regexp..prepending a line globally (Vi)

[Leslie Mikesell]

In article <3235 at d75.UUCP> eli at reed.UUCP (Eli Taub/100000) writes:

[how to do this in vi]:
>>/usr/spool/ftp/comp.sources.unix/volume22/nn6.4:
>>part01.Z
>>part02.Z
>Comments deleted ...

>>What I want to end up with is:
>>/usr/spool/ftp/comp.sources.unix/volume22/nn6.4/part01.Z
>>/usr/spool/ftp/comp.sources.unix/volume22/nn6.4/part02.Z
   >....
   >But since you asked for it ...:
   >$s/$/^M:/
   >g/^.*:$/s @^\(.*\):$@.,/:/-1 s!^!\1/!@ \
   >d a \
   >*a

Good grief!
Just edit the first line into the command for the transformation, delete
it into a register, and execute the register.  This gives you a series
of steps you can undo if you mis-type something.

edit to:
:%s,^,/usr/spool/ftp/comp.sources.unix/volume22/nn6.4/,
with the cursor on that line, type "add  (delete to register a)
then @a   (execute register a)
if it doesn't look right, just u (undo) "aP (put back from register a)
and try again.  The only problem to watch for with this approach is
that you need an extra level of ^V quoting for any special characters
(one to get them into the edit buffer, one to get them into the command).

Les Mikesell
  les at chinet.chi.il.us