You try to write your file, but you get one of the following messages:
1.File exists
File file exists - use w!
[Existing file]
File is read only
Type :w! file to overwrite the existing file, or type :w newfile to save the edited
version in a new file.
2.You want to write a file, but you don’t have write permission for it. You get the message
“Permission denied.”
Use :w newfile to write out the buffer into a new file. If you have write permission
for the directory, you can use mv to replace the original version with your copy of
it. If you don’t have write permission for the directory, type :w pathname/file to
write out the buffer to a directory in which you do have write permission (such as
your home directory, or /tmp).
3.You try to write your file, but you get a message telling you that the file system is full.
Type :!rm junkfile to delete a (large) unneeded file and free some space. (Starting
an ex command with an exclamation point gives you access to Unix.)
Or type :!df to see whether there’s any space on another file system. If there is,
choose a directory on that file system and write your file to it with :w pathname.
(df is the Unix command to check a disk’s free space.)
4. The system puts you into open mode and tells you that the file system is full.
The disk with vi’s temporary files is filled up. Type :!ls /tmp to see whether there
are any files you can remove to gain some disk space.# If there are, create a tem-
porary Unix shell from which you can remove files or issue other Unix commands.
You can create a shell by typing :sh; type CTRL-D or exit to terminate the shell
and return to vi. (On modern Unix systems, when using a job-control shell, you
can simply type CTRL-Z to suspend vi and return to the Unix prompt; type fg to
return to vi.) Once you’ve freed up some space, write your file with :w!.
5. You try to write your file, but you get a message telling you that your disk quota has
been reached.
Try to force the system to save your buffer with the ex command :pre (short
for :preserve). If that doesn’t work, look for some files to remove. Use :sh (or
CTRL-Z if you are using a job-control system) to move out of vi and remove files.
Use CTRL-D (or fg) to return to vi when you’re done. Then write your file
with :w!.
1.File exists
File file exists - use w!
[Existing file]
File is read only
Type :w! file to overwrite the existing file, or type :w newfile to save the edited
version in a new file.
2.You want to write a file, but you don’t have write permission for it. You get the message
“Permission denied.”
Use :w newfile to write out the buffer into a new file. If you have write permission
for the directory, you can use mv to replace the original version with your copy of
it. If you don’t have write permission for the directory, type :w pathname/file to
write out the buffer to a directory in which you do have write permission (such as
your home directory, or /tmp).
3.You try to write your file, but you get a message telling you that the file system is full.
Type :!rm junkfile to delete a (large) unneeded file and free some space. (Starting
an ex command with an exclamation point gives you access to Unix.)
Or type :!df to see whether there’s any space on another file system. If there is,
choose a directory on that file system and write your file to it with :w pathname.
(df is the Unix command to check a disk’s free space.)
4. The system puts you into open mode and tells you that the file system is full.
The disk with vi’s temporary files is filled up. Type :!ls /tmp to see whether there
are any files you can remove to gain some disk space.# If there are, create a tem-
porary Unix shell from which you can remove files or issue other Unix commands.
You can create a shell by typing :sh; type CTRL-D or exit to terminate the shell
and return to vi. (On modern Unix systems, when using a job-control shell, you
can simply type CTRL-Z to suspend vi and return to the Unix prompt; type fg to
return to vi.) Once you’ve freed up some space, write your file with :w!.
5. You try to write your file, but you get a message telling you that your disk quota has
been reached.
Try to force the system to save your buffer with the ex command :pre (short
for :preserve). If that doesn’t work, look for some files to remove. Use :sh (or
CTRL-Z if you are using a job-control system) to move out of vi and remove files.
Use CTRL-D (or fg) to return to vi when you’re done. Then write your file
with :w!.