Linux / Unix ex command
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Line-editor mode of the vi text editor.
ex [ -| -s ] [ -l ] [ -L ] [ -R ] [ -r [file ] ] [ -t tag ] [ -v ] [ -V ] [ -x ] [ -wn ] [ -C] [+command | -c command ] file
| - | -s | Suppress all interactive user feedback. This is useful when processing editor scripts. |
| -l | Set up for editing LISP programs. |
| -L | List the name of all files saved as the result of an editor or system crash. |
| -R | Readonly mode; the readonly flag is set, preventing accidental overwriting of the file. |
| -r file | Edit file after an editor or system crash. (Recovers the version of file that was in the buffer when the crash occurred.) |
| -t tag | Edit the file containing the tag and position the editor at its definition. |
| -v | Start up in display editing state using vi . You can achieve the same effect by simply typing the vi command itself. |
| -V | Verbose. When ex commands are read by means of standard input, the input will be echoed to standard error. This may be useful when processing ex commands within shell scripts. |
| -x | Encryption option. Simulates the X command and prompts the user for a key. This key is used to encrypt and decrypt text using the algorithm of the crypt command. The X command makes an educated guess to determine whether text read in is encrypted or not. The temporary buffer file is encrypted also, using a transformed version of the key typed in for the -x option. |
| -wn | Set the default window size to n. This is useful when using the editor over a slow speed line. |
| -C | Encryption option. Same as the -x option, except simulates the C command. The C command is like the X command, except that all text read in is assumed to have been encrypted. |
| +command | -c command | Begin editing by executing the specified editor command (usually a search or positioning command). |
| file | A path name of a file to be edited. |
ex myfile.txt - edits the file myfile.txt.
