Provided by: jvim-canna_3.0-2.1b-3build1_amd64 
NAME
vim - Vi IMproved, a programmers text editor
SYNOPSIS
vim [options] [file ..]
vim [options] -t tag
vim [options] -e [errorfile]
DESCRIPTION
Vim is a text editor that is upwards compatible to vi. It can be used to edit any ASCII text. It is
especially useful for editing programs.
There are a lot of enhancements above vi: multi level undo, multi windows and buffers, command line
editing, filename completion, on-line help, visual selection, etc.. Read difference.doc for a summary of
the differences between vi and Vim.
Most often Vim is started to edit a single file with the command
vim file
More generally VIM is started with:
vim [options] [filelist]
If the filelist is missing, the editor will start with an empty buffer. Otherwise exactly one out of the
following three may be used to choose one or more files to be edited.
file .. A list of file names. The first one (alphabetically) will be the current file and read into
the buffer. The cursor will be positioned on the first line of the buffer. You can get to the
other files with the ":next" command.
-t {tag} The file to edit and the initial cursor position depends on a "tag", a sort of goto label.
{tag} is looked up in the tags file, the associated file becomes the current file and the
associated command is executed. Mostly this is used for C programs. {tag} then should be a
function name. The effect is that the file containing that function becomes the current file
and the cursor is positioned on the start of the function (see reference.doc, section "tag
searches").
-e [errorfile]
Start in quickFix mode. The file [errorfile] is read and the first error is displayed. If
[errorfile] is omitted the file name is obtained from the 'errorfile' option (defaults to
"AztecC.Err" for the Amiga, "errors" on other systems). Further errors can be jumped to with
the ":cn" command. See reference.doc section 5.5.
OPTIONS
The options, if present, must precede the filelist. The options may be given in any order.
-r Recovery mode. The swap file is used to recover a crashed editing session. The swap file is a
file with the same file name as the text file with ".swp" appended. See reference.doc,
chapter "Recovery after a crash".
-v View mode. The 'readonly' option will be set. You can still edit the buffer, but will be
prevented from accidently overwriting a file. If you do want to overwrite a file, add an
exclamation mark to the Ex command, as in ":w!". The -v option also implies the -n option
(see below). The 'readonly' option can be reset with ":set noro" (see reference.doc, options
chapter).
-b Binary. A few options will be set that makes it possible to edit a binary or executable file.
+[num] For the first file the cursor will be positioned on line "num". If "num" is missing, the
cursor will be positioned on the last line.
+/pat For the first file the cursor will be positioned on the first occurrence of "pat" (see
reference.doc, section "pattern searches" for the available search patterns).
+{command}
-c {command}
{command} will be executed after the first file has been read. {command} is interpreted as an
Ex command. If the {command} contains spaces it must be enclosed in double quotes (this
depends on the shell that is used). Example: Vim "+set si" main.c
-x (Amiga only) Vim is not restarted to open a new window. This option should be used when Vim
is executed by a program that will wait for the edit session to finish (e.g. mail). The ":sh"
and ":!" commands will not work.
-o[N] Open N windows. When N is omitted, open one window for each file.
-n No swap file will be used. Recovery after a crash will be impossible. Handy if you want to
edit a file on a very slow medium (e.g. floppy). Can also be done with ":set uc=0". Can be
undone with ":set uc=200".
-s {scriptin}
The script file {scriptin} is read. The characters in the file are interpreted as if you had
typed them. The same can be done with the command ":source! {scriptin}". If the end of the
file is reached before the editor exits, further characters are read from the keyboard.
-w {scriptout}
All the characters that you type are recorded in the file {scriptout}, until you exit VIM.
This is useful if you want to create a script file to be used with "vim -s" or ":source!".
-T terminal Tells Vim the name of the terminal you are using. Should be a terminal known to Vim (builtin)
or defined in the termcap file.
-d device Open "device" for use as a terminal. Only on the Amiga. Example: "-d con:20/30/600/150".
SEE ALSO
Vim documentation:
reference.doc:
A complete reference of Vim (long)
windows.doc:
Explanation of the multi windows and buffers commands and options
index: Overview of all command characters (useful when adding new mappings)
difference.doc:
Overview of the differences between vi and Vim
unix.doc: Unix-specific comments
vim.hlp: File used by the on-line help (short)
AUTHOR
Most of VIM was made by Bram Moolenaar.
VIM is based on Stevie, worked on by: Tim Thompson, Tony Andrews and G.R. (Fred) Walter
BUGS
Probably.
1994 August 12 VIM(1)