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Bram Moolenaar362e1a32006-03-06 23:29:24 +00001*eval.txt* For Vim version 7.0aa. Last change: 2006 Mar 06
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 Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +000012done, the features in this document are not available. See |+eval| and
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000013|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 Moolenaarb71eaae2006-01-20 23:10:18 +00003112. Textlock |textlock|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000032
33{Vi does not have any of these commands}
34
35==============================================================================
361. Variables *variables*
37
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000381.1 Variable types ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +000039 *E712*
Bram Moolenaar39a58ca2005-06-27 22:42:44 +000040There are five types of variables:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000041
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000042Number A 32 bit signed number.
43 Examples: -123 0x10 0177
44
45String A NUL terminated string of 8-bit unsigned characters (bytes).
46 Examples: "ab\txx\"--" 'x-z''a,c'
47
48Funcref A reference to a function |Funcref|.
49 Example: function("strlen")
50
51List An ordered sequence of items |List|.
52 Example: [1, 2, ['a', 'b']]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000053
Bram Moolenaar39a58ca2005-06-27 22:42:44 +000054Dictionary An associative, unordered array: Each entry has a key and a
55 value. |Dictionary|
56 Example: {'blue': "#0000ff", 'red': "#ff0000"}
57
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000058The Number and String types are converted automatically, depending on how they
59are used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000060
61Conversion from a Number to a String is by making the ASCII representation of
62the Number. Examples: >
63 Number 123 --> String "123"
64 Number 0 --> String "0"
65 Number -1 --> String "-1"
66
67Conversion from a String to a Number is done by converting the first digits
68to a number. Hexadecimal "0xf9" and Octal "017" numbers are recognized. If
69the String doesn't start with digits, the result is zero. Examples: >
70 String "456" --> Number 456
71 String "6bar" --> Number 6
72 String "foo" --> Number 0
73 String "0xf1" --> Number 241
74 String "0100" --> Number 64
75 String "-8" --> Number -8
76 String "+8" --> Number 0
77
78To force conversion from String to Number, add zero to it: >
79 :echo "0100" + 0
80
81For boolean operators Numbers are used. Zero is FALSE, non-zero is TRUE.
82
83Note that in the command >
84 :if "foo"
85"foo" is converted to 0, which means FALSE. To test for a non-empty string,
86use strlen(): >
87 :if strlen("foo")
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +000088< *E745* *E728* *E703* *E729* *E730* *E731*
89List, Dictionary and Funcref types are not automatically converted.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000090
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000091 *E706*
92You will get an error if you try to change the type of a variable. You need
93to |:unlet| it first to avoid this error. String and Number are considered
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000094equivalent though. Consider this sequence of commands: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000095 :let l = "string"
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +000096 :let l = 44 " changes type from String to Number
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000097 :let l = [1, 2, 3] " error!
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000098
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000099
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001001.2 Function references ~
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +0000101 *Funcref* *E695* *E718*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000102A Funcref variable is obtained with the |function()| function. It can be used
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000103in an expression in the place of a function name, before the parenthesis
104around the arguments, to invoke the function it refers to. Example: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000105
106 :let Fn = function("MyFunc")
107 :echo Fn()
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000108< *E704* *E705* *E707*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000109A Funcref variable must start with a capital, "s:", "w:" or "b:". You cannot
110have both a Funcref variable and a function with the same name.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000111
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000112A special case is defining a function and directly assigning its Funcref to a
113Dictionary entry. Example: >
114 :function dict.init() dict
115 : let self.val = 0
116 :endfunction
117
118The key of the Dictionary can start with a lower case letter. The actual
119function name is not used here. Also see |numbered-function|.
120
121A Funcref can also be used with the |:call| command: >
122 :call Fn()
123 :call dict.init()
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000124
125The name of the referenced function can be obtained with |string()|. >
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000126 :let func = string(Fn)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000127
128You can use |call()| to invoke a Funcref and use a list variable for the
129arguments: >
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000130 :let r = call(Fn, mylist)
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000131
132
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001331.3 Lists ~
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +0000134 *List* *Lists* *E686*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000135A List is an ordered sequence of items. An item can be of any type. Items
136can be accessed by their index number. Items can be added and removed at any
137position in the sequence.
138
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000139
140List creation ~
141 *E696* *E697*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000142A List is created with a comma separated list of items in square brackets.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000143Examples: >
144 :let mylist = [1, two, 3, "four"]
145 :let emptylist = []
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000146
147An item can be any expression. Using a List for an item creates a
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000148nested List: >
149 :let nestlist = [[11, 12], [21, 22], [31, 32]]
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000150
151An extra comma after the last item is ignored.
152
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000153
154List index ~
155 *list-index* *E684*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000156An item in the List can be accessed by putting the index in square brackets
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000157after the List. Indexes are zero-based, thus the first item has index zero. >
158 :let item = mylist[0] " get the first item: 1
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000159 :let item = mylist[2] " get the third item: 3
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000160
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000161When the resulting item is a list this can be repeated: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000162 :let item = nestlist[0][1] " get the first list, second item: 12
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000163<
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000164A negative index is counted from the end. Index -1 refers to the last item in
165the List, -2 to the last but one item, etc. >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000166 :let last = mylist[-1] " get the last item: "four"
167
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000168To avoid an error for an invalid index use the |get()| function. When an item
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000169is not available it returns zero or the default value you specify: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000170 :echo get(mylist, idx)
171 :echo get(mylist, idx, "NONE")
172
173
174List concatenation ~
175
176Two lists can be concatenated with the "+" operator: >
177 :let longlist = mylist + [5, 6]
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000178 :let mylist += [7, 8]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000179
180To prepend or append an item turn the item into a list by putting [] around
181it. To change a list in-place see |list-modification| below.
182
183
184Sublist ~
185
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000186A part of the List can be obtained by specifying the first and last index,
187separated by a colon in square brackets: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000188 :let shortlist = mylist[2:-1] " get List [3, "four"]
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000189
190Omitting the first index is similar to zero. Omitting the last index is
191similar to -1. The difference is that there is no error if the items are not
192available. >
Bram Moolenaar540d6e32005-01-09 21:20:18 +0000193 :let endlist = mylist[2:] " from item 2 to the end: [3, "four"]
194 :let shortlist = mylist[2:2] " List with one item: [3]
195 :let otherlist = mylist[:] " make a copy of the List
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000196
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000197The second index can be just before the first index. In that case the result
198is an empty list. If the second index is lower, this results in an error. >
199 :echo mylist[2:1] " result: []
200 :echo mylist[2:0] " error!
201
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +0000202NOTE: mylist[s:e] means using the variable "s:e" as index. Watch out for
203using a single letter variable before the ":". Insert a space when needed:
204mylist[s : e].
205
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000206
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000207List identity ~
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000208 *list-identity*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000209When variable "aa" is a list and you assign it to another variable "bb", both
210variables refer to the same list. Thus changing the list "aa" will also
211change "bb": >
212 :let aa = [1, 2, 3]
213 :let bb = aa
214 :call add(aa, 4)
215 :echo bb
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000216< [1, 2, 3, 4]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000217
218Making a copy of a list is done with the |copy()| function. Using [:] also
219works, as explained above. This creates a shallow copy of the list: Changing
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000220a list item in the list will also change the item in the copied list: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000221 :let aa = [[1, 'a'], 2, 3]
222 :let bb = copy(aa)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000223 :call add(aa, 4)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000224 :let aa[0][1] = 'aaa'
225 :echo aa
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000226< [[1, aaa], 2, 3, 4] >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000227 :echo bb
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000228< [[1, aaa], 2, 3]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000229
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000230To make a completely independent list use |deepcopy()|. This also makes a
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000231copy of the values in the list, recursively. Up to a hundred levels deep.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000232
233The operator "is" can be used to check if two variables refer to the same
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000234List. "isnot" does the opposite. In contrast "==" compares if two lists have
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000235the same value. >
236 :let alist = [1, 2, 3]
237 :let blist = [1, 2, 3]
238 :echo alist is blist
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000239< 0 >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000240 :echo alist == blist
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000241< 1
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000242
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +0000243Note about comparing lists: Two lists are considered equal if they have the
244same length and all items compare equal, as with using "==". There is one
Bram Moolenaar7d1f5db2005-07-03 21:39:27 +0000245exception: When comparing a number with a string they are considered
246different. There is no automatic type conversion, as with using "==" on
247variables. Example: >
248 echo 4 == "4"
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +0000249< 1 >
Bram Moolenaar7d1f5db2005-07-03 21:39:27 +0000250 echo [4] == ["4"]
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +0000251< 0
252
Bram Moolenaar7d1f5db2005-07-03 21:39:27 +0000253Thus comparing Lists is more strict than comparing numbers and strings. You
254can compare simple values this way too by putting them in a string: >
255
256 :let a = 5
257 :let b = "5"
258 echo a == b
259< 1 >
260 echo [a] == [b]
261< 0
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +0000262
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000263
264List unpack ~
265
266To unpack the items in a list to individual variables, put the variables in
267square brackets, like list items: >
268 :let [var1, var2] = mylist
269
270When the number of variables does not match the number of items in the list
271this produces an error. To handle any extra items from the list append ";"
272and a variable name: >
273 :let [var1, var2; rest] = mylist
274
275This works like: >
276 :let var1 = mylist[0]
277 :let var2 = mylist[1]
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000278 :let rest = mylist[2:]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000279
280Except that there is no error if there are only two items. "rest" will be an
281empty list then.
282
283
284List modification ~
285 *list-modification*
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000286To change a specific item of a list use |:let| this way: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000287 :let list[4] = "four"
288 :let listlist[0][3] = item
289
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000290To change part of a list you can specify the first and last item to be
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000291modified. The value must at least have the number of items in the range: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000292 :let list[3:5] = [3, 4, 5]
293
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000294Adding and removing items from a list is done with functions. Here are a few
295examples: >
296 :call insert(list, 'a') " prepend item 'a'
297 :call insert(list, 'a', 3) " insert item 'a' before list[3]
298 :call add(list, "new") " append String item
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000299 :call add(list, [1, 2]) " append a List as one new item
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000300 :call extend(list, [1, 2]) " extend the list with two more items
301 :let i = remove(list, 3) " remove item 3
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000302 :unlet list[3] " idem
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000303 :let l = remove(list, 3, -1) " remove items 3 to last item
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000304 :unlet list[3 : ] " idem
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000305 :call filter(list, 'v:val !~ "x"') " remove items with an 'x'
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000306
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000307Changing the order of items in a list: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000308 :call sort(list) " sort a list alphabetically
309 :call reverse(list) " reverse the order of items
310
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000311
312For loop ~
313
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000314The |:for| loop executes commands for each item in a list. A variable is set
315to each item in the list in sequence. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000316 :for item in mylist
317 : call Doit(item)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000318 :endfor
319
320This works like: >
321 :let index = 0
322 :while index < len(mylist)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000323 : let item = mylist[index]
324 : :call Doit(item)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000325 : let index = index + 1
326 :endwhile
327
328Note that all items in the list should be of the same type, otherwise this
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000329results in error |E706|. To avoid this |:unlet| the variable at the end of
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000330the loop.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000331
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000332If all you want to do is modify each item in the list then the |map()|
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000333function will be a simpler method than a for loop.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000334
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000335Just like the |:let| command, |:for| also accepts a list of variables. This
336requires the argument to be a list of lists. >
337 :for [lnum, col] in [[1, 3], [2, 8], [3, 0]]
338 : call Doit(lnum, col)
339 :endfor
340
341This works like a |:let| command is done for each list item. Again, the types
342must remain the same to avoid an error.
343
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000344It is also possible to put remaining items in a List variable: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000345 :for [i, j; rest] in listlist
346 : call Doit(i, j)
347 : if !empty(rest)
348 : echo "remainder: " . string(rest)
349 : endif
350 :endfor
351
352
353List functions ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000354 *E714*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000355Functions that are useful with a List: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000356 :let r = call(funcname, list) " call a function with an argument list
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000357 :if empty(list) " check if list is empty
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000358 :let l = len(list) " number of items in list
359 :let big = max(list) " maximum value in list
360 :let small = min(list) " minimum value in list
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000361 :let xs = count(list, 'x') " count nr of times 'x' appears in list
362 :let i = index(list, 'x') " index of first 'x' in list
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000363 :let lines = getline(1, 10) " get ten text lines from buffer
364 :call append('$', lines) " append text lines in buffer
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000365 :let list = split("a b c") " create list from items in a string
366 :let string = join(list, ', ') " create string from list items
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000367 :let s = string(list) " String representation of list
368 :call map(list, '">> " . v:val') " prepend ">> " to each item
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000369
Bram Moolenaar0cb032e2005-04-23 20:52:00 +0000370Don't forget that a combination of features can make things simple. For
371example, to add up all the numbers in a list: >
372 :exe 'let sum = ' . join(nrlist, '+')
373
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000374
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003751.4 Dictionaries ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000376 *Dictionaries* *Dictionary*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000377A Dictionary is an associative array: Each entry has a key and a value. The
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000378entry can be located with the key. The entries are stored without a specific
379ordering.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000380
381
382Dictionary creation ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000383 *E720* *E721* *E722* *E723*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000384A Dictionary is created with a comma separated list of entries in curly
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000385braces. Each entry has a key and a value, separated by a colon. Each key can
386only appear once. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000387 :let mydict = {1: 'one', 2: 'two', 3: 'three'}
388 :let emptydict = {}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000389< *E713* *E716* *E717*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000390A key is always a String. You can use a Number, it will be converted to a
391String automatically. Thus the String '4' and the number 4 will find the same
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000392entry. Note that the String '04' and the Number 04 are different, since the
393Number will be converted to the String '4'.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000394
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000395A value can be any expression. Using a Dictionary for a value creates a
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000396nested Dictionary: >
397 :let nestdict = {1: {11: 'a', 12: 'b'}, 2: {21: 'c'}}
398
399An extra comma after the last entry is ignored.
400
401
402Accessing entries ~
403
404The normal way to access an entry is by putting the key in square brackets: >
405 :let val = mydict["one"]
406 :let mydict["four"] = 4
407
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000408You can add new entries to an existing Dictionary this way, unlike Lists.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000409
410For keys that consist entirely of letters, digits and underscore the following
411form can be used |expr-entry|: >
412 :let val = mydict.one
413 :let mydict.four = 4
414
415Since an entry can be any type, also a List and a Dictionary, the indexing and
416key lookup can be repeated: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000417 :echo dict.key[idx].key
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000418
419
420Dictionary to List conversion ~
421
422You may want to loop over the entries in a dictionary. For this you need to
423turn the Dictionary into a List and pass it to |:for|.
424
425Most often you want to loop over the keys, using the |keys()| function: >
426 :for key in keys(mydict)
427 : echo key . ': ' . mydict[key]
428 :endfor
429
430The List of keys is unsorted. You may want to sort them first: >
431 :for key in sort(keys(mydict))
432
433To loop over the values use the |values()| function: >
434 :for v in values(mydict)
435 : echo "value: " . v
436 :endfor
437
438If you want both the key and the value use the |items()| function. It returns
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000439a List in which each item is a List with two items, the key and the value: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000440 :for entry in items(mydict)
441 : echo entry[0] . ': ' . entry[1]
442 :endfor
443
444
445Dictionary identity ~
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +0000446 *dict-identity*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000447Just like Lists you need to use |copy()| and |deepcopy()| to make a copy of a
448Dictionary. Otherwise, assignment results in referring to the same
449Dictionary: >
450 :let onedict = {'a': 1, 'b': 2}
451 :let adict = onedict
452 :let adict['a'] = 11
453 :echo onedict['a']
454 11
455
Bram Moolenaarf3bd51a2005-06-14 22:11:18 +0000456Two Dictionaries compare equal if all the key-value pairs compare equal. For
457more info see |list-identity|.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000458
459
460Dictionary modification ~
461 *dict-modification*
462To change an already existing entry of a Dictionary, or to add a new entry,
463use |:let| this way: >
464 :let dict[4] = "four"
465 :let dict['one'] = item
466
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000467Removing an entry from a Dictionary is done with |remove()| or |:unlet|.
468Three ways to remove the entry with key "aaa" from dict: >
469 :let i = remove(dict, 'aaa')
470 :unlet dict.aaa
471 :unlet dict['aaa']
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000472
473Merging a Dictionary with another is done with |extend()|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000474 :call extend(adict, bdict)
475This extends adict with all entries from bdict. Duplicate keys cause entries
476in adict to be overwritten. An optional third argument can change this.
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000477Note that the order of entries in a Dictionary is irrelevant, thus don't
478expect ":echo adict" to show the items from bdict after the older entries in
479adict.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000480
481Weeding out entries from a Dictionary can be done with |filter()|: >
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +0000482 :call filter(dict 'v:val =~ "x"')
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000483This removes all entries from "dict" with a value not matching 'x'.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000484
485
486Dictionary function ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000487 *Dictionary-function* *self* *E725*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000488When a function is defined with the "dict" attribute it can be used in a
489special way with a dictionary. Example: >
490 :function Mylen() dict
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000491 : return len(self.data)
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000492 :endfunction
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000493 :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3], 'len': function("Mylen")}
494 :echo mydict.len()
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000495
496This is like a method in object oriented programming. The entry in the
497Dictionary is a |Funcref|. The local variable "self" refers to the dictionary
498the function was invoked from.
499
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000500It is also possible to add a function without the "dict" attribute as a
501Funcref to a Dictionary, but the "self" variable is not available then.
502
503 *numbered-function*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000504To avoid the extra name for the function it can be defined and directly
505assigned to a Dictionary in this way: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000506 :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3]}
507 :function mydict.len() dict
508 : return len(self.data)
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000509 :endfunction
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000510 :echo mydict.len()
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000511
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000512The function will then get a number and the value of dict.len is a |Funcref|
513that references this function. The function can only be used through a
514|Funcref|. It will automatically be deleted when there is no |Funcref|
515remaining that refers to it.
516
517It is not necessary to use the "dict" attribute for a numbered function.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000518
519
520Functions for Dictionaries ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000521 *E715*
522Functions that can be used with a Dictionary: >
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000523 :if has_key(dict, 'foo') " TRUE if dict has entry with key "foo"
524 :if empty(dict) " TRUE if dict is empty
525 :let l = len(dict) " number of items in dict
526 :let big = max(dict) " maximum value in dict
527 :let small = min(dict) " minimum value in dict
528 :let xs = count(dict, 'x') " count nr of times 'x' appears in dict
529 :let s = string(dict) " String representation of dict
530 :call map(dict, '">> " . v:val') " prepend ">> " to each item
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000531
532
5331.5 More about variables ~
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000534 *more-variables*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000535If you need to know the type of a variable or expression, use the |type()|
536function.
537
538When the '!' flag is included in the 'viminfo' option, global variables that
539start with an uppercase letter, and don't contain a lowercase letter, are
540stored in the viminfo file |viminfo-file|.
541
542When the 'sessionoptions' option contains "global", global variables that
543start with an uppercase letter and contain at least one lowercase letter are
544stored in the session file |session-file|.
545
546variable name can be stored where ~
547my_var_6 not
548My_Var_6 session file
549MY_VAR_6 viminfo file
550
551
552It's possible to form a variable name with curly braces, see
553|curly-braces-names|.
554
555==============================================================================
5562. Expression syntax *expression-syntax*
557
558Expression syntax summary, from least to most significant:
559
560|expr1| expr2 ? expr1 : expr1 if-then-else
561
562|expr2| expr3 || expr3 .. logical OR
563
564|expr3| expr4 && expr4 .. logical AND
565
566|expr4| expr5 == expr5 equal
567 expr5 != expr5 not equal
568 expr5 > expr5 greater than
569 expr5 >= expr5 greater than or equal
570 expr5 < expr5 smaller than
571 expr5 <= expr5 smaller than or equal
572 expr5 =~ expr5 regexp matches
573 expr5 !~ expr5 regexp doesn't match
574
575 expr5 ==? expr5 equal, ignoring case
576 expr5 ==# expr5 equal, match case
577 etc. As above, append ? for ignoring case, # for
578 matching case
579
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000580 expr5 is expr5 same |List| instance
581 expr5 isnot expr5 different |List| instance
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000582
583|expr5| expr6 + expr6 .. number addition or list concatenation
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000584 expr6 - expr6 .. number subtraction
585 expr6 . expr6 .. string concatenation
586
587|expr6| expr7 * expr7 .. number multiplication
588 expr7 / expr7 .. number division
589 expr7 % expr7 .. number modulo
590
591|expr7| ! expr7 logical NOT
592 - expr7 unary minus
593 + expr7 unary plus
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000594
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000595
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000596|expr8| expr8[expr1] byte of a String or item of a |List|
597 expr8[expr1 : expr1] substring of a String or sublist of a |List|
598 expr8.name entry in a |Dictionary|
599 expr8(expr1, ...) function call with |Funcref| variable
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000600
601|expr9| number number constant
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000602 "string" string constant, backslash is special
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000603 'string' string constant, ' is doubled
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000604 [expr1, ...] |List|
605 {expr1: expr1, ...} |Dictionary|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000606 &option option value
607 (expr1) nested expression
608 variable internal variable
609 va{ria}ble internal variable with curly braces
610 $VAR environment variable
611 @r contents of register 'r'
612 function(expr1, ...) function call
613 func{ti}on(expr1, ...) function call with curly braces
614
615
616".." indicates that the operations in this level can be concatenated.
617Example: >
618 &nu || &list && &shell == "csh"
619
620All expressions within one level are parsed from left to right.
621
622
623expr1 *expr1* *E109*
624-----
625
626expr2 ? expr1 : expr1
627
628The expression before the '?' is evaluated to a number. If it evaluates to
629non-zero, the result is the value of the expression between the '?' and ':',
630otherwise the result is the value of the expression after the ':'.
631Example: >
632 :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum
633
634Since the first expression is an "expr2", it cannot contain another ?:. The
635other two expressions can, thus allow for recursive use of ?:.
636Example: >
637 :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum == 1000 ? "last" : lnum
638
639To keep this readable, using |line-continuation| is suggested: >
640 :echo lnum == 1
641 :\ ? "top"
642 :\ : lnum == 1000
643 :\ ? "last"
644 :\ : lnum
645
646
647expr2 and expr3 *expr2* *expr3*
648---------------
649
650 *expr-barbar* *expr-&&*
651The "||" and "&&" operators take one argument on each side. The arguments
652are (converted to) Numbers. The result is:
653
654 input output ~
655n1 n2 n1 || n2 n1 && n2 ~
656zero zero zero zero
657zero non-zero non-zero zero
658non-zero zero non-zero zero
659non-zero non-zero non-zero non-zero
660
661The operators can be concatenated, for example: >
662
663 &nu || &list && &shell == "csh"
664
665Note that "&&" takes precedence over "||", so this has the meaning of: >
666
667 &nu || (&list && &shell == "csh")
668
669Once the result is known, the expression "short-circuits", that is, further
670arguments are not evaluated. This is like what happens in C. For example: >
671
672 let a = 1
673 echo a || b
674
675This is valid even if there is no variable called "b" because "a" is non-zero,
676so the result must be non-zero. Similarly below: >
677
678 echo exists("b") && b == "yes"
679
680This is valid whether "b" has been defined or not. The second clause will
681only be evaluated if "b" has been defined.
682
683
684expr4 *expr4*
685-----
686
687expr5 {cmp} expr5
688
689Compare two expr5 expressions, resulting in a 0 if it evaluates to false, or 1
690if it evaluates to true.
691
692 *expr-==* *expr-!=* *expr->* *expr->=*
693 *expr-<* *expr-<=* *expr-=~* *expr-!~*
694 *expr-==#* *expr-!=#* *expr->#* *expr->=#*
695 *expr-<#* *expr-<=#* *expr-=~#* *expr-!~#*
696 *expr-==?* *expr-!=?* *expr->?* *expr->=?*
697 *expr-<?* *expr-<=?* *expr-=~?* *expr-!~?*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000698 *expr-is*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000699 use 'ignorecase' match case ignore case ~
700equal == ==# ==?
701not equal != !=# !=?
702greater than > ># >?
703greater than or equal >= >=# >=?
704smaller than < <# <?
705smaller than or equal <= <=# <=?
706regexp matches =~ =~# =~?
707regexp doesn't match !~ !~# !~?
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000708same instance is
709different instance isnot
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000710
711Examples:
712"abc" ==# "Abc" evaluates to 0
713"abc" ==? "Abc" evaluates to 1
714"abc" == "Abc" evaluates to 1 if 'ignorecase' is set, 0 otherwise
715
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000716 *E691* *E692*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000717A |List| can only be compared with a |List| and only "equal", "not equal" and
718"is" can be used. This compares the values of the list, recursively.
719Ignoring case means case is ignored when comparing item values.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000720
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000721 *E735* *E736*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000722A |Dictionary| can only be compared with a |Dictionary| and only "equal", "not
723equal" and "is" can be used. This compares the key/values of the |Dictionary|
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000724recursively. Ignoring case means case is ignored when comparing item values.
725
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000726 *E693* *E694*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000727A |Funcref| can only be compared with a |Funcref| and only "equal" and "not
728equal" can be used. Case is never ignored.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000729
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000730When using "is" or "isnot" with a |List| this checks if the expressions are
731referring to the same |List| instance. A copy of a |List| is different from
732the original |List|. When using "is" without a |List| it is equivalent to
733using "equal", using "isnot" equivalent to using "not equal". Except that a
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000734different type means the values are different. "4 == '4'" is true, "4 is '4'"
735is false.
736
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000737When comparing a String with a Number, the String is converted to a Number,
738and the comparison is done on Numbers. This means that "0 == 'x'" is TRUE,
739because 'x' converted to a Number is zero.
740
741When comparing two Strings, this is done with strcmp() or stricmp(). This
742results in the mathematical difference (comparing byte values), not
743necessarily the alphabetical difference in the local language.
744
745When using the operators with a trailing '#", or the short version and
746'ignorecase' is off, the comparing is done with strcmp().
747
748When using the operators with a trailing '?', or the short version and
749'ignorecase' is set, the comparing is done with stricmp().
750
751The "=~" and "!~" operators match the lefthand argument with the righthand
752argument, which is used as a pattern. See |pattern| for what a pattern is.
753This matching is always done like 'magic' was set and 'cpoptions' is empty, no
754matter what the actual value of 'magic' or 'cpoptions' is. This makes scripts
755portable. To avoid backslashes in the regexp pattern to be doubled, use a
756single-quote string, see |literal-string|.
757Since a string is considered to be a single line, a multi-line pattern
758(containing \n, backslash-n) will not match. However, a literal NL character
759can be matched like an ordinary character. Examples:
760 "foo\nbar" =~ "\n" evaluates to 1
761 "foo\nbar" =~ "\\n" evaluates to 0
762
763
764expr5 and expr6 *expr5* *expr6*
765---------------
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000766expr6 + expr6 .. Number addition or |List| concatenation *expr-+*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000767expr6 - expr6 .. Number subtraction *expr--*
768expr6 . expr6 .. String concatenation *expr-.*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000769
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +0000770For |Lists| only "+" is possible and then both expr6 must be a list. The
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000771result is a new list with the two lists Concatenated.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000772
773expr7 * expr7 .. number multiplication *expr-star*
774expr7 / expr7 .. number division *expr-/*
775expr7 % expr7 .. number modulo *expr-%*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000776
777For all, except ".", Strings are converted to Numbers.
778
779Note the difference between "+" and ".":
780 "123" + "456" = 579
781 "123" . "456" = "123456"
782
783When the righthand side of '/' is zero, the result is 0x7fffffff.
784When the righthand side of '%' is zero, the result is 0.
785
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000786None of these work for |Funcref|s.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000787
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000788
789expr7 *expr7*
790-----
791! expr7 logical NOT *expr-!*
792- expr7 unary minus *expr-unary--*
793+ expr7 unary plus *expr-unary-+*
794
795For '!' non-zero becomes zero, zero becomes one.
796For '-' the sign of the number is changed.
797For '+' the number is unchanged.
798
799A String will be converted to a Number first.
800
801These three can be repeated and mixed. Examples:
802 !-1 == 0
803 !!8 == 1
804 --9 == 9
805
806
807expr8 *expr8*
808-----
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000809expr8[expr1] item of String or |List| *expr-[]* *E111*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000810
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000811If expr8 is a Number or String this results in a String that contains the
812expr1'th single byte from expr8. expr8 is used as a String, expr1 as a
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000813Number. Note that this doesn't recognize multi-byte encodings.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000814
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000815Index zero gives the first character. This is like it works in C. Careful:
816text column numbers start with one! Example, to get the character under the
817cursor: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000818 :let c = getline(line("."))[col(".") - 1]
819
820If the length of the String is less than the index, the result is an empty
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000821String. A negative index always results in an empty string (reason: backwards
822compatibility). Use [-1:] to get the last byte.
823
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000824If expr8 is a |List| then it results the item at index expr1. See |list-index|
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000825for possible index values. If the index is out of range this results in an
826error. Example: >
827 :let item = mylist[-1] " get last item
828
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000829Generally, if a |List| index is equal to or higher than the length of the
830|List|, or more negative than the length of the |List|, this results in an
831error.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000832
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000833
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000834expr8[expr1a : expr1b] substring or sublist *expr-[:]*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000835
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000836If expr8 is a Number or String this results in the substring with the bytes
837from expr1a to and including expr1b. expr8 is used as a String, expr1a and
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000838expr1b are used as a Number. Note that this doesn't recognize multi-byte
839encodings.
840
841If expr1a is omitted zero is used. If expr1b is omitted the length of the
842string minus one is used.
843
844A negative number can be used to measure from the end of the string. -1 is
845the last character, -2 the last but one, etc.
846
847If an index goes out of range for the string characters are omitted. If
848expr1b is smaller than expr1a the result is an empty string.
849
850Examples: >
851 :let c = name[-1:] " last byte of a string
852 :let c = name[-2:-2] " last but one byte of a string
853 :let s = line(".")[4:] " from the fifth byte to the end
854 :let s = s[:-3] " remove last two bytes
855
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000856If expr8 is a |List| this results in a new |List| with the items indicated by
857the indexes expr1a and expr1b. This works like with a String, as explained
858just above, except that indexes out of range cause an error. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000859 :let l = mylist[:3] " first four items
860 :let l = mylist[4:4] " List with one item
861 :let l = mylist[:] " shallow copy of a List
862
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000863Using expr8[expr1] or expr8[expr1a : expr1b] on a |Funcref| results in an
864error.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000865
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000866
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000867expr8.name entry in a |Dictionary| *expr-entry*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000868
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000869If expr8 is a |Dictionary| and it is followed by a dot, then the following
870name will be used as a key in the |Dictionary|. This is just like:
871expr8[name].
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000872
873The name must consist of alphanumeric characters, just like a variable name,
874but it may start with a number. Curly braces cannot be used.
875
876There must not be white space before or after the dot.
877
878Examples: >
879 :let dict = {"one": 1, 2: "two"}
880 :echo dict.one
881 :echo dict .2
882
883Note that the dot is also used for String concatenation. To avoid confusion
884always put spaces around the dot for String concatenation.
885
886
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000887expr8(expr1, ...) |Funcref| function call
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000888
889When expr8 is a |Funcref| type variable, invoke the function it refers to.
890
891
892
893 *expr9*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000894number
895------
896number number constant *expr-number*
897
898Decimal, Hexadecimal (starting with 0x or 0X), or Octal (starting with 0).
899
900
901string *expr-string* *E114*
902------
903"string" string constant *expr-quote*
904
905Note that double quotes are used.
906
907A string constant accepts these special characters:
908\... three-digit octal number (e.g., "\316")
909\.. two-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit)
910\. one-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit)
911\x.. byte specified with two hex numbers (e.g., "\x1f")
912\x. byte specified with one hex number (must be followed by non-hex char)
913\X.. same as \x..
914\X. same as \x.
915\u.... character specified with up to 4 hex numbers, stored according to the
916 current value of 'encoding' (e.g., "\u02a4")
917\U.... same as \u....
918\b backspace <BS>
919\e escape <Esc>
920\f formfeed <FF>
921\n newline <NL>
922\r return <CR>
923\t tab <Tab>
924\\ backslash
925\" double quote
926\<xxx> Special key named "xxx". e.g. "\<C-W>" for CTRL-W.
927
928Note that "\000" and "\x00" force the end of the string.
929
930
931literal-string *literal-string* *E115*
932---------------
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000933'string' string constant *expr-'*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000934
935Note that single quotes are used.
936
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000937This string is taken as it is. No backslashes are removed or have a special
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000938meaning. The only exception is that two quotes stand for one quote.
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000939
940Single quoted strings are useful for patterns, so that backslashes do not need
941to be doubled. These two commands are equivalent: >
942 if a =~ "\\s*"
943 if a =~ '\s*'
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000944
945
946option *expr-option* *E112* *E113*
947------
948&option option value, local value if possible
949&g:option global option value
950&l:option local option value
951
952Examples: >
953 echo "tabstop is " . &tabstop
954 if &insertmode
955
956Any option name can be used here. See |options|. When using the local value
957and there is no buffer-local or window-local value, the global value is used
958anyway.
959
960
961register *expr-register*
962--------
963@r contents of register 'r'
964
965The result is the contents of the named register, as a single string.
966Newlines are inserted where required. To get the contents of the unnamed
Bram Moolenaare7566042005-06-17 22:00:15 +0000967register use @" or @@. See |registers| for an explanation of the available
968registers.
969
970When using the '=' register you get the expression itself, not what it
971evaluates to. Use |eval()| to evaluate it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000972
973
974nesting *expr-nesting* *E110*
975-------
976(expr1) nested expression
977
978
979environment variable *expr-env*
980--------------------
981$VAR environment variable
982
983The String value of any environment variable. When it is not defined, the
984result is an empty string.
985 *expr-env-expand*
986Note that there is a difference between using $VAR directly and using
987expand("$VAR"). Using it directly will only expand environment variables that
988are known inside the current Vim session. Using expand() will first try using
989the environment variables known inside the current Vim session. If that
990fails, a shell will be used to expand the variable. This can be slow, but it
991does expand all variables that the shell knows about. Example: >
992 :echo $version
993 :echo expand("$version")
994The first one probably doesn't echo anything, the second echoes the $version
995variable (if your shell supports it).
996
997
998internal variable *expr-variable*
999-----------------
1000variable internal variable
1001See below |internal-variables|.
1002
1003
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00001004function call *expr-function* *E116* *E118* *E119* *E120*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001005-------------
1006function(expr1, ...) function call
1007See below |functions|.
1008
1009
1010==============================================================================
10113. Internal variable *internal-variables* *E121*
1012 *E461*
1013An internal variable name can be made up of letters, digits and '_'. But it
1014cannot start with a digit. It's also possible to use curly braces, see
1015|curly-braces-names|.
1016
1017An internal variable is created with the ":let" command |:let|.
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001018An internal variable is explicitly destroyed with the ":unlet" command
1019|:unlet|.
1020Using a name that is not an internal variable or refers to a variable that has
1021been destroyed results in an error.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001022
1023There are several name spaces for variables. Which one is to be used is
1024specified by what is prepended:
1025
1026 (nothing) In a function: local to a function; otherwise: global
1027|buffer-variable| b: Local to the current buffer.
1028|window-variable| w: Local to the current window.
1029|global-variable| g: Global.
1030|local-variable| l: Local to a function.
1031|script-variable| s: Local to a |:source|'ed Vim script.
1032|function-argument| a: Function argument (only inside a function).
1033|vim-variable| v: Global, predefined by Vim.
1034
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001035The scope name by itself can be used as a |Dictionary|. For example, to
1036delete all script-local variables: >
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00001037 :for k in keys(s:)
1038 : unlet s:[k]
1039 :endfor
1040<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001041 *buffer-variable* *b:var*
1042A variable name that is preceded with "b:" is local to the current buffer.
1043Thus you can have several "b:foo" variables, one for each buffer.
1044This kind of variable is deleted when the buffer is wiped out or deleted with
1045|:bdelete|.
1046
1047One local buffer variable is predefined:
1048 *b:changedtick-variable* *changetick*
1049b:changedtick The total number of changes to the current buffer. It is
1050 incremented for each change. An undo command is also a change
1051 in this case. This can be used to perform an action only when
1052 the buffer has changed. Example: >
1053 :if my_changedtick != b:changedtick
1054 : let my_changedtick = b:changedtick
1055 : call My_Update()
1056 :endif
1057<
1058 *window-variable* *w:var*
1059A variable name that is preceded with "w:" is local to the current window. It
1060is deleted when the window is closed.
1061
1062 *global-variable* *g:var*
1063Inside functions global variables are accessed with "g:". Omitting this will
1064access a variable local to a function. But "g:" can also be used in any other
1065place if you like.
1066
1067 *local-variable* *l:var*
1068Inside functions local variables are accessed without prepending anything.
1069But you can also prepend "l:" if you like.
1070
1071 *script-variable* *s:var*
1072In a Vim script variables starting with "s:" can be used. They cannot be
1073accessed from outside of the scripts, thus are local to the script.
1074
1075They can be used in:
1076- commands executed while the script is sourced
1077- functions defined in the script
1078- autocommands defined in the script
1079- functions and autocommands defined in functions and autocommands which were
1080 defined in the script (recursively)
1081- user defined commands defined in the script
1082Thus not in:
1083- other scripts sourced from this one
1084- mappings
1085- etc.
1086
1087script variables can be used to avoid conflicts with global variable names.
1088Take this example:
1089
1090 let s:counter = 0
1091 function MyCounter()
1092 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1093 echo s:counter
1094 endfunction
1095 command Tick call MyCounter()
1096
1097You can now invoke "Tick" from any script, and the "s:counter" variable in
1098that script will not be changed, only the "s:counter" in the script where
1099"Tick" was defined is used.
1100
1101Another example that does the same: >
1102
1103 let s:counter = 0
1104 command Tick let s:counter = s:counter + 1 | echo s:counter
1105
1106When calling a function and invoking a user-defined command, the context for
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001107script variables is set to the script where the function or command was
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001108defined.
1109
1110The script variables are also available when a function is defined inside a
1111function that is defined in a script. Example: >
1112
1113 let s:counter = 0
1114 function StartCounting(incr)
1115 if a:incr
1116 function MyCounter()
1117 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1118 endfunction
1119 else
1120 function MyCounter()
1121 let s:counter = s:counter - 1
1122 endfunction
1123 endif
1124 endfunction
1125
1126This defines the MyCounter() function either for counting up or counting down
1127when calling StartCounting(). It doesn't matter from where StartCounting() is
1128called, the s:counter variable will be accessible in MyCounter().
1129
1130When the same script is sourced again it will use the same script variables.
1131They will remain valid as long as Vim is running. This can be used to
1132maintain a counter: >
1133
1134 if !exists("s:counter")
1135 let s:counter = 1
1136 echo "script executed for the first time"
1137 else
1138 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1139 echo "script executed " . s:counter . " times now"
1140 endif
1141
1142Note that this means that filetype plugins don't get a different set of script
1143variables for each buffer. Use local buffer variables instead |b:var|.
1144
1145
1146Predefined Vim variables: *vim-variable* *v:var*
1147
Bram Moolenaare4efc3b2005-03-07 23:16:51 +00001148 *v:beval_col* *beval_col-variable*
1149v:beval_col The number of the column, over which the mouse pointer is.
1150 This is the byte index in the |v:beval_lnum| line.
1151 Only valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1152
1153 *v:beval_bufnr* *beval_bufnr-variable*
1154v:beval_bufnr The number of the buffer, over which the mouse pointer is. Only
1155 valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1156
1157 *v:beval_lnum* *beval_lnum-variable*
1158v:beval_lnum The number of the line, over which the mouse pointer is. Only
1159 valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1160
1161 *v:beval_text* *beval_text-variable*
Bram Moolenaar24bbcfe2005-06-28 23:32:02 +00001162v:beval_text The text under or after the mouse pointer. Usually a word as
1163 it is useful for debugging a C program. 'iskeyword' applies,
1164 but a dot and "->" before the position is included. When on a
1165 ']' the text before it is used, including the matching '[' and
Bram Moolenaare4efc3b2005-03-07 23:16:51 +00001166 word before it. When on a Visual area within one line the
1167 highlighted text is used.
1168 Only valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1169
1170 *v:beval_winnr* *beval_winnr-variable*
1171v:beval_winnr The number of the window, over which the mouse pointer is. Only
1172 valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1173
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001174 *v:charconvert_from* *charconvert_from-variable*
1175v:charconvert_from
1176 The name of the character encoding of a file to be converted.
1177 Only valid while evaluating the 'charconvert' option.
1178
1179 *v:charconvert_to* *charconvert_to-variable*
1180v:charconvert_to
1181 The name of the character encoding of a file after conversion.
1182 Only valid while evaluating the 'charconvert' option.
1183
1184 *v:cmdarg* *cmdarg-variable*
1185v:cmdarg This variable is used for two purposes:
1186 1. The extra arguments given to a file read/write command.
1187 Currently these are "++enc=" and "++ff=". This variable is
1188 set before an autocommand event for a file read/write
1189 command is triggered. There is a leading space to make it
1190 possible to append this variable directly after the
1191 read/write command. Note: The "+cmd" argument isn't
1192 included here, because it will be executed anyway.
1193 2. When printing a PostScript file with ":hardcopy" this is
1194 the argument for the ":hardcopy" command. This can be used
1195 in 'printexpr'.
1196
1197 *v:cmdbang* *cmdbang-variable*
1198v:cmdbang Set like v:cmdarg for a file read/write command. When a "!"
1199 was used the value is 1, otherwise it is 0. Note that this
1200 can only be used in autocommands. For user commands |<bang>|
1201 can be used.
1202
1203 *v:count* *count-variable*
1204v:count The count given for the last Normal mode command. Can be used
1205 to get the count before a mapping. Read-only. Example: >
1206 :map _x :<C-U>echo "the count is " . v:count<CR>
1207< Note: The <C-U> is required to remove the line range that you
1208 get when typing ':' after a count.
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00001209 Also used for evaluating the 'formatexpr' option.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001210 "count" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1211
1212 *v:count1* *count1-variable*
1213v:count1 Just like "v:count", but defaults to one when no count is
1214 used.
1215
1216 *v:ctype* *ctype-variable*
1217v:ctype The current locale setting for characters of the runtime
1218 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1219 current locale encoding. Technical: it's the value of
1220 LC_CTYPE. When not using a locale the value is "C".
1221 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1222 command.
1223 See |multi-lang|.
1224
1225 *v:dying* *dying-variable*
1226v:dying Normally zero. When a deadly signal is caught it's set to
1227 one. When multiple signals are caught the number increases.
1228 Can be used in an autocommand to check if Vim didn't
1229 terminate normally. {only works on Unix}
1230 Example: >
1231 :au VimLeave * if v:dying | echo "\nAAAAaaaarrrggghhhh!!!\n" | endif
1232<
1233 *v:errmsg* *errmsg-variable*
1234v:errmsg Last given error message. It's allowed to set this variable.
1235 Example: >
1236 :let v:errmsg = ""
1237 :silent! next
1238 :if v:errmsg != ""
1239 : ... handle error
1240< "errmsg" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1241
1242 *v:exception* *exception-variable*
1243v:exception The value of the exception most recently caught and not
1244 finished. See also |v:throwpoint| and |throw-variables|.
1245 Example: >
1246 :try
1247 : throw "oops"
1248 :catch /.*/
1249 : echo "caught" v:exception
1250 :endtry
1251< Output: "caught oops".
1252
Bram Moolenaar19a09a12005-03-04 23:39:37 +00001253 *v:fcs_reason* *fcs_reason-variable*
1254v:fcs_reason The reason why the |FileChangedShell| event was triggered.
1255 Can be used in an autocommand to decide what to do and/or what
1256 to set v:fcs_choice to. Possible values:
1257 deleted file no longer exists
1258 conflict file contents, mode or timestamp was
1259 changed and buffer is modified
1260 changed file contents has changed
1261 mode mode of file changed
1262 time only file timestamp changed
1263
1264 *v:fcs_choice* *fcs_choice-variable*
1265v:fcs_choice What should happen after a |FileChangedShell| event was
1266 triggered. Can be used in an autocommand to tell Vim what to
1267 do with the affected buffer:
1268 reload Reload the buffer (does not work if
1269 the file was deleted).
1270 ask Ask the user what to do, as if there
1271 was no autocommand. Except that when
1272 only the timestamp changed nothing
1273 will happen.
1274 <empty> Nothing, the autocommand should do
1275 everything that needs to be done.
1276 The default is empty. If another (invalid) value is used then
1277 Vim behaves like it is empty, there is no warning message.
1278
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001279 *v:fname_in* *fname_in-variable*
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001280v:fname_in The name of the input file. Valid while evaluating:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001281 option used for ~
1282 'charconvert' file to be converted
1283 'diffexpr' original file
1284 'patchexpr' original file
1285 'printexpr' file to be printed
Bram Moolenaar2c7a29c2005-12-12 22:02:31 +00001286 And set to the swap file name for |SwapExists|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001287
1288 *v:fname_out* *fname_out-variable*
1289v:fname_out The name of the output file. Only valid while
1290 evaluating:
1291 option used for ~
1292 'charconvert' resulting converted file (*)
1293 'diffexpr' output of diff
1294 'patchexpr' resulting patched file
1295 (*) When doing conversion for a write command (e.g., ":w
1296 file") it will be equal to v:fname_in. When doing conversion
1297 for a read command (e.g., ":e file") it will be a temporary
1298 file and different from v:fname_in.
1299
1300 *v:fname_new* *fname_new-variable*
1301v:fname_new The name of the new version of the file. Only valid while
1302 evaluating 'diffexpr'.
1303
1304 *v:fname_diff* *fname_diff-variable*
1305v:fname_diff The name of the diff (patch) file. Only valid while
1306 evaluating 'patchexpr'.
1307
1308 *v:folddashes* *folddashes-variable*
1309v:folddashes Used for 'foldtext': dashes representing foldlevel of a closed
1310 fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001311 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001312
1313 *v:foldlevel* *foldlevel-variable*
1314v:foldlevel Used for 'foldtext': foldlevel of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001315 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001316
1317 *v:foldend* *foldend-variable*
1318v:foldend Used for 'foldtext': last line of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001319 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001320
1321 *v:foldstart* *foldstart-variable*
1322v:foldstart Used for 'foldtext': first line of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001323 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001324
Bram Moolenaar843ee412004-06-30 16:16:41 +00001325 *v:insertmode* *insertmode-variable*
1326v:insertmode Used for the |InsertEnter| and |InsertChange| autocommand
1327 events. Values:
1328 i Insert mode
1329 r Replace mode
1330 v Virtual Replace mode
1331
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001332 *v:key* *key-variable*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001333v:key Key of the current item of a |Dictionary|. Only valid while
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001334 evaluating the expression used with |map()| and |filter()|.
1335 Read-only.
1336
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001337 *v:lang* *lang-variable*
1338v:lang The current locale setting for messages of the runtime
1339 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1340 current language. Technical: it's the value of LC_MESSAGES.
1341 The value is system dependent.
1342 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1343 command.
1344 It can be different from |v:ctype| when messages are desired
1345 in a different language than what is used for character
1346 encoding. See |multi-lang|.
1347
1348 *v:lc_time* *lc_time-variable*
1349v:lc_time The current locale setting for time messages of the runtime
1350 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1351 current language. Technical: it's the value of LC_TIME.
1352 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1353 command. See |multi-lang|.
1354
1355 *v:lnum* *lnum-variable*
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001356v:lnum Line number for the 'foldexpr' |fold-expr| and 'indentexpr'
Bram Moolenaar5c8837f2006-02-25 21:52:33 +00001357 expressions, tab page number for 'guitablabel'. Only valid
1358 while one of these expressions is being evaluated. Read-only
1359 when in the |sandbox|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001360
1361 *v:prevcount* *prevcount-variable*
1362v:prevcount The count given for the last but one Normal mode command.
1363 This is the v:count value of the previous command. Useful if
1364 you want to cancel Visual mode and then use the count. >
1365 :vmap % <Esc>:call MyFilter(v:prevcount)<CR>
1366< Read-only.
1367
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00001368 *v:profiling* *profiling-variable*
1369v:profiling Normally zero. Set to one after using ":profile start".
1370 See |profiling|.
1371
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001372 *v:progname* *progname-variable*
1373v:progname Contains the name (with path removed) with which Vim was
1374 invoked. Allows you to do special initialisations for "view",
1375 "evim" etc., or any other name you might symlink to Vim.
1376 Read-only.
1377
1378 *v:register* *register-variable*
1379v:register The name of the register supplied to the last normal mode
1380 command. Empty if none were supplied. |getreg()| |setreg()|
1381
Bram Moolenaar1c7715d2005-10-03 22:02:18 +00001382 *v:scrollstart* *scrollstart-variable*
1383v:scrollstart String describing the script or function that caused the
1384 screen to scroll up. It's only set when it is empty, thus the
1385 first reason is remembered. It is set to "Unknown" for a
1386 typed command.
1387 This can be used to find out why your script causes the
1388 hit-enter prompt.
1389
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001390 *v:servername* *servername-variable*
1391v:servername The resulting registered |x11-clientserver| name if any.
1392 Read-only.
1393
1394 *v:shell_error* *shell_error-variable*
1395v:shell_error Result of the last shell command. When non-zero, the last
1396 shell command had an error. When zero, there was no problem.
1397 This only works when the shell returns the error code to Vim.
1398 The value -1 is often used when the command could not be
1399 executed. Read-only.
1400 Example: >
1401 :!mv foo bar
1402 :if v:shell_error
1403 : echo 'could not rename "foo" to "bar"!'
1404 :endif
1405< "shell_error" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1406
1407 *v:statusmsg* *statusmsg-variable*
1408v:statusmsg Last given status message. It's allowed to set this variable.
1409
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001410 *v:swapname* *swapname-variable*
1411v:swapname Only valid when executing |SwapExists| autocommands: Name of
1412 the swap file found. Read-only.
1413
1414 *v:swapchoice* *swapchoice-variable*
1415v:swapchoice |SwapExists| autocommands can set this to the selected choice
1416 for handling an existing swap file:
1417 'o' Open read-only
1418 'e' Edit anyway
1419 'r' Recover
1420 'd' Delete swapfile
1421 'q' Quit
1422 'a' Abort
1423 The value should be a single-character string. An empty value
1424 results in the user being asked, as would happen when there is
1425 no SwapExists autocommand. The default is empty.
1426
Bram Moolenaarb3480382005-12-11 21:33:32 +00001427 *v:swapcommand* *swapcommand-variable*
Bram Moolenaar4770d092006-01-12 23:22:24 +00001428v:swapcommand Normal mode command to be executed after a file has been
Bram Moolenaarb3480382005-12-11 21:33:32 +00001429 opened. Can be used for a |SwapExists| autocommand to have
1430 another Vim open the file and jump to the right place. For
1431 example, when jumping to a tag the value is ":tag tagname\r".
1432
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001433 *v:termresponse* *termresponse-variable*
1434v:termresponse The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the |t_RV|
1435 termcap entry. It is set when Vim receives an escape sequence
1436 that starts with ESC [ or CSI and ends in a 'c', with only
1437 digits, ';' and '.' in between.
1438 When this option is set, the TermResponse autocommand event is
1439 fired, so that you can react to the response from the
1440 terminal.
1441 The response from a new xterm is: "<Esc>[ Pp ; Pv ; Pc c". Pp
1442 is the terminal type: 0 for vt100 and 1 for vt220. Pv is the
1443 patch level (since this was introduced in patch 95, it's
1444 always 95 or bigger). Pc is always zero.
1445 {only when compiled with |+termresponse| feature}
1446
1447 *v:this_session* *this_session-variable*
1448v:this_session Full filename of the last loaded or saved session file. See
1449 |:mksession|. It is allowed to set this variable. When no
1450 session file has been saved, this variable is empty.
1451 "this_session" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1452
1453 *v:throwpoint* *throwpoint-variable*
1454v:throwpoint The point where the exception most recently caught and not
1455 finished was thrown. Not set when commands are typed. See
1456 also |v:exception| and |throw-variables|.
1457 Example: >
1458 :try
1459 : throw "oops"
1460 :catch /.*/
1461 : echo "Exception from" v:throwpoint
1462 :endtry
1463< Output: "Exception from test.vim, line 2"
1464
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001465 *v:val* *val-variable*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001466v:val Value of the current item of a |List| or |Dictionary|. Only
1467 valid while evaluating the expression used with |map()| and
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001468 |filter()|. Read-only.
1469
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001470 *v:version* *version-variable*
1471v:version Version number of Vim: Major version number times 100 plus
1472 minor version number. Version 5.0 is 500. Version 5.1 (5.01)
1473 is 501. Read-only. "version" also works, for backwards
1474 compatibility.
1475 Use |has()| to check if a certain patch was included, e.g.: >
1476 if has("patch123")
1477< Note that patch numbers are specific to the version, thus both
1478 version 5.0 and 5.1 may have a patch 123, but these are
1479 completely different.
1480
1481 *v:warningmsg* *warningmsg-variable*
1482v:warningmsg Last given warning message. It's allowed to set this variable.
1483
1484==============================================================================
14854. Builtin Functions *functions*
1486
1487See |function-list| for a list grouped by what the function is used for.
1488
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001489(Use CTRL-] on the function name to jump to the full explanation.)
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001490
1491USAGE RESULT DESCRIPTION ~
1492
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001493add( {list}, {item}) List append {item} to |List| {list}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001494append( {lnum}, {string}) Number append {string} below line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00001495append( {lnum}, {list}) Number append lines {list} below line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001496argc() Number number of files in the argument list
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001497argidx() Number current index in the argument list
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001498argv( {nr}) String {nr} entry of the argument list
1499browse( {save}, {title}, {initdir}, {default})
1500 String put up a file requester
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001501browsedir( {title}, {initdir}) String put up a directory requester
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001502bufexists( {expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} exists
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001503buflisted( {expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} is listed
1504bufloaded( {expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} is loaded
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001505bufname( {expr}) String Name of the buffer {expr}
1506bufnr( {expr}) Number Number of the buffer {expr}
1507bufwinnr( {expr}) Number window number of buffer {expr}
1508byte2line( {byte}) Number line number at byte count {byte}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001509byteidx( {expr}, {nr}) Number byte index of {nr}'th char in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001510call( {func}, {arglist} [, {dict}])
1511 any call {func} with arguments {arglist}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001512char2nr( {expr}) Number ASCII value of first char in {expr}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001513cindent( {lnum}) Number C indent for line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001514col( {expr}) Number column nr of cursor or mark
Bram Moolenaar572cb562005-08-05 21:35:02 +00001515complete_add( {expr}) Number add completion match
1516complete_check() Number check for key typed during completion
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001517confirm( {msg} [, {choices} [, {default} [, {type}]]])
1518 Number number of choice picked by user
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001519copy( {expr}) any make a shallow copy of {expr}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001520count( {list}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]])
1521 Number count how many {expr} are in {list}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001522cscope_connection( [{num} , {dbpath} [, {prepend}]])
1523 Number checks existence of cscope connection
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00001524cursor( {lnum}, {col} [, {coladd}])
1525 Number move cursor to {lnum}, {col}, {coladd}
1526cursor( {list}) Number move cursor to position in {list}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001527deepcopy( {expr}) any make a full copy of {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001528delete( {fname}) Number delete file {fname}
1529did_filetype() Number TRUE if FileType autocommand event used
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001530diff_filler( {lnum}) Number diff filler lines about {lnum}
1531diff_hlID( {lnum}, {col}) Number diff highlighting at {lnum}/{col}
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001532empty( {expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} is empty
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001533escape( {string}, {chars}) String escape {chars} in {string} with '\'
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00001534eval( {string}) any evaluate {string} into its value
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001535eventhandler( ) Number TRUE if inside an event handler
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001536executable( {expr}) Number 1 if executable {expr} exists
1537exists( {expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} exists
1538expand( {expr}) String expand special keywords in {expr}
1539filereadable( {file}) Number TRUE if {file} is a readable file
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001540filter( {expr}, {string}) List/Dict remove items from {expr} where
1541 {string} is 0
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001542finddir( {name}[, {path}[, {count}]])
1543 String Find directory {name} in {path}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001544findfile( {name}[, {path}[, {count}]])
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001545 String Find file {name} in {path}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001546filewritable( {file}) Number TRUE if {file} is a writable file
1547fnamemodify( {fname}, {mods}) String modify file name
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001548foldclosed( {lnum}) Number first line of fold at {lnum} if closed
1549foldclosedend( {lnum}) Number last line of fold at {lnum} if closed
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001550foldlevel( {lnum}) Number fold level at {lnum}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001551foldtext( ) String line displayed for closed fold
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001552foreground( ) Number bring the Vim window to the foreground
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001553function( {name}) Funcref reference to function {name}
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001554get( {list}, {idx} [, {def}]) any get item {idx} from {list} or {def}
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001555get( {dict}, {key} [, {def}]) any get item {key} from {dict} or {def}
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00001556getbufline( {expr}, {lnum} [, {end}])
1557 List lines {lnum} to {end} of buffer {expr}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001558getchar( [expr]) Number get one character from the user
1559getcharmod( ) Number modifiers for the last typed character
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001560getbufvar( {expr}, {varname}) variable {varname} in buffer {expr}
1561getcmdline() String return the current command-line
1562getcmdpos() Number return cursor position in command-line
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00001563getcmdtype() String return the current command-line type
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001564getcwd() String the current working directory
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00001565getfperm( {fname}) String file permissions of file {fname}
1566getfsize( {fname}) Number size in bytes of file {fname}
Bram Moolenaard8b0cf12004-12-12 11:33:30 +00001567getfontname( [{name}]) String name of font being used
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001568getftime( {fname}) Number last modification time of file
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00001569getftype( {fname}) String description of type of file {fname}
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00001570getline( {lnum}) String line {lnum} of current buffer
1571getline( {lnum}, {end}) List lines {lnum} to {end} of current buffer
Bram Moolenaar17c7c012006-01-26 22:25:15 +00001572getloclist({nr}) List list of location list items
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00001573getpos( {expr}) List position of cursor, mark, etc.
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00001574getqflist() List list of quickfix items
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00001575getreg( [{regname} [, 1]]) String contents of register
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001576getregtype( [{regname}]) String type of register
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001577getwinposx() Number X coord in pixels of GUI Vim window
1578getwinposy() Number Y coord in pixels of GUI Vim window
1579getwinvar( {nr}, {varname}) variable {varname} in window {nr}
1580glob( {expr}) String expand file wildcards in {expr}
1581globpath( {path}, {expr}) String do glob({expr}) for all dirs in {path}
1582has( {feature}) Number TRUE if feature {feature} supported
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001583has_key( {dict}, {key}) Number TRUE if {dict} has entry {key}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001584hasmapto( {what} [, {mode}]) Number TRUE if mapping to {what} exists
1585histadd( {history},{item}) String add an item to a history
1586histdel( {history} [, {item}]) String remove an item from a history
1587histget( {history} [, {index}]) String get the item {index} from a history
1588histnr( {history}) Number highest index of a history
1589hlexists( {name}) Number TRUE if highlight group {name} exists
1590hlID( {name}) Number syntax ID of highlight group {name}
1591hostname() String name of the machine Vim is running on
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001592iconv( {expr}, {from}, {to}) String convert encoding of {expr}
1593indent( {lnum}) Number indent of line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001594index( {list}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]])
1595 Number index in {list} where {expr} appears
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00001596input( {prompt} [, {text} [, {completion}]])
1597 String get input from the user
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001598inputdialog( {p} [, {t} [, {c}]]) String like input() but in a GUI dialog
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001599inputrestore() Number restore typeahead
1600inputsave() Number save and clear typeahead
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001601inputsecret( {prompt} [, {text}]) String like input() but hiding the text
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001602insert( {list}, {item} [, {idx}]) List insert {item} in {list} [before {idx}]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001603isdirectory( {directory}) Number TRUE if {directory} is a directory
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00001604islocked( {expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} is locked
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001605items( {dict}) List key-value pairs in {dict}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001606join( {list} [, {sep}]) String join {list} items into one String
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001607keys( {dict}) List keys in {dict}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001608len( {expr}) Number the length of {expr}
1609libcall( {lib}, {func}, {arg}) String call {func} in library {lib} with {arg}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001610libcallnr( {lib}, {func}, {arg}) Number idem, but return a Number
1611line( {expr}) Number line nr of cursor, last line or mark
1612line2byte( {lnum}) Number byte count of line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001613lispindent( {lnum}) Number Lisp indent for line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001614localtime() Number current time
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001615map( {expr}, {string}) List/Dict change each item in {expr} to {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001616maparg( {name}[, {mode}]) String rhs of mapping {name} in mode {mode}
1617mapcheck( {name}[, {mode}]) String check for mappings matching {name}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001618match( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001619 Number position where {pat} matches in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001620matchend( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001621 Number position where {pat} ends in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00001622matchlist( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
1623 List match and submatches of {pat} in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001624matchstr( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
1625 String {count}'th match of {pat} in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001626max({list}) Number maximum value of items in {list}
1627min({list}) Number minumum value of items in {list}
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00001628mkdir({name} [, {path} [, {prot}]])
1629 Number create directory {name}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001630mode() String current editing mode
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001631nextnonblank( {lnum}) Number line nr of non-blank line >= {lnum}
1632nr2char( {expr}) String single char with ASCII value {expr}
1633prevnonblank( {lnum}) Number line nr of non-blank line <= {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00001634printf( {fmt}, {expr1}...) String format text
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00001635pumvisible() Number whether popup menu is visible
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001636range( {expr} [, {max} [, {stride}]])
1637 List items from {expr} to {max}
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00001638readfile({fname} [, {binary} [, {max}]])
1639 List get list of lines from file {fname}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001640remote_expr( {server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
1641 String send expression
1642remote_foreground( {server}) Number bring Vim server to the foreground
1643remote_peek( {serverid} [, {retvar}])
1644 Number check for reply string
1645remote_read( {serverid}) String read reply string
1646remote_send( {server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
1647 String send key sequence
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001648remove( {list}, {idx} [, {end}]) any remove items {idx}-{end} from {list}
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001649remove( {dict}, {key}) any remove entry {key} from {dict}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001650rename( {from}, {to}) Number rename (move) file from {from} to {to}
1651repeat( {expr}, {count}) String repeat {expr} {count} times
1652resolve( {filename}) String get filename a shortcut points to
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001653reverse( {list}) List reverse {list} in-place
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001654search( {pattern} [, {flags}]) Number search for {pattern}
Bram Moolenaarf75a9632005-09-13 21:20:47 +00001655searchdecl({name} [, {global} [, {thisblock}]])
1656 Number search for variable declaration
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00001657searchpair( {start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip} [, {stopline}]]])
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001658 Number search for other end of start/end pair
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00001659searchpairpos( {start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip} [, {stopline}]]])
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00001660 List search for other end of start/end pair
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00001661searchpos( {pattern} [, {flags} [, {stopline}]])
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00001662 List search for {pattern}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001663server2client( {clientid}, {string})
1664 Number send reply string
1665serverlist() String get a list of available servers
1666setbufvar( {expr}, {varname}, {val}) set {varname} in buffer {expr} to {val}
1667setcmdpos( {pos}) Number set cursor position in command-line
1668setline( {lnum}, {line}) Number set line {lnum} to {line}
Bram Moolenaar17c7c012006-01-26 22:25:15 +00001669setloclist( {nr}, {list}[, {action}])
1670 Number modify location list using {list}
1671setqflist( {list}[, {action}]) Number modify quickfix list using {list}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001672setreg( {n}, {v}[, {opt}]) Number set register to value and type
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001673setwinvar( {nr}, {varname}, {val}) set {varname} in window {nr} to {val}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001674simplify( {filename}) String simplify filename as much as possible
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001675sort( {list} [, {func}]) List sort {list}, using {func} to compare
Bram Moolenaar24bbcfe2005-06-28 23:32:02 +00001676soundfold( {word}) String sound-fold {word}
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00001677spellbadword() String badly spelled word at cursor
Bram Moolenaarc54b8a72005-09-30 21:20:29 +00001678spellsuggest( {word} [, {max} [, {capital}]])
1679 List spelling suggestions
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00001680split( {expr} [, {pat} [, {keepempty}]])
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001681 List make |List| from {pat} separated {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001682strftime( {format}[, {time}]) String time in specified format
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00001683stridx( {haystack}, {needle}[, {start}])
1684 Number index of {needle} in {haystack}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001685string( {expr}) String String representation of {expr} value
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001686strlen( {expr}) Number length of the String {expr}
1687strpart( {src}, {start}[, {len}])
1688 String {len} characters of {src} at {start}
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00001689strridx( {haystack}, {needle} [, {start}])
1690 Number last index of {needle} in {haystack}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001691strtrans( {expr}) String translate string to make it printable
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001692submatch( {nr}) String specific match in ":substitute"
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001693substitute( {expr}, {pat}, {sub}, {flags})
1694 String all {pat} in {expr} replaced with {sub}
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00001695synID( {lnum}, {col}, {trans}) Number syntax ID at {lnum} and {col}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001696synIDattr( {synID}, {what} [, {mode}])
1697 String attribute {what} of syntax ID {synID}
1698synIDtrans( {synID}) Number translated syntax ID of {synID}
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00001699system( {expr} [, {input}]) String output of shell command/filter {expr}
Bram Moolenaarfaa959a2006-02-20 21:37:40 +00001700tabpagebuflist( [{arg}]) List list of buffer numbers in tab page
1701tabpagenr( [{arg}]) Number number of current or last tab page
1702tabpagewinnr( {tabarg}[, {arg}])
1703 Number number of current window in tab page
1704taglist( {expr}) List list of tags matching {expr}
Bram Moolenaare7eb9df2005-09-09 19:49:30 +00001705tagfiles() List tags files used
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001706tempname() String name for a temporary file
1707tolower( {expr}) String the String {expr} switched to lowercase
1708toupper( {expr}) String the String {expr} switched to uppercase
Bram Moolenaar8299df92004-07-10 09:47:34 +00001709tr( {src}, {fromstr}, {tostr}) String translate chars of {src} in {fromstr}
1710 to chars in {tostr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001711type( {name}) Number type of variable {name}
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001712values( {dict}) List values in {dict}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001713virtcol( {expr}) Number screen column of cursor or mark
1714visualmode( [expr]) String last visual mode used
1715winbufnr( {nr}) Number buffer number of window {nr}
1716wincol() Number window column of the cursor
1717winheight( {nr}) Number height of window {nr}
1718winline() Number window line of the cursor
Bram Moolenaar7e8fd632006-02-18 22:14:51 +00001719winnr( [{expr}]) Number number of current window
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001720winrestcmd() String returns command to restore window sizes
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00001721winrestview({dict}) None restore view of current window
1722winsaveview() Dict save view of current window
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001723winwidth( {nr}) Number width of window {nr}
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00001724writefile({list}, {fname} [, {binary}])
1725 Number write list of lines to file {fname}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001726
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001727add({list}, {expr}) *add()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001728 Append the item {expr} to |List| {list}. Returns the
1729 resulting |List|. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001730 :let alist = add([1, 2, 3], item)
1731 :call add(mylist, "woodstock")
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001732< Note that when {expr} is a |List| it is appended as a single
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00001733 item. Use |extend()| to concatenate |Lists|.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001734 Use |insert()| to add an item at another position.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001735
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001736
1737append({lnum}, {expr}) *append()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001738 When {expr} is a |List|: Append each item of the |List| as a
1739 text line below line {lnum} in the current buffer.
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00001740 Otherwise append {expr} as one text line below line {lnum} in
1741 the current buffer.
1742 {lnum} can be zero to insert a line before the first one.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001743 Returns 1 for failure ({lnum} out of range or out of memory),
1744 0 for success. Example: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001745 :let failed = append(line('$'), "# THE END")
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001746 :let failed = append(0, ["Chapter 1", "the beginning"])
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001747<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001748 *argc()*
1749argc() The result is the number of files in the argument list of the
1750 current window. See |arglist|.
1751
1752 *argidx()*
1753argidx() The result is the current index in the argument list. 0 is
1754 the first file. argc() - 1 is the last one. See |arglist|.
1755
1756 *argv()*
1757argv({nr}) The result is the {nr}th file in the argument list of the
1758 current window. See |arglist|. "argv(0)" is the first one.
1759 Example: >
1760 :let i = 0
1761 :while i < argc()
1762 : let f = escape(argv(i), '. ')
1763 : exe 'amenu Arg.' . f . ' :e ' . f . '<CR>'
1764 : let i = i + 1
1765 :endwhile
1766<
1767 *browse()*
1768browse({save}, {title}, {initdir}, {default})
1769 Put up a file requester. This only works when "has("browse")"
1770 returns non-zero (only in some GUI versions).
1771 The input fields are:
1772 {save} when non-zero, select file to write
1773 {title} title for the requester
1774 {initdir} directory to start browsing in
1775 {default} default file name
1776 When the "Cancel" button is hit, something went wrong, or
1777 browsing is not possible, an empty string is returned.
1778
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001779 *browsedir()*
1780browsedir({title}, {initdir})
1781 Put up a directory requester. This only works when
1782 "has("browse")" returns non-zero (only in some GUI versions).
1783 On systems where a directory browser is not supported a file
1784 browser is used. In that case: select a file in the directory
1785 to be used.
1786 The input fields are:
1787 {title} title for the requester
1788 {initdir} directory to start browsing in
1789 When the "Cancel" button is hit, something went wrong, or
1790 browsing is not possible, an empty string is returned.
1791
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001792bufexists({expr}) *bufexists()*
1793 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a buffer called
1794 {expr} exists.
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001795 If the {expr} argument is a number, buffer numbers are used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001796 If the {expr} argument is a string it must match a buffer name
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001797 exactly. The name can be:
1798 - Relative to the current directory.
1799 - A full path.
1800 - The name of a buffer with 'filetype' set to "nofile".
1801 - A URL name.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001802 Unlisted buffers will be found.
1803 Note that help files are listed by their short name in the
1804 output of |:buffers|, but bufexists() requires using their
1805 long name to be able to find them.
1806 Use "bufexists(0)" to test for the existence of an alternate
1807 file name.
1808 *buffer_exists()*
1809 Obsolete name: buffer_exists().
1810
1811buflisted({expr}) *buflisted()*
1812 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a buffer called
1813 {expr} exists and is listed (has the 'buflisted' option set).
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001814 The {expr} argument is used like with |bufexists()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001815
1816bufloaded({expr}) *bufloaded()*
1817 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a buffer called
1818 {expr} exists and is loaded (shown in a window or hidden).
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001819 The {expr} argument is used like with |bufexists()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001820
1821bufname({expr}) *bufname()*
1822 The result is the name of a buffer, as it is displayed by the
1823 ":ls" command.
1824 If {expr} is a Number, that buffer number's name is given.
1825 Number zero is the alternate buffer for the current window.
1826 If {expr} is a String, it is used as a |file-pattern| to match
1827 with the buffer names. This is always done like 'magic' is
1828 set and 'cpoptions' is empty. When there is more than one
1829 match an empty string is returned.
1830 "" or "%" can be used for the current buffer, "#" for the
1831 alternate buffer.
1832 A full match is preferred, otherwise a match at the start, end
1833 or middle of the buffer name is accepted.
1834 Listed buffers are found first. If there is a single match
1835 with a listed buffer, that one is returned. Next unlisted
1836 buffers are searched for.
1837 If the {expr} is a String, but you want to use it as a buffer
1838 number, force it to be a Number by adding zero to it: >
1839 :echo bufname("3" + 0)
1840< If the buffer doesn't exist, or doesn't have a name, an empty
1841 string is returned. >
1842 bufname("#") alternate buffer name
1843 bufname(3) name of buffer 3
1844 bufname("%") name of current buffer
1845 bufname("file2") name of buffer where "file2" matches.
1846< *buffer_name()*
1847 Obsolete name: buffer_name().
1848
1849 *bufnr()*
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00001850bufnr({expr} [, {create}])
1851 The result is the number of a buffer, as it is displayed by
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001852 the ":ls" command. For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()|
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00001853 above.
1854 If the buffer doesn't exist, -1 is returned. Or, if the
1855 {create} argument is present and not zero, a new, unlisted,
1856 buffer is created and its number is returned.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001857 bufnr("$") is the last buffer: >
1858 :let last_buffer = bufnr("$")
1859< The result is a Number, which is the highest buffer number
1860 of existing buffers. Note that not all buffers with a smaller
1861 number necessarily exist, because ":bwipeout" may have removed
1862 them. Use bufexists() to test for the existence of a buffer.
1863 *buffer_number()*
1864 Obsolete name: buffer_number().
1865 *last_buffer_nr()*
1866 Obsolete name for bufnr("$"): last_buffer_nr().
1867
1868bufwinnr({expr}) *bufwinnr()*
1869 The result is a Number, which is the number of the first
1870 window associated with buffer {expr}. For the use of {expr},
1871 see |bufname()| above. If buffer {expr} doesn't exist or
1872 there is no such window, -1 is returned. Example: >
1873
1874 echo "A window containing buffer 1 is " . (bufwinnr(1))
1875
1876< The number can be used with |CTRL-W_w| and ":wincmd w"
1877 |:wincmd|.
1878
1879
1880byte2line({byte}) *byte2line()*
1881 Return the line number that contains the character at byte
1882 count {byte} in the current buffer. This includes the
1883 end-of-line character, depending on the 'fileformat' option
1884 for the current buffer. The first character has byte count
1885 one.
1886 Also see |line2byte()|, |go| and |:goto|.
1887 {not available when compiled without the |+byte_offset|
1888 feature}
1889
Bram Moolenaarab79bcb2004-07-18 21:34:53 +00001890byteidx({expr}, {nr}) *byteidx()*
1891 Return byte index of the {nr}'th character in the string
1892 {expr}. Use zero for the first character, it returns zero.
1893 This function is only useful when there are multibyte
1894 characters, otherwise the returned value is equal to {nr}.
1895 Composing characters are counted as a separate character.
1896 Example : >
1897 echo matchstr(str, ".", byteidx(str, 3))
1898< will display the fourth character. Another way to do the
1899 same: >
1900 let s = strpart(str, byteidx(str, 3))
1901 echo strpart(s, 0, byteidx(s, 1))
1902< If there are less than {nr} characters -1 is returned.
1903 If there are exactly {nr} characters the length of the string
1904 is returned.
1905
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001906call({func}, {arglist} [, {dict}]) *call()* *E699*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001907 Call function {func} with the items in |List| {arglist} as
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001908 arguments.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001909 {func} can either be a |Funcref| or the name of a function.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001910 a:firstline and a:lastline are set to the cursor line.
1911 Returns the return value of the called function.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001912 {dict} is for functions with the "dict" attribute. It will be
1913 used to set the local variable "self". |Dictionary-function|
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001914
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001915char2nr({expr}) *char2nr()*
1916 Return number value of the first char in {expr}. Examples: >
1917 char2nr(" ") returns 32
1918 char2nr("ABC") returns 65
1919< The current 'encoding' is used. Example for "utf-8": >
Bram Moolenaar98692072006-02-04 00:57:42 +00001920 char2nr("?") returns 225
1921 char2nr("?"[0]) returns 195
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001922< nr2char() does the opposite.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001923
1924cindent({lnum}) *cindent()*
1925 Get the amount of indent for line {lnum} according the C
1926 indenting rules, as with 'cindent'.
1927 The indent is counted in spaces, the value of 'tabstop' is
1928 relevant. {lnum} is used just like in |getline()|.
1929 When {lnum} is invalid or Vim was not compiled the |+cindent|
1930 feature, -1 is returned.
Bram Moolenaard5cdbeb2005-10-10 20:59:28 +00001931 See |C-indenting|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001932
1933 *col()*
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00001934col({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the byte index of the column
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001935 position given with {expr}. The accepted positions are:
1936 . the cursor position
1937 $ the end of the cursor line (the result is the
1938 number of characters in the cursor line plus one)
1939 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is
1940 returned)
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00001941 To get the line number use |col()|. To get both use
1942 |getpos()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001943 For the screen column position use |virtcol()|.
1944 Note that only marks in the current file can be used.
1945 Examples: >
1946 col(".") column of cursor
1947 col("$") length of cursor line plus one
1948 col("'t") column of mark t
1949 col("'" . markname) column of mark markname
1950< The first column is 1. 0 is returned for an error.
1951 For the cursor position, when 'virtualedit' is active, the
1952 column is one higher if the cursor is after the end of the
1953 line. This can be used to obtain the column in Insert mode: >
1954 :imap <F2> <C-O>:let save_ve = &ve<CR>
1955 \<C-O>:set ve=all<CR>
1956 \<C-O>:echo col(".") . "\n" <Bar>
1957 \let &ve = save_ve<CR>
1958<
Bram Moolenaar572cb562005-08-05 21:35:02 +00001959
1960complete_add({expr}) *complete_add()*
1961 Add {expr} to the list of matches. Only to be used by the
1962 function specified with the 'completefunc' option.
1963 Returns 0 for failure (empty string or out of memory),
1964 1 when the match was added, 2 when the match was already in
1965 the list.
1966
1967complete_check() *complete_check()*
1968 Check for a key typed while looking for completion matches.
1969 This is to be used when looking for matches takes some time.
1970 Returns non-zero when searching for matches is to be aborted,
1971 zero otherwise.
1972 Only to be used by the function specified with the
1973 'completefunc' option.
1974
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001975 *confirm()*
1976confirm({msg} [, {choices} [, {default} [, {type}]]])
1977 Confirm() offers the user a dialog, from which a choice can be
1978 made. It returns the number of the choice. For the first
1979 choice this is 1.
1980 Note: confirm() is only supported when compiled with dialog
1981 support, see |+dialog_con| and |+dialog_gui|.
1982 {msg} is displayed in a |dialog| with {choices} as the
1983 alternatives. When {choices} is missing or empty, "&OK" is
1984 used (and translated).
1985 {msg} is a String, use '\n' to include a newline. Only on
1986 some systems the string is wrapped when it doesn't fit.
1987 {choices} is a String, with the individual choices separated
1988 by '\n', e.g. >
1989 confirm("Save changes?", "&Yes\n&No\n&Cancel")
1990< The letter after the '&' is the shortcut key for that choice.
1991 Thus you can type 'c' to select "Cancel". The shortcut does
1992 not need to be the first letter: >
1993 confirm("file has been modified", "&Save\nSave &All")
1994< For the console, the first letter of each choice is used as
1995 the default shortcut key.
1996 The optional {default} argument is the number of the choice
1997 that is made if the user hits <CR>. Use 1 to make the first
1998 choice the default one. Use 0 to not set a default. If
1999 {default} is omitted, 1 is used.
2000 The optional {type} argument gives the type of dialog. This
2001 is only used for the icon of the Win32 GUI. It can be one of
2002 these values: "Error", "Question", "Info", "Warning" or
2003 "Generic". Only the first character is relevant. When {type}
2004 is omitted, "Generic" is used.
2005 If the user aborts the dialog by pressing <Esc>, CTRL-C,
2006 or another valid interrupt key, confirm() returns 0.
2007
2008 An example: >
2009 :let choice = confirm("What do you want?", "&Apples\n&Oranges\n&Bananas", 2)
2010 :if choice == 0
2011 : echo "make up your mind!"
2012 :elseif choice == 3
2013 : echo "tasteful"
2014 :else
2015 : echo "I prefer bananas myself."
2016 :endif
2017< In a GUI dialog, buttons are used. The layout of the buttons
2018 depends on the 'v' flag in 'guioptions'. If it is included,
2019 the buttons are always put vertically. Otherwise, confirm()
2020 tries to put the buttons in one horizontal line. If they
2021 don't fit, a vertical layout is used anyway. For some systems
2022 the horizontal layout is always used.
2023
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002024 *copy()*
2025copy({expr}) Make a copy of {expr}. For Numbers and Strings this isn't
2026 different from using {expr} directly.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002027 When {expr} is a |List| a shallow copy is created. This means
2028 that the original |List| can be changed without changing the
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002029 copy, and vise versa. But the items are identical, thus
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00002030 changing an item changes the contents of both |Lists|. Also
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002031 see |deepcopy()|.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002032
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002033count({comp}, {expr} [, {ic} [, {start}]]) *count()*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002034 Return the number of times an item with value {expr} appears
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002035 in |List| or |Dictionary| {comp}.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002036 If {start} is given then start with the item with this index.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002037 {start} can only be used with a |List|.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002038 When {ic} is given and it's non-zero then case is ignored.
2039
2040
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002041 *cscope_connection()*
2042cscope_connection([{num} , {dbpath} [, {prepend}]])
2043 Checks for the existence of a |cscope| connection. If no
2044 parameters are specified, then the function returns:
2045 0, if cscope was not available (not compiled in), or
2046 if there are no cscope connections;
2047 1, if there is at least one cscope connection.
2048
2049 If parameters are specified, then the value of {num}
2050 determines how existence of a cscope connection is checked:
2051
2052 {num} Description of existence check
2053 ----- ------------------------------
2054 0 Same as no parameters (e.g., "cscope_connection()").
2055 1 Ignore {prepend}, and use partial string matches for
2056 {dbpath}.
2057 2 Ignore {prepend}, and use exact string matches for
2058 {dbpath}.
2059 3 Use {prepend}, use partial string matches for both
2060 {dbpath} and {prepend}.
2061 4 Use {prepend}, use exact string matches for both
2062 {dbpath} and {prepend}.
2063
2064 Note: All string comparisons are case sensitive!
2065
2066 Examples. Suppose we had the following (from ":cs show"): >
2067
2068 # pid database name prepend path
2069 0 27664 cscope.out /usr/local
2070<
2071 Invocation Return Val ~
2072 ---------- ---------- >
2073 cscope_connection() 1
2074 cscope_connection(1, "out") 1
2075 cscope_connection(2, "out") 0
2076 cscope_connection(3, "out") 0
2077 cscope_connection(3, "out", "local") 1
2078 cscope_connection(4, "out") 0
2079 cscope_connection(4, "out", "local") 0
2080 cscope_connection(4, "cscope.out", "/usr/local") 1
2081<
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00002082cursor({lnum}, {col} [, {off}]) *cursor()*
2083cursor({list})
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002084 Positions the cursor at the column {col} in the line {lnum}.
Bram Moolenaar6f16eb82005-08-23 21:02:42 +00002085 The first column is one.
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00002086 When there is one argument {list} this is used as a |List|
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00002087 with two or three items {lnum}, {col} and {off}. This is like
2088 the return value of |getpos()|, but without the first item.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002089 Does not change the jumplist.
2090 If {lnum} is greater than the number of lines in the buffer,
2091 the cursor will be positioned at the last line in the buffer.
2092 If {lnum} is zero, the cursor will stay in the current line.
Bram Moolenaar6f16eb82005-08-23 21:02:42 +00002093 If {col} is greater than the number of bytes in the line,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002094 the cursor will be positioned at the last character in the
2095 line.
2096 If {col} is zero, the cursor will stay in the current column.
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00002097 When 'virtualedit' is used {off} specifies the offset in
2098 screen columns from the start of the character. E.g., a
2099 position within a Tab or after the last character.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002100
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002101
Bram Moolenaar4399ef42005-02-12 14:29:27 +00002102deepcopy({expr}[, {noref}]) *deepcopy()* *E698*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002103 Make a copy of {expr}. For Numbers and Strings this isn't
2104 different from using {expr} directly.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002105 When {expr} is a |List| a full copy is created. This means
2106 that the original |List| can be changed without changing the
2107 copy, and vise versa. When an item is a |List|, a copy for it
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002108 is made, recursively. Thus changing an item in the copy does
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002109 not change the contents of the original |List|.
2110 When {noref} is omitted or zero a contained |List| or
2111 |Dictionary| is only copied once. All references point to
2112 this single copy. With {noref} set to 1 every occurrence of a
2113 |List| or |Dictionary| results in a new copy. This also means
2114 that a cyclic reference causes deepcopy() to fail.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00002115 *E724*
2116 Nesting is possible up to 100 levels. When there is an item
Bram Moolenaar4399ef42005-02-12 14:29:27 +00002117 that refers back to a higher level making a deep copy with
2118 {noref} set to 1 will fail.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002119 Also see |copy()|.
2120
2121delete({fname}) *delete()*
2122 Deletes the file by the name {fname}. The result is a Number,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002123 which is 0 if the file was deleted successfully, and non-zero
2124 when the deletion failed.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002125 Use |remove()| to delete an item from a |List|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002126
2127 *did_filetype()*
2128did_filetype() Returns non-zero when autocommands are being executed and the
2129 FileType event has been triggered at least once. Can be used
2130 to avoid triggering the FileType event again in the scripts
2131 that detect the file type. |FileType|
2132 When editing another file, the counter is reset, thus this
2133 really checks if the FileType event has been triggered for the
2134 current buffer. This allows an autocommand that starts
2135 editing another buffer to set 'filetype' and load a syntax
2136 file.
2137
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00002138diff_filler({lnum}) *diff_filler()*
2139 Returns the number of filler lines above line {lnum}.
2140 These are the lines that were inserted at this point in
2141 another diff'ed window. These filler lines are shown in the
2142 display but don't exist in the buffer.
2143 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|. Thus "." is the current
2144 line, "'m" mark m, etc.
2145 Returns 0 if the current window is not in diff mode.
2146
2147diff_hlID({lnum}, {col}) *diff_hlID()*
2148 Returns the highlight ID for diff mode at line {lnum} column
2149 {col} (byte index). When the current line does not have a
2150 diff change zero is returned.
2151 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|. Thus "." is the current
2152 line, "'m" mark m, etc.
2153 {col} is 1 for the leftmost column, {lnum} is 1 for the first
2154 line.
2155 The highlight ID can be used with |synIDattr()| to obtain
2156 syntax information about the highlighting.
2157
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00002158empty({expr}) *empty()*
2159 Return the Number 1 if {expr} is empty, zero otherwise.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002160 A |List| or |Dictionary| is empty when it does not have any
2161 items. A Number is empty when its value is zero.
2162 For a long |List| this is much faster then comparing the
2163 length with zero.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00002164
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002165escape({string}, {chars}) *escape()*
2166 Escape the characters in {chars} that occur in {string} with a
2167 backslash. Example: >
2168 :echo escape('c:\program files\vim', ' \')
2169< results in: >
2170 c:\\program\ files\\vim
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002171
2172< *eval()*
2173eval({string}) Evaluate {string} and return the result. Especially useful to
2174 turn the result of |string()| back into the original value.
2175 This works for Numbers, Strings and composites of them.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002176 Also works for |Funcref|s that refer to existing functions.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002177
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002178eventhandler() *eventhandler()*
2179 Returns 1 when inside an event handler. That is that Vim got
2180 interrupted while waiting for the user to type a character,
2181 e.g., when dropping a file on Vim. This means interactive
2182 commands cannot be used. Otherwise zero is returned.
2183
2184executable({expr}) *executable()*
2185 This function checks if an executable with the name {expr}
2186 exists. {expr} must be the name of the program without any
Bram Moolenaarf4b8e572004-06-24 15:53:16 +00002187 arguments.
2188 executable() uses the value of $PATH and/or the normal
2189 searchpath for programs. *PATHEXT*
2190 On MS-DOS and MS-Windows the ".exe", ".bat", etc. can
2191 optionally be included. Then the extensions in $PATHEXT are
2192 tried. Thus if "foo.exe" does not exist, "foo.exe.bat" can be
2193 found. If $PATHEXT is not set then ".exe;.com;.bat;.cmd" is
2194 used. A dot by itself can be used in $PATHEXT to try using
2195 the name without an extension. When 'shell' looks like a
2196 Unix shell, then the name is also tried without adding an
2197 extension.
2198 On MS-DOS and MS-Windows it only checks if the file exists and
2199 is not a directory, not if it's really executable.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002200 The result is a Number:
2201 1 exists
2202 0 does not exist
2203 -1 not implemented on this system
2204
2205 *exists()*
2206exists({expr}) The result is a Number, which is non-zero if {expr} is
2207 defined, zero otherwise. The {expr} argument is a string,
2208 which contains one of these:
2209 &option-name Vim option (only checks if it exists,
2210 not if it really works)
2211 +option-name Vim option that works.
2212 $ENVNAME environment variable (could also be
2213 done by comparing with an empty
2214 string)
2215 *funcname built-in function (see |functions|)
2216 or user defined function (see
2217 |user-functions|).
2218 varname internal variable (see
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00002219 |internal-variables|). Also works
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002220 for |curly-braces-names|, |Dictionary|
2221 entries, |List| items, etc. Beware
2222 that this may cause functions to be
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00002223 invoked cause an error message for an
2224 invalid expression.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002225 :cmdname Ex command: built-in command, user
2226 command or command modifier |:command|.
2227 Returns:
2228 1 for match with start of a command
2229 2 full match with a command
2230 3 matches several user commands
2231 To check for a supported command
2232 always check the return value to be 2.
2233 #event autocommand defined for this event
2234 #event#pattern autocommand defined for this event and
2235 pattern (the pattern is taken
2236 literally and compared to the
2237 autocommand patterns character by
2238 character)
Bram Moolenaara9b1e742005-12-19 22:14:58 +00002239 #group autocommand group exists
2240 #group#event autocommand defined for this group and
2241 event.
2242 #group#event#pattern
2243 autocommand defined for this group,
2244 event and pattern.
Bram Moolenaarf4cd3e82005-12-22 22:47:02 +00002245 ##event autocommand for this event is
2246 supported.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002247 For checking for a supported feature use |has()|.
2248
2249 Examples: >
2250 exists("&shortname")
2251 exists("$HOSTNAME")
2252 exists("*strftime")
2253 exists("*s:MyFunc")
2254 exists("bufcount")
2255 exists(":Make")
Bram Moolenaara9b1e742005-12-19 22:14:58 +00002256 exists("#CursorHold")
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002257 exists("#BufReadPre#*.gz")
Bram Moolenaara9b1e742005-12-19 22:14:58 +00002258 exists("#filetypeindent")
2259 exists("#filetypeindent#FileType")
2260 exists("#filetypeindent#FileType#*")
Bram Moolenaarf4cd3e82005-12-22 22:47:02 +00002261 exists("##ColorScheme")
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002262< There must be no space between the symbol (&/$/*/#) and the
2263 name.
2264 Note that the argument must be a string, not the name of the
2265 variable itself! For example: >
2266 exists(bufcount)
2267< This doesn't check for existence of the "bufcount" variable,
2268 but gets the contents of "bufcount", and checks if that
2269 exists.
2270
2271expand({expr} [, {flag}]) *expand()*
2272 Expand wildcards and the following special keywords in {expr}.
2273 The result is a String.
2274
2275 When there are several matches, they are separated by <NL>
2276 characters. [Note: in version 5.0 a space was used, which
2277 caused problems when a file name contains a space]
2278
2279 If the expansion fails, the result is an empty string. A name
2280 for a non-existing file is not included.
2281
2282 When {expr} starts with '%', '#' or '<', the expansion is done
2283 like for the |cmdline-special| variables with their associated
2284 modifiers. Here is a short overview:
2285
2286 % current file name
2287 # alternate file name
2288 #n alternate file name n
2289 <cfile> file name under the cursor
2290 <afile> autocmd file name
2291 <abuf> autocmd buffer number (as a String!)
2292 <amatch> autocmd matched name
2293 <sfile> sourced script file name
2294 <cword> word under the cursor
2295 <cWORD> WORD under the cursor
2296 <client> the {clientid} of the last received
2297 message |server2client()|
2298 Modifiers:
2299 :p expand to full path
2300 :h head (last path component removed)
2301 :t tail (last path component only)
2302 :r root (one extension removed)
2303 :e extension only
2304
2305 Example: >
2306 :let &tags = expand("%:p:h") . "/tags"
2307< Note that when expanding a string that starts with '%', '#' or
2308 '<', any following text is ignored. This does NOT work: >
2309 :let doesntwork = expand("%:h.bak")
2310< Use this: >
2311 :let doeswork = expand("%:h") . ".bak"
2312< Also note that expanding "<cfile>" and others only returns the
2313 referenced file name without further expansion. If "<cfile>"
2314 is "~/.cshrc", you need to do another expand() to have the
2315 "~/" expanded into the path of the home directory: >
2316 :echo expand(expand("<cfile>"))
2317<
2318 There cannot be white space between the variables and the
2319 following modifier. The |fnamemodify()| function can be used
2320 to modify normal file names.
2321
2322 When using '%' or '#', and the current or alternate file name
2323 is not defined, an empty string is used. Using "%:p" in a
2324 buffer with no name, results in the current directory, with a
2325 '/' added.
2326
2327 When {expr} does not start with '%', '#' or '<', it is
2328 expanded like a file name is expanded on the command line.
2329 'suffixes' and 'wildignore' are used, unless the optional
2330 {flag} argument is given and it is non-zero. Names for
Bram Moolenaar02743632005-07-25 20:42:36 +00002331 non-existing files are included. The "**" item can be used to
2332 search in a directory tree. For example, to find all "README"
2333 files in the current directory and below: >
2334 :echo expand("**/README")
2335<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002336 Expand() can also be used to expand variables and environment
2337 variables that are only known in a shell. But this can be
2338 slow, because a shell must be started. See |expr-env-expand|.
2339 The expanded variable is still handled like a list of file
2340 names. When an environment variable cannot be expanded, it is
2341 left unchanged. Thus ":echo expand('$FOOBAR')" results in
2342 "$FOOBAR".
2343
2344 See |glob()| for finding existing files. See |system()| for
2345 getting the raw output of an external command.
2346
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002347extend({expr1}, {expr2} [, {expr3}]) *extend()*
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00002348 {expr1} and {expr2} must be both |Lists| or both
2349 |Dictionaries|.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002350
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00002351 If they are |Lists|: Append {expr2} to {expr1}.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002352 If {expr3} is given insert the items of {expr2} before item
2353 {expr3} in {expr1}. When {expr3} is zero insert before the
2354 first item. When {expr3} is equal to len({expr1}) then
2355 {expr2} is appended.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002356 Examples: >
2357 :echo sort(extend(mylist, [7, 5]))
2358 :call extend(mylist, [2, 3], 1)
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002359< Use |add()| to concatenate one item to a list. To concatenate
2360 two lists into a new list use the + operator: >
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002361 :let newlist = [1, 2, 3] + [4, 5]
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002362<
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00002363 If they are |Dictionaries|:
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002364 Add all entries from {expr2} to {expr1}.
2365 If a key exists in both {expr1} and {expr2} then {expr3} is
2366 used to decide what to do:
2367 {expr3} = "keep": keep the value of {expr1}
2368 {expr3} = "force": use the value of {expr2}
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00002369 {expr3} = "error": give an error message *E737*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002370 When {expr3} is omitted then "force" is assumed.
2371
2372 {expr1} is changed when {expr2} is not empty. If necessary
2373 make a copy of {expr1} first.
2374 {expr2} remains unchanged.
2375 Returns {expr1}.
2376
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002377
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002378filereadable({file}) *filereadable()*
2379 The result is a Number, which is TRUE when a file with the
2380 name {file} exists, and can be read. If {file} doesn't exist,
2381 or is a directory, the result is FALSE. {file} is any
2382 expression, which is used as a String.
2383 *file_readable()*
2384 Obsolete name: file_readable().
2385
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002386
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002387filter({expr}, {string}) *filter()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002388 {expr} must be a |List| or a |Dictionary|.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002389 For each item in {expr} evaluate {string} and when the result
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002390 is zero remove the item from the |List| or |Dictionary|.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002391 Inside {string} |v:val| has the value of the current item.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002392 For a |Dictionary| |v:key| has the key of the current item.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002393 Examples: >
2394 :call filter(mylist, 'v:val !~ "OLD"')
2395< Removes the items where "OLD" appears. >
2396 :call filter(mydict, 'v:key >= 8')
2397< Removes the items with a key below 8. >
2398 :call filter(var, 0)
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002399< Removes all the items, thus clears the |List| or |Dictionary|.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00002400
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002401 Note that {string} is the result of expression and is then
2402 used as an expression again. Often it is good to use a
2403 |literal-string| to avoid having to double backslashes.
2404
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002405 The operation is done in-place. If you want a |List| or
2406 |Dictionary| to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
Bram Moolenaarafeb4fa2006-02-01 21:51:12 +00002407 :let l = filter(copy(mylist), 'v:val =~ "KEEP"')
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002408
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002409< Returns {expr}, the |List| or |Dictionary| that was filtered.
Bram Moolenaar280f1262006-01-30 00:14:18 +00002410 When an error is encountered while evaluating {string} no
2411 further items in {expr} are processed.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002412
2413
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00002414finddir({name}[, {path}[, {count}]]) *finddir()*
2415 Find directory {name} in {path}.
2416 If {path} is omitted or empty then 'path' is used.
2417 If the optional {count} is given, find {count}'s occurrence of
2418 {name} in {path}.
2419 This is quite similar to the ex-command |:find|.
2420 When the found directory is below the current directory a
2421 relative path is returned. Otherwise a full path is returned.
2422 Example: >
2423 :echo findfile("tags.vim", ".;")
2424< Searches from the current directory upwards until it finds
2425 the file "tags.vim".
2426 {only available when compiled with the +file_in_path feature}
2427
2428findfile({name}[, {path}[, {count}]]) *findfile()*
2429 Just like |finddir()|, but find a file instead of a directory.
2430
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002431filewritable({file}) *filewritable()*
2432 The result is a Number, which is 1 when a file with the
2433 name {file} exists, and can be written. If {file} doesn't
2434 exist, or is not writable, the result is 0. If (file) is a
2435 directory, and we can write to it, the result is 2.
2436
2437fnamemodify({fname}, {mods}) *fnamemodify()*
2438 Modify file name {fname} according to {mods}. {mods} is a
2439 string of characters like it is used for file names on the
2440 command line. See |filename-modifiers|.
2441 Example: >
2442 :echo fnamemodify("main.c", ":p:h")
2443< results in: >
2444 /home/mool/vim/vim/src
2445< Note: Environment variables and "~" don't work in {fname}, use
2446 |expand()| first then.
2447
2448foldclosed({lnum}) *foldclosed()*
2449 The result is a Number. If the line {lnum} is in a closed
2450 fold, the result is the number of the first line in that fold.
2451 If the line {lnum} is not in a closed fold, -1 is returned.
2452
2453foldclosedend({lnum}) *foldclosedend()*
2454 The result is a Number. If the line {lnum} is in a closed
2455 fold, the result is the number of the last line in that fold.
2456 If the line {lnum} is not in a closed fold, -1 is returned.
2457
2458foldlevel({lnum}) *foldlevel()*
2459 The result is a Number, which is the foldlevel of line {lnum}
2460 in the current buffer. For nested folds the deepest level is
2461 returned. If there is no fold at line {lnum}, zero is
2462 returned. It doesn't matter if the folds are open or closed.
2463 When used while updating folds (from 'foldexpr') -1 is
2464 returned for lines where folds are still to be updated and the
2465 foldlevel is unknown. As a special case the level of the
2466 previous line is usually available.
2467
2468 *foldtext()*
2469foldtext() Returns a String, to be displayed for a closed fold. This is
2470 the default function used for the 'foldtext' option and should
2471 only be called from evaluating 'foldtext'. It uses the
2472 |v:foldstart|, |v:foldend| and |v:folddashes| variables.
2473 The returned string looks like this: >
2474 +-- 45 lines: abcdef
2475< The number of dashes depends on the foldlevel. The "45" is
2476 the number of lines in the fold. "abcdef" is the text in the
2477 first non-blank line of the fold. Leading white space, "//"
2478 or "/*" and the text from the 'foldmarker' and 'commentstring'
2479 options is removed.
2480 {not available when compiled without the |+folding| feature}
2481
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00002482foldtextresult({lnum}) *foldtextresult()*
2483 Returns the text that is displayed for the closed fold at line
2484 {lnum}. Evaluates 'foldtext' in the appropriate context.
2485 When there is no closed fold at {lnum} an empty string is
2486 returned.
2487 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|. Thus "." is the current
2488 line, "'m" mark m, etc.
2489 Useful when exporting folded text, e.g., to HTML.
2490 {not available when compiled without the |+folding| feature}
2491
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002492 *foreground()*
2493foreground() Move the Vim window to the foreground. Useful when sent from
2494 a client to a Vim server. |remote_send()|
2495 On Win32 systems this might not work, the OS does not always
2496 allow a window to bring itself to the foreground. Use
2497 |remote_foreground()| instead.
2498 {only in the Win32, Athena, Motif and GTK GUI versions and the
2499 Win32 console version}
2500
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002501
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00002502function({name}) *function()* *E700*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002503 Return a |Funcref| variable that refers to function {name}.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002504 {name} can be a user defined function or an internal function.
2505
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002506
Bram Moolenaar39a58ca2005-06-27 22:42:44 +00002507garbagecollect() *garbagecollect()*
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00002508 Cleanup unused |Lists| and |Dictionaries| that have circular
Bram Moolenaar39a58ca2005-06-27 22:42:44 +00002509 references. There is hardly ever a need to invoke this
2510 function, as it is automatically done when Vim runs out of
2511 memory or is waiting for the user to press a key after
2512 'updatetime'. Items without circular references are always
2513 freed when they become unused.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002514 This is useful if you have deleted a very big |List| and/or
2515 |Dictionary| with circular references in a script that runs
2516 for a long time.
Bram Moolenaar39a58ca2005-06-27 22:42:44 +00002517
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00002518get({list}, {idx} [, {default}]) *get()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002519 Get item {idx} from |List| {list}. When this item is not
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002520 available return {default}. Return zero when {default} is
2521 omitted.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002522get({dict}, {key} [, {default}])
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002523 Get item with key {key} from |Dictionary| {dict}. When this
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002524 item is not available return {default}. Return zero when
2525 {default} is omitted.
2526
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00002527 *getbufline()*
2528getbufline({expr}, {lnum} [, {end}])
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002529 Return a |List| with the lines starting from {lnum} to {end}
2530 (inclusive) in the buffer {expr}. If {end} is omitted, a
2531 |List| with only the line {lnum} is returned.
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00002532
2533 For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()| above.
2534
Bram Moolenaar661b1822005-07-28 22:36:45 +00002535 For {lnum} and {end} "$" can be used for the last line of the
2536 buffer. Otherwise a number must be used.
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00002537
2538 When {lnum} is smaller than 1 or bigger than the number of
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002539 lines in the buffer, an empty |List| is returned.
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00002540
2541 When {end} is greater than the number of lines in the buffer,
2542 it is treated as {end} is set to the number of lines in the
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002543 buffer. When {end} is before {lnum} an empty |List| is
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00002544 returned.
2545
Bram Moolenaar661b1822005-07-28 22:36:45 +00002546 This function works only for loaded buffers. For unloaded and
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002547 non-existing buffers, an empty |List| is returned.
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00002548
2549 Example: >
2550 :let lines = getbufline(bufnr("myfile"), 1, "$")
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002551
2552getbufvar({expr}, {varname}) *getbufvar()*
2553 The result is the value of option or local buffer variable
2554 {varname} in buffer {expr}. Note that the name without "b:"
2555 must be used.
Bram Moolenaar4317d9b2005-03-18 20:25:31 +00002556 This also works for a global or buffer-local option, but it
2557 doesn't work for a global variable, window-local variable or
2558 window-local option.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002559 For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()| above.
2560 When the buffer or variable doesn't exist an empty string is
2561 returned, there is no error message.
2562 Examples: >
2563 :let bufmodified = getbufvar(1, "&mod")
2564 :echo "todo myvar = " . getbufvar("todo", "myvar")
2565<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002566getchar([expr]) *getchar()*
2567 Get a single character from the user. If it is an 8-bit
2568 character, the result is a number. Otherwise a String is
2569 returned with the encoded character. For a special key it's a
2570 sequence of bytes starting with 0x80 (decimal: 128).
2571 If [expr] is omitted, wait until a character is available.
2572 If [expr] is 0, only get a character when one is available.
2573 If [expr] is 1, only check if a character is available, it is
2574 not consumed. If a normal character is
2575 available, it is returned, otherwise a
2576 non-zero value is returned.
2577 If a normal character available, it is returned as a Number.
2578 Use nr2char() to convert it to a String.
2579 The returned value is zero if no character is available.
2580 The returned value is a string of characters for special keys
2581 and when a modifier (shift, control, alt) was used.
2582 There is no prompt, you will somehow have to make clear to the
2583 user that a character has to be typed.
2584 There is no mapping for the character.
2585 Key codes are replaced, thus when the user presses the <Del>
2586 key you get the code for the <Del> key, not the raw character
2587 sequence. Examples: >
2588 getchar() == "\<Del>"
2589 getchar() == "\<S-Left>"
2590< This example redefines "f" to ignore case: >
2591 :nmap f :call FindChar()<CR>
2592 :function FindChar()
2593 : let c = nr2char(getchar())
2594 : while col('.') < col('$') - 1
2595 : normal l
2596 : if getline('.')[col('.') - 1] ==? c
2597 : break
2598 : endif
2599 : endwhile
2600 :endfunction
2601
2602getcharmod() *getcharmod()*
2603 The result is a Number which is the state of the modifiers for
2604 the last obtained character with getchar() or in another way.
2605 These values are added together:
2606 2 shift
2607 4 control
2608 8 alt (meta)
2609 16 mouse double click
2610 32 mouse triple click
2611 64 mouse quadruple click
2612 128 Macintosh only: command
2613 Only the modifiers that have not been included in the
2614 character itself are obtained. Thus Shift-a results in "A"
2615 with no modifier.
2616
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002617getcmdline() *getcmdline()*
2618 Return the current command-line. Only works when the command
2619 line is being edited, thus requires use of |c_CTRL-\_e| or
2620 |c_CTRL-R_=|.
2621 Example: >
2622 :cmap <F7> <C-\>eescape(getcmdline(), ' \')<CR>
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00002623< Also see |getcmdtype()|, |getcmdpos()| and |setcmdpos()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002624
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002625getcmdpos() *getcmdpos()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002626 Return the position of the cursor in the command line as a
2627 byte count. The first column is 1.
2628 Only works when editing the command line, thus requires use of
2629 |c_CTRL-\_e| or |c_CTRL-R_=|. Returns 0 otherwise.
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00002630 Also see |getcmdtype()|, |setcmdpos()| and |getcmdline()|.
2631
2632getcmdtype() *getcmdtype()*
2633 Return the current command-line type. Possible return values
2634 are:
Bram Moolenaar1e015462005-09-25 22:16:38 +00002635 : normal Ex command
2636 > debug mode command |debug-mode|
2637 / forward search command
2638 ? backward search command
2639 @ |input()| command
2640 - |:insert| or |:append| command
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00002641 Only works when editing the command line, thus requires use of
2642 |c_CTRL-\_e| or |c_CTRL-R_=|. Returns an empty string
2643 otherwise.
2644 Also see |getcmdpos()|, |setcmdpos()| and |getcmdline()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002645
2646 *getcwd()*
2647getcwd() The result is a String, which is the name of the current
2648 working directory.
2649
2650getfsize({fname}) *getfsize()*
2651 The result is a Number, which is the size in bytes of the
2652 given file {fname}.
2653 If {fname} is a directory, 0 is returned.
2654 If the file {fname} can't be found, -1 is returned.
2655
Bram Moolenaard8b0cf12004-12-12 11:33:30 +00002656getfontname([{name}]) *getfontname()*
2657 Without an argument returns the name of the normal font being
2658 used. Like what is used for the Normal highlight group
2659 |hl-Normal|.
2660 With an argument a check is done whether {name} is a valid
2661 font name. If not then an empty string is returned.
2662 Otherwise the actual font name is returned, or {name} if the
2663 GUI does not support obtaining the real name.
2664 Only works when the GUI is running, thus not you your vimrc or
2665 Note that the GTK 2 GUI accepts any font name, thus checking
2666 for a valid name does not work.
2667 gvimrc file. Use the |GUIEnter| autocommand to use this
2668 function just after the GUI has started.
2669
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00002670getfperm({fname}) *getfperm()*
2671 The result is a String, which is the read, write, and execute
2672 permissions of the given file {fname}.
2673 If {fname} does not exist or its directory cannot be read, an
2674 empty string is returned.
2675 The result is of the form "rwxrwxrwx", where each group of
2676 "rwx" flags represent, in turn, the permissions of the owner
2677 of the file, the group the file belongs to, and other users.
2678 If a user does not have a given permission the flag for this
2679 is replaced with the string "-". Example: >
2680 :echo getfperm("/etc/passwd")
2681< This will hopefully (from a security point of view) display
2682 the string "rw-r--r--" or even "rw-------".
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00002683
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002684getftime({fname}) *getftime()*
2685 The result is a Number, which is the last modification time of
2686 the given file {fname}. The value is measured as seconds
2687 since 1st Jan 1970, and may be passed to strftime(). See also
2688 |localtime()| and |strftime()|.
2689 If the file {fname} can't be found -1 is returned.
2690
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00002691getftype({fname}) *getftype()*
2692 The result is a String, which is a description of the kind of
2693 file of the given file {fname}.
2694 If {fname} does not exist an empty string is returned.
2695 Here is a table over different kinds of files and their
2696 results:
2697 Normal file "file"
2698 Directory "dir"
2699 Symbolic link "link"
2700 Block device "bdev"
2701 Character device "cdev"
2702 Socket "socket"
2703 FIFO "fifo"
2704 All other "other"
2705 Example: >
2706 getftype("/home")
2707< Note that a type such as "link" will only be returned on
2708 systems that support it. On some systems only "dir" and
2709 "file" are returned.
2710
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002711 *getline()*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002712getline({lnum} [, {end}])
2713 Without {end} the result is a String, which is line {lnum}
2714 from the current buffer. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002715 getline(1)
2716< When {lnum} is a String that doesn't start with a
2717 digit, line() is called to translate the String into a Number.
2718 To get the line under the cursor: >
2719 getline(".")
2720< When {lnum} is smaller than 1 or bigger than the number of
2721 lines in the buffer, an empty string is returned.
2722
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002723 When {end} is given the result is a |List| where each item is
2724 a line from the current buffer in the range {lnum} to {end},
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002725 including line {end}.
2726 {end} is used in the same way as {lnum}.
2727 Non-existing lines are silently omitted.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002728 When {end} is before {lnum} an empty |List| is returned.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002729 Example: >
2730 :let start = line('.')
2731 :let end = search("^$") - 1
2732 :let lines = getline(start, end)
2733
Bram Moolenaar17c7c012006-01-26 22:25:15 +00002734getloclist({nr}) *getloclist()*
2735 Returns a list with all the entries in the location list for
2736 window {nr}. When {nr} is zero the current window is used.
2737 For a location list window, the displayed location list is
Bram Moolenaar280f1262006-01-30 00:14:18 +00002738 returned. For an invalid window number {nr}, an empty list is
2739 returned. Otherwise, same as getqflist().
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002740
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00002741getqflist() *getqflist()*
2742 Returns a list with all the current quickfix errors. Each
2743 list item is a dictionary with these entries:
2744 bufnr number of buffer that has the file name, use
2745 bufname() to get the name
2746 lnum line number in the buffer (first line is 1)
2747 col column number (first column is 1)
Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00002748 vcol non-zero: "col" is visual column
2749 zero: "col" is byte index
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00002750 nr error number
2751 text description of the error
2752 type type of the error, 'E', '1', etc.
2753 valid non-zero: recognized error message
2754
Bram Moolenaare7eb9df2005-09-09 19:49:30 +00002755 When there is no error list or it's empty an empty list is
2756 returned.
2757
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00002758 Useful application: Find pattern matches in multiple files and
2759 do something with them: >
2760 :vimgrep /theword/jg *.c
2761 :for d in getqflist()
2762 : echo bufname(d.bufnr) ':' d.lnum '=' d.text
2763 :endfor
2764
2765
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00002766getreg([{regname} [, 1]]) *getreg()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002767 The result is a String, which is the contents of register
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00002768 {regname}. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002769 :let cliptext = getreg('*')
2770< getreg('=') returns the last evaluated value of the expression
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00002771 register. (For use in maps.)
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00002772 getreg('=', 1) returns the expression itself, so that it can
2773 be restored with |setreg()|. For other registers the extra
2774 argument is ignored, thus you can always give it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002775 If {regname} is not specified, |v:register| is used.
2776
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002777
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002778getregtype([{regname}]) *getregtype()*
2779 The result is a String, which is type of register {regname}.
2780 The value will be one of:
2781 "v" for |characterwise| text
2782 "V" for |linewise| text
2783 "<CTRL-V>{width}" for |blockwise-visual| text
2784 0 for an empty or unknown register
2785 <CTRL-V> is one character with value 0x16.
2786 If {regname} is not specified, |v:register| is used.
2787
2788 *getwinposx()*
2789getwinposx() The result is a Number, which is the X coordinate in pixels of
2790 the left hand side of the GUI Vim window. The result will be
2791 -1 if the information is not available.
2792
2793 *getwinposy()*
2794getwinposy() The result is a Number, which is the Y coordinate in pixels of
2795 the top of the GUI Vim window. The result will be -1 if the
2796 information is not available.
2797
2798getwinvar({nr}, {varname}) *getwinvar()*
2799 The result is the value of option or local window variable
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +00002800 {varname} in window {nr}. When {nr} is zero the current
2801 window is used.
Bram Moolenaar4317d9b2005-03-18 20:25:31 +00002802 This also works for a global option, buffer-local option and
2803 window-local option, but it doesn't work for a global variable
2804 or buffer-local variable.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002805 Note that the name without "w:" must be used.
2806 Examples: >
2807 :let list_is_on = getwinvar(2, '&list')
2808 :echo "myvar = " . getwinvar(1, 'myvar')
2809<
2810 *glob()*
2811glob({expr}) Expand the file wildcards in {expr}. The result is a String.
2812 When there are several matches, they are separated by <NL>
2813 characters.
2814 If the expansion fails, the result is an empty string.
2815 A name for a non-existing file is not included.
2816
2817 For most systems backticks can be used to get files names from
2818 any external command. Example: >
2819 :let tagfiles = glob("`find . -name tags -print`")
2820 :let &tags = substitute(tagfiles, "\n", ",", "g")
2821< The result of the program inside the backticks should be one
2822 item per line. Spaces inside an item are allowed.
2823
2824 See |expand()| for expanding special Vim variables. See
2825 |system()| for getting the raw output of an external command.
2826
2827globpath({path}, {expr}) *globpath()*
2828 Perform glob() on all directories in {path} and concatenate
2829 the results. Example: >
2830 :echo globpath(&rtp, "syntax/c.vim")
2831< {path} is a comma-separated list of directory names. Each
2832 directory name is prepended to {expr} and expanded like with
2833 glob(). A path separator is inserted when needed.
2834 To add a comma inside a directory name escape it with a
2835 backslash. Note that on MS-Windows a directory may have a
2836 trailing backslash, remove it if you put a comma after it.
2837 If the expansion fails for one of the directories, there is no
2838 error message.
2839 The 'wildignore' option applies: Names matching one of the
2840 patterns in 'wildignore' will be skipped.
2841
Bram Moolenaar02743632005-07-25 20:42:36 +00002842 The "**" item can be used to search in a directory tree.
2843 For example, to find all "README.txt" files in the directories
2844 in 'runtimepath' and below: >
2845 :echo globpath(&rtp, "**/README.txt")
2846<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002847 *has()*
2848has({feature}) The result is a Number, which is 1 if the feature {feature} is
2849 supported, zero otherwise. The {feature} argument is a
2850 string. See |feature-list| below.
2851 Also see |exists()|.
2852
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002853
2854has_key({dict}, {key}) *has_key()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002855 The result is a Number, which is 1 if |Dictionary| {dict} has
2856 an entry with key {key}. Zero otherwise.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002857
2858
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002859hasmapto({what} [, {mode}]) *hasmapto()*
2860 The result is a Number, which is 1 if there is a mapping that
2861 contains {what} in somewhere in the rhs (what it is mapped to)
2862 and this mapping exists in one of the modes indicated by
2863 {mode}.
2864 Both the global mappings and the mappings local to the current
2865 buffer are checked for a match.
2866 If no matching mapping is found 0 is returned.
2867 The following characters are recognized in {mode}:
2868 n Normal mode
2869 v Visual mode
2870 o Operator-pending mode
2871 i Insert mode
2872 l Language-Argument ("r", "f", "t", etc.)
2873 c Command-line mode
2874 When {mode} is omitted, "nvo" is used.
2875
2876 This function is useful to check if a mapping already exists
2877 to a function in a Vim script. Example: >
2878 :if !hasmapto('\ABCdoit')
2879 : map <Leader>d \ABCdoit
2880 :endif
2881< This installs the mapping to "\ABCdoit" only if there isn't
2882 already a mapping to "\ABCdoit".
2883
2884histadd({history}, {item}) *histadd()*
2885 Add the String {item} to the history {history} which can be
2886 one of: *hist-names*
2887 "cmd" or ":" command line history
2888 "search" or "/" search pattern history
2889 "expr" or "=" typed expression history
2890 "input" or "@" input line history
2891 If {item} does already exist in the history, it will be
2892 shifted to become the newest entry.
2893 The result is a Number: 1 if the operation was successful,
2894 otherwise 0 is returned.
2895
2896 Example: >
2897 :call histadd("input", strftime("%Y %b %d"))
2898 :let date=input("Enter date: ")
2899< This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
2900
2901histdel({history} [, {item}]) *histdel()*
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00002902 Clear {history}, i.e. delete all its entries. See |hist-names|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002903 for the possible values of {history}.
2904
2905 If the parameter {item} is given as String, this is seen
2906 as regular expression. All entries matching that expression
2907 will be removed from the history (if there are any).
2908 Upper/lowercase must match, unless "\c" is used |/\c|.
2909 If {item} is a Number, it will be interpreted as index, see
2910 |:history-indexing|. The respective entry will be removed
2911 if it exists.
2912
2913 The result is a Number: 1 for a successful operation,
2914 otherwise 0 is returned.
2915
2916 Examples:
2917 Clear expression register history: >
2918 :call histdel("expr")
2919<
2920 Remove all entries starting with "*" from the search history: >
2921 :call histdel("/", '^\*')
2922<
2923 The following three are equivalent: >
2924 :call histdel("search", histnr("search"))
2925 :call histdel("search", -1)
2926 :call histdel("search", '^'.histget("search", -1).'$')
2927<
2928 To delete the last search pattern and use the last-but-one for
2929 the "n" command and 'hlsearch': >
2930 :call histdel("search", -1)
2931 :let @/ = histget("search", -1)
2932
2933histget({history} [, {index}]) *histget()*
2934 The result is a String, the entry with Number {index} from
2935 {history}. See |hist-names| for the possible values of
2936 {history}, and |:history-indexing| for {index}. If there is
2937 no such entry, an empty String is returned. When {index} is
2938 omitted, the most recent item from the history is used.
2939
2940 Examples:
2941 Redo the second last search from history. >
2942 :execute '/' . histget("search", -2)
2943
2944< Define an Ex command ":H {num}" that supports re-execution of
2945 the {num}th entry from the output of |:history|. >
2946 :command -nargs=1 H execute histget("cmd", 0+<args>)
2947<
2948histnr({history}) *histnr()*
2949 The result is the Number of the current entry in {history}.
2950 See |hist-names| for the possible values of {history}.
2951 If an error occurred, -1 is returned.
2952
2953 Example: >
2954 :let inp_index = histnr("expr")
2955<
2956hlexists({name}) *hlexists()*
2957 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a highlight group
2958 called {name} exists. This is when the group has been
2959 defined in some way. Not necessarily when highlighting has
2960 been defined for it, it may also have been used for a syntax
2961 item.
2962 *highlight_exists()*
2963 Obsolete name: highlight_exists().
2964
2965 *hlID()*
2966hlID({name}) The result is a Number, which is the ID of the highlight group
2967 with name {name}. When the highlight group doesn't exist,
2968 zero is returned.
2969 This can be used to retrieve information about the highlight
2970 group. For example, to get the background color of the
2971 "Comment" group: >
2972 :echo synIDattr(synIDtrans(hlID("Comment")), "bg")
2973< *highlightID()*
2974 Obsolete name: highlightID().
2975
2976hostname() *hostname()*
2977 The result is a String, which is the name of the machine on
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00002978 which Vim is currently running. Machine names greater than
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002979 256 characters long are truncated.
2980
2981iconv({expr}, {from}, {to}) *iconv()*
2982 The result is a String, which is the text {expr} converted
2983 from encoding {from} to encoding {to}.
2984 When the conversion fails an empty string is returned.
2985 The encoding names are whatever the iconv() library function
2986 can accept, see ":!man 3 iconv".
2987 Most conversions require Vim to be compiled with the |+iconv|
2988 feature. Otherwise only UTF-8 to latin1 conversion and back
2989 can be done.
2990 This can be used to display messages with special characters,
2991 no matter what 'encoding' is set to. Write the message in
2992 UTF-8 and use: >
2993 echo iconv(utf8_str, "utf-8", &enc)
2994< Note that Vim uses UTF-8 for all Unicode encodings, conversion
2995 from/to UCS-2 is automatically changed to use UTF-8. You
2996 cannot use UCS-2 in a string anyway, because of the NUL bytes.
2997 {only available when compiled with the +multi_byte feature}
2998
2999 *indent()*
3000indent({lnum}) The result is a Number, which is indent of line {lnum} in the
3001 current buffer. The indent is counted in spaces, the value
3002 of 'tabstop' is relevant. {lnum} is used just like in
3003 |getline()|.
3004 When {lnum} is invalid -1 is returned.
3005
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003006
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003007index({list}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]]) *index()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003008 Return the lowest index in |List| {list} where the item has a
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003009 value equal to {expr}.
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00003010 If {start} is given then start looking at the item with index
3011 {start} (may be negative for an item relative to the end).
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003012 When {ic} is given and it is non-zero, ignore case. Otherwise
3013 case must match.
3014 -1 is returned when {expr} is not found in {list}.
3015 Example: >
3016 :let idx = index(words, "the")
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003017 :if index(numbers, 123) >= 0
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003018
3019
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00003020input({prompt} [, {text} [, {completion}]]) *input()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003021 The result is a String, which is whatever the user typed on
3022 the command-line. The parameter is either a prompt string, or
3023 a blank string (for no prompt). A '\n' can be used in the
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00003024 prompt to start a new line.
3025 The highlighting set with |:echohl| is used for the prompt.
3026 The input is entered just like a command-line, with the same
3027 editing commands and mappings. There is a separate history
3028 for lines typed for input().
3029 Example: >
3030 :if input("Coffee or beer? ") == "beer"
3031 : echo "Cheers!"
3032 :endif
3033<
Bram Moolenaar1e015462005-09-25 22:16:38 +00003034 If the optional {text} is present and not empty, this is used
3035 for the default reply, as if the user typed this. Example: >
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00003036 :let color = input("Color? ", "white")
3037
3038< The optional {completion} argument specifies the type of
3039 completion supported for the input. Without it completion is
3040 not performed. The supported completion types are the same as
3041 that can be supplied to a user-defined command using the
3042 "-complete=" argument. Refer to |:command-completion| for
3043 more information. Example: >
3044 let fname = input("File: ", "", "file")
3045<
3046 NOTE: This function must not be used in a startup file, for
3047 the versions that only run in GUI mode (e.g., the Win32 GUI).
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003048 Note: When input() is called from within a mapping it will
3049 consume remaining characters from that mapping, because a
3050 mapping is handled like the characters were typed.
3051 Use |inputsave()| before input() and |inputrestore()|
3052 after input() to avoid that. Another solution is to avoid
3053 that further characters follow in the mapping, e.g., by using
3054 |:execute| or |:normal|.
3055
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00003056 Example with a mapping: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003057 :nmap \x :call GetFoo()<CR>:exe "/" . Foo<CR>
3058 :function GetFoo()
3059 : call inputsave()
3060 : let g:Foo = input("enter search pattern: ")
3061 : call inputrestore()
3062 :endfunction
3063
3064inputdialog({prompt} [, {text} [, {cancelreturn}]]) *inputdialog()*
3065 Like input(), but when the GUI is running and text dialogs are
3066 supported, a dialog window pops up to input the text.
3067 Example: >
3068 :let n = inputdialog("value for shiftwidth", &sw)
3069 :if n != ""
3070 : let &sw = n
3071 :endif
3072< When the dialog is cancelled {cancelreturn} is returned. When
3073 omitted an empty string is returned.
3074 Hitting <Enter> works like pressing the OK button. Hitting
3075 <Esc> works like pressing the Cancel button.
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00003076 NOTE: Command-line completion is not supported.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003077
Bram Moolenaar578b49e2005-09-10 19:22:57 +00003078inputlist({textlist}) *inputlist()*
3079 {textlist} must be a list of strings. This list is displayed,
3080 one string per line. The user will be prompted to enter a
3081 number, which is returned.
3082 The user can also select an item by clicking on it with the
3083 mouse. For the first string 0 is returned. When clicking
3084 above the first item a negative number is returned. When
3085 clicking on the prompt one more than the length of {textlist}
3086 is returned.
3087 Make sure {textlist} has less then 'lines' entries, otherwise
3088 it won't work. It's a good idea to put the entry number at
3089 the start of the string. Example: >
3090 let color = inputlist(['Select color:', '1. red',
3091 \ '2. green', '3. blue'])
3092
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003093inputrestore() *inputrestore()*
3094 Restore typeahead that was saved with a previous inputsave().
3095 Should be called the same number of times inputsave() is
3096 called. Calling it more often is harmless though.
3097 Returns 1 when there is nothing to restore, 0 otherwise.
3098
3099inputsave() *inputsave()*
3100 Preserve typeahead (also from mappings) and clear it, so that
3101 a following prompt gets input from the user. Should be
3102 followed by a matching inputrestore() after the prompt. Can
3103 be used several times, in which case there must be just as
3104 many inputrestore() calls.
3105 Returns 1 when out of memory, 0 otherwise.
3106
3107inputsecret({prompt} [, {text}]) *inputsecret()*
3108 This function acts much like the |input()| function with but
3109 two exceptions:
3110 a) the user's response will be displayed as a sequence of
3111 asterisks ("*") thereby keeping the entry secret, and
3112 b) the user's response will not be recorded on the input
3113 |history| stack.
3114 The result is a String, which is whatever the user actually
3115 typed on the command-line in response to the issued prompt.
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00003116 NOTE: Command-line completion is not supported.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003117
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003118insert({list}, {item} [, {idx}]) *insert()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003119 Insert {item} at the start of |List| {list}.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003120 If {idx} is specified insert {item} before the item with index
3121 {idx}. If {idx} is zero it goes before the first item, just
3122 like omitting {idx}. A negative {idx} is also possible, see
3123 |list-index|. -1 inserts just before the last item.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003124 Returns the resulting |List|. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003125 :let mylist = insert([2, 3, 5], 1)
3126 :call insert(mylist, 4, -1)
3127 :call insert(mylist, 6, len(mylist))
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003128< The last example can be done simpler with |add()|.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003129 Note that when {item} is a |List| it is inserted as a single
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003130 item. Use |extend()| to concatenate |Lists|.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003131
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003132isdirectory({directory}) *isdirectory()*
3133 The result is a Number, which is non-zero when a directory
3134 with the name {directory} exists. If {directory} doesn't
3135 exist, or isn't a directory, the result is FALSE. {directory}
3136 is any expression, which is used as a String.
3137
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00003138islocked({expr}) *islocked()*
3139 The result is a Number, which is non-zero when {expr} is the
3140 name of a locked variable.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003141 {expr} must be the name of a variable, |List| item or
3142 |Dictionary| entry, not the variable itself! Example: >
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00003143 :let alist = [0, ['a', 'b'], 2, 3]
3144 :lockvar 1 alist
3145 :echo islocked('alist') " 1
3146 :echo islocked('alist[1]') " 0
3147
3148< When {expr} is a variable that does not exist you get an error
3149 message. Use |exists()| to check for existance.
3150
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00003151items({dict}) *items()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003152 Return a |List| with all the key-value pairs of {dict}. Each
3153 |List| item is a list with two items: the key of a {dict}
3154 entry and the value of this entry. The |List| is in arbitrary
3155 order.
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00003156
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003157
3158join({list} [, {sep}]) *join()*
3159 Join the items in {list} together into one String.
3160 When {sep} is specified it is put in between the items. If
3161 {sep} is omitted a single space is used.
3162 Note that {sep} is not added at the end. You might want to
3163 add it there too: >
3164 let lines = join(mylist, "\n") . "\n"
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003165< String items are used as-is. |Lists| and |Dictionaries| are
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003166 converted into a string like with |string()|.
3167 The opposite function is |split()|.
3168
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003169keys({dict}) *keys()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003170 Return a |List| with all the keys of {dict}. The |List| is in
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003171 arbitrary order.
3172
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00003173 *len()* *E701*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003174len({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the length of the argument.
3175 When {expr} is a String or a Number the length in bytes is
3176 used, as with |strlen()|.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003177 When {expr} is a |List| the number of items in the |List| is
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003178 returned.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003179 When {expr} is a |Dictionary| the number of entries in the
3180 |Dictionary| is returned.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003181 Otherwise an error is given.
3182
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003183 *libcall()* *E364* *E368*
3184libcall({libname}, {funcname}, {argument})
3185 Call function {funcname} in the run-time library {libname}
3186 with single argument {argument}.
3187 This is useful to call functions in a library that you
3188 especially made to be used with Vim. Since only one argument
3189 is possible, calling standard library functions is rather
3190 limited.
3191 The result is the String returned by the function. If the
3192 function returns NULL, this will appear as an empty string ""
3193 to Vim.
3194 If the function returns a number, use libcallnr()!
3195 If {argument} is a number, it is passed to the function as an
3196 int; if {argument} is a string, it is passed as a
3197 null-terminated string.
3198 This function will fail in |restricted-mode|.
3199
3200 libcall() allows you to write your own 'plug-in' extensions to
3201 Vim without having to recompile the program. It is NOT a
3202 means to call system functions! If you try to do so Vim will
3203 very probably crash.
3204
3205 For Win32, the functions you write must be placed in a DLL
3206 and use the normal C calling convention (NOT Pascal which is
3207 used in Windows System DLLs). The function must take exactly
3208 one parameter, either a character pointer or a long integer,
3209 and must return a character pointer or NULL. The character
3210 pointer returned must point to memory that will remain valid
3211 after the function has returned (e.g. in static data in the
3212 DLL). If it points to allocated memory, that memory will
3213 leak away. Using a static buffer in the function should work,
3214 it's then freed when the DLL is unloaded.
3215
3216 WARNING: If the function returns a non-valid pointer, Vim may
3217 crash! This also happens if the function returns a number,
3218 because Vim thinks it's a pointer.
3219 For Win32 systems, {libname} should be the filename of the DLL
3220 without the ".DLL" suffix. A full path is only required if
3221 the DLL is not in the usual places.
3222 For Unix: When compiling your own plugins, remember that the
3223 object code must be compiled as position-independent ('PIC').
3224 {only in Win32 on some Unix versions, when the |+libcall|
3225 feature is present}
3226 Examples: >
3227 :echo libcall("libc.so", "getenv", "HOME")
3228 :echo libcallnr("/usr/lib/libc.so", "getpid", "")
3229<
3230 *libcallnr()*
3231libcallnr({libname}, {funcname}, {argument})
3232 Just like libcall(), but used for a function that returns an
3233 int instead of a string.
3234 {only in Win32 on some Unix versions, when the |+libcall|
3235 feature is present}
3236 Example (not very useful...): >
3237 :call libcallnr("libc.so", "printf", "Hello World!\n")
3238 :call libcallnr("libc.so", "sleep", 10)
3239<
3240 *line()*
3241line({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the line number of the file
3242 position given with {expr}. The accepted positions are:
3243 . the cursor position
3244 $ the last line in the current buffer
3245 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is
3246 returned)
Bram Moolenaarc7453f52006-02-10 23:20:28 +00003247 w0 first line visible in current window
3248 w$ last line visible in current window
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00003249 Note that a mark in another file can be used.
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00003250 To get the column number use |col()|. To get both use
3251 |getpos()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003252 Examples: >
3253 line(".") line number of the cursor
3254 line("'t") line number of mark t
3255 line("'" . marker) line number of mark marker
3256< *last-position-jump*
3257 This autocommand jumps to the last known position in a file
3258 just after opening it, if the '" mark is set: >
3259 :au BufReadPost * if line("'\"") > 0 && line("'\"") <= line("$") | exe "normal g'\"" | endif
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00003260
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003261line2byte({lnum}) *line2byte()*
3262 Return the byte count from the start of the buffer for line
3263 {lnum}. This includes the end-of-line character, depending on
3264 the 'fileformat' option for the current buffer. The first
3265 line returns 1.
3266 This can also be used to get the byte count for the line just
3267 below the last line: >
3268 line2byte(line("$") + 1)
3269< This is the file size plus one.
3270 When {lnum} is invalid, or the |+byte_offset| feature has been
3271 disabled at compile time, -1 is returned.
3272 Also see |byte2line()|, |go| and |:goto|.
3273
3274lispindent({lnum}) *lispindent()*
3275 Get the amount of indent for line {lnum} according the lisp
3276 indenting rules, as with 'lisp'.
3277 The indent is counted in spaces, the value of 'tabstop' is
3278 relevant. {lnum} is used just like in |getline()|.
3279 When {lnum} is invalid or Vim was not compiled the
3280 |+lispindent| feature, -1 is returned.
3281
3282localtime() *localtime()*
3283 Return the current time, measured as seconds since 1st Jan
3284 1970. See also |strftime()| and |getftime()|.
3285
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003286
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003287map({expr}, {string}) *map()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003288 {expr} must be a |List| or a |Dictionary|.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003289 Replace each item in {expr} with the result of evaluating
3290 {string}.
3291 Inside {string} |v:val| has the value of the current item.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003292 For a |Dictionary| |v:key| has the key of the current item.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003293 Example: >
3294 :call map(mylist, '"> " . v:val . " <"')
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003295< This puts "> " before and " <" after each item in "mylist".
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003296
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003297 Note that {string} is the result of an expression and is then
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003298 used as an expression again. Often it is good to use a
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003299 |literal-string| to avoid having to double backslashes. You
3300 still have to double ' quotes
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003301
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003302 The operation is done in-place. If you want a |List| or
3303 |Dictionary| to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003304 :let tlist = map(copy(mylist), ' & . "\t"')
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003305
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003306< Returns {expr}, the |List| or |Dictionary| that was filtered.
Bram Moolenaar280f1262006-01-30 00:14:18 +00003307 When an error is encountered while evaluating {string} no
3308 further items in {expr} are processed.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003309
3310
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003311maparg({name}[, {mode}]) *maparg()*
3312 Return the rhs of mapping {name} in mode {mode}. When there
3313 is no mapping for {name}, an empty String is returned.
Bram Moolenaard12f5c12006-01-25 22:10:52 +00003314 {mode} can be one of these strings:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003315 "n" Normal
3316 "v" Visual
3317 "o" Operator-pending
3318 "i" Insert
3319 "c" Cmd-line
3320 "l" langmap |language-mapping|
3321 "" Normal, Visual and Operator-pending
Bram Moolenaard12f5c12006-01-25 22:10:52 +00003322 When {mode} is omitted, the modes for "" are used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003323 The {name} can have special key names, like in the ":map"
3324 command. The returned String has special characters
3325 translated like in the output of the ":map" command listing.
3326 The mappings local to the current buffer are checked first,
3327 then the global mappings.
Bram Moolenaara40ceaf2006-01-13 22:35:40 +00003328 This function can be used to map a key even when it's already
3329 mapped, and have it do the original mapping too. Sketch: >
3330 exe 'nnoremap <Tab> ==' . maparg('<Tab>', 'n')
3331
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003332
3333mapcheck({name}[, {mode}]) *mapcheck()*
3334 Check if there is a mapping that matches with {name} in mode
3335 {mode}. See |maparg()| for {mode} and special names in
3336 {name}.
3337 A match happens with a mapping that starts with {name} and
3338 with a mapping which is equal to the start of {name}.
3339
3340 matches mapping "a" "ab" "abc" ~
3341 mapcheck("a") yes yes yes
3342 mapcheck("abc") yes yes yes
3343 mapcheck("ax") yes no no
3344 mapcheck("b") no no no
3345
3346 The difference with maparg() is that mapcheck() finds a
3347 mapping that matches with {name}, while maparg() only finds a
3348 mapping for {name} exactly.
3349 When there is no mapping that starts with {name}, an empty
3350 String is returned. If there is one, the rhs of that mapping
3351 is returned. If there are several mappings that start with
3352 {name}, the rhs of one of them is returned.
3353 The mappings local to the current buffer are checked first,
3354 then the global mappings.
3355 This function can be used to check if a mapping can be added
3356 without being ambiguous. Example: >
3357 :if mapcheck("_vv") == ""
3358 : map _vv :set guifont=7x13<CR>
3359 :endif
3360< This avoids adding the "_vv" mapping when there already is a
3361 mapping for "_v" or for "_vvv".
3362
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003363match({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *match()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003364 When {expr} is a |List| then this returns the index of the
3365 first item where {pat} matches. Each item is used as a
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003366 String, |Lists| and |Dictionaries| are used as echoed.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003367 Otherwise, {expr} is used as a String. The result is a
3368 Number, which gives the index (byte offset) in {expr} where
3369 {pat} matches.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003370 A match at the first character or |List| item returns zero.
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003371 If there is no match -1 is returned.
3372 Example: >
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003373 :echo match("testing", "ing") " results in 4
Bram Moolenaar362e1a32006-03-06 23:29:24 +00003374 :echo match([1, 'x'], '\a') " results in 1
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003375< See |string-match| for how {pat} is used.
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00003376 *strpbrk()*
3377 Vim doesn't have a strpbrk() function. But you can do: >
3378 :let sepidx = match(line, '[.,;: \t]')
3379< *strcasestr()*
3380 Vim doesn't have a strcasestr() function. But you can add
3381 "\c" to the pattern to ignore case: >
3382 :let idx = match(haystack, '\cneedle')
3383<
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003384 If {start} is given, the search starts from byte index
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003385 {start} in a String or item {start} in a |List|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003386 The result, however, is still the index counted from the
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00003387 first character/item. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003388 :echo match("testing", "ing", 2)
3389< result is again "4". >
3390 :echo match("testing", "ing", 4)
3391< result is again "4". >
3392 :echo match("testing", "t", 2)
3393< result is "3".
Bram Moolenaar5e3cb7e2006-02-27 23:58:35 +00003394 For a String, if {start} > 0 then it is like the string starts
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00003395 {start} bytes later, thus "^" will match at {start}. Except
3396 when {count} is given, then it's like matches before the
3397 {start} byte are ignored (this is a bit complicated to keep it
3398 backwards compatible).
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003399 For a String, if {start} < 0, it will be set to 0. For a list
3400 the index is counted from the end.
Bram Moolenaare224ffa2006-03-01 00:01:28 +00003401 If {start} is out of range ({start} > strlen({expr}) for a
3402 String or {start} > len({expr}) for a |List|) -1 is returned.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003403
Bram Moolenaar5e3cb7e2006-02-27 23:58:35 +00003404 When {count} is given use the {count}'th match. When a match
Bram Moolenaare224ffa2006-03-01 00:01:28 +00003405 is found in a String the search for the next one starts one
Bram Moolenaar5e3cb7e2006-02-27 23:58:35 +00003406 character further. Thus this example results in 1: >
3407 echo match("testing", "..", 0, 2)
3408< In a |List| the search continues in the next item.
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00003409 Note that when {count} is added the way {start} works changes,
3410 see above.
Bram Moolenaar5e3cb7e2006-02-27 23:58:35 +00003411
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003412 See |pattern| for the patterns that are accepted.
3413 The 'ignorecase' option is used to set the ignore-caseness of
3414 the pattern. 'smartcase' is NOT used. The matching is always
3415 done like 'magic' is set and 'cpoptions' is empty.
3416
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003417matchend({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *matchend()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003418 Same as match(), but return the index of first character after
3419 the match. Example: >
3420 :echo matchend("testing", "ing")
3421< results in "7".
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00003422 *strspn()* *strcspn()*
3423 Vim doesn't have a strspn() or strcspn() function, but you can
3424 do it with matchend(): >
3425 :let span = matchend(line, '[a-zA-Z]')
3426 :let span = matchend(line, '[^a-zA-Z]')
3427< Except that -1 is returned when there are no matches.
3428
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003429 The {start}, if given, has the same meaning as for match(). >
3430 :echo matchend("testing", "ing", 2)
3431< results in "7". >
3432 :echo matchend("testing", "ing", 5)
3433< result is "-1".
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003434 When {expr} is a |List| the result is equal to match().
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003435
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003436matchlist({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *matchlist()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003437 Same as match(), but return a |List|. The first item in the
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003438 list is the matched string, same as what matchstr() would
3439 return. Following items are submatches, like "\1", "\2", etc.
3440 in |:substitute|.
3441 When there is no match an empty list is returned.
3442
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003443matchstr({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *matchstr()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003444 Same as match(), but return the matched string. Example: >
3445 :echo matchstr("testing", "ing")
3446< results in "ing".
3447 When there is no match "" is returned.
3448 The {start}, if given, has the same meaning as for match(). >
3449 :echo matchstr("testing", "ing", 2)
3450< results in "ing". >
3451 :echo matchstr("testing", "ing", 5)
3452< result is "".
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003453 When {expr} is a |List| then the matching item is returned.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003454 The type isn't changed, it's not necessarily a String.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003455
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003456 *max()*
3457max({list}) Return the maximum value of all items in {list}.
3458 If {list} is not a list or one of the items in {list} cannot
3459 be used as a Number this results in an error.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003460 An empty |List| results in zero.
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003461
3462 *min()*
3463min({list}) Return the minumum value of all items in {list}.
3464 If {list} is not a list or one of the items in {list} cannot
3465 be used as a Number this results in an error.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003466 An empty |List| results in zero.
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003467
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003468 *mkdir()* *E749*
3469mkdir({name} [, {path} [, {prot}]])
3470 Create directory {name}.
3471 If {path} is "p" then intermediate directories are created as
3472 necessary. Otherwise it must be "".
3473 If {prot} is given it is used to set the protection bits of
3474 the new directory. The default is 0755 (rwxr-xr-x: r/w for
3475 the user readable for others). Use 0700 to make it unreadable
3476 for others.
3477 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3478 Not available on all systems. To check use: >
3479 :if exists("*mkdir")
3480<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003481 *mode()*
3482mode() Return a string that indicates the current mode:
3483 n Normal
3484 v Visual by character
3485 V Visual by line
3486 CTRL-V Visual blockwise
3487 s Select by character
3488 S Select by line
3489 CTRL-S Select blockwise
3490 i Insert
3491 R Replace
3492 c Command-line
3493 r Hit-enter prompt
3494 This is useful in the 'statusline' option. In most other
3495 places it always returns "c" or "n".
3496
3497nextnonblank({lnum}) *nextnonblank()*
3498 Return the line number of the first line at or below {lnum}
3499 that is not blank. Example: >
3500 if getline(nextnonblank(1)) =~ "Java"
3501< When {lnum} is invalid or there is no non-blank line at or
3502 below it, zero is returned.
3503 See also |prevnonblank()|.
3504
3505nr2char({expr}) *nr2char()*
3506 Return a string with a single character, which has the number
3507 value {expr}. Examples: >
3508 nr2char(64) returns "@"
3509 nr2char(32) returns " "
3510< The current 'encoding' is used. Example for "utf-8": >
3511 nr2char(300) returns I with bow character
3512< Note that a NUL character in the file is specified with
3513 nr2char(10), because NULs are represented with newline
3514 characters. nr2char(0) is a real NUL and terminates the
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00003515 string, thus results in an empty string.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003516
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00003517 *getpos()*
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00003518getpos({expr}) Get the position for {expr}. For possible values of {expr}
3519 see |line()|.
3520 The result is a |List| with four numbers:
3521 [bufnum, lnum, col, off]
3522 "bufnum" is zero, unless a mark like '0 or 'A is used, then it
3523 is the buffer number of the mark.
3524 "lnum" and "col" are the position in the buffer. The first
3525 column is 1.
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00003526 The "off" number is zero, unless 'virtualedit' is used. Then
3527 it is the offset in screen columns from the start of the
3528 character. E.g., a position within a Tab or after the last
3529 character.
3530 This can be used to save and restore the cursor position: >
3531 let save_cursor = getpos(".")
3532 MoveTheCursorAround
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00003533 call setpos(save_cursor)
3534< Also see |setpos()|.
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00003535
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00003536prevnonblank({lnum}) *prevnonblank()*
3537 Return the line number of the first line at or above {lnum}
3538 that is not blank. Example: >
3539 let ind = indent(prevnonblank(v:lnum - 1))
3540< When {lnum} is invalid or there is no non-blank line at or
3541 above it, zero is returned.
3542 Also see |nextnonblank()|.
3543
3544
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003545printf({fmt}, {expr1} ...) *printf()*
3546 Return a String with {fmt}, where "%" items are replaced by
3547 the formatted form of their respective arguments. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003548 printf("%4d: E%d %.30s", lnum, errno, msg)
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003549< May result in:
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003550 " 99: E42 asdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfas" ~
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003551
3552 Often used items are:
3553 %s string
Bram Moolenaar98692072006-02-04 00:57:42 +00003554 %6s string right-aligned in 6 bytes
3555 %.9s string truncated to 9 bytes
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003556 %c single byte
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003557 %d decimal number
3558 %5d decimal number padded with spaces to 5 characters
3559 %x hex number
3560 %04x hex number padded with zeros to at least 4 characters
3561 %X hex number using upper case letters
3562 %o octal number
Bram Moolenaar98692072006-02-04 00:57:42 +00003563 %% the % character itself
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003564
3565 Conversion specifications start with '%' and end with the
3566 conversion type. All other characters are copied unchanged to
3567 the result.
3568
3569 The "%" starts a conversion specification. The following
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003570 arguments appear in sequence:
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003571
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003572 % [flags] [field-width] [.precision] type
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003573
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003574 flags
3575 Zero or more of the following flags:
3576
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003577 # The value should be converted to an "alternate
3578 form". For c, d, and s conversions, this option
3579 has no effect. For o conversions, the precision
3580 of the number is increased to force the first
3581 character of the output string to a zero (except
3582 if a zero value is printed with an explicit
3583 precision of zero).
3584 For x and X conversions, a non-zero result has
3585 the string "0x" (or "0X" for X conversions)
3586 prepended to it.
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003587
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003588 0 (zero) Zero padding. For all conversions the converted
3589 value is padded on the left with zeros rather
3590 than blanks. If a precision is given with a
3591 numeric conversion (d, o, x, and X), the 0 flag
3592 is ignored.
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003593
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003594 - A negative field width flag; the converted value
3595 is to be left adjusted on the field boundary.
3596 The converted value is padded on the right with
3597 blanks, rather than on the left with blanks or
3598 zeros. A - overrides a 0 if both are given.
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003599
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003600 ' ' (space) A blank should be left before a positive
3601 number produced by a signed conversion (d).
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003602
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003603 + A sign must always be placed before a number
3604 produced by a signed conversion. A + overrides
3605 a space if both are used.
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003606
3607 field-width
3608 An optional decimal digit string specifying a minimum
Bram Moolenaar98692072006-02-04 00:57:42 +00003609 field width. If the converted value has fewer bytes
3610 than the field width, it will be padded with spaces on
3611 the left (or right, if the left-adjustment flag has
3612 been given) to fill out the field width.
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003613
3614 .precision
3615 An optional precision, in the form of a period '.'
3616 followed by an optional digit string. If the digit
3617 string is omitted, the precision is taken as zero.
3618 This gives the minimum number of digits to appear for
3619 d, o, x, and X conversions, or the maximum number of
Bram Moolenaar98692072006-02-04 00:57:42 +00003620 bytes to be printed from a string for s conversions.
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003621
3622 type
3623 A character that specifies the type of conversion to
3624 be applied, see below.
3625
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003626 A field width or precision, or both, may be indicated by an
3627 asterisk '*' instead of a digit string. In this case, a
3628 Number argument supplies the field width or precision. A
3629 negative field width is treated as a left adjustment flag
3630 followed by a positive field width; a negative precision is
3631 treated as though it were missing. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003632 :echo printf("%d: %.*s", nr, width, line)
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003633< This limits the length of the text used from "line" to
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003634 "width" bytes.
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003635
3636 The conversion specifiers and their meanings are:
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003637
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003638 doxX The Number argument is converted to signed decimal
3639 (d), unsigned octal (o), or unsigned hexadecimal (x
3640 and X) notation. The letters "abcdef" are used for
3641 x conversions; the letters "ABCDEF" are used for X
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003642 conversions.
3643 The precision, if any, gives the minimum number of
3644 digits that must appear; if the converted value
3645 requires fewer digits, it is padded on the left with
3646 zeros.
3647 In no case does a non-existent or small field width
3648 cause truncation of a numeric field; if the result of
3649 a conversion is wider than the field width, the field
3650 is expanded to contain the conversion result.
3651
3652 c The Number argument is converted to a byte, and the
3653 resulting character is written.
3654
3655 s The text of the String argument is used. If a
3656 precision is specified, no more bytes than the number
3657 specified are used.
3658
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003659 % A '%' is written. No argument is converted. The
3660 complete conversion specification is "%%".
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003661
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003662 Each argument can be Number or String and is converted
3663 automatically to fit the conversion specifier. Any other
3664 argument type results in an error message.
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003665
Bram Moolenaar83bab712005-08-01 21:58:57 +00003666 *E766* *E767*
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003667 The number of {exprN} arguments must exactly match the number
3668 of "%" items. If there are not sufficient or too many
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003669 arguments an error is given. Up to 18 arguments can be used.
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003670
3671
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00003672pumvisible() *pumvisible()*
3673 Returns non-zero when the popup menu is visible, zero
3674 otherwise. See |ins-completion-menu|.
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00003675 This can be used to avoid some things that would remove the
3676 popup menu.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003677
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003678 *E726* *E727*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003679range({expr} [, {max} [, {stride}]]) *range()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003680 Returns a |List| with Numbers:
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003681 - If only {expr} is specified: [0, 1, ..., {expr} - 1]
3682 - If {max} is specified: [{expr}, {expr} + 1, ..., {max}]
3683 - If {stride} is specified: [{expr}, {expr} + {stride}, ...,
3684 {max}] (increasing {expr} with {stride} each time, not
3685 producing a value past {max}).
Bram Moolenaare7566042005-06-17 22:00:15 +00003686 When the maximum is one before the start the result is an
3687 empty list. When the maximum is more than one before the
3688 start this is an error.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003689 Examples: >
3690 range(4) " [0, 1, 2, 3]
3691 range(2, 4) " [2, 3, 4]
3692 range(2, 9, 3) " [2, 5, 8]
3693 range(2, -2, -1) " [2, 1, 0, -1, -2]
Bram Moolenaare7566042005-06-17 22:00:15 +00003694 range(0) " []
3695 range(2, 0) " error!
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003696<
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003697 *readfile()*
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003698readfile({fname} [, {binary} [, {max}]])
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003699 Read file {fname} and return a |List|, each line of the file
3700 as an item. Lines broken at NL characters. Macintosh files
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003701 separated with CR will result in a single long line (unless a
3702 NL appears somewhere).
3703 When {binary} is equal to "b" binary mode is used:
3704 - When the last line ends in a NL an extra empty list item is
3705 added.
3706 - No CR characters are removed.
3707 Otherwise:
3708 - CR characters that appear before a NL are removed.
3709 - Whether the last line ends in a NL or not does not matter.
3710 All NUL characters are replaced with a NL character.
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003711 When {max} is given this specifies the maximum number of lines
3712 to be read. Useful if you only want to check the first ten
3713 lines of a file: >
3714 :for line in readfile(fname, '', 10)
3715 : if line =~ 'Date' | echo line | endif
3716 :endfor
Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00003717< When {max} is negative -{max} lines from the end of the file
3718 are returned, or as many as there are.
3719 When {max} is zero the result is an empty list.
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003720 Note that without {max} the whole file is read into memory.
3721 Also note that there is no recognition of encoding. Read a
3722 file into a buffer if you need to.
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003723 When the file can't be opened an error message is given and
3724 the result is an empty list.
3725 Also see |writefile()|.
3726
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003727 *remote_expr()* *E449*
3728remote_expr({server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
3729 Send the {string} to {server}. The string is sent as an
3730 expression and the result is returned after evaluation.
Bram Moolenaar362e1a32006-03-06 23:29:24 +00003731 The result must be a String or a |List|. A |List| is turned
3732 into a String by joining the items with a line break in
3733 between (not at the end), like with join(expr, "\n").
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003734 If {idvar} is present, it is taken as the name of a
3735 variable and a {serverid} for later use with
3736 remote_read() is stored there.
3737 See also |clientserver| |RemoteReply|.
3738 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3739 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3740 Note: Any errors will cause a local error message to be issued
3741 and the result will be the empty string.
3742 Examples: >
3743 :echo remote_expr("gvim", "2+2")
3744 :echo remote_expr("gvim1", "b:current_syntax")
3745<
3746
3747remote_foreground({server}) *remote_foreground()*
3748 Move the Vim server with the name {server} to the foreground.
3749 This works like: >
3750 remote_expr({server}, "foreground()")
3751< Except that on Win32 systems the client does the work, to work
3752 around the problem that the OS doesn't always allow the server
3753 to bring itself to the foreground.
Bram Moolenaar9372a112005-12-06 19:59:18 +00003754 Note: This does not restore the window if it was minimized,
3755 like foreground() does.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003756 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3757 {only in the Win32, Athena, Motif and GTK GUI versions and the
3758 Win32 console version}
3759
3760
3761remote_peek({serverid} [, {retvar}]) *remote_peek()*
3762 Returns a positive number if there are available strings
3763 from {serverid}. Copies any reply string into the variable
3764 {retvar} if specified. {retvar} must be a string with the
3765 name of a variable.
3766 Returns zero if none are available.
3767 Returns -1 if something is wrong.
3768 See also |clientserver|.
3769 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3770 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3771 Examples: >
3772 :let repl = ""
3773 :echo "PEEK: ".remote_peek(id, "repl").": ".repl
3774
3775remote_read({serverid}) *remote_read()*
3776 Return the oldest available reply from {serverid} and consume
3777 it. It blocks until a reply is available.
3778 See also |clientserver|.
3779 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3780 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3781 Example: >
3782 :echo remote_read(id)
3783<
3784 *remote_send()* *E241*
3785remote_send({server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
Bram Moolenaard4755bb2004-09-02 19:12:26 +00003786 Send the {string} to {server}. The string is sent as input
3787 keys and the function returns immediately. At the Vim server
3788 the keys are not mapped |:map|.
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00003789 If {idvar} is present, it is taken as the name of a variable
3790 and a {serverid} for later use with remote_read() is stored
3791 there.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003792 See also |clientserver| |RemoteReply|.
3793 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3794 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3795 Note: Any errors will be reported in the server and may mess
3796 up the display.
3797 Examples: >
3798 :echo remote_send("gvim", ":DropAndReply ".file, "serverid").
3799 \ remote_read(serverid)
3800
3801 :autocmd NONE RemoteReply *
3802 \ echo remote_read(expand("<amatch>"))
3803 :echo remote_send("gvim", ":sleep 10 | echo ".
3804 \ 'server2client(expand("<client>"), "HELLO")<CR>')
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003805<
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003806remove({list}, {idx} [, {end}]) *remove()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003807 Without {end}: Remove the item at {idx} from |List| {list} and
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003808 return it.
3809 With {end}: Remove items from {idx} to {end} (inclusive) and
3810 return a list with these items. When {idx} points to the same
3811 item as {end} a list with one item is returned. When {end}
3812 points to an item before {idx} this is an error.
3813 See |list-index| for possible values of {idx} and {end}.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003814 Example: >
3815 :echo "last item: " . remove(mylist, -1)
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003816 :call remove(mylist, 0, 9)
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003817remove({dict}, {key})
3818 Remove the entry from {dict} with key {key}. Example: >
3819 :echo "removed " . remove(dict, "one")
3820< If there is no {key} in {dict} this is an error.
3821
3822 Use |delete()| to remove a file.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003823
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003824rename({from}, {to}) *rename()*
3825 Rename the file by the name {from} to the name {to}. This
3826 should also work to move files across file systems. The
3827 result is a Number, which is 0 if the file was renamed
3828 successfully, and non-zero when the renaming failed.
3829 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3830
Bram Moolenaarab79bcb2004-07-18 21:34:53 +00003831repeat({expr}, {count}) *repeat()*
3832 Repeat {expr} {count} times and return the concatenated
3833 result. Example: >
3834 :let seperator = repeat('-', 80)
3835< When {count} is zero or negative the result is empty.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003836 When {expr} is a |List| the result is {expr} concatenated
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00003837 {count} times. Example: >
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003838 :let longlist = repeat(['a', 'b'], 3)
3839< Results in ['a', 'b', 'a', 'b', 'a', 'b'].
Bram Moolenaarab79bcb2004-07-18 21:34:53 +00003840
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003841
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003842resolve({filename}) *resolve()* *E655*
3843 On MS-Windows, when {filename} is a shortcut (a .lnk file),
3844 returns the path the shortcut points to in a simplified form.
3845 On Unix, repeat resolving symbolic links in all path
3846 components of {filename} and return the simplified result.
3847 To cope with link cycles, resolving of symbolic links is
3848 stopped after 100 iterations.
3849 On other systems, return the simplified {filename}.
3850 The simplification step is done as by |simplify()|.
3851 resolve() keeps a leading path component specifying the
3852 current directory (provided the result is still a relative
3853 path name) and also keeps a trailing path separator.
3854
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003855 *reverse()*
3856reverse({list}) Reverse the order of items in {list} in-place. Returns
3857 {list}.
3858 If you want a list to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
3859 :let revlist = reverse(copy(mylist))
3860
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003861search({pattern} [, {flags} [, {stopline}]]) *search()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003862 Search for regexp pattern {pattern}. The search starts at the
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00003863 cursor position (you can use |cursor()| to set it).
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00003864
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003865 {flags} is a String, which can contain these character flags:
3866 'b' search backward instead of forward
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00003867 'c' accept a match at the cursor position
3868 'e' move to the End of the match
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00003869 'n' do Not move the cursor
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00003870 'p' return number of matching sub-pattern (see below)
3871 's' set the ' mark at the previous location of the cursor
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003872 'w' wrap around the end of the file
3873 'W' don't wrap around the end of the file
3874 If neither 'w' or 'W' is given, the 'wrapscan' option applies.
3875
Bram Moolenaar02743632005-07-25 20:42:36 +00003876 If the 's' flag is supplied, the ' mark is set, only if the
3877 cursor is moved. The 's' flag cannot be combined with the 'n'
3878 flag.
3879
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003880 When the {stopline} argument is given then the search stops
3881 after searching this line. This is useful to restrict the
3882 search to a range of lines. Examples: >
3883 let match = search('(', 'b', line("w0"))
3884 let end = search('END', '', line("w$"))
3885< When {stopline} is used and it is not zero this also implies
3886 that the search does not wrap around the end of the file.
3887
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00003888 If there is no match a 0 is returned and the cursor doesn't
3889 move. No error message is given.
Bram Moolenaar362e1a32006-03-06 23:29:24 +00003890 When a match has been found its line number is returned.
3891 *search()-sub-match*
3892 With the 'p' flag the returned value is one more than the
3893 first sub-match in \(\). One if none of them matched but the
3894 whole pattern did match.
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003895 To get the column number too use |searchpos()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003896
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00003897 The cursor will be positioned at the match, unless the 'n'
3898 flag is used.
3899
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003900 Example (goes over all files in the argument list): >
3901 :let n = 1
3902 :while n <= argc() " loop over all files in arglist
3903 : exe "argument " . n
3904 : " start at the last char in the file and wrap for the
3905 : " first search to find match at start of file
3906 : normal G$
3907 : let flags = "w"
3908 : while search("foo", flags) > 0
3909 : s/foo/bar/g
3910 : let flags = "W"
3911 : endwhile
3912 : update " write the file if modified
3913 : let n = n + 1
3914 :endwhile
3915<
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00003916 Example for using some flags: >
3917 :echo search('\<if\|\(else\)\|\(endif\)', 'ncpe')
3918< This will search for the keywords "if", "else", and "endif"
3919 under or after the cursor. Because of the 'p' flag, it
3920 returns 1, 2, or 3 depending on which keyword is found, or 0
3921 if the search fails. With the cursor on the first word of the
3922 line:
3923 if (foo == 0) | let foo = foo + 1 | endif ~
3924 the function returns 1. Without the 'c' flag, the function
3925 finds the "endif" and returns 3. The same thing happens
3926 without the 'e' flag if the cursor is on the "f" of "if".
3927 The 'n' flag tells the function not to move the cursor.
3928
Bram Moolenaar92d640f2005-09-05 22:11:52 +00003929
Bram Moolenaarf75a9632005-09-13 21:20:47 +00003930searchdecl({name} [, {global} [, {thisblock}]]) *searchdecl()*
3931 Search for the declaration of {name}.
3932
3933 With a non-zero {global} argument it works like |gD|, find
3934 first match in the file. Otherwise it works like |gd|, find
3935 first match in the function.
3936
3937 With a non-zero {thisblock} argument matches in a {} block
3938 that ends before the cursor position are ignored. Avoids
3939 finding variable declarations only valid in another scope.
3940
Bram Moolenaar92d640f2005-09-05 22:11:52 +00003941 Moves the cursor to the found match.
3942 Returns zero for success, non-zero for failure.
3943 Example: >
3944 if searchdecl('myvar') == 0
3945 echo getline('.')
3946 endif
3947<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003948 *searchpair()*
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003949searchpair({start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip} [, {stopline}]]])
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003950 Search for the match of a nested start-end pair. This can be
3951 used to find the "endif" that matches an "if", while other
3952 if/endif pairs in between are ignored.
Bram Moolenaarfaa959a2006-02-20 21:37:40 +00003953 The search starts at the cursor. The default is to search
3954 forward, include 'b' in {flags} to search backward.
3955 If a match is found, the cursor is positioned at it and the
3956 line number is returned. If no match is found 0 or -1 is
3957 returned and the cursor doesn't move. No error message is
3958 given.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003959
3960 {start}, {middle} and {end} are patterns, see |pattern|. They
3961 must not contain \( \) pairs. Use of \%( \) is allowed. When
3962 {middle} is not empty, it is found when searching from either
3963 direction, but only when not in a nested start-end pair. A
3964 typical use is: >
3965 searchpair('\<if\>', '\<else\>', '\<endif\>')
3966< By leaving {middle} empty the "else" is skipped.
3967
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00003968 {flags} 'b', 'c', 'n', 's', 'w' and 'W' are used like with
3969 |search()|. Additionally:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003970 'r' Repeat until no more matches found; will find the
3971 outer pair
3972 'm' return number of Matches instead of line number with
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00003973 the match; will be > 1 when 'r' is used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003974
3975 When a match for {start}, {middle} or {end} is found, the
3976 {skip} expression is evaluated with the cursor positioned on
3977 the start of the match. It should return non-zero if this
3978 match is to be skipped. E.g., because it is inside a comment
3979 or a string.
3980 When {skip} is omitted or empty, every match is accepted.
3981 When evaluating {skip} causes an error the search is aborted
3982 and -1 returned.
3983
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003984 For {stopline} see |search()|.
3985
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003986 The value of 'ignorecase' is used. 'magic' is ignored, the
3987 patterns are used like it's on.
3988
3989 The search starts exactly at the cursor. A match with
3990 {start}, {middle} or {end} at the next character, in the
3991 direction of searching, is the first one found. Example: >
3992 if 1
3993 if 2
3994 endif 2
3995 endif 1
3996< When starting at the "if 2", with the cursor on the "i", and
3997 searching forwards, the "endif 2" is found. When starting on
3998 the character just before the "if 2", the "endif 1" will be
3999 found. That's because the "if 2" will be found first, and
4000 then this is considered to be a nested if/endif from "if 2" to
4001 "endif 2".
4002 When searching backwards and {end} is more than one character,
4003 it may be useful to put "\zs" at the end of the pattern, so
4004 that when the cursor is inside a match with the end it finds
4005 the matching start.
4006
4007 Example, to find the "endif" command in a Vim script: >
4008
4009 :echo searchpair('\<if\>', '\<el\%[seif]\>', '\<en\%[dif]\>', 'W',
4010 \ 'getline(".") =~ "^\\s*\""')
4011
4012< The cursor must be at or after the "if" for which a match is
4013 to be found. Note that single-quote strings are used to avoid
4014 having to double the backslashes. The skip expression only
4015 catches comments at the start of a line, not after a command.
4016 Also, a word "en" or "if" halfway a line is considered a
4017 match.
4018 Another example, to search for the matching "{" of a "}": >
4019
4020 :echo searchpair('{', '', '}', 'bW')
4021
4022< This works when the cursor is at or before the "}" for which a
4023 match is to be found. To reject matches that syntax
4024 highlighting recognized as strings: >
4025
4026 :echo searchpair('{', '', '}', 'bW',
4027 \ 'synIDattr(synID(line("."), col("."), 0), "name") =~? "string"')
4028<
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00004029 *searchpairpos()*
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00004030searchpairpos({start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip} [, {stopline}]]])
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004031 Same as searchpair(), but returns a |List| with the line and
4032 column position of the match. The first element of the |List|
4033 is the line number and the second element is the byte index of
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00004034 the column position of the match. If no match is found,
4035 returns [0, 0].
4036>
4037 :let [lnum,col] = searchpairpos('{', '', '}', 'n')
4038<
4039 See |match-parens| for a bigger and more useful example.
4040
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00004041searchpos({pattern} [, {flags} [, {stopline}]]) *searchpos()*
4042 Same as |search()|, but returns a |List| with the line and
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004043 column position of the match. The first element of the |List|
4044 is the line number and the second element is the byte index of
4045 the column position of the match. If no match is found,
4046 returns [0, 0].
Bram Moolenaar362e1a32006-03-06 23:29:24 +00004047 Example: >
4048 :let [lnum, col] = searchpos('mypattern', 'n')
4049
4050< When the 'p' flag is given then there is an extra item with
4051 the sub-pattern match number |search()-sub-match|. Example: >
4052 :let [lnum, col, submatch] = searchpos('\(\l\)\|\(\u\)', 'np')
4053< In this example "submatch" is 2 when a lowercase letter is
4054 found |/\l|, 3 when an uppercase letter is found |/\u|.
4055
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004056server2client( {clientid}, {string}) *server2client()*
4057 Send a reply string to {clientid}. The most recent {clientid}
4058 that sent a string can be retrieved with expand("<client>").
4059 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
4060 Note:
4061 This id has to be stored before the next command can be
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00004062 received. I.e. before returning from the received command and
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004063 before calling any commands that waits for input.
4064 See also |clientserver|.
4065 Example: >
4066 :echo server2client(expand("<client>"), "HELLO")
4067<
4068serverlist() *serverlist()*
4069 Return a list of available server names, one per line.
4070 When there are no servers or the information is not available
4071 an empty string is returned. See also |clientserver|.
4072 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
4073 Example: >
4074 :echo serverlist()
4075<
4076setbufvar({expr}, {varname}, {val}) *setbufvar()*
4077 Set option or local variable {varname} in buffer {expr} to
4078 {val}.
4079 This also works for a global or local window option, but it
4080 doesn't work for a global or local window variable.
4081 For a local window option the global value is unchanged.
4082 For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()| above.
4083 Note that the variable name without "b:" must be used.
4084 Examples: >
4085 :call setbufvar(1, "&mod", 1)
4086 :call setbufvar("todo", "myvar", "foobar")
4087< This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
4088
4089setcmdpos({pos}) *setcmdpos()*
4090 Set the cursor position in the command line to byte position
4091 {pos}. The first position is 1.
4092 Use |getcmdpos()| to obtain the current position.
4093 Only works while editing the command line, thus you must use
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00004094 |c_CTRL-\_e|, |c_CTRL-R_=| or |c_CTRL-R_CTRL-R| with '='. For
4095 |c_CTRL-\_e| and |c_CTRL-R_CTRL-R| with '=' the position is
4096 set after the command line is set to the expression. For
4097 |c_CTRL-R_=| it is set after evaluating the expression but
4098 before inserting the resulting text.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004099 When the number is too big the cursor is put at the end of the
4100 line. A number smaller than one has undefined results.
4101 Returns 0 when successful, 1 when not editing the command
4102 line.
4103
4104setline({lnum}, {line}) *setline()*
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00004105 Set line {lnum} of the current buffer to {line}.
4106 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|.
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004107 When {lnum} is just below the last line the {line} will be
4108 added as a new line.
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00004109 If this succeeds, 0 is returned. If this fails (most likely
4110 because {lnum} is invalid) 1 is returned. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004111 :call setline(5, strftime("%c"))
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004112< When {line} is a |List| then line {lnum} and following lines
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004113 will be set to the items in the list. Example: >
4114 :call setline(5, ['aaa', 'bbb', 'ccc'])
4115< This is equivalent to: >
4116 :for [n, l] in [[5, 6, 7], ['aaa', 'bbb', 'ccc']]
4117 : call setline(n, l)
4118 :endfor
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004119< Note: The '[ and '] marks are not set.
4120
Bram Moolenaar17c7c012006-01-26 22:25:15 +00004121setloclist({nr}, {list} [, {action}]) *setloclist()*
4122 Create or replace or add to the location list for window {nr}.
4123 When {nr} is zero the current window is used. For a location
Bram Moolenaar280f1262006-01-30 00:14:18 +00004124 list window, the displayed location list is modified. For an
4125 invalid window number {nr}, -1 is returned.
Bram Moolenaar17c7c012006-01-26 22:25:15 +00004126 Otherwise, same as setqflist().
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00004127
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00004128 *setpos()*
4129setpos({expr}, {list})
4130 Set the position for {expr}. Possible values:
4131 . the cursor
4132 'x mark x
4133
4134 {list} must be a |List| with four numbers:
4135 [bufnum, lnum, col, off]
4136
4137 "bufnum" is the buffer number. Zero can be used for the
4138 current buffer. Setting the cursor is only possible for
4139 the current buffer. To set a mark in another buffer you can
4140 use the |bufnr()| function to turn a file name into a buffer
4141 number.
4142
4143 "lnum" and "col" are the position in the buffer. The first
4144 column is 1. Use a zero "lnum" to delete a mark.
4145
4146 The "off" number is only used when 'virtualedit' is set. Then
4147 it is the offset in screen columns from the start of the
4148 character. E.g., a position within a Tab or after the last
4149 character.
4150
4151 Also see |getpos()|
4152
4153
Bram Moolenaar35c54e52005-05-20 21:25:31 +00004154setqflist({list} [, {action}]) *setqflist()*
Bram Moolenaar17c7c012006-01-26 22:25:15 +00004155 Create or replace or add to the quickfix list using the items
4156 in {list}. Each item in {list} is a dictionary.
4157 Non-dictionary items in {list} are ignored. Each dictionary
4158 item can contain the following entries:
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00004159
4160 filename name of a file
4161 lnum line number in the file
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00004162 pattern search pattern used to locate the error
Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00004163 col column number
4164 vcol when non-zero: "col" is visual column
4165 when zero: "col" is byte index
4166 nr error number
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00004167 text description of the error
Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00004168 type single-character error type, 'E', 'W', etc.
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00004169
Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00004170 The "col", "vcol", "nr", "type" and "text" entries are
4171 optional. Either "lnum" or "pattern" entry can be used to
4172 locate a matching error line.
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00004173 If the "filename" entry is not present or neither the "lnum"
4174 or "pattern" entries are present, then the item will not be
4175 handled as an error line.
4176 If both "pattern" and "lnum" are present then "pattern" will
4177 be used.
4178
Bram Moolenaar35c54e52005-05-20 21:25:31 +00004179 If {action} is set to 'a', then the items from {list} are
4180 added to the existing quickfix list. If there is no existing
4181 list, then a new list is created. If {action} is set to 'r',
4182 then the items from the current quickfix list are replaced
4183 with the items from {list}. If {action} is not present or is
4184 set to ' ', then a new list is created.
4185
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00004186 Returns zero for success, -1 for failure.
4187
4188 This function can be used to create a quickfix list
4189 independent of the 'errorformat' setting. Use a command like
4190 ":cc 1" to jump to the first position.
4191
4192
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004193 *setreg()*
4194setreg({regname}, {value} [,{options}])
4195 Set the register {regname} to {value}.
4196 If {options} contains "a" or {regname} is upper case,
4197 then the value is appended.
4198 {options} can also contains a register type specification:
4199 "c" or "v" |characterwise| mode
4200 "l" or "V" |linewise| mode
4201 "b" or "<CTRL-V>" |blockwise-visual| mode
4202 If a number immediately follows "b" or "<CTRL-V>" then this is
4203 used as the width of the selection - if it is not specified
4204 then the width of the block is set to the number of characters
4205 in the longest line (counting a <TAB> as 1 character).
4206
4207 If {options} contains no register settings, then the default
4208 is to use character mode unless {value} ends in a <NL>.
4209 Setting the '=' register is not possible.
4210 Returns zero for success, non-zero for failure.
4211
4212 Examples: >
4213 :call setreg(v:register, @*)
4214 :call setreg('*', @%, 'ac')
4215 :call setreg('a', "1\n2\n3", 'b5')
4216
4217< This example shows using the functions to save and restore a
4218 register. >
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004219 :let var_a = getreg('a', 1)
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004220 :let var_amode = getregtype('a')
4221 ....
4222 :call setreg('a', var_a, var_amode)
4223
4224< You can also change the type of a register by appending
4225 nothing: >
4226 :call setreg('a', '', 'al')
4227
4228setwinvar({nr}, {varname}, {val}) *setwinvar()*
4229 Set option or local variable {varname} in window {nr} to
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +00004230 {val}. When {nr} is zero the current window is used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004231 This also works for a global or local buffer option, but it
4232 doesn't work for a global or local buffer variable.
4233 For a local buffer option the global value is unchanged.
4234 Note that the variable name without "w:" must be used.
4235 Examples: >
4236 :call setwinvar(1, "&list", 0)
4237 :call setwinvar(2, "myvar", "foobar")
4238< This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
4239
4240simplify({filename}) *simplify()*
4241 Simplify the file name as much as possible without changing
4242 the meaning. Shortcuts (on MS-Windows) or symbolic links (on
4243 Unix) are not resolved. If the first path component in
4244 {filename} designates the current directory, this will be
4245 valid for the result as well. A trailing path separator is
4246 not removed either.
4247 Example: >
4248 simplify("./dir/.././/file/") == "./file/"
4249< Note: The combination "dir/.." is only removed if "dir" is
4250 a searchable directory or does not exist. On Unix, it is also
4251 removed when "dir" is a symbolic link within the same
4252 directory. In order to resolve all the involved symbolic
4253 links before simplifying the path name, use |resolve()|.
4254
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004255
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00004256sort({list} [, {func}]) *sort()* *E702*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004257 Sort the items in {list} in-place. Returns {list}. If you
4258 want a list to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
4259 :let sortedlist = sort(copy(mylist))
4260< Uses the string representation of each item to sort on.
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00004261 Numbers sort after Strings, |Lists| after Numbers.
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004262 For sorting text in the current buffer use |:sort|.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004263 When {func} is given and it is one then case is ignored.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004264 When {func} is a |Funcref| or a function name, this function
4265 is called to compare items. The function is invoked with two
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004266 items as argument and must return zero if they are equal, 1 if
4267 the first one sorts after the second one, -1 if the first one
4268 sorts before the second one. Example: >
4269 func MyCompare(i1, i2)
4270 return a:i1 == a:i2 ? 0 : a:i1 > a:i2 ? 1 : -1
4271 endfunc
4272 let sortedlist = sort(mylist, "MyCompare")
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00004273<
4274
Bram Moolenaar24bbcfe2005-06-28 23:32:02 +00004275 *soundfold()*
4276soundfold({word})
4277 Return the sound-folded equivalent of {word}. Uses the first
4278 language in 'spellang' for the current window that supports
Bram Moolenaar42eeac32005-06-29 22:40:58 +00004279 soundfolding. 'spell' must be set. When no sound folding is
4280 possible the {word} is returned unmodified.
Bram Moolenaar24bbcfe2005-06-28 23:32:02 +00004281 This can be used for making spelling suggestions. Note that
4282 the method can be quite slow.
4283
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00004284 *spellbadword()*
Bram Moolenaar1e015462005-09-25 22:16:38 +00004285spellbadword([{sentence}])
4286 Without argument: The result is the badly spelled word under
4287 or after the cursor. The cursor is moved to the start of the
4288 bad word. When no bad word is found in the cursor line the
4289 result is an empty string and the cursor doesn't move.
4290
4291 With argument: The result is the first word in {sentence} that
4292 is badly spelled. If there are no spelling mistakes the
4293 result is an empty string.
4294
4295 The return value is a list with two items:
4296 - The badly spelled word or an empty string.
4297 - The type of the spelling error:
4298 "bad" spelling mistake
4299 "rare" rare word
4300 "local" word only valid in another region
4301 "caps" word should start with Capital
4302 Example: >
4303 echo spellbadword("the quik brown fox")
4304< ['quik', 'bad'] ~
4305
4306 The spelling information for the current window is used. The
4307 'spell' option must be set and the value of 'spelllang' is
4308 used.
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00004309
4310 *spellsuggest()*
Bram Moolenaarc54b8a72005-09-30 21:20:29 +00004311spellsuggest({word} [, {max} [, {capital}]])
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004312 Return a |List| with spelling suggestions to replace {word}.
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00004313 When {max} is given up to this number of suggestions are
4314 returned. Otherwise up to 25 suggestions are returned.
4315
Bram Moolenaarc54b8a72005-09-30 21:20:29 +00004316 When the {capital} argument is given and it's non-zero only
4317 suggestions with a leading capital will be given. Use this
4318 after a match with 'spellcapcheck'.
4319
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00004320 {word} can be a badly spelled word followed by other text.
4321 This allows for joining two words that were split. The
Bram Moolenaarf461c8e2005-06-25 23:04:51 +00004322 suggestions also include the following text, thus you can
4323 replace a line.
4324
4325 {word} may also be a good word. Similar words will then be
Bram Moolenaarc54b8a72005-09-30 21:20:29 +00004326 returned. {word} itself is not included in the suggestions,
4327 although it may appear capitalized.
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00004328
4329 The spelling information for the current window is used. The
Bram Moolenaar42eeac32005-06-29 22:40:58 +00004330 'spell' option must be set and the values of 'spelllang' and
4331 'spellsuggest' are used.
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00004332
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004333
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004334split({expr} [, {pattern} [, {keepempty}]]) *split()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004335 Make a |List| out of {expr}. When {pattern} is omitted or
4336 empty each white-separated sequence of characters becomes an
4337 item.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004338 Otherwise the string is split where {pattern} matches,
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004339 removing the matched characters.
4340 When the first or last item is empty it is omitted, unless the
4341 {keepempty} argument is given and it's non-zero.
Bram Moolenaar5c06f8b2005-05-31 22:14:58 +00004342 Other empty items are kept when {pattern} matches at least one
4343 character or when {keepempty} is non-zero.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004344 Example: >
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00004345 :let words = split(getline('.'), '\W\+')
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004346< To split a string in individual characters: >
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00004347 :for c in split(mystring, '\zs')
Bram Moolenaar0cb032e2005-04-23 20:52:00 +00004348< If you want to keep the separator you can also use '\zs': >
4349 :echo split('abc:def:ghi', ':\zs')
4350< ['abc:', 'def:', 'ghi'] ~
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004351 Splitting a table where the first element can be empty: >
4352 :let items = split(line, ':', 1)
4353< The opposite function is |join()|.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004354
4355
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004356strftime({format} [, {time}]) *strftime()*
4357 The result is a String, which is a formatted date and time, as
4358 specified by the {format} string. The given {time} is used,
4359 or the current time if no time is given. The accepted
4360 {format} depends on your system, thus this is not portable!
4361 See the manual page of the C function strftime() for the
4362 format. The maximum length of the result is 80 characters.
4363 See also |localtime()| and |getftime()|.
4364 The language can be changed with the |:language| command.
4365 Examples: >
4366 :echo strftime("%c") Sun Apr 27 11:49:23 1997
4367 :echo strftime("%Y %b %d %X") 1997 Apr 27 11:53:25
4368 :echo strftime("%y%m%d %T") 970427 11:53:55
4369 :echo strftime("%H:%M") 11:55
4370 :echo strftime("%c", getftime("file.c"))
4371 Show mod time of file.c.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004372< Not available on all systems. To check use: >
4373 :if exists("*strftime")
4374
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00004375stridx({haystack}, {needle} [, {start}]) *stridx()*
4376 The result is a Number, which gives the byte index in
4377 {haystack} of the first occurrence of the String {needle}.
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004378 If {start} is specified, the search starts at index {start}.
4379 This can be used to find a second match: >
4380 :let comma1 = stridx(line, ",")
4381 :let comma2 = stridx(line, ",", comma1 + 1)
4382< The search is done case-sensitive.
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004383 For pattern searches use |match()|.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00004384 -1 is returned if the {needle} does not occur in {haystack}.
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004385 See also |strridx()|.
4386 Examples: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004387 :echo stridx("An Example", "Example") 3
4388 :echo stridx("Starting point", "Start") 0
4389 :echo stridx("Starting point", "start") -1
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00004390< *strstr()* *strchr()*
4391 stridx() works similar to the C function strstr(). When used
4392 with a single character it works similar to strchr().
4393
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00004394 *string()*
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00004395string({expr}) Return {expr} converted to a String. If {expr} is a Number,
4396 String or a composition of them, then the result can be parsed
4397 back with |eval()|.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00004398 {expr} type result ~
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00004399 String 'string'
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00004400 Number 123
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00004401 Funcref function('name')
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00004402 List [item, item]
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +00004403 Dictionary {key: value, key: value}
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00004404 Note that in String values the ' character is doubled.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00004405
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004406 *strlen()*
4407strlen({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the length of the String
Bram Moolenaare344bea2005-09-01 20:46:49 +00004408 {expr} in bytes.
4409 If you want to count the number of multi-byte characters (not
4410 counting composing characters) use something like this: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004411
4412 :let len = strlen(substitute(str, ".", "x", "g"))
Bram Moolenaare344bea2005-09-01 20:46:49 +00004413<
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00004414 If the argument is a Number it is first converted to a String.
4415 For other types an error is given.
4416 Also see |len()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004417
4418strpart({src}, {start}[, {len}]) *strpart()*
4419 The result is a String, which is part of {src}, starting from
Bram Moolenaar9372a112005-12-06 19:59:18 +00004420 byte {start}, with the byte length {len}.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004421 When non-existing bytes are included, this doesn't result in
4422 an error, the bytes are simply omitted.
4423 If {len} is missing, the copy continues from {start} till the
4424 end of the {src}. >
4425 strpart("abcdefg", 3, 2) == "de"
4426 strpart("abcdefg", -2, 4) == "ab"
4427 strpart("abcdefg", 5, 4) == "fg"
4428 strpart("abcdefg", 3) == "defg"
4429< Note: To get the first character, {start} must be 0. For
4430 example, to get three bytes under and after the cursor: >
4431 strpart(getline(line(".")), col(".") - 1, 3)
4432<
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004433strridx({haystack}, {needle} [, {start}]) *strridx()*
4434 The result is a Number, which gives the byte index in
4435 {haystack} of the last occurrence of the String {needle}.
4436 When {start} is specified, matches beyond this index are
4437 ignored. This can be used to find a match before a previous
4438 match: >
4439 :let lastcomma = strridx(line, ",")
4440 :let comma2 = strridx(line, ",", lastcomma - 1)
4441< The search is done case-sensitive.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00004442 For pattern searches use |match()|.
4443 -1 is returned if the {needle} does not occur in {haystack}.
Bram Moolenaard4755bb2004-09-02 19:12:26 +00004444 If the {needle} is empty the length of {haystack} is returned.
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00004445 See also |stridx()|. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004446 :echo strridx("an angry armadillo", "an") 3
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00004447< *strrchr()*
4448 When used with a single character it works similar to the C
4449 function strrchr().
4450
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004451strtrans({expr}) *strtrans()*
4452 The result is a String, which is {expr} with all unprintable
4453 characters translated into printable characters |'isprint'|.
4454 Like they are shown in a window. Example: >
4455 echo strtrans(@a)
4456< This displays a newline in register a as "^@" instead of
4457 starting a new line.
4458
4459submatch({nr}) *submatch()*
4460 Only for an expression in a |:substitute| command. Returns
4461 the {nr}'th submatch of the matched text. When {nr} is 0
4462 the whole matched text is returned.
4463 Example: >
4464 :s/\d\+/\=submatch(0) + 1/
4465< This finds the first number in the line and adds one to it.
4466 A line break is included as a newline character.
4467
4468substitute({expr}, {pat}, {sub}, {flags}) *substitute()*
4469 The result is a String, which is a copy of {expr}, in which
4470 the first match of {pat} is replaced with {sub}. This works
4471 like the ":substitute" command (without any flags). But the
4472 matching with {pat} is always done like the 'magic' option is
4473 set and 'cpoptions' is empty (to make scripts portable).
4474 See |string-match| for how {pat} is used.
4475 And a "~" in {sub} is not replaced with the previous {sub}.
4476 Note that some codes in {sub} have a special meaning
4477 |sub-replace-special|. For example, to replace something with
4478 "\n" (two characters), use "\\\\n" or '\\n'.
4479 When {pat} does not match in {expr}, {expr} is returned
4480 unmodified.
4481 When {flags} is "g", all matches of {pat} in {expr} are
4482 replaced. Otherwise {flags} should be "".
4483 Example: >
4484 :let &path = substitute(&path, ",\\=[^,]*$", "", "")
4485< This removes the last component of the 'path' option. >
4486 :echo substitute("testing", ".*", "\\U\\0", "")
4487< results in "TESTING".
4488
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00004489synID({lnum}, {col}, {trans}) *synID()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004490 The result is a Number, which is the syntax ID at the position
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00004491 {lnum} and {col} in the current window.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004492 The syntax ID can be used with |synIDattr()| and
4493 |synIDtrans()| to obtain syntax information about text.
Bram Moolenaarce0842a2005-07-18 21:58:11 +00004494
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00004495 {col} is 1 for the leftmost column, {lnum} is 1 for the first
Bram Moolenaarce0842a2005-07-18 21:58:11 +00004496 line. 'synmaxcol' applies, in a longer line zero is returned.
4497
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004498 When {trans} is non-zero, transparent items are reduced to the
4499 item that they reveal. This is useful when wanting to know
4500 the effective color. When {trans} is zero, the transparent
4501 item is returned. This is useful when wanting to know which
4502 syntax item is effective (e.g. inside parens).
4503 Warning: This function can be very slow. Best speed is
4504 obtained by going through the file in forward direction.
4505
4506 Example (echoes the name of the syntax item under the cursor): >
4507 :echo synIDattr(synID(line("."), col("."), 1), "name")
4508<
4509synIDattr({synID}, {what} [, {mode}]) *synIDattr()*
4510 The result is a String, which is the {what} attribute of
4511 syntax ID {synID}. This can be used to obtain information
4512 about a syntax item.
4513 {mode} can be "gui", "cterm" or "term", to get the attributes
4514 for that mode. When {mode} is omitted, or an invalid value is
4515 used, the attributes for the currently active highlighting are
4516 used (GUI, cterm or term).
4517 Use synIDtrans() to follow linked highlight groups.
4518 {what} result
4519 "name" the name of the syntax item
4520 "fg" foreground color (GUI: color name used to set
4521 the color, cterm: color number as a string,
4522 term: empty string)
4523 "bg" background color (like "fg")
4524 "fg#" like "fg", but for the GUI and the GUI is
4525 running the name in "#RRGGBB" form
4526 "bg#" like "fg#" for "bg"
4527 "bold" "1" if bold
4528 "italic" "1" if italic
4529 "reverse" "1" if reverse
4530 "inverse" "1" if inverse (= reverse)
4531 "underline" "1" if underlined
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004532 "undercurl" "1" if undercurled
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004533
4534 Example (echoes the color of the syntax item under the
4535 cursor): >
4536 :echo synIDattr(synIDtrans(synID(line("."), col("."), 1)), "fg")
4537<
4538synIDtrans({synID}) *synIDtrans()*
4539 The result is a Number, which is the translated syntax ID of
4540 {synID}. This is the syntax group ID of what is being used to
4541 highlight the character. Highlight links given with
4542 ":highlight link" are followed.
4543
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00004544system({expr} [, {input}]) *system()* *E677*
4545 Get the output of the shell command {expr}.
4546 When {input} is given, this string is written to a file and
4547 passed as stdin to the command. The string is written as-is,
4548 you need to take care of using the correct line separators
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00004549 yourself. Pipes are not used.
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00004550 Note: newlines in {expr} may cause the command to fail. The
4551 characters in 'shellquote' and 'shellxquote' may also cause
4552 trouble.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004553 This is not to be used for interactive commands.
4554 The result is a String. Example: >
4555
4556 :let files = system("ls")
4557
4558< To make the result more system-independent, the shell output
4559 is filtered to replace <CR> with <NL> for Macintosh, and
4560 <CR><NL> with <NL> for DOS-like systems.
4561 The command executed is constructed using several options:
4562 'shell' 'shellcmdflag' 'shellxquote' {expr} 'shellredir' {tmp} 'shellxquote'
4563 ({tmp} is an automatically generated file name).
4564 For Unix and OS/2 braces are put around {expr} to allow for
4565 concatenated commands.
4566
4567 The resulting error code can be found in |v:shell_error|.
4568 This function will fail in |restricted-mode|.
Bram Moolenaar4770d092006-01-12 23:22:24 +00004569
4570 Note that any wrong value in the options mentioned above may
4571 make the function fail. It has also been reported to fail
4572 when using a security agent application.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004573 Unlike ":!cmd" there is no automatic check for changed files.
4574 Use |:checktime| to force a check.
4575
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004576
Bram Moolenaarfaa959a2006-02-20 21:37:40 +00004577tabpagebuflist([{arg}]) *tabpagebuflist()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004578 The result is a |List|, where each item is the number of the
Bram Moolenaarfaa959a2006-02-20 21:37:40 +00004579 buffer associated with each window in the current tab page.
4580 {arg} specifies the number of tab page to be used. When
4581 omitted the current tab page is used.
4582 When {arg} is invalid the number zero is returned.
4583 To get a list of all buffers in all tabs use this: >
4584 tablist = []
4585 for i in range(tabpagenr('$'))
4586 call extend(tablist, tabpagebuflist(i + 1))
4587 endfor
4588< Note that a buffer may appear in more than one window.
4589
4590
4591tabpagenr([{arg}]) *tabpagenr()*
Bram Moolenaar7e8fd632006-02-18 22:14:51 +00004592 The result is a Number, which is the number of the current
4593 tab page. The first tab page has number 1.
4594 When the optional argument is "$", the number of the last tab
4595 page is returned (the tab page count).
4596 The number can be used with the |:tab| command.
4597
4598
Bram Moolenaarfaa959a2006-02-20 21:37:40 +00004599tabpagewinnr({tabarg}, [{arg}]) *tabpagewinnr()*
4600 Like |winnr()| but for tab page {arg}.
4601 {tabarg} specifies the number of tab page to be used.
4602 {arg} is used like with |winnr()|:
4603 - When omitted the current window number is returned. This is
4604 the window which will be used when going to this tab page.
4605 - When "$" the number of windows is returned.
4606 - When "#" the previous window nr is returned.
4607 Useful examples: >
4608 tabpagewinnr(1) " current window of tab page 1
4609 tabpagewinnr(4, '$') " number of windows in tab page 4
4610< When {tabarg} is invalid zero is returned.
4611
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004612taglist({expr}) *taglist()*
4613 Returns a list of tags matching the regular expression {expr}.
Bram Moolenaard8c00872005-07-22 21:52:15 +00004614 Each list item is a dictionary with at least the following
4615 entries:
Bram Moolenaar280f1262006-01-30 00:14:18 +00004616 name Name of the tag.
4617 filename Name of the file where the tag is
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004618 defined.
4619 cmd Ex command used to locate the tag in
4620 the file.
Bram Moolenaar280f1262006-01-30 00:14:18 +00004621 kind Type of the tag. The value for this
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004622 entry depends on the language specific
4623 kind values generated by the ctags
4624 tool.
Bram Moolenaar280f1262006-01-30 00:14:18 +00004625 static A file specific tag. Refer to
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004626 |static-tag| for more information.
Bram Moolenaar4317d9b2005-03-18 20:25:31 +00004627 The "kind" entry is only available when using Exuberant ctags
4628 generated tags file. More entries may be present, depending
4629 on the content of the tags file: access, implementation,
4630 inherits and signature. Refer to the ctags documentation for
4631 information about these fields. For C code the fields
4632 "struct", "class" and "enum" may appear, they give the name of
4633 the entity the tag is contained in.
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00004634
Bram Moolenaar4317d9b2005-03-18 20:25:31 +00004635 The ex-command 'cmd' can be either an ex search pattern, a
4636 line number or a line number followed by a byte number.
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004637
4638 If there are no matching tags, then an empty list is returned.
4639
4640 To get an exact tag match, the anchors '^' and '$' should be
4641 used in {expr}. Refer to |tag-regexp| for more information
4642 about the tag search regular expression pattern.
4643
4644 Refer to |'tags'| for information about how the tags file is
4645 located by Vim. Refer to |tags-file-format| for the format of
4646 the tags file generated by the different ctags tools.
4647
Bram Moolenaar578b49e2005-09-10 19:22:57 +00004648 *tagfiles()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004649tagfiles() Returns a |List| with the file names used to search for tags
4650 for the current buffer. This is the 'tags' option expanded.
Bram Moolenaare7eb9df2005-09-09 19:49:30 +00004651
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004652
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004653tempname() *tempname()* *temp-file-name*
4654 The result is a String, which is the name of a file that
4655 doesn't exist. It can be used for a temporary file. The name
4656 is different for at least 26 consecutive calls. Example: >
4657 :let tmpfile = tempname()
4658 :exe "redir > " . tmpfile
4659< For Unix, the file will be in a private directory (only
4660 accessible by the current user) to avoid security problems
4661 (e.g., a symlink attack or other people reading your file).
4662 When Vim exits the directory and all files in it are deleted.
4663 For MS-Windows forward slashes are used when the 'shellslash'
4664 option is set or when 'shellcmdflag' starts with '-'.
4665
4666tolower({expr}) *tolower()*
4667 The result is a copy of the String given, with all uppercase
4668 characters turned into lowercase (just like applying |gu| to
4669 the string).
4670
4671toupper({expr}) *toupper()*
4672 The result is a copy of the String given, with all lowercase
4673 characters turned into uppercase (just like applying |gU| to
4674 the string).
4675
Bram Moolenaar8299df92004-07-10 09:47:34 +00004676tr({src}, {fromstr}, {tostr}) *tr()*
4677 The result is a copy of the {src} string with all characters
4678 which appear in {fromstr} replaced by the character in that
4679 position in the {tostr} string. Thus the first character in
4680 {fromstr} is translated into the first character in {tostr}
4681 and so on. Exactly like the unix "tr" command.
4682 This code also deals with multibyte characters properly.
4683
4684 Examples: >
4685 echo tr("hello there", "ht", "HT")
4686< returns "Hello THere" >
4687 echo tr("<blob>", "<>", "{}")
4688< returns "{blob}"
4689
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00004690 *type()*
4691type({expr}) The result is a Number, depending on the type of {expr}:
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00004692 Number: 0
4693 String: 1
4694 Funcref: 2
4695 List: 3
4696 Dictionary: 4
4697 To avoid the magic numbers it should be used this way: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00004698 :if type(myvar) == type(0)
4699 :if type(myvar) == type("")
4700 :if type(myvar) == type(function("tr"))
4701 :if type(myvar) == type([])
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00004702 :if type(myvar) == type({})
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004703
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004704values({dict}) *values()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004705 Return a |List| with all the values of {dict}. The |List| is
4706 in arbitrary order.
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004707
4708
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004709virtcol({expr}) *virtcol()*
4710 The result is a Number, which is the screen column of the file
4711 position given with {expr}. That is, the last screen position
4712 occupied by the character at that position, when the screen
4713 would be of unlimited width. When there is a <Tab> at the
4714 position, the returned Number will be the column at the end of
4715 the <Tab>. For example, for a <Tab> in column 1, with 'ts'
4716 set to 8, it returns 8.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004717 For the use of {expr} see |col()|. Additionally you can use
Bram Moolenaar5c8837f2006-02-25 21:52:33 +00004718 [lnum, col]: a |List| with the line and column number. When
4719 "lnum" or "col" is out of range then virtcol() returns zero.
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00004720 When 'virtualedit' is used it can be [lnum, col, off], where
4721 "off" is the offset in screen columns from the start of the
4722 character. E.g., a position within a Tab or after the last
4723 character.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004724 For the byte position use |col()|.
4725 When Virtual editing is active in the current mode, a position
4726 beyond the end of the line can be returned. |'virtualedit'|
4727 The accepted positions are:
4728 . the cursor position
4729 $ the end of the cursor line (the result is the
4730 number of displayed characters in the cursor line
4731 plus one)
4732 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is
4733 returned)
4734 Note that only marks in the current file can be used.
4735 Examples: >
4736 virtcol(".") with text "foo^Lbar", with cursor on the "^L", returns 5
4737 virtcol("$") with text "foo^Lbar", returns 9
4738 virtcol("'t") with text " there", with 't at 'h', returns 6
4739< The first column is 1. 0 is returned for an error.
4740
4741visualmode([expr]) *visualmode()*
4742 The result is a String, which describes the last Visual mode
4743 used. Initially it returns an empty string, but once Visual
4744 mode has been used, it returns "v", "V", or "<CTRL-V>" (a
4745 single CTRL-V character) for character-wise, line-wise, or
4746 block-wise Visual mode respectively.
4747 Example: >
4748 :exe "normal " . visualmode()
4749< This enters the same Visual mode as before. It is also useful
4750 in scripts if you wish to act differently depending on the
4751 Visual mode that was used.
4752
4753 If an expression is supplied that results in a non-zero number
4754 or a non-empty string, then the Visual mode will be cleared
4755 and the old value is returned. Note that " " and "0" are also
4756 non-empty strings, thus cause the mode to be cleared.
4757
4758 *winbufnr()*
4759winbufnr({nr}) The result is a Number, which is the number of the buffer
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00004760 associated with window {nr}. When {nr} is zero, the number of
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004761 the buffer in the current window is returned. When window
4762 {nr} doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
4763 Example: >
4764 :echo "The file in the current window is " . bufname(winbufnr(0))
4765<
4766 *wincol()*
4767wincol() The result is a Number, which is the virtual column of the
4768 cursor in the window. This is counting screen cells from the
4769 left side of the window. The leftmost column is one.
4770
4771winheight({nr}) *winheight()*
4772 The result is a Number, which is the height of window {nr}.
4773 When {nr} is zero, the height of the current window is
4774 returned. When window {nr} doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
4775 An existing window always has a height of zero or more.
4776 Examples: >
4777 :echo "The current window has " . winheight(0) . " lines."
4778<
4779 *winline()*
4780winline() The result is a Number, which is the screen line of the cursor
4781 in the window. This is counting screen lines from the top of
4782 the window. The first line is one.
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00004783 If the cursor was moved the view on the file will be updated
4784 first, this may cause a scroll.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004785
4786 *winnr()*
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00004787winnr([{arg}]) The result is a Number, which is the number of the current
4788 window. The top window has number 1.
4789 When the optional argument is "$", the number of the
Bram Moolenaar7e8fd632006-02-18 22:14:51 +00004790 last window is returned (the window count).
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00004791 When the optional argument is "#", the number of the last
4792 accessed window is returned (where |CTRL-W_p| goes to).
4793 If there is no previous window 0 is returned.
4794 The number can be used with |CTRL-W_w| and ":wincmd w"
4795 |:wincmd|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004796
4797 *winrestcmd()*
4798winrestcmd() Returns a sequence of |:resize| commands that should restore
4799 the current window sizes. Only works properly when no windows
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00004800 are opened or closed and the current window and tab page is
4801 unchanged.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004802 Example: >
4803 :let cmd = winrestcmd()
4804 :call MessWithWindowSizes()
4805 :exe cmd
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00004806<
4807 *winrestview()*
4808winrestview({dict})
4809 Uses the |Dictionary| returned by |winsaveview()| to restore
4810 the view of the current window.
4811 If you have changed the values the result is unpredictable.
4812 If the window size changed the result won't be the same.
4813
4814 *winsaveview()*
4815winsaveview() Returns a |Dictionary| that contains information to restore
4816 the view of the current window. Use |winrestview()| to
4817 restore the view.
4818 This is useful if you have a mapping that jumps around in the
4819 buffer and you want to go back to the original view.
4820 This does not save fold information. Use the 'foldenable'
4821 option to temporarily switch of folding, so that folds are not
4822 opened when moving around.
4823 The return value includes:
4824 lnum cursor line number
4825 col cursor column
4826 coladd cursor column offset for 'virtualedit'
4827 curswant column for vertical movement
4828 topline first line in the window
4829 topfill filler lines, only in diff mode
4830 leftcol first column displayed
4831 skipcol columns skipped
4832 Note that no option values are saved.
4833
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004834
4835winwidth({nr}) *winwidth()*
4836 The result is a Number, which is the width of window {nr}.
4837 When {nr} is zero, the width of the current window is
4838 returned. When window {nr} doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
4839 An existing window always has a width of zero or more.
4840 Examples: >
4841 :echo "The current window has " . winwidth(0) . " columns."
4842 :if winwidth(0) <= 50
4843 : exe "normal 50\<C-W>|"
4844 :endif
4845<
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00004846 *writefile()*
4847writefile({list}, {fname} [, {binary}])
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004848 Write |List| {list} to file {fname}. Each list item is
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00004849 separated with a NL. Each list item must be a String or
4850 Number.
4851 When {binary} is equal to "b" binary mode is used: There will
4852 not be a NL after the last list item. An empty item at the
4853 end does cause the last line in the file to end in a NL.
4854 All NL characters are replaced with a NUL character.
4855 Inserting CR characters needs to be done before passing {list}
4856 to writefile().
4857 An existing file is overwritten, if possible.
4858 When the write fails -1 is returned, otherwise 0. There is an
4859 error message if the file can't be created or when writing
4860 fails.
4861 Also see |readfile()|.
4862 To copy a file byte for byte: >
4863 :let fl = readfile("foo", "b")
4864 :call writefile(fl, "foocopy", "b")
4865<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004866
4867 *feature-list*
4868There are three types of features:
48691. Features that are only supported when they have been enabled when Vim
4870 was compiled |+feature-list|. Example: >
4871 :if has("cindent")
48722. Features that are only supported when certain conditions have been met.
4873 Example: >
4874 :if has("gui_running")
4875< *has-patch*
48763. Included patches. First check |v:version| for the version of Vim.
4877 Then the "patch123" feature means that patch 123 has been included for
4878 this version. Example (checking version 6.2.148 or later): >
4879 :if v:version > 602 || v:version == 602 && has("patch148")
4880
4881all_builtin_terms Compiled with all builtin terminals enabled.
4882amiga Amiga version of Vim.
4883arabic Compiled with Arabic support |Arabic|.
4884arp Compiled with ARP support (Amiga).
Bram Moolenaara9b1e742005-12-19 22:14:58 +00004885autocmd Compiled with autocommand support. |autocommand|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004886balloon_eval Compiled with |balloon-eval| support.
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00004887balloon_multiline GUI supports multiline balloons.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004888beos BeOS version of Vim.
4889browse Compiled with |:browse| support, and browse() will
4890 work.
4891builtin_terms Compiled with some builtin terminals.
4892byte_offset Compiled with support for 'o' in 'statusline'
4893cindent Compiled with 'cindent' support.
4894clientserver Compiled with remote invocation support |clientserver|.
4895clipboard Compiled with 'clipboard' support.
4896cmdline_compl Compiled with |cmdline-completion| support.
4897cmdline_hist Compiled with |cmdline-history| support.
4898cmdline_info Compiled with 'showcmd' and 'ruler' support.
4899comments Compiled with |'comments'| support.
4900cryptv Compiled with encryption support |encryption|.
4901cscope Compiled with |cscope| support.
4902compatible Compiled to be very Vi compatible.
4903debug Compiled with "DEBUG" defined.
4904dialog_con Compiled with console dialog support.
4905dialog_gui Compiled with GUI dialog support.
4906diff Compiled with |vimdiff| and 'diff' support.
4907digraphs Compiled with support for digraphs.
4908dnd Compiled with support for the "~ register |quote_~|.
4909dos32 32 bits DOS (DJGPP) version of Vim.
4910dos16 16 bits DOS version of Vim.
4911ebcdic Compiled on a machine with ebcdic character set.
4912emacs_tags Compiled with support for Emacs tags.
4913eval Compiled with expression evaluation support. Always
4914 true, of course!
4915ex_extra Compiled with extra Ex commands |+ex_extra|.
4916extra_search Compiled with support for |'incsearch'| and
4917 |'hlsearch'|
4918farsi Compiled with Farsi support |farsi|.
4919file_in_path Compiled with support for |gf| and |<cfile>|
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00004920filterpipe When 'shelltemp' is off pipes are used for shell
4921 read/write/filter commands
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004922find_in_path Compiled with support for include file searches
4923 |+find_in_path|.
4924fname_case Case in file names matters (for Amiga, MS-DOS, and
4925 Windows this is not present).
4926folding Compiled with |folding| support.
4927footer Compiled with GUI footer support. |gui-footer|
4928fork Compiled to use fork()/exec() instead of system().
4929gettext Compiled with message translation |multi-lang|
4930gui Compiled with GUI enabled.
4931gui_athena Compiled with Athena GUI.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004932gui_gtk Compiled with GTK+ GUI (any version).
4933gui_gtk2 Compiled with GTK+ 2 GUI (gui_gtk is also defined).
Bram Moolenaar843ee412004-06-30 16:16:41 +00004934gui_kde Compiled with KDE GUI |KVim|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004935gui_mac Compiled with Macintosh GUI.
4936gui_motif Compiled with Motif GUI.
4937gui_photon Compiled with Photon GUI.
4938gui_win32 Compiled with MS Windows Win32 GUI.
4939gui_win32s idem, and Win32s system being used (Windows 3.1)
4940gui_running Vim is running in the GUI, or it will start soon.
4941hangul_input Compiled with Hangul input support. |hangul|
4942iconv Can use iconv() for conversion.
4943insert_expand Compiled with support for CTRL-X expansion commands in
4944 Insert mode.
4945jumplist Compiled with |jumplist| support.
4946keymap Compiled with 'keymap' support.
4947langmap Compiled with 'langmap' support.
4948libcall Compiled with |libcall()| support.
4949linebreak Compiled with 'linebreak', 'breakat' and 'showbreak'
4950 support.
4951lispindent Compiled with support for lisp indenting.
4952listcmds Compiled with commands for the buffer list |:files|
4953 and the argument list |arglist|.
4954localmap Compiled with local mappings and abbr. |:map-local|
4955mac Macintosh version of Vim.
4956macunix Macintosh version of Vim, using Unix files (OS-X).
4957menu Compiled with support for |:menu|.
4958mksession Compiled with support for |:mksession|.
4959modify_fname Compiled with file name modifiers. |filename-modifiers|
4960mouse Compiled with support mouse.
4961mouseshape Compiled with support for 'mouseshape'.
4962mouse_dec Compiled with support for Dec terminal mouse.
4963mouse_gpm Compiled with support for gpm (Linux console mouse)
4964mouse_netterm Compiled with support for netterm mouse.
4965mouse_pterm Compiled with support for qnx pterm mouse.
4966mouse_xterm Compiled with support for xterm mouse.
4967multi_byte Compiled with support for editing Korean et al.
4968multi_byte_ime Compiled with support for IME input method.
4969multi_lang Compiled with support for multiple languages.
Bram Moolenaar325b7a22004-07-05 15:58:32 +00004970mzscheme Compiled with MzScheme interface |mzscheme|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004971netbeans_intg Compiled with support for |netbeans|.
Bram Moolenaar009b2592004-10-24 19:18:58 +00004972netbeans_enabled Compiled with support for |netbeans| and it's used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004973ole Compiled with OLE automation support for Win32.
4974os2 OS/2 version of Vim.
4975osfiletype Compiled with support for osfiletypes |+osfiletype|
4976path_extra Compiled with up/downwards search in 'path' and 'tags'
4977perl Compiled with Perl interface.
4978postscript Compiled with PostScript file printing.
4979printer Compiled with |:hardcopy| support.
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00004980profile Compiled with |:profile| support.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004981python Compiled with Python interface.
4982qnx QNX version of Vim.
4983quickfix Compiled with |quickfix| support.
4984rightleft Compiled with 'rightleft' support.
4985ruby Compiled with Ruby interface |ruby|.
4986scrollbind Compiled with 'scrollbind' support.
4987showcmd Compiled with 'showcmd' support.
4988signs Compiled with |:sign| support.
4989smartindent Compiled with 'smartindent' support.
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00004990sniff Compiled with SNiFF interface support.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004991statusline Compiled with support for 'statusline', 'rulerformat'
4992 and special formats of 'titlestring' and 'iconstring'.
4993sun_workshop Compiled with support for Sun |workshop|.
Bram Moolenaar82cf9b62005-06-07 21:09:25 +00004994spell Compiled with spell checking support |spell|.
4995syntax Compiled with syntax highlighting support |syntax|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004996syntax_items There are active syntax highlighting items for the
4997 current buffer.
4998system Compiled to use system() instead of fork()/exec().
4999tag_binary Compiled with binary searching in tags files
5000 |tag-binary-search|.
5001tag_old_static Compiled with support for old static tags
5002 |tag-old-static|.
5003tag_any_white Compiled with support for any white characters in tags
5004 files |tag-any-white|.
5005tcl Compiled with Tcl interface.
5006terminfo Compiled with terminfo instead of termcap.
5007termresponse Compiled with support for |t_RV| and |v:termresponse|.
5008textobjects Compiled with support for |text-objects|.
5009tgetent Compiled with tgetent support, able to use a termcap
5010 or terminfo file.
5011title Compiled with window title support |'title'|.
5012toolbar Compiled with support for |gui-toolbar|.
5013unix Unix version of Vim.
5014user_commands User-defined commands.
5015viminfo Compiled with viminfo support.
5016vim_starting True while initial source'ing takes place.
5017vertsplit Compiled with vertically split windows |:vsplit|.
5018virtualedit Compiled with 'virtualedit' option.
5019visual Compiled with Visual mode.
5020visualextra Compiled with extra Visual mode commands.
5021 |blockwise-operators|.
5022vms VMS version of Vim.
5023vreplace Compiled with |gR| and |gr| commands.
5024wildignore Compiled with 'wildignore' option.
5025wildmenu Compiled with 'wildmenu' option.
5026windows Compiled with support for more than one window.
5027winaltkeys Compiled with 'winaltkeys' option.
5028win16 Win16 version of Vim (MS-Windows 3.1).
5029win32 Win32 version of Vim (MS-Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP).
5030win64 Win64 version of Vim (MS-Windows 64 bit).
5031win32unix Win32 version of Vim, using Unix files (Cygwin)
5032win95 Win32 version for MS-Windows 95/98/ME.
5033writebackup Compiled with 'writebackup' default on.
5034xfontset Compiled with X fontset support |xfontset|.
5035xim Compiled with X input method support |xim|.
5036xsmp Compiled with X session management support.
5037xsmp_interact Compiled with interactive X session management support.
5038xterm_clipboard Compiled with support for xterm clipboard.
5039xterm_save Compiled with support for saving and restoring the
5040 xterm screen.
5041x11 Compiled with X11 support.
5042
5043 *string-match*
5044Matching a pattern in a String
5045
5046A regexp pattern as explained at |pattern| is normally used to find a match in
5047the buffer lines. When a pattern is used to find a match in a String, almost
5048everything works in the same way. The difference is that a String is handled
5049like it is one line. When it contains a "\n" character, this is not seen as a
5050line break for the pattern. It can be matched with a "\n" in the pattern, or
5051with ".". Example: >
5052 :let a = "aaaa\nxxxx"
5053 :echo matchstr(a, "..\n..")
5054 aa
5055 xx
5056 :echo matchstr(a, "a.x")
5057 a
5058 x
5059
5060Don't forget that "^" will only match at the first character of the String and
5061"$" at the last character of the string. They don't match after or before a
5062"\n".
5063
5064==============================================================================
50655. Defining functions *user-functions*
5066
5067New functions can be defined. These can be called just like builtin
5068functions. The function executes a sequence of Ex commands. Normal mode
5069commands can be executed with the |:normal| command.
5070
5071The function name must start with an uppercase letter, to avoid confusion with
5072builtin functions. To prevent from using the same name in different scripts
5073avoid obvious, short names. A good habit is to start the function name with
5074the name of the script, e.g., "HTMLcolor()".
5075
Bram Moolenaar92d640f2005-09-05 22:11:52 +00005076It's also possible to use curly braces, see |curly-braces-names|. And the
5077|autoload| facility is useful to define a function only when it's called.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005078
5079 *local-function*
5080A function local to a script must start with "s:". A local script function
5081can only be called from within the script and from functions, user commands
5082and autocommands defined in the script. It is also possible to call the
5083function from a mappings defined in the script, but then |<SID>| must be used
5084instead of "s:" when the mapping is expanded outside of the script.
5085
5086 *:fu* *:function* *E128* *E129* *E123*
5087:fu[nction] List all functions and their arguments.
5088
5089:fu[nction] {name} List function {name}.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005090 {name} can also be a |Dictionary| entry that is a
5091 |Funcref|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005092 :function dict.init
Bram Moolenaar92d640f2005-09-05 22:11:52 +00005093
5094:fu[nction] /{pattern} List functions with a name matching {pattern}.
5095 Example that lists all functions ending with "File": >
5096 :function /File$
Bram Moolenaar5b8d8fd2005-08-16 23:01:50 +00005097<
5098 *:function-verbose*
5099When 'verbose' is non-zero, listing a function will also display where it was
5100last defined. Example: >
5101
5102 :verbose function SetFileTypeSH
5103 function SetFileTypeSH(name)
5104 Last set from /usr/share/vim/vim-7.0/filetype.vim
5105<
Bram Moolenaar8aff23a2005-08-19 20:40:30 +00005106See |:verbose-cmd| for more information.
Bram Moolenaar5b8d8fd2005-08-16 23:01:50 +00005107
5108 *E124* *E125*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00005109:fu[nction][!] {name}([arguments]) [range] [abort] [dict]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005110 Define a new function by the name {name}. The name
5111 must be made of alphanumeric characters and '_', and
5112 must start with a capital or "s:" (see above).
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005113
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005114 {name} can also be a |Dictionary| entry that is a
5115 |Funcref|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005116 :function dict.init(arg)
5117< "dict" must be an existing dictionary. The entry
5118 "init" is added if it didn't exist yet. Otherwise [!]
5119 is required to overwrite an existing function. The
5120 result is a |Funcref| to a numbered function. The
5121 function can only be used with a |Funcref| and will be
5122 deleted if there are no more references to it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005123 *E127* *E122*
5124 When a function by this name already exists and [!] is
5125 not used an error message is given. When [!] is used,
5126 an existing function is silently replaced. Unless it
5127 is currently being executed, that is an error.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00005128
5129 For the {arguments} see |function-argument|.
5130
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005131 *a:firstline* *a:lastline*
5132 When the [range] argument is added, the function is
5133 expected to take care of a range itself. The range is
5134 passed as "a:firstline" and "a:lastline". If [range]
5135 is excluded, ":{range}call" will call the function for
5136 each line in the range, with the cursor on the start
5137 of each line. See |function-range-example|.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005138
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005139 When the [abort] argument is added, the function will
5140 abort as soon as an error is detected.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005141
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00005142 When the [dict] argument is added, the function must
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005143 be invoked through an entry in a |Dictionary|. The
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00005144 local variable "self" will then be set to the
5145 dictionary. See |Dictionary-function|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005146
Bram Moolenaar98692072006-02-04 00:57:42 +00005147 The last used search pattern and the redo command "."
5148 will not be changed by the function.
5149
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005150 *:endf* *:endfunction* *E126* *E193*
5151:endf[unction] The end of a function definition. Must be on a line
5152 by its own, without other commands.
5153
5154 *:delf* *:delfunction* *E130* *E131*
5155:delf[unction] {name} Delete function {name}.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005156 {name} can also be a |Dictionary| entry that is a
5157 |Funcref|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005158 :delfunc dict.init
5159< This will remove the "init" entry from "dict". The
5160 function is deleted if there are no more references to
5161 it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005162 *:retu* *:return* *E133*
5163:retu[rn] [expr] Return from a function. When "[expr]" is given, it is
5164 evaluated and returned as the result of the function.
5165 If "[expr]" is not given, the number 0 is returned.
5166 When a function ends without an explicit ":return",
5167 the number 0 is returned.
5168 Note that there is no check for unreachable lines,
5169 thus there is no warning if commands follow ":return".
5170
5171 If the ":return" is used after a |:try| but before the
5172 matching |:finally| (if present), the commands
5173 following the ":finally" up to the matching |:endtry|
5174 are executed first. This process applies to all
5175 nested ":try"s inside the function. The function
5176 returns at the outermost ":endtry".
5177
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00005178 *function-argument* *a:var*
5179An argument can be defined by giving its name. In the function this can then
5180be used as "a:name" ("a:" for argument).
5181 *a:0* *a:1* *a:000* *E740*
5182Up to 20 arguments can be given, separated by commas. After the named
5183arguments an argument "..." can be specified, which means that more arguments
5184may optionally be following. In the function the extra arguments can be used
5185as "a:1", "a:2", etc. "a:0" is set to the number of extra arguments (which
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005186can be 0). "a:000" is set to a |List| that contains these arguments. Note
5187that "a:1" is the same as "a:000[0]".
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00005188 *E742*
5189The a: scope and the variables in it cannot be changed, they are fixed.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005190However, if a |List| or |Dictionary| is used, you can changes their contents.
5191Thus you can pass a |List| to a function and have the function add an item to
5192it. If you want to make sure the function cannot change a |List| or
5193|Dictionary| use |:lockvar|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005194
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00005195When not using "...", the number of arguments in a function call must be equal
5196to the number of named arguments. When using "...", the number of arguments
5197may be larger.
5198
5199It is also possible to define a function without any arguments. You must
5200still supply the () then. The body of the function follows in the next lines,
5201until the matching |:endfunction|. It is allowed to define another function
5202inside a function body.
5203
5204 *local-variables*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005205Inside a function variables can be used. These are local variables, which
5206will disappear when the function returns. Global variables need to be
5207accessed with "g:".
5208
5209Example: >
5210 :function Table(title, ...)
5211 : echohl Title
5212 : echo a:title
5213 : echohl None
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00005214 : echo a:0 . " items:"
5215 : for s in a:000
5216 : echon ' ' . s
5217 : endfor
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005218 :endfunction
5219
5220This function can then be called with: >
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00005221 call Table("Table", "line1", "line2")
5222 call Table("Empty Table")
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005223
5224To return more than one value, pass the name of a global variable: >
5225 :function Compute(n1, n2, divname)
5226 : if a:n2 == 0
5227 : return "fail"
5228 : endif
5229 : let g:{a:divname} = a:n1 / a:n2
5230 : return "ok"
5231 :endfunction
5232
5233This function can then be called with: >
5234 :let success = Compute(13, 1324, "div")
5235 :if success == "ok"
5236 : echo div
5237 :endif
5238
5239An alternative is to return a command that can be executed. This also works
5240with local variables in a calling function. Example: >
5241 :function Foo()
5242 : execute Bar()
5243 : echo "line " . lnum . " column " . col
5244 :endfunction
5245
5246 :function Bar()
5247 : return "let lnum = " . line(".") . " | let col = " . col(".")
5248 :endfunction
5249
5250The names "lnum" and "col" could also be passed as argument to Bar(), to allow
5251the caller to set the names.
5252
5253 *:cal* *:call* *E107*
5254:[range]cal[l] {name}([arguments])
5255 Call a function. The name of the function and its arguments
5256 are as specified with |:function|. Up to 20 arguments can be
5257 used.
5258 Without a range and for functions that accept a range, the
5259 function is called once. When a range is given the cursor is
5260 positioned at the start of the first line before executing the
5261 function.
5262 When a range is given and the function doesn't handle it
5263 itself, the function is executed for each line in the range,
5264 with the cursor in the first column of that line. The cursor
5265 is left at the last line (possibly moved by the last function
5266 call). The arguments are re-evaluated for each line. Thus
5267 this works:
5268 *function-range-example* >
5269 :function Mynumber(arg)
5270 : echo line(".") . " " . a:arg
5271 :endfunction
5272 :1,5call Mynumber(getline("."))
5273<
5274 The "a:firstline" and "a:lastline" are defined anyway, they
5275 can be used to do something different at the start or end of
5276 the range.
5277
5278 Example of a function that handles the range itself: >
5279
5280 :function Cont() range
5281 : execute (a:firstline + 1) . "," . a:lastline . 's/^/\t\\ '
5282 :endfunction
5283 :4,8call Cont()
5284<
5285 This function inserts the continuation character "\" in front
5286 of all the lines in the range, except the first one.
5287
5288 *E132*
5289The recursiveness of user functions is restricted with the |'maxfuncdepth'|
5290option.
5291
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005292
5293AUTOMATICALLY LOADING FUNCTIONS ~
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005294 *autoload-functions*
5295When using many or large functions, it's possible to automatically define them
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005296only when they are used. There are two methods: with an autocommand and with
5297the "autoload" directory in 'runtimepath'.
5298
5299
5300Using an autocommand ~
5301
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00005302This is introduced in the user manual, section |41.14|.
5303
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005304The autocommand is useful if you have a plugin that is a long Vim script file.
5305You can define the autocommand and quickly quit the script with |:finish|.
5306That makes Vim startup faster. The autocommand should then load the same file
5307again, setting a variable to skip the |:finish| command.
5308
5309Use the FuncUndefined autocommand event with a pattern that matches the
5310function(s) to be defined. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005311
5312 :au FuncUndefined BufNet* source ~/vim/bufnetfuncs.vim
5313
5314The file "~/vim/bufnetfuncs.vim" should then define functions that start with
5315"BufNet". Also see |FuncUndefined|.
5316
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005317
5318Using an autoload script ~
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00005319 *autoload* *E746*
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00005320This is introduced in the user manual, section |41.15|.
5321
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005322Using a script in the "autoload" directory is simpler, but requires using
5323exactly the right file name. A function that can be autoloaded has a name
5324like this: >
5325
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00005326 :call filename#funcname()
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005327
5328When such a function is called, and it is not defined yet, Vim will search the
5329"autoload" directories in 'runtimepath' for a script file called
5330"filename.vim". For example "~/.vim/autoload/filename.vim". That file should
5331then define the function like this: >
5332
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00005333 function filename#funcname()
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005334 echo "Done!"
5335 endfunction
5336
Bram Moolenaar60a795a2005-09-16 21:55:43 +00005337The file name and the name used before the # in the function must match
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005338exactly, and the defined function must have the name exactly as it will be
5339called.
5340
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00005341It is possible to use subdirectories. Every # in the function name works like
5342a path separator. Thus when calling a function: >
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005343
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00005344 :call foo#bar#func()
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005345
5346Vim will look for the file "autoload/foo/bar.vim" in 'runtimepath'.
5347
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00005348This also works when reading a variable that has not been set yet: >
5349
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00005350 :let l = foo#bar#lvar
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00005351
Bram Moolenaara5792f52005-11-23 21:25:05 +00005352However, when the autoload script was already loaded it won't be loaded again
5353for an unknown variable.
5354
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00005355When assigning a value to such a variable nothing special happens. This can
5356be used to pass settings to the autoload script before it's loaded: >
5357
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00005358 :let foo#bar#toggle = 1
5359 :call foo#bar#func()
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00005360
Bram Moolenaar4399ef42005-02-12 14:29:27 +00005361Note that when you make a mistake and call a function that is supposed to be
5362defined in an autoload script, but the script doesn't actually define the
5363function, the script will be sourced every time you try to call the function.
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00005364And you will get an error message every time.
5365
5366Also note that if you have two script files, and one calls a function in the
5367other and vise versa, before the used function is defined, it won't work.
5368Avoid using the autoload functionality at the toplevel.
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005369
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005370==============================================================================
53716. Curly braces names *curly-braces-names*
5372
5373Wherever you can use a variable, you can use a "curly braces name" variable.
5374This is a regular variable name with one or more expressions wrapped in braces
5375{} like this: >
5376 my_{adjective}_variable
5377
5378When Vim encounters this, it evaluates the expression inside the braces, puts
5379that in place of the expression, and re-interprets the whole as a variable
5380name. So in the above example, if the variable "adjective" was set to
5381"noisy", then the reference would be to "my_noisy_variable", whereas if
5382"adjective" was set to "quiet", then it would be to "my_quiet_variable".
5383
5384One application for this is to create a set of variables governed by an option
5385value. For example, the statement >
5386 echo my_{&background}_message
5387
5388would output the contents of "my_dark_message" or "my_light_message" depending
5389on the current value of 'background'.
5390
5391You can use multiple brace pairs: >
5392 echo my_{adverb}_{adjective}_message
5393..or even nest them: >
5394 echo my_{ad{end_of_word}}_message
5395where "end_of_word" is either "verb" or "jective".
5396
5397However, the expression inside the braces must evaluate to a valid single
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00005398variable name, e.g. this is invalid: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005399 :let foo='a + b'
5400 :echo c{foo}d
5401.. since the result of expansion is "ca + bd", which is not a variable name.
5402
5403 *curly-braces-function-names*
5404You can call and define functions by an evaluated name in a similar way.
5405Example: >
5406 :let func_end='whizz'
5407 :call my_func_{func_end}(parameter)
5408
5409This would call the function "my_func_whizz(parameter)".
5410
5411==============================================================================
54127. Commands *expression-commands*
5413
5414:let {var-name} = {expr1} *:let* *E18*
5415 Set internal variable {var-name} to the result of the
5416 expression {expr1}. The variable will get the type
5417 from the {expr}. If {var-name} didn't exist yet, it
5418 is created.
5419
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00005420:let {var-name}[{idx}] = {expr1} *E689*
5421 Set a list item to the result of the expression
5422 {expr1}. {var-name} must refer to a list and {idx}
5423 must be a valid index in that list. For nested list
5424 the index can be repeated.
5425 This cannot be used to add an item to a list.
5426
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005427 *E711* *E719*
5428:let {var-name}[{idx1}:{idx2}] = {expr1} *E708* *E709* *E710*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005429 Set a sequence of items in a |List| to the result of
5430 the expression {expr1}, which must be a list with the
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00005431 correct number of items.
5432 {idx1} can be omitted, zero is used instead.
5433 {idx2} can be omitted, meaning the end of the list.
5434 When the selected range of items is partly past the
5435 end of the list, items will be added.
5436
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00005437 *:let+=* *:let-=* *:let.=* *E734*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005438:let {var} += {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} + {expr1}".
5439:let {var} -= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} - {expr1}".
5440:let {var} .= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} . {expr1}".
5441 These fail if {var} was not set yet and when the type
5442 of {var} and {expr1} don't fit the operator.
5443
5444
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005445:let ${env-name} = {expr1} *:let-environment* *:let-$*
5446 Set environment variable {env-name} to the result of
5447 the expression {expr1}. The type is always String.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005448:let ${env-name} .= {expr1}
5449 Append {expr1} to the environment variable {env-name}.
5450 If the environment variable didn't exist yet this
5451 works like "=".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005452
5453:let @{reg-name} = {expr1} *:let-register* *:let-@*
5454 Write the result of the expression {expr1} in register
5455 {reg-name}. {reg-name} must be a single letter, and
5456 must be the name of a writable register (see
5457 |registers|). "@@" can be used for the unnamed
5458 register, "@/" for the search pattern.
5459 If the result of {expr1} ends in a <CR> or <NL>, the
5460 register will be linewise, otherwise it will be set to
5461 characterwise.
5462 This can be used to clear the last search pattern: >
5463 :let @/ = ""
5464< This is different from searching for an empty string,
5465 that would match everywhere.
5466
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005467:let @{reg-name} .= {expr1}
5468 Append {expr1} to register {reg-name}. If the
5469 register was empty it's like setting it to {expr1}.
5470
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005471:let &{option-name} = {expr1} *:let-option* *:let-star*
5472 Set option {option-name} to the result of the
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00005473 expression {expr1}. A String or Number value is
5474 always converted to the type of the option.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005475 For an option local to a window or buffer the effect
5476 is just like using the |:set| command: both the local
Bram Moolenaara5fac542005-10-12 20:58:49 +00005477 value and the global value are changed.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00005478 Example: >
5479 :let &path = &path . ',/usr/local/include'
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005480
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005481:let &{option-name} .= {expr1}
5482 For a string option: Append {expr1} to the value.
5483 Does not insert a comma like |:set+=|.
5484
5485:let &{option-name} += {expr1}
5486:let &{option-name} -= {expr1}
5487 For a number or boolean option: Add or subtract
5488 {expr1}.
5489
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005490:let &l:{option-name} = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005491:let &l:{option-name} .= {expr1}
5492:let &l:{option-name} += {expr1}
5493:let &l:{option-name} -= {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005494 Like above, but only set the local value of an option
5495 (if there is one). Works like |:setlocal|.
5496
5497:let &g:{option-name} = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005498:let &g:{option-name} .= {expr1}
5499:let &g:{option-name} += {expr1}
5500:let &g:{option-name} -= {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005501 Like above, but only set the global value of an option
5502 (if there is one). Works like |:setglobal|.
5503
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00005504:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] = {expr1} *:let-unpack* *E687* *E688*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005505 {expr1} must evaluate to a |List|. The first item in
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00005506 the list is assigned to {name1}, the second item to
5507 {name2}, etc.
5508 The number of names must match the number of items in
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005509 the |List|.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00005510 Each name can be one of the items of the ":let"
5511 command as mentioned above.
5512 Example: >
5513 :let [s, item] = GetItem(s)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005514< Detail: {expr1} is evaluated first, then the
5515 assignments are done in sequence. This matters if
5516 {name2} depends on {name1}. Example: >
5517 :let x = [0, 1]
5518 :let i = 0
5519 :let [i, x[i]] = [1, 2]
5520 :echo x
5521< The result is [0, 2].
5522
5523:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] .= {expr1}
5524:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] += {expr1}
5525:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] -= {expr1}
5526 Like above, but append/add/subtract the value for each
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005527 |List| item.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00005528
5529:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005530 Like |:let-unpack| above, but the |List| may have more
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005531 items than there are names. A list of the remaining
5532 items is assigned to {lastname}. If there are no
5533 remaining items {lastname} is set to an empty list.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00005534 Example: >
5535 :let [a, b; rest] = ["aval", "bval", 3, 4]
5536<
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005537:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] .= {expr1}
5538:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] += {expr1}
5539:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] -= {expr1}
5540 Like above, but append/add/subtract the value for each
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005541 |List| item.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005542 *E106*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005543:let {var-name} .. List the value of variable {var-name}. Multiple
Bram Moolenaardcaf10e2005-01-21 11:55:25 +00005544 variable names may be given. Special names recognized
5545 here: *E738*
5546 g: global variables.
5547 b: local buffer variables.
5548 w: local window variables.
5549 v: Vim variables.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005550
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00005551:let List the values of all variables. The type of the
5552 variable is indicated before the value:
5553 <nothing> String
5554 # Number
5555 * Funcref
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005556
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00005557
5558:unl[et][!] {name} ... *:unlet* *:unl* *E108*
5559 Remove the internal variable {name}. Several variable
5560 names can be given, they are all removed. The name
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005561 may also be a |List| or |Dictionary| item.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005562 With [!] no error message is given for non-existing
5563 variables.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005564 One or more items from a |List| can be removed: >
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +00005565 :unlet list[3] " remove fourth item
5566 :unlet list[3:] " remove fourth item to last
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005567< One item from a |Dictionary| can be removed at a time: >
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +00005568 :unlet dict['two']
5569 :unlet dict.two
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005570
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00005571:lockv[ar][!] [depth] {name} ... *:lockvar* *:lockv*
5572 Lock the internal variable {name}. Locking means that
5573 it can no longer be changed (until it is unlocked).
5574 A locked variable can be deleted: >
5575 :lockvar v
5576 :let v = 'asdf' " fails!
5577 :unlet v
5578< *E741*
5579 If you try to change a locked variable you get an
5580 error message: "E741: Value of {name} is locked"
5581
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005582 [depth] is relevant when locking a |List| or
5583 |Dictionary|. It specifies how deep the locking goes:
5584 1 Lock the |List| or |Dictionary| itself,
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00005585 cannot add or remove items, but can
5586 still change their values.
5587 2 Also lock the values, cannot change
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005588 the items. If an item is a |List| or
5589 |Dictionary|, cannot add or remove
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00005590 items, but can still change the
5591 values.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005592 3 Like 2 but for the |List| /
5593 |Dictionary| in the |List| /
5594 |Dictionary|, one level deeper.
5595 The default [depth] is 2, thus when {name} is a |List|
5596 or |Dictionary| the values cannot be changed.
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00005597 *E743*
5598 For unlimited depth use [!] and omit [depth].
5599 However, there is a maximum depth of 100 to catch
5600 loops.
5601
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005602 Note that when two variables refer to the same |List|
5603 and you lock one of them, the |List| will also be
5604 locked when used through the other variable. Example:
5605 >
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00005606 :let l = [0, 1, 2, 3]
5607 :let cl = l
5608 :lockvar l
5609 :let cl[1] = 99 " won't work!
5610< You may want to make a copy of a list to avoid this.
5611 See |deepcopy()|.
5612
5613
5614:unlo[ckvar][!] [depth] {name} ... *:unlockvar* *:unlo*
5615 Unlock the internal variable {name}. Does the
5616 opposite of |:lockvar|.
5617
5618
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005619:if {expr1} *:if* *:endif* *:en* *E171* *E579* *E580*
5620:en[dif] Execute the commands until the next matching ":else"
5621 or ":endif" if {expr1} evaluates to non-zero.
5622
5623 From Vim version 4.5 until 5.0, every Ex command in
5624 between the ":if" and ":endif" is ignored. These two
5625 commands were just to allow for future expansions in a
5626 backwards compatible way. Nesting was allowed. Note
5627 that any ":else" or ":elseif" was ignored, the "else"
5628 part was not executed either.
5629
5630 You can use this to remain compatible with older
5631 versions: >
5632 :if version >= 500
5633 : version-5-specific-commands
5634 :endif
5635< The commands still need to be parsed to find the
5636 "endif". Sometimes an older Vim has a problem with a
5637 new command. For example, ":silent" is recognized as
5638 a ":substitute" command. In that case ":execute" can
5639 avoid problems: >
5640 :if version >= 600
5641 : execute "silent 1,$delete"
5642 :endif
5643<
5644 NOTE: The ":append" and ":insert" commands don't work
5645 properly in between ":if" and ":endif".
5646
5647 *:else* *:el* *E581* *E583*
5648:el[se] Execute the commands until the next matching ":else"
5649 or ":endif" if they previously were not being
5650 executed.
5651
5652 *:elseif* *:elsei* *E582* *E584*
5653:elsei[f] {expr1} Short for ":else" ":if", with the addition that there
5654 is no extra ":endif".
5655
5656:wh[ile] {expr1} *:while* *:endwhile* *:wh* *:endw*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005657 *E170* *E585* *E588* *E733*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005658:endw[hile] Repeat the commands between ":while" and ":endwhile",
5659 as long as {expr1} evaluates to non-zero.
5660 When an error is detected from a command inside the
5661 loop, execution continues after the "endwhile".
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005662 Example: >
5663 :let lnum = 1
5664 :while lnum <= line("$")
5665 :call FixLine(lnum)
5666 :let lnum = lnum + 1
5667 :endwhile
5668<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005669 NOTE: The ":append" and ":insert" commands don't work
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00005670 properly inside a ":while" and ":for" loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005671
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005672:for {var} in {list} *:for* *E690* *E732*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005673:endfo[r] *:endfo* *:endfor*
5674 Repeat the commands between ":for" and ":endfor" for
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00005675 each item in {list}. Variable {var} is set to the
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00005676 value of each item.
5677 When an error is detected for a command inside the
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005678 loop, execution continues after the "endfor".
Bram Moolenaar572cb562005-08-05 21:35:02 +00005679 Changing {list} inside the loop affects what items are
5680 used. Make a copy if this is unwanted: >
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00005681 :for item in copy(mylist)
5682< When not making a copy, Vim stores a reference to the
5683 next item in the list, before executing the commands
5684 with the current item. Thus the current item can be
5685 removed without effect. Removing any later item means
5686 it will not be found. Thus the following example
5687 works (an inefficient way to make a list empty): >
5688 :for item in mylist
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005689 :call remove(mylist, 0)
5690 :endfor
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00005691< Note that reordering the list (e.g., with sort() or
5692 reverse()) may have unexpected effects.
5693 Note that the type of each list item should be
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005694 identical to avoid errors for the type of {var}
5695 changing. Unlet the variable at the end of the loop
5696 to allow multiple item types.
5697
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005698:for [{var1}, {var2}, ...] in {listlist}
5699:endfo[r]
5700 Like ":for" above, but each item in {listlist} must be
5701 a list, of which each item is assigned to {var1},
5702 {var2}, etc. Example: >
5703 :for [lnum, col] in [[1, 3], [2, 5], [3, 8]]
5704 :echo getline(lnum)[col]
5705 :endfor
5706<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005707 *:continue* *:con* *E586*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005708:con[tinue] When used inside a ":while" or ":for" loop, jumps back
5709 to the start of the loop.
5710 If it is used after a |:try| inside the loop but
5711 before the matching |:finally| (if present), the
5712 commands following the ":finally" up to the matching
5713 |:endtry| are executed first. This process applies to
5714 all nested ":try"s inside the loop. The outermost
5715 ":endtry" then jumps back to the start of the loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005716
5717 *:break* *:brea* *E587*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005718:brea[k] When used inside a ":while" or ":for" loop, skips to
5719 the command after the matching ":endwhile" or
5720 ":endfor".
5721 If it is used after a |:try| inside the loop but
5722 before the matching |:finally| (if present), the
5723 commands following the ":finally" up to the matching
5724 |:endtry| are executed first. This process applies to
5725 all nested ":try"s inside the loop. The outermost
5726 ":endtry" then jumps to the command after the loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005727
5728:try *:try* *:endt* *:endtry* *E600* *E601* *E602*
5729:endt[ry] Change the error handling for the commands between
5730 ":try" and ":endtry" including everything being
5731 executed across ":source" commands, function calls,
5732 or autocommand invocations.
5733
5734 When an error or interrupt is detected and there is
5735 a |:finally| command following, execution continues
5736 after the ":finally". Otherwise, or when the
5737 ":endtry" is reached thereafter, the next
5738 (dynamically) surrounding ":try" is checked for
5739 a corresponding ":finally" etc. Then the script
5740 processing is terminated. (Whether a function
5741 definition has an "abort" argument does not matter.)
5742 Example: >
5743 :try | edit too much | finally | echo "cleanup" | endtry
5744 :echo "impossible" " not reached, script terminated above
5745<
5746 Moreover, an error or interrupt (dynamically) inside
5747 ":try" and ":endtry" is converted to an exception. It
5748 can be caught as if it were thrown by a |:throw|
5749 command (see |:catch|). In this case, the script
5750 processing is not terminated.
5751
5752 The value "Vim:Interrupt" is used for an interrupt
5753 exception. An error in a Vim command is converted
5754 to a value of the form "Vim({command}):{errmsg}",
5755 other errors are converted to a value of the form
5756 "Vim:{errmsg}". {command} is the full command name,
5757 and {errmsg} is the message that is displayed if the
5758 error exception is not caught, always beginning with
5759 the error number.
5760 Examples: >
5761 :try | sleep 100 | catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/ | endtry
5762 :try | edit | catch /^Vim(edit):E\d\+/ | echo "error" | endtry
5763<
5764 *:cat* *:catch* *E603* *E604* *E605*
5765:cat[ch] /{pattern}/ The following commands until the next ":catch",
5766 |:finally|, or |:endtry| that belongs to the same
5767 |:try| as the ":catch" are executed when an exception
5768 matching {pattern} is being thrown and has not yet
5769 been caught by a previous ":catch". Otherwise, these
5770 commands are skipped.
5771 When {pattern} is omitted all errors are caught.
5772 Examples: >
5773 :catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/ " catch interrupts (CTRL-C)
5774 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E/ " catch all Vim errors
5775 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:/ " catch errors and interrupts
5776 :catch /^Vim(write):/ " catch all errors in :write
5777 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E123/ " catch error E123
5778 :catch /my-exception/ " catch user exception
5779 :catch /.*/ " catch everything
5780 :catch " same as /.*/
5781<
5782 Another character can be used instead of / around the
5783 {pattern}, so long as it does not have a special
5784 meaning (e.g., '|' or '"') and doesn't occur inside
5785 {pattern}.
5786 NOTE: It is not reliable to ":catch" the TEXT of
5787 an error message because it may vary in different
5788 locales.
5789
5790 *:fina* *:finally* *E606* *E607*
5791:fina[lly] The following commands until the matching |:endtry|
5792 are executed whenever the part between the matching
5793 |:try| and the ":finally" is left: either by falling
5794 through to the ":finally" or by a |:continue|,
5795 |:break|, |:finish|, or |:return|, or by an error or
5796 interrupt or exception (see |:throw|).
5797
5798 *:th* *:throw* *E608*
5799:th[row] {expr1} The {expr1} is evaluated and thrown as an exception.
5800 If the ":throw" is used after a |:try| but before the
5801 first corresponding |:catch|, commands are skipped
5802 until the first ":catch" matching {expr1} is reached.
5803 If there is no such ":catch" or if the ":throw" is
5804 used after a ":catch" but before the |:finally|, the
5805 commands following the ":finally" (if present) up to
5806 the matching |:endtry| are executed. If the ":throw"
5807 is after the ":finally", commands up to the ":endtry"
5808 are skipped. At the ":endtry", this process applies
5809 again for the next dynamically surrounding ":try"
5810 (which may be found in a calling function or sourcing
5811 script), until a matching ":catch" has been found.
5812 If the exception is not caught, the command processing
5813 is terminated.
5814 Example: >
5815 :try | throw "oops" | catch /^oo/ | echo "caught" | endtry
5816<
5817
5818 *:ec* *:echo*
5819:ec[ho] {expr1} .. Echoes each {expr1}, with a space in between. The
5820 first {expr1} starts on a new line.
5821 Also see |:comment|.
5822 Use "\n" to start a new line. Use "\r" to move the
5823 cursor to the first column.
5824 Uses the highlighting set by the |:echohl| command.
5825 Cannot be followed by a comment.
5826 Example: >
5827 :echo "the value of 'shell' is" &shell
5828< A later redraw may make the message disappear again.
5829 To avoid that a command from before the ":echo" causes
5830 a redraw afterwards (redraws are often postponed until
5831 you type something), force a redraw with the |:redraw|
5832 command. Example: >
5833 :new | redraw | echo "there is a new window"
5834<
5835 *:echon*
5836:echon {expr1} .. Echoes each {expr1}, without anything added. Also see
5837 |:comment|.
5838 Uses the highlighting set by the |:echohl| command.
5839 Cannot be followed by a comment.
5840 Example: >
5841 :echon "the value of 'shell' is " &shell
5842<
5843 Note the difference between using ":echo", which is a
5844 Vim command, and ":!echo", which is an external shell
5845 command: >
5846 :!echo % --> filename
5847< The arguments of ":!" are expanded, see |:_%|. >
5848 :!echo "%" --> filename or "filename"
5849< Like the previous example. Whether you see the double
5850 quotes or not depends on your 'shell'. >
5851 :echo % --> nothing
5852< The '%' is an illegal character in an expression. >
5853 :echo "%" --> %
5854< This just echoes the '%' character. >
5855 :echo expand("%") --> filename
5856< This calls the expand() function to expand the '%'.
5857
5858 *:echoh* *:echohl*
5859:echoh[l] {name} Use the highlight group {name} for the following
5860 |:echo|, |:echon| and |:echomsg| commands. Also used
5861 for the |input()| prompt. Example: >
5862 :echohl WarningMsg | echo "Don't panic!" | echohl None
5863< Don't forget to set the group back to "None",
5864 otherwise all following echo's will be highlighted.
5865
5866 *:echom* *:echomsg*
5867:echom[sg] {expr1} .. Echo the expression(s) as a true message, saving the
5868 message in the |message-history|.
5869 Spaces are placed between the arguments as with the
5870 |:echo| command. But unprintable characters are
5871 displayed, not interpreted.
5872 Uses the highlighting set by the |:echohl| command.
5873 Example: >
5874 :echomsg "It's a Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz, as you can plainly see."
5875<
5876 *:echoe* *:echoerr*
5877:echoe[rr] {expr1} .. Echo the expression(s) as an error message, saving the
5878 message in the |message-history|. When used in a
5879 script or function the line number will be added.
5880 Spaces are placed between the arguments as with the
5881 :echo command. When used inside a try conditional,
5882 the message is raised as an error exception instead
5883 (see |try-echoerr|).
5884 Example: >
5885 :echoerr "This script just failed!"
5886< If you just want a highlighted message use |:echohl|.
5887 And to get a beep: >
5888 :exe "normal \<Esc>"
5889<
5890 *:exe* *:execute*
5891:exe[cute] {expr1} .. Executes the string that results from the evaluation
5892 of {expr1} as an Ex command. Multiple arguments are
5893 concatenated, with a space in between. {expr1} is
5894 used as the processed command, command line editing
5895 keys are not recognized.
5896 Cannot be followed by a comment.
5897 Examples: >
5898 :execute "buffer " nextbuf
5899 :execute "normal " count . "w"
5900<
5901 ":execute" can be used to append a command to commands
5902 that don't accept a '|'. Example: >
5903 :execute '!ls' | echo "theend"
5904
5905< ":execute" is also a nice way to avoid having to type
5906 control characters in a Vim script for a ":normal"
5907 command: >
5908 :execute "normal ixxx\<Esc>"
5909< This has an <Esc> character, see |expr-string|.
5910
5911 Note: The executed string may be any command-line, but
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00005912 you cannot start or end a "while", "for" or "if"
5913 command. Thus this is illegal: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005914 :execute 'while i > 5'
5915 :execute 'echo "test" | break'
5916<
5917 It is allowed to have a "while" or "if" command
5918 completely in the executed string: >
5919 :execute 'while i < 5 | echo i | let i = i + 1 | endwhile'
5920<
5921
5922 *:comment*
5923 ":execute", ":echo" and ":echon" cannot be followed by
5924 a comment directly, because they see the '"' as the
5925 start of a string. But, you can use '|' followed by a
5926 comment. Example: >
5927 :echo "foo" | "this is a comment
5928
5929==============================================================================
59308. Exception handling *exception-handling*
5931
5932The Vim script language comprises an exception handling feature. This section
5933explains how it can be used in a Vim script.
5934
5935Exceptions may be raised by Vim on an error or on interrupt, see
5936|catch-errors| and |catch-interrupt|. You can also explicitly throw an
5937exception by using the ":throw" command, see |throw-catch|.
5938
5939
5940TRY CONDITIONALS *try-conditionals*
5941
5942Exceptions can be caught or can cause cleanup code to be executed. You can
5943use a try conditional to specify catch clauses (that catch exceptions) and/or
5944a finally clause (to be executed for cleanup).
5945 A try conditional begins with a |:try| command and ends at the matching
5946|:endtry| command. In between, you can use a |:catch| command to start
5947a catch clause, or a |:finally| command to start a finally clause. There may
5948be none or multiple catch clauses, but there is at most one finally clause,
5949which must not be followed by any catch clauses. The lines before the catch
5950clauses and the finally clause is called a try block. >
5951
5952 :try
5953 : ...
5954 : ... TRY BLOCK
5955 : ...
5956 :catch /{pattern}/
5957 : ...
5958 : ... CATCH CLAUSE
5959 : ...
5960 :catch /{pattern}/
5961 : ...
5962 : ... CATCH CLAUSE
5963 : ...
5964 :finally
5965 : ...
5966 : ... FINALLY CLAUSE
5967 : ...
5968 :endtry
5969
5970The try conditional allows to watch code for exceptions and to take the
5971appropriate actions. Exceptions from the try block may be caught. Exceptions
5972from the try block and also the catch clauses may cause cleanup actions.
5973 When no exception is thrown during execution of the try block, the control
5974is transferred to the finally clause, if present. After its execution, the
5975script continues with the line following the ":endtry".
5976 When an exception occurs during execution of the try block, the remaining
5977lines in the try block are skipped. The exception is matched against the
5978patterns specified as arguments to the ":catch" commands. The catch clause
5979after the first matching ":catch" is taken, other catch clauses are not
5980executed. The catch clause ends when the next ":catch", ":finally", or
5981":endtry" command is reached - whatever is first. Then, the finally clause
5982(if present) is executed. When the ":endtry" is reached, the script execution
5983continues in the following line as usual.
5984 When an exception that does not match any of the patterns specified by the
5985":catch" commands is thrown in the try block, the exception is not caught by
5986that try conditional and none of the catch clauses is executed. Only the
5987finally clause, if present, is taken. The exception pends during execution of
5988the finally clause. It is resumed at the ":endtry", so that commands after
5989the ":endtry" are not executed and the exception might be caught elsewhere,
5990see |try-nesting|.
5991 When during execution of a catch clause another exception is thrown, the
5992remaining lines in that catch clause are not executed. The new exception is
5993not matched against the patterns in any of the ":catch" commands of the same
5994try conditional and none of its catch clauses is taken. If there is, however,
5995a finally clause, it is executed, and the exception pends during its
5996execution. The commands following the ":endtry" are not executed. The new
5997exception might, however, be caught elsewhere, see |try-nesting|.
5998 When during execution of the finally clause (if present) an exception is
5999thrown, the remaining lines in the finally clause are skipped. If the finally
6000clause has been taken because of an exception from the try block or one of the
6001catch clauses, the original (pending) exception is discarded. The commands
6002following the ":endtry" are not executed, and the exception from the finally
6003clause is propagated and can be caught elsewhere, see |try-nesting|.
6004
6005The finally clause is also executed, when a ":break" or ":continue" for
6006a ":while" loop enclosing the complete try conditional is executed from the
6007try block or a catch clause. Or when a ":return" or ":finish" is executed
6008from the try block or a catch clause of a try conditional in a function or
6009sourced script, respectively. The ":break", ":continue", ":return", or
6010":finish" pends during execution of the finally clause and is resumed when the
6011":endtry" is reached. It is, however, discarded when an exception is thrown
6012from the finally clause.
6013 When a ":break" or ":continue" for a ":while" loop enclosing the complete
6014try conditional or when a ":return" or ":finish" is encountered in the finally
6015clause, the rest of the finally clause is skipped, and the ":break",
6016":continue", ":return" or ":finish" is executed as usual. If the finally
6017clause has been taken because of an exception or an earlier ":break",
6018":continue", ":return", or ":finish" from the try block or a catch clause,
6019this pending exception or command is discarded.
6020
6021For examples see |throw-catch| and |try-finally|.
6022
6023
6024NESTING OF TRY CONDITIONALS *try-nesting*
6025
6026Try conditionals can be nested arbitrarily. That is, a complete try
6027conditional can be put into the try block, a catch clause, or the finally
6028clause of another try conditional. If the inner try conditional does not
6029catch an exception thrown in its try block or throws a new exception from one
6030of its catch clauses or its finally clause, the outer try conditional is
6031checked according to the rules above. If the inner try conditional is in the
6032try block of the outer try conditional, its catch clauses are checked, but
6033otherwise only the finally clause is executed. It does not matter for
6034nesting, whether the inner try conditional is directly contained in the outer
6035one, or whether the outer one sources a script or calls a function containing
6036the inner try conditional.
6037
6038When none of the active try conditionals catches an exception, just their
6039finally clauses are executed. Thereafter, the script processing terminates.
6040An error message is displayed in case of an uncaught exception explicitly
6041thrown by a ":throw" command. For uncaught error and interrupt exceptions
6042implicitly raised by Vim, the error message(s) or interrupt message are shown
6043as usual.
6044
6045For examples see |throw-catch|.
6046
6047
6048EXAMINING EXCEPTION HANDLING CODE *except-examine*
6049
6050Exception handling code can get tricky. If you are in doubt what happens, set
6051'verbose' to 13 or use the ":13verbose" command modifier when sourcing your
6052script file. Then you see when an exception is thrown, discarded, caught, or
6053finished. When using a verbosity level of at least 14, things pending in
6054a finally clause are also shown. This information is also given in debug mode
6055(see |debug-scripts|).
6056
6057
6058THROWING AND CATCHING EXCEPTIONS *throw-catch*
6059
6060You can throw any number or string as an exception. Use the |:throw| command
6061and pass the value to be thrown as argument: >
6062 :throw 4711
6063 :throw "string"
6064< *throw-expression*
6065You can also specify an expression argument. The expression is then evaluated
6066first, and the result is thrown: >
6067 :throw 4705 + strlen("string")
6068 :throw strpart("strings", 0, 6)
6069
6070An exception might be thrown during evaluation of the argument of the ":throw"
6071command. Unless it is caught there, the expression evaluation is abandoned.
6072The ":throw" command then does not throw a new exception.
6073 Example: >
6074
6075 :function! Foo(arg)
6076 : try
6077 : throw a:arg
6078 : catch /foo/
6079 : endtry
6080 : return 1
6081 :endfunction
6082 :
6083 :function! Bar()
6084 : echo "in Bar"
6085 : return 4710
6086 :endfunction
6087 :
6088 :throw Foo("arrgh") + Bar()
6089
6090This throws "arrgh", and "in Bar" is not displayed since Bar() is not
6091executed. >
6092 :throw Foo("foo") + Bar()
6093however displays "in Bar" and throws 4711.
6094
6095Any other command that takes an expression as argument might also be
6096abandoned by an (uncaught) exception during the expression evaluation. The
6097exception is then propagated to the caller of the command.
6098 Example: >
6099
6100 :if Foo("arrgh")
6101 : echo "then"
6102 :else
6103 : echo "else"
6104 :endif
6105
6106Here neither of "then" or "else" is displayed.
6107
6108 *catch-order*
6109Exceptions can be caught by a try conditional with one or more |:catch|
6110commands, see |try-conditionals|. The values to be caught by each ":catch"
6111command can be specified as a pattern argument. The subsequent catch clause
6112gets executed when a matching exception is caught.
6113 Example: >
6114
6115 :function! Foo(value)
6116 : try
6117 : throw a:value
6118 : catch /^\d\+$/
6119 : echo "Number thrown"
6120 : catch /.*/
6121 : echo "String thrown"
6122 : endtry
6123 :endfunction
6124 :
6125 :call Foo(0x1267)
6126 :call Foo('string')
6127
6128The first call to Foo() displays "Number thrown", the second "String thrown".
6129An exception is matched against the ":catch" commands in the order they are
6130specified. Only the first match counts. So you should place the more
6131specific ":catch" first. The following order does not make sense: >
6132
6133 : catch /.*/
6134 : echo "String thrown"
6135 : catch /^\d\+$/
6136 : echo "Number thrown"
6137
6138The first ":catch" here matches always, so that the second catch clause is
6139never taken.
6140
6141 *throw-variables*
6142If you catch an exception by a general pattern, you may access the exact value
6143in the variable |v:exception|: >
6144
6145 : catch /^\d\+$/
6146 : echo "Number thrown. Value is" v:exception
6147
6148You may also be interested where an exception was thrown. This is stored in
6149|v:throwpoint|. Note that "v:exception" and "v:throwpoint" are valid for the
6150exception most recently caught as long it is not finished.
6151 Example: >
6152
6153 :function! Caught()
6154 : if v:exception != ""
6155 : echo 'Caught "' . v:exception . '" in ' . v:throwpoint
6156 : else
6157 : echo 'Nothing caught'
6158 : endif
6159 :endfunction
6160 :
6161 :function! Foo()
6162 : try
6163 : try
6164 : try
6165 : throw 4711
6166 : finally
6167 : call Caught()
6168 : endtry
6169 : catch /.*/
6170 : call Caught()
6171 : throw "oops"
6172 : endtry
6173 : catch /.*/
6174 : call Caught()
6175 : finally
6176 : call Caught()
6177 : endtry
6178 :endfunction
6179 :
6180 :call Foo()
6181
6182This displays >
6183
6184 Nothing caught
6185 Caught "4711" in function Foo, line 4
6186 Caught "oops" in function Foo, line 10
6187 Nothing caught
6188
6189A practical example: The following command ":LineNumber" displays the line
6190number in the script or function where it has been used: >
6191
6192 :function! LineNumber()
6193 : return substitute(v:throwpoint, '.*\D\(\d\+\).*', '\1', "")
6194 :endfunction
6195 :command! LineNumber try | throw "" | catch | echo LineNumber() | endtry
6196<
6197 *try-nested*
6198An exception that is not caught by a try conditional can be caught by
6199a surrounding try conditional: >
6200
6201 :try
6202 : try
6203 : throw "foo"
6204 : catch /foobar/
6205 : echo "foobar"
6206 : finally
6207 : echo "inner finally"
6208 : endtry
6209 :catch /foo/
6210 : echo "foo"
6211 :endtry
6212
6213The inner try conditional does not catch the exception, just its finally
6214clause is executed. The exception is then caught by the outer try
6215conditional. The example displays "inner finally" and then "foo".
6216
6217 *throw-from-catch*
6218You can catch an exception and throw a new one to be caught elsewhere from the
6219catch clause: >
6220
6221 :function! Foo()
6222 : throw "foo"
6223 :endfunction
6224 :
6225 :function! Bar()
6226 : try
6227 : call Foo()
6228 : catch /foo/
6229 : echo "Caught foo, throw bar"
6230 : throw "bar"
6231 : endtry
6232 :endfunction
6233 :
6234 :try
6235 : call Bar()
6236 :catch /.*/
6237 : echo "Caught" v:exception
6238 :endtry
6239
6240This displays "Caught foo, throw bar" and then "Caught bar".
6241
6242 *rethrow*
6243There is no real rethrow in the Vim script language, but you may throw
6244"v:exception" instead: >
6245
6246 :function! Bar()
6247 : try
6248 : call Foo()
6249 : catch /.*/
6250 : echo "Rethrow" v:exception
6251 : throw v:exception
6252 : endtry
6253 :endfunction
6254< *try-echoerr*
6255Note that this method cannot be used to "rethrow" Vim error or interrupt
6256exceptions, because it is not possible to fake Vim internal exceptions.
6257Trying so causes an error exception. You should throw your own exception
6258denoting the situation. If you want to cause a Vim error exception containing
6259the original error exception value, you can use the |:echoerr| command: >
6260
6261 :try
6262 : try
6263 : asdf
6264 : catch /.*/
6265 : echoerr v:exception
6266 : endtry
6267 :catch /.*/
6268 : echo v:exception
6269 :endtry
6270
6271This code displays
6272
6273 Vim(echoerr):Vim:E492: Not an editor command: asdf ~
6274
6275
6276CLEANUP CODE *try-finally*
6277
6278Scripts often change global settings and restore them at their end. If the
6279user however interrupts the script by pressing CTRL-C, the settings remain in
6280an inconsistent state. The same may happen to you in the development phase of
6281a script when an error occurs or you explicitly throw an exception without
6282catching it. You can solve these problems by using a try conditional with
6283a finally clause for restoring the settings. Its execution is guaranteed on
6284normal control flow, on error, on an explicit ":throw", and on interrupt.
6285(Note that errors and interrupts from inside the try conditional are converted
6286to exceptions. When not caught, they terminate the script after the finally
6287clause has been executed.)
6288Example: >
6289
6290 :try
6291 : let s:saved_ts = &ts
6292 : set ts=17
6293 :
6294 : " Do the hard work here.
6295 :
6296 :finally
6297 : let &ts = s:saved_ts
6298 : unlet s:saved_ts
6299 :endtry
6300
6301This method should be used locally whenever a function or part of a script
6302changes global settings which need to be restored on failure or normal exit of
6303that function or script part.
6304
6305 *break-finally*
6306Cleanup code works also when the try block or a catch clause is left by
6307a ":continue", ":break", ":return", or ":finish".
6308 Example: >
6309
6310 :let first = 1
6311 :while 1
6312 : try
6313 : if first
6314 : echo "first"
6315 : let first = 0
6316 : continue
6317 : else
6318 : throw "second"
6319 : endif
6320 : catch /.*/
6321 : echo v:exception
6322 : break
6323 : finally
6324 : echo "cleanup"
6325 : endtry
6326 : echo "still in while"
6327 :endwhile
6328 :echo "end"
6329
6330This displays "first", "cleanup", "second", "cleanup", and "end". >
6331
6332 :function! Foo()
6333 : try
6334 : return 4711
6335 : finally
6336 : echo "cleanup\n"
6337 : endtry
6338 : echo "Foo still active"
6339 :endfunction
6340 :
6341 :echo Foo() "returned by Foo"
6342
6343This displays "cleanup" and "4711 returned by Foo". You don't need to add an
6344extra ":return" in the finally clause. (Above all, this would override the
6345return value.)
6346
6347 *except-from-finally*
6348Using either of ":continue", ":break", ":return", ":finish", or ":throw" in
6349a finally clause is possible, but not recommended since it abandons the
6350cleanup actions for the try conditional. But, of course, interrupt and error
6351exceptions might get raised from a finally clause.
6352 Example where an error in the finally clause stops an interrupt from
6353working correctly: >
6354
6355 :try
6356 : try
6357 : echo "Press CTRL-C for interrupt"
6358 : while 1
6359 : endwhile
6360 : finally
6361 : unlet novar
6362 : endtry
6363 :catch /novar/
6364 :endtry
6365 :echo "Script still running"
6366 :sleep 1
6367
6368If you need to put commands that could fail into a finally clause, you should
6369think about catching or ignoring the errors in these commands, see
6370|catch-errors| and |ignore-errors|.
6371
6372
6373CATCHING ERRORS *catch-errors*
6374
6375If you want to catch specific errors, you just have to put the code to be
6376watched in a try block and add a catch clause for the error message. The
6377presence of the try conditional causes all errors to be converted to an
6378exception. No message is displayed and |v:errmsg| is not set then. To find
6379the right pattern for the ":catch" command, you have to know how the format of
6380the error exception is.
6381 Error exceptions have the following format: >
6382
6383 Vim({cmdname}):{errmsg}
6384or >
6385 Vim:{errmsg}
6386
6387{cmdname} is the name of the command that failed; the second form is used when
6388the command name is not known. {errmsg} is the error message usually produced
6389when the error occurs outside try conditionals. It always begins with
6390a capital "E", followed by a two or three-digit error number, a colon, and
6391a space.
6392
6393Examples:
6394
6395The command >
6396 :unlet novar
6397normally produces the error message >
6398 E108: No such variable: "novar"
6399which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
6400 Vim(unlet):E108: No such variable: "novar"
6401
6402The command >
6403 :dwim
6404normally produces the error message >
6405 E492: Not an editor command: dwim
6406which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
6407 Vim:E492: Not an editor command: dwim
6408
6409You can catch all ":unlet" errors by a >
6410 :catch /^Vim(unlet):/
6411or all errors for misspelled command names by a >
6412 :catch /^Vim:E492:/
6413
6414Some error messages may be produced by different commands: >
6415 :function nofunc
6416and >
6417 :delfunction nofunc
6418both produce the error message >
6419 E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
6420which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
6421 Vim(function):E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
6422or >
6423 Vim(delfunction):E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
6424respectively. You can catch the error by its number independently on the
6425command that caused it if you use the following pattern: >
6426 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E128:/
6427
6428Some commands like >
6429 :let x = novar
6430produce multiple error messages, here: >
6431 E121: Undefined variable: novar
6432 E15: Invalid expression: novar
6433Only the first is used for the exception value, since it is the most specific
6434one (see |except-several-errors|). So you can catch it by >
6435 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E121:/
6436
6437You can catch all errors related to the name "nofunc" by >
6438 :catch /\<nofunc\>/
6439
6440You can catch all Vim errors in the ":write" and ":read" commands by >
6441 :catch /^Vim(\(write\|read\)):E\d\+:/
6442
6443You can catch all Vim errors by the pattern >
6444 :catch /^Vim\((\a\+)\)\=:E\d\+:/
6445<
6446 *catch-text*
6447NOTE: You should never catch the error message text itself: >
6448 :catch /No such variable/
6449only works in the english locale, but not when the user has selected
6450a different language by the |:language| command. It is however helpful to
6451cite the message text in a comment: >
6452 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E108:/ " No such variable
6453
6454
6455IGNORING ERRORS *ignore-errors*
6456
6457You can ignore errors in a specific Vim command by catching them locally: >
6458
6459 :try
6460 : write
6461 :catch
6462 :endtry
6463
6464But you are strongly recommended NOT to use this simple form, since it could
6465catch more than you want. With the ":write" command, some autocommands could
6466be executed and cause errors not related to writing, for instance: >
6467
6468 :au BufWritePre * unlet novar
6469
6470There could even be such errors you are not responsible for as a script
6471writer: a user of your script might have defined such autocommands. You would
6472then hide the error from the user.
6473 It is much better to use >
6474
6475 :try
6476 : write
6477 :catch /^Vim(write):/
6478 :endtry
6479
6480which only catches real write errors. So catch only what you'd like to ignore
6481intentionally.
6482
6483For a single command that does not cause execution of autocommands, you could
6484even suppress the conversion of errors to exceptions by the ":silent!"
6485command: >
6486 :silent! nunmap k
6487This works also when a try conditional is active.
6488
6489
6490CATCHING INTERRUPTS *catch-interrupt*
6491
6492When there are active try conditionals, an interrupt (CTRL-C) is converted to
6493the exception "Vim:Interrupt". You can catch it like every exception. The
6494script is not terminated, then.
6495 Example: >
6496
6497 :function! TASK1()
6498 : sleep 10
6499 :endfunction
6500
6501 :function! TASK2()
6502 : sleep 20
6503 :endfunction
6504
6505 :while 1
6506 : let command = input("Type a command: ")
6507 : try
6508 : if command == ""
6509 : continue
6510 : elseif command == "END"
6511 : break
6512 : elseif command == "TASK1"
6513 : call TASK1()
6514 : elseif command == "TASK2"
6515 : call TASK2()
6516 : else
6517 : echo "\nIllegal command:" command
6518 : continue
6519 : endif
6520 : catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/
6521 : echo "\nCommand interrupted"
6522 : " Caught the interrupt. Continue with next prompt.
6523 : endtry
6524 :endwhile
6525
6526You can interrupt a task here by pressing CTRL-C; the script then asks for
6527a new command. If you press CTRL-C at the prompt, the script is terminated.
6528
6529For testing what happens when CTRL-C would be pressed on a specific line in
6530your script, use the debug mode and execute the |>quit| or |>interrupt|
6531command on that line. See |debug-scripts|.
6532
6533
6534CATCHING ALL *catch-all*
6535
6536The commands >
6537
6538 :catch /.*/
6539 :catch //
6540 :catch
6541
6542catch everything, error exceptions, interrupt exceptions and exceptions
6543explicitly thrown by the |:throw| command. This is useful at the top level of
6544a script in order to catch unexpected things.
6545 Example: >
6546
6547 :try
6548 :
6549 : " do the hard work here
6550 :
6551 :catch /MyException/
6552 :
6553 : " handle known problem
6554 :
6555 :catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/
6556 : echo "Script interrupted"
6557 :catch /.*/
6558 : echo "Internal error (" . v:exception . ")"
6559 : echo " - occurred at " . v:throwpoint
6560 :endtry
6561 :" end of script
6562
6563Note: Catching all might catch more things than you want. Thus, you are
6564strongly encouraged to catch only for problems that you can really handle by
6565specifying a pattern argument to the ":catch".
6566 Example: Catching all could make it nearly impossible to interrupt a script
6567by pressing CTRL-C: >
6568
6569 :while 1
6570 : try
6571 : sleep 1
6572 : catch
6573 : endtry
6574 :endwhile
6575
6576
6577EXCEPTIONS AND AUTOCOMMANDS *except-autocmd*
6578
6579Exceptions may be used during execution of autocommands. Example: >
6580
6581 :autocmd User x try
6582 :autocmd User x throw "Oops!"
6583 :autocmd User x catch
6584 :autocmd User x echo v:exception
6585 :autocmd User x endtry
6586 :autocmd User x throw "Arrgh!"
6587 :autocmd User x echo "Should not be displayed"
6588 :
6589 :try
6590 : doautocmd User x
6591 :catch
6592 : echo v:exception
6593 :endtry
6594
6595This displays "Oops!" and "Arrgh!".
6596
6597 *except-autocmd-Pre*
6598For some commands, autocommands get executed before the main action of the
6599command takes place. If an exception is thrown and not caught in the sequence
6600of autocommands, the sequence and the command that caused its execution are
6601abandoned and the exception is propagated to the caller of the command.
6602 Example: >
6603
6604 :autocmd BufWritePre * throw "FAIL"
6605 :autocmd BufWritePre * echo "Should not be displayed"
6606 :
6607 :try
6608 : write
6609 :catch
6610 : echo "Caught:" v:exception "from" v:throwpoint
6611 :endtry
6612
6613Here, the ":write" command does not write the file currently being edited (as
6614you can see by checking 'modified'), since the exception from the BufWritePre
6615autocommand abandons the ":write". The exception is then caught and the
6616script displays: >
6617
6618 Caught: FAIL from BufWrite Auto commands for "*"
6619<
6620 *except-autocmd-Post*
6621For some commands, autocommands get executed after the main action of the
6622command has taken place. If this main action fails and the command is inside
6623an active try conditional, the autocommands are skipped and an error exception
6624is thrown that can be caught by the caller of the command.
6625 Example: >
6626
6627 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo "File successfully written!"
6628 :
6629 :try
6630 : write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
6631 :catch
6632 : echo v:exception
6633 :endtry
6634
6635This just displays: >
6636
6637 Vim(write):E212: Can't open file for writing (/i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e)
6638
6639If you really need to execute the autocommands even when the main action
6640fails, trigger the event from the catch clause.
6641 Example: >
6642
6643 :autocmd BufWritePre * set noreadonly
6644 :autocmd BufWritePost * set readonly
6645 :
6646 :try
6647 : write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
6648 :catch
6649 : doautocmd BufWritePost /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
6650 :endtry
6651<
6652You can also use ":silent!": >
6653
6654 :let x = "ok"
6655 :let v:errmsg = ""
6656 :autocmd BufWritePost * if v:errmsg != ""
6657 :autocmd BufWritePost * let x = "after fail"
6658 :autocmd BufWritePost * endif
6659 :try
6660 : silent! write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
6661 :catch
6662 :endtry
6663 :echo x
6664
6665This displays "after fail".
6666
6667If the main action of the command does not fail, exceptions from the
6668autocommands will be catchable by the caller of the command: >
6669
6670 :autocmd BufWritePost * throw ":-("
6671 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo "Should not be displayed"
6672 :
6673 :try
6674 : write
6675 :catch
6676 : echo v:exception
6677 :endtry
6678<
6679 *except-autocmd-Cmd*
6680For some commands, the normal action can be replaced by a sequence of
6681autocommands. Exceptions from that sequence will be catchable by the caller
6682of the command.
6683 Example: For the ":write" command, the caller cannot know whether the file
6684had actually been written when the exception occurred. You need to tell it in
6685some way. >
6686
6687 :if !exists("cnt")
6688 : let cnt = 0
6689 :
6690 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if &modified
6691 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * let cnt = cnt + 1
6692 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if cnt % 3 == 2
6693 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * throw "BufWriteCmdError"
6694 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
6695 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * write | set nomodified
6696 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if cnt % 3 == 0
6697 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * throw "BufWriteCmdError"
6698 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
6699 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * echo "File successfully written!"
6700 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
6701 :endif
6702 :
6703 :try
6704 : write
6705 :catch /^BufWriteCmdError$/
6706 : if &modified
6707 : echo "Error on writing (file contents not changed)"
6708 : else
6709 : echo "Error after writing"
6710 : endif
6711 :catch /^Vim(write):/
6712 : echo "Error on writing"
6713 :endtry
6714
6715When this script is sourced several times after making changes, it displays
6716first >
6717 File successfully written!
6718then >
6719 Error on writing (file contents not changed)
6720then >
6721 Error after writing
6722etc.
6723
6724 *except-autocmd-ill*
6725You cannot spread a try conditional over autocommands for different events.
6726The following code is ill-formed: >
6727
6728 :autocmd BufWritePre * try
6729 :
6730 :autocmd BufWritePost * catch
6731 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo v:exception
6732 :autocmd BufWritePost * endtry
6733 :
6734 :write
6735
6736
6737EXCEPTION HIERARCHIES AND PARAMETERIZED EXCEPTIONS *except-hier-param*
6738
6739Some programming languages allow to use hierarchies of exception classes or to
6740pass additional information with the object of an exception class. You can do
6741similar things in Vim.
6742 In order to throw an exception from a hierarchy, just throw the complete
6743class name with the components separated by a colon, for instance throw the
6744string "EXCEPT:MATHERR:OVERFLOW" for an overflow in a mathematical library.
6745 When you want to pass additional information with your exception class, add
6746it in parentheses, for instance throw the string "EXCEPT:IO:WRITEERR(myfile)"
6747for an error when writing "myfile".
6748 With the appropriate patterns in the ":catch" command, you can catch for
6749base classes or derived classes of your hierarchy. Additional information in
6750parentheses can be cut out from |v:exception| with the ":substitute" command.
6751 Example: >
6752
6753 :function! CheckRange(a, func)
6754 : if a:a < 0
6755 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:RANGE(" . a:func . ")"
6756 : endif
6757 :endfunction
6758 :
6759 :function! Add(a, b)
6760 : call CheckRange(a:a, "Add")
6761 : call CheckRange(a:b, "Add")
6762 : let c = a:a + a:b
6763 : if c < 0
6764 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:OVERFLOW"
6765 : endif
6766 : return c
6767 :endfunction
6768 :
6769 :function! Div(a, b)
6770 : call CheckRange(a:a, "Div")
6771 : call CheckRange(a:b, "Div")
6772 : if (a:b == 0)
6773 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:ZERODIV"
6774 : endif
6775 : return a:a / a:b
6776 :endfunction
6777 :
6778 :function! Write(file)
6779 : try
6780 : execute "write" a:file
6781 : catch /^Vim(write):/
6782 : throw "EXCEPT:IO(" . getcwd() . ", " . a:file . "):WRITEERR"
6783 : endtry
6784 :endfunction
6785 :
6786 :try
6787 :
6788 : " something with arithmetics and I/O
6789 :
6790 :catch /^EXCEPT:MATHERR:RANGE/
6791 : let function = substitute(v:exception, '.*(\(\a\+\)).*', '\1', "")
6792 : echo "Range error in" function
6793 :
6794 :catch /^EXCEPT:MATHERR/ " catches OVERFLOW and ZERODIV
6795 : echo "Math error"
6796 :
6797 :catch /^EXCEPT:IO/
6798 : let dir = substitute(v:exception, '.*(\(.\+\),\s*.\+).*', '\1', "")
6799 : let file = substitute(v:exception, '.*(.\+,\s*\(.\+\)).*', '\1', "")
6800 : if file !~ '^/'
6801 : let file = dir . "/" . file
6802 : endif
6803 : echo 'I/O error for "' . file . '"'
6804 :
6805 :catch /^EXCEPT/
6806 : echo "Unspecified error"
6807 :
6808 :endtry
6809
6810The exceptions raised by Vim itself (on error or when pressing CTRL-C) use
6811a flat hierarchy: they are all in the "Vim" class. You cannot throw yourself
6812exceptions with the "Vim" prefix; they are reserved for Vim.
6813 Vim error exceptions are parameterized with the name of the command that
6814failed, if known. See |catch-errors|.
6815
6816
6817PECULIARITIES
6818 *except-compat*
6819The exception handling concept requires that the command sequence causing the
6820exception is aborted immediately and control is transferred to finally clauses
6821and/or a catch clause.
6822
6823In the Vim script language there are cases where scripts and functions
6824continue after an error: in functions without the "abort" flag or in a command
6825after ":silent!", control flow goes to the following line, and outside
6826functions, control flow goes to the line following the outermost ":endwhile"
6827or ":endif". On the other hand, errors should be catchable as exceptions
6828(thus, requiring the immediate abortion).
6829
6830This problem has been solved by converting errors to exceptions and using
6831immediate abortion (if not suppressed by ":silent!") only when a try
6832conditional is active. This is no restriction since an (error) exception can
6833be caught only from an active try conditional. If you want an immediate
6834termination without catching the error, just use a try conditional without
6835catch clause. (You can cause cleanup code being executed before termination
6836by specifying a finally clause.)
6837
6838When no try conditional is active, the usual abortion and continuation
6839behavior is used instead of immediate abortion. This ensures compatibility of
6840scripts written for Vim 6.1 and earlier.
6841
6842However, when sourcing an existing script that does not use exception handling
6843commands (or when calling one of its functions) from inside an active try
6844conditional of a new script, you might change the control flow of the existing
6845script on error. You get the immediate abortion on error and can catch the
6846error in the new script. If however the sourced script suppresses error
6847messages by using the ":silent!" command (checking for errors by testing
6848|v:errmsg| if appropriate), its execution path is not changed. The error is
6849not converted to an exception. (See |:silent|.) So the only remaining cause
6850where this happens is for scripts that don't care about errors and produce
6851error messages. You probably won't want to use such code from your new
6852scripts.
6853
6854 *except-syntax-err*
6855Syntax errors in the exception handling commands are never caught by any of
6856the ":catch" commands of the try conditional they belong to. Its finally
6857clauses, however, is executed.
6858 Example: >
6859
6860 :try
6861 : try
6862 : throw 4711
6863 : catch /\(/
6864 : echo "in catch with syntax error"
6865 : catch
6866 : echo "inner catch-all"
6867 : finally
6868 : echo "inner finally"
6869 : endtry
6870 :catch
6871 : echo 'outer catch-all caught "' . v:exception . '"'
6872 : finally
6873 : echo "outer finally"
6874 :endtry
6875
6876This displays: >
6877 inner finally
6878 outer catch-all caught "Vim(catch):E54: Unmatched \("
6879 outer finally
6880The original exception is discarded and an error exception is raised, instead.
6881
6882 *except-single-line*
6883The ":try", ":catch", ":finally", and ":endtry" commands can be put on
6884a single line, but then syntax errors may make it difficult to recognize the
6885"catch" line, thus you better avoid this.
6886 Example: >
6887 :try | unlet! foo # | catch | endtry
6888raises an error exception for the trailing characters after the ":unlet!"
6889argument, but does not see the ":catch" and ":endtry" commands, so that the
6890error exception is discarded and the "E488: Trailing characters" message gets
6891displayed.
6892
6893 *except-several-errors*
6894When several errors appear in a single command, the first error message is
6895usually the most specific one and therefor converted to the error exception.
6896 Example: >
6897 echo novar
6898causes >
6899 E121: Undefined variable: novar
6900 E15: Invalid expression: novar
6901The value of the error exception inside try conditionals is: >
6902 Vim(echo):E121: Undefined variable: novar
6903< *except-syntax-error*
6904But when a syntax error is detected after a normal error in the same command,
6905the syntax error is used for the exception being thrown.
6906 Example: >
6907 unlet novar #
6908causes >
6909 E108: No such variable: "novar"
6910 E488: Trailing characters
6911The value of the error exception inside try conditionals is: >
6912 Vim(unlet):E488: Trailing characters
6913This is done because the syntax error might change the execution path in a way
6914not intended by the user. Example: >
6915 try
6916 try | unlet novar # | catch | echo v:exception | endtry
6917 catch /.*/
6918 echo "outer catch:" v:exception
6919 endtry
6920This displays "outer catch: Vim(unlet):E488: Trailing characters", and then
6921a "E600: Missing :endtry" error message is given, see |except-single-line|.
6922
6923==============================================================================
69249. Examples *eval-examples*
6925
6926Printing in Hex ~
6927>
6928 :" The function Nr2Hex() returns the Hex string of a number.
6929 :func Nr2Hex(nr)
6930 : let n = a:nr
6931 : let r = ""
6932 : while n
6933 : let r = '0123456789ABCDEF'[n % 16] . r
6934 : let n = n / 16
6935 : endwhile
6936 : return r
6937 :endfunc
6938
6939 :" The function String2Hex() converts each character in a string to a two
6940 :" character Hex string.
6941 :func String2Hex(str)
6942 : let out = ''
6943 : let ix = 0
6944 : while ix < strlen(a:str)
6945 : let out = out . Nr2Hex(char2nr(a:str[ix]))
6946 : let ix = ix + 1
6947 : endwhile
6948 : return out
6949 :endfunc
6950
6951Example of its use: >
6952 :echo Nr2Hex(32)
6953result: "20" >
6954 :echo String2Hex("32")
6955result: "3332"
6956
6957
6958Sorting lines (by Robert Webb) ~
6959
6960Here is a Vim script to sort lines. Highlight the lines in Vim and type
6961":Sort". This doesn't call any external programs so it'll work on any
6962platform. The function Sort() actually takes the name of a comparison
6963function as its argument, like qsort() does in C. So you could supply it
6964with different comparison functions in order to sort according to date etc.
6965>
6966 :" Function for use with Sort(), to compare two strings.
6967 :func! Strcmp(str1, str2)
6968 : if (a:str1 < a:str2)
6969 : return -1
6970 : elseif (a:str1 > a:str2)
6971 : return 1
6972 : else
6973 : return 0
6974 : endif
6975 :endfunction
6976
6977 :" Sort lines. SortR() is called recursively.
6978 :func! SortR(start, end, cmp)
6979 : if (a:start >= a:end)
6980 : return
6981 : endif
6982 : let partition = a:start - 1
6983 : let middle = partition
6984 : let partStr = getline((a:start + a:end) / 2)
6985 : let i = a:start
6986 : while (i <= a:end)
6987 : let str = getline(i)
6988 : exec "let result = " . a:cmp . "(str, partStr)"
6989 : if (result <= 0)
6990 : " Need to put it before the partition. Swap lines i and partition.
6991 : let partition = partition + 1
6992 : if (result == 0)
6993 : let middle = partition
6994 : endif
6995 : if (i != partition)
6996 : let str2 = getline(partition)
6997 : call setline(i, str2)
6998 : call setline(partition, str)
6999 : endif
7000 : endif
7001 : let i = i + 1
7002 : endwhile
7003
7004 : " Now we have a pointer to the "middle" element, as far as partitioning
7005 : " goes, which could be anywhere before the partition. Make sure it is at
7006 : " the end of the partition.
7007 : if (middle != partition)
7008 : let str = getline(middle)
7009 : let str2 = getline(partition)
7010 : call setline(middle, str2)
7011 : call setline(partition, str)
7012 : endif
7013 : call SortR(a:start, partition - 1, a:cmp)
7014 : call SortR(partition + 1, a:end, a:cmp)
7015 :endfunc
7016
7017 :" To Sort a range of lines, pass the range to Sort() along with the name of a
7018 :" function that will compare two lines.
7019 :func! Sort(cmp) range
7020 : call SortR(a:firstline, a:lastline, a:cmp)
7021 :endfunc
7022
7023 :" :Sort takes a range of lines and sorts them.
7024 :command! -nargs=0 -range Sort <line1>,<line2>call Sort("Strcmp")
7025<
7026 *sscanf*
7027There is no sscanf() function in Vim. If you need to extract parts from a
7028line, you can use matchstr() and substitute() to do it. This example shows
7029how to get the file name, line number and column number out of a line like
7030"foobar.txt, 123, 45". >
7031 :" Set up the match bit
7032 :let mx='\(\f\+\),\s*\(\d\+\),\s*\(\d\+\)'
7033 :"get the part matching the whole expression
7034 :let l = matchstr(line, mx)
7035 :"get each item out of the match
7036 :let file = substitute(l, mx, '\1', '')
7037 :let lnum = substitute(l, mx, '\2', '')
7038 :let col = substitute(l, mx, '\3', '')
7039
7040The input is in the variable "line", the results in the variables "file",
7041"lnum" and "col". (idea from Michael Geddes)
7042
7043==============================================================================
704410. No +eval feature *no-eval-feature*
7045
7046When the |+eval| feature was disabled at compile time, none of the expression
7047evaluation commands are available. To prevent this from causing Vim scripts
7048to generate all kinds of errors, the ":if" and ":endif" commands are still
7049recognized, though the argument of the ":if" and everything between the ":if"
7050and the matching ":endif" is ignored. Nesting of ":if" blocks is allowed, but
7051only if the commands are at the start of the line. The ":else" command is not
7052recognized.
7053
7054Example of how to avoid executing commands when the |+eval| feature is
7055missing: >
7056
7057 :if 1
7058 : echo "Expression evaluation is compiled in"
7059 :else
7060 : echo "You will _never_ see this message"
7061 :endif
7062
7063==============================================================================
706411. The sandbox *eval-sandbox* *sandbox* *E48*
7065
7066The 'foldexpr', 'includeexpr', 'indentexpr', 'statusline' and 'foldtext'
7067options are evaluated in a sandbox. This means that you are protected from
7068these expressions having nasty side effects. This gives some safety for when
7069these options are set from a modeline. It is also used when the command from
Bram Moolenaarebefac62005-12-28 22:39:57 +00007070a tags file is executed and for CTRL-R = in the command line.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00007071The sandbox is also used for the |:sandbox| command.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00007072
7073These items are not allowed in the sandbox:
7074 - changing the buffer text
7075 - defining or changing mapping, autocommands, functions, user commands
7076 - setting certain options (see |option-summary|)
7077 - executing a shell command
7078 - reading or writing a file
7079 - jumping to another buffer or editing a file
Bram Moolenaar4770d092006-01-12 23:22:24 +00007080 - executing Python, Perl, etc. commands
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00007081This is not guaranteed 100% secure, but it should block most attacks.
7082
7083 *:san* *:sandbox*
Bram Moolenaar045e82d2005-07-08 22:25:33 +00007084:san[dbox] {cmd} Execute {cmd} in the sandbox. Useful to evaluate an
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00007085 option that may have been set from a modeline, e.g.
7086 'foldexpr'.
7087
Bram Moolenaarb71eaae2006-01-20 23:10:18 +00007088 *sandbox-option*
7089A few options contain an expression. When this expression is evaluated it may
Bram Moolenaard1f56e62006-02-22 21:25:37 +00007090have to be done in the sandbox to avoid a security risc. But the sandbox is
Bram Moolenaarb71eaae2006-01-20 23:10:18 +00007091restrictive, thus this only happens when the option was set from an insecure
7092location. Insecure in this context are:
7093- sourcing a .vimrc or .exrc in the current directlry
7094- while executing in the sandbox
7095- value coming from a modeline
7096
7097Note that when in the sandbox and saving an option value and restoring it, the
7098option will still be marked as it was set in the sandbox.
7099
7100==============================================================================
710112. Textlock *textlock*
7102
7103In a few situations it is not allowed to change the text in the buffer, jump
7104to another window and some other things that might confuse or break what Vim
7105is currently doing. This mostly applies to things that happen when Vim is
7106actually doing something else. For example, evaluating the 'balloonexpr' may
7107happen any moment the mouse cursor is resting at some position.
7108
7109This is not allowed when the textlock is active:
7110 - changing the buffer text
7111 - jumping to another buffer or window
7112 - editing another file
7113 - closing a window or quitting Vim
7114 - etc.
7115
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00007116
7117 vim:tw=78:ts=8:ft=help:norl: