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Learning Vim¶
The Vim help screen starts with:
VIM - main help file k Move around: Use the cursor keys, or "h" to go left, h l "j" to go down, "k" to go up, "l" to go right. j Close this window: Use ":q<Enter>". Get out of Vim: Use ":qa!<Enter>" (careful, all changes are lost!). Jump to a subject: Position the cursor on a tag (e.g. |bars|) and hit CTRL-]. With the mouse: ":set mouse=a" to enable the mouse (in xterm or GUI). Double-click the left mouse button on a tag, e.g. |bars|. Jump back: Type CTRL-T or CTRL-O (repeat to go further back).
This first contact with the famous but unusual text editor might be improved by adding a hint for users of non-US keyboards. For example when using an Estonian keyboard, it should say :kbd`CTRL-ä` instead of :kbd`CTRL-]`.
I don’t really believe the following statement of the Vim tutorial:
NOTE: The cursor keys should also work. But using hjkl you will be able to move around much faster, once you get used to it. Really!