How to use Vi in Terminal

In my quest to get fedora core 6 working correctly on my MacBook. I realized that I would at some point have to create .conf files etc. and to do this I would have to use Vi. Which I found myself can be a bit annoying when trying to find a input to create or modify a file.


Vi has 2 modes, command mode and insert mode.

1. command mode
Here are some of the basic command to get you through the editor:

 h = move the cursor 1 character left
 j = move the cursor 1 character down
 k = move the cursor 1 character up
 l = move the cursor 1 character right
 i = enter insert mode before cursor
 I = enter insert mode at begging of line
 a = enter insert mode after the cursor
 A = enter insert mode at the end of current line
 o = create a new line below current line and enter insert mode
 O = create a new line above current line and enter insert mode
 /string = searches for the first instance of string
 n = next occurrence
 $ = move the cursor to end of line
 :x = move cursor to line x
 u = undo
 r = replace single character
 R = like insert mode but replaces characters until [Esc] is hit
 x = delete single character
 dw = delete word
 dd = delete line
 D = delete rest of line after cursor
 yy = copy line
 p = paste
 g = returns line number
 :w = save file
 :q! = quit without saving
 :wq or ZZ = save and quit
 
2. Insert/replace mode mode
You can type just as you would in any editor.
To quit and return to command mode press [Esc]