Arch Linux

K-radical

Member

Registered: 2009-10-05

Posts: 32

vi goodies [SOLVED]

So I have used the vi editor that comes with the Backtrack Live CD and notice that it has cool color schemes and auto indent features that make editing .c files better.  I'm sure that it's just a matter of locating the right config file and telling it to do this.  Can someone help me figure out what files I need to edit and what I need to put in them to make this happen in Arch?

Cheers

Last edited by K-radical (2009-10-25 16:17:19)

loafer

Member

From: the pub

Registered: 2009-04-14

Posts: 1,772

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

I've not used Backtrack but what you describe may be vim rather than vi.  If that's the case installing vim, vim-colorschemes and setting up your .vimrc might be the sort of thing you need.

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egan

Member

From: Mountain View, CA

Registered: 2009-08-17

Posts: 273

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

Just install vim. Then you can replace the symbolic link in /usr/bin to point to vim instead of vi.

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K-radical

Member

Registered: 2009-10-05

Posts: 32

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

Ok I think you may have just shed some light on this without even knowing it.  I've read the "you're looking for vim not vi" thing before and didn't know what that ment since I have a /usr/share/vim/vim71 directory but if I type vim nothing happens.  I'll try to install it and see if that fixes things.  I do want to point out 2 things though.

1.  I know for a fact that in backtrack you can type vi (not vim) and get the cool stuff.  But then if vim is installed and vi is linked to it maybe that's why!

2.  I F'ing love this Distro/Forum  I just posted this like 2 minutes ago and already a reply. 

Thanks mate!

K-radical

Member

Registered: 2009-10-05

Posts: 32

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

Just install vim. Then you can replace the symbolic link in /usr/bin to point to vim instead of vi.

Got it!  Thanks both of you.  I'll post back after work when I can try this.  I'm on a windblows box right now.

Zeist

Arch Linux f@h Team Member

Registered: 2008-07-04

Posts: 532

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

http://code.google.com/p/vimcolorschemetest/ is probably quite interesting for someone new to vim.

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K-radical

Member

Registered: 2009-10-05

Posts: 32

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

http://code.google.com/p/vimcolorschemetest/ is probably quite interesting for someone new to vim.

HOLY SMOKES WHAT A KILLER FIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thank you sir.

quarkup

Member

From: Portugal

Registered: 2008-09-07

Posts: 497

Website

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

you will get more vi/vim stuff in the AUR.

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gog

Member

Registered: 2009-10-13

Posts: 103

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

k-radical, do vi --version in backtrack. it's likely to be vim

*david_a*

Member

Registered: 2009-06-19

Posts: 80

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

Until a short time ago, Arch was using a light version of vim in place of vi. That one had colours etc.

Now Arch has switched to something more like original vi as its default install.

I like vim better, so I installed it. If you want the colours and other nice stuff then you should do the same. NOTE: There's no reason to trash the vi that you have, because it's very small; and it's good to keep something that works in case your vim gets messed up while you're playing with the pretty colours.  :-)

gog

Member

Registered: 2009-10-13

Posts: 103

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

david_a if you're talking about keeping arch's old vi package, then no, he shouldn't keep it. there were vim security updates since then.

Mr.Elendig

#archlinux@freenode channel op

From: The intertubes

Registered: 2004-11-07

Posts: 4,092

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

Install vim (and gvim if you want +python and +X11 stuff), and put 'syntax on' and 'filetype plugin indent on' in your .vimrc

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quarkup

Member

From: Portugal

Registered: 2008-09-07

Posts: 497

Website

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

and youll get the colors and syntax-highlightning

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If people do not believe that mathematics is simple, it is only because they do not realize how complicated life is.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

K-radical

Member

Registered: 2009-10-05

Posts: 32

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

well now I can run vim but still no color themes.  Could this be because I am runing a custom profile in my Gnome Terminal?

Avenger

Member

Registered: 2005-11-11

Posts: 65

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

You need to have a basic .vimrc config file. You can use the default example one by following this procedure: (found in vimtutor)
 
1. Start editing the "vimrc" file.  This depends on your system:
        :e ~/.vimrc             for Unix
        :e $VIM/_vimrc          for MS-Windows

  2. Now read the example "vimrc" file contents:
        :r $VIMRUNTIME/vimrc_example.vim

  3. Write the file with:
        :w
The next time you start Vim it will use syntax highlighting

K-radical

Member

Registered: 2009-10-05

Posts: 32

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

Done and Done!!  Cheers Avenger

EDIT:
And thanks everyone else who helped

Last edited by K-radical (2009-10-25 16:17:04)

bender02

Member

From: UK

Registered: 2007-02-04

Posts: 1,328

Re: vi goodies [SOLVED]

http://code.google.com/p/vimcolorschemetest/ is probably quite interesting for someone new to vim.

This just made my day!