How to Edit a File in CMD Windows 10?

You can edit a file directly within the Windows Command Prompt using command-line text editors. One common and powerful method, described in resources like the eukhost knowledge base, involves using Vi or Vim.

Using Vi or Vim via Command Prompt

While originally prominent on Unix-like systems, Vi or Vim (an enhanced version) can be used on Windows, often after installation or if part of a development environment like Git Bash or WSL. Editing a file with Vi/Vim through the command prompt follows a specific sequence of commands.

Step-by-Step Editing with Vi/Vim

Based on the steps outlined in the eukhost guide on command-line editing, here's how to edit a file:

1. Access the file using the Vi or Vim command followed by the file path. For example:

   vim C:\path\to\your\file.txt

   This opens the file in Vim's default mode (Normal mode).

2. To enter insert mode, press the “I” key.
   Your cursor changes, and you can now type and edit the file content.
3. Apply your preferred modifications. Type, delete, and change text as needed.
4. To exit insert mode, press the “ESC” key.
   This returns you to Normal mode, where commands are entered.
5. Enter “:w” and press the “Enter key” to save the changes.
   The ":w" command writes the current content to the file.
6. Enter “:q” and press the “Enter” key to close this file.
   The ":q" command quits the editor. If you haven't saved changes, Vim will warn you.

You can combine saving and quitting by entering ":wq" followed by Enter in Normal mode.

Essential Vi/Vim Commands Summary

Here's a quick reference for the key commands mentioned:

Action	Keystrokes	Mode	Description
Open File	vim filename	Command	Opens file in Normal mode
Enter Insert Mode	I	Normal	Allows text editing
Exit Insert Mode	ESC	Insert	Return to Normal mode
Save File	:w + Enter	Normal	Writes changes to disk
Quit Editor	:q + Enter	Normal	Exits Vim
Save and Quit	:wq + Enter	Normal	Writes changes and exits

Alternative Methods

While Vi/Vim offers powerful command-line editing, Windows also provides other options:

• notepad: You can type notepad filename.txt in CMD to open the file in the graphical Notepad editor. You edit using the standard GUI, save (Ctrl+S), and close the window.
• edit: A legacy full-screen text editor available in older versions of Windows and still present for compatibility. Type edit filename.txt to use it. It has a text-based interface but is less common for modern tasks compared to Vi/Vim or GUI editors.

Using Vi or Vim provides a purely command-line editing experience, following specific modes and commands for interaction, which is a standard approach in many command-line environments.