you can setup your exports file by the following command:
in the Vim editor, you will likely have a hard time getting around, its the hardest text editor to manipulate at the beginning because everything requires keyboard shortcuts.
Here are a few simple ones to get you started.
i = insert (allows editing of the file, this is the first command to type to allow you to start typing in the file)
esc = escape (takes you out of text editing mode, and to the vi command line)
on the vi command line :wq = write and quit
:q! = quit without saving
There are many others but thats a start.
I don't know if you are using a disto with nano, but you could try
if that works, nano is much easier for a new linux user as you are direct to text editing, and you control the editor with ctrl commands, e.g. ctrl+c is to close, giving you the choice to save or to not.
I'm not sure if the tutorials you've read discuss the syntax of the exports file, but there are examples in the nfs man page about what the syntax should be, so here are a few:
# sample /etc/exports file
/ master(rw) trusty(rw,no_root_squash)
/usr *.local.domain(ro) @trusted(rw)
As for NFSUTILS, hopefully you can start it once that file is created. Give it a shot