This document describes ways to use the vim text editor.

Visual Block Mode: Inserting Text

You start by pressing CTRL-V to enter visual block mode. Define the block, e.g. jjjj.

Enter the text by typing Istring[Esc]

Show column and line number of cursor location

:set ruler

Copy & paste a column

You start by pressing CTRL-V to enter visual block mode. Define the block, e.g. jjjj.

Yank the text into a buffer with "*y available on the gvim menu. Move to where you would like to paste and use "*p to paste the selection. Note both commands begin with a double quote.

Goto the line number in the system clipboard

"*G

Can be used only in gvim. This could also be turned into a handy menu item.

Sorting a block of text inside the editor

!sort
In gvim simply select the block and enter the pipe command. In vim enter visual block mode with CTRL-V, define the block with movement keys and then enter the pipe command.

To delete all HyperMesh comments

Example removes all lines that begin with $HM

:g/^\$HM/d d