====== VI tips ======

===== Quick save =====
Press ''SHIFT'' + ''ZZ'' which is equivalent to '':x'' which is equivalent to '':wq'', except that it only saves if the file has been changed.

===== Set tab size and convert tabs to spaces =====
<code>
:set tabstop=4
:retab
</code>

===== Turn off autoindent when you paste code =====
To toggle this in VI on the fly to switch off auto-indent
<code>
:set paste
</code>
and to switch it back on
<code>
:set nopaste
</code>

In .vimrc this can be set:
<code>
set copyindent
</code>

Another alternative via .vimrc is:
<code>
set clipboard=unnamed
</code>
That makes the default paste buffer map to X's clipboard.
When a bit of text is highlighted in a terminal, it can be pasted into vim by simply press ''p'' to paste. Similarly, one can yank things in vim (e.g. ''YY'' to yank the current line into the buffer) and middle click in any window to paste it.

===== Default 4 tab spaces =====

in ''~/.vimrc''
<code>
filetype plugin indent on
" show existing tab with 4 spaces width
set tabstop=4
" when indenting with '>', use 4 spaces width
set shiftwidth=4
" On pressing tab, insert 4 spaces
set expandtab
</code>

===== Cut, Copy & Paste =====

  - Press ''v'' to select lines or test with cursor keys
  - Then press ''y'' to copy the selection or press ''d'' to cut the selection
  - Then press ''%%'%%>'' to skip to the end of the selection
  - Then press ''p'' to paste under the cursor or ''SHIFT+p'' to paste after the cursor

  - Copy the entire line by pressing ''yy'' (more info :help yy ) or cut using ''dd''.
  - Paste the line by pressing ''p''.

===== Copy whole file to clipboard =====

The clipboard is buffer +. To copy to clipboard, do "+y and [movement].
So, gg"+yG will copy the whole file.

Similarly, to paste from clipboard, "+p

Alternatively:
gg"*yG
:%y+

===== Search & Replace =====

<code>
:%s/bla/blubs/
</code>

Complex replace with reference:
<code>
:%s/rtrim(\(.*\),"0")/zerotrim(\1)/
</code>

to repeat, press ":", then the cursor up