Comments on Vim Editor Basics

you can also use ':x' for save and exit. and 'x' to delete current character.

In your command prompt type vimtutor

Its the best vim tutorial to learn by doing.

-Adam

Excellent article for beginners like me, just want to add the following:

When you use the vsplit command and open two documents you can go between first and second file with Control+w+(rightarrow or leftarrow)

When you use the visual mod and you want to copy, cut or paste some text you can use the same commands from the command mod, you can also copy cut or paste text between files.

If you wish you can add this comments in the original post.

Thanks and sorry for the bad english.

Quit save and exit with
shift+zz

This "tutorial" was not very helpful, mainly because it doesn't address one of the most non-intuitive and confusing aspects of vim: how to move the fricking cursor.

Actually, in vim the arrow keys work so that is very intuitive.  In vi the arrow keys normally don't work, but the vi navigation works in vim (j - Down, k - Up, h - Left, l - Right).

I thought this tutorial did cover the most important and unintuitive part of vim, namely how to exit.

The referral by another commenter to vimtutor is also beneficial.

Moving the cursor in vim is very easy (unlike in vi), simply use the arrow keys, whether in insert mode or not.

 The "Home" and "End" keys also work as expected (move to beginning and end of line).

The "Delete" key also works as expected (delete the caracter under the cursor).

One key I use also in non insert mode is the "a" key, it works like "i" to switch to insert mode, but inserts after current character, very useful for appending text at the end of a line.

Hi Hardly,

 >Using capital R will also allow you to backspace over text you have typed to reveal the original text. This will always impress onlookers. 

Could you please explain this a little bit more as I didn't catch it (maybe because not native English speaking)?

 Best regards, xcomm

Another handy tool in vim that I use often is the Replace function. While in navigation mode press the r key and then the key you want to replace the selected character with. This will replace one character at a time.

Capital R will stay in replace mode allowing you to type extended lengths of text over other text. ESC to exit. Using capital R will also allow you to backspace over text you have typed to reveal the original text. This will always impress onlookers. 

Just now after typing this comment I actually began to type :wq. lol

what if you use linux?

Hello,

Please change ':i' => 'i' after the words 'The editor is now in command mode. To start editing the file content, enter:',

because :i doesn't work properly.