how do i edit files????

zexter · 11-05-2004, 11:23 AM

how do i edit text files?

can someone give me step by step instructions on how to edit a plain text file, i dont care what editor is used in this process, just please someone help!

im trying to edit /etc/X11/XF86Config.... if that helps in anyway!

-thanks in advance

sether · 11-05-2004, 12:48 PM

since vi is on all *nix machines, i'll use that as an example.

Code:

$ su
# vi /etc/X11/XF86Config

let's say you want to change Driver "vesa" to Driver "nvidia". first navigate using the arrows to where you want to edit the file. once you are over vesa, press delete until it is cleared out. then press i to reach insert mode in vi. type in nvidia and you're basically done.

to exit, you have a few options. first, you must exit insert mode by pressing Esc, and then type one of the following commands:
:w - write
:wq - write and quit
:q! - quit w/o writing

ryedunn · 11-05-2004, 12:59 PM

there are some other, easier to use editors out there. vi definately does the job but it can be a pain to learn. Just try out a few of them and make the decision which suits you best. .. heres a few of the more popular choices.

http://www.reallylinux.com/docs/editors/editor.shtml

mjjzf · 11-05-2004, 02:40 PM

I usually just use Gedit, a Gnome-based Notepad-like program. Pretty straightforward when all you want to do is the basic editing.

Mike Blick · 11-05-2004, 03:36 PM

I use MC (midnight commander) for the editing of config files. Its a lot better then having to load up a gui editor in my opinion.

opjose · 11-05-2004, 08:56 PM

I'll vote for JOE.

Joe is a Wordstar command compatible editor.

For you younger tikes that don't remember working on 8 bit Z-80 machines... Wordstar was the grandaddy of all of today's word processors.

Its big claim to fame was an incredibly simple set of key assignments.

You hold down CTRL to give any commands.

Think QUAKE/DOOM key layouts and you know how to use JOE.

E.G.

[CTRL][W] - Cursor up
[CTRL][S] - Cursor down
[CTRL][A] - Cursor left
[CTRL][D] - Cursor right

etc.

Do these key mappings seem a bit familiar?

sether · 11-05-2004, 11:29 PM

lol, when did this turn into a "i use this editor" thread. i used the example of vi because it's on every *nix machine, not because i personally use it.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...196&highlight=

equinox · 11-05-2004, 11:33 PM

considering vi is on all *nix machines i'd say if u want something easier go for Pico which is also on all *nix based machines. another clone of pico would be nano... i sure those of u who have been through a gentoo install would agree that nano is the easiest to use.

sether · 11-05-2004, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by equinox
considering vi is on all *nix machines i'd say if u want something easier go for Pico which is also on all *nix based machines. another clone of pico would be nano... i sure those of u who have been through a gentoo install would agree that nano is the easiest to use.

that's interesting, because i'm using madrake right now and it doesn't have pico installed. sure, the easiest thing to do would be to download nano or some other easy to use editor, but vi is automatically on all *nix computers.

DaWallace · 11-06-2004, 10:02 AM

pico/nano or one of those fancy enhanced vi thingies like vim or elvis plain ol' vi works too

kate and gedit are my favorite gui editors... but I hardly use them...

and pico is part of the PINE suite... nano is a clone of pico and is a standalone app..
if you want pico install pine... or nano.. and make a link to nano named pico in /usr/local/bin