Visual mode allows several commands to be run in conjuction with it. To use it type 'v' then move the cursor, this will create a highlighted block of text. In the windows version of gvim, you can use the mouse to select blocks of text. I prefer to use 'V' which is line based visual mode.
Here are some commands commonly used with visual mode.
- > shift the block right one shiftwidth
- <>
- = reindent the block
- y yank ( copy ) the block ( paste with a p )
- d delete the block
- c change the block
