Cursor position in vi at opening of the file

Question

vishex ()
{ 
    echo '#!/bin/bash' > $1;
    chmod +x $1;
    vi $1
}

The goal of the above function is to have an alias for fast and comfortable creation of bash scripts. I would like that at the opening of the file the cursor would be not standing in the Shebang line but on a line below. I've tried something like echo 'blabla\n', echo "blala\n", printf "blala\n" without any result.

Answer 1

Use this:

vishex () 
{ 
    [ -e "$1" ] || echo -e '#!/bin/bash\n\n' > "$1";
    chmod +x "$1";
    vi "+normal G" +startinsert "$1"
}

• [ -e "$1" ] checks if the script already exists. If yes echo will not override it.
• -e in echo enables interpretation of backslash escapes, such as \n for a newline. Then it inserts 2 newlines after the shebang line.
• +normal G runs the ex command G which jumps to the last line in the file.
• +startinsert switches directly to insert mode (you can also leave that, as it's not in the question mentioned).

---

So, when executing vishex script it looks as follows:

#!/bin/bash

<- cursor is here
~
[...]
~
-- INSERT --                                                               3,1           All

Answer 2

Assuming your vi is actually vim, from the manpage:

+[num]   For  the  first file the cursor will be positioned on line "num".
         If "num" is missing, the cursor will be positioned  on  the  last line.

Thus, use:

vi + "$1"