Jake Worth

• vim

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.