How To Select All In Vim/Vi Editor? [VI/VIM select all]

Do you want to select all in VIM/VI Editor? This article will help you with VI/VIM Select Command

Updated: 04 Dec, 23 by Susith Nonis 4 Min

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An editor that allows for faster text editing and with a powerful and highly customizable command-line tool is known as vim editor. Bram Moolenaar created Vim editor, which is recognized as a developer's editor, as it enables major file formats. Depending on our demands, we can use the other plugins that are available in Vim (VImproved). this article will give you a brief understanding of how to select all in Vim editor.

In Vim or Vi, you wish to select all of a file's content. In a command-line editor, the mouse pointer cannot be used to select any or all of the information. To pick all of a file's content from beginning to end, you should use the select all command.

It allows you to select all in vim of a file's content. To go to normal mode, hit the ESC key first. Then, using the gg keys, we'll jump to the beginning of the file. Then, with the V key, enable the visual mode, and last, with the G key, choose from the beginning to the conclusion of the file. In a nutshell, the key sequences of the Linux command below may be used to Vim select all.

ggVG

There is a different way to select and copy all data. The yy instruction is used to yank or copy the current line, but we may pick and duplicate all lines by specifying the line count. We'll give you a huge amount of 99999 to choose from and copy. To begin, use the ESC key to return to normal mode. Then use gg to return to the beginning of the file. To copy to the end of the file, use the 99999yy command. this command is also listed in our vim cheat sheet article.

There is one more different way to pick and copy all data. The $yy instruction is used to yank or copy the current line, but we may pick and duplicate all lines by specifying the line count. To begin, use the ESC key to return to normal mode. Then use gg to revert to the file's start. 

🚀💼💻People also frequently look at Linux VPS for a test environment to learn and execute these commands.💪💻🔧

After learning how to select all in vim/vi editor, if you want to paste the entire content in Vim, first enter normal mode. To ensure you are in normal mode, press the Esc key. After that, you need to use the following command:

"+p

Vim uses the "+ register to represent the clipboard. With the p command, the contents of this register are pasted after the current cursor position.

By using this command, the entire contents of the clipboard will be pasted as a single block of text, so keep in mind that multiple lines from the clipboard will be combined without a line break.

Alternatively, you can use the "*p command instead of "+p if your Vim build supports it. The "* register is another special register that also represents the system clipboard.

Remember that the "+" and "*" registers' accessibility relies on your Vim configuration and build choices. Certain Vim installations might not enable clipboard access by default, particularly on terminals without clipboard support. In that situation, installing a version of Vim with support for the clipboard or using a plugin to allow clipboard integration may be necessary.

You also need to know how to Undo and Redo in Vim/Vi editor.

To delete all lines in Vim, type gg to move the cursor to the file's first line, then type dG (or dgg) and press Enter.

dgg deletes from the current line to the file's last line after the gg command moves the cursor to the file's first line. All lines in the file are effectively deleted as a result.

Alternatively, you can use the :1,$d command in normal mode and press enter to achieve the same result. The :1,$d command means "delete from the first line to the last line," effectively deleting all lines in the file.

Remember that deleting lines in Vim is a destructive operation, and the changes cannot be undone with a simple undo command (u). To preserve the file's content, create a backup or be certain of the action before performing the delete.

Hence, following the above three methods, you can select all in the Vim editor and complete the required task. This will help you to reduce the efforts to select the whole document if the file size is too huge and help in improving your performance efficiency. If you know any other vim, select all commands, then share with us from the comment box.

Susith Nonis

Susith Nonis

I'm fascinated by the IT world and how the 1's and 0's work. While I venture into the world of Technology, I try to share what I know in the simplest way with you. Not a fan of coffee, a travel addict, and a self-accredited 'master chef'.

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Elinore Larson

2024, Dec, 24

This is a fantastic guide for anyone looking to enhance their efficiency when working with the Vim editor. You've broken down the steps to select, copy, and manipulate text clearly, especially for those who might find Vim's lack of a mouse interface daunting at first. Your tips on using commands like `ggVG` and `99999yy` to manage content easily are super handy. Thanks for sharing this valuable resource; it's definitely going to streamline the editing process for many Vim users!