Text Processing and Editing

Question 1

How to exit Nano

Answer 1

Ctrl X

Question 2

How to save in Nano

Answer 2

ctrl O

Question 3

Get help in Nano

Answer 3

ctrl G

Question 4

Open a second file within Nano

Answer 4

ctrl R then alt F (new buffer, otherwise it just inserts)

Question 5

Swap between buffers in Nano

Answer 5

alt > or <

Question 6

Create a new buffer (file) alongside one already open in Nano

Answer 6

ctrl R, alt F

Question 7

Copy/cut a line in Nano

Answer 7

ctrl K (cuts) then ctrl U (pastes)

Question 8

Mark a region in Nano

Answer 8

alt A, then move cursor

Question 9

Copy a region in Nano

Answer 9

ctrl ^
(ctrl shift 6)

Question 10

Find a word (string) in Nano

Answer 10

ctrl W.

Is not case sensitive
alt W will continue to search

Question 11

How to find a replace all instances of a string in Nano?

Answer 11

ctrl\ or alt R

Question 12

How to enter insert mode in Vim

Answer 12

i

Question 13

How to enter command mode in Vim

Answer 13

:

Question 14

How to enter visual mode in Vim

Answer 14

It opens into visual mode, otherwise hit Esc

Question 15

How to delete a line in Vim

Answer 15

: d
Or Esc -d-d

Question 16

How to save then quit Vim

Answer 16

:wq

Question 17

How to quit without saving in Vim

Answer 17

:q!

Question 18

How to bring up line numbers in Vim

Answer 18

:set number

Question 19

How select a range of lines in Vim

Answer 19

:1,100

Question 20

Copy in Vim

Answer 20

Y (in command)
yy (in visual)

Question 21

Paste in Vim

Answer 21

p
Or pp

Question 22

Find a string in Vim

Answer 22

/STRING (case sensitive)

Question 23

Jump to a string instance in vim as you open

Answer 23

vim +/STRING FILE

Question 24

How to repeat a search in Vim

Answer 24

/ ENTER
or from visual mode
‘n’ (forwards) N (backwards)

Question 25

How to search AND replace in Vim

Answer 25

:s/STRING/REPLACEMENT

Question 26

How to search and replace over a range of lines in Vim

Answer 26

:1,1000s/STRING/REPLACEMENT

Question 27

Reload original file in Vim e.g to undo

Answer 27

:e!

Question 28

Common “pr “ options

Answer 28

-n Display in n columns
-l n Change default 66 line page to n
-m Merge multi files in parallel column
-s c Change default separator to c
-t Omit head and tails
-w n change default 72 width to n

Question 29

Common “cat” options

Answer 29

-A show all (inc non printing char)
-E Display $ for new line feed
-n Number lines
-s Squeeze (no display) blank lines
-T Show tabs (with ^I)
-v Show non printing (^ or M-)

Question 30

What is file globbing?

Answer 30

When wildcards are added to a filename argument, so the name can be expanded into multiple names

Question 31

How do you repress file globbing in “locate”

Answer 31

“\STRING”

Question 32

Common “locate” options

Answer 32

-A Files that match all patterns
-b just match in the name, not in dir
-c display number of matches
-i ignore case
-q quiet, don’t show errors
-r use regex
-w defaults and is anything in name or dir that matches

Question 33

syntax for “getent”

Answer 33

getent FILE USER