To copy a line to the alternate file in original vi I use something likeayy:e#aPThe first vi version did have the alternate file feature (with switch command :e`) but did not have named buffers. Is there a reasonable way to copy lines between two files in original vi without using named buffers?
Original vi (version 1.1): Copy lines to alternate file without using named buffer
original vi
When I used to use a real vi, I'd write to and read from a file,like you mention in your comment. I had something like this in my .exrc:ab wtemp w !/bin/cat > ~/tempab rtemp r !/bin/cat ~/tempSo to yank the current line::.wtempOr set marks, then::'a,'b wtempThen hit ^6 to switch to the alternate file (same as :e #), then::rtempYou can change the abbreviations to mappings if that's easier.Note that using :read ! and :write ! with cat avoids setting the alternate file.As an aside, should you ever use Vim, you can remove the a flagfrom 'cpoptions' to prevent :read with a filename from settingthe alternate file, and similarly with A for writing.EDITLooking at the reference manual for v1.1, the command set appears to be highly restrictive.The only way I can see to achieve the copy in this early version of vi is to append to the alternate file::[range] write! >> `Then switch to the alternate file and move the appended lines to where you want.