How do i select all text in Vi/Vim?

Question

I always use vi for editing config files.

Today I wanted to select all the text in a file (around 1000 lines), copy it, then paste into Google Docs. How can I do that?

Answer 1

You can use cat file and then select output and copy and paste if you need to paste it into your browser.

For vi this is how you can select all text and write it into a new file:

shift v  -- visual mode
shift g -- jump to eof
"*y -- yank select text
:e my_new_file -- create a new file
"*p -- paste into a new file

In theory this should work on both Linux and Windows - I tried it on a Mac but it doesn't work.

Answer 2

If you're using a linux desktop, you could load it into the clipboard using xclip or xsel. For something that size you might just want to use the upload feature in google docs.

Answer 3

gg"+yG

or

gg"*yG

depending on whether + or * is the system clipboard. (On many unixes, + is the mouse selection buffer for middle-mouse-clicking, and * is the system clipboard).

Answer 4

Without using vi, you can upload text to google docs using their API and cURL.

Answer 5

See http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Accessing_the_system_clipboard for options on how to do this. (if compiled in "* should refer to the system clipboard). There are also instructions there for how to use xsel with vim.

Answer 6

The simplest and fastest way is to use: : % y + and then go over to Google Docs (or wherever) and paste.

Another way is g g " + y G but you will likely admitt that the above is faster and easier.