User guide

Appendix A - New User Background Information
286 BLACK BOX ® Advanced Console Server
Shortcuts:
The vi Editor
To edit a file using the vi editor, type:
vi file_name
Vi is a three-state line editor: it has a command mode, a line mode and an editing mode. If in
doubt as to which mode you are in, press the <ESC> key which will bring you to the com-
mand mode.
When you enter the vi program, you are automatically in command mode. To navigate to the
part of the file you wish to edit, use the following keys:
. (one dot) Represents the current directory.
.. (two dots) Represents one directory above the current directory (i.e. one directory
closer to the base directory).
Table 14: vi modes
Mode What is done there How to get there
Command mode Navigation within the open file. Press the <ESC> key.
Editing mode Text editing. See list of editing commands
below.
Line mode File saving, opening, etc.
Exiting from vi.
From the command mode, type “:”
(colon).