Editing Text

The vim-way

vim /path/to/file

Make the changes with vim: i: insert mode

w! write file

x! exit vim and save

q! exit vim without saving

The nano-way

nano /path/to/file

or

nano -w /path/to/file

(this will disable automated line-breakes)

Make the changes with nano:

CTRL+O: Write file

CTRL+X: Exit the program (you will be asked if you want to save changes)

CTRL+W: Search for a string

The cat-way

cat > /path/to/file << "EOF"
Content of the
file with linefeeds.
EOF

Writes everything betwen the cat and the EOF to the given file.

Attention: The file is being overwritten.

cat >> /path/to/file << "EOF"
Content of the
file with linefeeds.
EOF

Appends everything betwen the cat and the EOF to the given file without overwriting it.

The echo-way

echo "contents" > /path/to/file

Writes everything betwen " " to the given file (no linefeeds possible).

Attention: The file is being overwritten.

echo "contents >> /path/to/file

Appends everything betwen " " to the given file without overwriting it.

The perl-way

perl -e 'print "Content of the\nfile with linefeeds"' > /path/to/file

Writes everything betwen " " to the given file (\n represents linefeeds).

Attention: The file is being overwritten.

perl -e 'print "Content of the\nfile with linefeeds"' >> /path/to/file

Appends everything betwen " " to the given file without overwriting it (\n represents linefeeds).