I have a large email file that I want to split up into 4 or 5 different files. I considered using the split command, but this might segment certain emails in the list.

So, what I have done is determine where I want to segment the large file by line number. Using vim, I want to copy up to a certain line and paste into a separate file. When I use the yy command and specify the first "x" number of lines, it does not paste to the second file.

For instance, while in vim and in command mode, I type 118607yy and I receive a message that those lines have been yanked. I then go to the blank file and hit "p" but nothing pastes. I try to specify a register to yank these lines to, but when I open the second file and type "reg x" where x is the register I yanked the lines to, it doesn't display the yanked lines from the first file.

I have experimented with ym yy and "visual" mode but I can't seem to pull these lines.

Can anyone show me the commands I need to execute to do this?

Hi,

There's an easier way to do this using vi(m).

In command mode: : 1,100 w outfile

This will write lines 1 to 100 (including) to a file called outfile.

The first and last line of a file are special in vi(m). You can access them as . (dot) for the first line and $ for the last. So this: 50,$ w oufile2. will write lines 50 to end to a file called outfile2.

Hope this helps.

Thanks a bunch!