Vim File Management Cheatsheet

Opening Files

Command	Description
vim filename	Open file from terminal
:e filename	Open file from within Vim
:e	Reload current file
:e!	Reload current file, discarding changes
:enew	Open a new empty buffer
:find filename	Find and open file in 'path'

Saving Files

Command	Description
:w	Save current file
:w filename	Save as a new file
:w !sudo tee %	Save file with sudo privileges
:wa	Save all open files
:wq or ZZ	Save and quit
:x	Save if modified and quit

Closing Files

Command	Description
:q	Quit (fails if unsaved changes)
:q! or ZQ	Quit without saving (discard changes)
:qa	Quit all buffers/windows
:qa!	Quit all buffers/windows without saving

Managing Multiple Files

Command	Description
:bn	Go to next buffer
:bp	Go to previous buffer
:ls	List all open buffers
:b number	Go to buffer by number
:b filename	Go to buffer by filename (tab completion works)
:bd or :bw	Close current buffer (delete or wipe)
:sp filename	Open file in new horizontal split
:vsp filename	Open file in new vertical split
Ctrl-w s	Split window horizontally
Ctrl-w v	Split window vertically
Ctrl-w w	Switch between windows

File Explorer (netrw)

Command	Description
:Explore or :Ex	Open file explorer in current window
:Sexplore or :Sex	Open file explorer in horizontal split
:Vexplore or :Vex	Open file explorer in vertical split

In the file explorer: use Enter to open a file/directory, - to go up a directory, d to create a directory, % to create a file.

Other Useful Commands

Command	Description
:cd path	Change current directory
:pwd	Print working directory
:f or Ctrl-g	Display filename and position
gf	Go to file under cursor
:r filename	Insert contents of file
:r !command	Insert output of shell command