This article presents a sample .exrc file that can be used

by users of the vi editor. The .exrc file, located in your

home directory, is the startup (or configuration) file for

the vi editor.

The intent of this brief article is to show some of the

ways you can modify the configuration of the vi editor

Please note that the .exrc file contains commands that Vi

reads when you first run it. The default directory that Vi

looks in for the .exrc file is your home directory.

However, if you run Vi from another directory containing

a .exrc file, Vi will use the .exrc in that directory and

bypass the home directory .exrc. You must precede control

characters (like ^[ or ^M) with CONTROL-V. For example to

enter ^M, type CONTROL-V CONTROL-M.

Some important points for .exrc files:

Do not allow any blank lines in the file or processing will

stop on that line.

Comments are introduced by starting a line with a double

quote: "

All directives, whether options, abbreviations, or key

macros must all be typed on a single line. The listing

below has had the lines broken up for the sake of

readability.

Control characters like [tab],[linefeed],[escape] can be

inserted by first typing ^V (hold down Ctrl, and press V),

followed by the character. For instance, for [tab], hold

Ctrl and press V, release Ctrl, hit [tab]. You'll see ^I.

This is evident in the listing below.

For VIM the corresponsing file is .vimrc (_vimrc in case of

windows).