what console text file editor is recomended for a n00bie? I have read a bit on linux and vi and emacs come to mind but after starting vi I didn't know what to do, after starting emacs I couldn't even figure out how to exit!

I am not command line impaired, I use it quite often, in windows. So I am messing with linux (redhat9) and just to get started I need to edit config files, which I don't want to have to log into an X session to do. I am doing it via ssh from a remote machine. So for quick text file edits, what other options are there? or do I need to take the time to learn vi now? I eventually plan to, but to get started I was hoping there was something simpler, like the old DOS edit program. That way I can get right into the thick of it instead of learning to use a text editor first.

any help is appreciated. Thanks.

I would use VI. Do a search on google for vim tutorials.

Once you learn Vi, you will always be able to edit files on a UNIX system, as they all have Vi installed, but may not have emacs, pico, etc.

--Ian

Hello,

well, my suggestion is: learn a little bit "vi" (how to insert/delete/save file/quit without saving), but don't use it! My favourite is "mcedit", the editor of "mc", the "Midnight Commander". You can use it without learning it before!

cu

hp_tux

try "nano"

well if you managed to exit vi then you're halfway there

vi is fantastic - learn to use that - and once you get the hang of it you will wonder how you ever *ever* used anything else. there are excellent tutorials and documents out there, like others suggested.

Basically you can use as many or as few of its features as you want to... but the power *is* there... and if you ever find yourself thinking "wouldn't it be nifty if it could..." then it probably can.

plus vi is installed on everything. period. emacs isn't... nor is nano etc... one day it might be the only way to edit a text file on a system you happen to be on. then you will be glad you learned it.

one last tip - make sure it's ViM that you have installed (latest version is 6.2 or so I think), and don't run it in unix compatability mode - because it sucks and you will hate it

vi
What you have to know to start out is
Esc
to get to command mode and
i
to insert mode
and
:wq
to write and quit

To start out in emacs
Ctrl-f
to open a file
and
Ctrl-x Ctrl-c
To exit

Do a google search for
emacs or vi reference to see the key combinations

Another editor you might want to try is pico

A tip: Don't listen to anyone who tells you what text editor to use. Just check them all out until you find the one that best suits your needs. This is one of those eternally raging disputes that means absolutely jack.

thanks all!