Quick Methods to Indent Blocks in vi Editor

To quickly indent multiple lines in vi, you can use visual mode to select a block of text and then the > command to indent or < to unindent, or use normal mode commands with line numbers and the >> and << operators for efficient block indentation. The most efficient methods involve combining visual selection with indentation commands or using range-based operations in normal mode for precise control over large text blocks.

Contents

• Visual Mode Techniques
• Normal Mode Methods
• Advanced Indentation Strategies
• Customizing Indentation Behavior
• Tips for Efficient Workflow

Visual Mode Techniques

Visual mode in vi provides an intuitive way to select text blocks and apply indentation operations. The most common approach is to use the > command after selecting your text block.

Basic Visual Line Selection

To indent multiple lines using visual line mode:

1. Press V (capital V) to enter visual line mode
2. Use arrow keys or j/k to select the desired lines
3. Press > to indent one level or < to unindent
4. Repeat the command with . for additional indentation

For example, if you want to indent lines 5-10:

V5G>       # Select from current line to line 5, then indent
V10G>      # Select from current line to line 10, then indent

Block Visual Mode

For column-based indentation:

1. Press Ctrl+V to enter block visual mode
2. Select the columns you want to affect
3. Press > to indent the selected block

This is particularly useful for aligning code or creating consistent indentation in specific columns.

Normal Mode Methods

Normal mode offers powerful range-based commands for precise indentation control without visual selection.

Range-Based Indentation

The most efficient method for indenting specific line ranges:

5,10>>      # Indent lines 5 through 10 one level
5,10<<      # Unindent lines 5 through 10 one level
5,10>>>     # Indent lines 5 through 10 two levels

Current Line Indentation

For quick single-line operations:

>>          # Indent current line one level
<<          # Unindent current line one level
5>>         # Indent current line 5 levels

Multiple Line Operations

To indent from current line to end or beginning:

.,$>>       # Indent from current line to end of file
1,.>>       # Indent from beginning of file to current line

Advanced Indentation Strategies

Using Marks for Repeated Operations

Set marks for frequently indented sections:

ma          # Set mark 'a' at current position
j10>>       # Indent next 10 lines
'a          # Jump back to mark 'a```

### Search-Based Indentation
Indent lines matching a pattern:
```vim
:g/^\s*if/>>    # Indent all lines starting with "if"
:g/^\s*{/>>     # Indent all lines starting with "{"

Macro-Based Indentation

Record and replay indentation sequences:

qq          # Start recording macro in register q
V>>         # Visual line mode and indent
q           # Stop recording
@q          # Replay the macro
@@          # Replay last macro again

Customizing Indentation Behavior

Setting Indentation Levels

Control tab width and indentation behavior:

:set shiftwidth=4    # Set indentation to 4 spaces
:set tabstop=8       # Set tab width to 8 spaces
:set expandtab       # Convert tabs to spaces
:set autoindent      # Enable auto-indentation
:set smartindent     # Enable smart indentation

Language-Specific Settings

Different languages may require different indentation approaches:

:set cindent         # C-style indentation
:set smartindent     # Smart indentation for various languages
:set filetype=python # Enable Python-specific indentation

Indent File Types

Automatically apply indentation settings based on file type:

filetype indent on   # Enable filetype-specific indentation

Tips for Efficient Workflow

Quick Indentation Shortcuts

• == - Auto-indent current line based on context
• gg=G - Indent entire file
• !}fmt - Format paragraph using external formatter
• =i{ - Auto-indent inside current block

Repetition Commands

Use the . command to repeat the last indentation operation:

V>>.        # Select and indent, then repeat on next lines
5>>.        # Indent 5 lines, then repeat operation

Visual Mode Efficiency

Combine visual mode with movement commands for faster selection:

Vj>>        # Select next line and indent
Vk<<        # Select previous line and unindent
VG>>        # Select to end of file and indent

Multiple Selection Techniques

For complex indentation patterns:

:'a,'b>>    # Indent from mark 'a' to mark 'b'
:'<,'>>     # Indent from visual selection start to end

These methods provide a comprehensive toolkit for efficient indentation in vi, allowing you to quickly format code and text blocks with minimal keystrokes. The choice of method depends on your specific use case, whether you’re working with small sections of code or large files requiring consistent formatting.

Sources

1. Vim Documentation - Indenting
2. Vim Tips Wiki - Indentation Techniques
3. Vim Cheat Sheet - Visual Mode Commands
4. Vimcasts - Visual Block Mode Tutorial
5. Vim Documentation - Normal Mode Commands