How to go back (ctrl+z) in vi/vim

Question

In normal text editors [with all due respect to Vim] there is a shortcut Ctrl+Z when you have done something nasty and want to return to the previous version of the text. Like BACK button in Word. I wonder how can you achieve this behaviour in Vim.

Solution 1

You can use the u button to undo the last modification. (And Ctrl+R to redo it).

Read more about it at: http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Undo_and_Redo

Solution 2

The answer, u, (and many others) is in $ vimtutor.

Solution 3

Here is a trick though. You can map the Ctrl+Z keys. This can be achieved by editing the .vimrc file. Add the following lines in the '.vimrc` file.

nnoremap <c-z> :u<CR>      " Avoid using this**
inoremap <c-z> <c-o>:u<CR>

This may not the a preferred way, but can be used.

** Ctrl+Z is used in Linux to suspend the ongoing program/process.

Solution 4

Just in normal mode press:

• u - undo,
• Ctrl + r - redo changes which were undone (undo the undos).

Undo and Redo

View more solutions

Comments

[Cyclonecode]

vim.wikia.com/wiki/Undo_and_Redo

[Chris Morgan]

The Vim documentation is also very good - :help undo will find you your answer on this, for example.

[karth]

before diving into vim completely, I suggest you go through the (interactive) tutorial

[Slazer]

Thank you all and sorry for this q. Must read more next time.

[mancocapac]

on linux, CTRL-Z in vi/vim/gvim mean escape to the console, or put this in the background. you then do whatever you want on the console and type fg (foreground) to bring you back into vim edit session.

[simhumileco]

I know that most of my answer is duplicated with those already present, but the value added of my answer is redo as Ctrl + r (lower case r) based on the documentation. Nobody before put it here. In addition, I tried to make the answer as clearly as possible.

[NeilG]

I map U to redo so I can undo / redo quickly, the entire edit history if necessary, in vimrc: nnoremap U <C-R>

[Paiusco]

up vote only because I've never heard of vimtutor before