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1 *starting.txt* For Vim version 7.0aa. Last change: 2005 Jan 07
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7
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2
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3
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4 VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar
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5
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6
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7 Starting Vim *starting*
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8
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9 1. Vim arguments |vim-arguments|
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10 2. Vim on the Amiga |starting-amiga|
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11 3. Running eVim |evim-keys|
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12 4. Initialization |initialization|
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13 5. $VIM and $VIMRUNTIME |$VIM|
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14 6. Suspending |suspend|
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15 7. Saving settings |save-settings|
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16 8. Views and Sessions |views-sessions|
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17 9. The viminfo file |viminfo-file|
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18
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19 ==============================================================================
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20 1. Vim arguments *vim-arguments*
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21
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22 Most often, Vim is started to edit a single file with the command
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23
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24 vim filename *-vim*
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25
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26 More generally, Vim is started with:
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27
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28 vim [option | filename] ..
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29
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30 Option arguments and file name arguments can be mixed, and any number of them
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31 can be given. However, watch out for options that take an argument.
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32
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33 For compatibility with various Vi versions, see |cmdline-arguments|.
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34
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35 Exactly one out of the following five items may be used to choose how to
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36 start editing:
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37
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38 *-file* *---*
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39 filename One or more file names. The first one will be the current
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40 file and read into the buffer. The cursor will be positioned
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41 on the first line of the buffer.
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42 To avoid a file name starting with a '-' being interpreted as
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43 an option, precede the arglist with "--", e.g.: >
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44 vim -- -filename
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45 < All arguments after the "--" will be interpreted as file names,
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46 no other options or "+command" argument can follow.
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47
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48 *--*
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49 - This argument can mean two things, depending on whether Ex
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50 mode is to be used.
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51
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52 Starting in Normal mode: >
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53 vim -
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54 ex -v -
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55 < Start editing a new buffer, which is filled with text
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56 that is read from stdin. The commands that would normally be
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57 read from stdin will now be read from stderr. Example: >
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58 find . -name "*.c" -print | vim -
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59 < The buffer will be marked modified, because it contains text
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60 that needs to be saved. Except when in readonly mode, then
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61 the buffer is not marked modified. Example: >
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62 ls | view -
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63 <
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64 Starting in Ex mode: >
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65 ex -
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66 vim -e -
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67 exim -
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68 vim -E
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69 < Start editing in silent mode. See |-s-ex|.
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70
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71 *-t* *-tag*
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72 -t {tag} A tag. "tag" is looked up in the tags file, the associated
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73 file becomes the current file, and the associated command is
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74 executed. Mostly this is used for C programs, in which case
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75 "tag" often is a function name. The effect is that the file
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76 containing that function becomes the current file and the
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77 cursor is positioned on the start of the function (see
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78 |tags|).
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79
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80 *-q* *-qf*
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81 -q [errorfile] QuickFix mode. The file with the name [errorfile] is read
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82 and the first error is displayed. See |quickfix|.
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83 If [errorfile] is not given, the 'errorfile' option is used
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84 for the file name. See 'errorfile' for the default value.
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85 {not in Vi}
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86
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87 (nothing) Without one of the four items above, Vim will start editing a
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88 new buffer. It's empty and doesn't have a file name.
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89
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90
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91 The startup mode can be changed by using another name instead of "vim", which
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92 is equal to giving options:
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93 ex vim -e Start in Ex mode (see |Ex-mode|). *ex*
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94 exim vim -E Start in improved Ex mode (see |Ex-mode|). *exim*
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95 (normally not installed)
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96 view vim -R Start in read-only mode (see |-R|). *view*
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97 gvim vim -g Start the GUI (see |gui|). *gvim*
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98 gex vim -eg Start the GUI in Ex mode. *gex*
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99 gview vim -Rg Start the GUI in read-only mode. *gview*
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100 rvim vim -Z Like "vim", but in restricted mode (see |-Z|) *rvim*
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101 rview vim -RZ Like "view", but in restricted mode. *rview*
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102 rgvim vim -gZ Like "gvim", but in restricted mode. *rgvim*
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103 rgview vim -RgZ Like "gview", but in restricted mode. *rgview*
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104 evim vim -y Easy Vim: set 'insertmode' (see |-y|) *evim*
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105 eview vim -yR Like "evim" in read-only mode *eview*
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106 vimdiff vim -d Start in diff mode |diff-mode|
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107 gvimdiff vim -gd Start in diff mode |diff-mode|
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108
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109 Additional characters may follow, they are ignored. For example, you can have
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110 "gvim-5" to start the GUI. You must have an executable by that name then, of
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111 course.
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112
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113 On Unix, you would normally have one executable called Vim, and links from the
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114 different startup-names to that executable. If your system does not support
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115 links and you do not want to have several copies of the executable, you could
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116 use an alias instead. For example: >
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117 alias view vim -R
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118 alias gvim vim -g
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119 <
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120 *startup-options*
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121 The option arguments may be given in any order. Single-letter options can be
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122 combined after one dash. There can be no option arguments after the "--"
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123 argument.
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124
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125 On VMS all option arguments are assumed to be lowercase, unless preceded with
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126 a slash. Thus "-R" means recovery and "-/R" readonly.
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127
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128 --help *-h* *--help*
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129 -h Give usage (help) message and exit. {not in Vi}
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130 See |info-message| about capturing the text.
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131
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132 *--version*
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133 --version Print version information and exit. Same output as for
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134 |:version| command. {not in Vi}
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135 See |info-message| about capturing the text.
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136
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137 *--noplugin*
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138 --noplugin Skip loading plugins. Resets the 'loadplugins' option.
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139 {not in Vi}
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140 Note that the |-u| argument may also disable loading plugins:
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141 argument load vimrc files load plugins ~
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142 (nothing) yes yes
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143 -u NONE no no
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144 -u NORC no yes
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145 --noplugin yes no
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146
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147 *--literal*
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148 --literal Take file names literally, don't expand wildcards. Not needed
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149 for Unix, because Vim always takes file names literally (the
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150 shell expands wildcards).
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151 Applies to all the names, also the ones that come before this
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152 argument.
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153
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154 *-+*
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155 +[num] The cursor will be positioned on line "num" for the first
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156 file being edited. If "num" is missing, the cursor will be
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157 positioned on the last line.
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158
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159 *-+/*
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160 +/{pat} The cursor will be positioned on the first line containing
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161 "pat" in the first file being edited (see |pattern| for the
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162 available search patterns).
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163
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164 +{command} *-+c* *-c*
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165 -c {command} {command} will be executed after the first file has been
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166 read (and after autocommands and modelines for that file have
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167 been processed). "command" is interpreted as an Ex command.
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168 If the "command" contains spaces, it must be enclosed in
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169 double quotes (this depends on the shell that is used).
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170 Example: >
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171 vim "+set si" main.c
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172 vim "+find stdio.h"
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173 vim -c "set ff=dos" -c wq mine.mak
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174 <
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175 Note: You can use up to 10 "+" or "-c" arguments in a Vim
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176 command. They are executed in the order given. A "-S"
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177 argument counts as a "-c" argument as well.
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178 {Vi only allows one command}
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179
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180 --cmd {command} *--cmd*
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181 {command} will be executed before processing any vimrc file.
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182 Otherwise it acts like -c {command}. You can use up to 10 of
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183 these commands, independently from "-c" commands.
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184 {not in Vi}
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185
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186 *-S*
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187 -S {file} The {file} will be sourced after the first file has been read.
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188 This is an easy way to do the equivalent of: >
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189 -c "source {file}"
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190 < It can be mixed with "-c" arguments and repeated like "-c".
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191 The limit of 10 "-c" arguments applies here as well.
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192 {file} cannot start with a "-".
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193 {not in Vi}
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194
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195 -S Works like "-S Session.vim". Only when used as the last
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196 argument or when another "-" option follows.
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197
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198 *-r*
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199 -r Recovery mode. Without a file name argument, a list of
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200 existing swap files is given. With a file name, a swap file
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201 is read to recover a crashed editing session. See
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202 |crash-recovery|.
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203
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204 *-L*
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205 -L Same as -r. {only in some versions of Vi: "List recoverable
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206 edit sessions"}
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207
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208 *-R*
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209 -R Readonly mode. The 'readonly' option will be set for all the
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210 files being edited. You can still edit the buffer, but will
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211 be prevented from accidentally overwriting a file. If you
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212 forgot that you are in View mode and did make some changes,
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213 you can overwrite a file by adding an exclamation mark to
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214 the Ex command, as in ":w!". The 'readonly' option can be
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215 reset with ":set noro" (see the options chapter, |options|).
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216 Subsequent edits will not be done in readonly mode. Calling
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217 the executable "view" has the same effect as the -R argument.
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218 The 'updatecount' option will be set to 10000, meaning that
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219 the swap file will not be updated automatically very often.
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220
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221 *-m*
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222 -m Modifications not allowed to be written. The 'write' option
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223 will be reset, so that writing files is disabled. However,
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224 the 'write' option can be set to enable writing again.
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225 {not in Vi}
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226
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227 *-M*
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228 -M Modifications not allowed. The 'modifiable' option will be
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229 reset, so that changes are not allowed. The 'write' option
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230 will be reset, so that writing files is disabled. However,
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231 the 'modifiable' and 'write' options can be set to enable
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232 changes and writing.
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233 {not in Vi}
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234
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235 *-Z* *restricted-mode* *E145*
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236 -Z Restricted mode. All commands that make use of an external
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237 shell are disabled. This includes suspending with CTRL-Z,
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238 ":sh", filtering, the system() function, backtick expansion,
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239 etc.
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240 {not in Vi}
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241
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242 *-g*
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243 -g Start Vim in GUI mode. See |gui|. {not in Vi}
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244
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245 *-v*
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246 -v Start Ex in Vi mode. Only makes a difference when the
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247 executable is called "ex" or "gvim". For gvim the GUI is not
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248 started if possible.
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249
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250 *-e*
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251 -e Start Vim in Ex mode |Q|. Only makes a difference when the
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252 executable is not called "ex".
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253
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254 *-E*
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255 -E Start Vim in improved Ex mode |gQ|. Only makes a difference
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256 when the executable is not called "exim".
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257 {not in Vi}
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258
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259 *-s-ex*
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260 -s Silent or batch mode. Only when Vim was started as "ex" or
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261 when preceded with the "-e" argument. Otherwise see |-s|,
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262 which does take an argument while this use of "-s" doesn't.
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263 To be used when Vim is used to execute Ex commands from a file
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264 instead of a terminal. Switches off most prompts and
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265 informative messages. Also warnings and error messages.
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266 But ":print" output is displayed. And when 'verbose' is
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267 non-zero messages are printed (for debugging).
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268 If Vim appears to be stuck try typing "qa!<Enter>". You don't
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269 get a prompt thus you can't see Vim is waiting for you to type
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270 something.
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271 Initializations are skipped (except the ones given with the
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272 "-u" argument).
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273 Example: >
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274 vim -e -s < thefilter thefile
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275 <
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276 *-b*
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277 -b Binary mode. File I/O will only recognize <NL> to separate
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278 lines. The 'expandtab' option will be reset. The 'textwidth'
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279 option is set to 0. 'modeline' is reset. The 'binary' option
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280 is set. This is done after reading the vimrc/exrc files but
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281 before reading any file in the arglist. See also
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282 |edit-binary|. {not in Vi}
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283
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284 *-l*
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285 -l Lisp mode. Sets the 'lisp' and 'showmatch' options on.
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286
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287 *-A*
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288 -A Arabic mode. Sets the 'arabic' option on. (Only when
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289 compiled with the |+arabic| features (which include
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290 |+rightleft|), otherwise Vim gives an error message
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291 and exits. {not in Vi}
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292
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293 *-F*
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294 -F Farsi mode. Sets the 'fkmap' and 'rightleft' options on.
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295 (Only when compiled with |+rightleft| and |+farsi| features,
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296 otherwise Vim gives an error message and exits). {not in Vi}
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297
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298 *-H*
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299 -H Hebrew mode. Sets the 'hkmap' and 'rightleft' options on.
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300 (Only when compiled with the |+rightleft| feature, otherwise
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301 Vim gives an error message and exits). {not in Vi}
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302
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303 *-V* *verbose*
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304 -V[N] Verbose. Sets the 'verbose' option to [N] (default: 10).
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305 Messages will be given for each file that is ":source"d and
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306 for reading or writing a viminfo file. Can be used to find
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307 out what is happening upon startup and exit. {not in Vi}
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308
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309 *-D*
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310 -D Debugging. Go to debugging mode when executing the first
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311 command from a script. |debug-mode|
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312 {not available when compiled without the |+eval| feature}
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313 {not in Vi}
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314
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315 *-C*
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316 -C Compatible mode. Sets the 'compatible' option. You can use
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317 this to get 'compatible', even though a .vimrc file exists.
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318 But the command ":set nocompatible" overrules it anyway.
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319 Also see |compatible-default|. {not in Vi}
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320
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321 *-N*
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322 -N Not compatible mode. Resets the 'compatible' option. You can
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323 use this to get 'nocompatible', when there is no .vimrc file.
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324 Also see |compatible-default|. {not in Vi}
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325
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326 *-y* *easy*
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327 -y Easy mode. Implied for |evim| and |eview|. Starts with
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328 'insertmode' set and behaves like a click-and-type editor.
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329 This sources the script $VIMRUNTIME/evim.vim. Mappings are
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330 set up to work like most click-and-type editors, see
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331 |evim-keys|. The GUI is started when available.
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332 {not in Vi}
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333
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334 *-n*
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335 -n No swap file will be used. Recovery after a crash will be
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336 impossible. Handy if you want to view or edit a file on a
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337 very slow medium (e.g., a floppy).
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338 Can also be done with ":set updatecount=0". You can switch it
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339 on again by setting the 'updatecount' option to some value,
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340 e.g., ":set uc=100".
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341 'updatecount' is set to 0 AFTER executing commands from a
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342 vimrc file, but before the GUI initializations. Thus it
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343 overrides a setting for 'updatecount' in a vimrc file, but not
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344 in a gvimrc file. See |startup|.
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345 When you want to reduce accesses to the disk (e.g., for a
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346 laptop), don't use "-n", but set 'updatetime' and
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347 'updatecount' to very big numbers, and type ":preserve" when
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348 you want to save your work. This way you keep the possibility
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349 for crash recovery.
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350 {not in Vi}
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351
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352 *-o*
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353 -o[N] Open N windows, split horizontally. If [N] is not given,
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354 one window is opened for every file given as argument. If
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355 there is not enough room, only the first few files get a
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356 window. If there are more windows than arguments, the last
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357 few windows will be editing an empty file.
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358 {not in Vi}
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359
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360 *-O*
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361 -O[N] Open N windows, split vertically. Otherwise it's like -o.
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362 If both the -o and the -O option are given, the last one on
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363 the command line determines how the windows will be split.
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364 {not in Vi}
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365
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366 *-T*
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367 -T {terminal} Set the terminal type to "terminal". This influences the
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368 codes that Vim will send to your terminal. This is normally
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369 not needed, because Vim will be able to find out what type
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370 of terminal you are using (See |terminal-info|). {not in Vi}
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371
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372 *-d*
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373 -d Start in diff mode, like |vimdiff|.
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374 {not in Vi} {not available when compiled without the |+diff|
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375 feature}
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376
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377 -d {device} Only on the Amiga and when not compiled with the |+diff|
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378 feature. Works like "-dev".
|
|
|
379 *-dev*
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|
|
380 -dev {device} Only on the Amiga: The {device} is opened to be used for
|
|
|
381 editing.
|
|
|
382 Normally you would use this to set the window position and
|
|
|
383 size: "-d con:x/y/width/height", e.g.,
|
|
|
384 "-d con:30/10/600/150". But you can also use it to start
|
|
|
385 editing on another device, e.g., AUX:. {not in Vi}
|
|
|
386 *-f*
|
|
|
387 -f Amiga: Do not restart Vim to open a new window. This
|
|
|
388 option should be used when Vim is started by a program that
|
|
|
389 will wait for the edit session to finish (e.g., mail or
|
|
|
390 readnews). See |amiga-window|.
|
|
|
391
|
|
|
392 GUI: Do not disconnect from the program that started Vim.
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|
393 'f' stands for "foreground". If omitted, the GUI forks a new
|
|
|
394 process and exits the current one. "-f" should be used when
|
|
|
395 gvim is started by a program that will wait for the edit
|
|
|
396 session to finish (e.g., mail or readnews). If you want gvim
|
|
|
397 never to fork, include 'f' in 'guioptions' in your .gvimrc.
|
|
|
398 Careful: You can use "-gf" to start the GUI in the foreground,
|
|
|
399 but "-fg" is used to specify the foreground color. |gui-fork|
|
|
|
400 {not in Vi}
|
|
|
401
|
|
|
402 *--nofork*
|
|
|
403 --nofork GUI: Do not fork. Same as |-f|.
|
|
|
404 *-u* *E282*
|
|
|
405 -u {vimrc} The file {vimrc} is read for initializations. Most other
|
|
|
406 initializations are skipped; see |initialization|. This can
|
|
|
407 be used to start Vim in a special mode, with special
|
|
|
408 mappings and settings. A shell alias can be used to make
|
|
|
409 this easy to use. For example: >
|
|
|
410 alias vimc vim -u ~/.c_vimrc !*
|
|
|
411 < Also consider using autocommands; see |autocommand|.
|
|
|
412 When {vimrc} is equal to "NONE" (all uppercase), all
|
|
|
413 initializations from files and environment variables are
|
|
|
414 skipped, including reading the .gvimrc file when the GUI
|
|
|
415 starts. Loading plugins is also skipped.
|
|
|
416 When {vimrc} is equal to "NORC" (all uppercase), this has the
|
|
|
417 same effect as "NONE", but loading plugins is not skipped.
|
|
|
418 Using the "-u" argument has the side effect that the
|
|
|
419 'compatible' option will be on by default. This can have
|
|
|
420 unexpected effects. See |'compatible'|.
|
|
|
421 {not in Vi}
|
|
|
422
|
|
|
423 *-U* *E230*
|
|
|
424 -U {gvimrc} The file "gvimrc" is read for initializations when the GUI
|
|
|
425 starts. Other GUI initializations are skipped. When {gvimrc}
|
|
43
|
426 is equal to "NONE", no file is read for GUI initializations at
|
|
|
427 all. |gui-init|
|
|
7
|
428 Exception: Reading the system-wide menu file is always done.
|
|
|
429 {not in Vi}
|
|
|
430
|
|
|
431 *-i*
|
|
|
432 -i {viminfo} The file "viminfo" is used instead of the default viminfo
|
|
|
433 file. If the name "NONE" is used (all uppercase), no viminfo
|
|
|
434 file is read or written, even if 'viminfo' is set or when
|
|
|
435 ":rv" or ":wv" are used. See also |viminfo-file|.
|
|
|
436 {not in Vi}
|
|
|
437
|
|
|
438 *-x*
|
|
|
439 -x Use encryption to read/write files. Will prompt for a key,
|
|
|
440 which is then stored in the 'key' option. All writes will
|
|
|
441 then use this key to encrypt the text. The '-x' argument is
|
|
|
442 not needed when reading a file, because there is a check if
|
|
|
443 the file that is being read has been encrypted, and Vim asks
|
|
|
444 for a key automatically. |encryption|
|
|
|
445
|
|
|
446 *-X*
|
|
|
447 -X Do not try connecting to the X server to get the current
|
|
|
448 window title and copy/paste using the X clipboard. This
|
|
|
449 avoids a long startup time when running Vim in a terminal
|
|
|
450 emulator and the connection to the X server is slow.
|
|
|
451 Only makes a difference on Unix or VMS, when compiled with the
|
|
|
452 |+X11| feature. Otherwise it's ignored.
|
|
|
453 To disable the connection only for specific terminals, see the
|
|
|
454 'clipboard' option.
|
|
|
455 When the X11 Session Management Protocol (XSMP) handler has
|
|
|
456 been built in, the -X option also disables that connection as
|
|
|
457 it, too, may have undesirable delays.
|
|
|
458 When the connection is desired later anyway (e.g., for
|
|
|
459 client-server messages), call the |serverlist()| function.
|
|
|
460 This does not enable the XSMP handler though.
|
|
|
461 {not in Vi}
|
|
|
462
|
|
|
463 *-s*
|
|
|
464 -s {scriptin} The script file "scriptin" is read. The characters in the
|
|
|
465 file are interpreted as if you had typed them. The same can
|
|
|
466 be done with the command ":source! {scriptin}". If the end
|
|
|
467 of the file is reached before the editor exits, further
|
|
|
468 characters are read from the keyboard. Only works when not
|
|
|
469 started in Ex mode, see |-s-ex|. See also |complex-repeat|.
|
|
|
470 {not in Vi}
|
|
|
471
|
|
|
472 *-w*
|
|
|
473 -w {scriptout} All the characters that you type are recorded in the file
|
|
|
474 "scriptout", until you exit Vim. This is useful if you want
|
|
|
475 to create a script file to be used with "vim -s" or
|
|
|
476 ":source!". When the "scriptout" file already exists, new
|
|
|
477 characters are appended. See also |complex-repeat|.
|
|
|
478 {not in Vi}
|
|
|
479
|
|
|
480 *-W*
|
|
|
481 -W {scriptout} Like -w, but do not append, overwrite an existing file.
|
|
|
482 {not in Vi}
|
|
|
483
|
|
|
484 *-w_nr*
|
|
|
485 -w{number} Does nothing. This was included for Vi-compatibility. In Vi
|
|
|
486 it sets the 'window' option, which is not implemented in Vim.
|
|
|
487
|
|
|
488 --remote [+{cmd}] {file} ...
|
|
|
489 Open the {file} in another Vim that functions as a server.
|
|
|
490 Any non-file arguments must come before this.
|
|
|
491 See |--remote|. {not in Vi}
|
|
|
492
|
|
|
493 --remote-silent [+{cmd}] {file} ...
|
|
|
494 Like --remote, but don't complain if there is no server.
|
|
|
495 See |--remote-silent|. {not in Vi}
|
|
|
496
|
|
|
497 --remote-wait [+{cmd}] {file} ...
|
|
|
498 Like --remote, but wait for the server to finish editing the
|
|
|
499 file(s).
|
|
|
500 See |--remote-wait|. {not in Vi}
|
|
|
501
|
|
|
502 --remote-wait-silent [+{cmd}] {file} ...
|
|
|
503 Like --remote-wait, but don't complain if there is no server.
|
|
|
504 See |--remote-wait-silent|. {not in Vi}
|
|
|
505
|
|
|
506 --servername {name}
|
|
|
507 Specify the name of the Vim server to send to or to become.
|
|
|
508 See |--servername|. {not in Vi}
|
|
|
509
|
|
|
510 --remote-send {keys}
|
|
|
511 Send {keys} to a Vim server and exit.
|
|
|
512 See |--remote-send|. {not in Vi}
|
|
|
513
|
|
|
514 --remote-expr {expr}
|
|
|
515 Evaluate {expr} in another Vim that functions as a server.
|
|
|
516 The result is printed on stdout.
|
|
|
517 See |--remote-expr|. {not in Vi}
|
|
|
518
|
|
|
519 --serverlist Output a list of Vim server names and exit. See
|
|
|
520 See |--serverlist|. {not in Vi}
|
|
|
521
|
|
|
522 --socketid {id} *--socketid*
|
|
|
523 GTK+ GUI Vim only. Make gvim try to use GtkPlug mechanism, so
|
|
|
524 that it runs inside another window. See |gui-gtk-socketid|
|
|
|
525 for details. {not in Vi}
|
|
|
526
|
|
|
527 --echo-wid *--echo-wid*
|
|
|
528 GTK+ GUI Vim only. Make gvim echo the Window ID on stdout,
|
|
|
529 which can be used to run gvim in a kpart widget. The format
|
|
|
530 of the output is: >
|
|
|
531 WID: 12345\n
|
|
|
532 < {not in Vi}
|
|
|
533
|
|
|
534 --role {role} *--role*
|
|
|
535 GTK+ 2 GUI only. Set the role of the main window to {role}.
|
|
|
536 The window role can be used by a window manager to uniquely
|
|
|
537 identify a window, in order to restore window placement and
|
|
|
538 such. The --role argument is passed automatically when
|
|
|
539 restoring the session on login. See |gui-gnome-session|
|
|
|
540 {not in Vi}
|
|
|
541
|
|
|
542 -P {parent-title} *-P* *MDI* *E671* *E672*
|
|
|
543 Win32 only: Specify the title of the parent application. When
|
|
|
544 possible, Vim will run in an MDI window inside the
|
|
|
545 application.
|
|
|
546 {parent-title} must appear in the window title of the parent
|
|
|
547 application. Make sure that it is specific enough.
|
|
|
548 Note that the implementation is still primitive. It won't
|
|
|
549 work with all applications and the menu doesn't work.
|
|
|
550
|
|
|
551 -nb *-nb*
|
|
|
552 -nb={fname}
|
|
|
553 -nb:{hostname}:{addr}:{password}
|
|
|
554 Attempt connecting to Netbeans and become an editor server for
|
|
|
555 it. The second form specifies a file to read connection info
|
|
|
556 from. The third form specifies the hostname, address and
|
|
|
557 password for connecting to Netbeans. |netbeans-run|
|
|
|
558
|
|
|
559 Example for using a script file to change a name in several files:
|
|
|
560 Create a file "subs.vi" containing substitute commands and a :wq
|
|
|
561 command: >
|
|
|
562 :%s/Jones/Smith/g
|
|
|
563 :%s/Allen/Peter/g
|
|
|
564 :wq
|
|
|
565 <
|
|
|
566 Execute Vim on all files you want to change: >
|
|
|
567
|
|
|
568 foreach i ( *.let ) vim -s subs.vi $i
|
|
|
569
|
|
|
570 If the executable is called "view", Vim will start in Readonly mode. This is
|
|
|
571 useful if you can make a hard or symbolic link from "view" to "vim".
|
|
|
572 Starting in Readonly mode can also be done with "vim -R".
|
|
|
573
|
|
|
574 If the executable is called "ex", Vim will start in "Ex" mode. This means it
|
|
|
575 will accept only ":" commands. But when the "-v" argument is given, Vim will
|
|
|
576 start in Normal mode anyway.
|
|
|
577
|
|
|
578 Additional arguments are available on unix like systems when compiled with
|
|
|
579 X11 GUI support. See |gui-resources|.
|
|
|
580
|
|
|
581 ==============================================================================
|
|
|
582 2. Vim on the Amiga *starting-amiga*
|
|
|
583
|
|
|
584 Starting Vim from the Workbench *workbench*
|
|
|
585 -------------------------------
|
|
|
586
|
|
|
587 Vim can be started from the Workbench by clicking on its icon twice. It will
|
|
|
588 then start with an empty buffer.
|
|
|
589
|
|
|
590 Vim can be started to edit one or more files by using a "Project" icon. The
|
|
|
591 "Default Tool" of the icon must be the full pathname of the Vim executable.
|
|
|
592 The name of the ".info" file must be the same as the name of the text file.
|
|
|
593 By clicking on this icon twice, Vim will be started with the file name as
|
|
|
594 current file name, which will be read into the buffer (if it exists). You can
|
|
|
595 edit multiple files by pressing the shift key while clicking on icons, and
|
|
|
596 clicking twice on the last one. The "Default Tool" for all these icons must
|
|
|
597 be the same.
|
|
|
598
|
|
|
599 It is not possible to give arguments to Vim, other than file names, from the
|
|
|
600 workbench.
|
|
|
601
|
|
|
602 Vim window *amiga-window*
|
|
|
603 ----------
|
|
|
604
|
|
|
605 Vim will run in the CLI window where it was started. If Vim was started with
|
|
|
606 the "run" or "runback" command, or if Vim was started from the workbench, it
|
|
|
607 will open a window of its own.
|
|
|
608
|
|
|
609 Technical detail:
|
|
|
610 To open the new window a little trick is used. As soon as Vim
|
|
|
611 recognizes that it does not run in a normal CLI window, it will
|
|
|
612 create a script file in "t:". This script file contains the same
|
|
|
613 command as the one Vim was started with, and an "endcli" command.
|
|
|
614 This script file is then executed with a "newcli" command (the "c:run"
|
|
|
615 and "c:newcli" commands are required for this to work). The script
|
|
|
616 file will hang around until reboot, or until you delete it. This
|
|
|
617 method is required to get the ":sh" and ":!" commands to work
|
|
|
618 correctly. But when Vim was started with the -f option (foreground
|
|
|
619 mode), this method is not used. The reason for this is that
|
|
|
620 when a program starts Vim with the -f option it will wait for Vim to
|
|
|
621 exit. With the script trick, the calling program does not know when
|
|
|
622 Vim exits. The -f option can be used when Vim is started by a mail
|
|
|
623 program which also waits for the edit session to finish. As a
|
|
|
624 consequence, the ":sh" and ":!" commands are not available when the
|
|
|
625 -f option is used.
|
|
|
626
|
|
|
627 Vim will automatically recognize the window size and react to window
|
|
|
628 resizing. Under Amiga DOS 1.3, it is advised to use the fastfonts program,
|
|
|
629 "FF", to speed up display redrawing.
|
|
|
630
|
|
|
631 ==============================================================================
|
|
|
632 3. Running eVim *evim-keys*
|
|
|
633
|
|
|
634 EVim runs Vim as click-and-type editor. This is very unlike the original Vi
|
|
|
635 idea. But it helps for people that don't use Vim often enough to learn the
|
|
|
636 commands. Hopefully they will find out that learning to use Normal mode
|
|
|
637 commands will make their editing much more effective.
|
|
|
638
|
|
|
639 In Evim these options are changed from their default value:
|
|
|
640
|
|
|
641 :set nocompatible Use Vim improvements
|
|
|
642 :set insertmode Remain in Insert mode most of the time
|
|
|
643 :set hidden Keep invisible buffers loaded
|
|
|
644 :set backup Keep backup files (not for VMS)
|
|
|
645 :set backspace=2 Backspace over everything
|
|
|
646 :set autoindent auto-indent new lines
|
|
|
647 :set history=50 keep 50 lines of Ex commands
|
|
|
648 :set ruler show the cursor position
|
|
|
649 :set incsearch show matches halfway typing a pattern
|
|
|
650 :set mouse=a use the mouse in all modes
|
|
|
651 :set hlsearch highlight all matches for a search pattern
|
|
|
652 :set whichwrap+=<,>,[,] <Left> and <Right> wrap around line breaks
|
|
|
653 :set guioptions-=a non-Unix only: don't do auto-select
|
|
|
654
|
|
|
655 Key mappings:
|
|
|
656 <Down> moves by screen lines rather than file lines
|
|
|
657 <Up> idem
|
|
|
658 Q does "gq", formatting, instead of Ex mode
|
|
|
659 <BS> in Visual mode: deletes the selection
|
|
|
660 CTRL-X in Visual mode: Cut to clipboard
|
|
|
661 <S-Del> idem
|
|
|
662 CTRL-C in Visual mode: Copy to clipboard
|
|
|
663 <C-Insert> idem
|
|
|
664 CTRL-V Pastes from the clipboard (in any mode)
|
|
|
665 <S-Insert> idem
|
|
|
666 CTRL-Q do what CTRL-V used to do
|
|
|
667 CTRL-Z undo
|
|
|
668 CTRL-Y redo
|
|
|
669 <M-Space> system menu
|
|
|
670 CTRL-A select all
|
|
|
671 <C-Tab> next window, CTRL-W w
|
|
|
672 <C-F4> close window, CTRL-W c
|
|
|
673
|
|
|
674 Additionally:
|
|
|
675 - ":behave mswin" is used |:behave|
|
|
|
676 - syntax highlighting is enabled
|
|
|
677 - filetype detection is enabled, filetype plugins and indenting is enabled
|
|
|
678 - in a text file 'textwidth' is set to 78
|
|
|
679
|
|
|
680 One hint: If you want to go to Normal mode to be able to type a sequence of
|
|
|
681 commands, use CTRL-L. |i_CTRL-L|
|
|
|
682
|
|
|
683 ==============================================================================
|
|
|
684 4. Initialization *initialization* *startup*
|
|
|
685
|
|
|
686 This section is about the non-GUI version of Vim. See |gui-fork| for
|
|
|
687 additional initialization when starting the GUI.
|
|
|
688
|
|
|
689 At startup, Vim checks environment variables and files and sets values
|
|
|
690 accordingly. Vim proceeds in this order:
|
|
|
691
|
|
|
692 1. Set the 'shell' and 'term' option *SHELL* *COMSPEC* *TERM*
|
|
|
693 The environment variable SHELL, if it exists, is used to set the
|
|
|
694 'shell' option. On MS-DOS and Win32, the COMSPEC variable is used
|
|
|
695 if SHELL is not set.
|
|
|
696 The environment variable TERM, if it exists, is used to set the 'term'
|
|
|
697 option.
|
|
|
698
|
|
|
699 2. Process the arguments
|
|
|
700 The options and file names from the command that start Vim are
|
|
|
701 inspected. Buffers are created for all files (but not loaded yet).
|
|
|
702
|
|
|
703 3. Execute Ex commands, from environment variables and/or files
|
|
|
704 An environment variable is read as one Ex command line, where multiple
|
|
|
705 commands must be separated with '|' or "<NL>".
|
|
|
706 *vimrc* *exrc*
|
|
|
707 A file that contains initialization commands is called a "vimrc" file.
|
|
|
708 Each line in a vimrc file is executed as an Ex command line. It is
|
|
|
709 sometimes also referred to as "exrc" file. They are the same type of
|
|
|
710 file, but "exrc" is what Vi always used, "vimrc" is a Vim specific
|
|
|
711 name. Also see |vimrc-intro|.
|
|
|
712
|
|
|
713 Recommended place for your personal initializations:
|
|
|
714 Unix $HOME/.vimrc
|
|
|
715 OS/2 $HOME/.vimrc or $VIM/.vimrc (or _vimrc)
|
|
|
716 MS-DOS and Win32 $HOME/_vimrc or $VIM/_vimrc
|
|
|
717 Amiga s:.vimrc or $VIM/.vimrc
|
|
|
718
|
|
|
719 If Vim was started with "-u filename", the file "filename" is used.
|
|
|
720 All following initializations until 4. are skipped.
|
|
|
721 "vim -u NORC" can be used to skip these initializations without
|
|
|
722 reading a file. "vim -u NONE" also skips loading plugins. |-u|
|
|
|
723
|
|
|
724 If Vim was started in Ex mode with the "-s" argument, all following
|
|
|
725 initializations until 4. are skipped. Only the "-u" option is
|
|
|
726 interpreted.
|
|
|
727 *evim.vim*
|
|
|
728 a. If vim was started as |evim| or |eview| or with the |-y| argument, the
|
|
|
729 script $VIMRUNTIME/evim.vim will be loaded.
|
|
|
730 *system-vimrc*
|
|
|
731 b. For Unix, MS-DOS, MS-Windows, OS/2, VMS, Macintosh, RISC-OS and Amiga
|
|
|
732 the system vimrc file is read for initializations. The path of this
|
|
|
733 file is shown with the ":version" command. Mostly it's "$VIM/vimrc".
|
|
|
734 Note that this file is ALWAYS read in 'compatible' mode, since the
|
|
|
735 automatic resetting of 'compatible' is only done later. Add a ":set
|
|
|
736 nocp" command if you like.
|
|
|
737
|
|
|
738 *VIMINIT* *.vimrc* *_vimrc* *EXINIT* *.exrc* *_exrc*
|
|
|
739 c. Four places are searched for initializations. The first that exists
|
|
|
740 is used, the others are ignored.
|
|
|
741 - The environment variable VIMINIT (see also |compatible-default|) (*)
|
|
|
742 The value of $VIMINIT is used as an Ex command line.
|
|
|
743 - The user vimrc file(s):
|
|
|
744 "$HOME/.vimrc" (for Unix and OS/2) (*)
|
|
|
745 "s:.vimrc" (for Amiga) (*)
|
|
|
746 "home:.vimrc" (for Amiga) (*)
|
|
|
747 "$VIM/.vimrc" (for OS/2 and Amiga) (*)
|
|
|
748 "$HOME/_vimrc" (for MS-DOS and Win32) (*)
|
|
17
|
749 "$VIM/_vimrc" (for MS-DOS and Win32) (*)
|
|
7
|
750 Note: For Unix, OS/2 and Amiga, when ".vimrc" does not exist,
|
|
|
751 "_vimrc" is also tried, in case an MS-DOS compatible file
|
|
|
752 system is used. For MS-DOS and Win32 ".vimrc" is checked
|
|
|
753 after "_vimrc", in case long file names are used.
|
|
|
754 Note: For MS-DOS and Win32, "$HOME" is checked first. If no
|
|
|
755 "_vimrc" or ".vimrc" is found there, "$VIM" is tried.
|
|
|
756 See |$VIM| for when $VIM is not set.
|
|
|
757 - The environment variable EXINIT.
|
|
|
758 The value of $EXINIT is used as an Ex command line.
|
|
|
759 - The user exrc file(s). Same as for the user vimrc file, but with
|
|
|
760 "vimrc" replaced by "exrc". But without the (*)!
|
|
|
761
|
|
|
762 d. If the 'exrc' option is on (which is not the default), the current
|
|
|
763 directory is searched for four files. The first that exists is used,
|
|
|
764 the others are ignored.
|
|
|
765 - The file ".vimrc" (for Unix, Amiga and OS/2) (*)
|
|
|
766 "_vimrc" (for MS-DOS and Win32) (*)
|
|
|
767 - The file "_vimrc" (for Unix, Amiga and OS/2) (*)
|
|
|
768 ".vimrc" (for MS-DOS and Win32) (*)
|
|
|
769 - The file ".exrc" (for Unix, Amiga and OS/2)
|
|
|
770 "_exrc" (for MS-DOS and Win32)
|
|
|
771 - The file "_exrc" (for Unix, Amiga and OS/2)
|
|
|
772 ".exrc" (for MS-DOS and Win32)
|
|
|
773
|
|
|
774 (*) Using this file or environment variable will cause 'compatible' to be
|
|
|
775 off by default. See |compatible-default|.
|
|
|
776
|
|
|
777 4. Load the plugin scripts. *load-plugins*
|
|
|
778 This does the same as the command: >
|
|
|
779 :runtime! plugin/*.vim
|
|
|
780 < The result is that all directories in the 'runtimepath' option will be
|
|
|
781 searched for the "plugin" sub-directory and all files ending in ".vim"
|
|
|
782 will be sourced (in alphabetical order per directory).
|
|
|
783 Loading plugins won't be done when:
|
|
|
784 - The 'loadplugins' option was reset in a vimrc file.
|
|
|
785 - The |--noplugin| command line argument is used.
|
|
|
786 - The "-u NONE" command line argument is used |-u|.
|
|
|
787 - When Vim was compiled without the |+eval| feature.
|
|
|
788 Note that using "-c set noloadplugins" doesn't work, because the
|
|
|
789 commands from the command line have not been executed yet.
|
|
|
790
|
|
|
791 5. Set 'shellpipe' and 'shellredir'
|
|
|
792 The 'shellpipe' and 'shellredir' options are set according to the
|
|
|
793 value of the 'shell' option, unless they have been set before.
|
|
|
794 This means that Vim will figure out the values of 'shellpipe' and
|
|
|
795 'shellredir' for you, unless you have set them yourself.
|
|
|
796
|
|
|
797 6. Set 'updatecount' to zero, if "-n" command argument used
|
|
|
798
|
|
|
799 7. Set binary options
|
|
|
800 If the "-b" flag was given to Vim, the options for binary editing will
|
|
|
801 be set now. See |-b|.
|
|
|
802
|
|
|
803 8. Perform GUI initializations
|
|
|
804 Only when starting "gvim", the GUI initializations will be done. See
|
|
|
805 |gui-init|.
|
|
|
806
|
|
|
807 9. Read the viminfo file
|
|
|
808 If the 'viminfo' option is not empty, the viminfo file is read. See
|
|
|
809 |viminfo-file|.
|
|
|
810
|
|
|
811 10. Read the quickfix file
|
|
|
812 If the "-q" flag was given to Vim, the quickfix file is read. If this
|
|
|
813 fails, Vim exits.
|
|
|
814
|
|
|
815 11. Open all windows
|
|
|
816 When the |-o| flag was given, windows will be opened (but not
|
|
|
817 displayed yet).
|
|
|
818 When switching screens, it happens now. Redrawing starts.
|
|
|
819 If the "-q" flag was given to Vim, the first error is jumped to.
|
|
|
820 Buffers for all windows will be loaded.
|
|
|
821
|
|
|
822 12. Execute startup commands
|
|
|
823 If a "-t" flag was given to Vim, the tag is jumped to.
|
|
|
824 The commands given with the |-c| and |+cmd| arguments are executed.
|
|
|
825 If the 'insertmode' option is set, Insert mode is entered.
|
|
|
826 The |VimEnter| autocommands are executed.
|
|
|
827
|
|
|
828 Some hints on using initializations:
|
|
|
829
|
|
|
830 Standard setup:
|
|
|
831 Create a vimrc file to set the default settings and mappings for all your edit
|
|
|
832 sessions. Put it in a place so that it will be found by 3b:
|
|
|
833 ~/.vimrc (Unix and OS/2)
|
|
|
834 s:.vimrc (Amiga)
|
|
|
835 $VIM\_vimrc (MS-DOS and Win32)
|
|
|
836 Note that creating a vimrc file will cause the 'compatible' option to be off
|
|
|
837 by default. See |compatible-default|.
|
|
|
838
|
|
|
839 Local setup:
|
|
|
840 Put all commands that you need for editing a specific directory only into a
|
|
|
841 vimrc file and place it in that directory under the name ".vimrc" ("_vimrc"
|
|
|
842 for MS-DOS and Win32). NOTE: To make Vim look for these special files you
|
|
|
843 have to turn on the option 'exrc'. See |trojan-horse| too.
|
|
|
844
|
|
|
845 System setup:
|
|
|
846 This only applies if you are managing a Unix system with several users and
|
|
|
847 want to set the defaults for all users. Create a vimrc file with commands
|
|
|
848 for default settings and mappings and put it in the place that is given with
|
|
|
849 the ":version" command.
|
|
|
850
|
|
|
851 Saving the current state of Vim to a file:
|
|
|
852 Whenever you have changed values of options or when you have created a
|
|
|
853 mapping, then you may want to save them in a vimrc file for later use. See
|
|
|
854 |save-settings| about saving the current state of settings to a file.
|
|
|
855
|
|
|
856 Avoiding setup problems for Vi users:
|
|
|
857 Vi uses the variable EXINIT and the file "~/.exrc". So if you do not want to
|
|
|
858 interfere with Vi, then use the variable VIMINIT and the file "vimrc" instead.
|
|
|
859
|
|
|
860 Amiga environment variables:
|
|
|
861 On the Amiga, two types of environment variables exist. The ones set with the
|
|
|
862 DOS 1.3 (or later) setenv command are recognized. See the AmigaDos 1.3
|
|
|
863 manual. The environment variables set with the old Manx Set command (before
|
|
|
864 version 5.0) are not recognized.
|
|
|
865
|
|
|
866 MS-DOS line separators:
|
|
|
867 On MS-DOS-like systems (MS-DOS itself, Win32, and OS/2), Vim assumes that all
|
|
|
868 the vimrc files have <CR> <NL> pairs as line separators. This will give
|
|
|
869 problems if you have a file with only <NL>s and have a line like
|
|
|
870 ":map xx yy^M". The trailing ^M will be ignored.
|
|
|
871
|
|
|
872 *compatible-default*
|
|
|
873 When Vim starts, the 'compatible' option is on. This will be used when Vim
|
|
|
874 starts its initializations. But as soon as a user vimrc file is found, or a
|
|
|
875 vimrc file in the current directory, or the "VIMINIT" environment variable is
|
|
|
876 set, it will be set to 'nocompatible'. This has the side effect of setting or
|
|
|
877 resetting other options (see 'compatible'). But only the options that have
|
|
|
878 not been set or reset will be changed. This has the same effect like the
|
|
|
879 value of 'compatible' had this value when starting Vim. Note that this
|
|
|
880 doesn't happen for the system-wide vimrc file.
|
|
|
881
|
|
|
882 But there is a side effect of setting or resetting 'compatible' at the moment
|
|
|
883 a .vimrc file is found: Mappings are interpreted the moment they are
|
|
|
884 encountered. This makes a difference when using things like "<CR>". If the
|
|
|
885 mappings depend on a certain value of 'compatible', set or reset it before
|
|
|
886 giving the mapping.
|
|
|
887
|
|
|
888 The above behavior can be overridden in these ways:
|
|
|
889 - If the "-N" command line argument is given, 'nocompatible' will be used,
|
|
|
890 even when no vimrc file exists.
|
|
|
891 - If the "-C" command line argument is given, 'compatible' will be used, even
|
|
|
892 when a vimrc file exists.
|
|
|
893 - If the "-u {vimrc}" argument is used, 'compatible' will be used.
|
|
|
894 - When the name of the executable ends in "ex", then this works like the "-C"
|
|
|
895 argument was given: 'compatible' will be used, even when a vimrc file
|
|
|
896 exists. This has been done to make Vim behave like "ex", when it is started
|
|
|
897 as "ex".
|
|
|
898
|
|
|
899 Avoiding trojan horses: *trojan-horse*
|
|
|
900 While reading the "vimrc" or the "exrc" file in the current directory, some
|
|
|
901 commands can be disabled for security reasons by setting the 'secure' option.
|
|
|
902 This is always done when executing the command from a tags file. Otherwise it
|
|
|
903 would be possible that you accidentally use a vimrc or tags file that somebody
|
|
|
904 else created and contains nasty commands. The disabled commands are the ones
|
|
|
905 that start a shell, the ones that write to a file, and ":autocmd". The ":map"
|
|
|
906 commands are echoed, so you can see which keys are being mapped.
|
|
|
907 If you want Vim to execute all commands in a local vimrc file, you
|
|
|
908 can reset the 'secure' option in the EXINIT or VIMINIT environment variable or
|
|
|
909 in the global "exrc" or "vimrc" file. This is not possible in "vimrc" or
|
|
|
910 "exrc" in the current directory, for obvious reasons.
|
|
|
911 On Unix systems, this only happens if you are not the owner of the
|
|
|
912 vimrc file. Warning: If you unpack an archive that contains a vimrc or exrc
|
|
|
913 file, it will be owned by you. You won't have the security protection. Check
|
|
|
914 the vimrc file before you start Vim in that directory, or reset the 'exrc'
|
|
|
915 option. Some Unix systems allow a user to do "chown" on a file. This makes
|
|
|
916 it possible for another user to create a nasty vimrc and make you the owner.
|
|
|
917 Be careful!
|
|
|
918 When using tag search commands, executing the search command (the last
|
|
|
919 part of the line in the tags file) is always done in secure mode. This works
|
|
|
920 just like executing a command from a vimrc/exrc in the current directory.
|
|
|
921
|
|
|
922 *slow-start*
|
|
|
923 If Vim takes a long time to start up, there may be a few causes:
|
|
|
924 - If the Unix version was compiled with the GUI and/or X11 (check the output
|
|
|
925 of ":version" for "+GUI" and "+X11"), it may need to load shared libraries
|
|
|
926 and connect to the X11 server. Try compiling a version with GUI and X11
|
|
|
927 disabled. This also should make the executable smaller.
|
|
|
928 Use the |-X| command line argument to avoid connecting to the X server when
|
|
|
929 running in a terminal.
|
|
|
930 - If you have "viminfo" enabled, the loading of the viminfo file may take a
|
|
|
931 while. You can find out if this is the problem by disabling viminfo for a
|
|
|
932 moment (use the Vim argument "-i NONE", |-i|). Try reducing the number of
|
|
|
933 lines stored in a register with ":set viminfo='20,<50,s10". |viminfo-file|.
|
|
|
934
|
|
|
935 *:intro*
|
|
|
936 When Vim starts without a file name, an introductory message is displayed (for
|
|
|
937 those who don't know what Vim is). It is removed as soon as the display is
|
|
|
938 redrawn in any way. To see the message again, use the ":intro" command (if
|
|
|
939 there is not enough room, you will see only part of it).
|
|
|
940 To avoid the intro message on startup, add the 'I' flag to 'shortmess'.
|
|
|
941
|
|
|
942 *info-message*
|
|
|
943 The |--help| and |--version| arguments cause Vim to print a message and then
|
|
|
944 exit. Normally the message is send to stdout, thus can be redirected to a
|
|
|
945 file with: >
|
|
|
946
|
|
|
947 vim --help >file
|
|
|
948
|
|
|
949 From inside Vim: >
|
|
|
950
|
|
|
951 :read !vim --help
|
|
|
952
|
|
|
953 When using gvim, it detects that it might have been started from the desktop,
|
|
|
954 without a terminal to show messages on. This is detected when both stdout and
|
|
|
955 stderr are not a tty. This breaks the ":read" command, as used in the example
|
|
|
956 above. To make it work again, set 'shellredir' to ">" instead of the default
|
|
|
957 ">&": >
|
|
|
958
|
|
|
959 :set shellredir=>
|
|
|
960 :read !gvim --help
|
|
|
961
|
|
|
962 This still won't work for systems where gvim does not use stdout at all
|
|
|
963 though.
|
|
|
964
|
|
|
965 ==============================================================================
|
|
|
966 5. $VIM and $VIMRUNTIME
|
|
|
967 *$VIM*
|
|
|
968 The environment variable "$VIM" is used to locate various user files for Vim,
|
|
|
969 such as the user startup script ".vimrc". This depends on the system, see
|
|
|
970 |startup|.
|
|
|
971
|
|
|
972 To avoid the need for every user to set the $VIM environment variable, Vim
|
|
|
973 will try to get the value for $VIM in this order:
|
|
|
974 1. The value defined by the $VIM environment variable. You can use this to
|
|
|
975 make Vim look in a specific directory for its support files. Example: >
|
|
|
976 setenv VIM /home/paul/vim
|
|
|
977 2. The path from 'helpfile' is used, unless it contains some environment
|
|
|
978 variable too (the default is "$VIMRUNTIME/doc/help.txt": chicken-egg
|
|
|
979 problem). The file name ("help.txt" or any other) is removed. Then
|
|
|
980 trailing directory names are removed, in this order: "doc", "runtime" and
|
|
|
981 "vim{version}" (e.g., "vim54").
|
|
|
982 3. For MSDOS, Win32 and OS/2 Vim tries to use the directory name of the
|
|
|
983 executable. If it ends in "/src", this is removed. This is useful if you
|
|
|
984 unpacked the .zip file in some directory, and adjusted the search path to
|
|
|
985 find the vim executable. Trailing directory names are removed, in this
|
|
|
986 order: "runtime" and "vim{version}" (e.g., "vim54").
|
|
|
987 4. For Unix the compile-time defined installation directory is used (see the
|
|
|
988 output of ":version").
|
|
|
989
|
|
|
990 Once Vim has done this once, it will set the $VIM environment variable. To
|
|
|
991 change it later, use a ":let" command like this: >
|
|
|
992 :let $VIM = "/home/paul/vim/"
|
|
|
993 <
|
|
|
994 *$VIMRUNTIME*
|
|
|
995 The environment variable "$VIMRUNTIME" is used to locate various support
|
|
|
996 files, such as the on-line documentation and files used for syntax
|
|
|
997 highlighting. For example, the main help file is normally
|
|
|
998 "$VIMRUNTIME/doc/help.txt".
|
|
|
999 You don't normally set $VIMRUNTIME yourself, but let Vim figure it out. This
|
|
|
1000 is the order used to find the value of $VIMRUNTIME:
|
|
|
1001 1. If the environment variable $VIMRUNTIME is set, it is used. You can use
|
|
|
1002 this when the runtime files are in an unusual location.
|
|
|
1003 2. If "$VIM/vim{version}" exists, it is used. {version} is the version
|
|
|
1004 number of Vim, without any '-' or '.'. For example: "$VIM/vim54". This is
|
|
|
1005 the normal value for $VIMRUNTIME.
|
|
|
1006 3. If "$VIM/runtime" exists, it is used.
|
|
|
1007 4. The value of $VIM is used. This is for backwards compatibility with older
|
|
|
1008 versions.
|
|
|
1009 5. When the 'helpfile' option is set and doesn't contain a '$', its value is
|
|
|
1010 used, with "doc/help.txt" removed from the end.
|
|
|
1011
|
|
|
1012 For Unix, when there is a compiled-in default for $VIMRUNTIME (check the
|
|
|
1013 output of ":version"), steps 2, 3 and 4 are skipped, and the compiled-in
|
|
|
1014 default is used after step 5. This means that the compiled-in default
|
|
|
1015 overrules the value of $VIM. This is useful if $VIM is "/etc" and the runtime
|
|
|
1016 files are in "/usr/share/vim/vim54".
|
|
|
1017
|
|
|
1018 Once Vim has done this once, it will set the $VIMRUNTIME environment variable.
|
|
|
1019 To change it later, use a ":let" command like this: >
|
|
|
1020 :let $VIMRUNTIME = "/home/piet/vim/vim54"
|
|
|
1021
|
|
8
|
1022 In case you need the value of $VIMRUNTIME in a shell (e.g., for a script that
|
|
|
1023 greps in the help files) you might be able to use this: >
|
|
|
1024
|
|
|
1025 VIMRUNTIME=`vim -e -T dumb --cmd 'exe "set t_cm=\<C-M>"|echo $VIMRUNTIME|quit' | tr -d '\015' `
|
|
|
1026
|
|
7
|
1027 ==============================================================================
|
|
|
1028 6. Suspending *suspend*
|
|
|
1029
|
|
|
1030 *iconize* *iconise* *CTRL-Z* *v_CTRL-Z*
|
|
|
1031 CTRL-Z Suspend Vim, like ":stop".
|
|
|
1032 Works in Normal and in Visual mode. In Insert and
|
|
|
1033 Command-line mode, the CTRL-Z is inserted as a normal
|
|
|
1034 character. In Visual mode Vim goes back to Normal
|
|
|
1035 mode.
|
|
83
|
1036 Note: if CTRL-Z undoes a change see |mswin.vim|.
|
|
7
|
1037
|
|
|
1038
|
|
|
1039 :sus[pend][!] or *:sus* *:suspend* *:st* *:stop*
|
|
|
1040 :st[op][!] Suspend Vim.
|
|
|
1041 If the '!' is not given and 'autowrite' is set, every
|
|
|
1042 buffer with changes and a file name is written out.
|
|
|
1043 If the '!' is given or 'autowrite' is not set, changed
|
|
|
1044 buffers are not written, don't forget to bring Vim
|
|
|
1045 back to the foreground later!
|
|
|
1046
|
|
|
1047 In the GUI, suspending is implemented as iconising gvim. In Windows 95/NT,
|
|
|
1048 gvim is minimized.
|
|
|
1049
|
|
|
1050 On many Unix systems, it is possible to suspend Vim with CTRL-Z. This is only
|
|
|
1051 possible in Normal and Visual mode (see next chapter, |vim-modes|). Vim will
|
|
|
1052 continue if you make it the foreground job again. On other systems, CTRL-Z
|
|
|
1053 will start a new shell. This is the same as the ":sh" command. Vim will
|
|
|
1054 continue if you exit from the shell.
|
|
|
1055
|
|
|
1056 In X-windows the selection is disowned when Vim suspends. this means you
|
|
|
1057 can't paste it in another application (since Vim is going to sleep an attempt
|
|
|
1058 to get the selection would make the program hang).
|
|
|
1059
|
|
|
1060 ==============================================================================
|
|
|
1061 7. Saving settings *save-settings*
|
|
|
1062
|
|
|
1063 Mostly you will edit your vimrc files manually. This gives you the greatest
|
|
|
1064 flexibility. There are a few commands to generate a vimrc file automatically.
|
|
|
1065 You can use these files as they are, or copy/paste lines to include in another
|
|
|
1066 vimrc file.
|
|
|
1067
|
|
|
1068 *:mk* *:mkexrc*
|
|
|
1069 :mk[exrc] [file] Write current key mappings and changed options to
|
|
|
1070 [file] (default ".exrc" in the current directory),
|
|
|
1071 unless it already exists. {not in Vi}
|
|
|
1072
|
|
|
1073 :mk[exrc]! [file] Always write current key mappings and changed
|
|
|
1074 options to [file] (default ".exrc" in the current
|
|
|
1075 directory). {not in Vi}
|
|
|
1076
|
|
|
1077 *:mkv* *:mkvimrc*
|
|
|
1078 :mkv[imrc][!] [file] Like ":mkexrc", but the default is ".vimrc" in the
|
|
|
1079 current directory. The ":version" command is also
|
|
|
1080 written to the file. {not in Vi}
|
|
|
1081
|
|
|
1082 These commands will write ":map" and ":set" commands to a file, in such a way
|
|
|
1083 that when these commands are executed, the current key mappings and options
|
|
|
1084 will be set to the same values. The options 'columns', 'endofline',
|
|
|
1085 'fileformat', 'key', 'lines', 'modified', 'scroll', 'term', 'textmode',
|
|
|
1086 'ttyfast' and 'ttymouse' are not included, because these are terminal or file
|
|
|
1087 dependent. Note that the options 'binary', 'paste' and 'readonly' are
|
|
|
1088 included, this might not always be what you want.
|
|
|
1089
|
|
|
1090 When special keys are used in mappings, The 'cpoptions' option will be
|
|
|
1091 temporarily set to its Vim default, to avoid the mappings to be
|
|
|
1092 misinterpreted. This makes the file incompatible with Vi, but makes sure it
|
|
|
1093 can be used with different terminals.
|
|
|
1094
|
|
|
1095 Only global mappings are stored, not mappings local to a buffer.
|
|
|
1096
|
|
|
1097 A common method is to use a default ".vimrc" file, make some modifications
|
|
|
1098 with ":map" and ":set" commands and write the modified file. First read the
|
|
|
1099 default ".vimrc" in with a command like ":source ~piet/.vimrc.Cprogs", change
|
|
|
1100 the settings and then save them in the current directory with ":mkvimrc!". If
|
|
|
1101 you want to make this file your default .vimrc, move it to your home directory
|
|
|
1102 (on Unix), s: (Amiga) or $VIM directory (MS-DOS). You could also use
|
|
|
1103 autocommands |autocommand| and/or modelines |modeline|.
|
|
|
1104
|
|
|
1105 If you only want to add a single option setting to your vimrc, you can use
|
|
|
1106 these steps:
|
|
|
1107 1. Edit your vimrc file with Vim.
|
|
|
1108 2. Play with the option until it's right. E.g., try out different values for
|
|
|
1109 'guifont'.
|
|
|
1110 3. Append a line to set the value of the option, using the expression register
|
|
|
1111 '=' to enter the value. E.g., for the 'guifont' option: >
|
|
|
1112 o:set guifont=<C-R>=&guifont<CR><Esc>
|
|
|
1113 < [<C-R> is a CTRL-R, <CR> is a return, <Esc> is the escape key]
|
|
|
1114
|
|
|
1115 Note that when you create a .vimrc file, this can influence the 'compatible'
|
|
|
1116 option, which has several side effects. See |'compatible'|.
|
|
|
1117 ":mkvimrc", ":mkexrc" and ":mksession" write the command to set or reset the
|
|
|
1118 'compatible' option to the output file first, because of these side effects.
|
|
|
1119
|
|
|
1120 ==============================================================================
|
|
|
1121 8. Views and Sessions *views-sessions*
|
|
|
1122
|
|
|
1123 This is introduced in sections |21.4| and |21.5| of the user manual.
|
|
|
1124
|
|
|
1125 *View* *view-file*
|
|
|
1126 A View is a collection of settings that apply to one window. You can save a
|
|
|
1127 View and when you restore it later, the text is displayed in the same way.
|
|
|
1128 The options and mappings in this window will also be restored, so that you can
|
|
|
1129 continue editing like when the View was saved.
|
|
|
1130
|
|
|
1131 *Session* *session-file*
|
|
|
1132 A Session keeps the Views for all windows, plus the global settings. You can
|
|
|
1133 save a Session and when you restore it later the window layout looks the same.
|
|
|
1134 You can use a Session to quickly switch between different projects,
|
|
|
1135 automatically loading the files you were last working on in that project.
|
|
|
1136
|
|
|
1137 Views and Sessions are a nice addition to viminfo-files, which are used to
|
|
|
1138 remember information for all Views and Sessions together |viminfo-file|.
|
|
|
1139
|
|
|
1140 You can quickly start editing with a previously saved View or Session with the
|
|
|
1141 |-S| argument: >
|
|
|
1142 vim -S Session.vim
|
|
|
1143 <
|
|
|
1144 All this is {not in Vi} and {not available when compiled without the
|
|
|
1145 |+mksession| feature}.
|
|
|
1146
|
|
|
1147 *:mks* *:mksession*
|
|
|
1148 :mks[ession][!] [file] Write a Vim script that restores the current editing
|
|
|
1149 session.
|
|
|
1150 When [!] is included an existing file is overwritten.
|
|
|
1151 When [file] is omitted "Session.vim" is used.
|
|
|
1152
|
|
|
1153 The output of ":mksession" is like ":mkvimrc", but additional commands are
|
|
|
1154 added to the file. Which ones depends on the 'sessionoptions' option. The
|
|
|
1155 resulting file, when executed with a ":source" command:
|
|
|
1156 1. Restores global mappings and options, if 'sessionoptions' contains
|
|
|
1157 "options". Script-local mappings will not be written.
|
|
|
1158 2. Restores global variables that start with an uppercase letter and contain
|
|
|
1159 at least one lowercase letter, if 'sessionoptions' contains "globals".
|
|
|
1160 3. Unloads all currently loaded buffers.
|
|
|
1161 4. Restores the current directory if 'sessionoptions' contains "curdir", or
|
|
|
1162 sets the current directory to where the Session file is if 'sessionoptions'
|
|
|
1163 contains "sesdir".
|
|
|
1164 5. Restores GUI Vim window position, if 'sessionoptions' contains "winpos".
|
|
|
1165 6. Restores screen size, if 'sessionoptions' contains "resize".
|
|
|
1166 7. Reloads the buffer list, with the last cursor positions. If
|
|
|
1167 'sessionoptions' contains "buffers" then all buffers are restored,
|
|
|
1168 including hidden and unloaded buffers. Otherwise only buffers in windows
|
|
|
1169 are restored.
|
|
|
1170 8. Restores all windows with the same layout. If 'sessionoptions' contains
|
|
|
1171 contains "help", help windows are restored. If 'sessionoptions' contains
|
|
|
1172 "blank", windows editing a buffer without a name will be restored.
|
|
|
1173 If 'sessionoptions' contains "winsize" and no (help/blank) windows were
|
|
|
1174 left out, the window sizes are restored (relative to the screen size).
|
|
|
1175 Otherwise, the windows are just given sensible sizes.
|
|
|
1176 9. Restores the Views for all the windows, as with |:mkview|. But
|
|
|
1177 'sessionoptions' is used instead of 'viewoptions'.
|
|
|
1178 10. If a file exists with the same name as the Session file, but ending in
|
|
|
1179 "x.vim" (for eXtra), executes that as well. You can use *x.vim files to
|
|
|
1180 specify additional settings and actions associated with a given Session,
|
|
|
1181 such as creating menu items in the GUI version.
|
|
|
1182
|
|
|
1183 After restoring the Session, the full filename of your current Session is
|
|
|
1184 available in the internal variable "v:this_session" |this_session-variable|.
|
|
|
1185 An example mapping: >
|
|
|
1186 :nmap <F2> :wa<Bar>exe "mksession! " . v:this_session<CR>:so ~/sessions/
|
|
|
1187 This saves the current Session, and starts off the command to load another.
|
|
|
1188
|
|
|
1189 *:mkvie* *:mkview*
|
|
|
1190 :mkvie[w][!] [file] Write a Vim script that restores the contents of the
|
|
|
1191 current window.
|
|
|
1192 When [!] is included an existing file is overwritten.
|
|
|
1193 When [file] is omitted or is a number from 1 to 9, a
|
|
|
1194 name is generated and 'viewdir' prepended. When last
|
|
|
1195 directory name in 'viewdir' does not exist, this
|
|
|
1196 directory is created.
|
|
|
1197 An existing file is always overwritten then. Use
|
|
|
1198 |:loadview| to load this view again.
|
|
|
1199 When [file] is the name of a file ('viewdir' is not
|
|
|
1200 used), a command to edit the file is added to the
|
|
|
1201 generated file.
|
|
|
1202
|
|
|
1203 The output of ":mkview" contains these items:
|
|
|
1204 1. The argument list used in the window. When the global argument list is
|
|
|
1205 used it is reset to the global list.
|
|
|
1206 The index in the argument list is also restored.
|
|
|
1207 2. The file being edited in the window. If there is no file, the window is
|
|
|
1208 made empty.
|
|
|
1209 3. Restore mappings, abbreviations and options local to the window if
|
|
|
1210 'viewoptions' contains "options" or "localoptions". For the options it
|
|
|
1211 restores only values that are local to the current buffer and values local
|
|
|
1212 to the window.
|
|
|
1213 When storing the view as part of a session and "options" is in
|
|
|
1214 'sessionoptions', global values for local options will be stored too.
|
|
|
1215 4. Restore folds when using manual folding and 'viewoptions' contains
|
|
|
1216 "folds". Restore manually opened and closed folds.
|
|
|
1217 5. The scroll position and the cursor position in the file. Doesn't work very
|
|
|
1218 well when there are closed folds.
|
|
|
1219 6. The local current directory, if it is different from the global current
|
|
|
1220 directory.
|
|
|
1221
|
|
|
1222 Note that Views and Sessions are not perfect:
|
|
|
1223 - They don't restore everything. For example, defined functions, autocommands
|
|
|
1224 and ":syntax on" are not included. Things like register contents and
|
|
|
1225 command line history are in viminfo, not in Sessions or Views.
|
|
9
|
1226 - Global option values are only set when they differ from the default value.
|
|
7
|
1227 When the current value is not the default value, loading a Session will not
|
|
|
1228 set it back to the default value. Local options will be set back to the
|
|
|
1229 default value though.
|
|
|
1230 - Existing mappings will be overwritten without warning. An existing mapping
|
|
|
1231 may cause an error for ambiguity.
|
|
|
1232 - When storing manual folds and when storing manually opened/closed folds,
|
|
|
1233 changes in the file between saving and loading the view will mess it up.
|
|
|
1234 - The Vim script is not very efficient. But still faster than typing the
|
|
|
1235 commands yourself!
|
|
|
1236
|
|
|
1237 *:lo* *:loadview*
|
|
|
1238 :lo[adview] [nr] Load the view for the current file. When [nr] is
|
|
|
1239 omitted, the view stored with ":mkview" is loaded.
|
|
|
1240 When [nr] is specified, the view stored with ":mkview
|
|
|
1241 [nr]" is loaded.
|
|
|
1242
|
|
|
1243 The combination of ":mkview" and ":loadview" can be used to store up to ten
|
|
|
1244 different views of a file. These are remembered in the directory specified
|
|
|
1245 with the 'viewdir' option. The views are stored using the file name. If a
|
|
|
1246 file is renamed or accessed through a (symbolic) link the view will not be
|
|
|
1247 found.
|
|
|
1248
|
|
|
1249 You might want to clean up your 'viewdir' directory now and then.
|
|
|
1250
|
|
|
1251 To automatically save and restore views for *.c files: >
|
|
|
1252 au BufWinLeave *.c mkview
|
|
|
1253 au BufWinEnter *.c silent loadview
|
|
|
1254
|
|
|
1255 ==============================================================================
|
|
|
1256 9. The viminfo file *viminfo* *viminfo-file* *E136*
|
|
|
1257 *E575* *E576* *E577*
|
|
|
1258 If you exit Vim and later start it again, you would normally lose a lot of
|
|
|
1259 information. The viminfo file can be used to remember that information, which
|
|
|
1260 enables you to continue where you left off.
|
|
|
1261
|
|
|
1262 This is introduced in section |21.3| of the user manual.
|
|
|
1263
|
|
|
1264 The viminfo file is used to store:
|
|
|
1265 - The command line history.
|
|
|
1266 - The search string history.
|
|
|
1267 - The input-line history.
|
|
56
|
1268 - Contents of non-empty registers.
|
|
7
|
1269 - Marks for several files.
|
|
|
1270 - File marks, pointing to locations in files.
|
|
|
1271 - Last search/substitute pattern (for 'n' and '&').
|
|
|
1272 - The buffer list.
|
|
|
1273 - Global variables.
|
|
|
1274
|
|
|
1275 The viminfo file is not supported when the |+viminfo| feature has been
|
|
|
1276 disabled at compile time.
|
|
|
1277
|
|
|
1278 You could also use a Session file. The difference is that the viminfo file
|
|
|
1279 does not depend on what you are working on. There normally is only one
|
|
|
1280 viminfo file. Session files are used to save the state of a specific editing
|
|
|
1281 Session. You could have several Session files, one for each project you are
|
|
|
1282 working on. Viminfo and Session files together can be used to effectively
|
|
|
1283 enter Vim and directly start working in your desired setup. |session-file|
|
|
|
1284
|
|
|
1285 *viminfo-read*
|
|
|
1286 When Vim is started and the 'viminfo' option is non-empty, the contents of
|
|
|
1287 the viminfo file are read and the info can be used in the appropriate places.
|
|
|
1288 The marks are not read in at startup (but file marks are). See
|
|
|
1289 |initialization| for how to set the 'viminfo' option upon startup.
|
|
|
1290
|
|
|
1291 *viminfo-write*
|
|
|
1292 When Vim exits and 'viminfo' is non-empty, the info is stored in the viminfo
|
|
|
1293 file (it's actually merged with the existing one, if one exists). The
|
|
|
1294 'viminfo' option is a string containing information about what info should be
|
|
|
1295 stored, and contains limits on how much should be stored (see 'viminfo').
|
|
|
1296
|
|
|
1297 Notes for Unix:
|
|
|
1298 - The file protection for the viminfo file will be set to prevent other users
|
|
|
1299 from being able to read it, because it may contain any text or commands that
|
|
|
1300 you have worked with.
|
|
|
1301 - If you want to share the viminfo file with other users (e.g. when you "su"
|
|
|
1302 to another user), you can make the file writable for the group or everybody.
|
|
|
1303 Vim will preserve this when writing new viminfo files. Be careful, don't
|
|
|
1304 allow just anybody to read and write your viminfo file!
|
|
|
1305 - Vim will not overwrite a viminfo file that is not writable by the current
|
|
|
1306 "real" user. This helps for when you did "su" to become root, but your
|
|
|
1307 $HOME is still set to a normal user's home directory. Otherwise Vim would
|
|
|
1308 create a viminfo file owned by root that nobody else can read.
|
|
|
1309
|
|
|
1310 Marks are stored for each file separately. When a file is read and 'viminfo'
|
|
|
1311 is non-empty, the marks for that file are read from the viminfo file. NOTE:
|
|
|
1312 The marks are only written when exiting Vim, which is fine because marks are
|
|
|
1313 remembered for all the files you have opened in the current editing session,
|
|
|
1314 unless ":bdel" is used. If you want to save the marks for a file that you are
|
|
|
1315 about to abandon with ":bdel", use ":wv". The '[' and ']' marks are not
|
|
|
1316 stored, but the '"' mark is. The '"' mark is very useful for jumping to the
|
|
|
1317 cursor position when the file was last exited. No marks are saved for files
|
|
|
1318 that start with any string given with the "r" flag in 'viminfo'. This can be
|
|
|
1319 used to avoid saving marks for files on removable media (for MS-DOS you would
|
|
|
1320 use "ra:,rb:", for Amiga "rdf0:,rdf1:,rdf2:").
|
|
|
1321
|
|
|
1322 *viminfo-file-marks*
|
|
|
1323 Uppercase marks ('A to 'Z) are stored when writing the viminfo file. The
|
|
|
1324 numbered marks ('0 to '9) are a bit special. When the viminfo file is written
|
|
|
1325 (when exiting or with the ":wviminfo" command), '0 is set to the current cursor
|
|
|
1326 position and file. The old '0 is moved to '1, '1 to '2, etc. This
|
|
|
1327 resembles what happens with the "1 to "9 delete registers. If the current
|
|
|
1328 cursor position is already present in '0 to '9, it is moved to '0, to avoid
|
|
|
1329 having the same position twice. The result is that with "'0", you can jump
|
|
|
1330 back to the file and line where you exited Vim. To do that right away, try
|
|
|
1331 using this command: >
|
|
|
1332
|
|
|
1333 vim -c "normal '0"
|
|
|
1334
|
|
|
1335 In a shell you could make an alias for it: >
|
|
|
1336
|
|
|
1337 alias lvim vim -c '"'normal "'"0'"'
|
|
|
1338
|
|
|
1339 Use the "r" flag in 'viminfo' to specify for which files no marks should be
|
|
|
1340 remembered.
|
|
|
1341
|
|
|
1342
|
|
|
1343 VIMINFO FILE NAME *viminfo-file-name*
|
|
|
1344
|
|
|
1345 - The default name of the viminfo file is "$HOME/.viminfo" for Unix and OS/2,
|
|
|
1346 "s:.viminfo" for Amiga, "$HOME\_viminfo" for MS-DOS and Win32. For the last
|
|
|
1347 two, when $HOME is not set, "$VIM\_viminfo" is used. When $VIM is also not
|
|
|
1348 set, "c:\_viminfo" is used. For OS/2 "$VIM/.viminfo" is used when $HOME is
|
|
|
1349 not set and $VIM is set.
|
|
|
1350 - The 'n' flag in the 'viminfo' option can be used to specify another viminfo
|
|
|
1351 file name |'viminfo'|.
|
|
|
1352 - The "-i" Vim argument can be used to set another file name, |-i|. When the
|
|
|
1353 file name given is "NONE" (all uppercase), no viminfo file is ever read or
|
|
|
1354 written. Also not for the commands below!
|
|
|
1355 - For the commands below, another file name can be given, overriding the
|
|
|
1356 default and the name given with 'viminfo' or "-i" (unless it's NONE).
|
|
|
1357
|
|
|
1358
|
|
|
1359 CHARACTER ENCODING *viminfo-encoding*
|
|
|
1360
|
|
|
1361 The text in the viminfo file is encoded as specified with the 'encoding'
|
|
|
1362 option. Normally you will always work with the same 'encoding' value, and
|
|
|
1363 this works just fine. However, if you read the viminfo file with another
|
|
|
1364 value for 'encoding' than what it was written with, some of the text
|
|
|
1365 (non-ASCII characters) may be invalid. If this is unacceptable, add the 'c'
|
|
|
1366 flag to the 'viminfo' option: >
|
|
|
1367 :set viminfo+=c
|
|
|
1368 Vim will then attempt to convert the text in the viminfo file from the
|
|
|
1369 'encoding' value it was written with to the current 'encoding' value. This
|
|
|
1370 requires Vim to be compiled with the |+iconv| feature. Filenames are not
|
|
|
1371 converted.
|
|
|
1372
|
|
|
1373
|
|
|
1374 MANUALLY READING AND WRITING
|
|
|
1375
|
|
|
1376 Two commands can be used to read and write the viminfo file manually. This
|
|
|
1377 can be used to exchange registers between two running Vim programs: First
|
|
|
1378 type ":wv" in one and then ":rv" in the other. Note that if the register
|
|
|
1379 already contained something, then ":rv!" would be required. Also note
|
|
|
1380 however that this means everything will be overwritten with information from
|
|
|
1381 the first Vim, including the command line history, etc.
|
|
|
1382
|
|
|
1383 The viminfo file itself can be edited by hand too, although we suggest you
|
|
|
1384 start with an existing one to get the format right. It is reasonably
|
|
|
1385 self-explanatory once you're in there. This can be useful in order to
|
|
|
1386 create a second file, say "~/.my_viminfo" which could contain certain
|
|
|
1387 settings that you always want when you first start Vim. For example, you
|
|
|
1388 can preload registers with particular data, or put certain commands in the
|
|
|
1389 command line history. A line in your .vimrc file like >
|
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1390 :rviminfo! ~/.my_viminfo
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1391 can be used to load this information. You could even have different viminfos
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1392 for different types of files (e.g., C code) and load them based on the file
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1393 name, using the ":autocmd" command (see |:autocmd|).
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1394
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1395 *viminfo-errors*
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1396 When Vim detects an error while reading a viminfo file, it will not overwrite
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1397 that file. If there are more than 10 errors, Vim stops reading the viminfo
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1398 file. This was done to avoid accidentally destroying a file when the file
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1399 name of the viminfo file is wrong. This could happen when accidentally typing
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1400 "vim -i file" when you wanted "vim -R file" (yes, somebody accidentally did
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1401 that!). If you want to overwrite a viminfo file with an error in it, you will
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1402 either have to fix the error, or delete the file (while Vim is running, so
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1403 most of the information will be restored).
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1404
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1405 *:rv* *:rviminfo* *E195*
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1406 :rv[iminfo][!] [file] Read from viminfo file [file] (default: see above).
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1407 If [!] is given, then any information that is
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1408 already set (registers, marks, etc.) will be
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1409 overwritten. {not in Vi}
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1410
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1411 *:wv* *:wviminfo* *E137* *E138* *E574*
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1412 :wv[iminfo][!] [file] Write to viminfo file [file] (default: see above).
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1413 The information in the file is first read in to make
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1414 a merge between old and new info. When [!] is used,
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1415 the old information is not read first, only the
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1416 internal info is written. If 'viminfo' is empty, marks
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1417 for up to 100 files will be written.
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1418 When you get error "E138: Can't write viminfo file"
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1419 check that no old temp files were left behind (e.g.
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1420 ~/.viminf*) and that you can write in the directory of
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1421 the .viminfo file.
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1422 {not in Vi}
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1423
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1424 vim:tw=78:ts=8:ft=help:norl:
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