# Vim documentation: howto

main help file

    *howto.txt*	For Vim version 6.1.  Last change: 2001 Sep 03

    		  VIM REFERENCE MANUAL	  by Bram Moolenaar

    How to ...				*howdoi* *how-do-i* *howto* *how-to*

    |tutor|			get started
    |:quit|			exit?  I'm trapped, help me!
    |initialization|	initialize Vim
    |vimrc-intro|		write a Vim script file (vimrc)
    |suspend|		suspend Vim
    |usr_11.txt|		recover after a crash
    |07.4|			keep a backup of my file when writing over it

    |usr_07.txt|		edit files
    |23.4|			edit binary files
    |usr_24.txt|		insert text
    |deleting|		delete text
    |usr_04.txt|		change text
    |04.5|			copy and move text
    |usr_25.txt|		format text
    |30.6|			format comments
    |30.2|			indent C programs
    |25.3|			automatically set indent

    |usr_26.txt|		repeat commands
    |02.5|			undo and redo

    |usr_03.txt|		move around
    |word-motions|		word motions
    |left-right-motions|	left-right motions
    |up-down-motions|	up-down motions
    |object-motions|	text-object motions
    |various-motions|	various motions
    |object-select|		text-object selection
    |'whichwrap'|		move over line breaks
    |'virtualedit'|		move to where there is no text
    |usr_27.txt|		specify pattern for searches
    |tags-and-searches|	do tags and special searches
    |29.4|			search in include'd files used to find
    			variables, functions, or macros
    |K|			look up manual for the keyword under cursor

    |03.7|			scroll
    |'sidescroll'|		scroll horizontally/sideways
    |'scrolloff'|		set visible context lines

    |mode-switching|	change modes
    |04.4|			use Visual mode
    |'insertmode'|		start Vim in Insert mode

    |40.1|			map keys
    |24.7|			create abbreviations

    |ins-expandtab|		expand a tab to spaces in Insert mode
    |i_CTRL-R|		insert contents of a register in Insert mode
    |24.3|			complete words in Insert mode
    |25.1|			break a line before it gets too long

    |20.1|			do command-line editing
    |20.3|			do command-line completion
    |'cmdheight'|		increase the height of command-line
    |10.3|			specify command-line ranges
    |40.3|			specify commands to be executed automatically
    			before/after reading/writing entering/leaving a
    			buffer/window

    |'autowrite'|		write automatically
    |30.1|			speedup edit-compile-edit cycle or compile and fix
    			errors within Vim

    |options|		set options
    |auto-setting|		set options automatically
    |term-dependent-settings| set options depending on terminal name
    |save-settings|		save settings
    |:quote|		comment my exrc/vimrc/gvimrc files
    |'helpheight'|		change the default help height
    |'highlight'|		set various highlighting modes
    |'title'|		set the window title
    |'icon'|		set window icon title
    |'report'|		avoid seeing the change messages on every line
    |'shortmess'|		avoid |hit-enter| prompts

    |mouse-using|		use mouse with Vim
    |usr_08.txt|		manage multiple windows and buffers
    |gui.txt|		use the gui

    |You can't! (yet)|	do dishes using Vim

    |usr_06.txt|		switch on syntax highlighting
    |2html.vim|		convert a colored file to HTML
    |less|			use Vim like less or more with syntax highlighting

    top - main help file