Slackware Linux Essentials
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16.6 vi -Configuration

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Your vi clone of choice can be configured in several -ways.

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A variety of commands can be entered while in command mode to set up vi just how you like it. Depending on your editor, you can enable -features to make programming easier (like syntax hilighting, auto-indenting, and more), -set up macros to automake tasks, enable textual substitutions, and more.

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Almost all of these commands can be put into a configuration file in your home -directory. elvis expects a .exrc file, -while vim expects a .vimrc file. Most -of the setup commands that can be entered in command mode can be placed in the -configuration file. This includes setup information, textual substitutions, macros, and -more.

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Discussing all these options and the differences between the editors is quite an -involved subject. For more information, check out the man page or web site for your -preferred vi editor. Some editors (like vim) have extensive help within the editor that can be accessed with -the :help command, or something similar. You can also check out the -O'Reilly book Learning the vi Editor by -Lamb and Robbins.

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Many common programs in Linux will load up a text file in vi -by default. For example, editing your crontabs will start up vi -by default. If you do not like vi and would like another editor -to be started instead, all you need to do is set the VISUAL -environment variable to the editor you prefer. For information on setting environment -variables, see the section called Environment Variables in Chapter 8. If you want to make -sure that your editor will be the default every time you login, add the VISUAL setting to -your .bash_profile or .bashrc -files.

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