There are several ways to write and edit files.
The most commonly used text editors are vi, emacs and gedit.
Gedit is a text editor with graphical user interface. To create a new file in the current folder just call gedit with the name of the file:
gedit file.txtWhen you are done, save the file (by pressing Ctrl+S or by selecting File › Save) and close Gedit.
Vi is a text editor with a command mode interface. See this article for a beginner’s guide.
To create a new file in the current folder just call vi with the name of the file:
vi file.txtVi has several modes which are specified in the bottom part of screen.
When you just open the editor you cannot write on the file, because it is the command mode.
To start writing, press i, and you will notice that the status in the bottom of the screen changed to INSERT.
Now you can paste the text by right-click with the mouse and paste, or by pressing SHIFT+Insert.
To go back to command mode press ESC.
To save, make sure you are in command mode and type:
:wqTo undo, press u when you are in command mode.
GNU nano is a text editor for Unix-like operating systems using a command line interface. The following sections describe the commands used for opening, editing and saving files using nano.
nano main.nf |
Open or create the file |
kbd:[Ctr+o] kbd:[Enter] |
Save changes |
kbd:[Ctrl+x] |
Quit |
kbd:[Ctrl+a] |
Move to the beginning of the current line |
kbd:[Ctrl+e] |
Move to the end of the current line |
kbd:[Ctrl+v] |
Move down one page |
kbd:[Ctrl+y] |
Move up one page |
kbd:[Ctrl+w] kbd:[Ctrl+y] |
Go to the beginning of the file |
kbd:[Ctrl+w] kbd:[Ctrl+v] |
Go to the end of the file |
kbd:[Ctrl+c] (Mac kbd:[Cmd+c]) |
Copy the current selection to the clipboard |
kbd:[Ctrl+v] (Mac kbd:[Cmd+c]) |
Paste the contents from the clipboard at the current cursor position |
kbd:[Ctrl+k] |
Cut from the current cursor position to the end of the current line |
kbd:[Ctrl+d] |
Delete the character at the current cursor position |