11.2. vi Command-Line Options
The three most common ways of starting a vi session are:
vi file vi + n file vi +/ pattern file
You can open file for editing, optionally at line n or at the first line matching pattern. If no file is specified, vi opens with an empty buffer. The command-line options that can be used with vi are:
- +[num]
Start editing at line number num, or the last line of the file if num is omitted.
- +/pattern
Start editing at the first line matching pattern. (Fails if nowrapscan is set in your .exrc startup file.)
- -c command
Run the given vi command upon startup. Only one -c option is permitted. ex commands can be invoked by prefixing them with a :. An older form of this option, +command, is still supported.
- -e
Run as ex (line editing rather than full-screen mode).
- -l
Enter LISP mode for running LISP programs (not supported in all versions).
- -r [file]
Recover and resume editing on file after an aborted editor session or system crash. Without file, list files available for recovery.
- -t tag
Edit the file containing tag and position the cursor at its definition (see ctags in Chapter 3, "Linux Commands" for more information).
- -v
Run in full-screen mode (default).
- -w rows
Set the window size so rows lines at a time are displayed; useful when editing over a slow dial-up line.
- -x
Prompt for a key that will be used to try to encrypt or decrypt a file using crypt (not supported in all versions).
- -C
Same as -x, but assume the file is encrypted already (not supported in all versions).
- -L
List files that were saved due to an aborted editor session or system crash (not supported in all versions).
- -R
Edit files read-only.
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| 11. The vi Editor |  | 11.3. ex Command-Line Options |
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