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→INVESTIGATION 2: MANAGING TEXT FILES
=INVESTIGATION 2: MANAGING TEXT FILES=
<table align="right"><tr valign="top"><td>[[Image:nano-text-editor-1.png|thumb|right|250px|The '''Nano Text Editor''' is Easy to Operate for Novice Users.]]</td><td>[[Image:vi-text-editor-1.png|thumb|right|300px|The '''vi Text Editor''', although taking longer to master, has outstanding features and allow the user to be more productive with editing text files.]]</td></tr></table>
Since IT students will be working in the Unix / Linux command line environment, it is useful to learn a least two common command-line '''text editors'''.
Although '''programming students''' can use '''graphical IDE's''' to code and compile programs, they can '''create source code''' using a text editor and '''compile their source code''' in the '''Matrix''' server to generate executable programs (without having to transfer them for compilation or execution).
'''Networking and Tech Support students''' can use a text editor to '''edit configuration files'''. These students in upper grades will become familiar with the process of installing, configuring, and running network services and text editors are an important tools<br>to help setup but also "tweak" or make '''periodic changes in networking services configuration'''.
The two most readily-available command line text editors in Linux are '''Nano''' and '''vi'''.<br>The Nano text editor would seem like an easier-to-use text editor, but vi (although taking longer to learn)<br>has outstanding features and allow the user to be more productive with editing text files.<br><br>
===Part 1: Creating Text Files Using The Nano Text Editor===
You will now learn basic editing skills using the '''Nano''' text editor including '''creating''', '''editing''', and '''saving''' text files.
'''Perform the Following Steps:'''
# Issue a Linux command to check that you correctly created those directories.<br><br>
# Issue the following Linux command to edit a text file called '''mytext.txt''' in the '''linux/practice''' directory:<br><span style="color:blue;font-weight:bold;font-family:courier;">nano textedit/practice/mytext.txt</span><br><br>'''NOTE:''' When using the '''Nano''' text editor, you are placed in '''INPUT''' mode, so you can enter text immediately.<br><br>[[Image:nano-text-editor-2.png|right|400px|thumb|Enter the following text that appears in this diagram.]]
# Enter the lines shown in the other diagram of the nano text editor on the right side.<br><br>'''NOTE:''' Refer to the table below for a list of<br>common '''Nano''' navigation & editing commands:<br><br><table cellpadding="5"><tr><th style="border-bottom: 1px solid black;">Key(s)</th><th style="border-bottom: 1px solid black;">Purpose</th></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="font-family:courier">'''<ctrl><SPACEBAR>''',<br>'''<esc><6>'''</td><td>Move forward/backward one word</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="font-family:courier">'''<ctrl><a>''',<br> '''<ctrl><e>'''</td><td>Move to beginning/end of line</td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:courier">'''<ctrl><k>'''</td><td>Cut line</td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:courier">'''<esc>6'''</td><td>Copy Line</td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:courier">'''<ctrl><u>'''</td><td>Paste Cut/Copied Text</td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:courier">'''<ctrl><g>'''</td><td>Display help screen (ctrl-x to exit help screen)</td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:courier">'''<ctrl><x>'''</td><td>Save editing changes and exit</td></tr></table><br>
# Referring to the table above, practice navigating and editing your entered lines for practice.<br><br>
# To '''save''' your editing session, press: <span style="color:blue;font-weight:bold;font-family:courier;"><ctrl>x</span><br><br>
===Part 2: Creating Text Files Using The vi Text Editor===
[[Image:vi-screen.png|right|300px|thumb|Using the '''vi''' text editor.]]
You will now learn basic editing skills using the '''vi''' ('''vim''') text editor including<br>'''creating''', '''editing''', and '''saving''' text files.
The '''vi''' ('''vim''') text editor (although taking longer to learn) has outstanding features to increase coding productivity.
The major different between nano and vi is that '''vi starts in COMMAND LINE mode'''. You need to issue letter commands to enter text. Also you can press colon “: ” in COMMAND mode to enter more complex commands.
===Part 3: Manage & Manipulate Text File Content===
We conclude this tutorial by learning to '''manage''', '''view''' or '''manipulate the <u>display</u>''' of text files.<br>This is HIGHLY ADVISED in case you only want to view contents and '''NOT''' edit text file contents which can cause accidental erasure of data.
'''Perform the Following Steps:'''
# Issue the following Linux command:<br><span style="color:blue;font-weight:bold;font-family:courier;">rm aa.txt b.txt a.txt.bk c.txt</span><br><br>
# Issue the '''ls''' command to verify that these files have been removed.<br><br>
# Complete the '''LINUX PRACTICE QUESTIONS''' to get additional practice.<br><br>
= LINUX PRACTICE QUESTIONS =
