removing .exrc

[Victor_5]

There are .exrc files under every user's home directory on my system, I know .exrc is vi startup configuration file, for security reason, I don't want to use it, can I remove those files safely?

Thanks!

[S.K. Chan · Accepted solution]

You might want to check with your users first before removing it because this file might contain individual user's vi keyboard mapping. Short answer is "yes" IF you're not using .exrc for your own customization.

[Clemens van Everdingen]

Hi,

Yes you can remove them.

C.

[Tracey]

My users never get to the OS prompt so I removed them. I also removed the file /etc/skel/.exrc and its link /etc/d.exrc so that when I create new users the file doesn't get automatically created to begin with.

[Victor_5]

Thanks for your reminder, Tracey, I almost forgot /etc/skel and its link.

Thanks all!

[Deepak Extross]

Victor,

I have a lot of personal settings in my .exrc, for example,
set ts=4
set showmatch
set ic
set tags="my/tag/file"
map ^[M dd
and many other 'map' commands to insert names, date, etc using a hotkey.

I'd be mighty pissed off if anyone were to junk my .exrc file without my knowledge.
My 'vi' just wouldn't be the same anymore.