From alm@netcom.com (Andrew Moore)
Subject: Appending to external file with vi?
Date: 8 Jul 92 19:49:43 GMT
Article-I.D.: netcom.#77lg=q.alm

I use the vi (ex?) command format:

    :'x,.w file

to write a section of text to an external file (file).
But I don't know good way to append to an existing file.
The best I can think of is:

    !'xtee -a file

where ! filters from the current position to 'x through tee.
Any ideas are welcomed.  Thank you.
-Andrew Moore <alm@netcom.com>


From hansm@cs.kun.nl (Hans Mulder)
Subject: Re: Appending to external file with vi?
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1992 23:52:46 GMT

In <#77lg=q.alm@netcom.com> alm@netcom.com (Andrew Moore) writes:
>I use the vi (ex?) command format:

It's an ex command, like everything that starts with ':'.

>    :'x,.w file

>to write a section of text to an external file (file).
>But I don't know good way to append to an existing file.

How about:

    :'x,.w >>file

Believe it or not, vi just informed me that "Write forms are 'w' and 'w>>'".
I'd swear I've never seen that message before.  Typing

    :w>

seems to trigger it.

>The best I can think of is:

>    !'xtee -a file

>where ! filters from the current position to 'x through tee.

I'd never thought of that.  I might have come up with:

    :'x,.w !cat>>file
	  ^
where "w !" pipes (a portion of) the buffer into the indicated command.
Note the SPACE between the 'w' and the '!'.  Without it, you'd be
creating a file named "cat>>file".  (Creating files with shell meta-
characters in their names is always fun.  Try creating a file named
"`rm -r $HOME`" sometime. :-) 

--
Hans Mulder			hansm@cs.kun.nl


From hansm@cs.kun.nl (Hans Mulder)
Subject: Re: Appending to external file with vi?
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1992 13:51:35 GMT

In <1992Jul10.094141.7431@usage.csd.unsw.OZ.AU> cameron@spectrum.cs.unsw.oz.au (Cameron Simpson) writes:

>pputter@dos-lan.cs.up.ac.za (Mnr Phillip Putter) writes:
>| Use :'x,.w!>>file

>No, just

>	:'x,.w>>file

>Note the lack of `!', which changes the meaning completely.

No, they'll both