Linux :r (Retrieve) Operator

Shell Programming and Scripting
1

Hi.
New to Linux shell scripting.
Scenario:
1). Using "vi" I created a shell script named practivity. I press Esc to switch to command mode.
2). After that the instructions say "to retrieve the 3 script files, type :r pact, press Enter, :r pnumname, press Enter; :r joinall, Enter.
I followed those command
3). Now I have to delete 9 lines (9dd), and that is where the problem starts.

I can't enter any commands. I pressed Esc to put me in COMMAND mode, but nothing happens.
Anyone has and ideas?
Thanks In Advance

2

Don't know why ESC isn't putting you into command mode. Maybe there's problems with your keymap. ':r' isn't a linux thing, it's a vi thing, by the way. Don't try and pin the blame for vi on us. ;p

Check if the 'nano' editor is available.

3

Thanks for responding, Corona688.
It was my keyboard. I have an iMac keyboard, & if I don't press the keys down hard, I do not get good results.
Thanks again
P.S. What's 'nano' ed. & how do I check for it? I'm using Fedora (if that makes a diff.).
OK vi is innocent. (smile)

4

It's a friendlier text editor that uses hotkeys instead of unguessable magic sequences. Shockingly, it actually tells you what keys the hotkeys are. Try running 'nano'. if it works, you have it. if it doesn't, you don't.