. For instance, suppose you are editing an HTML file +and want to delete all the <B> tags. You position the cursor on the first < +and delete the <B> with the command "df>". You then go to the < of the next +</B> and kill it using the "." command. The "." command executes the last +change command (in this case, "df>"). To delete another tag, position the +cursor on the < and use the "." command. + + To <B>generate</B> a table of <B>contents ~ + f< find first < ---> + df> delete to > --> + f< find next < ---------> + . repeat df> ---> + f< find next < -------------> + . repeat df> --> + +The "." command works for all changes you make, except for the "u" (undo), +CTRL-R (redo) and commands that start with a colon (:). + +Another example: You want to change the word "four" to "five". It appears +several times in your text. You can do this quickly with this sequence of +commands: + + /four<Enter> find the first string "four" + cwfive<Esc> change the word to "five" + n find the next "four" + . repeat the change to "five' + n find the next "four" + . repeat the change + etc. + +============================================================================== +*04.4* Visual mode + +To delete simple items the operator-motion changes work quite well. But often +it's not so easy to decide which command will move over the text you want to +change. Then you can use Visual mode. + +You start Visual mode by pressing "v". You move the cursor over the text you +want to work on. While you do this, the text is highlighted. Finally type +the operator command. + For example, to delete from halfway one word to halfway another word: + + This is an examination sample of visual mode ~ + ----------> + velllld + + This is an example of visual mode ~ + +When doing this you don't really have to count how many times you have to +press "l" to end up in the right position. You can immediately see what text +will be deleted when you press "d". + +If at any time you decide you don't want to do anything with the highlighted +text, just press <Esc> and Visual mode will stop without doing anything. + + +SELECTING LINES + +If you want to work on whole lines, use "V" to start Visual mode. You will +see right away that the whole line is highlighted, without moving around. +When you move left or right nothing changes. When you move up or down the +selection is extended whole lines at a time. + For example, select three lines with "Vjj": + + +------------------------+ + | text more text | + >> | more text more text | | + selected lines >> | text text text | | Vjj + >> | text more | V + | more text more | + +------------------------+ + + +SELECTING BLOCKS + +If you want to work on a rectangular block of characters, use CTRL-V to start +Visual mode. This is very useful when working on tables. + + name Q1 Q2 Q3 + pierre 123 455 234 + john 0 90 39 + steve 392 63 334 + +To delete the middle "Q2" column, move the cursor to the "Q" of "Q2". Press +CTRL-V to start blockwise Visual mode. Now move the cursor three lines down +with "3j" and to the next word with "w". You can see the first character of +the last column is included. To exclude it, use "h". Now press "d" and the +middle column is gone. + + +GOING TO THE OTHER SIDE + +If you have selected some text in Visual mode, and discover that you need to +change the other end of the selection, use the "o" command (Hint: o for other +end). The cursor will go to the other end, and you can move the cursor to +change where the selection starts. Pressing "o" again brings you back to the +other end. + +When using blockwise selection, you have four corners. "o" only takes you to +one of the other corners, diagonally. Use "O" to move to the other corner in +the same line. + +Note that "o" and "O" in Visual mode work very different from Normal mode, +where they open a new line below or above the cursor. + +============================================================================== +*04.5* Moving text + +When you delete something with the "d", "x", or another command, the text is +saved. You can paste it back by using the p command. (The Vim name for +this is put). + Take a look at how this works. First you will delete an entire line, by +putting the cursor on the line you want to delete and typing "dd". Now you +move the cursor to where you want to put the line and use the "p" (put) +command. The line is inserted on the line below the cursor. + + a line a line a line + line 2 dd line 3 p line 3 + line 3 line 2 + +Because you deleted an entire line, the "p" command placed the text line below +the cursor. If you delete part of a line (a word, for instance), the "p" +command puts it just after the cursor. + + Some more boring try text to out commands. ~ + ----> + dw + + Some more boring text to out commands. ~ + -------> + welp + + Some more boring text to try out commands. ~ + + +MORE ON PUTTING + +The "P" command puts text like "p", but before the cursor. When you deleted a +whole line with "dd", "P" will put it back above the cursor. When you deleted +a word with "dw", "P" will put it back just before the cursor. + +You can repeat putting as many times as you like. The same text will be used. + +You can use a count with "p" and "P". The text will be repeated as many times +as specified with the count. Thus "dd" and then "3p" puts three copies of the +same deleted line. + + +SWAPPING TWO CHARACTERS + +Frequently when you are typing, your fingers get ahead of your brain (or the +other way around?). The result is a typo such as "teh" for "the". Vim +makes it easy to correct such problems. Just put the cursor on the e of "teh" +and execute the command "xp". This works as follows: "x" deletes the +character e and places it in a register. "p" puts the text after the cursor, +which is after the h. + + teh th the ~ + x p + +============================================================================== +*04.6* Copying text + +To copy text from one place to another, you could delete it, use "u" to undo +the deletion and then "p" to put it somewhere else. There is an easier way: +yanking. The "y" operator copies text into a register. Then a "p" command +can be used to put it. + Yanking is just a Vim name for copying. The "c" letter was already used +for the change operator, and "y" was still available. Calling this +operator "yank" made it easier to remember to use the "y" key. + +Since "y" is an operator, you use "yw" to yank a word. A count is possible as +usual. To yank two words use "y2w". Example: + + let sqr = LongVariable * ~ + --------------> + y2w + + let sqr = LongVariable * ~ + p + + let sqr = LongVariable * LongVariable ~ + +Notice that "yw" includes the white space after a word. If you don't want +this, use "ye". + +The "yy" command yanks a whole line, just like "dd" deletes a whole line. +Unexpectedly, while "D" deletes from the cursor to the end of the line, "Y" +works like "yy", it yanks the whole line. Watch out for this inconsistency! +Use "y$" to yank to the end of the line. + + a text line yy a text line a text line + line 2 line 2 p line 2 + last line last line a text line + last line + +============================================================================== +*04.7* Using the clipboard + +If you are using the GUI version of Vim (gvim), you can find the "Copy" item +in the "Edit" menu. First select some text with Visual mode, then use the +Edit/Copy menu. The selected text is now copied to the clipboard. You can +paste the text in other programs. In Vim itself too. + +If you have copied text to the clipboard in another application, you can paste +it in Vim with the Edit/Paste menu. This works in Normal mode and Insert +mode. In Visual mode the selected text is replaced with the pasted text. + +The "Cut" menu item deletes the text before it's put on the clipboard. The +"Copy", "Cut" and "Paste" items are also available in the popup menu (only +when there is a popup menu, of course). If your Vim has a toolbar, you can +also find these items there. + +If you are not using the GUI, or if you don't like using a menu, you have to +use another way. You use the normal "y" (yank) and "p" (put) commands, but +prepend "* (double-quote star) before it. To copy a line to the clipboard: > + + "*yy + +To put text from the clipboard back into the text: > + + "*p + +This only works on versions of Vim that include clipboard support. More about +the clipboard in section |09.3| and here: |clipboard|. + +============================================================================== +*04.8* Text objects + +If the cursor is in the middle of a word and want to delete that word, you +need to move back to its start before you can do "dw". There is a simpler way +to do this: "daw". + + this is some example text. ~ + daw + + this is some text. ~ + +The "d" of "daw" is the delete operator. "aw" is a text object. Hint: "aw" +stands for "A Word". Thus "daw" is "Delete A Word". To be precise, the white +space after the word is also deleted (the white space before the word at the +end of the line). + +Using text objects is the third way to make changes in Vim. We already had +operator-motion and Visual mode. Now we add operator-text object. + It is very similar to operator-motion, but instead of operating on the text +between the cursor position before and after a movement command, the text +object is used as a whole. It doesn't matter where in the object the cursor +was. + +To change a whole sentence use "cis". Take this text: + + Hello there. This ~ + is an example. Just ~ + some text. ~ + +Move to the start of the second line, on "is an". Now use "cis": + + Hello there. Just ~ + some text. ~ + +The cursor is in between the blanks in the first line. Now you type the new +sentence "Another line.": + + Hello there. Another line. Just ~ + some text. ~ + +"cis" consists of the "c" (change) operator and the "is" text object. This +stands for "Inner Sentence". There is also the "as" (a sentence) object. The +difference is that "as" includes the white space after the sentence and "is" +doesn't. If you would delete a sentence, you want to delete the white space +at the same time, thus use "das". If you want to type new text the white +space can remain, thus you use "cis". + +You can also use text objects in Visual mode. It will include the text object +in the Visual selection. Visual mode continues, thus you can do this several +times. For example, start Visual mode with "v" and select a sentence with +"as". Now you can repeat "as" to include more sentences. Finally you use an +operator to do something with the selected sentences. + +You can find a long list of text objects here: |text-objects|. + +============================================================================== +*04.9* Replace mode + +The "R" command causes Vim to enter replace mode. In this mode, each +character you type replaces the one under the cursor. This continues until +you type <Esc>. + In this example you start Replace mode on the first "t" of "text": + + This is text. ~ + Rinteresting.<Esc> + + This is interesting. ~ + +You may have noticed that this command replaced 5 characters in the line with +twelve others. The "R" command automatically extends the line if it runs out +of characters to replace. It will not continue on the next line. + +You can switch between Insert mode and Replace mode with the <Insert> key. + +When you use <BS> (backspace) to make correction, you will notice that the +old text is put back. Thus it works like an undo command for the last typed +character. + +============================================================================== +*04.10* Conclusion + +The operators, movement commands and text objects give you the possibility to +make lots of combinations. Now that you know how it works, you can use N +operators with M movement commands to make N * M commands! + +You can find a list of operators here: |operator| + +For example, there are many other ways to delete pieces of text. Here are a +few often used ones: + +x delete character under the cursor (short for "dl") +X delete character before the cursor (short for "dh") +D delete from cursor to end of line (short for "d$") +dw delete from cursor to next start of word +db delete from cursor to previous start of word +diw delete word under the cursor (excluding white space) +daw delete word under the cursor (including white space) +dG delete until the end of the file +dgg delete until the start of the file + +If you use "c" instead of "d" they become change commands. And with "y" you +yank the text. And so forth. + + +There are a few often used commands to make changes that didn't fit somewhere +else: + + ~ change case of the character under the cursor, and move the + cursor to the next character. This is not an operator (unless + 'tildeop' is set), thus you can't use it with a motion + command. It does works in Visual mode and changes case for + all the selected text then. + + I Start Insert mode after moving the cursor to the first + non-blank in the line. + + A Start Insert mode after moving the cursor to the end of the + line. + +============================================================================== + +Next chapter: |usr_05.txt| Set your settings + +Copyright: see |manual-copyright| vim:tw=78:ts=8:ft=help:norl: |