🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <960@myrias.UUCP> dbf@myrias.UUCP (David Ferrier) writes:
:In article <4048@ttidca.TTI.COM> kevin@ttidcb.tti.com (Kevin Carothers) writes:
:>I am continuously amazed at the lack of knowledge about Vi some of the 
:>people who post to this newsgroup display!
:>NO, you DO NOT have to count lines! [to delete a block of text] 
:>1.  Mark the beginning and end of your block of text 
:>    Lets say the beginning is register "a", and the end is "b".
:>2.  Enter the following command:
:>    :'a,'bw !wc -l
:>           +---- This space is very important.
:>If you don't like Vi, fine. Just don't post untrue junk about it.
:
:Thanks for posting an ingenious and elegant solution. 
:With my amazing lack of knowledge of vi, it would have taken me 
:hours of pulling together information scattered among many 
:pages of UNIX documentation on vi, ex, and wc to come up with 
:this nifty get-around. 
:
:It also highlights the problem that in vi there is no EASY, OBVIOUS way 
:to delete a large block of text.  For dozens of other editors, 
:the procedure is "Just Say Delete".  When vi also becomes user-friendly, 
:clearly documented, and easy to use, please post.
:-- 
:David Ferrier                            | computer: 
:Edmonton, Alberta                        | a million morons
:UUCC:alberta!myrias!dbf                  | working at the speed of light

Well,  I let this go as long as I could,  but mo one else has spoken
up to correct this entry,  so I guess I have to.

Far from being ingenious and elegant,  the solution offered goes the
long way around.  Want to delete text?  Fine,  there's any number of
solutions.  Counting lines and saying,  for instance, 8dd is one,  but
very inelegant.

Want to delete the next paragraph:

                  d} 

previous paragraph:

                  d{

In vi,  the syntax is command-target for d(elete) y(ank) c(hange)
and !(shell)

Targets include:

                 (command-letter) - same line (dd yy cc !!)
                 l                  char to the right
                 j                  current line
                 k                  current an previous line
                 h                  previous char
                 H                  current line to top of screen
                 5H                 current line through 5th line from top
                 L                  current line through last line on screen
                 5L                 current line through 5th line from bottom
                 G                  current line to end of file
                 1G                 current line through 1st line of file
                 20G                current line through 20th line of file
                                    (use :set nu to set line numbering on, or
                                    control G to determine line number.     
                                    :se nonu turns off line numbering)
                 )                  current character to end of sentence
                 (                  current character to end of previous
                                    sentence
                 }                  current line through next paragraph
                 {                  current line through previous paragraph
                 ]]                 current line through next section
                 [[                 current line through previous section
                 'a                 current line through line marked by a
                 `a                 current character through character
                                    marked by a (marking previously explained)
                 /pattern           current line through line containing
                                    pattern
                 ?pattern           same, only reverse search
                 n                  through next occurrance of pattern
                 N                  through previous occurrance of pattern
                 '                  current line to previous mark
                 `                  current character to previous mark
same line        f - char           current character to found char
commands         F - char           current character to previous found char
                 ;                  current char to next found char
                 ,                  current char to previous found char
                 w                  current word (and trailing space)
                 e                  end of current word (preserve space)
                 b                  to beginning of current word

There are probably some other targets I've forgotten,  or some other
block moves that are possible.  I know of no word processing or text
editor program with so many easy ways to move and copy data.  As for
the documentation,  you need to get a UNIX editor manual (how else
can you use sed?) and play with the editor.  Man files just won't
tell you what you want to know.


-- 

Dan Mercer
Reply-To: mercer@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM (Dan Mercer)