Linux Operations and Administration Professor Sabol Objectives Describe
Linux Operations and Administration Professor Sabol
Objectives • Describe key features of GUI and command-line text editors available in Linux • Use the vim editor to create and edit text files
Text Editors in Linux • Text editor – Program used to create and edit plain text files – Not same as word processor – Main purpose: to create a file to be used by another program, for example: • Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) for a Web browser • Source code that a compiler can process • Shell script – Text file containing a sequence of commands
Text Editors in Linux (cont’d. ) • Two types of text editors: – Command-line editors – GUI editors
GUI Text Editors in Linux • Linux GUI text editors – Similar to Notepad in Windows • Advantage: – Select and edit text quickly with the mouse • Widely used GUI text editors: – KWrite – Gedit
KWrite: A GUI Text Editor for KDE • Also called programmer’s editor for the K Desktop Environment • To start: – Type kwrite at a command prompt • Opens a new empty file in Kwrite – Use Kickoff Application Launcher button • Advanced features: – Syntax highlighting to display text in different colors and fonts for programming languages – Bookmarks are markers placed on certain lines to help navigate through a text file
KWrite: A GUI Text Editor for KDE (cont’d. ) Figure 4 -1 KDE’s KWrite text editor
KWrite: A GUI Text Editor for KDE (cont’d. ) • Activity 4 -1: Exploring the KWrite Text Editor – Explore features of the KWrite text editor
Gedit: A GUI Text Editor for GNOME • GUI text editor included with GNOME • To start – Open a terminal window, type gedit, and press Enter • Syntax highlighting options – – – Plain text Sources Scripts Others Markup Scientific
Gedit: A GUI Text Editor for GNOME (cont’d. ) Figure 4 -2 GNOME’s gedit text editor
Gedit: A GUI Text Editor for GNOME (cont’d. ) • Activity 4 -2: Exploring the Gedit Text Editor – Learn features of the Gedit text editor
Getting Started with the Vim Editor • vi command-line text editor – Included with most versions of UNIX and Linux – Learning curve – Knowing how to use it is crucial • vi has evolved into many different forms • vim – Stands for “vi improved” – vi command is now linked to the vim command
Getting Started with the Vim Editor (cont’d. ) • Modular editor – Runs in different operational modes – Command mode • Use key combinations as commands instead of typing text – Insert mode • Typed text is displayed onscreen – Extend mode • Used for more advanced commands, such as saving files, exiting vim, or searching and replacing text
Starting Vim • Type vim and press Enter • Type vim filename and press Enter – If the file doesn’t exist, vim creates an empty file with this filename • Figure 4 -3 – Window displayed after you start vim – Tilde (~) • Represents blank or empty lines in the file
Starting Vim (cont’d. ) The vim text editor
Command Mode • Command mode – Chosen automatically when starting vim • Table 4 -1 – Advanced navigational commands in vim
Table 4 -1 Advanced vim navigational commands Linux Operations and Administration
Table 4 -1 Advanced vim navigational commands (continued ) Linux Operations and Administration 18
Command Mode (cont’d. ) • Activity 4 -3: Using Vim in Command Mode – Use navigational commands in vim
Insert Mode • Must be in insert mode to type text • Change to insert mode with one of the commands in Table 4 -2 • vim editor displays -- INSERT -- at the lower left – To indicate insert mode • Press the Esc key to change back to command mode
Insert Mode (cont’d. ) Table 4 -2 Commands for entering insert mode
Insert Mode (cont’d. ) Figure 4 -4 The vim editor in insert mode
Modifying Text • Modify text using the keyboard instead of the mouse • Table 4 -3 – Commands for modifying text in vim – Must be in command mode • Activity 4 -4: Using Vim in Insert Mode – Change to insert mode and modify text in vim
Modifying Text (cont’d. ) Table 4 -3 Commands for modifying text
Deleting Text • Table 4 -4 – Lists commands for deleting text in vim
Deleting Text (cont’d. ) Table 4 -4 Commands for deleting text
Cut, Yank, and Paste • Cut text – Store text in a buffer • Paste text – Move from buffer to cursor location • Yank (copy) text – Keep in current location and copy to buffer • Table 4 -5 – Commands used to yank and paste text in vim
Cut, Yank, and Paste (cont’d. ) Table 4 -5 Commands for yanking and pasting text
Undo Commands • Undo changes – Type u – Keep typing u until you have reached your oldest change • Activity 4 -5: Modifying Text in Vim – Delete, cut, copy, and paste text in vim
Extended Mode • Offers advanced features – Save and quit – Search and replace – Customization options • Enter extended mode – Type the : symbol • Table 4 -6 – Describes commands for saving files and exiting vim
Extended Mode (cont’d. ) Table 4 -6 Extended mode commands for saving and exiting
Extended Mode (cont’d. ) Table 4 -7 Extended mode commands to search for and replace text
Useful Commands • Table 4 -8 – Commands for extended mode • Activity 4 -6: Using Vim in Extended Mode – Use vim commands in extended mode
Useful Commands (cont’d. ) Table 4 -8 Additional extended mode commands
Summary • Linux GUI text editors – Easy to use – Comparable with Windows Notepad • vim text editor – Available with every major distribution of UNIX and Linux – Operates in several different modes • Insert mode • Command mode • Extended mode
Summary (cont’d. ) – Command-line text editor – Use a variety of keys and key combinations in vim to perform operations
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