Published: April 06, 2022 • Updated: January 03, 2023 • 2 min read
How does one exit Vim “Ex” mode?
But first… how did you even get into “Ex” mode? Probably by accidentally
typing Q
in normal mode:
*Q* *mode-Ex* *Ex-mode* *Ex* *EX* *E501*
Q Switch to "Ex" mode. This is a bit like typing ":"
commands one after another, except:
- You don't have to keep pressing ":".
- The screen doesn't get updated after each command.
- There is no normal command-line editing.
- Mappings and abbreviations are not used.
If this is true you probably missed the initial instructions:
Entering Ex mode. Type "visual" to go to Normal mode.
And so, exit “Ex” mode by tying :visual
or :vi
in command mode.
“Ex” mode is the mode of Vim that I know the least about. I’ve been using Vim for close to a decade, and I’ve really never see it in use. If you use it, let me know on Twitter.
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