Saving Part of a File

While editing, you will sometimes want to save just part of your file as a separate, new file. For example, you might have entered formatting codes and text that you want to use as a header for several files.

You can combine ex line addressing () with the write command, w, to save part of a file. For example, if you are in the file practice and want to save part of practice as the file newfile, you could enter:

• :230,$w newfile
• Saves from line 230 to end-of-file in newfile.
• :.,600w newfile
• Saves from the current line to line 600 in newfile.

[After newfile has been created, you'll need w! instead of w. -JP ]

- LL from Anonymous' vi Editor, Chapter 5