Vi - Can it show filename and status ?

[mikey777]

When vi starts, it displays the filename, status, read-only, etc, at the bottom left of the screen.
Can Vi display this ALL the time ? I've been reading the man pages and I've got verbose on, showmode on, ruler, but I do not see a 'showfilename' anywhere.

 

[richardtoohey2]

Ctrl-G will show the file name of the file you are currently editing.

man vi

<control-G>
Display the following file information: the file name (as given
to vi); whether the file has been modified since it was last
written; if the file is read-only; the current line number; the
total number of lines in the file; and the current line number as
a percentage of the total lines in the file.

But not aware of a way of making it show all the time

 

[T-Daemon]

If you like vi/vim have a look at editors/neovim. You might find it appealing. I myself don’t want to miss it, one of the first programs I install on a fresh system. Here the list of differences to vim:

Vim_diff - Neovim docs

Neovim user documentation

neovim.io

You may notice under "2. Defaults: 'laststatus' defaults to 2 (statusline is always shown)".

Also in ports editors/neovim-qt and editors/rubygem-neovim.

 

[mikey777]

All interesting...but my unix boxes (entire lab) are not on the Net, so I can't DL stuff at a moments notice...
What I'd prefer is a Brief for unix.

 

[SirDice]

Search for "vi cheat sheet". There are literately hundreds to pick from. You can print these out and keep near.

 

[sidetone]

This thread is a few years old, though, I've wanted to find an answer for this too for a while. Also, the directory of that file name may be good too.

In the vi(1) manpage: there's also, [esc]:f or [esc]:file which acts like another solution above to show the file name.

If there's a way, it has to be set through the $/.exrc, $/.nexrc, or /etc/vi.exrc file. The set options can be temporarily made inside the vi editor, then, written to one of those configuration files. It may require a custom setting here. This answer might have to do with set all on the vi prompt to show adjustable variables for a custom setting.

Even with looking at a few vi cheat sheets, I haven't found the exact solution to this, to make it show permanently.

 

[Deleted member 81054]

What I'd prefer is a Brief for unix.

I'd settle for a Brief (sources) for anything! Crisp? No, thank you.

Borland, may you rot in hell for killing such an excellent tool (and, to what gain??)

[Brief seems to have many "timing loops" -- e.g., autorepeat -- hardwired in the code (ASM?) making it truly nonportable.]

I haven't found the exact solution to this, to make it show permanently.

I don't think you will find such a mechanism. Vi takes a different approach to the user than, for example, Brief. It's more "ask and you shall receive".