# note 015 : Best of Vim Tips current
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David Rayner (zzapper) 15 Years of Vi + 3 years of Vim and still learning
21Sep04 : Last Update
zzapper's Tips Page
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__BEGIN__
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# searching
/joe/e : cursor set to End of match
/joe/e+1 : cursor set to End of match plus 1
/joe/s-2 : cursor set to Start of match minus 2
/^joe.*fred.*bill/ : normal
/^[A-J]\+/ : search for lines beginning with one or more A-J
/begin\_.*end : search over possible multiple lines
/fred\_s*joe/i : any whitespace including newline
/fred\|joe : Search for FRED OR JOE
/\([^0-9]\|^\)%.*% : Search for absence of a digit or beginning of line
/.*fred\&.*joe : Search for FRED AND JOE in any ORDER!
/\<fred\>/i : search for fred but not alfred or frederick
/\<\d\d\d\d\> : Search for exactly 4 digit numbers
/\D\d\d\d\d\D : Search for exactly 4 digit numbers
/\<\d\{4}\> : same thing
# finding empty lines
/^\n\{3} : find 3 empty lines
# Specify what you are NOT searching for (vowels)
/\c\v([^aeiou]&\a){4} : search for 4 consecutive consanants
# using rexexp memory in a search
/\(fred\).*\(joe\).*\2.*\1
# Repeating the Regexp (rather than what the Regexp finds)
/^\([^,]*,\)\{8}
# visual searching
:vmap // y/<C-R>"<CR> : search for visually highlighted text
:vmap <silent> // y/<C-R>=escape(@", '\\/.*$^~[]')<CR><CR> : with spec chars
# searching over multiple lines \_ means including newline
/<!--\_p\{-}--> : search for multiple line comments
/fred\_s*joe/i : any whitespace including newline
/bugs\(\_.\)*bunny : bugs followed by bunny anywhere in file
:h \_ : help
# search for declaration of subroutine/function under cursor
:nmap gx yiw/^\(sub\<bar>function\)\s\+<C-R>"<CR>
# multiple file search
:bufdo /searchstr
:argdo /searchstr
# How to search for a URL without backslashing
?http://www.vim.org/ : search BACKWARDS!!! clever huh!
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#substitution
:%s/fred/joe/igc : general substitute command
:%s/\r//g : Delete DOS returns ^M
# Is your Text File jumbled onto one line? use following
:%s/\r/\r/g : Turn DOS returns ^M into real returns
:%s= *$== : delete end of line blanks
:%s= \+$== : Same thing
:%s#\s*\r\?$## : Clean both trailing spaces AND DOS returns
:%s#\s*\r*$## : same thing
# deleting empty lines
:%s/^\n\{3}// : delete blocks of 3 empty lines
:%s/^\n\+/\r/ : compressing empty lines
# IF YOU ONLY WANT TO KNOW ONE THING
:'a,'bg/fred/s/dick/joe/igc : VERY USEFUL
# duplicating columns
:%s= [^ ]\+$=&&= : duplicate end column
:%s= \f\+$=&&= : same thing
:%s= \S\+$=&& : usually the same
# memory
:s/\(.*\):\(.*\)/\2 : \1/ : reverse fields separated by :
:%s/^\(.*\)\n\1/\1$/ : delete duplicate lines
# non-greedy matching \{-}
:%s/^.\{-}pdf/new.pdf/ : delete to 1st pdf only
# use of optional atom \?
:%s#\<[zy]\?tbl_[a-z_]\+\>#\L&#gc : lowercase with optional leading characters
# over possibly many lines
:%s/<!--\_.\{-}-->// : delete possibly multi-line comments
:help /\{-} : help non-greedy
# substitute using a register
:s/fred/<c-r>a/g : sub "fred" with contents of register "a"
:s/fred/\=@a/g : better alternative as register not displayed
# multiple commands on one line
:%s/\f\+\.gif\>/\r&\r/g | v/\.gif$/d | %s/gif/jpg/
# ORing
:%s/suck\|buck/loopy/gc : ORing (must break pipe)
# Calling a VIM function
:s/__date__/\=strftime("%c")/ : insert datestring
# Working with Columns sub any str1 in col3
:%s:\(\(\w\+\s\+\)\{2}\)str1:\1str2:
# Swapping first & last column (4 columns)
:%s:\(\w\+\)\(.*\s\+\)\(\w\+\)$:\3\2\1:
# filter all form elements into paste register
:redir @*|sil exec 'g#<\(input\|select\|textarea\|/\=form\)\>#p'|redir END
:nmap ,z :redir @*<Bar>sil exec 'g@<\(input\<Bar>select\<Bar>textarea\<Bar>/\=form\)\>@p'<Bar>redir END<CR>
# increment numbers by 6 on certain lines only
:g/loc\|function/s/\d/\=submatch(0)+6/
# better
:%s#txtdev\zs\d#\=submatch(0)+1#g
:h /\zs
# increment only numbers gg\d\d by 6 (another way)
:%s/\(gg\)\@<=\d\+/\=submatch(0)+6/
:h zero-width
# find replacement text, put in memory, then use \zs to simplify substitute
:%s/"\([^.]\+\).*\zsxx/\1/
# Pull word under cursor into LHS of a substitute
:nmap <leader>z :%s#\<<c-r>=expand("<cword>")<cr>\>#
# Pull Visually Highlighted text into LHS of a substitute
:vmap <leader>z :<C-U>%s/\<<c-r>*\>/
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# all following performing similar task, substitute within substitution
# Multiple single character substitution in a portion of line only
:%s,\(all/.*\)\@<=/,_,g : replace all / with _ AFTER "all/"
# Same thing
:s#all/\zs.*#\=substitute(submatch(0), '/', '_', 'g')#
# Substitute by splitting line, then re-joining
:s#all/#&^M#|s#/#_#g|-j!
# Substitute inside substitute
:%s/.*/\='cp '.submatch(0).' all/'.substitute(submatch(0),'/','_','g')/
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# global command display (see tip 227)
:g/fred.*joe.*dick/ : display all lines fred,joe & dick
:g/\<fred\>/ : display all lines fred but not freddy
:g/<pattern>/z#.5 : display with context
:g/<pattern>/z#.5|echo "==========" : display beautifully
:g/^\s*$/d : delete all blank lines
:g!/^dd/d : delete lines not containing string
:v/^dd/d : delete lines not containing string
:g/fred/,/joe/d : not line based (very powerfull)
:g/{/ ,/}/- s/\n\+/\r/g : Delete empty lines but only between {...}
:v/./.,/./-1join : compress empty lines
:g/^$/,/./-j : compress empty lines
:g/<input\|<form/p : ORing
:g/^/pu _ : double space file (pu = put)
:g/^/m0 : Reverse file (m = move)
:g/fred/t$ : copy lines matching fred to EOF
:g/stage/t'a : copy lines matching stage to marker a
:%norm jdd : delete every other line
# incrementing numbers (type <c-a> as 5 characters)
:.,$g/^\d/exe "norm! \<c-a>": increment numbers
:'a,'bg/\d\+/norm! ^A : increment numbers
# storing glob results (note must use APPEND)
:g/fred/y A : append all lines fred to register a
:'a,'b g/^Error/ . w >> errors.txt
# duplicate every line in a file wrap a print '' around each duplicate
:g/./yank|put|-1s/'/"/g|s/.*/Print '&'/
# replace string with contents of a file, -d deletes the "mark"
:g/^MARK$/r tmp.ex | -d
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# Global combined with substitute (power editing)
:'a,'bg/fred/s/joe/susan/gic : can use memory to extend matching
:g/fred/,/joe/s/fred/joe/gic : non-line based (ultra)
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# Find fred before beginning search for joe
:/fred/;/joe/-2,/sid/+3s/sally/alley/gIC
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# Absolutely essential
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* # g* g# : find word under cursor (<cword>) (forwards/backwards)
% : match brackets {}[]()
. : repeat last modification
matchit.vim : % now matches tags <tr><td><script> <?php etc
<C-N><C-P> : word completion in insert mode
<C-X><C-L> : Line complete SUPER USEFUL
/<C-R><C-W> : Pull <cword> onto search/command line
/<C-R><C-A> : Pull <CWORD> onto search/command line
:set ignorecase : you nearly always want this
:syntax on : colour syntax in Perl,HTML,PHP etc
:h regexp<C-D> : type control-D and get a list all help topics containing
regexp (plus use TAB to Step thru list)
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# MAKE IT EASY TO UPDATE/RELOAD _vimrc
:nmap ,s :source $VIM/_vimrc
:nmap ,v :e $VIM/_vimrc
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#VISUAL MODE (easy to add other HTML Tags)
:vmap sb "zdi<b><C-R>z</b><ESC> : wrap <b></b> around VISUALLY selected Text
:vmap st "zdi<?= <C-R>z ?><ESC> : wrap <?= ?> around VISUALLY selected Text
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# Exploring
:Exp(lore) : file explorer note capital Ex
:Sex(plore) : file explorer in split window
:ls : list of buffers
:cd .. : move to parent directory
:args : list of files
:lcd %:p:h : change to directory of current file
:autocmd BufEnter * lcd %:p:h : change to directory of current file automatically (put in _vimrc)
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# Buffer Explorer (Top Ten Vim Script)
# needs bufexplorer.vim http://www.vim.org/script.php?script_id=42
\be : buffer explorer list of buffers
\bs : buffer explorer (split window)
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# Changing Case
guu : lowercase line
gUU : uppercase line
Vu : lowercase line
VU : uppercase line
g~~ : flip case line
vEU : Upper Case Word
vE~ : Flip Case Word
ggguG : lowercase entire file
# Titlise Visually Selected Text (map for .vimrc)
vmap ,c :s/\<\(.\)\(\k*\)\>/\u\1\L\2/g<CR>
# Uppercase first letter of sentences
:%s/[.!?]\_s\+\a/\U&\E/g
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gf : open file name under cursor (SUPER)
ga : display hex,ascii value of char under cursor
ggVGg? : rot13 whole file
ggg?G : rot13 whole file (quicker for large file)
:8 | normal VGg? : rot13 from line 8
:normal 10GVGg? : rot13 from line 8
<C-A>,<C-X> : increment,decrement number under cursor
win32 users must remap CNTRL-A
<C-R>=5*5 : insert 25 into text (mini-calculator)
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# Makes all other tips superfluous
:h 42 : also http://www.google.com/search?q=42
:h holy-grail
:h!
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# Markers & moving about
'. : jump to last modification line (SUPER)
`. : jump to exact spot in last modification line
g; : cycle thru recent changes (oldest first) (new in vim6.3)
g, : reverse direction (new in vim6.3)
:changes
:h changelist : help for above
<C-O> : retrace your movements in file (starting from most recent)
<C-I> : retrace your movements in file (reverse direction)
:ju(mps) : list of your movements
:help jump-motions
:history : list of all your commands
:his c : commandline history
:his s : search history
q/ : Search history Window
q: : commandline history Window
:<C-F> : history Window
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# Abbreviations & maps
:map <f7> :'a,'bw! c:/aaa/x
:map <f8> :r c:/aaa/x
:map <f11> :.w! c:/aaa/xr<CR>
:map <f12> :r c:/aaa/xr<CR>
:ab php : list of abbreviations beginning php
:map , : list of maps beginning ,
# allow use of F10 for mapping (win32)
set wak=no : :h winaltkeys
# For use in Maps
<CR> : carriage Return for maps
<ESC> : Escape
<LEADER> : normally \
<BAR> : | pipe
<BACKSPACE> : backspace
#display RGB colour under the cursor eg #445588
:nmap <leader>c :hi Normal guibg=#<c-r>=expand("<cword>")<cr><cr>
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# Using a register as a map (preload registers in .vimrc)
:let @m=":'a,'bs/"
:let @s=":%!sort -u"
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# List your Registers
:reg : display contents of all registers
:reg a : display content of individual registers
"1p.... : retrieve numeric registers one by one
:let @y='yy@"' : pre-loading registers (put in .vimrc)
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# Useful tricks
"ayy@a : execute "Vim command" in a text file
yy@" : same thing using unnamed register
u@. : execute command JUST typed in
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# Get output from other commands (requires external programs)
:r!ls.exe : reads in output of ls
!!date : same thing (but replaces/filters current line)
# Sorting with external sort
:%!sort -u : use an external program to filter content
:'a,'b!sort -u : use an external program to filter content
!1} sort -u : sorts paragraph (note normal mode!!)
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# Multiple Files Management (Essential)
:bn : goto next buffer
:bp : goto previous buffer
:wn : save file and move to next (super)
:wp : save file and move to previous
:bd : remove file from buffer list (super)
:bun : Buffer unload (remove window but not from list)
:badd file.c : file from buffer list
:b 3 : go to buffer 3
:b main : go to buffer with main in name eg main.c (ultra)
:sav php.html : Save current file as php.html and "move" to php.html
:sav! %<.bak : Save Current file to alternative extension
:sav! %:r.cfm : Save Current file to alternative extension
:e! : return to unmodified file
:w c:/aaa/% : save file elsewhere
:e # : edit alternative file
:rew : return to beginning of editted files list (:args)
:brew : buffer rewind
:sp fred.txt : open fred.txt into a split
:sball,:sb : Split all buffers (super)
:scrollbind : in each split window
:map <F5> :ls<CR>:e # : Pressing F5 lists all buffer, just type number
:set hidden : Allows to change buffer w/o saving current buffer
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# Quick jumping between splits
map <C-J> <C-W>j<C-W>_
map <C-K> <C-W>k<C-W>_
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# Recording (BEST TIP of ALL)
qq # record to q
your complex series of commands
q # end recording
@q to execute
@@ to Repeat
5@@ to Repeat 5 times
# editing a register/recording
"qp :display contents of register q (normal mode)
<ctrl-R>q :display contents of register q (insert mode)
# you can now see recording contents, edit as required
"qdd :put changed contacts back into q
@q :execute recording/register q
# Operating a Recording on a Visual BLOCK
1) define recording/register
qq:s/ to/ from/g^Mq
2) Define Visual BLOCK
V}
3) hit : and the following appears
:'<,'>
4)Complete as follows
:'<,'>norm @q
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# Visual is the newest and usually the BEST editting mode
# Visual basics
v : enter visual mode
V : visual mode whole line
<C-V> : enter VISUAL BLOCK mode
gv : reselect last visual area
o : navigate visual area
"*y : yank visual area into paste buffer
V% : visualise what you match
V}J : Join Visual block (great)
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# Delete first 2 characters of 10 successive lines
0<c-v>10j2ld
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# how to copy a set of columns using VISUAL BLOCK
# visual block (AKA columnwise selection) (NOT BY ordinary v command)
<C-V> then select "column(s)" with motion commands (win32 <C-Q>)
then c,d,y,r etc
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# _vimrc essentials
:set incsearch : jumps to search word as you type (annoying but excellent)
:set wildignore=*.o,*.obj,*.bak,*.exe : tab complete now ignores these
:set shiftwidth=3 : for shift/tabbing
:set vb t_vb=". : set silent (no beep)
:set browsedir=buffer : Maki GUI File Open use current directory
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# launching Win IE
:nmap ,f :update<CR>:silent !start c:\progra~1\intern~1\iexplore.exe file://%:p<CR>
:nmap ,i :update<CR>: !start c:\progra~1\intern~1\iexplore.exe <cWORD><CR>
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# FTPing from VIM
cmap ,r :Nread ftp://209.51.134.122/public_html/index.html
cmap ,w :Nwrite ftp://209.51.134.122/public_html/index.html
gvim ftp://209.51.134.122/public_html/index.html
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# appending to registers (use CAPITAL)
# yank 5 lines into "a" then add a further 5
"a5yy
10j
"A5yy
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[I : show lines matching word under cursor <cword> (super)
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# Conventional Shifting/Indenting
:'a,'b>>
# visual shifting (builtin-repeat)
:vnoremap < <gv
:vnoremap > >gv
# Block shifting (magic)
>i{
>a{
# also
>% and <%
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# Redirection & Paste register *
:redir @* : redirect commands to paste buffer
:redir END : end redirect
:redir >> out.txt : redirect to a file
# Working with Paste buffer
"*yy : yank to paste
"*p : insert from paste buffer
# yank to paste buffer (ex mode)
:'a,'by* : Yank range into paste
:%y* : Yank whole buffer into paste
# filter non-printable characters from the paste buffer
# useful when pasting from some gui application
:nmap <leader>p :let @* = substitute(@*,'[^[:print:]]','','g')<cr>"*p
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# Re-Formatting text
gq} : Format a paragraph
ggVGgq : Reformat entire file
Vgq : current line
# break lines at 70 chars, if possible after a ;
:s/.\{,69\};\s*\|.\{,69\}\s\+/&\r/g
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# Operate command over multiple files
:argdo %s/foo/bar/e : operate on all files in :args
:bufdo %s/foo/bar/e
:windo %s/foo/bar/e
:argdo exe '%!sort'|w! : include an external command
:bufdo /foo/
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# Command line tricks
gvim -h : help
ls | gvim - : edit a stream!!
cat xx | gvim - -c "v/^\d\d\|^[3-9]/d " : filter a stream
gvim -o file1 file2 : open into a split
# execute one command after opening file
gvim.exe -c "/main" joe.c : Open joe.c & jump to "main"
# execute multiple command on a single file
vim -c "%s/ABC/DEF/ge | update" file1.c
# execute multiple command on a group of files
vim -c "argdo %s/ABC/DEF/ge | update" *.c
# remove blocks of text from a series of files
vim -c "argdo /begin/+1,/end/-1g/^/d | update" *.c
# Automate editting of a file (Ex commands in convert.vim)
vim -s "convert.vim" file.c
#load VIM without .vimrc and plugins (clean VIM)
gvim -u NONE -U NONE -N
# Access paste buffer contents (put in a script/batch file)
gvim -c 'normal ggdG"*p' c:/aaa/xp
# print paste contents to default printer
gvim -c 's/^/\=@*/|hardcopy!|q!'
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# GVIM Difference Function (Brilliant)
gvim -d file1 file2 : vimdiff (compare differences)
dp : "put" difference under cursor to other file
do : "get" difference under cursor from other file
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# Vim traps
In regular expressions you must backslash + (match 1 or more)
In regular expressions you must backslash | (or)
In regular expressions you must backslash ( (group)
In regular expressions you must backslash { (count)
/fred\+/ : matches fred/freddy but not free
/\(fred\)\{2,3}/ : note what you have to break
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# \v or very magic (usually) reduces backslashing
/codes\(\n\|\s\)*where : normal regexp
/\vcodes(\n|\s)*where : very magic
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# pulling objects onto command/search line (SUPER)
<C-R><C-W> : pull word under the cursor into a command line or search
<C-R><C-A> : pull WORD under the cursor into a command line or search
<C-R>- : pull small register (also insert mode)
<C-R>[0-9a-z] : pull named registers (also insert mode)
<C-R>% : pull file name (also #) (also insert mode)
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# manipulating registers
:let @a=@_ : clear register a
:let @a="" : clear register a
:let @*=@a : copy register a to paste buffer
map <f11> "qyy:let @q=@q."zzz"
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# help for help
:h quickref : VIM Quick Reference Sheet (ultra)
:h tips : Vim's own Tips Help
:h visual<C-D><tab> : obtain list of all visual help topics
: Then use tab to step thru them
:h ctrl<C-D> : list help of all control keys
:helpg uganda : Help grep
:h :r : help for :ex command
:h CTRL-R : normal mode
:h /\r : what's \r in a regexp (matches a <CR>)
:h \\zs : double up backslash to find \zs in help
:h i_CTRL-R : help for say <C-R> in insert mode
:h c_CTRL-R : help for say <C-R> in command mode
:h v_CTRL-V : visual mode
:h tutor : VIM Tutor
<C-[>, <C-T> : Move back & Forth in HELP History
gvim -h : VIM Command Line Help
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# where was an option set
:scriptnames : list all plugins, _vimrcs loaded (super)
:verbose set history? : reveals value of history and where set
:function : list functions
:func SearchCompl : List particular function
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# making your own VIM help
:helptags /vim/vim63/doc : rebuild all *.txt help files in /doc
:help add-local-help
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# running file thru an external program (eg php)
map <f9> :w<CR>:!c:/php/php.exe %<CR>
map <f2> :w<CR>:!perl -c %<CR>
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# capturing output of current script in a separate buffer
:new | r!perl # : opens new buffer,read other buffer
:new! x.out | r!perl # : same with named file
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# Inserting DOS Carriage Returns
:%s/nubian/<C-V><C-M>&/g : that's what you type
:%s/nubian/<C-Q><C-M>&/g : for Win32
:%s/nubian/^M&/g : what you'll see where ^M is ONE character
:%s/nubian/\r&/g : better
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# automatically delete trailing Dos-returns,whitespace
autocmd BufRead * silent! %s/[\r \t]\+$//
autocmd BufEnter *.php :%s/[ \t\r]\+$//e
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# perform an action on a particular file or file type
autocmd VimEnter c:/intranet/note011.txt normal! ggVGg?
autocmd FileType *.pl exec('set fileformats=unix')
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# Retrieving last command line command for copy & pasting into text
i<c-r>:
# Retrieving last Search Command for copy & pasting into text
i<c-r>/
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# more completions
<C-X><C-F> :insert name of a file in current directory
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# Substituting a Visual area
# select visual area as usual (:h visual) then type :s/Emacs/Vim/ etc
:'<,'>s/Emacs/Vim/g : REMEMBER you dont type the '<.'>
gv : Re-select the previous visual area (ULTRA)
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# inserting line number into file
:g/^/exec "s/^/".strpart(line(".")." ", 0, 4)
:%s/^/\=strpart(line(".")." ", 0, 5)
:%s/^/\=line('.'). ' '
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#numbering lines VIM way
:set number : show line numbers
:map <F12> :set number!<CR> : Show linenumbers flip-flop
:%s/^/\=strpart(line('.')." ",0,&ts)
#numbering lines (need Perl on PC) starting from arbitrary number
:'a,'b!perl -pne 'BEGIN{$a=223} substr($_,2,0)=$a++'
#Produce a list of numbers
#Type in number on line say 223 in an empty file
qqmnYP`n^Aq : in recording q repeat with @q
# increment existing numbers to end of file (type <c-a> as 5 characters)
:.,$g/^\d/exe "normal! \<c-a>"
# advanced incrementing
http://vim.sourceforge.net/tip_view.php?tip_id=150
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# advanced incrementing (really useful)
" put following in _vimrc
let g:I=0
function! INC(increment)
let g:I =g:I + a:increment
return g:I
endfunction
" eg create list starting from 223 incrementing by 5 between markers a,b
:let I=223
:'a,'bs/^/\=INC(5)/
" create a map for INC
cab viminc :let I=223 \| 'a,'bs/$/\=INC(5)/
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# editing/moving within current insert (Really useful)
<C-U> : delete all entered
<C-W> : delete last word
<HOME><END> : beginning/end of line
<C-LEFTARROW><C-RIGHTARROW> : jump one word backwards/forwards
<C-X><C-E>,<C-X><C-Y> : scroll while staying put in insert
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#encryption (use with care: DON'T FORGET your KEY)
:X : you will be prompted for a key
:h :X
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# modeline (make a file readonly etc) must be in first/last 5 lines
// vim:noai:ts=2:sw=4:readonly:
# vim:ft=html: : says use HTML Syntax highlighting
:h modeline
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# Creating your own GUI Toolbar entry
amenu Modeline.Insert\ a\ VIM\ modeline <Esc><Esc>ggOvim:ff=unix ts=4 ss=4<CR>vim60:fdm=marker<esc>gg
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# A function to save word under cursor to a file
function! SaveWord()
normal yiw
exe ':!echo '.@0.' >> word.txt'
endfunction
map ,p :call SaveWord()
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# function to delete duplicate lines
function! Del()
if getline(".") == getline(line(".") - 1)
norm dd
endif
endfunction
:g/^/ call Del()
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# Digraphs (non alpha-numerics)
:digraphs : display table
:h dig : help
i<C-K>e' : enters é
i<C-V>233 : enters é (Unix)
i<C-Q>233 : enters é (Win32)
ga : View hex value of any character
#Deleting non-ascii characters (some invisible)
:%s/[<C-V>128-<C-V>255]//gi : where you have to type the Control-V
:%s/[€-ÿ]//gi : Should see a black square & a dotted y
:%s/[<C-V>128-<C-V>255<C-V>01-<C-V>31]//gi : All pesky non-asciis
:exec "norm /[\x00-\x1f\x80-\xff]/" : same thing
#Pull a non-ascii character onto search bar
yl/<C-R>" :
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# All file completions grouped (for example main_c.c)
:e main_<tab> : tab completes
gf : open file under cursor (normal)
main_<C-X><C-F> : include NAME of file in text (insert mode)
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# Complex Vim
# swap two words
:%s/\<\(on\|off\)\>/\=strpart("offon", 3 * ("off" == submatch(0)), 3)/g
# swap two words
:vnoremap <C-X> <Esc>`.``gvP``P
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# Convert Text File to HTML
:runtime! syntax/2html.vim : convert txt to html
:h 2html
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# VIM has internal grep
:grep some_keyword *.c : get list of all c-files containing keyword
:cn : go to next occurrence
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# Force Syntax coloring for a file that has no extension .pl
:set syntax=perl
# Remove syntax coloring (useful for all sorts of reasons)
:set syntax off
# change coloring scheme (any file in ~vim/vim??/colors)
:colorscheme blue
# Force HTML Syntax highlighting by using a modeline
# vim:ft=html:
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:set noma (non modifiable) : Prevents modifications
:set ro (Read Only) : Protect a file from unintentional writes
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# Sessions (Open a set of files)
gvim file1.c file2.c lib/lib.h lib/lib2.h : load files for "session"
:mksession : Make a Session file (default Session.vim)
:q
gvim -S Session.vim : Reload all files
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#tags (jumping to subroutines/functions)
taglist.vim : popular plugin
:Tlist : display Tags (list of functions)
<C-]> : jump to function under cursor
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# columnise a csv file for display only as may crop wide columns
:let width = 20
:let fill=' ' | while strlen(fill) < width | let fill=fill.fill | endwhile
:%s/\([^;]*\);\=/\=strpart(submatch(1).fill, 0, width)/ge
:%s/\s\+$//ge
# Highlight a particular csv column (put in .vimrc)
function! CSVH(x)
execute 'match Keyword /^\([^,]*,\)\{'.a:x.'}\zs[^,]*/'
execute 'normal ^'.a:x.'f,'
endfunction
command! -nargs=1 Csv :call CSVH(<args>)
# call with
:Csv 5 : highlight fith column
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# folding : hide sections to allow easier comparisons
zf} : fold paragraph using motion
v}zf : fold paragraph using visual
zf'a : fold to mark
zo : open fold
zc : re-close fold
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# displaying "invisible characters"
:set list
:h listchars
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# How to paste "normal commands" w/o entering insert mode
:norm qqy$jq
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# manipulating file names
:h filename-modifiers : help
:w % : write to current file name
:w %:r.cfm : change file extention to .cfm
:!echo %:p : full path & file name
:!echo %:p:h : full path only
<C-R>% : insert filename (insert mode)
"%p : insert filename (normal mode)
/<C-R>% : Search for file name in text
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# delete without destroying default buffer contents
"_d : what you've ALWAYS wanted
"_dw : eg delete word (use blackhole)
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# pull full path name into paste buffer for attachment to email etc
nnoremap <F2> :let @*=expand("%:p")<cr> :unix
nnoremap <F2> :let @*=substitute(expand("%:p"), "/", "\\", "g")<cr> :win32
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# Simple Shell script to rename files w/o leaving vim
$ vim
:r! ls *.c
:%s/\(.*\).c/mv & \1.bla
:w !sh
:q!
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# count words in a text file
g<C-G>
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# example of setting your own highlighting
:syn match DoubleSpace " "
:hi def DoubleSpace guibg=#e0e0e0
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# Programming keys depending on file type
:autocmd bufenter *.tex map <F1> :!latex %<CR>
:autocmd bufenter *.tex map <F2> :!xdvi -hush %<.dvi&<CR>
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# reading Ms-Word documents, requires antiword
:autocmd BufReadPre *.doc set ro
:autocmd BufReadPre *.doc set hlsearch!
:autocmd BufReadPost *.doc %!antiword "%"
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# Just Another Vim Hacker JAVH
vim -c ":%s%s*%Cyrnfr)fcbafbe[Oenz(Zbbyranne%|:%s)[[()])-)Ig|norm Vg?"
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__END__
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If you liked these please return to www.vim.org
and vote for this tip (It does encourage me!!)
Tip 305
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Please email any errors, tips etc to
david@rayninfo.co.uk
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updated version at http://www.rayninfo.co.uk/vimtips.html
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# Information Sources
----------------------------------------
www.vim.org
comp.editors "VIM" newsgroup
VIM Webring
Vim Book
Searchable VIM Doc
VIM FAQ
VimTips in Chinese
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# : commands to neutralise < for HTML display and publish
yy@" to execute following commands
:w!|sav! vimtips.html|:/^__BEGIN__/,/^__END__/s#<#\<#g|:/tip[f]tp/|n
:w!|!tipftp
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