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vi/vim editor, copy a block (not usual action)

Asked 2012-11-19T02:59:58.650
101

In vi/vim editor, I need to copy a block. There are many ways, but one way is very quick.

  1. label the first line by some way,

  2. then label the end line by some way,

  3. then put some command to copy the labeled lines.

  4. then copy, may using 'p', but not sure.

Anybody know the commands (not yy or 10yy)?

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21

It sounds like you want to place marks in the file.

mx places a mark named x under the cursor

y'x yanks everything between the cursor's current position and the line containing mark x.

You can use 'x to simply move the cursor to the line with your mark.

You can use `x (a back-tick) to move to the exact location of the mark.


One thing I do all the time is yank everything between the cursor and mark x into the clipboard.

You can do that like this:

"+y'x

NOTE: In some environments the clipboard buffer is represented by a * in stead of a +.


Similar questions with some good answers:

answered 2012-11-19T03:28:48.383

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