Problem with `vi` editor

Question

When I open a new file using vi command:

vi <new file name>

After entering into file and typing the data I am getting the characters like A, B, C, D when I use <, > arrows in order to move up the line or down the line

vi was an editor written back when terminals (or their keyboards) didn't all have arrow keys so h-j-k-l keys performed the movement options. `vi` is smaller so is installed by default; most of us grab `vim` even if we don't use vim's extra features - because we aren't still in the 70s or early 80s. — guiverc, May 19 '18 at 06:42
Possible duplicate of [Hitting arrow keys adds characters in vi editor](https://askubuntu.com/questions/353911/hitting-arrow-keys-adds-characters-in-vi-editor) — muru, May 19 '18 at 07:53

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered May 19 '18 at 06:54

3

Alternative way to solve this is by creating a vimrc file:

# vi ~/.vimrc

And adding the following line in it:

set nocompatible

This should fix your issue.

answered May 19 '18 at 06:54

rootameen

106
1
7

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered May 19 '18 at 06:03

2

I solved it by installing vim:

sudo apt-get install vim

answered May 19 '18 at 06:03

Is there any other way to overcome this ? – May 19 '18 at 06:04
forget about vi, use vim. that's it. – Yves May 19 '18 at 06:07

Problem with `vi` editor

2 Answers2