IT1917

Linux Applications
Reasons for Using Text editors in Linux
• Scripts are written in text editors.
• Many Linux programs use text-based data files for input.
• Many of Linux-operating system services use configuration files that are text-based.

Common Text-Based Editors Used in Linux

• emacs – can be customized and extended with different modes, enabling it to be used like IDE for
programming languages such Java or C. It has to be installed first.
• nano – is a text editor designed for beginners.
• gedit – comes with the Gnome desktop. It only runs in the GUI environment.
• vi – is a native editor found in all Linux and Unix systems. Most Linux distributions do not include real
vi; rather, they include an enhanced replacement called vim (short for vi improved).

Three (3) Modes of vi Editor

• command: Keystrokes entered operate as command rather than characters entered into the
document.
• insert: Any character entered is placed at the current cursor position.
• replace: Any character entered replaces the character at the current cursor position.
• Starting vi:

• Creating a new file:

Confirmation message:

• To add text, press the “i” key:

• To exit insert mode and return to command mode, press Esc.

• To save the change/s you have made, press the :w command.
Confirmation message:

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• Cursor Movement Commands:

Key Moves:
l or Right arrow One character to the right
h or Left arrow One character to the left
j or Down arrow One line down
k or Up arrow One line up
0 To the beginning of the current line
^ To the first non-whitespace character on the current line
$ To the end of the current line
w To the beginning of the next word or punctuation character
W To the beginning of the next word, ignoring punctuation characters
Ctrl+f or Page Down One page down
Ctrl+b or Page Up One page up
numberG To line number
(Ex. 1G moves to the first line of the file.)
G To the last line of the file
• To append text to an existing file, use the A command. The A command moves the cursor to the end
of the line before starting insert mode.
• To insert a blank line between two (2) existing lines. You can use either the o command to insert the
line below the current line:

• To insert the line above the current line, use the O command instead:

• Text Deletion Commands:

Command Deletes:
x The current character
3x The current character and the next two (2) characters
dd The current line
5dd The current line and the next four lines
dW From the current cursor position to the beginning of the next word
d$ From the current cursor location to the end of the current line
d0 From the current cursor location to the beginning of the line
d^ From the current cursor location to the first non-whitespace character in the line
dG From the current line to the end of the file
d20G From the current line to the twentieth line of the file
• Text Yanking/Pasting Commands:
Command Copies:
yy The current line
5yy The current line and the next four lines
yW From the current cursor position to the beginning of the next word

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y$ From the current cursor location to the end of the current line
y0 From the current cursor location to the beginning of the line
y^ From the current cursor location to the first non-whitespace character in the line
yG From the current line to the end of the file
y20G From the current line to the twentieth line of the file

Productivity Software
• It enables users to work with documents and files such as:
o Word-processed documents
o Spreadsheets
o Presentation graphics documents
o Database relations
o Graphic images
• LibreOffice is the office suite for Linux. It includes:
o Writer (word processing): It has AutoComplete feature, which can suggest commonly-used
words and phrases to complete what you have started typing, using the built-in dictionary and
by scanning the documents you open.
o Calc (spreadsheet): It has Advanced DataPilot technology that makes it easy to pull in raw
data from corporate databases, and then cross-tabulate, summarize, and convert it into
meaningful information. Real-time data streams can now be integrated in sheets and reports,
and factored in calculations.
o Impress (presentation): It has the Fontworks tool that lets you create attractive 2D and 3D
images from text. It supports multiple monitors, and its bundled Presenter Console extensions
allows you more control over your slide show, such as the ability to:
▪ see the upcoming slide;
▪ view slide notes; and
▪ control the presentation timer while the audience is looking at the current slide.
o Draw (vector graphics and flowcharts): It is an excellent package for producing technical
drawings, brochures, posters, and many other documents. It lets you manipulate graphical
objects, group them, crop them, use objects in 3D, and much more.
o Base (database): It provides native-support drivers from some of the most widely employed
multi-user database engines:
▪ MySQL/MariaDB
▪ Adabas D
▪ MS Access
▪ PostgreSQL
o Math (formula editing): It enables you to insert perfectly formatted mathematical and
scientific formulas in your text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and drawings.
• GIMP is the recommended image editor for the Linux platform. It includes the following features:
o Customizable Interface
o Photo Enhancement
o Digital Retouching
o Hardware Support

References:

Barret, Daniel J. (2016). Linux pocket guide. 3rd ed. USA: O’Reilly Media, Inc.

Fox, Richard. (2015). Linux with operating system concepts. USA: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Shotts, William E. Jr. (2016). The linux command line. 3rd ed. USA: No Starch Press.

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