Copying Text

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  • Essential Linux
    • The vi Editor
      • Copying Text

To copy a few lines of text, you can use the yank command (yy) with the put command.

This is the first line of text.
This is the second line of text.
This is the third line of text.
This is the fourth line of text.

1. Position the cursor anywhere on the first line.
2. Type the following command to copy the four lines of text: 4yy
3. Move the cursor down to the fourth line.
4. Type p (lower case) to put the copied lines immediately below the fourth line.

You should now see the following:

This is the first line of text.
This is the second line of text.
This is the third line of text.
This is the fourth line of text.
This is the first line of text.
This is the second line of text.
This is the third line of text.
This is the fourth line of text.

yy

Yank (copy) the current line

nyy

Yank the next n lines

yw

Yank a copy of a word