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Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00001*eval.txt* For Vim version 7.0aa. Last change: 2005 Feb 26
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002
3
4 VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar
5
6
7Expression evaluation *expression* *expr* *E15* *eval*
8
9Using expressions is introduced in chapter 41 of the user manual |usr_41.txt|.
10
11Note: Expression evaluation can be disabled at compile time. If this has been
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000012done, the features in this document are not available. See |+eval| and
13|no-eval-feature|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000014
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000151. Variables |variables|
16 1.1 Variable types
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +000017 1.2 Function references |Funcref|
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +000018 1.3 Lists |Lists|
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000019 1.4 Dictionaries |Dictionaries|
20 1.5 More about variables |more-variables|
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000212. Expression syntax |expression-syntax|
223. Internal variable |internal-variables|
234. Builtin Functions |functions|
245. Defining functions |user-functions|
256. Curly braces names |curly-braces-names|
267. Commands |expression-commands|
278. Exception handling |exception-handling|
289. Examples |eval-examples|
2910. No +eval feature |no-eval-feature|
3011. The sandbox |eval-sandbox|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000031
32{Vi does not have any of these commands}
33
34==============================================================================
351. Variables *variables*
36
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000371.1 Variable types ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +000038 *E712*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000039There are four types of variables:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000040
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000041Number A 32 bit signed number.
42 Examples: -123 0x10 0177
43
44String A NUL terminated string of 8-bit unsigned characters (bytes).
45 Examples: "ab\txx\"--" 'x-z''a,c'
46
47Funcref A reference to a function |Funcref|.
48 Example: function("strlen")
49
50List An ordered sequence of items |List|.
51 Example: [1, 2, ['a', 'b']]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000052
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000053The Number and String types are converted automatically, depending on how they
54are used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000055
56Conversion from a Number to a String is by making the ASCII representation of
57the Number. Examples: >
58 Number 123 --> String "123"
59 Number 0 --> String "0"
60 Number -1 --> String "-1"
61
62Conversion from a String to a Number is done by converting the first digits
63to a number. Hexadecimal "0xf9" and Octal "017" numbers are recognized. If
64the String doesn't start with digits, the result is zero. Examples: >
65 String "456" --> Number 456
66 String "6bar" --> Number 6
67 String "foo" --> Number 0
68 String "0xf1" --> Number 241
69 String "0100" --> Number 64
70 String "-8" --> Number -8
71 String "+8" --> Number 0
72
73To force conversion from String to Number, add zero to it: >
74 :echo "0100" + 0
75
76For boolean operators Numbers are used. Zero is FALSE, non-zero is TRUE.
77
78Note that in the command >
79 :if "foo"
80"foo" is converted to 0, which means FALSE. To test for a non-empty string,
81use strlen(): >
82 :if strlen("foo")
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +000083< *E745* *E728* *E703* *E729* *E730* *E731*
84List, Dictionary and Funcref types are not automatically converted.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000085
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000086 *E706*
87You will get an error if you try to change the type of a variable. You need
88to |:unlet| it first to avoid this error. String and Number are considered
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000089equivalent though. Consider this sequence of commands: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000090 :let l = "string"
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +000091 :let l = 44 " changes type from String to Number
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000092 :let l = [1, 2, 3] " error!
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000093
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000094
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000951.2 Function references ~
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +000096 *Funcref* *E695* *E718*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000097A Funcref variable is obtained with the |function()| function. It can be used
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +000098in an expression in the place of a function name, before the parenthesis
99around the arguments, to invoke the function it refers to. Example: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000100
101 :let Fn = function("MyFunc")
102 :echo Fn()
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000103< *E704* *E705* *E707*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000104A Funcref variable must start with a capital, "s:", "w:" or "b:". You cannot
105have both a Funcref variable and a function with the same name.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000106
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000107A special case is defining a function and directly assigning its Funcref to a
108Dictionary entry. Example: >
109 :function dict.init() dict
110 : let self.val = 0
111 :endfunction
112
113The key of the Dictionary can start with a lower case letter. The actual
114function name is not used here. Also see |numbered-function|.
115
116A Funcref can also be used with the |:call| command: >
117 :call Fn()
118 :call dict.init()
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000119
120The name of the referenced function can be obtained with |string()|. >
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000121 :let func = string(Fn)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000122
123You can use |call()| to invoke a Funcref and use a list variable for the
124arguments: >
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000125 :let r = call(Fn, mylist)
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000126
127
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001281.3 Lists ~
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +0000129 *List* *Lists* *E686*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000130A List is an ordered sequence of items. An item can be of any type. Items
131can be accessed by their index number. Items can be added and removed at any
132position in the sequence.
133
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000134
135List creation ~
136 *E696* *E697*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000137A List is created with a comma separated list of items in square brackets.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000138Examples: >
139 :let mylist = [1, two, 3, "four"]
140 :let emptylist = []
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000141
142An item can be any expression. Using a List for an item creates a
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000143nested List: >
144 :let nestlist = [[11, 12], [21, 22], [31, 32]]
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000145
146An extra comma after the last item is ignored.
147
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000148
149List index ~
150 *list-index* *E684*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000151An item in the List can be accessed by putting the index in square brackets
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000152after the List. Indexes are zero-based, thus the first item has index zero. >
153 :let item = mylist[0] " get the first item: 1
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000154 :let item = mylist[2] " get the third item: 3
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000155
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000156When the resulting item is a list this can be repeated: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000157 :let item = nestlist[0][1] " get the first list, second item: 12
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000158<
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000159A negative index is counted from the end. Index -1 refers to the last item in
160the List, -2 to the last but one item, etc. >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000161 :let last = mylist[-1] " get the last item: "four"
162
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000163To avoid an error for an invalid index use the |get()| function. When an item
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000164is not available it returns zero or the default value you specify: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000165 :echo get(mylist, idx)
166 :echo get(mylist, idx, "NONE")
167
168
169List concatenation ~
170
171Two lists can be concatenated with the "+" operator: >
172 :let longlist = mylist + [5, 6]
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000173 :let mylist += [7, 8]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000174
175To prepend or append an item turn the item into a list by putting [] around
176it. To change a list in-place see |list-modification| below.
177
178
179Sublist ~
180
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000181A part of the List can be obtained by specifying the first and last index,
182separated by a colon in square brackets: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000183 :let shortlist = mylist[2:-1] " get List [3, "four"]
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000184
185Omitting the first index is similar to zero. Omitting the last index is
186similar to -1. The difference is that there is no error if the items are not
187available. >
Bram Moolenaar540d6e32005-01-09 21:20:18 +0000188 :let endlist = mylist[2:] " from item 2 to the end: [3, "four"]
189 :let shortlist = mylist[2:2] " List with one item: [3]
190 :let otherlist = mylist[:] " make a copy of the List
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000191
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000192The second index can be just before the first index. In that case the result
193is an empty list. If the second index is lower, this results in an error. >
194 :echo mylist[2:1] " result: []
195 :echo mylist[2:0] " error!
196
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000197
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000198List identity ~
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000199 *list-identity*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000200When variable "aa" is a list and you assign it to another variable "bb", both
201variables refer to the same list. Thus changing the list "aa" will also
202change "bb": >
203 :let aa = [1, 2, 3]
204 :let bb = aa
205 :call add(aa, 4)
206 :echo bb
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000207< [1, 2, 3, 4]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000208
209Making a copy of a list is done with the |copy()| function. Using [:] also
210works, as explained above. This creates a shallow copy of the list: Changing
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000211a list item in the list will also change the item in the copied list: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000212 :let aa = [[1, 'a'], 2, 3]
213 :let bb = copy(aa)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000214 :call add(aa, 4)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000215 :let aa[0][1] = 'aaa'
216 :echo aa
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000217< [[1, aaa], 2, 3, 4] >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000218 :echo bb
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000219< [[1, aaa], 2, 3]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000220
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000221To make a completely independent list use |deepcopy()|. This also makes a
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000222copy of the values in the list, recursively. Up to a hundred levels deep.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000223
224The operator "is" can be used to check if two variables refer to the same
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000225List. "isnot" does the opposite. In contrast "==" compares if two lists have
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000226the same value. >
227 :let alist = [1, 2, 3]
228 :let blist = [1, 2, 3]
229 :echo alist is blist
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000230< 0 >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000231 :echo alist == blist
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000232< 1
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000233
234
235List unpack ~
236
237To unpack the items in a list to individual variables, put the variables in
238square brackets, like list items: >
239 :let [var1, var2] = mylist
240
241When the number of variables does not match the number of items in the list
242this produces an error. To handle any extra items from the list append ";"
243and a variable name: >
244 :let [var1, var2; rest] = mylist
245
246This works like: >
247 :let var1 = mylist[0]
248 :let var2 = mylist[1]
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000249 :let rest = mylist[2:]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000250
251Except that there is no error if there are only two items. "rest" will be an
252empty list then.
253
254
255List modification ~
256 *list-modification*
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000257To change a specific item of a list use |:let| this way: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000258 :let list[4] = "four"
259 :let listlist[0][3] = item
260
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000261To change part of a list you can specify the first and last item to be
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000262modified. The value must at least have the number of items in the range: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000263 :let list[3:5] = [3, 4, 5]
264
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000265Adding and removing items from a list is done with functions. Here are a few
266examples: >
267 :call insert(list, 'a') " prepend item 'a'
268 :call insert(list, 'a', 3) " insert item 'a' before list[3]
269 :call add(list, "new") " append String item
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000270 :call add(list, [1, 2]) " append a List as one new item
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000271 :call extend(list, [1, 2]) " extend the list with two more items
272 :let i = remove(list, 3) " remove item 3
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000273 :unlet list[3] " idem
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000274 :let l = remove(list, 3, -1) " remove items 3 to last item
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000275 :unlet list[3 : ] " idem
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000276 :call filter(list, 'v:val !~ "x"') " remove items with an 'x'
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000277
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000278Changing the order of items in a list: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000279 :call sort(list) " sort a list alphabetically
280 :call reverse(list) " reverse the order of items
281
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000282
283For loop ~
284
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000285The |:for| loop executes commands for each item in a list. A variable is set
286to each item in the list in sequence. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000287 :for item in mylist
288 : call Doit(item)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000289 :endfor
290
291This works like: >
292 :let index = 0
293 :while index < len(mylist)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000294 : let item = mylist[index]
295 : :call Doit(item)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000296 : let index = index + 1
297 :endwhile
298
299Note that all items in the list should be of the same type, otherwise this
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000300results in error |E706|. To avoid this |:unlet| the variable at the end of
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000301the loop.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000302
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000303If all you want to do is modify each item in the list then the |map()|
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000304function will be a simpler method than a for loop.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000305
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000306Just like the |:let| command, |:for| also accepts a list of variables. This
307requires the argument to be a list of lists. >
308 :for [lnum, col] in [[1, 3], [2, 8], [3, 0]]
309 : call Doit(lnum, col)
310 :endfor
311
312This works like a |:let| command is done for each list item. Again, the types
313must remain the same to avoid an error.
314
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000315It is also possible to put remaining items in a List variable: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000316 :for [i, j; rest] in listlist
317 : call Doit(i, j)
318 : if !empty(rest)
319 : echo "remainder: " . string(rest)
320 : endif
321 :endfor
322
323
324List functions ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000325 *E714*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000326Functions that are useful with a List: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000327 :let r = call(funcname, list) " call a function with an argument list
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000328 :if empty(list) " check if list is empty
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000329 :let l = len(list) " number of items in list
330 :let big = max(list) " maximum value in list
331 :let small = min(list) " minimum value in list
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000332 :let xs = count(list, 'x') " count nr of times 'x' appears in list
333 :let i = index(list, 'x') " index of first 'x' in list
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000334 :let lines = getline(1, 10) " get ten text lines from buffer
335 :call append('$', lines) " append text lines in buffer
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000336 :let list = split("a b c") " create list from items in a string
337 :let string = join(list, ', ') " create string from list items
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000338 :let s = string(list) " String representation of list
339 :call map(list, '">> " . v:val') " prepend ">> " to each item
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000340
341
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003421.4 Dictionaries ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000343 *Dictionaries* *Dictionary*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000344A Dictionary is an associative array: Each entry has a key and a value. The
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000345entry can be located with the key. The entries are stored without a specific
346ordering.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000347
348
349Dictionary creation ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000350 *E720* *E721* *E722* *E723*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000351A Dictionary is created with a comma separated list of entries in curly
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000352braces. Each entry has a key and a value, separated by a colon. Each key can
353only appear once. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000354 :let mydict = {1: 'one', 2: 'two', 3: 'three'}
355 :let emptydict = {}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000356< *E713* *E716* *E717*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000357A key is always a String. You can use a Number, it will be converted to a
358String automatically. Thus the String '4' and the number 4 will find the same
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000359entry. Note that the String '04' and the Number 04 are different, since the
360Number will be converted to the String '4'.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000361
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000362A value can be any expression. Using a Dictionary for a value creates a
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000363nested Dictionary: >
364 :let nestdict = {1: {11: 'a', 12: 'b'}, 2: {21: 'c'}}
365
366An extra comma after the last entry is ignored.
367
368
369Accessing entries ~
370
371The normal way to access an entry is by putting the key in square brackets: >
372 :let val = mydict["one"]
373 :let mydict["four"] = 4
374
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000375You can add new entries to an existing Dictionary this way, unlike Lists.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000376
377For keys that consist entirely of letters, digits and underscore the following
378form can be used |expr-entry|: >
379 :let val = mydict.one
380 :let mydict.four = 4
381
382Since an entry can be any type, also a List and a Dictionary, the indexing and
383key lookup can be repeated: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000384 :echo dict.key[idx].key
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000385
386
387Dictionary to List conversion ~
388
389You may want to loop over the entries in a dictionary. For this you need to
390turn the Dictionary into a List and pass it to |:for|.
391
392Most often you want to loop over the keys, using the |keys()| function: >
393 :for key in keys(mydict)
394 : echo key . ': ' . mydict[key]
395 :endfor
396
397The List of keys is unsorted. You may want to sort them first: >
398 :for key in sort(keys(mydict))
399
400To loop over the values use the |values()| function: >
401 :for v in values(mydict)
402 : echo "value: " . v
403 :endfor
404
405If you want both the key and the value use the |items()| function. It returns
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000406a List in which each item is a List with two items, the key and the value: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000407 :for entry in items(mydict)
408 : echo entry[0] . ': ' . entry[1]
409 :endfor
410
411
412Dictionary identity ~
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +0000413 *dict-identity*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000414Just like Lists you need to use |copy()| and |deepcopy()| to make a copy of a
415Dictionary. Otherwise, assignment results in referring to the same
416Dictionary: >
417 :let onedict = {'a': 1, 'b': 2}
418 :let adict = onedict
419 :let adict['a'] = 11
420 :echo onedict['a']
421 11
422
423For more info see |list-identity|.
424
425
426Dictionary modification ~
427 *dict-modification*
428To change an already existing entry of a Dictionary, or to add a new entry,
429use |:let| this way: >
430 :let dict[4] = "four"
431 :let dict['one'] = item
432
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000433Removing an entry from a Dictionary is done with |remove()| or |:unlet|.
434Three ways to remove the entry with key "aaa" from dict: >
435 :let i = remove(dict, 'aaa')
436 :unlet dict.aaa
437 :unlet dict['aaa']
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000438
439Merging a Dictionary with another is done with |extend()|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000440 :call extend(adict, bdict)
441This extends adict with all entries from bdict. Duplicate keys cause entries
442in adict to be overwritten. An optional third argument can change this.
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000443Note that the order of entries in a Dictionary is irrelevant, thus don't
444expect ":echo adict" to show the items from bdict after the older entries in
445adict.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000446
447Weeding out entries from a Dictionary can be done with |filter()|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000448 :call filter(dict 'v:val =~ "x"')
449This removes all entries from "dict" with a value not matching 'x'.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000450
451
452Dictionary function ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000453 *Dictionary-function* *self* *E725*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000454When a function is defined with the "dict" attribute it can be used in a
455special way with a dictionary. Example: >
456 :function Mylen() dict
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000457 : return len(self.data)
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000458 :endfunction
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000459 :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3], 'len': function("Mylen")}
460 :echo mydict.len()
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000461
462This is like a method in object oriented programming. The entry in the
463Dictionary is a |Funcref|. The local variable "self" refers to the dictionary
464the function was invoked from.
465
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000466It is also possible to add a function without the "dict" attribute as a
467Funcref to a Dictionary, but the "self" variable is not available then.
468
469 *numbered-function*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000470To avoid the extra name for the function it can be defined and directly
471assigned to a Dictionary in this way: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000472 :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3]}
473 :function mydict.len() dict
474 : return len(self.data)
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000475 :endfunction
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000476 :echo mydict.len()
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000477
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000478The function will then get a number and the value of dict.len is a |Funcref|
479that references this function. The function can only be used through a
480|Funcref|. It will automatically be deleted when there is no |Funcref|
481remaining that refers to it.
482
483It is not necessary to use the "dict" attribute for a numbered function.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000484
485
486Functions for Dictionaries ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000487 *E715*
488Functions that can be used with a Dictionary: >
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000489 :if has_key(dict, 'foo') " TRUE if dict has entry with key "foo"
490 :if empty(dict) " TRUE if dict is empty
491 :let l = len(dict) " number of items in dict
492 :let big = max(dict) " maximum value in dict
493 :let small = min(dict) " minimum value in dict
494 :let xs = count(dict, 'x') " count nr of times 'x' appears in dict
495 :let s = string(dict) " String representation of dict
496 :call map(dict, '">> " . v:val') " prepend ">> " to each item
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000497
498
4991.5 More about variables ~
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000500 *more-variables*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000501If you need to know the type of a variable or expression, use the |type()|
502function.
503
504When the '!' flag is included in the 'viminfo' option, global variables that
505start with an uppercase letter, and don't contain a lowercase letter, are
506stored in the viminfo file |viminfo-file|.
507
508When the 'sessionoptions' option contains "global", global variables that
509start with an uppercase letter and contain at least one lowercase letter are
510stored in the session file |session-file|.
511
512variable name can be stored where ~
513my_var_6 not
514My_Var_6 session file
515MY_VAR_6 viminfo file
516
517
518It's possible to form a variable name with curly braces, see
519|curly-braces-names|.
520
521==============================================================================
5222. Expression syntax *expression-syntax*
523
524Expression syntax summary, from least to most significant:
525
526|expr1| expr2 ? expr1 : expr1 if-then-else
527
528|expr2| expr3 || expr3 .. logical OR
529
530|expr3| expr4 && expr4 .. logical AND
531
532|expr4| expr5 == expr5 equal
533 expr5 != expr5 not equal
534 expr5 > expr5 greater than
535 expr5 >= expr5 greater than or equal
536 expr5 < expr5 smaller than
537 expr5 <= expr5 smaller than or equal
538 expr5 =~ expr5 regexp matches
539 expr5 !~ expr5 regexp doesn't match
540
541 expr5 ==? expr5 equal, ignoring case
542 expr5 ==# expr5 equal, match case
543 etc. As above, append ? for ignoring case, # for
544 matching case
545
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000546 expr5 is expr5 same List instance
547 expr5 isnot expr5 different List instance
548
549|expr5| expr6 + expr6 .. number addition or list concatenation
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000550 expr6 - expr6 .. number subtraction
551 expr6 . expr6 .. string concatenation
552
553|expr6| expr7 * expr7 .. number multiplication
554 expr7 / expr7 .. number division
555 expr7 % expr7 .. number modulo
556
557|expr7| ! expr7 logical NOT
558 - expr7 unary minus
559 + expr7 unary plus
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000560
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000561
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000562|expr8| expr8[expr1] byte of a String or item of a List
563 expr8[expr1 : expr1] substring of a String or sublist of a List
564 expr8.name entry in a Dictionary
565 expr8(expr1, ...) function call with Funcref variable
566
567|expr9| number number constant
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000568 "string" string constant, backslash is special
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000569 'string' string constant, ' is doubled
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000570 [expr1, ...] List
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000571 {expr1: expr1, ...} Dictionary
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000572 &option option value
573 (expr1) nested expression
574 variable internal variable
575 va{ria}ble internal variable with curly braces
576 $VAR environment variable
577 @r contents of register 'r'
578 function(expr1, ...) function call
579 func{ti}on(expr1, ...) function call with curly braces
580
581
582".." indicates that the operations in this level can be concatenated.
583Example: >
584 &nu || &list && &shell == "csh"
585
586All expressions within one level are parsed from left to right.
587
588
589expr1 *expr1* *E109*
590-----
591
592expr2 ? expr1 : expr1
593
594The expression before the '?' is evaluated to a number. If it evaluates to
595non-zero, the result is the value of the expression between the '?' and ':',
596otherwise the result is the value of the expression after the ':'.
597Example: >
598 :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum
599
600Since the first expression is an "expr2", it cannot contain another ?:. The
601other two expressions can, thus allow for recursive use of ?:.
602Example: >
603 :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum == 1000 ? "last" : lnum
604
605To keep this readable, using |line-continuation| is suggested: >
606 :echo lnum == 1
607 :\ ? "top"
608 :\ : lnum == 1000
609 :\ ? "last"
610 :\ : lnum
611
612
613expr2 and expr3 *expr2* *expr3*
614---------------
615
616 *expr-barbar* *expr-&&*
617The "||" and "&&" operators take one argument on each side. The arguments
618are (converted to) Numbers. The result is:
619
620 input output ~
621n1 n2 n1 || n2 n1 && n2 ~
622zero zero zero zero
623zero non-zero non-zero zero
624non-zero zero non-zero zero
625non-zero non-zero non-zero non-zero
626
627The operators can be concatenated, for example: >
628
629 &nu || &list && &shell == "csh"
630
631Note that "&&" takes precedence over "||", so this has the meaning of: >
632
633 &nu || (&list && &shell == "csh")
634
635Once the result is known, the expression "short-circuits", that is, further
636arguments are not evaluated. This is like what happens in C. For example: >
637
638 let a = 1
639 echo a || b
640
641This is valid even if there is no variable called "b" because "a" is non-zero,
642so the result must be non-zero. Similarly below: >
643
644 echo exists("b") && b == "yes"
645
646This is valid whether "b" has been defined or not. The second clause will
647only be evaluated if "b" has been defined.
648
649
650expr4 *expr4*
651-----
652
653expr5 {cmp} expr5
654
655Compare two expr5 expressions, resulting in a 0 if it evaluates to false, or 1
656if it evaluates to true.
657
658 *expr-==* *expr-!=* *expr->* *expr->=*
659 *expr-<* *expr-<=* *expr-=~* *expr-!~*
660 *expr-==#* *expr-!=#* *expr->#* *expr->=#*
661 *expr-<#* *expr-<=#* *expr-=~#* *expr-!~#*
662 *expr-==?* *expr-!=?* *expr->?* *expr->=?*
663 *expr-<?* *expr-<=?* *expr-=~?* *expr-!~?*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000664 *expr-is*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000665 use 'ignorecase' match case ignore case ~
666equal == ==# ==?
667not equal != !=# !=?
668greater than > ># >?
669greater than or equal >= >=# >=?
670smaller than < <# <?
671smaller than or equal <= <=# <=?
672regexp matches =~ =~# =~?
673regexp doesn't match !~ !~# !~?
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000674same instance is
675different instance isnot
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000676
677Examples:
678"abc" ==# "Abc" evaluates to 0
679"abc" ==? "Abc" evaluates to 1
680"abc" == "Abc" evaluates to 1 if 'ignorecase' is set, 0 otherwise
681
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000682 *E691* *E692*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000683A List can only be compared with a List and only "equal", "not equal" and "is"
684can be used. This compares the values of the list, recursively. Ignoring
685case means case is ignored when comparing item values.
686
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000687 *E735* *E736*
688A Dictionary can only be compared with a Dictionary and only "equal", "not
689equal" and "is" can be used. This compares the key/values of the Dictionary,
690recursively. Ignoring case means case is ignored when comparing item values.
691
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000692 *E693* *E694*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000693A Funcref can only be compared with a Funcref and only "equal" and "not equal"
694can be used. Case is never ignored.
695
696When using "is" or "isnot" with a List this checks if the expressions are
697referring to the same List instance. A copy of a List is different from the
698original List. When using "is" without a List it is equivalent to using
699"equal", using "isnot" equivalent to using "not equal". Except that a
700different type means the values are different. "4 == '4'" is true, "4 is '4'"
701is false.
702
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000703When comparing a String with a Number, the String is converted to a Number,
704and the comparison is done on Numbers. This means that "0 == 'x'" is TRUE,
705because 'x' converted to a Number is zero.
706
707When comparing two Strings, this is done with strcmp() or stricmp(). This
708results in the mathematical difference (comparing byte values), not
709necessarily the alphabetical difference in the local language.
710
711When using the operators with a trailing '#", or the short version and
712'ignorecase' is off, the comparing is done with strcmp().
713
714When using the operators with a trailing '?', or the short version and
715'ignorecase' is set, the comparing is done with stricmp().
716
717The "=~" and "!~" operators match the lefthand argument with the righthand
718argument, which is used as a pattern. See |pattern| for what a pattern is.
719This matching is always done like 'magic' was set and 'cpoptions' is empty, no
720matter what the actual value of 'magic' or 'cpoptions' is. This makes scripts
721portable. To avoid backslashes in the regexp pattern to be doubled, use a
722single-quote string, see |literal-string|.
723Since a string is considered to be a single line, a multi-line pattern
724(containing \n, backslash-n) will not match. However, a literal NL character
725can be matched like an ordinary character. Examples:
726 "foo\nbar" =~ "\n" evaluates to 1
727 "foo\nbar" =~ "\\n" evaluates to 0
728
729
730expr5 and expr6 *expr5* *expr6*
731---------------
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000732expr6 + expr6 .. Number addition or List concatenation *expr-+*
733expr6 - expr6 .. Number subtraction *expr--*
734expr6 . expr6 .. String concatenation *expr-.*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000735
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000736For Lists only "+" is possible and then both expr6 must be a list. The result
737is a new list with the two lists Concatenated.
738
739expr7 * expr7 .. number multiplication *expr-star*
740expr7 / expr7 .. number division *expr-/*
741expr7 % expr7 .. number modulo *expr-%*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000742
743For all, except ".", Strings are converted to Numbers.
744
745Note the difference between "+" and ".":
746 "123" + "456" = 579
747 "123" . "456" = "123456"
748
749When the righthand side of '/' is zero, the result is 0x7fffffff.
750When the righthand side of '%' is zero, the result is 0.
751
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000752None of these work for Funcrefs.
753
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000754
755expr7 *expr7*
756-----
757! expr7 logical NOT *expr-!*
758- expr7 unary minus *expr-unary--*
759+ expr7 unary plus *expr-unary-+*
760
761For '!' non-zero becomes zero, zero becomes one.
762For '-' the sign of the number is changed.
763For '+' the number is unchanged.
764
765A String will be converted to a Number first.
766
767These three can be repeated and mixed. Examples:
768 !-1 == 0
769 !!8 == 1
770 --9 == 9
771
772
773expr8 *expr8*
774-----
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000775expr8[expr1] item of String or List *expr-[]* *E111*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000776
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000777If expr8 is a Number or String this results in a String that contains the
778expr1'th single byte from expr8. expr8 is used as a String, expr1 as a
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000779Number. Note that this doesn't recognize multi-byte encodings.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000780
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000781Index zero gives the first character. This is like it works in C. Careful:
782text column numbers start with one! Example, to get the character under the
783cursor: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000784 :let c = getline(line("."))[col(".") - 1]
785
786If the length of the String is less than the index, the result is an empty
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000787String. A negative index always results in an empty string (reason: backwards
788compatibility). Use [-1:] to get the last byte.
789
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000790If expr8 is a List then it results the item at index expr1. See |list-index|
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000791for possible index values. If the index is out of range this results in an
792error. Example: >
793 :let item = mylist[-1] " get last item
794
795Generally, if a List index is equal to or higher than the length of the List,
796or more negative than the length of the List, this results in an error.
797
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000798
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000799expr8[expr1a : expr1b] substring or sublist *expr-[:]*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000800
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000801If expr8 is a Number or String this results in the substring with the bytes
802from expr1a to and including expr1b. expr8 is used as a String, expr1a and
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000803expr1b are used as a Number. Note that this doesn't recognize multi-byte
804encodings.
805
806If expr1a is omitted zero is used. If expr1b is omitted the length of the
807string minus one is used.
808
809A negative number can be used to measure from the end of the string. -1 is
810the last character, -2 the last but one, etc.
811
812If an index goes out of range for the string characters are omitted. If
813expr1b is smaller than expr1a the result is an empty string.
814
815Examples: >
816 :let c = name[-1:] " last byte of a string
817 :let c = name[-2:-2] " last but one byte of a string
818 :let s = line(".")[4:] " from the fifth byte to the end
819 :let s = s[:-3] " remove last two bytes
820
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000821If expr8 is a List this results in a new List with the items indicated by the
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000822indexes expr1a and expr1b. This works like with a String, as explained just
823above, except that indexes out of range cause an error. Examples: >
824 :let l = mylist[:3] " first four items
825 :let l = mylist[4:4] " List with one item
826 :let l = mylist[:] " shallow copy of a List
827
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000828Using expr8[expr1] or expr8[expr1a : expr1b] on a Funcref results in an error.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000829
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000830
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000831expr8.name entry in a Dictionary *expr-entry*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000832
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000833If expr8 is a Dictionary and it is followed by a dot, then the following name
834will be used as a key in the Dictionary. This is just like: expr8[name].
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000835
836The name must consist of alphanumeric characters, just like a variable name,
837but it may start with a number. Curly braces cannot be used.
838
839There must not be white space before or after the dot.
840
841Examples: >
842 :let dict = {"one": 1, 2: "two"}
843 :echo dict.one
844 :echo dict .2
845
846Note that the dot is also used for String concatenation. To avoid confusion
847always put spaces around the dot for String concatenation.
848
849
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000850expr8(expr1, ...) Funcref function call
851
852When expr8 is a |Funcref| type variable, invoke the function it refers to.
853
854
855
856 *expr9*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000857number
858------
859number number constant *expr-number*
860
861Decimal, Hexadecimal (starting with 0x or 0X), or Octal (starting with 0).
862
863
864string *expr-string* *E114*
865------
866"string" string constant *expr-quote*
867
868Note that double quotes are used.
869
870A string constant accepts these special characters:
871\... three-digit octal number (e.g., "\316")
872\.. two-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit)
873\. one-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit)
874\x.. byte specified with two hex numbers (e.g., "\x1f")
875\x. byte specified with one hex number (must be followed by non-hex char)
876\X.. same as \x..
877\X. same as \x.
878\u.... character specified with up to 4 hex numbers, stored according to the
879 current value of 'encoding' (e.g., "\u02a4")
880\U.... same as \u....
881\b backspace <BS>
882\e escape <Esc>
883\f formfeed <FF>
884\n newline <NL>
885\r return <CR>
886\t tab <Tab>
887\\ backslash
888\" double quote
889\<xxx> Special key named "xxx". e.g. "\<C-W>" for CTRL-W.
890
891Note that "\000" and "\x00" force the end of the string.
892
893
894literal-string *literal-string* *E115*
895---------------
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000896'string' string constant *expr-'*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000897
898Note that single quotes are used.
899
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000900This string is taken as it is. No backslashes are removed or have a special
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000901meaning. The only exception is that two quotes stand for one quote.
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000902
903Single quoted strings are useful for patterns, so that backslashes do not need
904to be doubled. These two commands are equivalent: >
905 if a =~ "\\s*"
906 if a =~ '\s*'
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000907
908
909option *expr-option* *E112* *E113*
910------
911&option option value, local value if possible
912&g:option global option value
913&l:option local option value
914
915Examples: >
916 echo "tabstop is " . &tabstop
917 if &insertmode
918
919Any option name can be used here. See |options|. When using the local value
920and there is no buffer-local or window-local value, the global value is used
921anyway.
922
923
924register *expr-register*
925--------
926@r contents of register 'r'
927
928The result is the contents of the named register, as a single string.
929Newlines are inserted where required. To get the contents of the unnamed
930register use @" or @@. The '=' register can not be used here. See
931|registers| for an explanation of the available registers.
932
933
934nesting *expr-nesting* *E110*
935-------
936(expr1) nested expression
937
938
939environment variable *expr-env*
940--------------------
941$VAR environment variable
942
943The String value of any environment variable. When it is not defined, the
944result is an empty string.
945 *expr-env-expand*
946Note that there is a difference between using $VAR directly and using
947expand("$VAR"). Using it directly will only expand environment variables that
948are known inside the current Vim session. Using expand() will first try using
949the environment variables known inside the current Vim session. If that
950fails, a shell will be used to expand the variable. This can be slow, but it
951does expand all variables that the shell knows about. Example: >
952 :echo $version
953 :echo expand("$version")
954The first one probably doesn't echo anything, the second echoes the $version
955variable (if your shell supports it).
956
957
958internal variable *expr-variable*
959-----------------
960variable internal variable
961See below |internal-variables|.
962
963
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +0000964function call *expr-function* *E116* *E118* *E119* *E120*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000965-------------
966function(expr1, ...) function call
967See below |functions|.
968
969
970==============================================================================
9713. Internal variable *internal-variables* *E121*
972 *E461*
973An internal variable name can be made up of letters, digits and '_'. But it
974cannot start with a digit. It's also possible to use curly braces, see
975|curly-braces-names|.
976
977An internal variable is created with the ":let" command |:let|.
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000978An internal variable is explicitly destroyed with the ":unlet" command
979|:unlet|.
980Using a name that is not an internal variable or refers to a variable that has
981been destroyed results in an error.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000982
983There are several name spaces for variables. Which one is to be used is
984specified by what is prepended:
985
986 (nothing) In a function: local to a function; otherwise: global
987|buffer-variable| b: Local to the current buffer.
988|window-variable| w: Local to the current window.
989|global-variable| g: Global.
990|local-variable| l: Local to a function.
991|script-variable| s: Local to a |:source|'ed Vim script.
992|function-argument| a: Function argument (only inside a function).
993|vim-variable| v: Global, predefined by Vim.
994
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +0000995The scope name by itself can be used as a Dictionary. For example, to delete
996all script-local variables: >
997 :for k in keys(s:)
998 : unlet s:[k]
999 :endfor
1000<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001001 *buffer-variable* *b:var*
1002A variable name that is preceded with "b:" is local to the current buffer.
1003Thus you can have several "b:foo" variables, one for each buffer.
1004This kind of variable is deleted when the buffer is wiped out or deleted with
1005|:bdelete|.
1006
1007One local buffer variable is predefined:
1008 *b:changedtick-variable* *changetick*
1009b:changedtick The total number of changes to the current buffer. It is
1010 incremented for each change. An undo command is also a change
1011 in this case. This can be used to perform an action only when
1012 the buffer has changed. Example: >
1013 :if my_changedtick != b:changedtick
1014 : let my_changedtick = b:changedtick
1015 : call My_Update()
1016 :endif
1017<
1018 *window-variable* *w:var*
1019A variable name that is preceded with "w:" is local to the current window. It
1020is deleted when the window is closed.
1021
1022 *global-variable* *g:var*
1023Inside functions global variables are accessed with "g:". Omitting this will
1024access a variable local to a function. But "g:" can also be used in any other
1025place if you like.
1026
1027 *local-variable* *l:var*
1028Inside functions local variables are accessed without prepending anything.
1029But you can also prepend "l:" if you like.
1030
1031 *script-variable* *s:var*
1032In a Vim script variables starting with "s:" can be used. They cannot be
1033accessed from outside of the scripts, thus are local to the script.
1034
1035They can be used in:
1036- commands executed while the script is sourced
1037- functions defined in the script
1038- autocommands defined in the script
1039- functions and autocommands defined in functions and autocommands which were
1040 defined in the script (recursively)
1041- user defined commands defined in the script
1042Thus not in:
1043- other scripts sourced from this one
1044- mappings
1045- etc.
1046
1047script variables can be used to avoid conflicts with global variable names.
1048Take this example:
1049
1050 let s:counter = 0
1051 function MyCounter()
1052 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1053 echo s:counter
1054 endfunction
1055 command Tick call MyCounter()
1056
1057You can now invoke "Tick" from any script, and the "s:counter" variable in
1058that script will not be changed, only the "s:counter" in the script where
1059"Tick" was defined is used.
1060
1061Another example that does the same: >
1062
1063 let s:counter = 0
1064 command Tick let s:counter = s:counter + 1 | echo s:counter
1065
1066When calling a function and invoking a user-defined command, the context for
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001067script variables is set to the script where the function or command was
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001068defined.
1069
1070The script variables are also available when a function is defined inside a
1071function that is defined in a script. Example: >
1072
1073 let s:counter = 0
1074 function StartCounting(incr)
1075 if a:incr
1076 function MyCounter()
1077 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1078 endfunction
1079 else
1080 function MyCounter()
1081 let s:counter = s:counter - 1
1082 endfunction
1083 endif
1084 endfunction
1085
1086This defines the MyCounter() function either for counting up or counting down
1087when calling StartCounting(). It doesn't matter from where StartCounting() is
1088called, the s:counter variable will be accessible in MyCounter().
1089
1090When the same script is sourced again it will use the same script variables.
1091They will remain valid as long as Vim is running. This can be used to
1092maintain a counter: >
1093
1094 if !exists("s:counter")
1095 let s:counter = 1
1096 echo "script executed for the first time"
1097 else
1098 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1099 echo "script executed " . s:counter . " times now"
1100 endif
1101
1102Note that this means that filetype plugins don't get a different set of script
1103variables for each buffer. Use local buffer variables instead |b:var|.
1104
1105
1106Predefined Vim variables: *vim-variable* *v:var*
1107
1108 *v:charconvert_from* *charconvert_from-variable*
1109v:charconvert_from
1110 The name of the character encoding of a file to be converted.
1111 Only valid while evaluating the 'charconvert' option.
1112
1113 *v:charconvert_to* *charconvert_to-variable*
1114v:charconvert_to
1115 The name of the character encoding of a file after conversion.
1116 Only valid while evaluating the 'charconvert' option.
1117
1118 *v:cmdarg* *cmdarg-variable*
1119v:cmdarg This variable is used for two purposes:
1120 1. The extra arguments given to a file read/write command.
1121 Currently these are "++enc=" and "++ff=". This variable is
1122 set before an autocommand event for a file read/write
1123 command is triggered. There is a leading space to make it
1124 possible to append this variable directly after the
1125 read/write command. Note: The "+cmd" argument isn't
1126 included here, because it will be executed anyway.
1127 2. When printing a PostScript file with ":hardcopy" this is
1128 the argument for the ":hardcopy" command. This can be used
1129 in 'printexpr'.
1130
1131 *v:cmdbang* *cmdbang-variable*
1132v:cmdbang Set like v:cmdarg for a file read/write command. When a "!"
1133 was used the value is 1, otherwise it is 0. Note that this
1134 can only be used in autocommands. For user commands |<bang>|
1135 can be used.
1136
1137 *v:count* *count-variable*
1138v:count The count given for the last Normal mode command. Can be used
1139 to get the count before a mapping. Read-only. Example: >
1140 :map _x :<C-U>echo "the count is " . v:count<CR>
1141< Note: The <C-U> is required to remove the line range that you
1142 get when typing ':' after a count.
1143 "count" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1144
1145 *v:count1* *count1-variable*
1146v:count1 Just like "v:count", but defaults to one when no count is
1147 used.
1148
1149 *v:ctype* *ctype-variable*
1150v:ctype The current locale setting for characters of the runtime
1151 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1152 current locale encoding. Technical: it's the value of
1153 LC_CTYPE. When not using a locale the value is "C".
1154 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1155 command.
1156 See |multi-lang|.
1157
1158 *v:dying* *dying-variable*
1159v:dying Normally zero. When a deadly signal is caught it's set to
1160 one. When multiple signals are caught the number increases.
1161 Can be used in an autocommand to check if Vim didn't
1162 terminate normally. {only works on Unix}
1163 Example: >
1164 :au VimLeave * if v:dying | echo "\nAAAAaaaarrrggghhhh!!!\n" | endif
1165<
1166 *v:errmsg* *errmsg-variable*
1167v:errmsg Last given error message. It's allowed to set this variable.
1168 Example: >
1169 :let v:errmsg = ""
1170 :silent! next
1171 :if v:errmsg != ""
1172 : ... handle error
1173< "errmsg" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1174
1175 *v:exception* *exception-variable*
1176v:exception The value of the exception most recently caught and not
1177 finished. See also |v:throwpoint| and |throw-variables|.
1178 Example: >
1179 :try
1180 : throw "oops"
1181 :catch /.*/
1182 : echo "caught" v:exception
1183 :endtry
1184< Output: "caught oops".
1185
1186 *v:fname_in* *fname_in-variable*
1187v:fname_in The name of the input file. Only valid while evaluating:
1188 option used for ~
1189 'charconvert' file to be converted
1190 'diffexpr' original file
1191 'patchexpr' original file
1192 'printexpr' file to be printed
1193
1194 *v:fname_out* *fname_out-variable*
1195v:fname_out The name of the output file. Only valid while
1196 evaluating:
1197 option used for ~
1198 'charconvert' resulting converted file (*)
1199 'diffexpr' output of diff
1200 'patchexpr' resulting patched file
1201 (*) When doing conversion for a write command (e.g., ":w
1202 file") it will be equal to v:fname_in. When doing conversion
1203 for a read command (e.g., ":e file") it will be a temporary
1204 file and different from v:fname_in.
1205
1206 *v:fname_new* *fname_new-variable*
1207v:fname_new The name of the new version of the file. Only valid while
1208 evaluating 'diffexpr'.
1209
1210 *v:fname_diff* *fname_diff-variable*
1211v:fname_diff The name of the diff (patch) file. Only valid while
1212 evaluating 'patchexpr'.
1213
1214 *v:folddashes* *folddashes-variable*
1215v:folddashes Used for 'foldtext': dashes representing foldlevel of a closed
1216 fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001217 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001218
1219 *v:foldlevel* *foldlevel-variable*
1220v:foldlevel Used for 'foldtext': foldlevel of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001221 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001222
1223 *v:foldend* *foldend-variable*
1224v:foldend Used for 'foldtext': last line of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001225 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001226
1227 *v:foldstart* *foldstart-variable*
1228v:foldstart Used for 'foldtext': first line of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001229 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001230
Bram Moolenaar843ee412004-06-30 16:16:41 +00001231 *v:insertmode* *insertmode-variable*
1232v:insertmode Used for the |InsertEnter| and |InsertChange| autocommand
1233 events. Values:
1234 i Insert mode
1235 r Replace mode
1236 v Virtual Replace mode
1237
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001238 *v:key* *key-variable*
1239v:key Key of the current item of a Dictionary. Only valid while
1240 evaluating the expression used with |map()| and |filter()|.
1241 Read-only.
1242
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001243 *v:lang* *lang-variable*
1244v:lang The current locale setting for messages of the runtime
1245 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1246 current language. Technical: it's the value of LC_MESSAGES.
1247 The value is system dependent.
1248 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1249 command.
1250 It can be different from |v:ctype| when messages are desired
1251 in a different language than what is used for character
1252 encoding. See |multi-lang|.
1253
1254 *v:lc_time* *lc_time-variable*
1255v:lc_time The current locale setting for time messages of the runtime
1256 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1257 current language. Technical: it's the value of LC_TIME.
1258 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1259 command. See |multi-lang|.
1260
1261 *v:lnum* *lnum-variable*
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001262v:lnum Line number for the 'foldexpr' |fold-expr| and 'indentexpr'
1263 expressions. Only valid while one of these expressions is
1264 being evaluated. Read-only when in the |sandbox|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001265
1266 *v:prevcount* *prevcount-variable*
1267v:prevcount The count given for the last but one Normal mode command.
1268 This is the v:count value of the previous command. Useful if
1269 you want to cancel Visual mode and then use the count. >
1270 :vmap % <Esc>:call MyFilter(v:prevcount)<CR>
1271< Read-only.
1272
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00001273 *v:profiling* *profiling-variable*
1274v:profiling Normally zero. Set to one after using ":profile start".
1275 See |profiling|.
1276
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001277 *v:progname* *progname-variable*
1278v:progname Contains the name (with path removed) with which Vim was
1279 invoked. Allows you to do special initialisations for "view",
1280 "evim" etc., or any other name you might symlink to Vim.
1281 Read-only.
1282
1283 *v:register* *register-variable*
1284v:register The name of the register supplied to the last normal mode
1285 command. Empty if none were supplied. |getreg()| |setreg()|
1286
1287 *v:servername* *servername-variable*
1288v:servername The resulting registered |x11-clientserver| name if any.
1289 Read-only.
1290
1291 *v:shell_error* *shell_error-variable*
1292v:shell_error Result of the last shell command. When non-zero, the last
1293 shell command had an error. When zero, there was no problem.
1294 This only works when the shell returns the error code to Vim.
1295 The value -1 is often used when the command could not be
1296 executed. Read-only.
1297 Example: >
1298 :!mv foo bar
1299 :if v:shell_error
1300 : echo 'could not rename "foo" to "bar"!'
1301 :endif
1302< "shell_error" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1303
1304 *v:statusmsg* *statusmsg-variable*
1305v:statusmsg Last given status message. It's allowed to set this variable.
1306
1307 *v:termresponse* *termresponse-variable*
1308v:termresponse The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the |t_RV|
1309 termcap entry. It is set when Vim receives an escape sequence
1310 that starts with ESC [ or CSI and ends in a 'c', with only
1311 digits, ';' and '.' in between.
1312 When this option is set, the TermResponse autocommand event is
1313 fired, so that you can react to the response from the
1314 terminal.
1315 The response from a new xterm is: "<Esc>[ Pp ; Pv ; Pc c". Pp
1316 is the terminal type: 0 for vt100 and 1 for vt220. Pv is the
1317 patch level (since this was introduced in patch 95, it's
1318 always 95 or bigger). Pc is always zero.
1319 {only when compiled with |+termresponse| feature}
1320
1321 *v:this_session* *this_session-variable*
1322v:this_session Full filename of the last loaded or saved session file. See
1323 |:mksession|. It is allowed to set this variable. When no
1324 session file has been saved, this variable is empty.
1325 "this_session" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1326
1327 *v:throwpoint* *throwpoint-variable*
1328v:throwpoint The point where the exception most recently caught and not
1329 finished was thrown. Not set when commands are typed. See
1330 also |v:exception| and |throw-variables|.
1331 Example: >
1332 :try
1333 : throw "oops"
1334 :catch /.*/
1335 : echo "Exception from" v:throwpoint
1336 :endtry
1337< Output: "Exception from test.vim, line 2"
1338
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001339 *v:val* *val-variable*
1340v:val Value of the current item of a List or Dictionary. Only valid
1341 while evaluating the expression used with |map()| and
1342 |filter()|. Read-only.
1343
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001344 *v:version* *version-variable*
1345v:version Version number of Vim: Major version number times 100 plus
1346 minor version number. Version 5.0 is 500. Version 5.1 (5.01)
1347 is 501. Read-only. "version" also works, for backwards
1348 compatibility.
1349 Use |has()| to check if a certain patch was included, e.g.: >
1350 if has("patch123")
1351< Note that patch numbers are specific to the version, thus both
1352 version 5.0 and 5.1 may have a patch 123, but these are
1353 completely different.
1354
1355 *v:warningmsg* *warningmsg-variable*
1356v:warningmsg Last given warning message. It's allowed to set this variable.
1357
1358==============================================================================
13594. Builtin Functions *functions*
1360
1361See |function-list| for a list grouped by what the function is used for.
1362
1363(Use CTRL-] on the function name to jump to the full explanation)
1364
1365USAGE RESULT DESCRIPTION ~
1366
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001367add( {list}, {item}) List append {item} to List {list}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001368append( {lnum}, {string}) Number append {string} below line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00001369append( {lnum}, {list}) Number append lines {list} below line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001370argc() Number number of files in the argument list
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001371argidx() Number current index in the argument list
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001372argv( {nr}) String {nr} entry of the argument list
1373browse( {save}, {title}, {initdir}, {default})
1374 String put up a file requester
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001375browsedir( {title}, {initdir}) String put up a directory requester
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001376bufexists( {expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} exists
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001377buflisted( {expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} is listed
1378bufloaded( {expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} is loaded
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001379bufname( {expr}) String Name of the buffer {expr}
1380bufnr( {expr}) Number Number of the buffer {expr}
1381bufwinnr( {expr}) Number window number of buffer {expr}
1382byte2line( {byte}) Number line number at byte count {byte}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001383byteidx( {expr}, {nr}) Number byte index of {nr}'th char in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001384call( {func}, {arglist} [, {dict}])
1385 any call {func} with arguments {arglist}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001386char2nr( {expr}) Number ASCII value of first char in {expr}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001387cindent( {lnum}) Number C indent for line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001388col( {expr}) Number column nr of cursor or mark
1389confirm( {msg} [, {choices} [, {default} [, {type}]]])
1390 Number number of choice picked by user
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001391copy( {expr}) any make a shallow copy of {expr}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001392count( {list}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]])
1393 Number count how many {expr} are in {list}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001394cscope_connection( [{num} , {dbpath} [, {prepend}]])
1395 Number checks existence of cscope connection
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001396cursor( {lnum}, {col}) Number position cursor at {lnum}, {col}
1397deepcopy( {expr}) any make a full copy of {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001398delete( {fname}) Number delete file {fname}
1399did_filetype() Number TRUE if FileType autocommand event used
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001400diff_filler( {lnum}) Number diff filler lines about {lnum}
1401diff_hlID( {lnum}, {col}) Number diff highlighting at {lnum}/{col}
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001402empty( {expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} is empty
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00001403errorlist() List list of quickfix items
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001404escape( {string}, {chars}) String escape {chars} in {string} with '\'
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001405eval( {string}) any evaluate {string} into its value
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001406eventhandler( ) Number TRUE if inside an event handler
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001407executable( {expr}) Number 1 if executable {expr} exists
1408exists( {expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} exists
1409expand( {expr}) String expand special keywords in {expr}
1410filereadable( {file}) Number TRUE if {file} is a readable file
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001411filter( {expr}, {string}) List/Dict remove items from {expr} where
1412 {string} is 0
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001413finddir( {name}[, {path}[, {count}]])
1414 String Find directory {name} in {path}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001415findfile( {name}[, {path}[, {count}]])
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001416 String Find file {name} in {path}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001417filewritable( {file}) Number TRUE if {file} is a writable file
1418fnamemodify( {fname}, {mods}) String modify file name
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001419foldclosed( {lnum}) Number first line of fold at {lnum} if closed
1420foldclosedend( {lnum}) Number last line of fold at {lnum} if closed
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001421foldlevel( {lnum}) Number fold level at {lnum}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001422foldtext( ) String line displayed for closed fold
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001423foreground( ) Number bring the Vim window to the foreground
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001424function( {name}) Funcref reference to function {name}
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001425get( {list}, {idx} [, {def}]) any get item {idx} from {list} or {def}
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001426get( {dict}, {key} [, {def}]) any get item {key} from {dict} or {def}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001427getchar( [expr]) Number get one character from the user
1428getcharmod( ) Number modifiers for the last typed character
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001429getbufvar( {expr}, {varname}) variable {varname} in buffer {expr}
1430getcmdline() String return the current command-line
1431getcmdpos() Number return cursor position in command-line
1432getcwd() String the current working directory
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00001433getfperm( {fname}) String file permissions of file {fname}
1434getfsize( {fname}) Number size in bytes of file {fname}
Bram Moolenaard8b0cf12004-12-12 11:33:30 +00001435getfontname( [{name}]) String name of font being used
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001436getftime( {fname}) Number last modification time of file
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00001437getftype( {fname}) String description of type of file {fname}
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00001438getline( {lnum}) String line {lnum} of current buffer
1439getline( {lnum}, {end}) List lines {lnum} to {end} of current buffer
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001440getreg( [{regname}]) String contents of register
1441getregtype( [{regname}]) String type of register
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001442getwinposx() Number X coord in pixels of GUI Vim window
1443getwinposy() Number Y coord in pixels of GUI Vim window
1444getwinvar( {nr}, {varname}) variable {varname} in window {nr}
1445glob( {expr}) String expand file wildcards in {expr}
1446globpath( {path}, {expr}) String do glob({expr}) for all dirs in {path}
1447has( {feature}) Number TRUE if feature {feature} supported
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001448has_key( {dict}, {key}) Number TRUE if {dict} has entry {key}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001449hasmapto( {what} [, {mode}]) Number TRUE if mapping to {what} exists
1450histadd( {history},{item}) String add an item to a history
1451histdel( {history} [, {item}]) String remove an item from a history
1452histget( {history} [, {index}]) String get the item {index} from a history
1453histnr( {history}) Number highest index of a history
1454hlexists( {name}) Number TRUE if highlight group {name} exists
1455hlID( {name}) Number syntax ID of highlight group {name}
1456hostname() String name of the machine Vim is running on
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001457iconv( {expr}, {from}, {to}) String convert encoding of {expr}
1458indent( {lnum}) Number indent of line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001459index( {list}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]])
1460 Number index in {list} where {expr} appears
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001461input( {prompt} [, {text}]) String get input from the user
1462inputdialog( {p} [, {t} [, {c}]]) String like input() but in a GUI dialog
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001463inputrestore() Number restore typeahead
1464inputsave() Number save and clear typeahead
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001465inputsecret( {prompt} [, {text}]) String like input() but hiding the text
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001466insert( {list}, {item} [, {idx}]) List insert {item} in {list} [before {idx}]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001467isdirectory( {directory}) Number TRUE if {directory} is a directory
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00001468islocked( {expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} is locked
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00001469items( {dict}) List List of key-value pairs in {dict}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001470join( {list} [, {sep}]) String join {list} items into one String
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001471keys( {dict}) List List of keys in {dict}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001472len( {expr}) Number the length of {expr}
1473libcall( {lib}, {func}, {arg}) String call {func} in library {lib} with {arg}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001474libcallnr( {lib}, {func}, {arg}) Number idem, but return a Number
1475line( {expr}) Number line nr of cursor, last line or mark
1476line2byte( {lnum}) Number byte count of line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001477lispindent( {lnum}) Number Lisp indent for line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001478localtime() Number current time
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001479map( {expr}, {string}) List/Dict change each item in {expr} to {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001480maparg( {name}[, {mode}]) String rhs of mapping {name} in mode {mode}
1481mapcheck( {name}[, {mode}]) String check for mappings matching {name}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001482match( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001483 Number position where {pat} matches in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001484matchend( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001485 Number position where {pat} ends in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00001486matchlist( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
1487 List match and submatches of {pat} in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001488matchstr( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
1489 String {count}'th match of {pat} in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001490max({list}) Number maximum value of items in {list}
1491min({list}) Number minumum value of items in {list}
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00001492mkdir({name} [, {path} [, {prot}]])
1493 Number create directory {name}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001494mode() String current editing mode
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001495nextnonblank( {lnum}) Number line nr of non-blank line >= {lnum}
1496nr2char( {expr}) String single char with ASCII value {expr}
1497prevnonblank( {lnum}) Number line nr of non-blank line <= {lnum}
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001498range( {expr} [, {max} [, {stride}]])
1499 List items from {expr} to {max}
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00001500readfile({fname} [, {binary} [, {max}]])
1501 List get list of lines from file {fname}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001502remote_expr( {server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
1503 String send expression
1504remote_foreground( {server}) Number bring Vim server to the foreground
1505remote_peek( {serverid} [, {retvar}])
1506 Number check for reply string
1507remote_read( {serverid}) String read reply string
1508remote_send( {server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
1509 String send key sequence
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001510remove( {list}, {idx} [, {end}]) any remove items {idx}-{end} from {list}
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001511remove( {dict}, {key}) any remove entry {key} from {dict}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001512rename( {from}, {to}) Number rename (move) file from {from} to {to}
1513repeat( {expr}, {count}) String repeat {expr} {count} times
1514resolve( {filename}) String get filename a shortcut points to
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001515reverse( {list}) List reverse {list} in-place
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001516search( {pattern} [, {flags}]) Number search for {pattern}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001517searchpair( {start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip}]])
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001518 Number search for other end of start/end pair
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001519server2client( {clientid}, {string})
1520 Number send reply string
1521serverlist() String get a list of available servers
1522setbufvar( {expr}, {varname}, {val}) set {varname} in buffer {expr} to {val}
1523setcmdpos( {pos}) Number set cursor position in command-line
1524setline( {lnum}, {line}) Number set line {lnum} to {line}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001525setreg( {n}, {v}[, {opt}]) Number set register to value and type
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001526setwinvar( {nr}, {varname}, {val}) set {varname} in window {nr} to {val}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001527simplify( {filename}) String simplify filename as much as possible
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001528sort( {list} [, {func}]) List sort {list}, using {func} to compare
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001529split( {expr} [, {pat}]) List make List from {pat} separated {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001530strftime( {format}[, {time}]) String time in specified format
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00001531stridx( {haystack}, {needle}[, {start}])
1532 Number index of {needle} in {haystack}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001533string( {expr}) String String representation of {expr} value
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001534strlen( {expr}) Number length of the String {expr}
1535strpart( {src}, {start}[, {len}])
1536 String {len} characters of {src} at {start}
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00001537strridx( {haystack}, {needle} [, {start}])
1538 Number last index of {needle} in {haystack}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001539strtrans( {expr}) String translate string to make it printable
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001540submatch( {nr}) String specific match in ":substitute"
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001541substitute( {expr}, {pat}, {sub}, {flags})
1542 String all {pat} in {expr} replaced with {sub}
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00001543synID( {lnum}, {col}, {trans}) Number syntax ID at {lnum} and {col}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001544synIDattr( {synID}, {what} [, {mode}])
1545 String attribute {what} of syntax ID {synID}
1546synIDtrans( {synID}) Number translated syntax ID of {synID}
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00001547system( {expr} [, {input}]) String output of shell command/filter {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001548tempname() String name for a temporary file
1549tolower( {expr}) String the String {expr} switched to lowercase
1550toupper( {expr}) String the String {expr} switched to uppercase
Bram Moolenaar8299df92004-07-10 09:47:34 +00001551tr( {src}, {fromstr}, {tostr}) String translate chars of {src} in {fromstr}
1552 to chars in {tostr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001553type( {name}) Number type of variable {name}
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00001554values( {dict}) List List of values in {dict}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001555virtcol( {expr}) Number screen column of cursor or mark
1556visualmode( [expr]) String last visual mode used
1557winbufnr( {nr}) Number buffer number of window {nr}
1558wincol() Number window column of the cursor
1559winheight( {nr}) Number height of window {nr}
1560winline() Number window line of the cursor
1561winnr() Number number of current window
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001562winrestcmd() String returns command to restore window sizes
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001563winwidth( {nr}) Number width of window {nr}
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00001564writefile({list}, {fname} [, {binary}])
1565 Number write list of lines to file {fname}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001566
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001567add({list}, {expr}) *add()*
1568 Append the item {expr} to List {list}. Returns the resulting
1569 List. Examples: >
1570 :let alist = add([1, 2, 3], item)
1571 :call add(mylist, "woodstock")
1572< Note that when {expr} is a List it is appended as a single
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001573 item. Use |extend()| to concatenate Lists.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001574 Use |insert()| to add an item at another position.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001575
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001576
1577append({lnum}, {expr}) *append()*
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00001578 When {expr} is a List: Append each item of the List as a text
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001579 line below line {lnum} in the current buffer.
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00001580 Otherwise append {expr} as one text line below line {lnum} in
1581 the current buffer.
1582 {lnum} can be zero to insert a line before the first one.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001583 Returns 1 for failure ({lnum} out of range or out of memory),
1584 0 for success. Example: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001585 :let failed = append(line('$'), "# THE END")
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001586 :let failed = append(0, ["Chapter 1", "the beginning"])
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001587<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001588 *argc()*
1589argc() The result is the number of files in the argument list of the
1590 current window. See |arglist|.
1591
1592 *argidx()*
1593argidx() The result is the current index in the argument list. 0 is
1594 the first file. argc() - 1 is the last one. See |arglist|.
1595
1596 *argv()*
1597argv({nr}) The result is the {nr}th file in the argument list of the
1598 current window. See |arglist|. "argv(0)" is the first one.
1599 Example: >
1600 :let i = 0
1601 :while i < argc()
1602 : let f = escape(argv(i), '. ')
1603 : exe 'amenu Arg.' . f . ' :e ' . f . '<CR>'
1604 : let i = i + 1
1605 :endwhile
1606<
1607 *browse()*
1608browse({save}, {title}, {initdir}, {default})
1609 Put up a file requester. This only works when "has("browse")"
1610 returns non-zero (only in some GUI versions).
1611 The input fields are:
1612 {save} when non-zero, select file to write
1613 {title} title for the requester
1614 {initdir} directory to start browsing in
1615 {default} default file name
1616 When the "Cancel" button is hit, something went wrong, or
1617 browsing is not possible, an empty string is returned.
1618
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001619 *browsedir()*
1620browsedir({title}, {initdir})
1621 Put up a directory requester. This only works when
1622 "has("browse")" returns non-zero (only in some GUI versions).
1623 On systems where a directory browser is not supported a file
1624 browser is used. In that case: select a file in the directory
1625 to be used.
1626 The input fields are:
1627 {title} title for the requester
1628 {initdir} directory to start browsing in
1629 When the "Cancel" button is hit, something went wrong, or
1630 browsing is not possible, an empty string is returned.
1631
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001632bufexists({expr}) *bufexists()*
1633 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a buffer called
1634 {expr} exists.
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001635 If the {expr} argument is a number, buffer numbers are used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001636 If the {expr} argument is a string it must match a buffer name
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001637 exactly. The name can be:
1638 - Relative to the current directory.
1639 - A full path.
1640 - The name of a buffer with 'filetype' set to "nofile".
1641 - A URL name.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001642 Unlisted buffers will be found.
1643 Note that help files are listed by their short name in the
1644 output of |:buffers|, but bufexists() requires using their
1645 long name to be able to find them.
1646 Use "bufexists(0)" to test for the existence of an alternate
1647 file name.
1648 *buffer_exists()*
1649 Obsolete name: buffer_exists().
1650
1651buflisted({expr}) *buflisted()*
1652 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a buffer called
1653 {expr} exists and is listed (has the 'buflisted' option set).
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001654 The {expr} argument is used like with |bufexists()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001655
1656bufloaded({expr}) *bufloaded()*
1657 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a buffer called
1658 {expr} exists and is loaded (shown in a window or hidden).
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001659 The {expr} argument is used like with |bufexists()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001660
1661bufname({expr}) *bufname()*
1662 The result is the name of a buffer, as it is displayed by the
1663 ":ls" command.
1664 If {expr} is a Number, that buffer number's name is given.
1665 Number zero is the alternate buffer for the current window.
1666 If {expr} is a String, it is used as a |file-pattern| to match
1667 with the buffer names. This is always done like 'magic' is
1668 set and 'cpoptions' is empty. When there is more than one
1669 match an empty string is returned.
1670 "" or "%" can be used for the current buffer, "#" for the
1671 alternate buffer.
1672 A full match is preferred, otherwise a match at the start, end
1673 or middle of the buffer name is accepted.
1674 Listed buffers are found first. If there is a single match
1675 with a listed buffer, that one is returned. Next unlisted
1676 buffers are searched for.
1677 If the {expr} is a String, but you want to use it as a buffer
1678 number, force it to be a Number by adding zero to it: >
1679 :echo bufname("3" + 0)
1680< If the buffer doesn't exist, or doesn't have a name, an empty
1681 string is returned. >
1682 bufname("#") alternate buffer name
1683 bufname(3) name of buffer 3
1684 bufname("%") name of current buffer
1685 bufname("file2") name of buffer where "file2" matches.
1686< *buffer_name()*
1687 Obsolete name: buffer_name().
1688
1689 *bufnr()*
1690bufnr({expr}) The result is the number of a buffer, as it is displayed by
1691 the ":ls" command. For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()|
1692 above. If the buffer doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
1693 bufnr("$") is the last buffer: >
1694 :let last_buffer = bufnr("$")
1695< The result is a Number, which is the highest buffer number
1696 of existing buffers. Note that not all buffers with a smaller
1697 number necessarily exist, because ":bwipeout" may have removed
1698 them. Use bufexists() to test for the existence of a buffer.
1699 *buffer_number()*
1700 Obsolete name: buffer_number().
1701 *last_buffer_nr()*
1702 Obsolete name for bufnr("$"): last_buffer_nr().
1703
1704bufwinnr({expr}) *bufwinnr()*
1705 The result is a Number, which is the number of the first
1706 window associated with buffer {expr}. For the use of {expr},
1707 see |bufname()| above. If buffer {expr} doesn't exist or
1708 there is no such window, -1 is returned. Example: >
1709
1710 echo "A window containing buffer 1 is " . (bufwinnr(1))
1711
1712< The number can be used with |CTRL-W_w| and ":wincmd w"
1713 |:wincmd|.
1714
1715
1716byte2line({byte}) *byte2line()*
1717 Return the line number that contains the character at byte
1718 count {byte} in the current buffer. This includes the
1719 end-of-line character, depending on the 'fileformat' option
1720 for the current buffer. The first character has byte count
1721 one.
1722 Also see |line2byte()|, |go| and |:goto|.
1723 {not available when compiled without the |+byte_offset|
1724 feature}
1725
Bram Moolenaarab79bcb2004-07-18 21:34:53 +00001726byteidx({expr}, {nr}) *byteidx()*
1727 Return byte index of the {nr}'th character in the string
1728 {expr}. Use zero for the first character, it returns zero.
1729 This function is only useful when there are multibyte
1730 characters, otherwise the returned value is equal to {nr}.
1731 Composing characters are counted as a separate character.
1732 Example : >
1733 echo matchstr(str, ".", byteidx(str, 3))
1734< will display the fourth character. Another way to do the
1735 same: >
1736 let s = strpart(str, byteidx(str, 3))
1737 echo strpart(s, 0, byteidx(s, 1))
1738< If there are less than {nr} characters -1 is returned.
1739 If there are exactly {nr} characters the length of the string
1740 is returned.
1741
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001742call({func}, {arglist} [, {dict}]) *call()* *E699*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001743 Call function {func} with the items in List {arglist} as
1744 arguments.
1745 {func} can either be a Funcref or the name of a function.
1746 a:firstline and a:lastline are set to the cursor line.
1747 Returns the return value of the called function.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001748 {dict} is for functions with the "dict" attribute. It will be
1749 used to set the local variable "self". |Dictionary-function|
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001750
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001751char2nr({expr}) *char2nr()*
1752 Return number value of the first char in {expr}. Examples: >
1753 char2nr(" ") returns 32
1754 char2nr("ABC") returns 65
1755< The current 'encoding' is used. Example for "utf-8": >
1756 char2nr("á") returns 225
1757 char2nr("á"[0]) returns 195
1758
1759cindent({lnum}) *cindent()*
1760 Get the amount of indent for line {lnum} according the C
1761 indenting rules, as with 'cindent'.
1762 The indent is counted in spaces, the value of 'tabstop' is
1763 relevant. {lnum} is used just like in |getline()|.
1764 When {lnum} is invalid or Vim was not compiled the |+cindent|
1765 feature, -1 is returned.
1766
1767 *col()*
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00001768col({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the byte index of the column
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001769 position given with {expr}. The accepted positions are:
1770 . the cursor position
1771 $ the end of the cursor line (the result is the
1772 number of characters in the cursor line plus one)
1773 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is
1774 returned)
1775 For the screen column position use |virtcol()|.
1776 Note that only marks in the current file can be used.
1777 Examples: >
1778 col(".") column of cursor
1779 col("$") length of cursor line plus one
1780 col("'t") column of mark t
1781 col("'" . markname) column of mark markname
1782< The first column is 1. 0 is returned for an error.
1783 For the cursor position, when 'virtualedit' is active, the
1784 column is one higher if the cursor is after the end of the
1785 line. This can be used to obtain the column in Insert mode: >
1786 :imap <F2> <C-O>:let save_ve = &ve<CR>
1787 \<C-O>:set ve=all<CR>
1788 \<C-O>:echo col(".") . "\n" <Bar>
1789 \let &ve = save_ve<CR>
1790<
1791 *confirm()*
1792confirm({msg} [, {choices} [, {default} [, {type}]]])
1793 Confirm() offers the user a dialog, from which a choice can be
1794 made. It returns the number of the choice. For the first
1795 choice this is 1.
1796 Note: confirm() is only supported when compiled with dialog
1797 support, see |+dialog_con| and |+dialog_gui|.
1798 {msg} is displayed in a |dialog| with {choices} as the
1799 alternatives. When {choices} is missing or empty, "&OK" is
1800 used (and translated).
1801 {msg} is a String, use '\n' to include a newline. Only on
1802 some systems the string is wrapped when it doesn't fit.
1803 {choices} is a String, with the individual choices separated
1804 by '\n', e.g. >
1805 confirm("Save changes?", "&Yes\n&No\n&Cancel")
1806< The letter after the '&' is the shortcut key for that choice.
1807 Thus you can type 'c' to select "Cancel". The shortcut does
1808 not need to be the first letter: >
1809 confirm("file has been modified", "&Save\nSave &All")
1810< For the console, the first letter of each choice is used as
1811 the default shortcut key.
1812 The optional {default} argument is the number of the choice
1813 that is made if the user hits <CR>. Use 1 to make the first
1814 choice the default one. Use 0 to not set a default. If
1815 {default} is omitted, 1 is used.
1816 The optional {type} argument gives the type of dialog. This
1817 is only used for the icon of the Win32 GUI. It can be one of
1818 these values: "Error", "Question", "Info", "Warning" or
1819 "Generic". Only the first character is relevant. When {type}
1820 is omitted, "Generic" is used.
1821 If the user aborts the dialog by pressing <Esc>, CTRL-C,
1822 or another valid interrupt key, confirm() returns 0.
1823
1824 An example: >
1825 :let choice = confirm("What do you want?", "&Apples\n&Oranges\n&Bananas", 2)
1826 :if choice == 0
1827 : echo "make up your mind!"
1828 :elseif choice == 3
1829 : echo "tasteful"
1830 :else
1831 : echo "I prefer bananas myself."
1832 :endif
1833< In a GUI dialog, buttons are used. The layout of the buttons
1834 depends on the 'v' flag in 'guioptions'. If it is included,
1835 the buttons are always put vertically. Otherwise, confirm()
1836 tries to put the buttons in one horizontal line. If they
1837 don't fit, a vertical layout is used anyway. For some systems
1838 the horizontal layout is always used.
1839
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001840 *copy()*
1841copy({expr}) Make a copy of {expr}. For Numbers and Strings this isn't
1842 different from using {expr} directly.
1843 When {expr} is a List a shallow copy is created. This means
1844 that the original List can be changed without changing the
1845 copy, and vise versa. But the items are identical, thus
1846 changing an item changes the contents of both Lists. Also see
1847 |deepcopy()|.
1848
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001849count({comp}, {expr} [, {ic} [, {start}]]) *count()*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001850 Return the number of times an item with value {expr} appears
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001851 in List or Dictionary {comp}.
1852 If {start} is given then start with the item with this index.
1853 {start} can only be used with a List.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001854 When {ic} is given and it's non-zero then case is ignored.
1855
1856
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001857 *cscope_connection()*
1858cscope_connection([{num} , {dbpath} [, {prepend}]])
1859 Checks for the existence of a |cscope| connection. If no
1860 parameters are specified, then the function returns:
1861 0, if cscope was not available (not compiled in), or
1862 if there are no cscope connections;
1863 1, if there is at least one cscope connection.
1864
1865 If parameters are specified, then the value of {num}
1866 determines how existence of a cscope connection is checked:
1867
1868 {num} Description of existence check
1869 ----- ------------------------------
1870 0 Same as no parameters (e.g., "cscope_connection()").
1871 1 Ignore {prepend}, and use partial string matches for
1872 {dbpath}.
1873 2 Ignore {prepend}, and use exact string matches for
1874 {dbpath}.
1875 3 Use {prepend}, use partial string matches for both
1876 {dbpath} and {prepend}.
1877 4 Use {prepend}, use exact string matches for both
1878 {dbpath} and {prepend}.
1879
1880 Note: All string comparisons are case sensitive!
1881
1882 Examples. Suppose we had the following (from ":cs show"): >
1883
1884 # pid database name prepend path
1885 0 27664 cscope.out /usr/local
1886<
1887 Invocation Return Val ~
1888 ---------- ---------- >
1889 cscope_connection() 1
1890 cscope_connection(1, "out") 1
1891 cscope_connection(2, "out") 0
1892 cscope_connection(3, "out") 0
1893 cscope_connection(3, "out", "local") 1
1894 cscope_connection(4, "out") 0
1895 cscope_connection(4, "out", "local") 0
1896 cscope_connection(4, "cscope.out", "/usr/local") 1
1897<
1898cursor({lnum}, {col}) *cursor()*
1899 Positions the cursor at the column {col} in the line {lnum}.
1900 Does not change the jumplist.
1901 If {lnum} is greater than the number of lines in the buffer,
1902 the cursor will be positioned at the last line in the buffer.
1903 If {lnum} is zero, the cursor will stay in the current line.
1904 If {col} is greater than the number of characters in the line,
1905 the cursor will be positioned at the last character in the
1906 line.
1907 If {col} is zero, the cursor will stay in the current column.
1908
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001909
Bram Moolenaar4399ef42005-02-12 14:29:27 +00001910deepcopy({expr}[, {noref}]) *deepcopy()* *E698*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001911 Make a copy of {expr}. For Numbers and Strings this isn't
1912 different from using {expr} directly.
1913 When {expr} is a List a full copy is created. This means
1914 that the original List can be changed without changing the
1915 copy, and vise versa. When an item is a List, a copy for it
1916 is made, recursively. Thus changing an item in the copy does
1917 not change the contents of the original List.
Bram Moolenaar4399ef42005-02-12 14:29:27 +00001918 When {noref} is omitted or zero a contained List or Dictionary
1919 is only copied once. All references point to this single
1920 copy. With {noref} set to 1 every occurrence of a List or
1921 Dictionary results in a new copy. This also means that a
1922 cyclic reference causes deepcopy() to fail.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00001923 *E724*
1924 Nesting is possible up to 100 levels. When there is an item
Bram Moolenaar4399ef42005-02-12 14:29:27 +00001925 that refers back to a higher level making a deep copy with
1926 {noref} set to 1 will fail.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001927 Also see |copy()|.
1928
1929delete({fname}) *delete()*
1930 Deletes the file by the name {fname}. The result is a Number,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001931 which is 0 if the file was deleted successfully, and non-zero
1932 when the deletion failed.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001933 Use |remove()| to delete an item from a List.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001934
1935 *did_filetype()*
1936did_filetype() Returns non-zero when autocommands are being executed and the
1937 FileType event has been triggered at least once. Can be used
1938 to avoid triggering the FileType event again in the scripts
1939 that detect the file type. |FileType|
1940 When editing another file, the counter is reset, thus this
1941 really checks if the FileType event has been triggered for the
1942 current buffer. This allows an autocommand that starts
1943 editing another buffer to set 'filetype' and load a syntax
1944 file.
1945
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00001946diff_filler({lnum}) *diff_filler()*
1947 Returns the number of filler lines above line {lnum}.
1948 These are the lines that were inserted at this point in
1949 another diff'ed window. These filler lines are shown in the
1950 display but don't exist in the buffer.
1951 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|. Thus "." is the current
1952 line, "'m" mark m, etc.
1953 Returns 0 if the current window is not in diff mode.
1954
1955diff_hlID({lnum}, {col}) *diff_hlID()*
1956 Returns the highlight ID for diff mode at line {lnum} column
1957 {col} (byte index). When the current line does not have a
1958 diff change zero is returned.
1959 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|. Thus "." is the current
1960 line, "'m" mark m, etc.
1961 {col} is 1 for the leftmost column, {lnum} is 1 for the first
1962 line.
1963 The highlight ID can be used with |synIDattr()| to obtain
1964 syntax information about the highlighting.
1965
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001966empty({expr}) *empty()*
1967 Return the Number 1 if {expr} is empty, zero otherwise.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001968 A List or Dictionary is empty when it does not have any items.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001969 A Number is empty when its value is zero.
1970 For a long List this is much faster then comparing the length
1971 with zero.
1972
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00001973errorlist() *errorlist()*
1974 Returns a list with all the current quickfix errors. Each
1975 list item is a dictionary with these entries:
1976 bufnr number of buffer that has the file name, use
1977 bufname() to get the name
1978 lnum line number in the buffer (first line is 1)
1979 col column number (first column is 1)
1980 vcol non-zero: column number is visual column
1981 zero: column number is byte index
1982 nr error number
1983 text description of the error
1984 type type of the error, 'E', '1', etc.
1985 valid non-zero: recognized error message
1986
1987 Useful application: Find pattern matches in multiple files and
1988 do something with them: >
1989 :vimgrep /theword/jg *.c
1990 :for d in errorlist()
1991 : echo bufname(d.bufnr) ':' d.lnum '=' d.text
1992 :endfor
1993
1994
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001995escape({string}, {chars}) *escape()*
1996 Escape the characters in {chars} that occur in {string} with a
1997 backslash. Example: >
1998 :echo escape('c:\program files\vim', ' \')
1999< results in: >
2000 c:\\program\ files\\vim
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002001
2002< *eval()*
2003eval({string}) Evaluate {string} and return the result. Especially useful to
2004 turn the result of |string()| back into the original value.
2005 This works for Numbers, Strings and composites of them.
2006 Also works for Funcrefs that refer to existing functions.
2007
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002008eventhandler() *eventhandler()*
2009 Returns 1 when inside an event handler. That is that Vim got
2010 interrupted while waiting for the user to type a character,
2011 e.g., when dropping a file on Vim. This means interactive
2012 commands cannot be used. Otherwise zero is returned.
2013
2014executable({expr}) *executable()*
2015 This function checks if an executable with the name {expr}
2016 exists. {expr} must be the name of the program without any
Bram Moolenaarf4b8e572004-06-24 15:53:16 +00002017 arguments.
2018 executable() uses the value of $PATH and/or the normal
2019 searchpath for programs. *PATHEXT*
2020 On MS-DOS and MS-Windows the ".exe", ".bat", etc. can
2021 optionally be included. Then the extensions in $PATHEXT are
2022 tried. Thus if "foo.exe" does not exist, "foo.exe.bat" can be
2023 found. If $PATHEXT is not set then ".exe;.com;.bat;.cmd" is
2024 used. A dot by itself can be used in $PATHEXT to try using
2025 the name without an extension. When 'shell' looks like a
2026 Unix shell, then the name is also tried without adding an
2027 extension.
2028 On MS-DOS and MS-Windows it only checks if the file exists and
2029 is not a directory, not if it's really executable.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002030 The result is a Number:
2031 1 exists
2032 0 does not exist
2033 -1 not implemented on this system
2034
2035 *exists()*
2036exists({expr}) The result is a Number, which is non-zero if {expr} is
2037 defined, zero otherwise. The {expr} argument is a string,
2038 which contains one of these:
2039 &option-name Vim option (only checks if it exists,
2040 not if it really works)
2041 +option-name Vim option that works.
2042 $ENVNAME environment variable (could also be
2043 done by comparing with an empty
2044 string)
2045 *funcname built-in function (see |functions|)
2046 or user defined function (see
2047 |user-functions|).
2048 varname internal variable (see
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00002049 |internal-variables|). Also works
2050 for |curly-braces-names|, Dictionary
2051 entries, List items, etc. Beware that
2052 this may cause functions to be
2053 invoked cause an error message for an
2054 invalid expression.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002055 :cmdname Ex command: built-in command, user
2056 command or command modifier |:command|.
2057 Returns:
2058 1 for match with start of a command
2059 2 full match with a command
2060 3 matches several user commands
2061 To check for a supported command
2062 always check the return value to be 2.
2063 #event autocommand defined for this event
2064 #event#pattern autocommand defined for this event and
2065 pattern (the pattern is taken
2066 literally and compared to the
2067 autocommand patterns character by
2068 character)
2069 For checking for a supported feature use |has()|.
2070
2071 Examples: >
2072 exists("&shortname")
2073 exists("$HOSTNAME")
2074 exists("*strftime")
2075 exists("*s:MyFunc")
2076 exists("bufcount")
2077 exists(":Make")
2078 exists("#CursorHold");
2079 exists("#BufReadPre#*.gz")
2080< There must be no space between the symbol (&/$/*/#) and the
2081 name.
2082 Note that the argument must be a string, not the name of the
2083 variable itself! For example: >
2084 exists(bufcount)
2085< This doesn't check for existence of the "bufcount" variable,
2086 but gets the contents of "bufcount", and checks if that
2087 exists.
2088
2089expand({expr} [, {flag}]) *expand()*
2090 Expand wildcards and the following special keywords in {expr}.
2091 The result is a String.
2092
2093 When there are several matches, they are separated by <NL>
2094 characters. [Note: in version 5.0 a space was used, which
2095 caused problems when a file name contains a space]
2096
2097 If the expansion fails, the result is an empty string. A name
2098 for a non-existing file is not included.
2099
2100 When {expr} starts with '%', '#' or '<', the expansion is done
2101 like for the |cmdline-special| variables with their associated
2102 modifiers. Here is a short overview:
2103
2104 % current file name
2105 # alternate file name
2106 #n alternate file name n
2107 <cfile> file name under the cursor
2108 <afile> autocmd file name
2109 <abuf> autocmd buffer number (as a String!)
2110 <amatch> autocmd matched name
2111 <sfile> sourced script file name
2112 <cword> word under the cursor
2113 <cWORD> WORD under the cursor
2114 <client> the {clientid} of the last received
2115 message |server2client()|
2116 Modifiers:
2117 :p expand to full path
2118 :h head (last path component removed)
2119 :t tail (last path component only)
2120 :r root (one extension removed)
2121 :e extension only
2122
2123 Example: >
2124 :let &tags = expand("%:p:h") . "/tags"
2125< Note that when expanding a string that starts with '%', '#' or
2126 '<', any following text is ignored. This does NOT work: >
2127 :let doesntwork = expand("%:h.bak")
2128< Use this: >
2129 :let doeswork = expand("%:h") . ".bak"
2130< Also note that expanding "<cfile>" and others only returns the
2131 referenced file name without further expansion. If "<cfile>"
2132 is "~/.cshrc", you need to do another expand() to have the
2133 "~/" expanded into the path of the home directory: >
2134 :echo expand(expand("<cfile>"))
2135<
2136 There cannot be white space between the variables and the
2137 following modifier. The |fnamemodify()| function can be used
2138 to modify normal file names.
2139
2140 When using '%' or '#', and the current or alternate file name
2141 is not defined, an empty string is used. Using "%:p" in a
2142 buffer with no name, results in the current directory, with a
2143 '/' added.
2144
2145 When {expr} does not start with '%', '#' or '<', it is
2146 expanded like a file name is expanded on the command line.
2147 'suffixes' and 'wildignore' are used, unless the optional
2148 {flag} argument is given and it is non-zero. Names for
2149 non-existing files are included.
2150
2151 Expand() can also be used to expand variables and environment
2152 variables that are only known in a shell. But this can be
2153 slow, because a shell must be started. See |expr-env-expand|.
2154 The expanded variable is still handled like a list of file
2155 names. When an environment variable cannot be expanded, it is
2156 left unchanged. Thus ":echo expand('$FOOBAR')" results in
2157 "$FOOBAR".
2158
2159 See |glob()| for finding existing files. See |system()| for
2160 getting the raw output of an external command.
2161
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002162extend({expr1}, {expr2} [, {expr3}]) *extend()*
2163 {expr1} and {expr2} must be both Lists or both Dictionaries.
2164
2165 If they are Lists: Append {expr2} to {expr1}.
2166 If {expr3} is given insert the items of {expr2} before item
2167 {expr3} in {expr1}. When {expr3} is zero insert before the
2168 first item. When {expr3} is equal to len({expr1}) then
2169 {expr2} is appended.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002170 Examples: >
2171 :echo sort(extend(mylist, [7, 5]))
2172 :call extend(mylist, [2, 3], 1)
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002173< Use |add()| to concatenate one item to a list. To concatenate
2174 two lists into a new list use the + operator: >
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002175 :let newlist = [1, 2, 3] + [4, 5]
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002176<
2177 If they are Dictionaries:
2178 Add all entries from {expr2} to {expr1}.
2179 If a key exists in both {expr1} and {expr2} then {expr3} is
2180 used to decide what to do:
2181 {expr3} = "keep": keep the value of {expr1}
2182 {expr3} = "force": use the value of {expr2}
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00002183 {expr3} = "error": give an error message *E737*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002184 When {expr3} is omitted then "force" is assumed.
2185
2186 {expr1} is changed when {expr2} is not empty. If necessary
2187 make a copy of {expr1} first.
2188 {expr2} remains unchanged.
2189 Returns {expr1}.
2190
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002191
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002192filereadable({file}) *filereadable()*
2193 The result is a Number, which is TRUE when a file with the
2194 name {file} exists, and can be read. If {file} doesn't exist,
2195 or is a directory, the result is FALSE. {file} is any
2196 expression, which is used as a String.
2197 *file_readable()*
2198 Obsolete name: file_readable().
2199
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002200
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002201filter({expr}, {string}) *filter()*
2202 {expr} must be a List or a Dictionary.
2203 For each item in {expr} evaluate {string} and when the result
2204 is zero remove the item from the List or Dictionary.
2205 Inside {string} |v:val| has the value of the current item.
2206 For a Dictionary |v:key| has the key of the current item.
2207 Examples: >
2208 :call filter(mylist, 'v:val !~ "OLD"')
2209< Removes the items where "OLD" appears. >
2210 :call filter(mydict, 'v:key >= 8')
2211< Removes the items with a key below 8. >
2212 :call filter(var, 0)
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00002213< Removes all the items, thus clears the List or Dictionary.
2214
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002215 Note that {string} is the result of expression and is then
2216 used as an expression again. Often it is good to use a
2217 |literal-string| to avoid having to double backslashes.
2218
2219 The operation is done in-place. If you want a List or
2220 Dictionary to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00002221 :let l = filter(copy(mylist), '& =~ "KEEP"')
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002222
2223< Returns {expr}, the List or Dictionary that was filtered.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002224
2225
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00002226finddir({name}[, {path}[, {count}]]) *finddir()*
2227 Find directory {name} in {path}.
2228 If {path} is omitted or empty then 'path' is used.
2229 If the optional {count} is given, find {count}'s occurrence of
2230 {name} in {path}.
2231 This is quite similar to the ex-command |:find|.
2232 When the found directory is below the current directory a
2233 relative path is returned. Otherwise a full path is returned.
2234 Example: >
2235 :echo findfile("tags.vim", ".;")
2236< Searches from the current directory upwards until it finds
2237 the file "tags.vim".
2238 {only available when compiled with the +file_in_path feature}
2239
2240findfile({name}[, {path}[, {count}]]) *findfile()*
2241 Just like |finddir()|, but find a file instead of a directory.
2242
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002243filewritable({file}) *filewritable()*
2244 The result is a Number, which is 1 when a file with the
2245 name {file} exists, and can be written. If {file} doesn't
2246 exist, or is not writable, the result is 0. If (file) is a
2247 directory, and we can write to it, the result is 2.
2248
2249fnamemodify({fname}, {mods}) *fnamemodify()*
2250 Modify file name {fname} according to {mods}. {mods} is a
2251 string of characters like it is used for file names on the
2252 command line. See |filename-modifiers|.
2253 Example: >
2254 :echo fnamemodify("main.c", ":p:h")
2255< results in: >
2256 /home/mool/vim/vim/src
2257< Note: Environment variables and "~" don't work in {fname}, use
2258 |expand()| first then.
2259
2260foldclosed({lnum}) *foldclosed()*
2261 The result is a Number. If the line {lnum} is in a closed
2262 fold, the result is the number of the first line in that fold.
2263 If the line {lnum} is not in a closed fold, -1 is returned.
2264
2265foldclosedend({lnum}) *foldclosedend()*
2266 The result is a Number. If the line {lnum} is in a closed
2267 fold, the result is the number of the last line in that fold.
2268 If the line {lnum} is not in a closed fold, -1 is returned.
2269
2270foldlevel({lnum}) *foldlevel()*
2271 The result is a Number, which is the foldlevel of line {lnum}
2272 in the current buffer. For nested folds the deepest level is
2273 returned. If there is no fold at line {lnum}, zero is
2274 returned. It doesn't matter if the folds are open or closed.
2275 When used while updating folds (from 'foldexpr') -1 is
2276 returned for lines where folds are still to be updated and the
2277 foldlevel is unknown. As a special case the level of the
2278 previous line is usually available.
2279
2280 *foldtext()*
2281foldtext() Returns a String, to be displayed for a closed fold. This is
2282 the default function used for the 'foldtext' option and should
2283 only be called from evaluating 'foldtext'. It uses the
2284 |v:foldstart|, |v:foldend| and |v:folddashes| variables.
2285 The returned string looks like this: >
2286 +-- 45 lines: abcdef
2287< The number of dashes depends on the foldlevel. The "45" is
2288 the number of lines in the fold. "abcdef" is the text in the
2289 first non-blank line of the fold. Leading white space, "//"
2290 or "/*" and the text from the 'foldmarker' and 'commentstring'
2291 options is removed.
2292 {not available when compiled without the |+folding| feature}
2293
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00002294foldtextresult({lnum}) *foldtextresult()*
2295 Returns the text that is displayed for the closed fold at line
2296 {lnum}. Evaluates 'foldtext' in the appropriate context.
2297 When there is no closed fold at {lnum} an empty string is
2298 returned.
2299 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|. Thus "." is the current
2300 line, "'m" mark m, etc.
2301 Useful when exporting folded text, e.g., to HTML.
2302 {not available when compiled without the |+folding| feature}
2303
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002304 *foreground()*
2305foreground() Move the Vim window to the foreground. Useful when sent from
2306 a client to a Vim server. |remote_send()|
2307 On Win32 systems this might not work, the OS does not always
2308 allow a window to bring itself to the foreground. Use
2309 |remote_foreground()| instead.
2310 {only in the Win32, Athena, Motif and GTK GUI versions and the
2311 Win32 console version}
2312
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002313
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00002314function({name}) *function()* *E700*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002315 Return a Funcref variable that refers to function {name}.
2316 {name} can be a user defined function or an internal function.
2317
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002318
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00002319get({list}, {idx} [, {default}]) *get()*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002320 Get item {idx} from List {list}. When this item is not
2321 available return {default}. Return zero when {default} is
2322 omitted.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002323get({dict}, {key} [, {default}])
2324 Get item with key {key} from Dictionary {dict}. When this
2325 item is not available return {default}. Return zero when
2326 {default} is omitted.
2327
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002328
2329getbufvar({expr}, {varname}) *getbufvar()*
2330 The result is the value of option or local buffer variable
2331 {varname} in buffer {expr}. Note that the name without "b:"
2332 must be used.
2333 This also works for a global or local window option, but it
2334 doesn't work for a global or local window variable.
2335 For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()| above.
2336 When the buffer or variable doesn't exist an empty string is
2337 returned, there is no error message.
2338 Examples: >
2339 :let bufmodified = getbufvar(1, "&mod")
2340 :echo "todo myvar = " . getbufvar("todo", "myvar")
2341<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002342getchar([expr]) *getchar()*
2343 Get a single character from the user. If it is an 8-bit
2344 character, the result is a number. Otherwise a String is
2345 returned with the encoded character. For a special key it's a
2346 sequence of bytes starting with 0x80 (decimal: 128).
2347 If [expr] is omitted, wait until a character is available.
2348 If [expr] is 0, only get a character when one is available.
2349 If [expr] is 1, only check if a character is available, it is
2350 not consumed. If a normal character is
2351 available, it is returned, otherwise a
2352 non-zero value is returned.
2353 If a normal character available, it is returned as a Number.
2354 Use nr2char() to convert it to a String.
2355 The returned value is zero if no character is available.
2356 The returned value is a string of characters for special keys
2357 and when a modifier (shift, control, alt) was used.
2358 There is no prompt, you will somehow have to make clear to the
2359 user that a character has to be typed.
2360 There is no mapping for the character.
2361 Key codes are replaced, thus when the user presses the <Del>
2362 key you get the code for the <Del> key, not the raw character
2363 sequence. Examples: >
2364 getchar() == "\<Del>"
2365 getchar() == "\<S-Left>"
2366< This example redefines "f" to ignore case: >
2367 :nmap f :call FindChar()<CR>
2368 :function FindChar()
2369 : let c = nr2char(getchar())
2370 : while col('.') < col('$') - 1
2371 : normal l
2372 : if getline('.')[col('.') - 1] ==? c
2373 : break
2374 : endif
2375 : endwhile
2376 :endfunction
2377
2378getcharmod() *getcharmod()*
2379 The result is a Number which is the state of the modifiers for
2380 the last obtained character with getchar() or in another way.
2381 These values are added together:
2382 2 shift
2383 4 control
2384 8 alt (meta)
2385 16 mouse double click
2386 32 mouse triple click
2387 64 mouse quadruple click
2388 128 Macintosh only: command
2389 Only the modifiers that have not been included in the
2390 character itself are obtained. Thus Shift-a results in "A"
2391 with no modifier.
2392
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002393getcmdline() *getcmdline()*
2394 Return the current command-line. Only works when the command
2395 line is being edited, thus requires use of |c_CTRL-\_e| or
2396 |c_CTRL-R_=|.
2397 Example: >
2398 :cmap <F7> <C-\>eescape(getcmdline(), ' \')<CR>
2399< Also see |getcmdpos()| and |setcmdpos()|.
2400
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002401getcmdpos() *getcmdpos()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002402 Return the position of the cursor in the command line as a
2403 byte count. The first column is 1.
2404 Only works when editing the command line, thus requires use of
2405 |c_CTRL-\_e| or |c_CTRL-R_=|. Returns 0 otherwise.
2406 Also see |setcmdpos()| and |getcmdline()|.
2407
2408 *getcwd()*
2409getcwd() The result is a String, which is the name of the current
2410 working directory.
2411
2412getfsize({fname}) *getfsize()*
2413 The result is a Number, which is the size in bytes of the
2414 given file {fname}.
2415 If {fname} is a directory, 0 is returned.
2416 If the file {fname} can't be found, -1 is returned.
2417
Bram Moolenaard8b0cf12004-12-12 11:33:30 +00002418getfontname([{name}]) *getfontname()*
2419 Without an argument returns the name of the normal font being
2420 used. Like what is used for the Normal highlight group
2421 |hl-Normal|.
2422 With an argument a check is done whether {name} is a valid
2423 font name. If not then an empty string is returned.
2424 Otherwise the actual font name is returned, or {name} if the
2425 GUI does not support obtaining the real name.
2426 Only works when the GUI is running, thus not you your vimrc or
2427 Note that the GTK 2 GUI accepts any font name, thus checking
2428 for a valid name does not work.
2429 gvimrc file. Use the |GUIEnter| autocommand to use this
2430 function just after the GUI has started.
2431
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00002432getfperm({fname}) *getfperm()*
2433 The result is a String, which is the read, write, and execute
2434 permissions of the given file {fname}.
2435 If {fname} does not exist or its directory cannot be read, an
2436 empty string is returned.
2437 The result is of the form "rwxrwxrwx", where each group of
2438 "rwx" flags represent, in turn, the permissions of the owner
2439 of the file, the group the file belongs to, and other users.
2440 If a user does not have a given permission the flag for this
2441 is replaced with the string "-". Example: >
2442 :echo getfperm("/etc/passwd")
2443< This will hopefully (from a security point of view) display
2444 the string "rw-r--r--" or even "rw-------".
2445
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002446getftime({fname}) *getftime()*
2447 The result is a Number, which is the last modification time of
2448 the given file {fname}. The value is measured as seconds
2449 since 1st Jan 1970, and may be passed to strftime(). See also
2450 |localtime()| and |strftime()|.
2451 If the file {fname} can't be found -1 is returned.
2452
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00002453getftype({fname}) *getftype()*
2454 The result is a String, which is a description of the kind of
2455 file of the given file {fname}.
2456 If {fname} does not exist an empty string is returned.
2457 Here is a table over different kinds of files and their
2458 results:
2459 Normal file "file"
2460 Directory "dir"
2461 Symbolic link "link"
2462 Block device "bdev"
2463 Character device "cdev"
2464 Socket "socket"
2465 FIFO "fifo"
2466 All other "other"
2467 Example: >
2468 getftype("/home")
2469< Note that a type such as "link" will only be returned on
2470 systems that support it. On some systems only "dir" and
2471 "file" are returned.
2472
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002473 *getline()*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002474getline({lnum} [, {end}])
2475 Without {end} the result is a String, which is line {lnum}
2476 from the current buffer. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002477 getline(1)
2478< When {lnum} is a String that doesn't start with a
2479 digit, line() is called to translate the String into a Number.
2480 To get the line under the cursor: >
2481 getline(".")
2482< When {lnum} is smaller than 1 or bigger than the number of
2483 lines in the buffer, an empty string is returned.
2484
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002485 When {end} is given the result is a List where each item is a
2486 line from the current buffer in the range {lnum} to {end},
2487 including line {end}.
2488 {end} is used in the same way as {lnum}.
2489 Non-existing lines are silently omitted.
2490 When {end} is before {lnum} an error is given.
2491 Example: >
2492 :let start = line('.')
2493 :let end = search("^$") - 1
2494 :let lines = getline(start, end)
2495
2496
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002497getreg([{regname}]) *getreg()*
2498 The result is a String, which is the contents of register
2499 {regname}. Example: >
2500 :let cliptext = getreg('*')
2501< getreg('=') returns the last evaluated value of the expression
2502 register. (For use in maps).
2503 If {regname} is not specified, |v:register| is used.
2504
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002505
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002506getregtype([{regname}]) *getregtype()*
2507 The result is a String, which is type of register {regname}.
2508 The value will be one of:
2509 "v" for |characterwise| text
2510 "V" for |linewise| text
2511 "<CTRL-V>{width}" for |blockwise-visual| text
2512 0 for an empty or unknown register
2513 <CTRL-V> is one character with value 0x16.
2514 If {regname} is not specified, |v:register| is used.
2515
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002516
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002517 *getwinposx()*
2518getwinposx() The result is a Number, which is the X coordinate in pixels of
2519 the left hand side of the GUI Vim window. The result will be
2520 -1 if the information is not available.
2521
2522 *getwinposy()*
2523getwinposy() The result is a Number, which is the Y coordinate in pixels of
2524 the top of the GUI Vim window. The result will be -1 if the
2525 information is not available.
2526
2527getwinvar({nr}, {varname}) *getwinvar()*
2528 The result is the value of option or local window variable
2529 {varname} in window {nr}.
2530 This also works for a global or local buffer option, but it
2531 doesn't work for a global or local buffer variable.
2532 Note that the name without "w:" must be used.
2533 Examples: >
2534 :let list_is_on = getwinvar(2, '&list')
2535 :echo "myvar = " . getwinvar(1, 'myvar')
2536<
2537 *glob()*
2538glob({expr}) Expand the file wildcards in {expr}. The result is a String.
2539 When there are several matches, they are separated by <NL>
2540 characters.
2541 If the expansion fails, the result is an empty string.
2542 A name for a non-existing file is not included.
2543
2544 For most systems backticks can be used to get files names from
2545 any external command. Example: >
2546 :let tagfiles = glob("`find . -name tags -print`")
2547 :let &tags = substitute(tagfiles, "\n", ",", "g")
2548< The result of the program inside the backticks should be one
2549 item per line. Spaces inside an item are allowed.
2550
2551 See |expand()| for expanding special Vim variables. See
2552 |system()| for getting the raw output of an external command.
2553
2554globpath({path}, {expr}) *globpath()*
2555 Perform glob() on all directories in {path} and concatenate
2556 the results. Example: >
2557 :echo globpath(&rtp, "syntax/c.vim")
2558< {path} is a comma-separated list of directory names. Each
2559 directory name is prepended to {expr} and expanded like with
2560 glob(). A path separator is inserted when needed.
2561 To add a comma inside a directory name escape it with a
2562 backslash. Note that on MS-Windows a directory may have a
2563 trailing backslash, remove it if you put a comma after it.
2564 If the expansion fails for one of the directories, there is no
2565 error message.
2566 The 'wildignore' option applies: Names matching one of the
2567 patterns in 'wildignore' will be skipped.
2568
2569 *has()*
2570has({feature}) The result is a Number, which is 1 if the feature {feature} is
2571 supported, zero otherwise. The {feature} argument is a
2572 string. See |feature-list| below.
2573 Also see |exists()|.
2574
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002575
2576has_key({dict}, {key}) *has_key()*
2577 The result is a Number, which is 1 if Dictionary {dict} has an
2578 entry with key {key}. Zero otherwise.
2579
2580
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002581hasmapto({what} [, {mode}]) *hasmapto()*
2582 The result is a Number, which is 1 if there is a mapping that
2583 contains {what} in somewhere in the rhs (what it is mapped to)
2584 and this mapping exists in one of the modes indicated by
2585 {mode}.
2586 Both the global mappings and the mappings local to the current
2587 buffer are checked for a match.
2588 If no matching mapping is found 0 is returned.
2589 The following characters are recognized in {mode}:
2590 n Normal mode
2591 v Visual mode
2592 o Operator-pending mode
2593 i Insert mode
2594 l Language-Argument ("r", "f", "t", etc.)
2595 c Command-line mode
2596 When {mode} is omitted, "nvo" is used.
2597
2598 This function is useful to check if a mapping already exists
2599 to a function in a Vim script. Example: >
2600 :if !hasmapto('\ABCdoit')
2601 : map <Leader>d \ABCdoit
2602 :endif
2603< This installs the mapping to "\ABCdoit" only if there isn't
2604 already a mapping to "\ABCdoit".
2605
2606histadd({history}, {item}) *histadd()*
2607 Add the String {item} to the history {history} which can be
2608 one of: *hist-names*
2609 "cmd" or ":" command line history
2610 "search" or "/" search pattern history
2611 "expr" or "=" typed expression history
2612 "input" or "@" input line history
2613 If {item} does already exist in the history, it will be
2614 shifted to become the newest entry.
2615 The result is a Number: 1 if the operation was successful,
2616 otherwise 0 is returned.
2617
2618 Example: >
2619 :call histadd("input", strftime("%Y %b %d"))
2620 :let date=input("Enter date: ")
2621< This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
2622
2623histdel({history} [, {item}]) *histdel()*
2624 Clear {history}, ie. delete all its entries. See |hist-names|
2625 for the possible values of {history}.
2626
2627 If the parameter {item} is given as String, this is seen
2628 as regular expression. All entries matching that expression
2629 will be removed from the history (if there are any).
2630 Upper/lowercase must match, unless "\c" is used |/\c|.
2631 If {item} is a Number, it will be interpreted as index, see
2632 |:history-indexing|. The respective entry will be removed
2633 if it exists.
2634
2635 The result is a Number: 1 for a successful operation,
2636 otherwise 0 is returned.
2637
2638 Examples:
2639 Clear expression register history: >
2640 :call histdel("expr")
2641<
2642 Remove all entries starting with "*" from the search history: >
2643 :call histdel("/", '^\*')
2644<
2645 The following three are equivalent: >
2646 :call histdel("search", histnr("search"))
2647 :call histdel("search", -1)
2648 :call histdel("search", '^'.histget("search", -1).'$')
2649<
2650 To delete the last search pattern and use the last-but-one for
2651 the "n" command and 'hlsearch': >
2652 :call histdel("search", -1)
2653 :let @/ = histget("search", -1)
2654
2655histget({history} [, {index}]) *histget()*
2656 The result is a String, the entry with Number {index} from
2657 {history}. See |hist-names| for the possible values of
2658 {history}, and |:history-indexing| for {index}. If there is
2659 no such entry, an empty String is returned. When {index} is
2660 omitted, the most recent item from the history is used.
2661
2662 Examples:
2663 Redo the second last search from history. >
2664 :execute '/' . histget("search", -2)
2665
2666< Define an Ex command ":H {num}" that supports re-execution of
2667 the {num}th entry from the output of |:history|. >
2668 :command -nargs=1 H execute histget("cmd", 0+<args>)
2669<
2670histnr({history}) *histnr()*
2671 The result is the Number of the current entry in {history}.
2672 See |hist-names| for the possible values of {history}.
2673 If an error occurred, -1 is returned.
2674
2675 Example: >
2676 :let inp_index = histnr("expr")
2677<
2678hlexists({name}) *hlexists()*
2679 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a highlight group
2680 called {name} exists. This is when the group has been
2681 defined in some way. Not necessarily when highlighting has
2682 been defined for it, it may also have been used for a syntax
2683 item.
2684 *highlight_exists()*
2685 Obsolete name: highlight_exists().
2686
2687 *hlID()*
2688hlID({name}) The result is a Number, which is the ID of the highlight group
2689 with name {name}. When the highlight group doesn't exist,
2690 zero is returned.
2691 This can be used to retrieve information about the highlight
2692 group. For example, to get the background color of the
2693 "Comment" group: >
2694 :echo synIDattr(synIDtrans(hlID("Comment")), "bg")
2695< *highlightID()*
2696 Obsolete name: highlightID().
2697
2698hostname() *hostname()*
2699 The result is a String, which is the name of the machine on
2700 which Vim is currently running. Machine names greater than
2701 256 characters long are truncated.
2702
2703iconv({expr}, {from}, {to}) *iconv()*
2704 The result is a String, which is the text {expr} converted
2705 from encoding {from} to encoding {to}.
2706 When the conversion fails an empty string is returned.
2707 The encoding names are whatever the iconv() library function
2708 can accept, see ":!man 3 iconv".
2709 Most conversions require Vim to be compiled with the |+iconv|
2710 feature. Otherwise only UTF-8 to latin1 conversion and back
2711 can be done.
2712 This can be used to display messages with special characters,
2713 no matter what 'encoding' is set to. Write the message in
2714 UTF-8 and use: >
2715 echo iconv(utf8_str, "utf-8", &enc)
2716< Note that Vim uses UTF-8 for all Unicode encodings, conversion
2717 from/to UCS-2 is automatically changed to use UTF-8. You
2718 cannot use UCS-2 in a string anyway, because of the NUL bytes.
2719 {only available when compiled with the +multi_byte feature}
2720
2721 *indent()*
2722indent({lnum}) The result is a Number, which is indent of line {lnum} in the
2723 current buffer. The indent is counted in spaces, the value
2724 of 'tabstop' is relevant. {lnum} is used just like in
2725 |getline()|.
2726 When {lnum} is invalid -1 is returned.
2727
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002728
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002729index({list}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]]) *index()*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002730 Return the lowest index in List {list} where the item has a
2731 value equal to {expr}.
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00002732 If {start} is given then start looking at the item with index
2733 {start} (may be negative for an item relative to the end).
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002734 When {ic} is given and it is non-zero, ignore case. Otherwise
2735 case must match.
2736 -1 is returned when {expr} is not found in {list}.
2737 Example: >
2738 :let idx = index(words, "the")
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00002739 :if index(numbers, 123) >= 0
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002740
2741
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002742input({prompt} [, {text}]) *input()*
2743 The result is a String, which is whatever the user typed on
2744 the command-line. The parameter is either a prompt string, or
2745 a blank string (for no prompt). A '\n' can be used in the
2746 prompt to start a new line. The highlighting set with
2747 |:echohl| is used for the prompt. The input is entered just
2748 like a command-line, with the same editing commands and
2749 mappings. There is a separate history for lines typed for
2750 input().
2751 If the optional {text} is present, this is used for the
2752 default reply, as if the user typed this.
2753 NOTE: This must not be used in a startup file, for the
2754 versions that only run in GUI mode (e.g., the Win32 GUI).
2755 Note: When input() is called from within a mapping it will
2756 consume remaining characters from that mapping, because a
2757 mapping is handled like the characters were typed.
2758 Use |inputsave()| before input() and |inputrestore()|
2759 after input() to avoid that. Another solution is to avoid
2760 that further characters follow in the mapping, e.g., by using
2761 |:execute| or |:normal|.
2762
2763 Example: >
2764 :if input("Coffee or beer? ") == "beer"
2765 : echo "Cheers!"
2766 :endif
2767< Example with default text: >
2768 :let color = input("Color? ", "white")
2769< Example with a mapping: >
2770 :nmap \x :call GetFoo()<CR>:exe "/" . Foo<CR>
2771 :function GetFoo()
2772 : call inputsave()
2773 : let g:Foo = input("enter search pattern: ")
2774 : call inputrestore()
2775 :endfunction
2776
2777inputdialog({prompt} [, {text} [, {cancelreturn}]]) *inputdialog()*
2778 Like input(), but when the GUI is running and text dialogs are
2779 supported, a dialog window pops up to input the text.
2780 Example: >
2781 :let n = inputdialog("value for shiftwidth", &sw)
2782 :if n != ""
2783 : let &sw = n
2784 :endif
2785< When the dialog is cancelled {cancelreturn} is returned. When
2786 omitted an empty string is returned.
2787 Hitting <Enter> works like pressing the OK button. Hitting
2788 <Esc> works like pressing the Cancel button.
2789
2790inputrestore() *inputrestore()*
2791 Restore typeahead that was saved with a previous inputsave().
2792 Should be called the same number of times inputsave() is
2793 called. Calling it more often is harmless though.
2794 Returns 1 when there is nothing to restore, 0 otherwise.
2795
2796inputsave() *inputsave()*
2797 Preserve typeahead (also from mappings) and clear it, so that
2798 a following prompt gets input from the user. Should be
2799 followed by a matching inputrestore() after the prompt. Can
2800 be used several times, in which case there must be just as
2801 many inputrestore() calls.
2802 Returns 1 when out of memory, 0 otherwise.
2803
2804inputsecret({prompt} [, {text}]) *inputsecret()*
2805 This function acts much like the |input()| function with but
2806 two exceptions:
2807 a) the user's response will be displayed as a sequence of
2808 asterisks ("*") thereby keeping the entry secret, and
2809 b) the user's response will not be recorded on the input
2810 |history| stack.
2811 The result is a String, which is whatever the user actually
2812 typed on the command-line in response to the issued prompt.
2813
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002814insert({list}, {item} [, {idx}]) *insert()*
2815 Insert {item} at the start of List {list}.
2816 If {idx} is specified insert {item} before the item with index
2817 {idx}. If {idx} is zero it goes before the first item, just
2818 like omitting {idx}. A negative {idx} is also possible, see
2819 |list-index|. -1 inserts just before the last item.
2820 Returns the resulting List. Examples: >
2821 :let mylist = insert([2, 3, 5], 1)
2822 :call insert(mylist, 4, -1)
2823 :call insert(mylist, 6, len(mylist))
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002824< The last example can be done simpler with |add()|.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002825 Note that when {item} is a List it is inserted as a single
2826 item. Use |extend()| to concatenate Lists.
2827
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002828isdirectory({directory}) *isdirectory()*
2829 The result is a Number, which is non-zero when a directory
2830 with the name {directory} exists. If {directory} doesn't
2831 exist, or isn't a directory, the result is FALSE. {directory}
2832 is any expression, which is used as a String.
2833
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00002834islocked({expr}) *islocked()*
2835 The result is a Number, which is non-zero when {expr} is the
2836 name of a locked variable.
2837 {expr} must be the name of a variable, List item or Dictionary
2838 entry, not the variable itself! Example: >
2839 :let alist = [0, ['a', 'b'], 2, 3]
2840 :lockvar 1 alist
2841 :echo islocked('alist') " 1
2842 :echo islocked('alist[1]') " 0
2843
2844< When {expr} is a variable that does not exist you get an error
2845 message. Use |exists()| to check for existance.
2846
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00002847items({dict}) *items()*
2848 Return a List with all the key-value pairs of {dict}. Each
2849 List item is a list with two items: the key of a {dict} entry
2850 and the value of this entry. The List is in arbitrary order.
2851
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002852
2853join({list} [, {sep}]) *join()*
2854 Join the items in {list} together into one String.
2855 When {sep} is specified it is put in between the items. If
2856 {sep} is omitted a single space is used.
2857 Note that {sep} is not added at the end. You might want to
2858 add it there too: >
2859 let lines = join(mylist, "\n") . "\n"
2860< String items are used as-is. Lists and Dictionaries are
2861 converted into a string like with |string()|.
2862 The opposite function is |split()|.
2863
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00002864keys({dict}) *keys()*
2865 Return a List with all the keys of {dict}. The List is in
2866 arbitrary order.
2867
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00002868 *len()* *E701*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002869len({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the length of the argument.
2870 When {expr} is a String or a Number the length in bytes is
2871 used, as with |strlen()|.
2872 When {expr} is a List the number of items in the List is
2873 returned.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002874 When {expr} is a Dictionary the number of entries in the
2875 Dictionary is returned.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002876 Otherwise an error is given.
2877
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002878 *libcall()* *E364* *E368*
2879libcall({libname}, {funcname}, {argument})
2880 Call function {funcname} in the run-time library {libname}
2881 with single argument {argument}.
2882 This is useful to call functions in a library that you
2883 especially made to be used with Vim. Since only one argument
2884 is possible, calling standard library functions is rather
2885 limited.
2886 The result is the String returned by the function. If the
2887 function returns NULL, this will appear as an empty string ""
2888 to Vim.
2889 If the function returns a number, use libcallnr()!
2890 If {argument} is a number, it is passed to the function as an
2891 int; if {argument} is a string, it is passed as a
2892 null-terminated string.
2893 This function will fail in |restricted-mode|.
2894
2895 libcall() allows you to write your own 'plug-in' extensions to
2896 Vim without having to recompile the program. It is NOT a
2897 means to call system functions! If you try to do so Vim will
2898 very probably crash.
2899
2900 For Win32, the functions you write must be placed in a DLL
2901 and use the normal C calling convention (NOT Pascal which is
2902 used in Windows System DLLs). The function must take exactly
2903 one parameter, either a character pointer or a long integer,
2904 and must return a character pointer or NULL. The character
2905 pointer returned must point to memory that will remain valid
2906 after the function has returned (e.g. in static data in the
2907 DLL). If it points to allocated memory, that memory will
2908 leak away. Using a static buffer in the function should work,
2909 it's then freed when the DLL is unloaded.
2910
2911 WARNING: If the function returns a non-valid pointer, Vim may
2912 crash! This also happens if the function returns a number,
2913 because Vim thinks it's a pointer.
2914 For Win32 systems, {libname} should be the filename of the DLL
2915 without the ".DLL" suffix. A full path is only required if
2916 the DLL is not in the usual places.
2917 For Unix: When compiling your own plugins, remember that the
2918 object code must be compiled as position-independent ('PIC').
2919 {only in Win32 on some Unix versions, when the |+libcall|
2920 feature is present}
2921 Examples: >
2922 :echo libcall("libc.so", "getenv", "HOME")
2923 :echo libcallnr("/usr/lib/libc.so", "getpid", "")
2924<
2925 *libcallnr()*
2926libcallnr({libname}, {funcname}, {argument})
2927 Just like libcall(), but used for a function that returns an
2928 int instead of a string.
2929 {only in Win32 on some Unix versions, when the |+libcall|
2930 feature is present}
2931 Example (not very useful...): >
2932 :call libcallnr("libc.so", "printf", "Hello World!\n")
2933 :call libcallnr("libc.so", "sleep", 10)
2934<
2935 *line()*
2936line({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the line number of the file
2937 position given with {expr}. The accepted positions are:
2938 . the cursor position
2939 $ the last line in the current buffer
2940 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is
2941 returned)
2942 Note that only marks in the current file can be used.
2943 Examples: >
2944 line(".") line number of the cursor
2945 line("'t") line number of mark t
2946 line("'" . marker) line number of mark marker
2947< *last-position-jump*
2948 This autocommand jumps to the last known position in a file
2949 just after opening it, if the '" mark is set: >
2950 :au BufReadPost * if line("'\"") > 0 && line("'\"") <= line("$") | exe "normal g'\"" | endif
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00002951
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002952line2byte({lnum}) *line2byte()*
2953 Return the byte count from the start of the buffer for line
2954 {lnum}. This includes the end-of-line character, depending on
2955 the 'fileformat' option for the current buffer. The first
2956 line returns 1.
2957 This can also be used to get the byte count for the line just
2958 below the last line: >
2959 line2byte(line("$") + 1)
2960< This is the file size plus one.
2961 When {lnum} is invalid, or the |+byte_offset| feature has been
2962 disabled at compile time, -1 is returned.
2963 Also see |byte2line()|, |go| and |:goto|.
2964
2965lispindent({lnum}) *lispindent()*
2966 Get the amount of indent for line {lnum} according the lisp
2967 indenting rules, as with 'lisp'.
2968 The indent is counted in spaces, the value of 'tabstop' is
2969 relevant. {lnum} is used just like in |getline()|.
2970 When {lnum} is invalid or Vim was not compiled the
2971 |+lispindent| feature, -1 is returned.
2972
2973localtime() *localtime()*
2974 Return the current time, measured as seconds since 1st Jan
2975 1970. See also |strftime()| and |getftime()|.
2976
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002977
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002978map({expr}, {string}) *map()*
2979 {expr} must be a List or a Dictionary.
2980 Replace each item in {expr} with the result of evaluating
2981 {string}.
2982 Inside {string} |v:val| has the value of the current item.
2983 For a Dictionary |v:key| has the key of the current item.
2984 Example: >
2985 :call map(mylist, '"> " . v:val . " <"')
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002986< This puts "> " before and " <" after each item in "mylist".
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002987
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00002988 Note that {string} is the result of an expression and is then
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002989 used as an expression again. Often it is good to use a
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00002990 |literal-string| to avoid having to double backslashes. You
2991 still have to double ' quotes
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002992
2993 The operation is done in-place. If you want a List or
2994 Dictionary to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00002995 :let tlist = map(copy(mylist), ' & . "\t"')
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002996
2997< Returns {expr}, the List or Dictionary that was filtered.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002998
2999
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003000maparg({name}[, {mode}]) *maparg()*
3001 Return the rhs of mapping {name} in mode {mode}. When there
3002 is no mapping for {name}, an empty String is returned.
3003 These characters can be used for {mode}:
3004 "n" Normal
3005 "v" Visual
3006 "o" Operator-pending
3007 "i" Insert
3008 "c" Cmd-line
3009 "l" langmap |language-mapping|
3010 "" Normal, Visual and Operator-pending
3011 When {mode} is omitted, the modes from "" are used.
3012 The {name} can have special key names, like in the ":map"
3013 command. The returned String has special characters
3014 translated like in the output of the ":map" command listing.
3015 The mappings local to the current buffer are checked first,
3016 then the global mappings.
3017
3018mapcheck({name}[, {mode}]) *mapcheck()*
3019 Check if there is a mapping that matches with {name} in mode
3020 {mode}. See |maparg()| for {mode} and special names in
3021 {name}.
3022 A match happens with a mapping that starts with {name} and
3023 with a mapping which is equal to the start of {name}.
3024
3025 matches mapping "a" "ab" "abc" ~
3026 mapcheck("a") yes yes yes
3027 mapcheck("abc") yes yes yes
3028 mapcheck("ax") yes no no
3029 mapcheck("b") no no no
3030
3031 The difference with maparg() is that mapcheck() finds a
3032 mapping that matches with {name}, while maparg() only finds a
3033 mapping for {name} exactly.
3034 When there is no mapping that starts with {name}, an empty
3035 String is returned. If there is one, the rhs of that mapping
3036 is returned. If there are several mappings that start with
3037 {name}, the rhs of one of them is returned.
3038 The mappings local to the current buffer are checked first,
3039 then the global mappings.
3040 This function can be used to check if a mapping can be added
3041 without being ambiguous. Example: >
3042 :if mapcheck("_vv") == ""
3043 : map _vv :set guifont=7x13<CR>
3044 :endif
3045< This avoids adding the "_vv" mapping when there already is a
3046 mapping for "_v" or for "_vvv".
3047
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003048match({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *match()*
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003049 When {expr} is a List then this returns the index of the first
3050 item where {pat} matches. Each item is used as a String,
3051 Lists and Dictionaries are used as echoed.
3052 Otherwise, {expr} is used as a String. The result is a
3053 Number, which gives the index (byte offset) in {expr} where
3054 {pat} matches.
3055 A match at the first character or List item returns zero.
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003056 If there is no match -1 is returned.
3057 Example: >
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003058 :echo match("testing", "ing") " results in 4
3059 :echo match([1, 'x'], '\a') " results in 2
3060< See |string-match| for how {pat} is used.
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00003061 *strpbrk()*
3062 Vim doesn't have a strpbrk() function. But you can do: >
3063 :let sepidx = match(line, '[.,;: \t]')
3064< *strcasestr()*
3065 Vim doesn't have a strcasestr() function. But you can add
3066 "\c" to the pattern to ignore case: >
3067 :let idx = match(haystack, '\cneedle')
3068<
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003069 When {count} is given use the {count}'th match. When a match
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003070 is found in a String the search for the next one starts on
3071 character further. Thus this example results in 1: >
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003072 echo match("testing", "..", 0, 2)
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003073< In a List the search continues in the next item.
3074
3075 If {start} is given, the search starts from byte index
3076 {start} in a String or item {start} in a List.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003077 The result, however, is still the index counted from the
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003078 first character/item. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003079 :echo match("testing", "ing", 2)
3080< result is again "4". >
3081 :echo match("testing", "ing", 4)
3082< result is again "4". >
3083 :echo match("testing", "t", 2)
3084< result is "3".
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003085 For a String, if {start} < 0, it will be set to 0. For a list
3086 the index is counted from the end.
3087 If {start} is out of range (> strlen({expr} for a String or
3088 > len({expr} for a List) -1 is returned.
3089
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003090 See |pattern| for the patterns that are accepted.
3091 The 'ignorecase' option is used to set the ignore-caseness of
3092 the pattern. 'smartcase' is NOT used. The matching is always
3093 done like 'magic' is set and 'cpoptions' is empty.
3094
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003095matchend({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *matchend()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003096 Same as match(), but return the index of first character after
3097 the match. Example: >
3098 :echo matchend("testing", "ing")
3099< results in "7".
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00003100 *strspn()* *strcspn()*
3101 Vim doesn't have a strspn() or strcspn() function, but you can
3102 do it with matchend(): >
3103 :let span = matchend(line, '[a-zA-Z]')
3104 :let span = matchend(line, '[^a-zA-Z]')
3105< Except that -1 is returned when there are no matches.
3106
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003107 The {start}, if given, has the same meaning as for match(). >
3108 :echo matchend("testing", "ing", 2)
3109< results in "7". >
3110 :echo matchend("testing", "ing", 5)
3111< result is "-1".
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003112 When {expr} is a List the result is equal to match().
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003113
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003114matchlist({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *matchlist()*
3115 Same as match(), but return a List. The first item in the
3116 list is the matched string, same as what matchstr() would
3117 return. Following items are submatches, like "\1", "\2", etc.
3118 in |:substitute|.
3119 When there is no match an empty list is returned.
3120
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003121matchstr({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *matchstr()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003122 Same as match(), but return the matched string. Example: >
3123 :echo matchstr("testing", "ing")
3124< results in "ing".
3125 When there is no match "" is returned.
3126 The {start}, if given, has the same meaning as for match(). >
3127 :echo matchstr("testing", "ing", 2)
3128< results in "ing". >
3129 :echo matchstr("testing", "ing", 5)
3130< result is "".
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003131 When {expr} is a List then the matching item is returned.
3132 The type isn't changed, it's not necessarily a String.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003133
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003134 *max()*
3135max({list}) Return the maximum value of all items in {list}.
3136 If {list} is not a list or one of the items in {list} cannot
3137 be used as a Number this results in an error.
3138 An empty List results in zero.
3139
3140 *min()*
3141min({list}) Return the minumum value of all items in {list}.
3142 If {list} is not a list or one of the items in {list} cannot
3143 be used as a Number this results in an error.
3144 An empty List results in zero.
3145
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003146 *mkdir()* *E749*
3147mkdir({name} [, {path} [, {prot}]])
3148 Create directory {name}.
3149 If {path} is "p" then intermediate directories are created as
3150 necessary. Otherwise it must be "".
3151 If {prot} is given it is used to set the protection bits of
3152 the new directory. The default is 0755 (rwxr-xr-x: r/w for
3153 the user readable for others). Use 0700 to make it unreadable
3154 for others.
3155 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3156 Not available on all systems. To check use: >
3157 :if exists("*mkdir")
3158<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003159 *mode()*
3160mode() Return a string that indicates the current mode:
3161 n Normal
3162 v Visual by character
3163 V Visual by line
3164 CTRL-V Visual blockwise
3165 s Select by character
3166 S Select by line
3167 CTRL-S Select blockwise
3168 i Insert
3169 R Replace
3170 c Command-line
3171 r Hit-enter prompt
3172 This is useful in the 'statusline' option. In most other
3173 places it always returns "c" or "n".
3174
3175nextnonblank({lnum}) *nextnonblank()*
3176 Return the line number of the first line at or below {lnum}
3177 that is not blank. Example: >
3178 if getline(nextnonblank(1)) =~ "Java"
3179< When {lnum} is invalid or there is no non-blank line at or
3180 below it, zero is returned.
3181 See also |prevnonblank()|.
3182
3183nr2char({expr}) *nr2char()*
3184 Return a string with a single character, which has the number
3185 value {expr}. Examples: >
3186 nr2char(64) returns "@"
3187 nr2char(32) returns " "
3188< The current 'encoding' is used. Example for "utf-8": >
3189 nr2char(300) returns I with bow character
3190< Note that a NUL character in the file is specified with
3191 nr2char(10), because NULs are represented with newline
3192 characters. nr2char(0) is a real NUL and terminates the
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00003193 string, thus results in an empty string.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003194
3195prevnonblank({lnum}) *prevnonblank()*
3196 Return the line number of the first line at or above {lnum}
3197 that is not blank. Example: >
3198 let ind = indent(prevnonblank(v:lnum - 1))
3199< When {lnum} is invalid or there is no non-blank line at or
3200 above it, zero is returned.
3201 Also see |nextnonblank()|.
3202
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003203 *E726* *E727*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003204range({expr} [, {max} [, {stride}]]) *range()*
3205 Returns a List with Numbers:
3206 - If only {expr} is specified: [0, 1, ..., {expr} - 1]
3207 - If {max} is specified: [{expr}, {expr} + 1, ..., {max}]
3208 - If {stride} is specified: [{expr}, {expr} + {stride}, ...,
3209 {max}] (increasing {expr} with {stride} each time, not
3210 producing a value past {max}).
3211 Examples: >
3212 range(4) " [0, 1, 2, 3]
3213 range(2, 4) " [2, 3, 4]
3214 range(2, 9, 3) " [2, 5, 8]
3215 range(2, -2, -1) " [2, 1, 0, -1, -2]
3216<
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003217 *readfile()*
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003218readfile({fname} [, {binary} [, {max}]])
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003219 Read file {fname} and return a List, each line of the file as
3220 an item. Lines broken at NL characters. Macintosh files
3221 separated with CR will result in a single long line (unless a
3222 NL appears somewhere).
3223 When {binary} is equal to "b" binary mode is used:
3224 - When the last line ends in a NL an extra empty list item is
3225 added.
3226 - No CR characters are removed.
3227 Otherwise:
3228 - CR characters that appear before a NL are removed.
3229 - Whether the last line ends in a NL or not does not matter.
3230 All NUL characters are replaced with a NL character.
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003231 When {max} is given this specifies the maximum number of lines
3232 to be read. Useful if you only want to check the first ten
3233 lines of a file: >
3234 :for line in readfile(fname, '', 10)
3235 : if line =~ 'Date' | echo line | endif
3236 :endfor
3237< When {max} is zero or negative the result is an empty list.
3238 Note that without {max} the whole file is read into memory.
3239 Also note that there is no recognition of encoding. Read a
3240 file into a buffer if you need to.
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003241 When the file can't be opened an error message is given and
3242 the result is an empty list.
3243 Also see |writefile()|.
3244
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003245 *remote_expr()* *E449*
3246remote_expr({server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
3247 Send the {string} to {server}. The string is sent as an
3248 expression and the result is returned after evaluation.
3249 If {idvar} is present, it is taken as the name of a
3250 variable and a {serverid} for later use with
3251 remote_read() is stored there.
3252 See also |clientserver| |RemoteReply|.
3253 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3254 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3255 Note: Any errors will cause a local error message to be issued
3256 and the result will be the empty string.
3257 Examples: >
3258 :echo remote_expr("gvim", "2+2")
3259 :echo remote_expr("gvim1", "b:current_syntax")
3260<
3261
3262remote_foreground({server}) *remote_foreground()*
3263 Move the Vim server with the name {server} to the foreground.
3264 This works like: >
3265 remote_expr({server}, "foreground()")
3266< Except that on Win32 systems the client does the work, to work
3267 around the problem that the OS doesn't always allow the server
3268 to bring itself to the foreground.
3269 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3270 {only in the Win32, Athena, Motif and GTK GUI versions and the
3271 Win32 console version}
3272
3273
3274remote_peek({serverid} [, {retvar}]) *remote_peek()*
3275 Returns a positive number if there are available strings
3276 from {serverid}. Copies any reply string into the variable
3277 {retvar} if specified. {retvar} must be a string with the
3278 name of a variable.
3279 Returns zero if none are available.
3280 Returns -1 if something is wrong.
3281 See also |clientserver|.
3282 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3283 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3284 Examples: >
3285 :let repl = ""
3286 :echo "PEEK: ".remote_peek(id, "repl").": ".repl
3287
3288remote_read({serverid}) *remote_read()*
3289 Return the oldest available reply from {serverid} and consume
3290 it. It blocks until a reply is available.
3291 See also |clientserver|.
3292 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3293 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3294 Example: >
3295 :echo remote_read(id)
3296<
3297 *remote_send()* *E241*
3298remote_send({server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
Bram Moolenaard4755bb2004-09-02 19:12:26 +00003299 Send the {string} to {server}. The string is sent as input
3300 keys and the function returns immediately. At the Vim server
3301 the keys are not mapped |:map|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003302 If {idvar} is present, it is taken as the name of a
3303 variable and a {serverid} for later use with
3304 remote_read() is stored there.
3305 See also |clientserver| |RemoteReply|.
3306 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3307 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3308 Note: Any errors will be reported in the server and may mess
3309 up the display.
3310 Examples: >
3311 :echo remote_send("gvim", ":DropAndReply ".file, "serverid").
3312 \ remote_read(serverid)
3313
3314 :autocmd NONE RemoteReply *
3315 \ echo remote_read(expand("<amatch>"))
3316 :echo remote_send("gvim", ":sleep 10 | echo ".
3317 \ 'server2client(expand("<client>"), "HELLO")<CR>')
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003318<
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003319remove({list}, {idx} [, {end}]) *remove()*
3320 Without {end}: Remove the item at {idx} from List {list} and
3321 return it.
3322 With {end}: Remove items from {idx} to {end} (inclusive) and
3323 return a list with these items. When {idx} points to the same
3324 item as {end} a list with one item is returned. When {end}
3325 points to an item before {idx} this is an error.
3326 See |list-index| for possible values of {idx} and {end}.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003327 Example: >
3328 :echo "last item: " . remove(mylist, -1)
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003329 :call remove(mylist, 0, 9)
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003330remove({dict}, {key})
3331 Remove the entry from {dict} with key {key}. Example: >
3332 :echo "removed " . remove(dict, "one")
3333< If there is no {key} in {dict} this is an error.
3334
3335 Use |delete()| to remove a file.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003336
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003337rename({from}, {to}) *rename()*
3338 Rename the file by the name {from} to the name {to}. This
3339 should also work to move files across file systems. The
3340 result is a Number, which is 0 if the file was renamed
3341 successfully, and non-zero when the renaming failed.
3342 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3343
Bram Moolenaarab79bcb2004-07-18 21:34:53 +00003344repeat({expr}, {count}) *repeat()*
3345 Repeat {expr} {count} times and return the concatenated
3346 result. Example: >
3347 :let seperator = repeat('-', 80)
3348< When {count} is zero or negative the result is empty.
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003349 When {expr} is a List the result is {expr} concatenated
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003350 {count} times. Example: >
3351 :let longlist = repeat(['a', 'b'], 3)
3352< Results in ['a', 'b', 'a', 'b', 'a', 'b'].
Bram Moolenaarab79bcb2004-07-18 21:34:53 +00003353
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003354
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003355resolve({filename}) *resolve()* *E655*
3356 On MS-Windows, when {filename} is a shortcut (a .lnk file),
3357 returns the path the shortcut points to in a simplified form.
3358 On Unix, repeat resolving symbolic links in all path
3359 components of {filename} and return the simplified result.
3360 To cope with link cycles, resolving of symbolic links is
3361 stopped after 100 iterations.
3362 On other systems, return the simplified {filename}.
3363 The simplification step is done as by |simplify()|.
3364 resolve() keeps a leading path component specifying the
3365 current directory (provided the result is still a relative
3366 path name) and also keeps a trailing path separator.
3367
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003368 *reverse()*
3369reverse({list}) Reverse the order of items in {list} in-place. Returns
3370 {list}.
3371 If you want a list to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
3372 :let revlist = reverse(copy(mylist))
3373
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003374search({pattern} [, {flags}]) *search()*
3375 Search for regexp pattern {pattern}. The search starts at the
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00003376 cursor position (you can use |cursor()| to set it).
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003377 {flags} is a String, which can contain these character flags:
3378 'b' search backward instead of forward
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00003379 'n' do Not move the cursor
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003380 'w' wrap around the end of the file
3381 'W' don't wrap around the end of the file
3382 If neither 'w' or 'W' is given, the 'wrapscan' option applies.
3383
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00003384 When a match has been found its line number is returned.
3385 The cursor will be positioned at the match, unless the 'n'
3386 flag is used).
3387 If there is no match a 0 is returned and the cursor doesn't
3388 move. No error message is given.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003389
3390 Example (goes over all files in the argument list): >
3391 :let n = 1
3392 :while n <= argc() " loop over all files in arglist
3393 : exe "argument " . n
3394 : " start at the last char in the file and wrap for the
3395 : " first search to find match at start of file
3396 : normal G$
3397 : let flags = "w"
3398 : while search("foo", flags) > 0
3399 : s/foo/bar/g
3400 : let flags = "W"
3401 : endwhile
3402 : update " write the file if modified
3403 : let n = n + 1
3404 :endwhile
3405<
3406 *searchpair()*
3407searchpair({start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip}]])
3408 Search for the match of a nested start-end pair. This can be
3409 used to find the "endif" that matches an "if", while other
3410 if/endif pairs in between are ignored.
3411 The search starts at the cursor. If a match is found, the
3412 cursor is positioned at it and the line number is returned.
3413 If no match is found 0 or -1 is returned and the cursor
3414 doesn't move. No error message is given.
3415
3416 {start}, {middle} and {end} are patterns, see |pattern|. They
3417 must not contain \( \) pairs. Use of \%( \) is allowed. When
3418 {middle} is not empty, it is found when searching from either
3419 direction, but only when not in a nested start-end pair. A
3420 typical use is: >
3421 searchpair('\<if\>', '\<else\>', '\<endif\>')
3422< By leaving {middle} empty the "else" is skipped.
3423
3424 {flags} are used like with |search()|. Additionally:
3425 'n' do Not move the cursor
3426 'r' Repeat until no more matches found; will find the
3427 outer pair
3428 'm' return number of Matches instead of line number with
3429 the match; will only be > 1 when 'r' is used.
3430
3431 When a match for {start}, {middle} or {end} is found, the
3432 {skip} expression is evaluated with the cursor positioned on
3433 the start of the match. It should return non-zero if this
3434 match is to be skipped. E.g., because it is inside a comment
3435 or a string.
3436 When {skip} is omitted or empty, every match is accepted.
3437 When evaluating {skip} causes an error the search is aborted
3438 and -1 returned.
3439
3440 The value of 'ignorecase' is used. 'magic' is ignored, the
3441 patterns are used like it's on.
3442
3443 The search starts exactly at the cursor. A match with
3444 {start}, {middle} or {end} at the next character, in the
3445 direction of searching, is the first one found. Example: >
3446 if 1
3447 if 2
3448 endif 2
3449 endif 1
3450< When starting at the "if 2", with the cursor on the "i", and
3451 searching forwards, the "endif 2" is found. When starting on
3452 the character just before the "if 2", the "endif 1" will be
3453 found. That's because the "if 2" will be found first, and
3454 then this is considered to be a nested if/endif from "if 2" to
3455 "endif 2".
3456 When searching backwards and {end} is more than one character,
3457 it may be useful to put "\zs" at the end of the pattern, so
3458 that when the cursor is inside a match with the end it finds
3459 the matching start.
3460
3461 Example, to find the "endif" command in a Vim script: >
3462
3463 :echo searchpair('\<if\>', '\<el\%[seif]\>', '\<en\%[dif]\>', 'W',
3464 \ 'getline(".") =~ "^\\s*\""')
3465
3466< The cursor must be at or after the "if" for which a match is
3467 to be found. Note that single-quote strings are used to avoid
3468 having to double the backslashes. The skip expression only
3469 catches comments at the start of a line, not after a command.
3470 Also, a word "en" or "if" halfway a line is considered a
3471 match.
3472 Another example, to search for the matching "{" of a "}": >
3473
3474 :echo searchpair('{', '', '}', 'bW')
3475
3476< This works when the cursor is at or before the "}" for which a
3477 match is to be found. To reject matches that syntax
3478 highlighting recognized as strings: >
3479
3480 :echo searchpair('{', '', '}', 'bW',
3481 \ 'synIDattr(synID(line("."), col("."), 0), "name") =~? "string"')
3482<
3483server2client( {clientid}, {string}) *server2client()*
3484 Send a reply string to {clientid}. The most recent {clientid}
3485 that sent a string can be retrieved with expand("<client>").
3486 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3487 Note:
3488 This id has to be stored before the next command can be
3489 received. Ie. before returning from the received command and
3490 before calling any commands that waits for input.
3491 See also |clientserver|.
3492 Example: >
3493 :echo server2client(expand("<client>"), "HELLO")
3494<
3495serverlist() *serverlist()*
3496 Return a list of available server names, one per line.
3497 When there are no servers or the information is not available
3498 an empty string is returned. See also |clientserver|.
3499 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3500 Example: >
3501 :echo serverlist()
3502<
3503setbufvar({expr}, {varname}, {val}) *setbufvar()*
3504 Set option or local variable {varname} in buffer {expr} to
3505 {val}.
3506 This also works for a global or local window option, but it
3507 doesn't work for a global or local window variable.
3508 For a local window option the global value is unchanged.
3509 For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()| above.
3510 Note that the variable name without "b:" must be used.
3511 Examples: >
3512 :call setbufvar(1, "&mod", 1)
3513 :call setbufvar("todo", "myvar", "foobar")
3514< This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3515
3516setcmdpos({pos}) *setcmdpos()*
3517 Set the cursor position in the command line to byte position
3518 {pos}. The first position is 1.
3519 Use |getcmdpos()| to obtain the current position.
3520 Only works while editing the command line, thus you must use
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003521 |c_CTRL-\_e|, |c_CTRL-R_=| or |c_CTRL-R_CTRL-R| with '='. For
3522 |c_CTRL-\_e| and |c_CTRL-R_CTRL-R| with '=' the position is
3523 set after the command line is set to the expression. For
3524 |c_CTRL-R_=| it is set after evaluating the expression but
3525 before inserting the resulting text.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003526 When the number is too big the cursor is put at the end of the
3527 line. A number smaller than one has undefined results.
3528 Returns 0 when successful, 1 when not editing the command
3529 line.
3530
3531setline({lnum}, {line}) *setline()*
3532 Set line {lnum} of the current buffer to {line}. If this
3533 succeeds, 0 is returned. If this fails (most likely because
3534 {lnum} is invalid) 1 is returned. Example: >
3535 :call setline(5, strftime("%c"))
3536< Note: The '[ and '] marks are not set.
3537
3538 *setreg()*
3539setreg({regname}, {value} [,{options}])
3540 Set the register {regname} to {value}.
3541 If {options} contains "a" or {regname} is upper case,
3542 then the value is appended.
3543 {options} can also contains a register type specification:
3544 "c" or "v" |characterwise| mode
3545 "l" or "V" |linewise| mode
3546 "b" or "<CTRL-V>" |blockwise-visual| mode
3547 If a number immediately follows "b" or "<CTRL-V>" then this is
3548 used as the width of the selection - if it is not specified
3549 then the width of the block is set to the number of characters
3550 in the longest line (counting a <TAB> as 1 character).
3551
3552 If {options} contains no register settings, then the default
3553 is to use character mode unless {value} ends in a <NL>.
3554 Setting the '=' register is not possible.
3555 Returns zero for success, non-zero for failure.
3556
3557 Examples: >
3558 :call setreg(v:register, @*)
3559 :call setreg('*', @%, 'ac')
3560 :call setreg('a', "1\n2\n3", 'b5')
3561
3562< This example shows using the functions to save and restore a
3563 register. >
3564 :let var_a = getreg('a')
3565 :let var_amode = getregtype('a')
3566 ....
3567 :call setreg('a', var_a, var_amode)
3568
3569< You can also change the type of a register by appending
3570 nothing: >
3571 :call setreg('a', '', 'al')
3572
3573setwinvar({nr}, {varname}, {val}) *setwinvar()*
3574 Set option or local variable {varname} in window {nr} to
3575 {val}.
3576 This also works for a global or local buffer option, but it
3577 doesn't work for a global or local buffer variable.
3578 For a local buffer option the global value is unchanged.
3579 Note that the variable name without "w:" must be used.
3580 Examples: >
3581 :call setwinvar(1, "&list", 0)
3582 :call setwinvar(2, "myvar", "foobar")
3583< This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3584
3585simplify({filename}) *simplify()*
3586 Simplify the file name as much as possible without changing
3587 the meaning. Shortcuts (on MS-Windows) or symbolic links (on
3588 Unix) are not resolved. If the first path component in
3589 {filename} designates the current directory, this will be
3590 valid for the result as well. A trailing path separator is
3591 not removed either.
3592 Example: >
3593 simplify("./dir/.././/file/") == "./file/"
3594< Note: The combination "dir/.." is only removed if "dir" is
3595 a searchable directory or does not exist. On Unix, it is also
3596 removed when "dir" is a symbolic link within the same
3597 directory. In order to resolve all the involved symbolic
3598 links before simplifying the path name, use |resolve()|.
3599
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003600
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00003601sort({list} [, {func}]) *sort()* *E702*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003602 Sort the items in {list} in-place. Returns {list}. If you
3603 want a list to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
3604 :let sortedlist = sort(copy(mylist))
3605< Uses the string representation of each item to sort on.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003606 Numbers sort after Strings, Lists after Numbers.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003607 When {func} is given and it is one then case is ignored.
3608 When {func} is a Funcref or a function name, this function is
3609 called to compare items. The function is invoked with two
3610 items as argument and must return zero if they are equal, 1 if
3611 the first one sorts after the second one, -1 if the first one
3612 sorts before the second one. Example: >
3613 func MyCompare(i1, i2)
3614 return a:i1 == a:i2 ? 0 : a:i1 > a:i2 ? 1 : -1
3615 endfunc
3616 let sortedlist = sort(mylist, "MyCompare")
3617
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003618split({expr} [, {pattern}]) *split()*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003619 Make a List out of {expr}. When {pattern} is omitted each
3620 white-separated sequence of characters becomes an item.
3621 Otherwise the string is split where {pattern} matches,
3622 removing the matched characters. Empty strings are omitted.
3623 Example: >
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003624 :let words = split(getline('.'), '\W\+')
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003625< Since empty strings are not added the "\+" isn't required but
3626 it makes the function work a bit faster.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003627 The opposite function is |join()|.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003628
3629
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003630strftime({format} [, {time}]) *strftime()*
3631 The result is a String, which is a formatted date and time, as
3632 specified by the {format} string. The given {time} is used,
3633 or the current time if no time is given. The accepted
3634 {format} depends on your system, thus this is not portable!
3635 See the manual page of the C function strftime() for the
3636 format. The maximum length of the result is 80 characters.
3637 See also |localtime()| and |getftime()|.
3638 The language can be changed with the |:language| command.
3639 Examples: >
3640 :echo strftime("%c") Sun Apr 27 11:49:23 1997
3641 :echo strftime("%Y %b %d %X") 1997 Apr 27 11:53:25
3642 :echo strftime("%y%m%d %T") 970427 11:53:55
3643 :echo strftime("%H:%M") 11:55
3644 :echo strftime("%c", getftime("file.c"))
3645 Show mod time of file.c.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003646< Not available on all systems. To check use: >
3647 :if exists("*strftime")
3648
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00003649stridx({haystack}, {needle} [, {start}]) *stridx()*
3650 The result is a Number, which gives the byte index in
3651 {haystack} of the first occurrence of the String {needle}.
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00003652 If {start} is specified, the search starts at index {start}.
3653 This can be used to find a second match: >
3654 :let comma1 = stridx(line, ",")
3655 :let comma2 = stridx(line, ",", comma1 + 1)
3656< The search is done case-sensitive.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00003657 For pattern searches use |match()|.
3658 -1 is returned if the {needle} does not occur in {haystack}.
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00003659 See also |strridx()|.
3660 Examples: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003661 :echo stridx("An Example", "Example") 3
3662 :echo stridx("Starting point", "Start") 0
3663 :echo stridx("Starting point", "start") -1
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00003664< *strstr()* *strchr()*
3665 stridx() works similar to the C function strstr(). When used
3666 with a single character it works similar to strchr().
3667
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003668 *string()*
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003669string({expr}) Return {expr} converted to a String. If {expr} is a Number,
3670 String or a composition of them, then the result can be parsed
3671 back with |eval()|.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003672 {expr} type result ~
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003673 String 'string'
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003674 Number 123
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003675 Funcref function('name')
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003676 List [item, item]
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003677 Note that in String values the ' character is doubled.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003678
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003679 *strlen()*
3680strlen({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the length of the String
3681 {expr} in bytes. If you want to count the number of
3682 multi-byte characters use something like this: >
3683
3684 :let len = strlen(substitute(str, ".", "x", "g"))
3685
3686< Composing characters are not counted.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003687 If the argument is a Number it is first converted to a String.
3688 For other types an error is given.
3689 Also see |len()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003690
3691strpart({src}, {start}[, {len}]) *strpart()*
3692 The result is a String, which is part of {src}, starting from
3693 byte {start}, with the length {len}.
3694 When non-existing bytes are included, this doesn't result in
3695 an error, the bytes are simply omitted.
3696 If {len} is missing, the copy continues from {start} till the
3697 end of the {src}. >
3698 strpart("abcdefg", 3, 2) == "de"
3699 strpart("abcdefg", -2, 4) == "ab"
3700 strpart("abcdefg", 5, 4) == "fg"
3701 strpart("abcdefg", 3) == "defg"
3702< Note: To get the first character, {start} must be 0. For
3703 example, to get three bytes under and after the cursor: >
3704 strpart(getline(line(".")), col(".") - 1, 3)
3705<
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00003706strridx({haystack}, {needle} [, {start}]) *strridx()*
3707 The result is a Number, which gives the byte index in
3708 {haystack} of the last occurrence of the String {needle}.
3709 When {start} is specified, matches beyond this index are
3710 ignored. This can be used to find a match before a previous
3711 match: >
3712 :let lastcomma = strridx(line, ",")
3713 :let comma2 = strridx(line, ",", lastcomma - 1)
3714< The search is done case-sensitive.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00003715 For pattern searches use |match()|.
3716 -1 is returned if the {needle} does not occur in {haystack}.
Bram Moolenaard4755bb2004-09-02 19:12:26 +00003717 If the {needle} is empty the length of {haystack} is returned.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003718 See also |stridx()|. Examples: >
3719 :echo strridx("an angry armadillo", "an") 3
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00003720< *strrchr()*
3721 When used with a single character it works similar to the C
3722 function strrchr().
3723
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003724strtrans({expr}) *strtrans()*
3725 The result is a String, which is {expr} with all unprintable
3726 characters translated into printable characters |'isprint'|.
3727 Like they are shown in a window. Example: >
3728 echo strtrans(@a)
3729< This displays a newline in register a as "^@" instead of
3730 starting a new line.
3731
3732submatch({nr}) *submatch()*
3733 Only for an expression in a |:substitute| command. Returns
3734 the {nr}'th submatch of the matched text. When {nr} is 0
3735 the whole matched text is returned.
3736 Example: >
3737 :s/\d\+/\=submatch(0) + 1/
3738< This finds the first number in the line and adds one to it.
3739 A line break is included as a newline character.
3740
3741substitute({expr}, {pat}, {sub}, {flags}) *substitute()*
3742 The result is a String, which is a copy of {expr}, in which
3743 the first match of {pat} is replaced with {sub}. This works
3744 like the ":substitute" command (without any flags). But the
3745 matching with {pat} is always done like the 'magic' option is
3746 set and 'cpoptions' is empty (to make scripts portable).
3747 See |string-match| for how {pat} is used.
3748 And a "~" in {sub} is not replaced with the previous {sub}.
3749 Note that some codes in {sub} have a special meaning
3750 |sub-replace-special|. For example, to replace something with
3751 "\n" (two characters), use "\\\\n" or '\\n'.
3752 When {pat} does not match in {expr}, {expr} is returned
3753 unmodified.
3754 When {flags} is "g", all matches of {pat} in {expr} are
3755 replaced. Otherwise {flags} should be "".
3756 Example: >
3757 :let &path = substitute(&path, ",\\=[^,]*$", "", "")
3758< This removes the last component of the 'path' option. >
3759 :echo substitute("testing", ".*", "\\U\\0", "")
3760< results in "TESTING".
3761
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00003762synID({lnum}, {col}, {trans}) *synID()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003763 The result is a Number, which is the syntax ID at the position
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00003764 {lnum} and {col} in the current window.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003765 The syntax ID can be used with |synIDattr()| and
3766 |synIDtrans()| to obtain syntax information about text.
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00003767 {col} is 1 for the leftmost column, {lnum} is 1 for the first
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003768 line.
3769 When {trans} is non-zero, transparent items are reduced to the
3770 item that they reveal. This is useful when wanting to know
3771 the effective color. When {trans} is zero, the transparent
3772 item is returned. This is useful when wanting to know which
3773 syntax item is effective (e.g. inside parens).
3774 Warning: This function can be very slow. Best speed is
3775 obtained by going through the file in forward direction.
3776
3777 Example (echoes the name of the syntax item under the cursor): >
3778 :echo synIDattr(synID(line("."), col("."), 1), "name")
3779<
3780synIDattr({synID}, {what} [, {mode}]) *synIDattr()*
3781 The result is a String, which is the {what} attribute of
3782 syntax ID {synID}. This can be used to obtain information
3783 about a syntax item.
3784 {mode} can be "gui", "cterm" or "term", to get the attributes
3785 for that mode. When {mode} is omitted, or an invalid value is
3786 used, the attributes for the currently active highlighting are
3787 used (GUI, cterm or term).
3788 Use synIDtrans() to follow linked highlight groups.
3789 {what} result
3790 "name" the name of the syntax item
3791 "fg" foreground color (GUI: color name used to set
3792 the color, cterm: color number as a string,
3793 term: empty string)
3794 "bg" background color (like "fg")
3795 "fg#" like "fg", but for the GUI and the GUI is
3796 running the name in "#RRGGBB" form
3797 "bg#" like "fg#" for "bg"
3798 "bold" "1" if bold
3799 "italic" "1" if italic
3800 "reverse" "1" if reverse
3801 "inverse" "1" if inverse (= reverse)
3802 "underline" "1" if underlined
3803
3804 Example (echoes the color of the syntax item under the
3805 cursor): >
3806 :echo synIDattr(synIDtrans(synID(line("."), col("."), 1)), "fg")
3807<
3808synIDtrans({synID}) *synIDtrans()*
3809 The result is a Number, which is the translated syntax ID of
3810 {synID}. This is the syntax group ID of what is being used to
3811 highlight the character. Highlight links given with
3812 ":highlight link" are followed.
3813
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00003814system({expr} [, {input}]) *system()* *E677*
3815 Get the output of the shell command {expr}.
3816 When {input} is given, this string is written to a file and
3817 passed as stdin to the command. The string is written as-is,
3818 you need to take care of using the correct line separators
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00003819 yourself. Pipes are not used.
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00003820 Note: newlines in {expr} may cause the command to fail. The
3821 characters in 'shellquote' and 'shellxquote' may also cause
3822 trouble.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003823 This is not to be used for interactive commands.
3824 The result is a String. Example: >
3825
3826 :let files = system("ls")
3827
3828< To make the result more system-independent, the shell output
3829 is filtered to replace <CR> with <NL> for Macintosh, and
3830 <CR><NL> with <NL> for DOS-like systems.
3831 The command executed is constructed using several options:
3832 'shell' 'shellcmdflag' 'shellxquote' {expr} 'shellredir' {tmp} 'shellxquote'
3833 ({tmp} is an automatically generated file name).
3834 For Unix and OS/2 braces are put around {expr} to allow for
3835 concatenated commands.
3836
3837 The resulting error code can be found in |v:shell_error|.
3838 This function will fail in |restricted-mode|.
3839 Unlike ":!cmd" there is no automatic check for changed files.
3840 Use |:checktime| to force a check.
3841
3842tempname() *tempname()* *temp-file-name*
3843 The result is a String, which is the name of a file that
3844 doesn't exist. It can be used for a temporary file. The name
3845 is different for at least 26 consecutive calls. Example: >
3846 :let tmpfile = tempname()
3847 :exe "redir > " . tmpfile
3848< For Unix, the file will be in a private directory (only
3849 accessible by the current user) to avoid security problems
3850 (e.g., a symlink attack or other people reading your file).
3851 When Vim exits the directory and all files in it are deleted.
3852 For MS-Windows forward slashes are used when the 'shellslash'
3853 option is set or when 'shellcmdflag' starts with '-'.
3854
3855tolower({expr}) *tolower()*
3856 The result is a copy of the String given, with all uppercase
3857 characters turned into lowercase (just like applying |gu| to
3858 the string).
3859
3860toupper({expr}) *toupper()*
3861 The result is a copy of the String given, with all lowercase
3862 characters turned into uppercase (just like applying |gU| to
3863 the string).
3864
Bram Moolenaar8299df92004-07-10 09:47:34 +00003865tr({src}, {fromstr}, {tostr}) *tr()*
3866 The result is a copy of the {src} string with all characters
3867 which appear in {fromstr} replaced by the character in that
3868 position in the {tostr} string. Thus the first character in
3869 {fromstr} is translated into the first character in {tostr}
3870 and so on. Exactly like the unix "tr" command.
3871 This code also deals with multibyte characters properly.
3872
3873 Examples: >
3874 echo tr("hello there", "ht", "HT")
3875< returns "Hello THere" >
3876 echo tr("<blob>", "<>", "{}")
3877< returns "{blob}"
3878
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003879 *type()*
3880type({expr}) The result is a Number, depending on the type of {expr}:
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00003881 Number: 0
3882 String: 1
3883 Funcref: 2
3884 List: 3
3885 Dictionary: 4
3886 To avoid the magic numbers it should be used this way: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003887 :if type(myvar) == type(0)
3888 :if type(myvar) == type("")
3889 :if type(myvar) == type(function("tr"))
3890 :if type(myvar) == type([])
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00003891 :if type(myvar) == type({})
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003892
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00003893values({dict}) *values()*
3894 Return a List with all the values of {dict}. The List is in
3895 arbitrary order.
3896
3897
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003898virtcol({expr}) *virtcol()*
3899 The result is a Number, which is the screen column of the file
3900 position given with {expr}. That is, the last screen position
3901 occupied by the character at that position, when the screen
3902 would be of unlimited width. When there is a <Tab> at the
3903 position, the returned Number will be the column at the end of
3904 the <Tab>. For example, for a <Tab> in column 1, with 'ts'
3905 set to 8, it returns 8.
3906 For the byte position use |col()|.
3907 When Virtual editing is active in the current mode, a position
3908 beyond the end of the line can be returned. |'virtualedit'|
3909 The accepted positions are:
3910 . the cursor position
3911 $ the end of the cursor line (the result is the
3912 number of displayed characters in the cursor line
3913 plus one)
3914 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is
3915 returned)
3916 Note that only marks in the current file can be used.
3917 Examples: >
3918 virtcol(".") with text "foo^Lbar", with cursor on the "^L", returns 5
3919 virtcol("$") with text "foo^Lbar", returns 9
3920 virtcol("'t") with text " there", with 't at 'h', returns 6
3921< The first column is 1. 0 is returned for an error.
3922
3923visualmode([expr]) *visualmode()*
3924 The result is a String, which describes the last Visual mode
3925 used. Initially it returns an empty string, but once Visual
3926 mode has been used, it returns "v", "V", or "<CTRL-V>" (a
3927 single CTRL-V character) for character-wise, line-wise, or
3928 block-wise Visual mode respectively.
3929 Example: >
3930 :exe "normal " . visualmode()
3931< This enters the same Visual mode as before. It is also useful
3932 in scripts if you wish to act differently depending on the
3933 Visual mode that was used.
3934
3935 If an expression is supplied that results in a non-zero number
3936 or a non-empty string, then the Visual mode will be cleared
3937 and the old value is returned. Note that " " and "0" are also
3938 non-empty strings, thus cause the mode to be cleared.
3939
3940 *winbufnr()*
3941winbufnr({nr}) The result is a Number, which is the number of the buffer
3942 associated with window {nr}. When {nr} is zero, the number of
3943 the buffer in the current window is returned. When window
3944 {nr} doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
3945 Example: >
3946 :echo "The file in the current window is " . bufname(winbufnr(0))
3947<
3948 *wincol()*
3949wincol() The result is a Number, which is the virtual column of the
3950 cursor in the window. This is counting screen cells from the
3951 left side of the window. The leftmost column is one.
3952
3953winheight({nr}) *winheight()*
3954 The result is a Number, which is the height of window {nr}.
3955 When {nr} is zero, the height of the current window is
3956 returned. When window {nr} doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
3957 An existing window always has a height of zero or more.
3958 Examples: >
3959 :echo "The current window has " . winheight(0) . " lines."
3960<
3961 *winline()*
3962winline() The result is a Number, which is the screen line of the cursor
3963 in the window. This is counting screen lines from the top of
3964 the window. The first line is one.
3965
3966 *winnr()*
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00003967winnr([{arg}]) The result is a Number, which is the number of the current
3968 window. The top window has number 1.
3969 When the optional argument is "$", the number of the
3970 last window is returnd (the window count).
3971 When the optional argument is "#", the number of the last
3972 accessed window is returned (where |CTRL-W_p| goes to).
3973 If there is no previous window 0 is returned.
3974 The number can be used with |CTRL-W_w| and ":wincmd w"
3975 |:wincmd|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003976
3977 *winrestcmd()*
3978winrestcmd() Returns a sequence of |:resize| commands that should restore
3979 the current window sizes. Only works properly when no windows
3980 are opened or closed and the current window is unchanged.
3981 Example: >
3982 :let cmd = winrestcmd()
3983 :call MessWithWindowSizes()
3984 :exe cmd
3985
3986winwidth({nr}) *winwidth()*
3987 The result is a Number, which is the width of window {nr}.
3988 When {nr} is zero, the width of the current window is
3989 returned. When window {nr} doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
3990 An existing window always has a width of zero or more.
3991 Examples: >
3992 :echo "The current window has " . winwidth(0) . " columns."
3993 :if winwidth(0) <= 50
3994 : exe "normal 50\<C-W>|"
3995 :endif
3996<
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003997 *writefile()*
3998writefile({list}, {fname} [, {binary}])
3999 Write List {list} to file {fname}. Each list item is
4000 separated with a NL. Each list item must be a String or
4001 Number.
4002 When {binary} is equal to "b" binary mode is used: There will
4003 not be a NL after the last list item. An empty item at the
4004 end does cause the last line in the file to end in a NL.
4005 All NL characters are replaced with a NUL character.
4006 Inserting CR characters needs to be done before passing {list}
4007 to writefile().
4008 An existing file is overwritten, if possible.
4009 When the write fails -1 is returned, otherwise 0. There is an
4010 error message if the file can't be created or when writing
4011 fails.
4012 Also see |readfile()|.
4013 To copy a file byte for byte: >
4014 :let fl = readfile("foo", "b")
4015 :call writefile(fl, "foocopy", "b")
4016<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004017
4018 *feature-list*
4019There are three types of features:
40201. Features that are only supported when they have been enabled when Vim
4021 was compiled |+feature-list|. Example: >
4022 :if has("cindent")
40232. Features that are only supported when certain conditions have been met.
4024 Example: >
4025 :if has("gui_running")
4026< *has-patch*
40273. Included patches. First check |v:version| for the version of Vim.
4028 Then the "patch123" feature means that patch 123 has been included for
4029 this version. Example (checking version 6.2.148 or later): >
4030 :if v:version > 602 || v:version == 602 && has("patch148")
4031
4032all_builtin_terms Compiled with all builtin terminals enabled.
4033amiga Amiga version of Vim.
4034arabic Compiled with Arabic support |Arabic|.
4035arp Compiled with ARP support (Amiga).
4036autocmd Compiled with autocommands support.
4037balloon_eval Compiled with |balloon-eval| support.
4038beos BeOS version of Vim.
4039browse Compiled with |:browse| support, and browse() will
4040 work.
4041builtin_terms Compiled with some builtin terminals.
4042byte_offset Compiled with support for 'o' in 'statusline'
4043cindent Compiled with 'cindent' support.
4044clientserver Compiled with remote invocation support |clientserver|.
4045clipboard Compiled with 'clipboard' support.
4046cmdline_compl Compiled with |cmdline-completion| support.
4047cmdline_hist Compiled with |cmdline-history| support.
4048cmdline_info Compiled with 'showcmd' and 'ruler' support.
4049comments Compiled with |'comments'| support.
4050cryptv Compiled with encryption support |encryption|.
4051cscope Compiled with |cscope| support.
4052compatible Compiled to be very Vi compatible.
4053debug Compiled with "DEBUG" defined.
4054dialog_con Compiled with console dialog support.
4055dialog_gui Compiled with GUI dialog support.
4056diff Compiled with |vimdiff| and 'diff' support.
4057digraphs Compiled with support for digraphs.
4058dnd Compiled with support for the "~ register |quote_~|.
4059dos32 32 bits DOS (DJGPP) version of Vim.
4060dos16 16 bits DOS version of Vim.
4061ebcdic Compiled on a machine with ebcdic character set.
4062emacs_tags Compiled with support for Emacs tags.
4063eval Compiled with expression evaluation support. Always
4064 true, of course!
4065ex_extra Compiled with extra Ex commands |+ex_extra|.
4066extra_search Compiled with support for |'incsearch'| and
4067 |'hlsearch'|
4068farsi Compiled with Farsi support |farsi|.
4069file_in_path Compiled with support for |gf| and |<cfile>|
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00004070filterpipe When 'shelltemp' is off pipes are used for shell
4071 read/write/filter commands
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004072find_in_path Compiled with support for include file searches
4073 |+find_in_path|.
4074fname_case Case in file names matters (for Amiga, MS-DOS, and
4075 Windows this is not present).
4076folding Compiled with |folding| support.
4077footer Compiled with GUI footer support. |gui-footer|
4078fork Compiled to use fork()/exec() instead of system().
4079gettext Compiled with message translation |multi-lang|
4080gui Compiled with GUI enabled.
4081gui_athena Compiled with Athena GUI.
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00004082gui_beos Compiled with BeOS GUI.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004083gui_gtk Compiled with GTK+ GUI (any version).
4084gui_gtk2 Compiled with GTK+ 2 GUI (gui_gtk is also defined).
Bram Moolenaar843ee412004-06-30 16:16:41 +00004085gui_kde Compiled with KDE GUI |KVim|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004086gui_mac Compiled with Macintosh GUI.
4087gui_motif Compiled with Motif GUI.
4088gui_photon Compiled with Photon GUI.
4089gui_win32 Compiled with MS Windows Win32 GUI.
4090gui_win32s idem, and Win32s system being used (Windows 3.1)
4091gui_running Vim is running in the GUI, or it will start soon.
4092hangul_input Compiled with Hangul input support. |hangul|
4093iconv Can use iconv() for conversion.
4094insert_expand Compiled with support for CTRL-X expansion commands in
4095 Insert mode.
4096jumplist Compiled with |jumplist| support.
4097keymap Compiled with 'keymap' support.
4098langmap Compiled with 'langmap' support.
4099libcall Compiled with |libcall()| support.
4100linebreak Compiled with 'linebreak', 'breakat' and 'showbreak'
4101 support.
4102lispindent Compiled with support for lisp indenting.
4103listcmds Compiled with commands for the buffer list |:files|
4104 and the argument list |arglist|.
4105localmap Compiled with local mappings and abbr. |:map-local|
4106mac Macintosh version of Vim.
4107macunix Macintosh version of Vim, using Unix files (OS-X).
4108menu Compiled with support for |:menu|.
4109mksession Compiled with support for |:mksession|.
4110modify_fname Compiled with file name modifiers. |filename-modifiers|
4111mouse Compiled with support mouse.
4112mouseshape Compiled with support for 'mouseshape'.
4113mouse_dec Compiled with support for Dec terminal mouse.
4114mouse_gpm Compiled with support for gpm (Linux console mouse)
4115mouse_netterm Compiled with support for netterm mouse.
4116mouse_pterm Compiled with support for qnx pterm mouse.
4117mouse_xterm Compiled with support for xterm mouse.
4118multi_byte Compiled with support for editing Korean et al.
4119multi_byte_ime Compiled with support for IME input method.
4120multi_lang Compiled with support for multiple languages.
Bram Moolenaar325b7a22004-07-05 15:58:32 +00004121mzscheme Compiled with MzScheme interface |mzscheme|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004122netbeans_intg Compiled with support for |netbeans|.
Bram Moolenaar009b2592004-10-24 19:18:58 +00004123netbeans_enabled Compiled with support for |netbeans| and it's used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004124ole Compiled with OLE automation support for Win32.
4125os2 OS/2 version of Vim.
4126osfiletype Compiled with support for osfiletypes |+osfiletype|
4127path_extra Compiled with up/downwards search in 'path' and 'tags'
4128perl Compiled with Perl interface.
4129postscript Compiled with PostScript file printing.
4130printer Compiled with |:hardcopy| support.
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00004131profile Compiled with |:profile| support.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004132python Compiled with Python interface.
4133qnx QNX version of Vim.
4134quickfix Compiled with |quickfix| support.
4135rightleft Compiled with 'rightleft' support.
4136ruby Compiled with Ruby interface |ruby|.
4137scrollbind Compiled with 'scrollbind' support.
4138showcmd Compiled with 'showcmd' support.
4139signs Compiled with |:sign| support.
4140smartindent Compiled with 'smartindent' support.
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00004141sniff Compiled with SNiFF interface support.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004142statusline Compiled with support for 'statusline', 'rulerformat'
4143 and special formats of 'titlestring' and 'iconstring'.
4144sun_workshop Compiled with support for Sun |workshop|.
4145syntax Compiled with syntax highlighting support.
4146syntax_items There are active syntax highlighting items for the
4147 current buffer.
4148system Compiled to use system() instead of fork()/exec().
4149tag_binary Compiled with binary searching in tags files
4150 |tag-binary-search|.
4151tag_old_static Compiled with support for old static tags
4152 |tag-old-static|.
4153tag_any_white Compiled with support for any white characters in tags
4154 files |tag-any-white|.
4155tcl Compiled with Tcl interface.
4156terminfo Compiled with terminfo instead of termcap.
4157termresponse Compiled with support for |t_RV| and |v:termresponse|.
4158textobjects Compiled with support for |text-objects|.
4159tgetent Compiled with tgetent support, able to use a termcap
4160 or terminfo file.
4161title Compiled with window title support |'title'|.
4162toolbar Compiled with support for |gui-toolbar|.
4163unix Unix version of Vim.
4164user_commands User-defined commands.
4165viminfo Compiled with viminfo support.
4166vim_starting True while initial source'ing takes place.
4167vertsplit Compiled with vertically split windows |:vsplit|.
4168virtualedit Compiled with 'virtualedit' option.
4169visual Compiled with Visual mode.
4170visualextra Compiled with extra Visual mode commands.
4171 |blockwise-operators|.
4172vms VMS version of Vim.
4173vreplace Compiled with |gR| and |gr| commands.
4174wildignore Compiled with 'wildignore' option.
4175wildmenu Compiled with 'wildmenu' option.
4176windows Compiled with support for more than one window.
4177winaltkeys Compiled with 'winaltkeys' option.
4178win16 Win16 version of Vim (MS-Windows 3.1).
4179win32 Win32 version of Vim (MS-Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP).
4180win64 Win64 version of Vim (MS-Windows 64 bit).
4181win32unix Win32 version of Vim, using Unix files (Cygwin)
4182win95 Win32 version for MS-Windows 95/98/ME.
4183writebackup Compiled with 'writebackup' default on.
4184xfontset Compiled with X fontset support |xfontset|.
4185xim Compiled with X input method support |xim|.
4186xsmp Compiled with X session management support.
4187xsmp_interact Compiled with interactive X session management support.
4188xterm_clipboard Compiled with support for xterm clipboard.
4189xterm_save Compiled with support for saving and restoring the
4190 xterm screen.
4191x11 Compiled with X11 support.
4192
4193 *string-match*
4194Matching a pattern in a String
4195
4196A regexp pattern as explained at |pattern| is normally used to find a match in
4197the buffer lines. When a pattern is used to find a match in a String, almost
4198everything works in the same way. The difference is that a String is handled
4199like it is one line. When it contains a "\n" character, this is not seen as a
4200line break for the pattern. It can be matched with a "\n" in the pattern, or
4201with ".". Example: >
4202 :let a = "aaaa\nxxxx"
4203 :echo matchstr(a, "..\n..")
4204 aa
4205 xx
4206 :echo matchstr(a, "a.x")
4207 a
4208 x
4209
4210Don't forget that "^" will only match at the first character of the String and
4211"$" at the last character of the string. They don't match after or before a
4212"\n".
4213
4214==============================================================================
42155. Defining functions *user-functions*
4216
4217New functions can be defined. These can be called just like builtin
4218functions. The function executes a sequence of Ex commands. Normal mode
4219commands can be executed with the |:normal| command.
4220
4221The function name must start with an uppercase letter, to avoid confusion with
4222builtin functions. To prevent from using the same name in different scripts
4223avoid obvious, short names. A good habit is to start the function name with
4224the name of the script, e.g., "HTMLcolor()".
4225
4226It's also possible to use curly braces, see |curly-braces-names|.
4227
4228 *local-function*
4229A function local to a script must start with "s:". A local script function
4230can only be called from within the script and from functions, user commands
4231and autocommands defined in the script. It is also possible to call the
4232function from a mappings defined in the script, but then |<SID>| must be used
4233instead of "s:" when the mapping is expanded outside of the script.
4234
4235 *:fu* *:function* *E128* *E129* *E123*
4236:fu[nction] List all functions and their arguments.
4237
4238:fu[nction] {name} List function {name}.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004239 {name} can also be a Dictionary entry that is a
4240 Funcref: >
4241 :function dict.init
4242< *E124* *E125*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00004243:fu[nction][!] {name}([arguments]) [range] [abort] [dict]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004244 Define a new function by the name {name}. The name
4245 must be made of alphanumeric characters and '_', and
4246 must start with a capital or "s:" (see above).
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004247
4248 {name} can also be a Dictionary entry that is a
4249 Funcref: >
4250 :function dict.init(arg)
4251< "dict" must be an existing dictionary. The entry
4252 "init" is added if it didn't exist yet. Otherwise [!]
4253 is required to overwrite an existing function. The
4254 result is a |Funcref| to a numbered function. The
4255 function can only be used with a |Funcref| and will be
4256 deleted if there are no more references to it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004257 *E127* *E122*
4258 When a function by this name already exists and [!] is
4259 not used an error message is given. When [!] is used,
4260 an existing function is silently replaced. Unless it
4261 is currently being executed, that is an error.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00004262
4263 For the {arguments} see |function-argument|.
4264
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004265 *a:firstline* *a:lastline*
4266 When the [range] argument is added, the function is
4267 expected to take care of a range itself. The range is
4268 passed as "a:firstline" and "a:lastline". If [range]
4269 is excluded, ":{range}call" will call the function for
4270 each line in the range, with the cursor on the start
4271 of each line. See |function-range-example|.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004272
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004273 When the [abort] argument is added, the function will
4274 abort as soon as an error is detected.
4275 The last used search pattern and the redo command "."
4276 will not be changed by the function.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004277
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00004278 When the [dict] argument is added, the function must
4279 be invoked through an entry in a Dictionary. The
4280 local variable "self" will then be set to the
4281 dictionary. See |Dictionary-function|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004282
4283 *:endf* *:endfunction* *E126* *E193*
4284:endf[unction] The end of a function definition. Must be on a line
4285 by its own, without other commands.
4286
4287 *:delf* *:delfunction* *E130* *E131*
4288:delf[unction] {name} Delete function {name}.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004289 {name} can also be a Dictionary entry that is a
4290 Funcref: >
4291 :delfunc dict.init
4292< This will remove the "init" entry from "dict". The
4293 function is deleted if there are no more references to
4294 it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004295 *:retu* *:return* *E133*
4296:retu[rn] [expr] Return from a function. When "[expr]" is given, it is
4297 evaluated and returned as the result of the function.
4298 If "[expr]" is not given, the number 0 is returned.
4299 When a function ends without an explicit ":return",
4300 the number 0 is returned.
4301 Note that there is no check for unreachable lines,
4302 thus there is no warning if commands follow ":return".
4303
4304 If the ":return" is used after a |:try| but before the
4305 matching |:finally| (if present), the commands
4306 following the ":finally" up to the matching |:endtry|
4307 are executed first. This process applies to all
4308 nested ":try"s inside the function. The function
4309 returns at the outermost ":endtry".
4310
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00004311 *function-argument* *a:var*
4312An argument can be defined by giving its name. In the function this can then
4313be used as "a:name" ("a:" for argument).
4314 *a:0* *a:1* *a:000* *E740*
4315Up to 20 arguments can be given, separated by commas. After the named
4316arguments an argument "..." can be specified, which means that more arguments
4317may optionally be following. In the function the extra arguments can be used
4318as "a:1", "a:2", etc. "a:0" is set to the number of extra arguments (which
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00004319can be 0). "a:000" is set to a List that contains these arguments. Note that
4320"a:1" is the same as "a:000[0]".
4321 *E742*
4322The a: scope and the variables in it cannot be changed, they are fixed.
4323However, if a List or Dictionary is used, you can changes their contents.
4324Thus you can pass a List to a function and have the function add an item to
4325it. If you want to make sure the function cannot change a List or Dictionary
4326use |:lockvar|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004327
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00004328When not using "...", the number of arguments in a function call must be equal
4329to the number of named arguments. When using "...", the number of arguments
4330may be larger.
4331
4332It is also possible to define a function without any arguments. You must
4333still supply the () then. The body of the function follows in the next lines,
4334until the matching |:endfunction|. It is allowed to define another function
4335inside a function body.
4336
4337 *local-variables*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004338Inside a function variables can be used. These are local variables, which
4339will disappear when the function returns. Global variables need to be
4340accessed with "g:".
4341
4342Example: >
4343 :function Table(title, ...)
4344 : echohl Title
4345 : echo a:title
4346 : echohl None
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004347 : echo a:0 . " items:"
4348 : for s in a:000
4349 : echon ' ' . s
4350 : endfor
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004351 :endfunction
4352
4353This function can then be called with: >
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004354 call Table("Table", "line1", "line2")
4355 call Table("Empty Table")
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004356
4357To return more than one value, pass the name of a global variable: >
4358 :function Compute(n1, n2, divname)
4359 : if a:n2 == 0
4360 : return "fail"
4361 : endif
4362 : let g:{a:divname} = a:n1 / a:n2
4363 : return "ok"
4364 :endfunction
4365
4366This function can then be called with: >
4367 :let success = Compute(13, 1324, "div")
4368 :if success == "ok"
4369 : echo div
4370 :endif
4371
4372An alternative is to return a command that can be executed. This also works
4373with local variables in a calling function. Example: >
4374 :function Foo()
4375 : execute Bar()
4376 : echo "line " . lnum . " column " . col
4377 :endfunction
4378
4379 :function Bar()
4380 : return "let lnum = " . line(".") . " | let col = " . col(".")
4381 :endfunction
4382
4383The names "lnum" and "col" could also be passed as argument to Bar(), to allow
4384the caller to set the names.
4385
4386 *:cal* *:call* *E107*
4387:[range]cal[l] {name}([arguments])
4388 Call a function. The name of the function and its arguments
4389 are as specified with |:function|. Up to 20 arguments can be
4390 used.
4391 Without a range and for functions that accept a range, the
4392 function is called once. When a range is given the cursor is
4393 positioned at the start of the first line before executing the
4394 function.
4395 When a range is given and the function doesn't handle it
4396 itself, the function is executed for each line in the range,
4397 with the cursor in the first column of that line. The cursor
4398 is left at the last line (possibly moved by the last function
4399 call). The arguments are re-evaluated for each line. Thus
4400 this works:
4401 *function-range-example* >
4402 :function Mynumber(arg)
4403 : echo line(".") . " " . a:arg
4404 :endfunction
4405 :1,5call Mynumber(getline("."))
4406<
4407 The "a:firstline" and "a:lastline" are defined anyway, they
4408 can be used to do something different at the start or end of
4409 the range.
4410
4411 Example of a function that handles the range itself: >
4412
4413 :function Cont() range
4414 : execute (a:firstline + 1) . "," . a:lastline . 's/^/\t\\ '
4415 :endfunction
4416 :4,8call Cont()
4417<
4418 This function inserts the continuation character "\" in front
4419 of all the lines in the range, except the first one.
4420
4421 *E132*
4422The recursiveness of user functions is restricted with the |'maxfuncdepth'|
4423option.
4424
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00004425
4426AUTOMATICALLY LOADING FUNCTIONS ~
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004427 *autoload-functions*
4428When using many or large functions, it's possible to automatically define them
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00004429only when they are used. There are two methods: with an autocommand and with
4430the "autoload" directory in 'runtimepath'.
4431
4432
4433Using an autocommand ~
4434
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00004435This is introduced in the user manual, section |41.14|.
4436
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00004437The autocommand is useful if you have a plugin that is a long Vim script file.
4438You can define the autocommand and quickly quit the script with |:finish|.
4439That makes Vim startup faster. The autocommand should then load the same file
4440again, setting a variable to skip the |:finish| command.
4441
4442Use the FuncUndefined autocommand event with a pattern that matches the
4443function(s) to be defined. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004444
4445 :au FuncUndefined BufNet* source ~/vim/bufnetfuncs.vim
4446
4447The file "~/vim/bufnetfuncs.vim" should then define functions that start with
4448"BufNet". Also see |FuncUndefined|.
4449
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00004450
4451Using an autoload script ~
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00004452 *autoload* *E746*
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00004453This is introduced in the user manual, section |41.15|.
4454
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00004455Using a script in the "autoload" directory is simpler, but requires using
4456exactly the right file name. A function that can be autoloaded has a name
4457like this: >
4458
4459 :call filename:funcname()
4460
4461When such a function is called, and it is not defined yet, Vim will search the
4462"autoload" directories in 'runtimepath' for a script file called
4463"filename.vim". For example "~/.vim/autoload/filename.vim". That file should
4464then define the function like this: >
4465
4466 function filename:funcname()
4467 echo "Done!"
4468 endfunction
4469
4470The file name and the name used before the colon in the function must match
4471exactly, and the defined function must have the name exactly as it will be
4472called.
4473
4474It is possible to use subdirectories. Every colon in the function name works
4475like a path separator. Thus when calling a function: >
4476
4477 :call foo:bar:func()
4478
4479Vim will look for the file "autoload/foo/bar.vim" in 'runtimepath'.
4480
4481The name before the first colon must be at least two characters long,
4482otherwise it looks like a scope, such as "s:".
4483
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00004484This also works when reading a variable that has not been set yet: >
4485
4486 :let l = foo:bar:lvar
4487
4488When assigning a value to such a variable nothing special happens. This can
4489be used to pass settings to the autoload script before it's loaded: >
4490
4491 :let foo:bar:toggle = 1
4492 :call foo:bar:func()
4493
Bram Moolenaar4399ef42005-02-12 14:29:27 +00004494Note that when you make a mistake and call a function that is supposed to be
4495defined in an autoload script, but the script doesn't actually define the
4496function, the script will be sourced every time you try to call the function.
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00004497And you will get an error message every time.
4498
4499Also note that if you have two script files, and one calls a function in the
4500other and vise versa, before the used function is defined, it won't work.
4501Avoid using the autoload functionality at the toplevel.
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00004502
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004503==============================================================================
45046. Curly braces names *curly-braces-names*
4505
4506Wherever you can use a variable, you can use a "curly braces name" variable.
4507This is a regular variable name with one or more expressions wrapped in braces
4508{} like this: >
4509 my_{adjective}_variable
4510
4511When Vim encounters this, it evaluates the expression inside the braces, puts
4512that in place of the expression, and re-interprets the whole as a variable
4513name. So in the above example, if the variable "adjective" was set to
4514"noisy", then the reference would be to "my_noisy_variable", whereas if
4515"adjective" was set to "quiet", then it would be to "my_quiet_variable".
4516
4517One application for this is to create a set of variables governed by an option
4518value. For example, the statement >
4519 echo my_{&background}_message
4520
4521would output the contents of "my_dark_message" or "my_light_message" depending
4522on the current value of 'background'.
4523
4524You can use multiple brace pairs: >
4525 echo my_{adverb}_{adjective}_message
4526..or even nest them: >
4527 echo my_{ad{end_of_word}}_message
4528where "end_of_word" is either "verb" or "jective".
4529
4530However, the expression inside the braces must evaluate to a valid single
4531variable name. e.g. this is invalid: >
4532 :let foo='a + b'
4533 :echo c{foo}d
4534.. since the result of expansion is "ca + bd", which is not a variable name.
4535
4536 *curly-braces-function-names*
4537You can call and define functions by an evaluated name in a similar way.
4538Example: >
4539 :let func_end='whizz'
4540 :call my_func_{func_end}(parameter)
4541
4542This would call the function "my_func_whizz(parameter)".
4543
4544==============================================================================
45457. Commands *expression-commands*
4546
4547:let {var-name} = {expr1} *:let* *E18*
4548 Set internal variable {var-name} to the result of the
4549 expression {expr1}. The variable will get the type
4550 from the {expr}. If {var-name} didn't exist yet, it
4551 is created.
4552
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00004553:let {var-name}[{idx}] = {expr1} *E689*
4554 Set a list item to the result of the expression
4555 {expr1}. {var-name} must refer to a list and {idx}
4556 must be a valid index in that list. For nested list
4557 the index can be repeated.
4558 This cannot be used to add an item to a list.
4559
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004560 *E711* *E719*
4561:let {var-name}[{idx1}:{idx2}] = {expr1} *E708* *E709* *E710*
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00004562 Set a sequence of items in a List to the result of the
4563 expression {expr1}, which must be a list with the
4564 correct number of items.
4565 {idx1} can be omitted, zero is used instead.
4566 {idx2} can be omitted, meaning the end of the list.
4567 When the selected range of items is partly past the
4568 end of the list, items will be added.
4569
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00004570 *:let+=* *:let-=* *:let.=* *E734*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004571:let {var} += {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} + {expr1}".
4572:let {var} -= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} - {expr1}".
4573:let {var} .= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} . {expr1}".
4574 These fail if {var} was not set yet and when the type
4575 of {var} and {expr1} don't fit the operator.
4576
4577
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004578:let ${env-name} = {expr1} *:let-environment* *:let-$*
4579 Set environment variable {env-name} to the result of
4580 the expression {expr1}. The type is always String.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004581:let ${env-name} .= {expr1}
4582 Append {expr1} to the environment variable {env-name}.
4583 If the environment variable didn't exist yet this
4584 works like "=".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004585
4586:let @{reg-name} = {expr1} *:let-register* *:let-@*
4587 Write the result of the expression {expr1} in register
4588 {reg-name}. {reg-name} must be a single letter, and
4589 must be the name of a writable register (see
4590 |registers|). "@@" can be used for the unnamed
4591 register, "@/" for the search pattern.
4592 If the result of {expr1} ends in a <CR> or <NL>, the
4593 register will be linewise, otherwise it will be set to
4594 characterwise.
4595 This can be used to clear the last search pattern: >
4596 :let @/ = ""
4597< This is different from searching for an empty string,
4598 that would match everywhere.
4599
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004600:let @{reg-name} .= {expr1}
4601 Append {expr1} to register {reg-name}. If the
4602 register was empty it's like setting it to {expr1}.
4603
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004604:let &{option-name} = {expr1} *:let-option* *:let-star*
4605 Set option {option-name} to the result of the
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00004606 expression {expr1}. A String or Number value is
4607 always converted to the type of the option.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004608 For an option local to a window or buffer the effect
4609 is just like using the |:set| command: both the local
4610 value and the global value is changed.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00004611 Example: >
4612 :let &path = &path . ',/usr/local/include'
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004613
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004614:let &{option-name} .= {expr1}
4615 For a string option: Append {expr1} to the value.
4616 Does not insert a comma like |:set+=|.
4617
4618:let &{option-name} += {expr1}
4619:let &{option-name} -= {expr1}
4620 For a number or boolean option: Add or subtract
4621 {expr1}.
4622
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004623:let &l:{option-name} = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004624:let &l:{option-name} .= {expr1}
4625:let &l:{option-name} += {expr1}
4626:let &l:{option-name} -= {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004627 Like above, but only set the local value of an option
4628 (if there is one). Works like |:setlocal|.
4629
4630:let &g:{option-name} = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004631:let &g:{option-name} .= {expr1}
4632:let &g:{option-name} += {expr1}
4633:let &g:{option-name} -= {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004634 Like above, but only set the global value of an option
4635 (if there is one). Works like |:setglobal|.
4636
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00004637:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] = {expr1} *:let-unpack* *E687* *E688*
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00004638 {expr1} must evaluate to a List. The first item in
4639 the list is assigned to {name1}, the second item to
4640 {name2}, etc.
4641 The number of names must match the number of items in
4642 the List.
4643 Each name can be one of the items of the ":let"
4644 command as mentioned above.
4645 Example: >
4646 :let [s, item] = GetItem(s)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004647< Detail: {expr1} is evaluated first, then the
4648 assignments are done in sequence. This matters if
4649 {name2} depends on {name1}. Example: >
4650 :let x = [0, 1]
4651 :let i = 0
4652 :let [i, x[i]] = [1, 2]
4653 :echo x
4654< The result is [0, 2].
4655
4656:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] .= {expr1}
4657:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] += {expr1}
4658:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] -= {expr1}
4659 Like above, but append/add/subtract the value for each
4660 List item.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00004661
4662:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004663 Like |:let-unpack| above, but the List may have more
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004664 items than there are names. A list of the remaining
4665 items is assigned to {lastname}. If there are no
4666 remaining items {lastname} is set to an empty list.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00004667 Example: >
4668 :let [a, b; rest] = ["aval", "bval", 3, 4]
4669<
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004670:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] .= {expr1}
4671:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] += {expr1}
4672:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] -= {expr1}
4673 Like above, but append/add/subtract the value for each
4674 List item.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004675 *E106*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004676:let {var-name} .. List the value of variable {var-name}. Multiple
Bram Moolenaardcaf10e2005-01-21 11:55:25 +00004677 variable names may be given. Special names recognized
4678 here: *E738*
4679 g: global variables.
4680 b: local buffer variables.
4681 w: local window variables.
4682 v: Vim variables.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004683
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00004684:let List the values of all variables. The type of the
4685 variable is indicated before the value:
4686 <nothing> String
4687 # Number
4688 * Funcref
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004689
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00004690
4691:unl[et][!] {name} ... *:unlet* *:unl* *E108*
4692 Remove the internal variable {name}. Several variable
4693 names can be given, they are all removed. The name
4694 may also be a List or Dictionary item.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004695 With [!] no error message is given for non-existing
4696 variables.
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +00004697 One or more items from a List can be removed: >
4698 :unlet list[3] " remove fourth item
4699 :unlet list[3:] " remove fourth item to last
4700< One item from a Dictionary can be removed at a time: >
4701 :unlet dict['two']
4702 :unlet dict.two
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004703
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00004704:lockv[ar][!] [depth] {name} ... *:lockvar* *:lockv*
4705 Lock the internal variable {name}. Locking means that
4706 it can no longer be changed (until it is unlocked).
4707 A locked variable can be deleted: >
4708 :lockvar v
4709 :let v = 'asdf' " fails!
4710 :unlet v
4711< *E741*
4712 If you try to change a locked variable you get an
4713 error message: "E741: Value of {name} is locked"
4714
4715 [depth] is relevant when locking a List or Dictionary.
4716 It specifies how deep the locking goes:
4717 1 Lock the List or Dictionary itself,
4718 cannot add or remove items, but can
4719 still change their values.
4720 2 Also lock the values, cannot change
4721 the items. If an item is a List or
4722 Dictionary, cannot add or remove
4723 items, but can still change the
4724 values.
4725 3 Like 2 but for the List/Dictionary in
4726 the List/Dictionary, one level deeper.
4727 The default [depth] is 2, thus when {name} is a List
4728 or Dictionary the values cannot be changed.
4729 *E743*
4730 For unlimited depth use [!] and omit [depth].
4731 However, there is a maximum depth of 100 to catch
4732 loops.
4733
4734 Note that when two variables refer to the same List
4735 and you lock one of them, the List will also be locked
4736 when used through the other variable. Example: >
4737 :let l = [0, 1, 2, 3]
4738 :let cl = l
4739 :lockvar l
4740 :let cl[1] = 99 " won't work!
4741< You may want to make a copy of a list to avoid this.
4742 See |deepcopy()|.
4743
4744
4745:unlo[ckvar][!] [depth] {name} ... *:unlockvar* *:unlo*
4746 Unlock the internal variable {name}. Does the
4747 opposite of |:lockvar|.
4748
4749
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004750:if {expr1} *:if* *:endif* *:en* *E171* *E579* *E580*
4751:en[dif] Execute the commands until the next matching ":else"
4752 or ":endif" if {expr1} evaluates to non-zero.
4753
4754 From Vim version 4.5 until 5.0, every Ex command in
4755 between the ":if" and ":endif" is ignored. These two
4756 commands were just to allow for future expansions in a
4757 backwards compatible way. Nesting was allowed. Note
4758 that any ":else" or ":elseif" was ignored, the "else"
4759 part was not executed either.
4760
4761 You can use this to remain compatible with older
4762 versions: >
4763 :if version >= 500
4764 : version-5-specific-commands
4765 :endif
4766< The commands still need to be parsed to find the
4767 "endif". Sometimes an older Vim has a problem with a
4768 new command. For example, ":silent" is recognized as
4769 a ":substitute" command. In that case ":execute" can
4770 avoid problems: >
4771 :if version >= 600
4772 : execute "silent 1,$delete"
4773 :endif
4774<
4775 NOTE: The ":append" and ":insert" commands don't work
4776 properly in between ":if" and ":endif".
4777
4778 *:else* *:el* *E581* *E583*
4779:el[se] Execute the commands until the next matching ":else"
4780 or ":endif" if they previously were not being
4781 executed.
4782
4783 *:elseif* *:elsei* *E582* *E584*
4784:elsei[f] {expr1} Short for ":else" ":if", with the addition that there
4785 is no extra ":endif".
4786
4787:wh[ile] {expr1} *:while* *:endwhile* *:wh* *:endw*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004788 *E170* *E585* *E588* *E733*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004789:endw[hile] Repeat the commands between ":while" and ":endwhile",
4790 as long as {expr1} evaluates to non-zero.
4791 When an error is detected from a command inside the
4792 loop, execution continues after the "endwhile".
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004793 Example: >
4794 :let lnum = 1
4795 :while lnum <= line("$")
4796 :call FixLine(lnum)
4797 :let lnum = lnum + 1
4798 :endwhile
4799<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004800 NOTE: The ":append" and ":insert" commands don't work
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00004801 properly inside a ":while" and ":for" loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004802
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004803:for {var} in {list} *:for* *E690* *E732*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004804:endfo[r] *:endfo* *:endfor*
4805 Repeat the commands between ":for" and ":endfor" for
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00004806 each item in {list}. Variable {var} is set to the
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00004807 value of each item.
4808 When an error is detected for a command inside the
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004809 loop, execution continues after the "endfor".
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00004810 Changing {list} affects what items are used. Make a
4811 copy if this is unwanted: >
4812 :for item in copy(mylist)
4813< When not making a copy, Vim stores a reference to the
4814 next item in the list, before executing the commands
4815 with the current item. Thus the current item can be
4816 removed without effect. Removing any later item means
4817 it will not be found. Thus the following example
4818 works (an inefficient way to make a list empty): >
4819 :for item in mylist
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004820 :call remove(mylist, 0)
4821 :endfor
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00004822< Note that reordering the list (e.g., with sort() or
4823 reverse()) may have unexpected effects.
4824 Note that the type of each list item should be
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004825 identical to avoid errors for the type of {var}
4826 changing. Unlet the variable at the end of the loop
4827 to allow multiple item types.
4828
4829:for {var} in {string}
4830:endfo[r] Like ":for" above, but use each character in {string}
4831 as a list item.
4832 Composing characters are used as separate characters.
4833 A Number is first converted to a String.
4834
4835:for [{var1}, {var2}, ...] in {listlist}
4836:endfo[r]
4837 Like ":for" above, but each item in {listlist} must be
4838 a list, of which each item is assigned to {var1},
4839 {var2}, etc. Example: >
4840 :for [lnum, col] in [[1, 3], [2, 5], [3, 8]]
4841 :echo getline(lnum)[col]
4842 :endfor
4843<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004844 *:continue* *:con* *E586*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004845:con[tinue] When used inside a ":while" or ":for" loop, jumps back
4846 to the start of the loop.
4847 If it is used after a |:try| inside the loop but
4848 before the matching |:finally| (if present), the
4849 commands following the ":finally" up to the matching
4850 |:endtry| are executed first. This process applies to
4851 all nested ":try"s inside the loop. The outermost
4852 ":endtry" then jumps back to the start of the loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004853
4854 *:break* *:brea* *E587*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004855:brea[k] When used inside a ":while" or ":for" loop, skips to
4856 the command after the matching ":endwhile" or
4857 ":endfor".
4858 If it is used after a |:try| inside the loop but
4859 before the matching |:finally| (if present), the
4860 commands following the ":finally" up to the matching
4861 |:endtry| are executed first. This process applies to
4862 all nested ":try"s inside the loop. The outermost
4863 ":endtry" then jumps to the command after the loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004864
4865:try *:try* *:endt* *:endtry* *E600* *E601* *E602*
4866:endt[ry] Change the error handling for the commands between
4867 ":try" and ":endtry" including everything being
4868 executed across ":source" commands, function calls,
4869 or autocommand invocations.
4870
4871 When an error or interrupt is detected and there is
4872 a |:finally| command following, execution continues
4873 after the ":finally". Otherwise, or when the
4874 ":endtry" is reached thereafter, the next
4875 (dynamically) surrounding ":try" is checked for
4876 a corresponding ":finally" etc. Then the script
4877 processing is terminated. (Whether a function
4878 definition has an "abort" argument does not matter.)
4879 Example: >
4880 :try | edit too much | finally | echo "cleanup" | endtry
4881 :echo "impossible" " not reached, script terminated above
4882<
4883 Moreover, an error or interrupt (dynamically) inside
4884 ":try" and ":endtry" is converted to an exception. It
4885 can be caught as if it were thrown by a |:throw|
4886 command (see |:catch|). In this case, the script
4887 processing is not terminated.
4888
4889 The value "Vim:Interrupt" is used for an interrupt
4890 exception. An error in a Vim command is converted
4891 to a value of the form "Vim({command}):{errmsg}",
4892 other errors are converted to a value of the form
4893 "Vim:{errmsg}". {command} is the full command name,
4894 and {errmsg} is the message that is displayed if the
4895 error exception is not caught, always beginning with
4896 the error number.
4897 Examples: >
4898 :try | sleep 100 | catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/ | endtry
4899 :try | edit | catch /^Vim(edit):E\d\+/ | echo "error" | endtry
4900<
4901 *:cat* *:catch* *E603* *E604* *E605*
4902:cat[ch] /{pattern}/ The following commands until the next ":catch",
4903 |:finally|, or |:endtry| that belongs to the same
4904 |:try| as the ":catch" are executed when an exception
4905 matching {pattern} is being thrown and has not yet
4906 been caught by a previous ":catch". Otherwise, these
4907 commands are skipped.
4908 When {pattern} is omitted all errors are caught.
4909 Examples: >
4910 :catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/ " catch interrupts (CTRL-C)
4911 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E/ " catch all Vim errors
4912 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:/ " catch errors and interrupts
4913 :catch /^Vim(write):/ " catch all errors in :write
4914 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E123/ " catch error E123
4915 :catch /my-exception/ " catch user exception
4916 :catch /.*/ " catch everything
4917 :catch " same as /.*/
4918<
4919 Another character can be used instead of / around the
4920 {pattern}, so long as it does not have a special
4921 meaning (e.g., '|' or '"') and doesn't occur inside
4922 {pattern}.
4923 NOTE: It is not reliable to ":catch" the TEXT of
4924 an error message because it may vary in different
4925 locales.
4926
4927 *:fina* *:finally* *E606* *E607*
4928:fina[lly] The following commands until the matching |:endtry|
4929 are executed whenever the part between the matching
4930 |:try| and the ":finally" is left: either by falling
4931 through to the ":finally" or by a |:continue|,
4932 |:break|, |:finish|, or |:return|, or by an error or
4933 interrupt or exception (see |:throw|).
4934
4935 *:th* *:throw* *E608*
4936:th[row] {expr1} The {expr1} is evaluated and thrown as an exception.
4937 If the ":throw" is used after a |:try| but before the
4938 first corresponding |:catch|, commands are skipped
4939 until the first ":catch" matching {expr1} is reached.
4940 If there is no such ":catch" or if the ":throw" is
4941 used after a ":catch" but before the |:finally|, the
4942 commands following the ":finally" (if present) up to
4943 the matching |:endtry| are executed. If the ":throw"
4944 is after the ":finally", commands up to the ":endtry"
4945 are skipped. At the ":endtry", this process applies
4946 again for the next dynamically surrounding ":try"
4947 (which may be found in a calling function or sourcing
4948 script), until a matching ":catch" has been found.
4949 If the exception is not caught, the command processing
4950 is terminated.
4951 Example: >
4952 :try | throw "oops" | catch /^oo/ | echo "caught" | endtry
4953<
4954
4955 *:ec* *:echo*
4956:ec[ho] {expr1} .. Echoes each {expr1}, with a space in between. The
4957 first {expr1} starts on a new line.
4958 Also see |:comment|.
4959 Use "\n" to start a new line. Use "\r" to move the
4960 cursor to the first column.
4961 Uses the highlighting set by the |:echohl| command.
4962 Cannot be followed by a comment.
4963 Example: >
4964 :echo "the value of 'shell' is" &shell
4965< A later redraw may make the message disappear again.
4966 To avoid that a command from before the ":echo" causes
4967 a redraw afterwards (redraws are often postponed until
4968 you type something), force a redraw with the |:redraw|
4969 command. Example: >
4970 :new | redraw | echo "there is a new window"
4971<
4972 *:echon*
4973:echon {expr1} .. Echoes each {expr1}, without anything added. Also see
4974 |:comment|.
4975 Uses the highlighting set by the |:echohl| command.
4976 Cannot be followed by a comment.
4977 Example: >
4978 :echon "the value of 'shell' is " &shell
4979<
4980 Note the difference between using ":echo", which is a
4981 Vim command, and ":!echo", which is an external shell
4982 command: >
4983 :!echo % --> filename
4984< The arguments of ":!" are expanded, see |:_%|. >
4985 :!echo "%" --> filename or "filename"
4986< Like the previous example. Whether you see the double
4987 quotes or not depends on your 'shell'. >
4988 :echo % --> nothing
4989< The '%' is an illegal character in an expression. >
4990 :echo "%" --> %
4991< This just echoes the '%' character. >
4992 :echo expand("%") --> filename
4993< This calls the expand() function to expand the '%'.
4994
4995 *:echoh* *:echohl*
4996:echoh[l] {name} Use the highlight group {name} for the following
4997 |:echo|, |:echon| and |:echomsg| commands. Also used
4998 for the |input()| prompt. Example: >
4999 :echohl WarningMsg | echo "Don't panic!" | echohl None
5000< Don't forget to set the group back to "None",
5001 otherwise all following echo's will be highlighted.
5002
5003 *:echom* *:echomsg*
5004:echom[sg] {expr1} .. Echo the expression(s) as a true message, saving the
5005 message in the |message-history|.
5006 Spaces are placed between the arguments as with the
5007 |:echo| command. But unprintable characters are
5008 displayed, not interpreted.
5009 Uses the highlighting set by the |:echohl| command.
5010 Example: >
5011 :echomsg "It's a Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz, as you can plainly see."
5012<
5013 *:echoe* *:echoerr*
5014:echoe[rr] {expr1} .. Echo the expression(s) as an error message, saving the
5015 message in the |message-history|. When used in a
5016 script or function the line number will be added.
5017 Spaces are placed between the arguments as with the
5018 :echo command. When used inside a try conditional,
5019 the message is raised as an error exception instead
5020 (see |try-echoerr|).
5021 Example: >
5022 :echoerr "This script just failed!"
5023< If you just want a highlighted message use |:echohl|.
5024 And to get a beep: >
5025 :exe "normal \<Esc>"
5026<
5027 *:exe* *:execute*
5028:exe[cute] {expr1} .. Executes the string that results from the evaluation
5029 of {expr1} as an Ex command. Multiple arguments are
5030 concatenated, with a space in between. {expr1} is
5031 used as the processed command, command line editing
5032 keys are not recognized.
5033 Cannot be followed by a comment.
5034 Examples: >
5035 :execute "buffer " nextbuf
5036 :execute "normal " count . "w"
5037<
5038 ":execute" can be used to append a command to commands
5039 that don't accept a '|'. Example: >
5040 :execute '!ls' | echo "theend"
5041
5042< ":execute" is also a nice way to avoid having to type
5043 control characters in a Vim script for a ":normal"
5044 command: >
5045 :execute "normal ixxx\<Esc>"
5046< This has an <Esc> character, see |expr-string|.
5047
5048 Note: The executed string may be any command-line, but
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00005049 you cannot start or end a "while", "for" or "if"
5050 command. Thus this is illegal: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005051 :execute 'while i > 5'
5052 :execute 'echo "test" | break'
5053<
5054 It is allowed to have a "while" or "if" command
5055 completely in the executed string: >
5056 :execute 'while i < 5 | echo i | let i = i + 1 | endwhile'
5057<
5058
5059 *:comment*
5060 ":execute", ":echo" and ":echon" cannot be followed by
5061 a comment directly, because they see the '"' as the
5062 start of a string. But, you can use '|' followed by a
5063 comment. Example: >
5064 :echo "foo" | "this is a comment
5065
5066==============================================================================
50678. Exception handling *exception-handling*
5068
5069The Vim script language comprises an exception handling feature. This section
5070explains how it can be used in a Vim script.
5071
5072Exceptions may be raised by Vim on an error or on interrupt, see
5073|catch-errors| and |catch-interrupt|. You can also explicitly throw an
5074exception by using the ":throw" command, see |throw-catch|.
5075
5076
5077TRY CONDITIONALS *try-conditionals*
5078
5079Exceptions can be caught or can cause cleanup code to be executed. You can
5080use a try conditional to specify catch clauses (that catch exceptions) and/or
5081a finally clause (to be executed for cleanup).
5082 A try conditional begins with a |:try| command and ends at the matching
5083|:endtry| command. In between, you can use a |:catch| command to start
5084a catch clause, or a |:finally| command to start a finally clause. There may
5085be none or multiple catch clauses, but there is at most one finally clause,
5086which must not be followed by any catch clauses. The lines before the catch
5087clauses and the finally clause is called a try block. >
5088
5089 :try
5090 : ...
5091 : ... TRY BLOCK
5092 : ...
5093 :catch /{pattern}/
5094 : ...
5095 : ... CATCH CLAUSE
5096 : ...
5097 :catch /{pattern}/
5098 : ...
5099 : ... CATCH CLAUSE
5100 : ...
5101 :finally
5102 : ...
5103 : ... FINALLY CLAUSE
5104 : ...
5105 :endtry
5106
5107The try conditional allows to watch code for exceptions and to take the
5108appropriate actions. Exceptions from the try block may be caught. Exceptions
5109from the try block and also the catch clauses may cause cleanup actions.
5110 When no exception is thrown during execution of the try block, the control
5111is transferred to the finally clause, if present. After its execution, the
5112script continues with the line following the ":endtry".
5113 When an exception occurs during execution of the try block, the remaining
5114lines in the try block are skipped. The exception is matched against the
5115patterns specified as arguments to the ":catch" commands. The catch clause
5116after the first matching ":catch" is taken, other catch clauses are not
5117executed. The catch clause ends when the next ":catch", ":finally", or
5118":endtry" command is reached - whatever is first. Then, the finally clause
5119(if present) is executed. When the ":endtry" is reached, the script execution
5120continues in the following line as usual.
5121 When an exception that does not match any of the patterns specified by the
5122":catch" commands is thrown in the try block, the exception is not caught by
5123that try conditional and none of the catch clauses is executed. Only the
5124finally clause, if present, is taken. The exception pends during execution of
5125the finally clause. It is resumed at the ":endtry", so that commands after
5126the ":endtry" are not executed and the exception might be caught elsewhere,
5127see |try-nesting|.
5128 When during execution of a catch clause another exception is thrown, the
5129remaining lines in that catch clause are not executed. The new exception is
5130not matched against the patterns in any of the ":catch" commands of the same
5131try conditional and none of its catch clauses is taken. If there is, however,
5132a finally clause, it is executed, and the exception pends during its
5133execution. The commands following the ":endtry" are not executed. The new
5134exception might, however, be caught elsewhere, see |try-nesting|.
5135 When during execution of the finally clause (if present) an exception is
5136thrown, the remaining lines in the finally clause are skipped. If the finally
5137clause has been taken because of an exception from the try block or one of the
5138catch clauses, the original (pending) exception is discarded. The commands
5139following the ":endtry" are not executed, and the exception from the finally
5140clause is propagated and can be caught elsewhere, see |try-nesting|.
5141
5142The finally clause is also executed, when a ":break" or ":continue" for
5143a ":while" loop enclosing the complete try conditional is executed from the
5144try block or a catch clause. Or when a ":return" or ":finish" is executed
5145from the try block or a catch clause of a try conditional in a function or
5146sourced script, respectively. The ":break", ":continue", ":return", or
5147":finish" pends during execution of the finally clause and is resumed when the
5148":endtry" is reached. It is, however, discarded when an exception is thrown
5149from the finally clause.
5150 When a ":break" or ":continue" for a ":while" loop enclosing the complete
5151try conditional or when a ":return" or ":finish" is encountered in the finally
5152clause, the rest of the finally clause is skipped, and the ":break",
5153":continue", ":return" or ":finish" is executed as usual. If the finally
5154clause has been taken because of an exception or an earlier ":break",
5155":continue", ":return", or ":finish" from the try block or a catch clause,
5156this pending exception or command is discarded.
5157
5158For examples see |throw-catch| and |try-finally|.
5159
5160
5161NESTING OF TRY CONDITIONALS *try-nesting*
5162
5163Try conditionals can be nested arbitrarily. That is, a complete try
5164conditional can be put into the try block, a catch clause, or the finally
5165clause of another try conditional. If the inner try conditional does not
5166catch an exception thrown in its try block or throws a new exception from one
5167of its catch clauses or its finally clause, the outer try conditional is
5168checked according to the rules above. If the inner try conditional is in the
5169try block of the outer try conditional, its catch clauses are checked, but
5170otherwise only the finally clause is executed. It does not matter for
5171nesting, whether the inner try conditional is directly contained in the outer
5172one, or whether the outer one sources a script or calls a function containing
5173the inner try conditional.
5174
5175When none of the active try conditionals catches an exception, just their
5176finally clauses are executed. Thereafter, the script processing terminates.
5177An error message is displayed in case of an uncaught exception explicitly
5178thrown by a ":throw" command. For uncaught error and interrupt exceptions
5179implicitly raised by Vim, the error message(s) or interrupt message are shown
5180as usual.
5181
5182For examples see |throw-catch|.
5183
5184
5185EXAMINING EXCEPTION HANDLING CODE *except-examine*
5186
5187Exception handling code can get tricky. If you are in doubt what happens, set
5188'verbose' to 13 or use the ":13verbose" command modifier when sourcing your
5189script file. Then you see when an exception is thrown, discarded, caught, or
5190finished. When using a verbosity level of at least 14, things pending in
5191a finally clause are also shown. This information is also given in debug mode
5192(see |debug-scripts|).
5193
5194
5195THROWING AND CATCHING EXCEPTIONS *throw-catch*
5196
5197You can throw any number or string as an exception. Use the |:throw| command
5198and pass the value to be thrown as argument: >
5199 :throw 4711
5200 :throw "string"
5201< *throw-expression*
5202You can also specify an expression argument. The expression is then evaluated
5203first, and the result is thrown: >
5204 :throw 4705 + strlen("string")
5205 :throw strpart("strings", 0, 6)
5206
5207An exception might be thrown during evaluation of the argument of the ":throw"
5208command. Unless it is caught there, the expression evaluation is abandoned.
5209The ":throw" command then does not throw a new exception.
5210 Example: >
5211
5212 :function! Foo(arg)
5213 : try
5214 : throw a:arg
5215 : catch /foo/
5216 : endtry
5217 : return 1
5218 :endfunction
5219 :
5220 :function! Bar()
5221 : echo "in Bar"
5222 : return 4710
5223 :endfunction
5224 :
5225 :throw Foo("arrgh") + Bar()
5226
5227This throws "arrgh", and "in Bar" is not displayed since Bar() is not
5228executed. >
5229 :throw Foo("foo") + Bar()
5230however displays "in Bar" and throws 4711.
5231
5232Any other command that takes an expression as argument might also be
5233abandoned by an (uncaught) exception during the expression evaluation. The
5234exception is then propagated to the caller of the command.
5235 Example: >
5236
5237 :if Foo("arrgh")
5238 : echo "then"
5239 :else
5240 : echo "else"
5241 :endif
5242
5243Here neither of "then" or "else" is displayed.
5244
5245 *catch-order*
5246Exceptions can be caught by a try conditional with one or more |:catch|
5247commands, see |try-conditionals|. The values to be caught by each ":catch"
5248command can be specified as a pattern argument. The subsequent catch clause
5249gets executed when a matching exception is caught.
5250 Example: >
5251
5252 :function! Foo(value)
5253 : try
5254 : throw a:value
5255 : catch /^\d\+$/
5256 : echo "Number thrown"
5257 : catch /.*/
5258 : echo "String thrown"
5259 : endtry
5260 :endfunction
5261 :
5262 :call Foo(0x1267)
5263 :call Foo('string')
5264
5265The first call to Foo() displays "Number thrown", the second "String thrown".
5266An exception is matched against the ":catch" commands in the order they are
5267specified. Only the first match counts. So you should place the more
5268specific ":catch" first. The following order does not make sense: >
5269
5270 : catch /.*/
5271 : echo "String thrown"
5272 : catch /^\d\+$/
5273 : echo "Number thrown"
5274
5275The first ":catch" here matches always, so that the second catch clause is
5276never taken.
5277
5278 *throw-variables*
5279If you catch an exception by a general pattern, you may access the exact value
5280in the variable |v:exception|: >
5281
5282 : catch /^\d\+$/
5283 : echo "Number thrown. Value is" v:exception
5284
5285You may also be interested where an exception was thrown. This is stored in
5286|v:throwpoint|. Note that "v:exception" and "v:throwpoint" are valid for the
5287exception most recently caught as long it is not finished.
5288 Example: >
5289
5290 :function! Caught()
5291 : if v:exception != ""
5292 : echo 'Caught "' . v:exception . '" in ' . v:throwpoint
5293 : else
5294 : echo 'Nothing caught'
5295 : endif
5296 :endfunction
5297 :
5298 :function! Foo()
5299 : try
5300 : try
5301 : try
5302 : throw 4711
5303 : finally
5304 : call Caught()
5305 : endtry
5306 : catch /.*/
5307 : call Caught()
5308 : throw "oops"
5309 : endtry
5310 : catch /.*/
5311 : call Caught()
5312 : finally
5313 : call Caught()
5314 : endtry
5315 :endfunction
5316 :
5317 :call Foo()
5318
5319This displays >
5320
5321 Nothing caught
5322 Caught "4711" in function Foo, line 4
5323 Caught "oops" in function Foo, line 10
5324 Nothing caught
5325
5326A practical example: The following command ":LineNumber" displays the line
5327number in the script or function where it has been used: >
5328
5329 :function! LineNumber()
5330 : return substitute(v:throwpoint, '.*\D\(\d\+\).*', '\1', "")
5331 :endfunction
5332 :command! LineNumber try | throw "" | catch | echo LineNumber() | endtry
5333<
5334 *try-nested*
5335An exception that is not caught by a try conditional can be caught by
5336a surrounding try conditional: >
5337
5338 :try
5339 : try
5340 : throw "foo"
5341 : catch /foobar/
5342 : echo "foobar"
5343 : finally
5344 : echo "inner finally"
5345 : endtry
5346 :catch /foo/
5347 : echo "foo"
5348 :endtry
5349
5350The inner try conditional does not catch the exception, just its finally
5351clause is executed. The exception is then caught by the outer try
5352conditional. The example displays "inner finally" and then "foo".
5353
5354 *throw-from-catch*
5355You can catch an exception and throw a new one to be caught elsewhere from the
5356catch clause: >
5357
5358 :function! Foo()
5359 : throw "foo"
5360 :endfunction
5361 :
5362 :function! Bar()
5363 : try
5364 : call Foo()
5365 : catch /foo/
5366 : echo "Caught foo, throw bar"
5367 : throw "bar"
5368 : endtry
5369 :endfunction
5370 :
5371 :try
5372 : call Bar()
5373 :catch /.*/
5374 : echo "Caught" v:exception
5375 :endtry
5376
5377This displays "Caught foo, throw bar" and then "Caught bar".
5378
5379 *rethrow*
5380There is no real rethrow in the Vim script language, but you may throw
5381"v:exception" instead: >
5382
5383 :function! Bar()
5384 : try
5385 : call Foo()
5386 : catch /.*/
5387 : echo "Rethrow" v:exception
5388 : throw v:exception
5389 : endtry
5390 :endfunction
5391< *try-echoerr*
5392Note that this method cannot be used to "rethrow" Vim error or interrupt
5393exceptions, because it is not possible to fake Vim internal exceptions.
5394Trying so causes an error exception. You should throw your own exception
5395denoting the situation. If you want to cause a Vim error exception containing
5396the original error exception value, you can use the |:echoerr| command: >
5397
5398 :try
5399 : try
5400 : asdf
5401 : catch /.*/
5402 : echoerr v:exception
5403 : endtry
5404 :catch /.*/
5405 : echo v:exception
5406 :endtry
5407
5408This code displays
5409
5410 Vim(echoerr):Vim:E492: Not an editor command: asdf ~
5411
5412
5413CLEANUP CODE *try-finally*
5414
5415Scripts often change global settings and restore them at their end. If the
5416user however interrupts the script by pressing CTRL-C, the settings remain in
5417an inconsistent state. The same may happen to you in the development phase of
5418a script when an error occurs or you explicitly throw an exception without
5419catching it. You can solve these problems by using a try conditional with
5420a finally clause for restoring the settings. Its execution is guaranteed on
5421normal control flow, on error, on an explicit ":throw", and on interrupt.
5422(Note that errors and interrupts from inside the try conditional are converted
5423to exceptions. When not caught, they terminate the script after the finally
5424clause has been executed.)
5425Example: >
5426
5427 :try
5428 : let s:saved_ts = &ts
5429 : set ts=17
5430 :
5431 : " Do the hard work here.
5432 :
5433 :finally
5434 : let &ts = s:saved_ts
5435 : unlet s:saved_ts
5436 :endtry
5437
5438This method should be used locally whenever a function or part of a script
5439changes global settings which need to be restored on failure or normal exit of
5440that function or script part.
5441
5442 *break-finally*
5443Cleanup code works also when the try block or a catch clause is left by
5444a ":continue", ":break", ":return", or ":finish".
5445 Example: >
5446
5447 :let first = 1
5448 :while 1
5449 : try
5450 : if first
5451 : echo "first"
5452 : let first = 0
5453 : continue
5454 : else
5455 : throw "second"
5456 : endif
5457 : catch /.*/
5458 : echo v:exception
5459 : break
5460 : finally
5461 : echo "cleanup"
5462 : endtry
5463 : echo "still in while"
5464 :endwhile
5465 :echo "end"
5466
5467This displays "first", "cleanup", "second", "cleanup", and "end". >
5468
5469 :function! Foo()
5470 : try
5471 : return 4711
5472 : finally
5473 : echo "cleanup\n"
5474 : endtry
5475 : echo "Foo still active"
5476 :endfunction
5477 :
5478 :echo Foo() "returned by Foo"
5479
5480This displays "cleanup" and "4711 returned by Foo". You don't need to add an
5481extra ":return" in the finally clause. (Above all, this would override the
5482return value.)
5483
5484 *except-from-finally*
5485Using either of ":continue", ":break", ":return", ":finish", or ":throw" in
5486a finally clause is possible, but not recommended since it abandons the
5487cleanup actions for the try conditional. But, of course, interrupt and error
5488exceptions might get raised from a finally clause.
5489 Example where an error in the finally clause stops an interrupt from
5490working correctly: >
5491
5492 :try
5493 : try
5494 : echo "Press CTRL-C for interrupt"
5495 : while 1
5496 : endwhile
5497 : finally
5498 : unlet novar
5499 : endtry
5500 :catch /novar/
5501 :endtry
5502 :echo "Script still running"
5503 :sleep 1
5504
5505If you need to put commands that could fail into a finally clause, you should
5506think about catching or ignoring the errors in these commands, see
5507|catch-errors| and |ignore-errors|.
5508
5509
5510CATCHING ERRORS *catch-errors*
5511
5512If you want to catch specific errors, you just have to put the code to be
5513watched in a try block and add a catch clause for the error message. The
5514presence of the try conditional causes all errors to be converted to an
5515exception. No message is displayed and |v:errmsg| is not set then. To find
5516the right pattern for the ":catch" command, you have to know how the format of
5517the error exception is.
5518 Error exceptions have the following format: >
5519
5520 Vim({cmdname}):{errmsg}
5521or >
5522 Vim:{errmsg}
5523
5524{cmdname} is the name of the command that failed; the second form is used when
5525the command name is not known. {errmsg} is the error message usually produced
5526when the error occurs outside try conditionals. It always begins with
5527a capital "E", followed by a two or three-digit error number, a colon, and
5528a space.
5529
5530Examples:
5531
5532The command >
5533 :unlet novar
5534normally produces the error message >
5535 E108: No such variable: "novar"
5536which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
5537 Vim(unlet):E108: No such variable: "novar"
5538
5539The command >
5540 :dwim
5541normally produces the error message >
5542 E492: Not an editor command: dwim
5543which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
5544 Vim:E492: Not an editor command: dwim
5545
5546You can catch all ":unlet" errors by a >
5547 :catch /^Vim(unlet):/
5548or all errors for misspelled command names by a >
5549 :catch /^Vim:E492:/
5550
5551Some error messages may be produced by different commands: >
5552 :function nofunc
5553and >
5554 :delfunction nofunc
5555both produce the error message >
5556 E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
5557which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
5558 Vim(function):E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
5559or >
5560 Vim(delfunction):E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
5561respectively. You can catch the error by its number independently on the
5562command that caused it if you use the following pattern: >
5563 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E128:/
5564
5565Some commands like >
5566 :let x = novar
5567produce multiple error messages, here: >
5568 E121: Undefined variable: novar
5569 E15: Invalid expression: novar
5570Only the first is used for the exception value, since it is the most specific
5571one (see |except-several-errors|). So you can catch it by >
5572 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E121:/
5573
5574You can catch all errors related to the name "nofunc" by >
5575 :catch /\<nofunc\>/
5576
5577You can catch all Vim errors in the ":write" and ":read" commands by >
5578 :catch /^Vim(\(write\|read\)):E\d\+:/
5579
5580You can catch all Vim errors by the pattern >
5581 :catch /^Vim\((\a\+)\)\=:E\d\+:/
5582<
5583 *catch-text*
5584NOTE: You should never catch the error message text itself: >
5585 :catch /No such variable/
5586only works in the english locale, but not when the user has selected
5587a different language by the |:language| command. It is however helpful to
5588cite the message text in a comment: >
5589 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E108:/ " No such variable
5590
5591
5592IGNORING ERRORS *ignore-errors*
5593
5594You can ignore errors in a specific Vim command by catching them locally: >
5595
5596 :try
5597 : write
5598 :catch
5599 :endtry
5600
5601But you are strongly recommended NOT to use this simple form, since it could
5602catch more than you want. With the ":write" command, some autocommands could
5603be executed and cause errors not related to writing, for instance: >
5604
5605 :au BufWritePre * unlet novar
5606
5607There could even be such errors you are not responsible for as a script
5608writer: a user of your script might have defined such autocommands. You would
5609then hide the error from the user.
5610 It is much better to use >
5611
5612 :try
5613 : write
5614 :catch /^Vim(write):/
5615 :endtry
5616
5617which only catches real write errors. So catch only what you'd like to ignore
5618intentionally.
5619
5620For a single command that does not cause execution of autocommands, you could
5621even suppress the conversion of errors to exceptions by the ":silent!"
5622command: >
5623 :silent! nunmap k
5624This works also when a try conditional is active.
5625
5626
5627CATCHING INTERRUPTS *catch-interrupt*
5628
5629When there are active try conditionals, an interrupt (CTRL-C) is converted to
5630the exception "Vim:Interrupt". You can catch it like every exception. The
5631script is not terminated, then.
5632 Example: >
5633
5634 :function! TASK1()
5635 : sleep 10
5636 :endfunction
5637
5638 :function! TASK2()
5639 : sleep 20
5640 :endfunction
5641
5642 :while 1
5643 : let command = input("Type a command: ")
5644 : try
5645 : if command == ""
5646 : continue
5647 : elseif command == "END"
5648 : break
5649 : elseif command == "TASK1"
5650 : call TASK1()
5651 : elseif command == "TASK2"
5652 : call TASK2()
5653 : else
5654 : echo "\nIllegal command:" command
5655 : continue
5656 : endif
5657 : catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/
5658 : echo "\nCommand interrupted"
5659 : " Caught the interrupt. Continue with next prompt.
5660 : endtry
5661 :endwhile
5662
5663You can interrupt a task here by pressing CTRL-C; the script then asks for
5664a new command. If you press CTRL-C at the prompt, the script is terminated.
5665
5666For testing what happens when CTRL-C would be pressed on a specific line in
5667your script, use the debug mode and execute the |>quit| or |>interrupt|
5668command on that line. See |debug-scripts|.
5669
5670
5671CATCHING ALL *catch-all*
5672
5673The commands >
5674
5675 :catch /.*/
5676 :catch //
5677 :catch
5678
5679catch everything, error exceptions, interrupt exceptions and exceptions
5680explicitly thrown by the |:throw| command. This is useful at the top level of
5681a script in order to catch unexpected things.
5682 Example: >
5683
5684 :try
5685 :
5686 : " do the hard work here
5687 :
5688 :catch /MyException/
5689 :
5690 : " handle known problem
5691 :
5692 :catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/
5693 : echo "Script interrupted"
5694 :catch /.*/
5695 : echo "Internal error (" . v:exception . ")"
5696 : echo " - occurred at " . v:throwpoint
5697 :endtry
5698 :" end of script
5699
5700Note: Catching all might catch more things than you want. Thus, you are
5701strongly encouraged to catch only for problems that you can really handle by
5702specifying a pattern argument to the ":catch".
5703 Example: Catching all could make it nearly impossible to interrupt a script
5704by pressing CTRL-C: >
5705
5706 :while 1
5707 : try
5708 : sleep 1
5709 : catch
5710 : endtry
5711 :endwhile
5712
5713
5714EXCEPTIONS AND AUTOCOMMANDS *except-autocmd*
5715
5716Exceptions may be used during execution of autocommands. Example: >
5717
5718 :autocmd User x try
5719 :autocmd User x throw "Oops!"
5720 :autocmd User x catch
5721 :autocmd User x echo v:exception
5722 :autocmd User x endtry
5723 :autocmd User x throw "Arrgh!"
5724 :autocmd User x echo "Should not be displayed"
5725 :
5726 :try
5727 : doautocmd User x
5728 :catch
5729 : echo v:exception
5730 :endtry
5731
5732This displays "Oops!" and "Arrgh!".
5733
5734 *except-autocmd-Pre*
5735For some commands, autocommands get executed before the main action of the
5736command takes place. If an exception is thrown and not caught in the sequence
5737of autocommands, the sequence and the command that caused its execution are
5738abandoned and the exception is propagated to the caller of the command.
5739 Example: >
5740
5741 :autocmd BufWritePre * throw "FAIL"
5742 :autocmd BufWritePre * echo "Should not be displayed"
5743 :
5744 :try
5745 : write
5746 :catch
5747 : echo "Caught:" v:exception "from" v:throwpoint
5748 :endtry
5749
5750Here, the ":write" command does not write the file currently being edited (as
5751you can see by checking 'modified'), since the exception from the BufWritePre
5752autocommand abandons the ":write". The exception is then caught and the
5753script displays: >
5754
5755 Caught: FAIL from BufWrite Auto commands for "*"
5756<
5757 *except-autocmd-Post*
5758For some commands, autocommands get executed after the main action of the
5759command has taken place. If this main action fails and the command is inside
5760an active try conditional, the autocommands are skipped and an error exception
5761is thrown that can be caught by the caller of the command.
5762 Example: >
5763
5764 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo "File successfully written!"
5765 :
5766 :try
5767 : write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
5768 :catch
5769 : echo v:exception
5770 :endtry
5771
5772This just displays: >
5773
5774 Vim(write):E212: Can't open file for writing (/i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e)
5775
5776If you really need to execute the autocommands even when the main action
5777fails, trigger the event from the catch clause.
5778 Example: >
5779
5780 :autocmd BufWritePre * set noreadonly
5781 :autocmd BufWritePost * set readonly
5782 :
5783 :try
5784 : write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
5785 :catch
5786 : doautocmd BufWritePost /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
5787 :endtry
5788<
5789You can also use ":silent!": >
5790
5791 :let x = "ok"
5792 :let v:errmsg = ""
5793 :autocmd BufWritePost * if v:errmsg != ""
5794 :autocmd BufWritePost * let x = "after fail"
5795 :autocmd BufWritePost * endif
5796 :try
5797 : silent! write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
5798 :catch
5799 :endtry
5800 :echo x
5801
5802This displays "after fail".
5803
5804If the main action of the command does not fail, exceptions from the
5805autocommands will be catchable by the caller of the command: >
5806
5807 :autocmd BufWritePost * throw ":-("
5808 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo "Should not be displayed"
5809 :
5810 :try
5811 : write
5812 :catch
5813 : echo v:exception
5814 :endtry
5815<
5816 *except-autocmd-Cmd*
5817For some commands, the normal action can be replaced by a sequence of
5818autocommands. Exceptions from that sequence will be catchable by the caller
5819of the command.
5820 Example: For the ":write" command, the caller cannot know whether the file
5821had actually been written when the exception occurred. You need to tell it in
5822some way. >
5823
5824 :if !exists("cnt")
5825 : let cnt = 0
5826 :
5827 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if &modified
5828 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * let cnt = cnt + 1
5829 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if cnt % 3 == 2
5830 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * throw "BufWriteCmdError"
5831 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
5832 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * write | set nomodified
5833 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if cnt % 3 == 0
5834 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * throw "BufWriteCmdError"
5835 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
5836 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * echo "File successfully written!"
5837 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
5838 :endif
5839 :
5840 :try
5841 : write
5842 :catch /^BufWriteCmdError$/
5843 : if &modified
5844 : echo "Error on writing (file contents not changed)"
5845 : else
5846 : echo "Error after writing"
5847 : endif
5848 :catch /^Vim(write):/
5849 : echo "Error on writing"
5850 :endtry
5851
5852When this script is sourced several times after making changes, it displays
5853first >
5854 File successfully written!
5855then >
5856 Error on writing (file contents not changed)
5857then >
5858 Error after writing
5859etc.
5860
5861 *except-autocmd-ill*
5862You cannot spread a try conditional over autocommands for different events.
5863The following code is ill-formed: >
5864
5865 :autocmd BufWritePre * try
5866 :
5867 :autocmd BufWritePost * catch
5868 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo v:exception
5869 :autocmd BufWritePost * endtry
5870 :
5871 :write
5872
5873
5874EXCEPTION HIERARCHIES AND PARAMETERIZED EXCEPTIONS *except-hier-param*
5875
5876Some programming languages allow to use hierarchies of exception classes or to
5877pass additional information with the object of an exception class. You can do
5878similar things in Vim.
5879 In order to throw an exception from a hierarchy, just throw the complete
5880class name with the components separated by a colon, for instance throw the
5881string "EXCEPT:MATHERR:OVERFLOW" for an overflow in a mathematical library.
5882 When you want to pass additional information with your exception class, add
5883it in parentheses, for instance throw the string "EXCEPT:IO:WRITEERR(myfile)"
5884for an error when writing "myfile".
5885 With the appropriate patterns in the ":catch" command, you can catch for
5886base classes or derived classes of your hierarchy. Additional information in
5887parentheses can be cut out from |v:exception| with the ":substitute" command.
5888 Example: >
5889
5890 :function! CheckRange(a, func)
5891 : if a:a < 0
5892 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:RANGE(" . a:func . ")"
5893 : endif
5894 :endfunction
5895 :
5896 :function! Add(a, b)
5897 : call CheckRange(a:a, "Add")
5898 : call CheckRange(a:b, "Add")
5899 : let c = a:a + a:b
5900 : if c < 0
5901 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:OVERFLOW"
5902 : endif
5903 : return c
5904 :endfunction
5905 :
5906 :function! Div(a, b)
5907 : call CheckRange(a:a, "Div")
5908 : call CheckRange(a:b, "Div")
5909 : if (a:b == 0)
5910 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:ZERODIV"
5911 : endif
5912 : return a:a / a:b
5913 :endfunction
5914 :
5915 :function! Write(file)
5916 : try
5917 : execute "write" a:file
5918 : catch /^Vim(write):/
5919 : throw "EXCEPT:IO(" . getcwd() . ", " . a:file . "):WRITEERR"
5920 : endtry
5921 :endfunction
5922 :
5923 :try
5924 :
5925 : " something with arithmetics and I/O
5926 :
5927 :catch /^EXCEPT:MATHERR:RANGE/
5928 : let function = substitute(v:exception, '.*(\(\a\+\)).*', '\1', "")
5929 : echo "Range error in" function
5930 :
5931 :catch /^EXCEPT:MATHERR/ " catches OVERFLOW and ZERODIV
5932 : echo "Math error"
5933 :
5934 :catch /^EXCEPT:IO/
5935 : let dir = substitute(v:exception, '.*(\(.\+\),\s*.\+).*', '\1', "")
5936 : let file = substitute(v:exception, '.*(.\+,\s*\(.\+\)).*', '\1', "")
5937 : if file !~ '^/'
5938 : let file = dir . "/" . file
5939 : endif
5940 : echo 'I/O error for "' . file . '"'
5941 :
5942 :catch /^EXCEPT/
5943 : echo "Unspecified error"
5944 :
5945 :endtry
5946
5947The exceptions raised by Vim itself (on error or when pressing CTRL-C) use
5948a flat hierarchy: they are all in the "Vim" class. You cannot throw yourself
5949exceptions with the "Vim" prefix; they are reserved for Vim.
5950 Vim error exceptions are parameterized with the name of the command that
5951failed, if known. See |catch-errors|.
5952
5953
5954PECULIARITIES
5955 *except-compat*
5956The exception handling concept requires that the command sequence causing the
5957exception is aborted immediately and control is transferred to finally clauses
5958and/or a catch clause.
5959
5960In the Vim script language there are cases where scripts and functions
5961continue after an error: in functions without the "abort" flag or in a command
5962after ":silent!", control flow goes to the following line, and outside
5963functions, control flow goes to the line following the outermost ":endwhile"
5964or ":endif". On the other hand, errors should be catchable as exceptions
5965(thus, requiring the immediate abortion).
5966
5967This problem has been solved by converting errors to exceptions and using
5968immediate abortion (if not suppressed by ":silent!") only when a try
5969conditional is active. This is no restriction since an (error) exception can
5970be caught only from an active try conditional. If you want an immediate
5971termination without catching the error, just use a try conditional without
5972catch clause. (You can cause cleanup code being executed before termination
5973by specifying a finally clause.)
5974
5975When no try conditional is active, the usual abortion and continuation
5976behavior is used instead of immediate abortion. This ensures compatibility of
5977scripts written for Vim 6.1 and earlier.
5978
5979However, when sourcing an existing script that does not use exception handling
5980commands (or when calling one of its functions) from inside an active try
5981conditional of a new script, you might change the control flow of the existing
5982script on error. You get the immediate abortion on error and can catch the
5983error in the new script. If however the sourced script suppresses error
5984messages by using the ":silent!" command (checking for errors by testing
5985|v:errmsg| if appropriate), its execution path is not changed. The error is
5986not converted to an exception. (See |:silent|.) So the only remaining cause
5987where this happens is for scripts that don't care about errors and produce
5988error messages. You probably won't want to use such code from your new
5989scripts.
5990
5991 *except-syntax-err*
5992Syntax errors in the exception handling commands are never caught by any of
5993the ":catch" commands of the try conditional they belong to. Its finally
5994clauses, however, is executed.
5995 Example: >
5996
5997 :try
5998 : try
5999 : throw 4711
6000 : catch /\(/
6001 : echo "in catch with syntax error"
6002 : catch
6003 : echo "inner catch-all"
6004 : finally
6005 : echo "inner finally"
6006 : endtry
6007 :catch
6008 : echo 'outer catch-all caught "' . v:exception . '"'
6009 : finally
6010 : echo "outer finally"
6011 :endtry
6012
6013This displays: >
6014 inner finally
6015 outer catch-all caught "Vim(catch):E54: Unmatched \("
6016 outer finally
6017The original exception is discarded and an error exception is raised, instead.
6018
6019 *except-single-line*
6020The ":try", ":catch", ":finally", and ":endtry" commands can be put on
6021a single line, but then syntax errors may make it difficult to recognize the
6022"catch" line, thus you better avoid this.
6023 Example: >
6024 :try | unlet! foo # | catch | endtry
6025raises an error exception for the trailing characters after the ":unlet!"
6026argument, but does not see the ":catch" and ":endtry" commands, so that the
6027error exception is discarded and the "E488: Trailing characters" message gets
6028displayed.
6029
6030 *except-several-errors*
6031When several errors appear in a single command, the first error message is
6032usually the most specific one and therefor converted to the error exception.
6033 Example: >
6034 echo novar
6035causes >
6036 E121: Undefined variable: novar
6037 E15: Invalid expression: novar
6038The value of the error exception inside try conditionals is: >
6039 Vim(echo):E121: Undefined variable: novar
6040< *except-syntax-error*
6041But when a syntax error is detected after a normal error in the same command,
6042the syntax error is used for the exception being thrown.
6043 Example: >
6044 unlet novar #
6045causes >
6046 E108: No such variable: "novar"
6047 E488: Trailing characters
6048The value of the error exception inside try conditionals is: >
6049 Vim(unlet):E488: Trailing characters
6050This is done because the syntax error might change the execution path in a way
6051not intended by the user. Example: >
6052 try
6053 try | unlet novar # | catch | echo v:exception | endtry
6054 catch /.*/
6055 echo "outer catch:" v:exception
6056 endtry
6057This displays "outer catch: Vim(unlet):E488: Trailing characters", and then
6058a "E600: Missing :endtry" error message is given, see |except-single-line|.
6059
6060==============================================================================
60619. Examples *eval-examples*
6062
6063Printing in Hex ~
6064>
6065 :" The function Nr2Hex() returns the Hex string of a number.
6066 :func Nr2Hex(nr)
6067 : let n = a:nr
6068 : let r = ""
6069 : while n
6070 : let r = '0123456789ABCDEF'[n % 16] . r
6071 : let n = n / 16
6072 : endwhile
6073 : return r
6074 :endfunc
6075
6076 :" The function String2Hex() converts each character in a string to a two
6077 :" character Hex string.
6078 :func String2Hex(str)
6079 : let out = ''
6080 : let ix = 0
6081 : while ix < strlen(a:str)
6082 : let out = out . Nr2Hex(char2nr(a:str[ix]))
6083 : let ix = ix + 1
6084 : endwhile
6085 : return out
6086 :endfunc
6087
6088Example of its use: >
6089 :echo Nr2Hex(32)
6090result: "20" >
6091 :echo String2Hex("32")
6092result: "3332"
6093
6094
6095Sorting lines (by Robert Webb) ~
6096
6097Here is a Vim script to sort lines. Highlight the lines in Vim and type
6098":Sort". This doesn't call any external programs so it'll work on any
6099platform. The function Sort() actually takes the name of a comparison
6100function as its argument, like qsort() does in C. So you could supply it
6101with different comparison functions in order to sort according to date etc.
6102>
6103 :" Function for use with Sort(), to compare two strings.
6104 :func! Strcmp(str1, str2)
6105 : if (a:str1 < a:str2)
6106 : return -1
6107 : elseif (a:str1 > a:str2)
6108 : return 1
6109 : else
6110 : return 0
6111 : endif
6112 :endfunction
6113
6114 :" Sort lines. SortR() is called recursively.
6115 :func! SortR(start, end, cmp)
6116 : if (a:start >= a:end)
6117 : return
6118 : endif
6119 : let partition = a:start - 1
6120 : let middle = partition
6121 : let partStr = getline((a:start + a:end) / 2)
6122 : let i = a:start
6123 : while (i <= a:end)
6124 : let str = getline(i)
6125 : exec "let result = " . a:cmp . "(str, partStr)"
6126 : if (result <= 0)
6127 : " Need to put it before the partition. Swap lines i and partition.
6128 : let partition = partition + 1
6129 : if (result == 0)
6130 : let middle = partition
6131 : endif
6132 : if (i != partition)
6133 : let str2 = getline(partition)
6134 : call setline(i, str2)
6135 : call setline(partition, str)
6136 : endif
6137 : endif
6138 : let i = i + 1
6139 : endwhile
6140
6141 : " Now we have a pointer to the "middle" element, as far as partitioning
6142 : " goes, which could be anywhere before the partition. Make sure it is at
6143 : " the end of the partition.
6144 : if (middle != partition)
6145 : let str = getline(middle)
6146 : let str2 = getline(partition)
6147 : call setline(middle, str2)
6148 : call setline(partition, str)
6149 : endif
6150 : call SortR(a:start, partition - 1, a:cmp)
6151 : call SortR(partition + 1, a:end, a:cmp)
6152 :endfunc
6153
6154 :" To Sort a range of lines, pass the range to Sort() along with the name of a
6155 :" function that will compare two lines.
6156 :func! Sort(cmp) range
6157 : call SortR(a:firstline, a:lastline, a:cmp)
6158 :endfunc
6159
6160 :" :Sort takes a range of lines and sorts them.
6161 :command! -nargs=0 -range Sort <line1>,<line2>call Sort("Strcmp")
6162<
6163 *sscanf*
6164There is no sscanf() function in Vim. If you need to extract parts from a
6165line, you can use matchstr() and substitute() to do it. This example shows
6166how to get the file name, line number and column number out of a line like
6167"foobar.txt, 123, 45". >
6168 :" Set up the match bit
6169 :let mx='\(\f\+\),\s*\(\d\+\),\s*\(\d\+\)'
6170 :"get the part matching the whole expression
6171 :let l = matchstr(line, mx)
6172 :"get each item out of the match
6173 :let file = substitute(l, mx, '\1', '')
6174 :let lnum = substitute(l, mx, '\2', '')
6175 :let col = substitute(l, mx, '\3', '')
6176
6177The input is in the variable "line", the results in the variables "file",
6178"lnum" and "col". (idea from Michael Geddes)
6179
6180==============================================================================
618110. No +eval feature *no-eval-feature*
6182
6183When the |+eval| feature was disabled at compile time, none of the expression
6184evaluation commands are available. To prevent this from causing Vim scripts
6185to generate all kinds of errors, the ":if" and ":endif" commands are still
6186recognized, though the argument of the ":if" and everything between the ":if"
6187and the matching ":endif" is ignored. Nesting of ":if" blocks is allowed, but
6188only if the commands are at the start of the line. The ":else" command is not
6189recognized.
6190
6191Example of how to avoid executing commands when the |+eval| feature is
6192missing: >
6193
6194 :if 1
6195 : echo "Expression evaluation is compiled in"
6196 :else
6197 : echo "You will _never_ see this message"
6198 :endif
6199
6200==============================================================================
620111. The sandbox *eval-sandbox* *sandbox* *E48*
6202
6203The 'foldexpr', 'includeexpr', 'indentexpr', 'statusline' and 'foldtext'
6204options are evaluated in a sandbox. This means that you are protected from
6205these expressions having nasty side effects. This gives some safety for when
6206these options are set from a modeline. It is also used when the command from
6207a tags file is executed.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00006208The sandbox is also used for the |:sandbox| command.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00006209
6210These items are not allowed in the sandbox:
6211 - changing the buffer text
6212 - defining or changing mapping, autocommands, functions, user commands
6213 - setting certain options (see |option-summary|)
6214 - executing a shell command
6215 - reading or writing a file
6216 - jumping to another buffer or editing a file
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00006217This is not guaranteed 100% secure, but it should block most attacks.
6218
6219 *:san* *:sandbox*
6220:sandbox {cmd} Execute {cmd} in the sandbox. Useful to evaluate an
6221 option that may have been set from a modeline, e.g.
6222 'foldexpr'.
6223
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00006224
6225 vim:tw=78:ts=8:ft=help:norl: