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 VIM(1)                                                               VIM(1)
                                 2006 Apr 11



 NAME
      vim - Vi IMproved, a programmers text editor

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

      ex
      view
      gvim gview 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
      windows 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
                  positioned 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



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 VIM(1)                                                               VIM(1)
                                 2006 Apr 11



                  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
      executable 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.  Can also be done
                with the "-g" argument.

      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
                possible 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 on the
                  first occurrence of {pat}.  See ":help search-pattern" for
                  the available search patterns.



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 VIM(1)                                                               VIM(1)
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      +{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
                  possible 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 be two, three or four
                  file name arguments.  Vim will open all the files and show
                  differences 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



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 VIM(1)                                                               VIM(1)
                                 2006 Apr 11



                  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}
                  When using the viminfo file is enabled, this option sets
                  the filename to use, 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.  Reset 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



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 VIM(1)                                                               VIM(1)
                                 2006 Apr 11



                  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
                  accidently 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 below).  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



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 VIM(1)                                                               VIM(1)
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                  initialization" within vim for more details.

      -U {gvimrc} Use the commands in the file {gvimrc} for GUI
                  initializations.  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
                  number 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 '-'.

      --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
                  wildcards.  This has no effect on Unix where the shell
                  expands wildcards.



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 VIM(1)                                                               VIM(1)
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      --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.

      --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.

      --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
      cmdline-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/local/lib/vim/doc/*.txt
                     The Vim documentation files.  Use ":help doc-file-list"



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 VIM(1)                                                               VIM(1)
                                 2006 Apr 11



                     to get the complete list.

      /usr/local/lib/vim/doc/tags
                     The tags file used for finding information in the
                     documentation files.

      /usr/local/lib/vim/syntax/syntax.vim
                     System wide syntax initializations.

      /usr/local/lib/vim/syntax/*.vim
                     Syntax files for various languages.

      /usr/local/lib/vim/vimrc
                     System wide Vim initializations.

      ~/.vimrc       Your personal Vim initializations.

      /usr/local/lib/vim/gvimrc
                     System wide gvim initializations.

      ~/.gvimrc      Your personal gvim initializations.

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

      /usr/local/lib/vim/menu.vim
                     System wide menu initializations for gvim.

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

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

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

      /usr/local/lib/vim/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



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 VIM(1)                                                               VIM(1)
                                 2006 Apr 11



      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.









































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