Vim Primer

When editing the run card in MadGraph, the editor used is Vim.

Vim (a contraction of Vi IMproved) is designed for use both from a command-line interface and as a standalone application in a graphical user interface. Vim is free and open source software and is released under a license that includes some charityware clauses, encouraging users who enjoy the software to consider donating to children in Uganda.

Although Vim was originally released for the Amiga, Vim has since been developed to be cross-platform, supporting many other platforms. In 2006, it was voted the most popular editor amongst Linux Journal readers.

Like vi, Vim's interface is not based on menus or icons but on commands given in a text user interface. Here are few basic things to remember that you will need for this lab:

• by default, vim is in command mode and does not allow editing. Press i to enter insert mode. When you are done editing, press ESC.
• once you are done editing, press :wq to write and quit.
• while in command mode, you can initiate a search by pressing /, followed by the string to search. You navigate through the search results by pressing n (forward) or N (backward).

(partly adapted from Wikipedia)