How to Use Vi to Edit a Command in Terminal on Linux

How to use vi to edit a command in terminal on Linux?

If you're using bash, try the edit-and-execute-command command. By default, this is assigned to Ctrl-x Ctrl-e (type ctrl-x, then ctrl-e).

This should open whatever editor is specified in your environment. Whatever is in the buffer when you exit will execute in the shell - including multiple-line commands.

How to edit a text file in my terminal

Open the file again using vi. and then press the insert button to begin editing it.

Running vi within a bash script and executing vi commands to edit another file

For scripted editing tasks, you can use ed instead of vi:

ed runner2 <<'END'
1,$s/gout:/xtl/
1,$s/gout:/dat/
w
q
END

For global line-oriented search and replace, sed is a good choice:

sed -i 's/gout:/xtl/; s/gout:/dat/' runner2

Terminal edit command in a editor

In bash you can ctrl+x, ctrl+e (two stroke combo) to send the shell's readline to your $EDITOR. On exit of the editor, the command is executed.

Zsh and other shells have similar functionality, that may need to be configured.

How to switch to edit mode of vi on mac terminal

On Mac you can more correctly type vim (Vi Improved) instead :)

Same as everywhere, i switches to "INSERT" mode and ESC switches back to command mode.

A good learning resource for Vim is included in Mac. Simply type vimtutor and it will teach you quickly how to use vim effectively.

Another editing option on mac is nano it is a command line text editor that is much easier for those familiar with TextEdit/Notepad.

How to edit a py file from terminal?

You also have to enter a command like i to get into insert mode. Then hit esc and :wq to save and quit. If you are using terminal often it may be helpful to have a cheat sheet

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