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Starting vi

To start vi, simply type vi followed by the name of the file you want to edit.

 
               		  vi   myfile

If myfile is a new file, the buffer is empty and the screen appears as follows:

~
~
~
"myfile" [New file]

The tilde (~) down the left-hand column of the screen indicates that there is no text in the file, not even blank lines. The prompt line (also called status line) at the bottom of the screen echoes the name and status of the file.



Alan Silverman
Wed Apr 12 16:54:02 METDST 1995