Still have problems with the key of backspace in vim of Ubuntu 14.04

Question

When I first started, I cannot use backspace to delete chars just like in windows. Then I found a solution that to modify the config file (/etc/vim/vimrc & vimrc.tiny).

This solution enables me to use the backspace to delete the chars I typed in the current file. But I still can not delete the original chars. (Original chars means the content that already exists in the file before I open it.)

E.g., there is file named 1.txt, its content:

abc

Then I open it, typing in three new chars: def, the content in this file is:

abcdef

When I use backspace to delete these chars.

I can delete def, but when the cursor comes to the char c, or b, or a.

It just does not work.

Any help from you will be highly appreciated.

Answer 1

You need to set the 'backspace' option. Put the following in your ~/.vimrc:

set backspace=indent,eol,start

You also should also be using ~/.vimrc instead of /etc/vim/vimrc.

Please take a look at the following:

:h 'backspace'
:h vimrc-intro
:h vimrc_example.vim