>Why is it, in VI that there is no way (I know of) to get help, or exit,
>without knowing the exit key? What doesn't "h" in command mode present
>ANY kind of help?
have you ever used 'lvi' (or 'nvi') ?
...
>Where am I supposd to get help about VI? The man pages tell me nothing
>except how to load it.
Get a good Unix (vi) book/reference card.
>Why do I have 12 function keys on my keyboard that seem to do absolutely
>nothing?
That's on your machine not on mine. My function keys work properly.
>Why doesn't VI use the jkl; keys for cursor movement, since your fingers
>are already on them. Or why not use keys somewhere far from them. A
>person can easily get confused.
Hmm.. I can use jkl and arrow keys to move the cursor. What's the problem ?
>Why doesn't help do anything in SH (and others).
Well, 'help' does print a usefull information on my machine.
...
>Why does VI default to beeping at you when you try to type as opposed to
>editing?
Looka at the bottom right on your screen (presumable you are using vedit),
there's the word "INSERT MODE" or "APPEND MODE" or whatever mode you're in.
>Why is it that if I want to WordProcess in VI I have to remember to hit return at the end of the line otherwise bizarre things happen. Why not just wrap, beep, or slide over (i.e. let the line go long).
So just set it to wrap it automatically (for example set wrapmargin=10).
>Is there a wordwrap mode in VI? And if so, why doesn't it kick in when I
>use VI from RN?
set your .exrc file
>Inquiring minds want to know.
Before bad mouthing on vi, and UNIX, read books, magazines, and relax :-)
BTW, why do associate VI with UNIX ? If you don't like vi find something
else, like pico, ce, and zillion of others.
[I can list strange things with MS-DOS, Windows editors. But what's the
point ?]
You seem to have an old UNIX environment.
-- budi
--
Budi Rahardjo <Budi_Rahardjo@UManitoba.Ca>
Unix Support - Computer Services - University of Manitoba
