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VIM(1)									VIM(1)

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 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.	 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 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  on  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 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 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
		   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‐
		   dently  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
		   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 '-'.

       --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.

       --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  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/vim72/doc/*.txt
		      The  Vim documentation files.  Use ":help doc-file-list"
		      to get the complete list.

       /usr/share/vim/vim72/doc/tags
		      The tags file used for finding information in the	 docu‐
		      mentation files.

       /usr/share/vim/vim72/syntax/syntax.vim
		      System wide syntax initializations.

       /usr/share/vim/vim72/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/vim72/optwin.vim
		      Script  used  for	 the ":options" command, a nice way to
		      view and set options.

       /usr/share/vim/vim72/menu.vim
		      System wide menu initializations for gvim.

       /usr/share/vim/vim72/bugreport.vim
		      Script to generate a bug report.	See ":help bugs".

       /usr/share/vim/vim72/filetype.vim
		      Script to detect the type of a file by  its  name.   See
		      ":help 'filetype'".

       /usr/share/vim/vim72/scripts.vim
		      Script  to  detect  the  type of a file by its contents.
		      See ":help 'filetype'".

       /usr/share/vim/vim72/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.

				  2006 Apr 11				VIM(1)
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