18 Jul
2025
18 Jul
'25
2:52 a.m.
If you just do ":E" it will put both windows
on the current file,
exactly the same as vim. But both do it wrong (IMHO) as the second
window starts at the same place (e.g top of the file). In the Rand
Editor if the split is at line N, the bottom window shows lines N+1.
Exact same behavior for vertical split (the left and right side
windows show the same portions as before).
> On Jul 17, 2025, at 6:09 PM, Larry McVoy lm(a)mcvoy.com wrote:
>
> Not really the same. :sp splits your window in half and puts you in
> two different windows on the same file. Each window, in vim, is full
> on vi, you can do :e fillename and now that window is on that file.
Not historic but as of present I shunt windowing off to GNU screen and just have separate
nvi sessions in each. This may speak to ignorance on my part regarding advantages of
opening multiple files in the same session in any given vi. I keep vim around for when I
need the value adds, but nvi is linked as ex/vi/view. I suppose it is nice to keep your
window configuration tightly coupled, but I also frequently have vi in one pane and am
using the others for od output and build/test cycle for disassembly projects.
- Matt G.