HowTo: Edit a File Under Linux

Can tell me a Linux commands to edit a text file?

You can easily edit a text file under Linux using a text editor called vi or vim.

View a File

Use any one of the following command:

cat file.name
less file.name
more /path/to/file.name
cat /etc/passwd

Edit a File

You need to use any one of the following text editor:

• vi / vim
• pico

pico command

New user should start with pico command. For example, edit a file called demo.txt, enter:

pico demo.txt

Fig.01: pico text editor in action

Keyboard Shortcut

• To see help press [CTRL+G]
• To exit press [CTRL+X]
• To save file press [CTRL+O]
• To delete current like press [CTRL+K]
• To undo press [CTRL+U]
• To search text [CTRL+W] (again to search same word press [CTRL+W])