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(vip)Modes in VIP

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Modes in VIP
============

Loading VIP has the effect of globally binding `C-z' (`Control-z') to
the function `vip-change-mode-to-vi'. The default binding of `C-z' in
GNU Emacs is `suspend-emacs', but, you can also call `suspend-emacs' by
typing `C-x C-z'.  Other than this, all the key bindings of Emacs
remain the same after loading VIP.

   Now, if you hit `C-z', the function `vip-change-mode-to-vi' will be
called and you will be in "vi mode".  (Some major modes may locally bind
`C-z' to some special functions.  In such cases, you can call
`vip-change-mode-to-vi' by `execute-extended-command' which is invoked
by `M-x'.  Here `M-x' means `Meta-x', and if your terminal does not
have a <META> key you can enter it by typing `<ESC> x'.  The same
effect can also be achieve by typing `M-x vip-mode'.)

   You can observe the change of mode by looking at the "mode line".
For instance, if the mode line is:
     -----Emacs: *scratch*              (Lisp Interaction)----All------------

then it will change to:
     -----Vi:    *scratch*              (Lisp Interaction)----All------------

Thus the word `Emacs' in the mode line will change to `Vi'.

   You can go back to the original "emacs mode" by typing `C-z' in vi
mode.  Thus `C-z' toggles between these two modes.

   Note that modes in VIP exist orthogonally to modes in Emacs.  This
means that you can be in vi mode and at the same time, say, shell mode.

   Vi mode corresponds to Vi's command mode.  From vi mode you can enter
"insert mode" (which corresponds to Vi's insert mode) by usual Vi
command keys like `i', `a', `o' ... etc.

   In insert mode, the mode line will look like this:
     -----Insert *scratch*              (Lisp Interaction)----All------------

You can exit from insert mode by hitting <ESC> key as you do in Vi.

   That VIP has three modes may seem very complicated, but in fact it
is not so.  VIP is implemented so that you can do most editing
remaining only in the two modes for Vi (that is vi mode and insert
mode).

   The figure below shows the transition of three modes in VIP.


                === C-z ==>          == i,o ... ==>
     emacs mode             vi mode                 insert mode
                <== X-z ===          <=== ESC ====

Emacs Mode

This is the mode you should know better.

Vi Mode

Vi commands are executed in this mode.

Insert Mode

You can enter text, and also can do editing if you

know enough Emacs commands.