You open a file with vi. You immediately type `dd`. What have you done, and what mode were you in?
LPIC-1 Exam 101-500, objective 103. GNU and Unix commands easy
Draft — not checked yet. This question was written from the published exam objectives and cites the clause it comes from, but nobody has yet read it against that clause and signed for it.
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The options
Not correct You were in command mode and deleted the character under the cursor twice.
Wrong. That is what pressing x twice does. dd operates on the entire line.
Not correct You were in insert mode and typed the characters 'dd' into the file.
Wrong. vi opens in command mode, not insert mode. You reach insert mode only after pressing i, a, o or a similar key.
Correct You were in command (normal) mode and deleted the current line into the buffer.
Correct. vi starts in command mode, and dd cuts the whole current line, which p can then paste elsewhere.
Not correct You were in command mode and duplicated the current line.
Wrong. Duplicating a line is yy followed by p. dd removes the line rather than copying it.
Why
vi opens in command mode, which is why typing text at first appears to do strange things. In command mode dd cuts a line, yy yanks (copies) one, and p puts the buffer back after the cursor line. Prefix with a count for more lines: 3dd cuts three.
Where this comes from
- Cited
- LPI exam objective 103.8
- What it says
- Navigate vi modes and use basic editing commands.
Practise this
Reading one question is not practice. The trainer will draw a set from objective 103 and space the ones you get wrong.