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In article <1990Nov21.025246.8298@mthvax.cs.miami.edu> wb8foz@mthvax.cs.miami.edu (David Lesher) writes:
> I'm looking for a macro that would delete to a given line
> number. For example: You are editing a file, and are on line 5.
> You want to delete everything up to line 17.  Now of course, you
> can subtract in your head, and use a 12dd. But my view has always
> computers are supposed to do those things for me! 
> 
> Any suggestion on a "delete to {or delete through} line #" macro?

I do this all the time.  I put the cursor on the first(last) line I
want deleted, then enter

    :.=

which tells me the line number there.  Then I put the cursor on the
last(first) line, and enter

    :N,.d   (:.,Nd)

where `N' was the previous line number (determined by the `:.=' command).
The `.' indicates current line number.

Don't forget, "vi" is not really a "screen" editor.  It is actually a
"screen" interface on top of "ex", which is a "line" editor.  When you
enter the `:' you are entering an "ex" command directly.

This allows you a number of convenient options, such as

    :.,.+4w! temp

which writes to a file named "temp" (overwriting if needed) the 5 lines
beginning at the current cursor position.  This breaks down as follows:

   :    - go to "ex" mode
   .    - current cursor position
   ,    - thru ...
   .+4  - current cursor position plus 4
   w    - write
   !    - I really mean it! overwrite if necessary (default no overwrite)
   temp - name of the file to create (defaults to original filename)

:-)  note that this is a smiley face, not an "ex" command.
--
asylvain@felix.UUCP (Alvin "the Chipmunk" Sylvain)
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