vim usage

Q.How do I open and edit multiple files under VIM text editor running under Ubuntu Linux / UNIX operating systems to improve my productivity?

A. Vim offers multiple file editing with the help of windows. You can easily open multiple files and edit them using the concept of buffers.

Understanding vim buffer

A buffer is nothing but a file loaded into memory for editing. The original file remains unchanged until you write the buffer to the file using w (other file saving related) command.

Understanding window

A window is noting but a viewport onto a buffer. You can use multiple windows on one buffer, or several windows on different buffers. By default, Vim starts with one window, for example open /etc/passwd file, enter:
$ vim /etc/passwd

Open two windows

Start vim as follows to open two windows,split horizontally:
$ vim -o /etc/passwd /etc/hosts
OR
$ vim -o file1.txt resume.txt

(Fig.01: split horizontal windows under VIM)
The -O option allows you to open two windows, split vertically, enter:
$ vim -O /etc/passwd /etc/hosts

How do I switch or jump between windows?

This operation is also known as moving cursor to other windows:

1. Press CTRL + W + <Left arrow key> to activate left windows

2. Press CTRL + W + <Right arrow key> to activate right windows

3. Press CTRL + W + <Up arrow key> to activate to windows above current one

4. Press CTRL + W + <Down arrow key> to activate to windows down current one

5. Press CTRL-W + CTRL-W (hit CTRL+W twice) to move quickly between all open windows

How do I edit current buffer?

Use all your regular vim command such as i, w and so on for editing text.

How do I close windows?

Press CTRL+W CTRL-Q to close the current windows. You can also press [ESC]+:q to quit current window.

How do I open new empty window?

Press CTRL+W + n - Create a new window and start editing an empty file in it.

How do I split current window in two?

Press CTRL+W+ s - to split current window in two.

How do I open exiting file in a new windows?

Press [ESC]+:new /path/to/file. This will create a new window and start editing file /path/to/file in it. For example, open file called /etc/hosts.deny, enter:
:new /etc/hosts.deny

(Fig.02: Create a new window and start editing file /etc/hosts.deny in it.)

(Fig.03: Two files opened in a two windows)

How do I  resize Window?

You can increase or decrease windows size by N number. For example, increase windows size by 5, press [ESC] + 5 + CTRL + W+ +.

To decrease windows size by 5, press [ESC]+ 5 + CTRL+ W + -.

Moving windows cheat sheet

How do I quit all windows?

Type the following command (also known as quit all command):
:qall
Note: If any of the windows contain changes, Vim will not exit. The cursor will automatically be positioned in a window with changes.

You can then either use ":write" to save the changes:
:write
or ":quit!" to throw them away:
:quite!

How do save and quit all windows?

To save all changes in all windows and quite , use this command:
:wqall
This writes all modified files and quits Vim.  Finally, there is a command that quits Vim and throws away all changes:
:qall!

Further readings:

• Refer "Splitting windows" help by typing :help under vim itself.

Series NavigationHow do I Be More Productive In Vim?

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• Last Updated:07/10/08

{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }

• 1Bash 07.09.08 at 9:21 pm

• 
  

  I find the vertical split to be more useful.

  Type

  :vsp

  for vertical split.

  
  

  
  

• 2Ramesh | The Geek Stuff 07.10.08 at 5:50 am

• 
  

  Bash,

  Yeah I agree with you. Vertical split is especially very good if you a wide screen monitor.

  I absolutely love the multiple window feature of the vim and it definitely enhances the productivity to a great extend.

  Ramesh
  The Geek Stuff

  
  

  
  

• 3mohan 07.10.08 at 6:10 am

• 
  

  vimdiff file1.txt file2.txt

  will give you vertical split.

  
  

  
  

• 4Tim 07.10.08 at 11:30 am

• 
  

  Your text states “You can then either use “:write” to save the changes, or “:quit!” to throw them away.”

  But your command says “:quite!”

  May wanna fix that ;)

  
  

  
  

• 5Eric Lin 07.14.08 at 2:10 am

• 
  

  When you are in split mode, you can type

  :set mouse=a

  to enable mouse command and then you can use your mouse to drag the window boundary to resize the all windows.

  Cheers

  
  

  
  

• 6Aman 07.30.08 at 6:54 am

• 
  

  Hi,

  If I have multiple files opened, say by
  $ vim file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt

  Now, :ls shows all the open buffers

  When I do :q ,all the buffers are closed, but is there a way to close a particular buffer, say only file2.txt

  
  

  
  

• 7Chris 10.02.08 at 3:47 pm

• 
  

  Aman,

  It’s easy to close one buffer. In fact, there are a lot of ways to navigate through many open buffers. Here’s some

  Using your example:
  $ vim file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt

  you currently have 3 open buffers. Let’s say you are currently editing file1.txt

  :bn – go to next buffer (in this case, file2.txt)
  :bp – go to previous buffer (will go backwards to file3.txt)
  :bd – delete current buffer (file1.txt will be closed and file2.txt will become the current buffer) (can also take a filename or number as an argument)
  :b  – go directly to a file

  FILENAME
  If you are editing file2.txt and want to close file3.txt, type:

  :bd file3.txt

  You will still be editing file2.txt, but file3.txt will no longer be open.

  NUMBER
  in vim,
  :ls – this command lists your open files and assigns an identifying number to each one.

  In your example, it would look like
  :ls
  1  “file1.txt” line 0
  2  “file2.txt” line 0
  3  “file3.txt” line 0

  :b 3
  will go directly to file3.txt (which is buffer 3)

  :bd 2
  will delete the file2.txt buffer

  I think this is a good starting point. Google something like “vim buffers” for more info!

  Chris

  
  

  
  

• 8Syed K 06.04.09 at 11:26 am

• 
  

  Very useful

  Thanks

  
  

  
  

• 9Laxman 08.02.09 at 11:45 am

• 
  

  Thanks dude
  I generally used gvim instead of vi/vim. I really like to woke with multi-file in split windows. This web page help me to switch window using keystrokes only which i have needed.