Chapter 18. Creating Custom Commands in vi

Summary Box Keymapping -- storing complex command sequences so that they can be executed with a single keystroke -- is one of my favorite timesavers. There's nothing like typing one key and watching a whole string of work take place. For repetitive edits (e.g., font changes) it's a real wrist-saver, too. In this chapter we show you how to:   Save time by mapping keys: Section 18.2, Section 18.4, Section 18.7, and Section 18.8. Know when to map a key and when not to: Section 18.3. Map keys like ESC and RETURN: Section 18.6. Move around the file without leaving text-input mode: Section 18.11 Protect the text you're pasting in from another window: Section 18.5. Put custom commands in your .exrc file: Section 18.9 and Section 18.12. Break long lines of text: Section 18.13. -- EK