To enter vi, just type `vi' and the name of the file to edit. % vi newhelp.c This will cause vi to read the file, and set up for you to edit it. If the file does not exist, vi will tell you so. Editing a new file just gives you a blank buffer to start. There are options to vi that allow you to start up your editing session differently: % vi + newhelp.c # start editing at the bottom of the file % vi +50 oldhelp.c # start editing at line 50 % vi +/main help.c # start editing at first occurence of `main' % vi -r prog2.p # recover edit session of prog2.p from last # time system crashed