Copy and paste content from one file to another file in vi

vim copy-paste vi cut
macha picture macha · Jan 6, 2011 · Viewed 363.6k times · Source

I am working with two files, and I need to copy a few lines from one file and paste into another file. I know how to copy (yy) and paste (p) in the same file. But that doesn't work for different files. How is this done?

Also, is there a way to cut-paste? I have tried googling, but most of the resources only talk about copy-paste.

Answer

Adam Batkin picture Adam Batkin · Jan 6, 2011

Since you already know how to cut/yank text, here are a few ideas for pasting it back into another file:

  • Edit the first file, yanking the text you want. Then open your second file from within vi (:e /path/to/other/file) and paste it

  • Open both files together in a split window and navigate between them using Ctrl + w, Up/Down either by:

    • vi -o /path/to/file1 /path/to/file2
    • From within the first file, Ctrl + w, s

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