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Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00001*eval.txt* For Vim version 7.0aa. Last change: 2005 Jan 27
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002
3
4 VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar
5
6
7Expression evaluation *expression* *expr* *E15* *eval*
8
9Using expressions is introduced in chapter 41 of the user manual |usr_41.txt|.
10
11Note: Expression evaluation can be disabled at compile time. If this has been
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000012done, the features in this document are not available. See |+eval| and
13|no-eval-feature|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000014
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000151. Variables |variables|
16 1.1 Variable types
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +000017 1.2 Function references |Funcref|
18 1.3 Lists |List|
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000019 1.4 Dictionaries |Dictionaries|
20 1.5 More about variables |more-variables|
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000212. Expression syntax |expression-syntax|
223. Internal variable |internal-variables|
234. Builtin Functions |functions|
245. Defining functions |user-functions|
256. Curly braces names |curly-braces-names|
267. Commands |expression-commands|
278. Exception handling |exception-handling|
289. Examples |eval-examples|
2910. No +eval feature |no-eval-feature|
3011. The sandbox |eval-sandbox|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000031
32{Vi does not have any of these commands}
33
34==============================================================================
351. Variables *variables*
36
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000371.1 Variable types ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +000038 *E712*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000039There are four types of variables:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000040
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000041Number A 32 bit signed number.
42 Examples: -123 0x10 0177
43
44String A NUL terminated string of 8-bit unsigned characters (bytes).
45 Examples: "ab\txx\"--" 'x-z''a,c'
46
47Funcref A reference to a function |Funcref|.
48 Example: function("strlen")
49
50List An ordered sequence of items |List|.
51 Example: [1, 2, ['a', 'b']]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000052
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000053The Number and String types are converted automatically, depending on how they
54are used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000055
56Conversion from a Number to a String is by making the ASCII representation of
57the Number. Examples: >
58 Number 123 --> String "123"
59 Number 0 --> String "0"
60 Number -1 --> String "-1"
61
62Conversion from a String to a Number is done by converting the first digits
63to a number. Hexadecimal "0xf9" and Octal "017" numbers are recognized. If
64the String doesn't start with digits, the result is zero. Examples: >
65 String "456" --> Number 456
66 String "6bar" --> Number 6
67 String "foo" --> Number 0
68 String "0xf1" --> Number 241
69 String "0100" --> Number 64
70 String "-8" --> Number -8
71 String "+8" --> Number 0
72
73To force conversion from String to Number, add zero to it: >
74 :echo "0100" + 0
75
76For boolean operators Numbers are used. Zero is FALSE, non-zero is TRUE.
77
78Note that in the command >
79 :if "foo"
80"foo" is converted to 0, which means FALSE. To test for a non-empty string,
81use strlen(): >
82 :if strlen("foo")
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +000083< *E728* *E729* *E730* *E731*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000084List and Funcref types are not automatically converted.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000085
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000086 *E706*
87You will get an error if you try to change the type of a variable. You need
88to |:unlet| it first to avoid this error. String and Number are considered
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000089equivalent though. Consider this sequence of commands: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000090 :let l = "string"
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +000091 :let l = 44 " changes type from String to Number
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000092 :let l = [1, 2, 3] " error!
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000093
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000094
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000951.2 Function references ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +000096 *Funcref* *E695* *E703* *E718*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000097A Funcref variable is obtained with the |function()| function. It can be used
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +000098in an expression in the place of a function name, before the parenthesis
99around the arguments, to invoke the function it refers to. Example: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000100
101 :let Fn = function("MyFunc")
102 :echo Fn()
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000103< *E704* *E705* *E707*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000104A Funcref variable must start with a capital, "s:", "w:" or "b:". You cannot
105have both a Funcref variable and a function with the same name.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000106
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000107A special case is defining a function and directly assigning its Funcref to a
108Dictionary entry. Example: >
109 :function dict.init() dict
110 : let self.val = 0
111 :endfunction
112
113The key of the Dictionary can start with a lower case letter. The actual
114function name is not used here. Also see |numbered-function|.
115
116A Funcref can also be used with the |:call| command: >
117 :call Fn()
118 :call dict.init()
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000119
120The name of the referenced function can be obtained with |string()|. >
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000121 :let func = string(Fn)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000122
123You can use |call()| to invoke a Funcref and use a list variable for the
124arguments: >
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000125 :let r = call(Fn, mylist)
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000126
127
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001281.3 Lists ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000129 *List* *E686*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000130A List is an ordered sequence of items. An item can be of any type. Items
131can be accessed by their index number. Items can be added and removed at any
132position in the sequence.
133
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000134
135List creation ~
136 *E696* *E697*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000137A List is created with a comma separated list of items in square brackets.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000138Examples: >
139 :let mylist = [1, two, 3, "four"]
140 :let emptylist = []
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000141
142An item can be any expression. Using a List for an item creates a
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000143nested List: >
144 :let nestlist = [[11, 12], [21, 22], [31, 32]]
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000145
146An extra comma after the last item is ignored.
147
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000148
149List index ~
150 *list-index* *E684*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000151An item in the List can be accessed by putting the index in square brackets
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000152after the List. Indexes are zero-based, thus the first item has index zero. >
153 :let item = mylist[0] " get the first item: 1
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000154 :let item = mylist[2] " get the third item: 3
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000155
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000156When the resulting item is a list this can be repeated: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000157 :let item = nestlist[0][1] " get the first list, second item: 12
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000158<
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000159A negative index is counted from the end. Index -1 refers to the last item in
160the List, -2 to the last but one item, etc. >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000161 :let last = mylist[-1] " get the last item: "four"
162
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000163To avoid an error for an invalid index use the |get()| function. When an item
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000164is not available it returns zero or the default value you specify: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000165 :echo get(mylist, idx)
166 :echo get(mylist, idx, "NONE")
167
168
169List concatenation ~
170
171Two lists can be concatenated with the "+" operator: >
172 :let longlist = mylist + [5, 6]
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000173 :let mylist += [7, 8]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000174
175To prepend or append an item turn the item into a list by putting [] around
176it. To change a list in-place see |list-modification| below.
177
178
179Sublist ~
180
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000181A part of the List can be obtained by specifying the first and last index,
182separated by a colon in square brackets: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000183 :let shortlist = mylist[2:-1] " get List [3, "four"]
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000184
185Omitting the first index is similar to zero. Omitting the last index is
186similar to -1. The difference is that there is no error if the items are not
187available. >
Bram Moolenaar540d6e32005-01-09 21:20:18 +0000188 :let endlist = mylist[2:] " from item 2 to the end: [3, "four"]
189 :let shortlist = mylist[2:2] " List with one item: [3]
190 :let otherlist = mylist[:] " make a copy of the List
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000191
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000192The second index can be just before the first index. In that case the result
193is an empty list. If the second index is lower, this results in an error. >
194 :echo mylist[2:1] " result: []
195 :echo mylist[2:0] " error!
196
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000197
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000198List identity ~
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000199 *list-identity*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000200When variable "aa" is a list and you assign it to another variable "bb", both
201variables refer to the same list. Thus changing the list "aa" will also
202change "bb": >
203 :let aa = [1, 2, 3]
204 :let bb = aa
205 :call add(aa, 4)
206 :echo bb
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000207< [1, 2, 3, 4]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000208
209Making a copy of a list is done with the |copy()| function. Using [:] also
210works, as explained above. This creates a shallow copy of the list: Changing
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000211a list item in the list will also change the item in the copied list: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000212 :let aa = [[1, 'a'], 2, 3]
213 :let bb = copy(aa)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000214 :call add(aa, 4)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000215 :let aa[0][1] = 'aaa'
216 :echo aa
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000217< [[1, aaa], 2, 3, 4] >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000218 :echo bb
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000219< [[1, aaa], 2, 3]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000220
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000221To make a completely independent list use |deepcopy()|. This also makes a
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000222copy of the values in the list, recursively. Up to a hundred levels deep.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000223
224The operator "is" can be used to check if two variables refer to the same
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000225List. "isnot" does the opposite. In contrast "==" compares if two lists have
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000226the same value. >
227 :let alist = [1, 2, 3]
228 :let blist = [1, 2, 3]
229 :echo alist is blist
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000230< 0 >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000231 :echo alist == blist
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000232< 1
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000233
234
235List unpack ~
236
237To unpack the items in a list to individual variables, put the variables in
238square brackets, like list items: >
239 :let [var1, var2] = mylist
240
241When the number of variables does not match the number of items in the list
242this produces an error. To handle any extra items from the list append ";"
243and a variable name: >
244 :let [var1, var2; rest] = mylist
245
246This works like: >
247 :let var1 = mylist[0]
248 :let var2 = mylist[1]
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000249 :let rest = mylist[2:]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000250
251Except that there is no error if there are only two items. "rest" will be an
252empty list then.
253
254
255List modification ~
256 *list-modification*
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000257To change a specific item of a list use |:let| this way: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000258 :let list[4] = "four"
259 :let listlist[0][3] = item
260
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000261To change part of a list you can specify the first and last item to be
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000262modified. The value must at least have the number of items in the range: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000263 :let list[3:5] = [3, 4, 5]
264
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000265Adding and removing items from a list is done with functions. Here are a few
266examples: >
267 :call insert(list, 'a') " prepend item 'a'
268 :call insert(list, 'a', 3) " insert item 'a' before list[3]
269 :call add(list, "new") " append String item
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000270 :call add(list, [1, 2]) " append a List as one new item
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000271 :call extend(list, [1, 2]) " extend the list with two more items
272 :let i = remove(list, 3) " remove item 3
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000273 :unlet list[3] " idem
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000274 :let l = remove(list, 3, -1) " remove items 3 to last item
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000275 :unlet list[3 : ] " idem
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000276 :call filter(list, 'v:val !~ "x"') " remove items with an 'x'
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000277
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000278Changing the order of items in a list: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000279 :call sort(list) " sort a list alphabetically
280 :call reverse(list) " reverse the order of items
281
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000282
283For loop ~
284
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000285The |:for| loop executes commands for each item in a list. A variable is set
286to each item in the list in sequence. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000287 :for item in mylist
288 : call Doit(item)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000289 :endfor
290
291This works like: >
292 :let index = 0
293 :while index < len(mylist)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000294 : let item = mylist[index]
295 : :call Doit(item)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000296 : let index = index + 1
297 :endwhile
298
299Note that all items in the list should be of the same type, otherwise this
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000300results in error |E706|. To avoid this |:unlet| the variable at the end of
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000301the loop.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000302
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000303If all you want to do is modify each item in the list then the |map()|
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000304function will be a simpler method than a for loop.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000305
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000306Just like the |:let| command, |:for| also accepts a list of variables. This
307requires the argument to be a list of lists. >
308 :for [lnum, col] in [[1, 3], [2, 8], [3, 0]]
309 : call Doit(lnum, col)
310 :endfor
311
312This works like a |:let| command is done for each list item. Again, the types
313must remain the same to avoid an error.
314
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000315It is also possible to put remaining items in a List variable: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000316 :for [i, j; rest] in listlist
317 : call Doit(i, j)
318 : if !empty(rest)
319 : echo "remainder: " . string(rest)
320 : endif
321 :endfor
322
323
324List functions ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000325 *E714*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000326Functions that are useful with a List: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000327 :let r = call(funcname, list) " call a function with an argument list
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000328 :if empty(list) " check if list is empty
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000329 :let l = len(list) " number of items in list
330 :let big = max(list) " maximum value in list
331 :let small = min(list) " minimum value in list
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000332 :let xs = count(list, 'x') " count nr of times 'x' appears in list
333 :let i = index(list, 'x') " index of first 'x' in list
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000334 :let lines = getline(1, 10) " get ten text lines from buffer
335 :call append('$', lines) " append text lines in buffer
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000336 :let list = split("a b c") " create list from items in a string
337 :let string = join(list, ', ') " create string from list items
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000338 :let s = string(list) " String representation of list
339 :call map(list, '">> " . v:val') " prepend ">> " to each item
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000340
341
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003421.4 Dictionaries ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000343 *Dictionaries* *Dictionary*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000344A Dictionary is an associative array: Each entry has a key and a value. The
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000345entry can be located with the key. The entries are stored without a specific
346ordering.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000347
348
349Dictionary creation ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000350 *E720* *E721* *E722* *E723*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000351A Dictionary is created with a comma separated list of entries in curly
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000352braces. Each entry has a key and a value, separated by a colon. Each key can
353only appear once. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000354 :let mydict = {1: 'one', 2: 'two', 3: 'three'}
355 :let emptydict = {}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000356< *E713* *E716* *E717*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000357A key is always a String. You can use a Number, it will be converted to a
358String automatically. Thus the String '4' and the number 4 will find the same
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000359entry. Note that the String '04' and the Number 04 are different, since the
360Number will be converted to the String '4'.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000361
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000362A value can be any expression. Using a Dictionary for a value creates a
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000363nested Dictionary: >
364 :let nestdict = {1: {11: 'a', 12: 'b'}, 2: {21: 'c'}}
365
366An extra comma after the last entry is ignored.
367
368
369Accessing entries ~
370
371The normal way to access an entry is by putting the key in square brackets: >
372 :let val = mydict["one"]
373 :let mydict["four"] = 4
374
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000375You can add new entries to an existing Dictionary this way, unlike Lists.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000376
377For keys that consist entirely of letters, digits and underscore the following
378form can be used |expr-entry|: >
379 :let val = mydict.one
380 :let mydict.four = 4
381
382Since an entry can be any type, also a List and a Dictionary, the indexing and
383key lookup can be repeated: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000384 :echo dict.key[idx].key
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000385
386
387Dictionary to List conversion ~
388
389You may want to loop over the entries in a dictionary. For this you need to
390turn the Dictionary into a List and pass it to |:for|.
391
392Most often you want to loop over the keys, using the |keys()| function: >
393 :for key in keys(mydict)
394 : echo key . ': ' . mydict[key]
395 :endfor
396
397The List of keys is unsorted. You may want to sort them first: >
398 :for key in sort(keys(mydict))
399
400To loop over the values use the |values()| function: >
401 :for v in values(mydict)
402 : echo "value: " . v
403 :endfor
404
405If you want both the key and the value use the |items()| function. It returns
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000406a List in which each item is a List with two items, the key and the value: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000407 :for entry in items(mydict)
408 : echo entry[0] . ': ' . entry[1]
409 :endfor
410
411
412Dictionary identity ~
413
414Just like Lists you need to use |copy()| and |deepcopy()| to make a copy of a
415Dictionary. Otherwise, assignment results in referring to the same
416Dictionary: >
417 :let onedict = {'a': 1, 'b': 2}
418 :let adict = onedict
419 :let adict['a'] = 11
420 :echo onedict['a']
421 11
422
423For more info see |list-identity|.
424
425
426Dictionary modification ~
427 *dict-modification*
428To change an already existing entry of a Dictionary, or to add a new entry,
429use |:let| this way: >
430 :let dict[4] = "four"
431 :let dict['one'] = item
432
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000433Removing an entry from a Dictionary is done with |remove()| or |:unlet|.
434Three ways to remove the entry with key "aaa" from dict: >
435 :let i = remove(dict, 'aaa')
436 :unlet dict.aaa
437 :unlet dict['aaa']
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000438
439Merging a Dictionary with another is done with |extend()|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000440 :call extend(adict, bdict)
441This extends adict with all entries from bdict. Duplicate keys cause entries
442in adict to be overwritten. An optional third argument can change this.
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000443Note that the order of entries in a Dictionary is irrelevant, thus don't
444expect ":echo adict" to show the items from bdict after the older entries in
445adict.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000446
447Weeding out entries from a Dictionary can be done with |filter()|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000448 :call filter(dict 'v:val =~ "x"')
449This removes all entries from "dict" with a value not matching 'x'.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000450
451
452Dictionary function ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000453 *Dictionary-function* *self* *E725*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000454When a function is defined with the "dict" attribute it can be used in a
455special way with a dictionary. Example: >
456 :function Mylen() dict
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000457 : return len(self.data)
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000458 :endfunction
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000459 :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3], 'len': function("Mylen")}
460 :echo mydict.len()
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000461
462This is like a method in object oriented programming. The entry in the
463Dictionary is a |Funcref|. The local variable "self" refers to the dictionary
464the function was invoked from.
465
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000466It is also possible to add a function without the "dict" attribute as a
467Funcref to a Dictionary, but the "self" variable is not available then.
468
469 *numbered-function*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000470To avoid the extra name for the function it can be defined and directly
471assigned to a Dictionary in this way: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000472 :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3]}
473 :function mydict.len() dict
474 : return len(self.data)
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000475 :endfunction
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000476 :echo mydict.len()
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000477
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000478The function will then get a number and the value of dict.len is a |Funcref|
479that references this function. The function can only be used through a
480|Funcref|. It will automatically be deleted when there is no |Funcref|
481remaining that refers to it.
482
483It is not necessary to use the "dict" attribute for a numbered function.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000484
485
486Functions for Dictionaries ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000487 *E715*
488Functions that can be used with a Dictionary: >
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000489 :if has_key(dict, 'foo') " TRUE if dict has entry with key "foo"
490 :if empty(dict) " TRUE if dict is empty
491 :let l = len(dict) " number of items in dict
492 :let big = max(dict) " maximum value in dict
493 :let small = min(dict) " minimum value in dict
494 :let xs = count(dict, 'x') " count nr of times 'x' appears in dict
495 :let s = string(dict) " String representation of dict
496 :call map(dict, '">> " . v:val') " prepend ">> " to each item
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000497
498
4991.5 More about variables ~
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000500 *more-variables*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000501If you need to know the type of a variable or expression, use the |type()|
502function.
503
504When the '!' flag is included in the 'viminfo' option, global variables that
505start with an uppercase letter, and don't contain a lowercase letter, are
506stored in the viminfo file |viminfo-file|.
507
508When the 'sessionoptions' option contains "global", global variables that
509start with an uppercase letter and contain at least one lowercase letter are
510stored in the session file |session-file|.
511
512variable name can be stored where ~
513my_var_6 not
514My_Var_6 session file
515MY_VAR_6 viminfo file
516
517
518It's possible to form a variable name with curly braces, see
519|curly-braces-names|.
520
521==============================================================================
5222. Expression syntax *expression-syntax*
523
524Expression syntax summary, from least to most significant:
525
526|expr1| expr2 ? expr1 : expr1 if-then-else
527
528|expr2| expr3 || expr3 .. logical OR
529
530|expr3| expr4 && expr4 .. logical AND
531
532|expr4| expr5 == expr5 equal
533 expr5 != expr5 not equal
534 expr5 > expr5 greater than
535 expr5 >= expr5 greater than or equal
536 expr5 < expr5 smaller than
537 expr5 <= expr5 smaller than or equal
538 expr5 =~ expr5 regexp matches
539 expr5 !~ expr5 regexp doesn't match
540
541 expr5 ==? expr5 equal, ignoring case
542 expr5 ==# expr5 equal, match case
543 etc. As above, append ? for ignoring case, # for
544 matching case
545
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000546 expr5 is expr5 same List instance
547 expr5 isnot expr5 different List instance
548
549|expr5| expr6 + expr6 .. number addition or list concatenation
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000550 expr6 - expr6 .. number subtraction
551 expr6 . expr6 .. string concatenation
552
553|expr6| expr7 * expr7 .. number multiplication
554 expr7 / expr7 .. number division
555 expr7 % expr7 .. number modulo
556
557|expr7| ! expr7 logical NOT
558 - expr7 unary minus
559 + expr7 unary plus
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000560
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000561
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000562|expr8| expr8[expr1] byte of a String or item of a List
563 expr8[expr1 : expr1] substring of a String or sublist of a List
564 expr8.name entry in a Dictionary
565 expr8(expr1, ...) function call with Funcref variable
566
567|expr9| number number constant
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000568 "string" string constant, backslash is special
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000569 'string' string constant, ' is doubled
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000570 [expr1, ...] List
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000571 {expr1: expr1, ...} Dictionary
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000572 &option option value
573 (expr1) nested expression
574 variable internal variable
575 va{ria}ble internal variable with curly braces
576 $VAR environment variable
577 @r contents of register 'r'
578 function(expr1, ...) function call
579 func{ti}on(expr1, ...) function call with curly braces
580
581
582".." indicates that the operations in this level can be concatenated.
583Example: >
584 &nu || &list && &shell == "csh"
585
586All expressions within one level are parsed from left to right.
587
588
589expr1 *expr1* *E109*
590-----
591
592expr2 ? expr1 : expr1
593
594The expression before the '?' is evaluated to a number. If it evaluates to
595non-zero, the result is the value of the expression between the '?' and ':',
596otherwise the result is the value of the expression after the ':'.
597Example: >
598 :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum
599
600Since the first expression is an "expr2", it cannot contain another ?:. The
601other two expressions can, thus allow for recursive use of ?:.
602Example: >
603 :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum == 1000 ? "last" : lnum
604
605To keep this readable, using |line-continuation| is suggested: >
606 :echo lnum == 1
607 :\ ? "top"
608 :\ : lnum == 1000
609 :\ ? "last"
610 :\ : lnum
611
612
613expr2 and expr3 *expr2* *expr3*
614---------------
615
616 *expr-barbar* *expr-&&*
617The "||" and "&&" operators take one argument on each side. The arguments
618are (converted to) Numbers. The result is:
619
620 input output ~
621n1 n2 n1 || n2 n1 && n2 ~
622zero zero zero zero
623zero non-zero non-zero zero
624non-zero zero non-zero zero
625non-zero non-zero non-zero non-zero
626
627The operators can be concatenated, for example: >
628
629 &nu || &list && &shell == "csh"
630
631Note that "&&" takes precedence over "||", so this has the meaning of: >
632
633 &nu || (&list && &shell == "csh")
634
635Once the result is known, the expression "short-circuits", that is, further
636arguments are not evaluated. This is like what happens in C. For example: >
637
638 let a = 1
639 echo a || b
640
641This is valid even if there is no variable called "b" because "a" is non-zero,
642so the result must be non-zero. Similarly below: >
643
644 echo exists("b") && b == "yes"
645
646This is valid whether "b" has been defined or not. The second clause will
647only be evaluated if "b" has been defined.
648
649
650expr4 *expr4*
651-----
652
653expr5 {cmp} expr5
654
655Compare two expr5 expressions, resulting in a 0 if it evaluates to false, or 1
656if it evaluates to true.
657
658 *expr-==* *expr-!=* *expr->* *expr->=*
659 *expr-<* *expr-<=* *expr-=~* *expr-!~*
660 *expr-==#* *expr-!=#* *expr->#* *expr->=#*
661 *expr-<#* *expr-<=#* *expr-=~#* *expr-!~#*
662 *expr-==?* *expr-!=?* *expr->?* *expr->=?*
663 *expr-<?* *expr-<=?* *expr-=~?* *expr-!~?*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000664 *expr-is*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000665 use 'ignorecase' match case ignore case ~
666equal == ==# ==?
667not equal != !=# !=?
668greater than > ># >?
669greater than or equal >= >=# >=?
670smaller than < <# <?
671smaller than or equal <= <=# <=?
672regexp matches =~ =~# =~?
673regexp doesn't match !~ !~# !~?
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000674same instance is
675different instance isnot
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000676
677Examples:
678"abc" ==# "Abc" evaluates to 0
679"abc" ==? "Abc" evaluates to 1
680"abc" == "Abc" evaluates to 1 if 'ignorecase' is set, 0 otherwise
681
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000682 *E691* *E692*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000683A List can only be compared with a List and only "equal", "not equal" and "is"
684can be used. This compares the values of the list, recursively. Ignoring
685case means case is ignored when comparing item values.
686
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000687 *E735* *E736*
688A Dictionary can only be compared with a Dictionary and only "equal", "not
689equal" and "is" can be used. This compares the key/values of the Dictionary,
690recursively. Ignoring case means case is ignored when comparing item values.
691
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000692 *E693* *E694*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000693A Funcref can only be compared with a Funcref and only "equal" and "not equal"
694can be used. Case is never ignored.
695
696When using "is" or "isnot" with a List this checks if the expressions are
697referring to the same List instance. A copy of a List is different from the
698original List. When using "is" without a List it is equivalent to using
699"equal", using "isnot" equivalent to using "not equal". Except that a
700different type means the values are different. "4 == '4'" is true, "4 is '4'"
701is false.
702
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000703When comparing a String with a Number, the String is converted to a Number,
704and the comparison is done on Numbers. This means that "0 == 'x'" is TRUE,
705because 'x' converted to a Number is zero.
706
707When comparing two Strings, this is done with strcmp() or stricmp(). This
708results in the mathematical difference (comparing byte values), not
709necessarily the alphabetical difference in the local language.
710
711When using the operators with a trailing '#", or the short version and
712'ignorecase' is off, the comparing is done with strcmp().
713
714When using the operators with a trailing '?', or the short version and
715'ignorecase' is set, the comparing is done with stricmp().
716
717The "=~" and "!~" operators match the lefthand argument with the righthand
718argument, which is used as a pattern. See |pattern| for what a pattern is.
719This matching is always done like 'magic' was set and 'cpoptions' is empty, no
720matter what the actual value of 'magic' or 'cpoptions' is. This makes scripts
721portable. To avoid backslashes in the regexp pattern to be doubled, use a
722single-quote string, see |literal-string|.
723Since a string is considered to be a single line, a multi-line pattern
724(containing \n, backslash-n) will not match. However, a literal NL character
725can be matched like an ordinary character. Examples:
726 "foo\nbar" =~ "\n" evaluates to 1
727 "foo\nbar" =~ "\\n" evaluates to 0
728
729
730expr5 and expr6 *expr5* *expr6*
731---------------
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000732expr6 + expr6 .. Number addition or List concatenation *expr-+*
733expr6 - expr6 .. Number subtraction *expr--*
734expr6 . expr6 .. String concatenation *expr-.*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000735
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000736For Lists only "+" is possible and then both expr6 must be a list. The result
737is a new list with the two lists Concatenated.
738
739expr7 * expr7 .. number multiplication *expr-star*
740expr7 / expr7 .. number division *expr-/*
741expr7 % expr7 .. number modulo *expr-%*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000742
743For all, except ".", Strings are converted to Numbers.
744
745Note the difference between "+" and ".":
746 "123" + "456" = 579
747 "123" . "456" = "123456"
748
749When the righthand side of '/' is zero, the result is 0x7fffffff.
750When the righthand side of '%' is zero, the result is 0.
751
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000752None of these work for Funcrefs.
753
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000754
755expr7 *expr7*
756-----
757! expr7 logical NOT *expr-!*
758- expr7 unary minus *expr-unary--*
759+ expr7 unary plus *expr-unary-+*
760
761For '!' non-zero becomes zero, zero becomes one.
762For '-' the sign of the number is changed.
763For '+' the number is unchanged.
764
765A String will be converted to a Number first.
766
767These three can be repeated and mixed. Examples:
768 !-1 == 0
769 !!8 == 1
770 --9 == 9
771
772
773expr8 *expr8*
774-----
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000775expr8[expr1] item of String or List *expr-[]* *E111*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000776
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000777If expr8 is a Number or String this results in a String that contains the
778expr1'th single byte from expr8. expr8 is used as a String, expr1 as a
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000779Number. Note that this doesn't recognize multi-byte encodings.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000780
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000781Index zero gives the first character. This is like it works in C. Careful:
782text column numbers start with one! Example, to get the character under the
783cursor: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000784 :let c = getline(line("."))[col(".") - 1]
785
786If the length of the String is less than the index, the result is an empty
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000787String. A negative index always results in an empty string (reason: backwards
788compatibility). Use [-1:] to get the last byte.
789
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000790If expr8 is a List then it results the item at index expr1. See |list-index|
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000791for possible index values. If the index is out of range this results in an
792error. Example: >
793 :let item = mylist[-1] " get last item
794
795Generally, if a List index is equal to or higher than the length of the List,
796or more negative than the length of the List, this results in an error.
797
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000798
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000799expr8[expr1a : expr1b] substring or sublist *expr-[:]*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000800
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000801If expr8 is a Number or String this results in the substring with the bytes
802from expr1a to and including expr1b. expr8 is used as a String, expr1a and
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000803expr1b are used as a Number. Note that this doesn't recognize multi-byte
804encodings.
805
806If expr1a is omitted zero is used. If expr1b is omitted the length of the
807string minus one is used.
808
809A negative number can be used to measure from the end of the string. -1 is
810the last character, -2 the last but one, etc.
811
812If an index goes out of range for the string characters are omitted. If
813expr1b is smaller than expr1a the result is an empty string.
814
815Examples: >
816 :let c = name[-1:] " last byte of a string
817 :let c = name[-2:-2] " last but one byte of a string
818 :let s = line(".")[4:] " from the fifth byte to the end
819 :let s = s[:-3] " remove last two bytes
820
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000821If expr8 is a List this results in a new List with the items indicated by the
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000822indexes expr1a and expr1b. This works like with a String, as explained just
823above, except that indexes out of range cause an error. Examples: >
824 :let l = mylist[:3] " first four items
825 :let l = mylist[4:4] " List with one item
826 :let l = mylist[:] " shallow copy of a List
827
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000828Using expr8[expr1] or expr8[expr1a : expr1b] on a Funcref results in an error.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000829
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000830
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000831expr8.name entry in a Dictionary *expr-entry*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000832
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000833If expr8 is a Dictionary and it is followed by a dot, then the following name
834will be used as a key in the Dictionary. This is just like: expr8[name].
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000835
836The name must consist of alphanumeric characters, just like a variable name,
837but it may start with a number. Curly braces cannot be used.
838
839There must not be white space before or after the dot.
840
841Examples: >
842 :let dict = {"one": 1, 2: "two"}
843 :echo dict.one
844 :echo dict .2
845
846Note that the dot is also used for String concatenation. To avoid confusion
847always put spaces around the dot for String concatenation.
848
849
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000850expr8(expr1, ...) Funcref function call
851
852When expr8 is a |Funcref| type variable, invoke the function it refers to.
853
854
855
856 *expr9*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000857number
858------
859number number constant *expr-number*
860
861Decimal, Hexadecimal (starting with 0x or 0X), or Octal (starting with 0).
862
863
864string *expr-string* *E114*
865------
866"string" string constant *expr-quote*
867
868Note that double quotes are used.
869
870A string constant accepts these special characters:
871\... three-digit octal number (e.g., "\316")
872\.. two-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit)
873\. one-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit)
874\x.. byte specified with two hex numbers (e.g., "\x1f")
875\x. byte specified with one hex number (must be followed by non-hex char)
876\X.. same as \x..
877\X. same as \x.
878\u.... character specified with up to 4 hex numbers, stored according to the
879 current value of 'encoding' (e.g., "\u02a4")
880\U.... same as \u....
881\b backspace <BS>
882\e escape <Esc>
883\f formfeed <FF>
884\n newline <NL>
885\r return <CR>
886\t tab <Tab>
887\\ backslash
888\" double quote
889\<xxx> Special key named "xxx". e.g. "\<C-W>" for CTRL-W.
890
891Note that "\000" and "\x00" force the end of the string.
892
893
894literal-string *literal-string* *E115*
895---------------
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000896'string' string constant *expr-'*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000897
898Note that single quotes are used.
899
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000900This string is taken as it is. No backslashes are removed or have a special
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000901meaning. The only exception is that two quotes stand for one quote.
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000902
903Single quoted strings are useful for patterns, so that backslashes do not need
904to be doubled. These two commands are equivalent: >
905 if a =~ "\\s*"
906 if a =~ '\s*'
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000907
908
909option *expr-option* *E112* *E113*
910------
911&option option value, local value if possible
912&g:option global option value
913&l:option local option value
914
915Examples: >
916 echo "tabstop is " . &tabstop
917 if &insertmode
918
919Any option name can be used here. See |options|. When using the local value
920and there is no buffer-local or window-local value, the global value is used
921anyway.
922
923
924register *expr-register*
925--------
926@r contents of register 'r'
927
928The result is the contents of the named register, as a single string.
929Newlines are inserted where required. To get the contents of the unnamed
930register use @" or @@. The '=' register can not be used here. See
931|registers| for an explanation of the available registers.
932
933
934nesting *expr-nesting* *E110*
935-------
936(expr1) nested expression
937
938
939environment variable *expr-env*
940--------------------
941$VAR environment variable
942
943The String value of any environment variable. When it is not defined, the
944result is an empty string.
945 *expr-env-expand*
946Note that there is a difference between using $VAR directly and using
947expand("$VAR"). Using it directly will only expand environment variables that
948are known inside the current Vim session. Using expand() will first try using
949the environment variables known inside the current Vim session. If that
950fails, a shell will be used to expand the variable. This can be slow, but it
951does expand all variables that the shell knows about. Example: >
952 :echo $version
953 :echo expand("$version")
954The first one probably doesn't echo anything, the second echoes the $version
955variable (if your shell supports it).
956
957
958internal variable *expr-variable*
959-----------------
960variable internal variable
961See below |internal-variables|.
962
963
964function call *expr-function* *E116* *E117* *E118* *E119* *E120*
965-------------
966function(expr1, ...) function call
967See below |functions|.
968
969
970==============================================================================
9713. Internal variable *internal-variables* *E121*
972 *E461*
973An internal variable name can be made up of letters, digits and '_'. But it
974cannot start with a digit. It's also possible to use curly braces, see
975|curly-braces-names|.
976
977An internal variable is created with the ":let" command |:let|.
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000978An internal variable is explicitly destroyed with the ":unlet" command
979|:unlet|.
980Using a name that is not an internal variable or refers to a variable that has
981been destroyed results in an error.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000982
983There are several name spaces for variables. Which one is to be used is
984specified by what is prepended:
985
986 (nothing) In a function: local to a function; otherwise: global
987|buffer-variable| b: Local to the current buffer.
988|window-variable| w: Local to the current window.
989|global-variable| g: Global.
990|local-variable| l: Local to a function.
991|script-variable| s: Local to a |:source|'ed Vim script.
992|function-argument| a: Function argument (only inside a function).
993|vim-variable| v: Global, predefined by Vim.
994
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +0000995The scope name by itself can be used as a Dictionary. For example, to delete
996all script-local variables: >
997 :for k in keys(s:)
998 : unlet s:[k]
999 :endfor
1000<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001001 *buffer-variable* *b:var*
1002A variable name that is preceded with "b:" is local to the current buffer.
1003Thus you can have several "b:foo" variables, one for each buffer.
1004This kind of variable is deleted when the buffer is wiped out or deleted with
1005|:bdelete|.
1006
1007One local buffer variable is predefined:
1008 *b:changedtick-variable* *changetick*
1009b:changedtick The total number of changes to the current buffer. It is
1010 incremented for each change. An undo command is also a change
1011 in this case. This can be used to perform an action only when
1012 the buffer has changed. Example: >
1013 :if my_changedtick != b:changedtick
1014 : let my_changedtick = b:changedtick
1015 : call My_Update()
1016 :endif
1017<
1018 *window-variable* *w:var*
1019A variable name that is preceded with "w:" is local to the current window. It
1020is deleted when the window is closed.
1021
1022 *global-variable* *g:var*
1023Inside functions global variables are accessed with "g:". Omitting this will
1024access a variable local to a function. But "g:" can also be used in any other
1025place if you like.
1026
1027 *local-variable* *l:var*
1028Inside functions local variables are accessed without prepending anything.
1029But you can also prepend "l:" if you like.
1030
1031 *script-variable* *s:var*
1032In a Vim script variables starting with "s:" can be used. They cannot be
1033accessed from outside of the scripts, thus are local to the script.
1034
1035They can be used in:
1036- commands executed while the script is sourced
1037- functions defined in the script
1038- autocommands defined in the script
1039- functions and autocommands defined in functions and autocommands which were
1040 defined in the script (recursively)
1041- user defined commands defined in the script
1042Thus not in:
1043- other scripts sourced from this one
1044- mappings
1045- etc.
1046
1047script variables can be used to avoid conflicts with global variable names.
1048Take this example:
1049
1050 let s:counter = 0
1051 function MyCounter()
1052 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1053 echo s:counter
1054 endfunction
1055 command Tick call MyCounter()
1056
1057You can now invoke "Tick" from any script, and the "s:counter" variable in
1058that script will not be changed, only the "s:counter" in the script where
1059"Tick" was defined is used.
1060
1061Another example that does the same: >
1062
1063 let s:counter = 0
1064 command Tick let s:counter = s:counter + 1 | echo s:counter
1065
1066When calling a function and invoking a user-defined command, the context for
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001067script variables is set to the script where the function or command was
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001068defined.
1069
1070The script variables are also available when a function is defined inside a
1071function that is defined in a script. Example: >
1072
1073 let s:counter = 0
1074 function StartCounting(incr)
1075 if a:incr
1076 function MyCounter()
1077 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1078 endfunction
1079 else
1080 function MyCounter()
1081 let s:counter = s:counter - 1
1082 endfunction
1083 endif
1084 endfunction
1085
1086This defines the MyCounter() function either for counting up or counting down
1087when calling StartCounting(). It doesn't matter from where StartCounting() is
1088called, the s:counter variable will be accessible in MyCounter().
1089
1090When the same script is sourced again it will use the same script variables.
1091They will remain valid as long as Vim is running. This can be used to
1092maintain a counter: >
1093
1094 if !exists("s:counter")
1095 let s:counter = 1
1096 echo "script executed for the first time"
1097 else
1098 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1099 echo "script executed " . s:counter . " times now"
1100 endif
1101
1102Note that this means that filetype plugins don't get a different set of script
1103variables for each buffer. Use local buffer variables instead |b:var|.
1104
1105
1106Predefined Vim variables: *vim-variable* *v:var*
1107
1108 *v:charconvert_from* *charconvert_from-variable*
1109v:charconvert_from
1110 The name of the character encoding of a file to be converted.
1111 Only valid while evaluating the 'charconvert' option.
1112
1113 *v:charconvert_to* *charconvert_to-variable*
1114v:charconvert_to
1115 The name of the character encoding of a file after conversion.
1116 Only valid while evaluating the 'charconvert' option.
1117
1118 *v:cmdarg* *cmdarg-variable*
1119v:cmdarg This variable is used for two purposes:
1120 1. The extra arguments given to a file read/write command.
1121 Currently these are "++enc=" and "++ff=". This variable is
1122 set before an autocommand event for a file read/write
1123 command is triggered. There is a leading space to make it
1124 possible to append this variable directly after the
1125 read/write command. Note: The "+cmd" argument isn't
1126 included here, because it will be executed anyway.
1127 2. When printing a PostScript file with ":hardcopy" this is
1128 the argument for the ":hardcopy" command. This can be used
1129 in 'printexpr'.
1130
1131 *v:cmdbang* *cmdbang-variable*
1132v:cmdbang Set like v:cmdarg for a file read/write command. When a "!"
1133 was used the value is 1, otherwise it is 0. Note that this
1134 can only be used in autocommands. For user commands |<bang>|
1135 can be used.
1136
1137 *v:count* *count-variable*
1138v:count The count given for the last Normal mode command. Can be used
1139 to get the count before a mapping. Read-only. Example: >
1140 :map _x :<C-U>echo "the count is " . v:count<CR>
1141< Note: The <C-U> is required to remove the line range that you
1142 get when typing ':' after a count.
1143 "count" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1144
1145 *v:count1* *count1-variable*
1146v:count1 Just like "v:count", but defaults to one when no count is
1147 used.
1148
1149 *v:ctype* *ctype-variable*
1150v:ctype The current locale setting for characters of the runtime
1151 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1152 current locale encoding. Technical: it's the value of
1153 LC_CTYPE. When not using a locale the value is "C".
1154 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1155 command.
1156 See |multi-lang|.
1157
1158 *v:dying* *dying-variable*
1159v:dying Normally zero. When a deadly signal is caught it's set to
1160 one. When multiple signals are caught the number increases.
1161 Can be used in an autocommand to check if Vim didn't
1162 terminate normally. {only works on Unix}
1163 Example: >
1164 :au VimLeave * if v:dying | echo "\nAAAAaaaarrrggghhhh!!!\n" | endif
1165<
1166 *v:errmsg* *errmsg-variable*
1167v:errmsg Last given error message. It's allowed to set this variable.
1168 Example: >
1169 :let v:errmsg = ""
1170 :silent! next
1171 :if v:errmsg != ""
1172 : ... handle error
1173< "errmsg" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1174
1175 *v:exception* *exception-variable*
1176v:exception The value of the exception most recently caught and not
1177 finished. See also |v:throwpoint| and |throw-variables|.
1178 Example: >
1179 :try
1180 : throw "oops"
1181 :catch /.*/
1182 : echo "caught" v:exception
1183 :endtry
1184< Output: "caught oops".
1185
1186 *v:fname_in* *fname_in-variable*
1187v:fname_in The name of the input file. Only valid while evaluating:
1188 option used for ~
1189 'charconvert' file to be converted
1190 'diffexpr' original file
1191 'patchexpr' original file
1192 'printexpr' file to be printed
1193
1194 *v:fname_out* *fname_out-variable*
1195v:fname_out The name of the output file. Only valid while
1196 evaluating:
1197 option used for ~
1198 'charconvert' resulting converted file (*)
1199 'diffexpr' output of diff
1200 'patchexpr' resulting patched file
1201 (*) When doing conversion for a write command (e.g., ":w
1202 file") it will be equal to v:fname_in. When doing conversion
1203 for a read command (e.g., ":e file") it will be a temporary
1204 file and different from v:fname_in.
1205
1206 *v:fname_new* *fname_new-variable*
1207v:fname_new The name of the new version of the file. Only valid while
1208 evaluating 'diffexpr'.
1209
1210 *v:fname_diff* *fname_diff-variable*
1211v:fname_diff The name of the diff (patch) file. Only valid while
1212 evaluating 'patchexpr'.
1213
1214 *v:folddashes* *folddashes-variable*
1215v:folddashes Used for 'foldtext': dashes representing foldlevel of a closed
1216 fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001217 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001218
1219 *v:foldlevel* *foldlevel-variable*
1220v:foldlevel Used for 'foldtext': foldlevel of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001221 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001222
1223 *v:foldend* *foldend-variable*
1224v:foldend Used for 'foldtext': last line of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001225 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001226
1227 *v:foldstart* *foldstart-variable*
1228v:foldstart Used for 'foldtext': first line of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001229 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001230
Bram Moolenaar843ee412004-06-30 16:16:41 +00001231 *v:insertmode* *insertmode-variable*
1232v:insertmode Used for the |InsertEnter| and |InsertChange| autocommand
1233 events. Values:
1234 i Insert mode
1235 r Replace mode
1236 v Virtual Replace mode
1237
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001238 *v:key* *key-variable*
1239v:key Key of the current item of a Dictionary. Only valid while
1240 evaluating the expression used with |map()| and |filter()|.
1241 Read-only.
1242
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001243 *v:lang* *lang-variable*
1244v:lang The current locale setting for messages of the runtime
1245 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1246 current language. Technical: it's the value of LC_MESSAGES.
1247 The value is system dependent.
1248 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1249 command.
1250 It can be different from |v:ctype| when messages are desired
1251 in a different language than what is used for character
1252 encoding. See |multi-lang|.
1253
1254 *v:lc_time* *lc_time-variable*
1255v:lc_time The current locale setting for time messages of the runtime
1256 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1257 current language. Technical: it's the value of LC_TIME.
1258 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1259 command. See |multi-lang|.
1260
1261 *v:lnum* *lnum-variable*
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001262v:lnum Line number for the 'foldexpr' |fold-expr| and 'indentexpr'
1263 expressions. Only valid while one of these expressions is
1264 being evaluated. Read-only when in the |sandbox|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001265
1266 *v:prevcount* *prevcount-variable*
1267v:prevcount The count given for the last but one Normal mode command.
1268 This is the v:count value of the previous command. Useful if
1269 you want to cancel Visual mode and then use the count. >
1270 :vmap % <Esc>:call MyFilter(v:prevcount)<CR>
1271< Read-only.
1272
1273 *v:progname* *progname-variable*
1274v:progname Contains the name (with path removed) with which Vim was
1275 invoked. Allows you to do special initialisations for "view",
1276 "evim" etc., or any other name you might symlink to Vim.
1277 Read-only.
1278
1279 *v:register* *register-variable*
1280v:register The name of the register supplied to the last normal mode
1281 command. Empty if none were supplied. |getreg()| |setreg()|
1282
1283 *v:servername* *servername-variable*
1284v:servername The resulting registered |x11-clientserver| name if any.
1285 Read-only.
1286
1287 *v:shell_error* *shell_error-variable*
1288v:shell_error Result of the last shell command. When non-zero, the last
1289 shell command had an error. When zero, there was no problem.
1290 This only works when the shell returns the error code to Vim.
1291 The value -1 is often used when the command could not be
1292 executed. Read-only.
1293 Example: >
1294 :!mv foo bar
1295 :if v:shell_error
1296 : echo 'could not rename "foo" to "bar"!'
1297 :endif
1298< "shell_error" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1299
1300 *v:statusmsg* *statusmsg-variable*
1301v:statusmsg Last given status message. It's allowed to set this variable.
1302
1303 *v:termresponse* *termresponse-variable*
1304v:termresponse The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the |t_RV|
1305 termcap entry. It is set when Vim receives an escape sequence
1306 that starts with ESC [ or CSI and ends in a 'c', with only
1307 digits, ';' and '.' in between.
1308 When this option is set, the TermResponse autocommand event is
1309 fired, so that you can react to the response from the
1310 terminal.
1311 The response from a new xterm is: "<Esc>[ Pp ; Pv ; Pc c". Pp
1312 is the terminal type: 0 for vt100 and 1 for vt220. Pv is the
1313 patch level (since this was introduced in patch 95, it's
1314 always 95 or bigger). Pc is always zero.
1315 {only when compiled with |+termresponse| feature}
1316
1317 *v:this_session* *this_session-variable*
1318v:this_session Full filename of the last loaded or saved session file. See
1319 |:mksession|. It is allowed to set this variable. When no
1320 session file has been saved, this variable is empty.
1321 "this_session" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1322
1323 *v:throwpoint* *throwpoint-variable*
1324v:throwpoint The point where the exception most recently caught and not
1325 finished was thrown. Not set when commands are typed. See
1326 also |v:exception| and |throw-variables|.
1327 Example: >
1328 :try
1329 : throw "oops"
1330 :catch /.*/
1331 : echo "Exception from" v:throwpoint
1332 :endtry
1333< Output: "Exception from test.vim, line 2"
1334
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001335 *v:val* *val-variable*
1336v:val Value of the current item of a List or Dictionary. Only valid
1337 while evaluating the expression used with |map()| and
1338 |filter()|. Read-only.
1339
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001340 *v:version* *version-variable*
1341v:version Version number of Vim: Major version number times 100 plus
1342 minor version number. Version 5.0 is 500. Version 5.1 (5.01)
1343 is 501. Read-only. "version" also works, for backwards
1344 compatibility.
1345 Use |has()| to check if a certain patch was included, e.g.: >
1346 if has("patch123")
1347< Note that patch numbers are specific to the version, thus both
1348 version 5.0 and 5.1 may have a patch 123, but these are
1349 completely different.
1350
1351 *v:warningmsg* *warningmsg-variable*
1352v:warningmsg Last given warning message. It's allowed to set this variable.
1353
1354==============================================================================
13554. Builtin Functions *functions*
1356
1357See |function-list| for a list grouped by what the function is used for.
1358
1359(Use CTRL-] on the function name to jump to the full explanation)
1360
1361USAGE RESULT DESCRIPTION ~
1362
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001363add( {list}, {item}) List append {item} to List {list}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001364append( {lnum}, {string}) Number append {string} below line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001365argc() Number number of files in the argument list
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001366argidx() Number current index in the argument list
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001367argv( {nr}) String {nr} entry of the argument list
1368browse( {save}, {title}, {initdir}, {default})
1369 String put up a file requester
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001370browsedir( {title}, {initdir}) String put up a directory requester
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001371bufexists( {expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} exists
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001372buflisted( {expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} is listed
1373bufloaded( {expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} is loaded
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001374bufname( {expr}) String Name of the buffer {expr}
1375bufnr( {expr}) Number Number of the buffer {expr}
1376bufwinnr( {expr}) Number window number of buffer {expr}
1377byte2line( {byte}) Number line number at byte count {byte}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001378byteidx( {expr}, {nr}) Number byte index of {nr}'th char in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001379call( {func}, {arglist} [, {dict}])
1380 any call {func} with arguments {arglist}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001381char2nr( {expr}) Number ASCII value of first char in {expr}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001382cindent( {lnum}) Number C indent for line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001383col( {expr}) Number column nr of cursor or mark
1384confirm( {msg} [, {choices} [, {default} [, {type}]]])
1385 Number number of choice picked by user
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001386copy( {expr}) any make a shallow copy of {expr}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001387count( {list}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]])
1388 Number count how many {expr} are in {list}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001389cscope_connection( [{num} , {dbpath} [, {prepend}]])
1390 Number checks existence of cscope connection
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001391cursor( {lnum}, {col}) Number position cursor at {lnum}, {col}
1392deepcopy( {expr}) any make a full copy of {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001393delete( {fname}) Number delete file {fname}
1394did_filetype() Number TRUE if FileType autocommand event used
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001395diff_filler( {lnum}) Number diff filler lines about {lnum}
1396diff_hlID( {lnum}, {col}) Number diff highlighting at {lnum}/{col}
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001397empty( {expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} is empty
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001398escape( {string}, {chars}) String escape {chars} in {string} with '\'
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001399eval( {string}) any evaluate {string} into its value
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001400eventhandler( ) Number TRUE if inside an event handler
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001401executable( {expr}) Number 1 if executable {expr} exists
1402exists( {expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} exists
1403expand( {expr}) String expand special keywords in {expr}
1404filereadable( {file}) Number TRUE if {file} is a readable file
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001405filter( {expr}, {string}) List/Dict remove items from {expr} where
1406 {string} is 0
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001407finddir( {name}[, {path}[, {count}]])
1408 String Find directory {name} in {path}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001409findfile( {name}[, {path}[, {count}]])
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001410 String Find file {name} in {path}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001411filewritable( {file}) Number TRUE if {file} is a writable file
1412fnamemodify( {fname}, {mods}) String modify file name
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001413foldclosed( {lnum}) Number first line of fold at {lnum} if closed
1414foldclosedend( {lnum}) Number last line of fold at {lnum} if closed
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001415foldlevel( {lnum}) Number fold level at {lnum}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001416foldtext( ) String line displayed for closed fold
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001417foreground( ) Number bring the Vim window to the foreground
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001418function( {name}) Funcref reference to function {name}
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001419get( {list}, {idx} [, {def}]) any get item {idx} from {list} or {def}
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001420get( {dict}, {key} [, {def}]) any get item {key} from {dict} or {def}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001421getchar( [expr]) Number get one character from the user
1422getcharmod( ) Number modifiers for the last typed character
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001423getbufvar( {expr}, {varname}) variable {varname} in buffer {expr}
1424getcmdline() String return the current command-line
1425getcmdpos() Number return cursor position in command-line
1426getcwd() String the current working directory
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00001427getfperm( {fname}) String file permissions of file {fname}
1428getfsize( {fname}) Number size in bytes of file {fname}
Bram Moolenaard8b0cf12004-12-12 11:33:30 +00001429getfontname( [{name}]) String name of font being used
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001430getftime( {fname}) Number last modification time of file
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00001431getftype( {fname}) String description of type of file {fname}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001432getline( {lnum}) String line {lnum} from current buffer
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001433getreg( [{regname}]) String contents of register
1434getregtype( [{regname}]) String type of register
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001435getwinposx() Number X coord in pixels of GUI Vim window
1436getwinposy() Number Y coord in pixels of GUI Vim window
1437getwinvar( {nr}, {varname}) variable {varname} in window {nr}
1438glob( {expr}) String expand file wildcards in {expr}
1439globpath( {path}, {expr}) String do glob({expr}) for all dirs in {path}
1440has( {feature}) Number TRUE if feature {feature} supported
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001441has_key( {dict}, {key}) Number TRUE if {dict} has entry {key}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001442hasmapto( {what} [, {mode}]) Number TRUE if mapping to {what} exists
1443histadd( {history},{item}) String add an item to a history
1444histdel( {history} [, {item}]) String remove an item from a history
1445histget( {history} [, {index}]) String get the item {index} from a history
1446histnr( {history}) Number highest index of a history
1447hlexists( {name}) Number TRUE if highlight group {name} exists
1448hlID( {name}) Number syntax ID of highlight group {name}
1449hostname() String name of the machine Vim is running on
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001450iconv( {expr}, {from}, {to}) String convert encoding of {expr}
1451indent( {lnum}) Number indent of line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001452index( {list}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]])
1453 Number index in {list} where {expr} appears
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001454input( {prompt} [, {text}]) String get input from the user
1455inputdialog( {p} [, {t} [, {c}]]) String like input() but in a GUI dialog
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001456inputrestore() Number restore typeahead
1457inputsave() Number save and clear typeahead
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001458inputsecret( {prompt} [, {text}]) String like input() but hiding the text
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001459insert( {list}, {item} [, {idx}]) List insert {item} in {list} [before {idx}]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001460isdirectory( {directory}) Number TRUE if {directory} is a directory
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00001461items( {dict}) List List of key-value pairs in {dict}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001462join( {list} [, {sep}]) String join {list} items into one String
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001463keys( {dict}) List List of keys in {dict}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001464len( {expr}) Number the length of {expr}
1465libcall( {lib}, {func}, {arg}) String call {func} in library {lib} with {arg}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001466libcallnr( {lib}, {func}, {arg}) Number idem, but return a Number
1467line( {expr}) Number line nr of cursor, last line or mark
1468line2byte( {lnum}) Number byte count of line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001469lispindent( {lnum}) Number Lisp indent for line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001470localtime() Number current time
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001471map( {expr}, {string}) List/Dict change each item in {expr} to {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001472maparg( {name}[, {mode}]) String rhs of mapping {name} in mode {mode}
1473mapcheck( {name}[, {mode}]) String check for mappings matching {name}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001474match( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001475 Number position where {pat} matches in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001476matchend( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001477 Number position where {pat} ends in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001478matchstr( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
1479 String {count}'th match of {pat} in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001480max({list}) Number maximum value of items in {list}
1481min({list}) Number minumum value of items in {list}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001482mode() String current editing mode
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001483nextnonblank( {lnum}) Number line nr of non-blank line >= {lnum}
1484nr2char( {expr}) String single char with ASCII value {expr}
1485prevnonblank( {lnum}) Number line nr of non-blank line <= {lnum}
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001486range( {expr} [, {max} [, {stride}]])
1487 List items from {expr} to {max}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001488remote_expr( {server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
1489 String send expression
1490remote_foreground( {server}) Number bring Vim server to the foreground
1491remote_peek( {serverid} [, {retvar}])
1492 Number check for reply string
1493remote_read( {serverid}) String read reply string
1494remote_send( {server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
1495 String send key sequence
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001496remove( {list}, {idx} [, {end}]) any remove items {idx}-{end} from {list}
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001497remove( {dict}, {key}) any remove entry {key} from {dict}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001498rename( {from}, {to}) Number rename (move) file from {from} to {to}
1499repeat( {expr}, {count}) String repeat {expr} {count} times
1500resolve( {filename}) String get filename a shortcut points to
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001501reverse( {list}) List reverse {list} in-place
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001502search( {pattern} [, {flags}]) Number search for {pattern}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001503searchpair( {start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip}]])
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001504 Number search for other end of start/end pair
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001505server2client( {clientid}, {string})
1506 Number send reply string
1507serverlist() String get a list of available servers
1508setbufvar( {expr}, {varname}, {val}) set {varname} in buffer {expr} to {val}
1509setcmdpos( {pos}) Number set cursor position in command-line
1510setline( {lnum}, {line}) Number set line {lnum} to {line}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001511setreg( {n}, {v}[, {opt}]) Number set register to value and type
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001512setwinvar( {nr}, {varname}, {val}) set {varname} in window {nr} to {val}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001513simplify( {filename}) String simplify filename as much as possible
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001514sort( {list} [, {func}]) List sort {list}, using {func} to compare
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001515split( {expr} [, {pat}]) List make List from {pat} separated {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001516strftime( {format}[, {time}]) String time in specified format
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00001517stridx( {haystack}, {needle}[, {start}])
1518 Number index of {needle} in {haystack}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001519string( {expr}) String String representation of {expr} value
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001520strlen( {expr}) Number length of the String {expr}
1521strpart( {src}, {start}[, {len}])
1522 String {len} characters of {src} at {start}
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00001523strridx( {haystack}, {needle} [, {start}])
1524 Number last index of {needle} in {haystack}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001525strtrans( {expr}) String translate string to make it printable
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001526submatch( {nr}) String specific match in ":substitute"
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001527substitute( {expr}, {pat}, {sub}, {flags})
1528 String all {pat} in {expr} replaced with {sub}
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00001529synID( {lnum}, {col}, {trans}) Number syntax ID at {lnum} and {col}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001530synIDattr( {synID}, {what} [, {mode}])
1531 String attribute {what} of syntax ID {synID}
1532synIDtrans( {synID}) Number translated syntax ID of {synID}
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00001533system( {expr} [, {input}]) String output of shell command/filter {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001534tempname() String name for a temporary file
1535tolower( {expr}) String the String {expr} switched to lowercase
1536toupper( {expr}) String the String {expr} switched to uppercase
Bram Moolenaar8299df92004-07-10 09:47:34 +00001537tr( {src}, {fromstr}, {tostr}) String translate chars of {src} in {fromstr}
1538 to chars in {tostr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001539type( {name}) Number type of variable {name}
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00001540values( {dict}) List List of values in {dict}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001541virtcol( {expr}) Number screen column of cursor or mark
1542visualmode( [expr]) String last visual mode used
1543winbufnr( {nr}) Number buffer number of window {nr}
1544wincol() Number window column of the cursor
1545winheight( {nr}) Number height of window {nr}
1546winline() Number window line of the cursor
1547winnr() Number number of current window
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001548winrestcmd() String returns command to restore window sizes
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001549winwidth( {nr}) Number width of window {nr}
1550
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001551add({list}, {expr}) *add()*
1552 Append the item {expr} to List {list}. Returns the resulting
1553 List. Examples: >
1554 :let alist = add([1, 2, 3], item)
1555 :call add(mylist, "woodstock")
1556< Note that when {expr} is a List it is appended as a single
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001557 item. Use |extend()| to concatenate Lists.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001558 Use |insert()| to add an item at another position.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001559
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001560
1561append({lnum}, {expr}) *append()*
1562 When {expr} is a List: Append each item of the list as a text
1563 line below line {lnum} in the current buffer.
1564 Otherwise append the text line {expr} below line {lnum} in the
1565 current buffer.
1566 {lnum} can be zero, to insert a line before the first one.
1567 Returns 1 for failure ({lnum} out of range or out of memory),
1568 0 for success. Example: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001569 :let failed = append(line('$'), "# THE END")
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001570 :let failed = append(0, ["Chapter 1", "the beginning"])
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001571<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001572 *argc()*
1573argc() The result is the number of files in the argument list of the
1574 current window. See |arglist|.
1575
1576 *argidx()*
1577argidx() The result is the current index in the argument list. 0 is
1578 the first file. argc() - 1 is the last one. See |arglist|.
1579
1580 *argv()*
1581argv({nr}) The result is the {nr}th file in the argument list of the
1582 current window. See |arglist|. "argv(0)" is the first one.
1583 Example: >
1584 :let i = 0
1585 :while i < argc()
1586 : let f = escape(argv(i), '. ')
1587 : exe 'amenu Arg.' . f . ' :e ' . f . '<CR>'
1588 : let i = i + 1
1589 :endwhile
1590<
1591 *browse()*
1592browse({save}, {title}, {initdir}, {default})
1593 Put up a file requester. This only works when "has("browse")"
1594 returns non-zero (only in some GUI versions).
1595 The input fields are:
1596 {save} when non-zero, select file to write
1597 {title} title for the requester
1598 {initdir} directory to start browsing in
1599 {default} default file name
1600 When the "Cancel" button is hit, something went wrong, or
1601 browsing is not possible, an empty string is returned.
1602
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001603 *browsedir()*
1604browsedir({title}, {initdir})
1605 Put up a directory requester. This only works when
1606 "has("browse")" returns non-zero (only in some GUI versions).
1607 On systems where a directory browser is not supported a file
1608 browser is used. In that case: select a file in the directory
1609 to be used.
1610 The input fields are:
1611 {title} title for the requester
1612 {initdir} directory to start browsing in
1613 When the "Cancel" button is hit, something went wrong, or
1614 browsing is not possible, an empty string is returned.
1615
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001616bufexists({expr}) *bufexists()*
1617 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a buffer called
1618 {expr} exists.
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001619 If the {expr} argument is a number, buffer numbers are used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001620 If the {expr} argument is a string it must match a buffer name
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001621 exactly. The name can be:
1622 - Relative to the current directory.
1623 - A full path.
1624 - The name of a buffer with 'filetype' set to "nofile".
1625 - A URL name.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001626 Unlisted buffers will be found.
1627 Note that help files are listed by their short name in the
1628 output of |:buffers|, but bufexists() requires using their
1629 long name to be able to find them.
1630 Use "bufexists(0)" to test for the existence of an alternate
1631 file name.
1632 *buffer_exists()*
1633 Obsolete name: buffer_exists().
1634
1635buflisted({expr}) *buflisted()*
1636 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a buffer called
1637 {expr} exists and is listed (has the 'buflisted' option set).
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001638 The {expr} argument is used like with |bufexists()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001639
1640bufloaded({expr}) *bufloaded()*
1641 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a buffer called
1642 {expr} exists and is loaded (shown in a window or hidden).
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001643 The {expr} argument is used like with |bufexists()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001644
1645bufname({expr}) *bufname()*
1646 The result is the name of a buffer, as it is displayed by the
1647 ":ls" command.
1648 If {expr} is a Number, that buffer number's name is given.
1649 Number zero is the alternate buffer for the current window.
1650 If {expr} is a String, it is used as a |file-pattern| to match
1651 with the buffer names. This is always done like 'magic' is
1652 set and 'cpoptions' is empty. When there is more than one
1653 match an empty string is returned.
1654 "" or "%" can be used for the current buffer, "#" for the
1655 alternate buffer.
1656 A full match is preferred, otherwise a match at the start, end
1657 or middle of the buffer name is accepted.
1658 Listed buffers are found first. If there is a single match
1659 with a listed buffer, that one is returned. Next unlisted
1660 buffers are searched for.
1661 If the {expr} is a String, but you want to use it as a buffer
1662 number, force it to be a Number by adding zero to it: >
1663 :echo bufname("3" + 0)
1664< If the buffer doesn't exist, or doesn't have a name, an empty
1665 string is returned. >
1666 bufname("#") alternate buffer name
1667 bufname(3) name of buffer 3
1668 bufname("%") name of current buffer
1669 bufname("file2") name of buffer where "file2" matches.
1670< *buffer_name()*
1671 Obsolete name: buffer_name().
1672
1673 *bufnr()*
1674bufnr({expr}) The result is the number of a buffer, as it is displayed by
1675 the ":ls" command. For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()|
1676 above. If the buffer doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
1677 bufnr("$") is the last buffer: >
1678 :let last_buffer = bufnr("$")
1679< The result is a Number, which is the highest buffer number
1680 of existing buffers. Note that not all buffers with a smaller
1681 number necessarily exist, because ":bwipeout" may have removed
1682 them. Use bufexists() to test for the existence of a buffer.
1683 *buffer_number()*
1684 Obsolete name: buffer_number().
1685 *last_buffer_nr()*
1686 Obsolete name for bufnr("$"): last_buffer_nr().
1687
1688bufwinnr({expr}) *bufwinnr()*
1689 The result is a Number, which is the number of the first
1690 window associated with buffer {expr}. For the use of {expr},
1691 see |bufname()| above. If buffer {expr} doesn't exist or
1692 there is no such window, -1 is returned. Example: >
1693
1694 echo "A window containing buffer 1 is " . (bufwinnr(1))
1695
1696< The number can be used with |CTRL-W_w| and ":wincmd w"
1697 |:wincmd|.
1698
1699
1700byte2line({byte}) *byte2line()*
1701 Return the line number that contains the character at byte
1702 count {byte} in the current buffer. This includes the
1703 end-of-line character, depending on the 'fileformat' option
1704 for the current buffer. The first character has byte count
1705 one.
1706 Also see |line2byte()|, |go| and |:goto|.
1707 {not available when compiled without the |+byte_offset|
1708 feature}
1709
Bram Moolenaarab79bcb2004-07-18 21:34:53 +00001710byteidx({expr}, {nr}) *byteidx()*
1711 Return byte index of the {nr}'th character in the string
1712 {expr}. Use zero for the first character, it returns zero.
1713 This function is only useful when there are multibyte
1714 characters, otherwise the returned value is equal to {nr}.
1715 Composing characters are counted as a separate character.
1716 Example : >
1717 echo matchstr(str, ".", byteidx(str, 3))
1718< will display the fourth character. Another way to do the
1719 same: >
1720 let s = strpart(str, byteidx(str, 3))
1721 echo strpart(s, 0, byteidx(s, 1))
1722< If there are less than {nr} characters -1 is returned.
1723 If there are exactly {nr} characters the length of the string
1724 is returned.
1725
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001726call({func}, {arglist} [, {dict}]) *call()* *E699*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001727 Call function {func} with the items in List {arglist} as
1728 arguments.
1729 {func} can either be a Funcref or the name of a function.
1730 a:firstline and a:lastline are set to the cursor line.
1731 Returns the return value of the called function.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001732 {dict} is for functions with the "dict" attribute. It will be
1733 used to set the local variable "self". |Dictionary-function|
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001734
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001735char2nr({expr}) *char2nr()*
1736 Return number value of the first char in {expr}. Examples: >
1737 char2nr(" ") returns 32
1738 char2nr("ABC") returns 65
1739< The current 'encoding' is used. Example for "utf-8": >
1740 char2nr("á") returns 225
1741 char2nr("á"[0]) returns 195
1742
1743cindent({lnum}) *cindent()*
1744 Get the amount of indent for line {lnum} according the C
1745 indenting rules, as with 'cindent'.
1746 The indent is counted in spaces, the value of 'tabstop' is
1747 relevant. {lnum} is used just like in |getline()|.
1748 When {lnum} is invalid or Vim was not compiled the |+cindent|
1749 feature, -1 is returned.
1750
1751 *col()*
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00001752col({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the byte index of the column
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001753 position given with {expr}. The accepted positions are:
1754 . the cursor position
1755 $ the end of the cursor line (the result is the
1756 number of characters in the cursor line plus one)
1757 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is
1758 returned)
1759 For the screen column position use |virtcol()|.
1760 Note that only marks in the current file can be used.
1761 Examples: >
1762 col(".") column of cursor
1763 col("$") length of cursor line plus one
1764 col("'t") column of mark t
1765 col("'" . markname) column of mark markname
1766< The first column is 1. 0 is returned for an error.
1767 For the cursor position, when 'virtualedit' is active, the
1768 column is one higher if the cursor is after the end of the
1769 line. This can be used to obtain the column in Insert mode: >
1770 :imap <F2> <C-O>:let save_ve = &ve<CR>
1771 \<C-O>:set ve=all<CR>
1772 \<C-O>:echo col(".") . "\n" <Bar>
1773 \let &ve = save_ve<CR>
1774<
1775 *confirm()*
1776confirm({msg} [, {choices} [, {default} [, {type}]]])
1777 Confirm() offers the user a dialog, from which a choice can be
1778 made. It returns the number of the choice. For the first
1779 choice this is 1.
1780 Note: confirm() is only supported when compiled with dialog
1781 support, see |+dialog_con| and |+dialog_gui|.
1782 {msg} is displayed in a |dialog| with {choices} as the
1783 alternatives. When {choices} is missing or empty, "&OK" is
1784 used (and translated).
1785 {msg} is a String, use '\n' to include a newline. Only on
1786 some systems the string is wrapped when it doesn't fit.
1787 {choices} is a String, with the individual choices separated
1788 by '\n', e.g. >
1789 confirm("Save changes?", "&Yes\n&No\n&Cancel")
1790< The letter after the '&' is the shortcut key for that choice.
1791 Thus you can type 'c' to select "Cancel". The shortcut does
1792 not need to be the first letter: >
1793 confirm("file has been modified", "&Save\nSave &All")
1794< For the console, the first letter of each choice is used as
1795 the default shortcut key.
1796 The optional {default} argument is the number of the choice
1797 that is made if the user hits <CR>. Use 1 to make the first
1798 choice the default one. Use 0 to not set a default. If
1799 {default} is omitted, 1 is used.
1800 The optional {type} argument gives the type of dialog. This
1801 is only used for the icon of the Win32 GUI. It can be one of
1802 these values: "Error", "Question", "Info", "Warning" or
1803 "Generic". Only the first character is relevant. When {type}
1804 is omitted, "Generic" is used.
1805 If the user aborts the dialog by pressing <Esc>, CTRL-C,
1806 or another valid interrupt key, confirm() returns 0.
1807
1808 An example: >
1809 :let choice = confirm("What do you want?", "&Apples\n&Oranges\n&Bananas", 2)
1810 :if choice == 0
1811 : echo "make up your mind!"
1812 :elseif choice == 3
1813 : echo "tasteful"
1814 :else
1815 : echo "I prefer bananas myself."
1816 :endif
1817< In a GUI dialog, buttons are used. The layout of the buttons
1818 depends on the 'v' flag in 'guioptions'. If it is included,
1819 the buttons are always put vertically. Otherwise, confirm()
1820 tries to put the buttons in one horizontal line. If they
1821 don't fit, a vertical layout is used anyway. For some systems
1822 the horizontal layout is always used.
1823
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001824 *copy()*
1825copy({expr}) Make a copy of {expr}. For Numbers and Strings this isn't
1826 different from using {expr} directly.
1827 When {expr} is a List a shallow copy is created. This means
1828 that the original List can be changed without changing the
1829 copy, and vise versa. But the items are identical, thus
1830 changing an item changes the contents of both Lists. Also see
1831 |deepcopy()|.
1832
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001833count({comp}, {expr} [, {ic} [, {start}]]) *count()*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001834 Return the number of times an item with value {expr} appears
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001835 in List or Dictionary {comp}.
1836 If {start} is given then start with the item with this index.
1837 {start} can only be used with a List.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001838 When {ic} is given and it's non-zero then case is ignored.
1839
1840
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001841 *cscope_connection()*
1842cscope_connection([{num} , {dbpath} [, {prepend}]])
1843 Checks for the existence of a |cscope| connection. If no
1844 parameters are specified, then the function returns:
1845 0, if cscope was not available (not compiled in), or
1846 if there are no cscope connections;
1847 1, if there is at least one cscope connection.
1848
1849 If parameters are specified, then the value of {num}
1850 determines how existence of a cscope connection is checked:
1851
1852 {num} Description of existence check
1853 ----- ------------------------------
1854 0 Same as no parameters (e.g., "cscope_connection()").
1855 1 Ignore {prepend}, and use partial string matches for
1856 {dbpath}.
1857 2 Ignore {prepend}, and use exact string matches for
1858 {dbpath}.
1859 3 Use {prepend}, use partial string matches for both
1860 {dbpath} and {prepend}.
1861 4 Use {prepend}, use exact string matches for both
1862 {dbpath} and {prepend}.
1863
1864 Note: All string comparisons are case sensitive!
1865
1866 Examples. Suppose we had the following (from ":cs show"): >
1867
1868 # pid database name prepend path
1869 0 27664 cscope.out /usr/local
1870<
1871 Invocation Return Val ~
1872 ---------- ---------- >
1873 cscope_connection() 1
1874 cscope_connection(1, "out") 1
1875 cscope_connection(2, "out") 0
1876 cscope_connection(3, "out") 0
1877 cscope_connection(3, "out", "local") 1
1878 cscope_connection(4, "out") 0
1879 cscope_connection(4, "out", "local") 0
1880 cscope_connection(4, "cscope.out", "/usr/local") 1
1881<
1882cursor({lnum}, {col}) *cursor()*
1883 Positions the cursor at the column {col} in the line {lnum}.
1884 Does not change the jumplist.
1885 If {lnum} is greater than the number of lines in the buffer,
1886 the cursor will be positioned at the last line in the buffer.
1887 If {lnum} is zero, the cursor will stay in the current line.
1888 If {col} is greater than the number of characters in the line,
1889 the cursor will be positioned at the last character in the
1890 line.
1891 If {col} is zero, the cursor will stay in the current column.
1892
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001893
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001894deepcopy({expr}) *deepcopy()* *E698*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001895 Make a copy of {expr}. For Numbers and Strings this isn't
1896 different from using {expr} directly.
1897 When {expr} is a List a full copy is created. This means
1898 that the original List can be changed without changing the
1899 copy, and vise versa. When an item is a List, a copy for it
1900 is made, recursively. Thus changing an item in the copy does
1901 not change the contents of the original List.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00001902 *E724*
1903 Nesting is possible up to 100 levels. When there is an item
1904 that refers back to a higher level making a deep copy will
1905 fail.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001906 Also see |copy()|.
1907
1908delete({fname}) *delete()*
1909 Deletes the file by the name {fname}. The result is a Number,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001910 which is 0 if the file was deleted successfully, and non-zero
1911 when the deletion failed.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001912 Use |remove()| to delete an item from a List.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001913
1914 *did_filetype()*
1915did_filetype() Returns non-zero when autocommands are being executed and the
1916 FileType event has been triggered at least once. Can be used
1917 to avoid triggering the FileType event again in the scripts
1918 that detect the file type. |FileType|
1919 When editing another file, the counter is reset, thus this
1920 really checks if the FileType event has been triggered for the
1921 current buffer. This allows an autocommand that starts
1922 editing another buffer to set 'filetype' and load a syntax
1923 file.
1924
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00001925diff_filler({lnum}) *diff_filler()*
1926 Returns the number of filler lines above line {lnum}.
1927 These are the lines that were inserted at this point in
1928 another diff'ed window. These filler lines are shown in the
1929 display but don't exist in the buffer.
1930 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|. Thus "." is the current
1931 line, "'m" mark m, etc.
1932 Returns 0 if the current window is not in diff mode.
1933
1934diff_hlID({lnum}, {col}) *diff_hlID()*
1935 Returns the highlight ID for diff mode at line {lnum} column
1936 {col} (byte index). When the current line does not have a
1937 diff change zero is returned.
1938 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|. Thus "." is the current
1939 line, "'m" mark m, etc.
1940 {col} is 1 for the leftmost column, {lnum} is 1 for the first
1941 line.
1942 The highlight ID can be used with |synIDattr()| to obtain
1943 syntax information about the highlighting.
1944
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001945empty({expr}) *empty()*
1946 Return the Number 1 if {expr} is empty, zero otherwise.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001947 A List or Dictionary is empty when it does not have any items.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001948 A Number is empty when its value is zero.
1949 For a long List this is much faster then comparing the length
1950 with zero.
1951
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001952escape({string}, {chars}) *escape()*
1953 Escape the characters in {chars} that occur in {string} with a
1954 backslash. Example: >
1955 :echo escape('c:\program files\vim', ' \')
1956< results in: >
1957 c:\\program\ files\\vim
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001958
1959< *eval()*
1960eval({string}) Evaluate {string} and return the result. Especially useful to
1961 turn the result of |string()| back into the original value.
1962 This works for Numbers, Strings and composites of them.
1963 Also works for Funcrefs that refer to existing functions.
1964
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001965eventhandler() *eventhandler()*
1966 Returns 1 when inside an event handler. That is that Vim got
1967 interrupted while waiting for the user to type a character,
1968 e.g., when dropping a file on Vim. This means interactive
1969 commands cannot be used. Otherwise zero is returned.
1970
1971executable({expr}) *executable()*
1972 This function checks if an executable with the name {expr}
1973 exists. {expr} must be the name of the program without any
Bram Moolenaarf4b8e572004-06-24 15:53:16 +00001974 arguments.
1975 executable() uses the value of $PATH and/or the normal
1976 searchpath for programs. *PATHEXT*
1977 On MS-DOS and MS-Windows the ".exe", ".bat", etc. can
1978 optionally be included. Then the extensions in $PATHEXT are
1979 tried. Thus if "foo.exe" does not exist, "foo.exe.bat" can be
1980 found. If $PATHEXT is not set then ".exe;.com;.bat;.cmd" is
1981 used. A dot by itself can be used in $PATHEXT to try using
1982 the name without an extension. When 'shell' looks like a
1983 Unix shell, then the name is also tried without adding an
1984 extension.
1985 On MS-DOS and MS-Windows it only checks if the file exists and
1986 is not a directory, not if it's really executable.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001987 The result is a Number:
1988 1 exists
1989 0 does not exist
1990 -1 not implemented on this system
1991
1992 *exists()*
1993exists({expr}) The result is a Number, which is non-zero if {expr} is
1994 defined, zero otherwise. The {expr} argument is a string,
1995 which contains one of these:
1996 &option-name Vim option (only checks if it exists,
1997 not if it really works)
1998 +option-name Vim option that works.
1999 $ENVNAME environment variable (could also be
2000 done by comparing with an empty
2001 string)
2002 *funcname built-in function (see |functions|)
2003 or user defined function (see
2004 |user-functions|).
2005 varname internal variable (see
2006 |internal-variables|). Does not work
2007 for |curly-braces-names|.
2008 :cmdname Ex command: built-in command, user
2009 command or command modifier |:command|.
2010 Returns:
2011 1 for match with start of a command
2012 2 full match with a command
2013 3 matches several user commands
2014 To check for a supported command
2015 always check the return value to be 2.
2016 #event autocommand defined for this event
2017 #event#pattern autocommand defined for this event and
2018 pattern (the pattern is taken
2019 literally and compared to the
2020 autocommand patterns character by
2021 character)
2022 For checking for a supported feature use |has()|.
2023
2024 Examples: >
2025 exists("&shortname")
2026 exists("$HOSTNAME")
2027 exists("*strftime")
2028 exists("*s:MyFunc")
2029 exists("bufcount")
2030 exists(":Make")
2031 exists("#CursorHold");
2032 exists("#BufReadPre#*.gz")
2033< There must be no space between the symbol (&/$/*/#) and the
2034 name.
2035 Note that the argument must be a string, not the name of the
2036 variable itself! For example: >
2037 exists(bufcount)
2038< This doesn't check for existence of the "bufcount" variable,
2039 but gets the contents of "bufcount", and checks if that
2040 exists.
2041
2042expand({expr} [, {flag}]) *expand()*
2043 Expand wildcards and the following special keywords in {expr}.
2044 The result is a String.
2045
2046 When there are several matches, they are separated by <NL>
2047 characters. [Note: in version 5.0 a space was used, which
2048 caused problems when a file name contains a space]
2049
2050 If the expansion fails, the result is an empty string. A name
2051 for a non-existing file is not included.
2052
2053 When {expr} starts with '%', '#' or '<', the expansion is done
2054 like for the |cmdline-special| variables with their associated
2055 modifiers. Here is a short overview:
2056
2057 % current file name
2058 # alternate file name
2059 #n alternate file name n
2060 <cfile> file name under the cursor
2061 <afile> autocmd file name
2062 <abuf> autocmd buffer number (as a String!)
2063 <amatch> autocmd matched name
2064 <sfile> sourced script file name
2065 <cword> word under the cursor
2066 <cWORD> WORD under the cursor
2067 <client> the {clientid} of the last received
2068 message |server2client()|
2069 Modifiers:
2070 :p expand to full path
2071 :h head (last path component removed)
2072 :t tail (last path component only)
2073 :r root (one extension removed)
2074 :e extension only
2075
2076 Example: >
2077 :let &tags = expand("%:p:h") . "/tags"
2078< Note that when expanding a string that starts with '%', '#' or
2079 '<', any following text is ignored. This does NOT work: >
2080 :let doesntwork = expand("%:h.bak")
2081< Use this: >
2082 :let doeswork = expand("%:h") . ".bak"
2083< Also note that expanding "<cfile>" and others only returns the
2084 referenced file name without further expansion. If "<cfile>"
2085 is "~/.cshrc", you need to do another expand() to have the
2086 "~/" expanded into the path of the home directory: >
2087 :echo expand(expand("<cfile>"))
2088<
2089 There cannot be white space between the variables and the
2090 following modifier. The |fnamemodify()| function can be used
2091 to modify normal file names.
2092
2093 When using '%' or '#', and the current or alternate file name
2094 is not defined, an empty string is used. Using "%:p" in a
2095 buffer with no name, results in the current directory, with a
2096 '/' added.
2097
2098 When {expr} does not start with '%', '#' or '<', it is
2099 expanded like a file name is expanded on the command line.
2100 'suffixes' and 'wildignore' are used, unless the optional
2101 {flag} argument is given and it is non-zero. Names for
2102 non-existing files are included.
2103
2104 Expand() can also be used to expand variables and environment
2105 variables that are only known in a shell. But this can be
2106 slow, because a shell must be started. See |expr-env-expand|.
2107 The expanded variable is still handled like a list of file
2108 names. When an environment variable cannot be expanded, it is
2109 left unchanged. Thus ":echo expand('$FOOBAR')" results in
2110 "$FOOBAR".
2111
2112 See |glob()| for finding existing files. See |system()| for
2113 getting the raw output of an external command.
2114
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002115extend({expr1}, {expr2} [, {expr3}]) *extend()*
2116 {expr1} and {expr2} must be both Lists or both Dictionaries.
2117
2118 If they are Lists: Append {expr2} to {expr1}.
2119 If {expr3} is given insert the items of {expr2} before item
2120 {expr3} in {expr1}. When {expr3} is zero insert before the
2121 first item. When {expr3} is equal to len({expr1}) then
2122 {expr2} is appended.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002123 Examples: >
2124 :echo sort(extend(mylist, [7, 5]))
2125 :call extend(mylist, [2, 3], 1)
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002126< Use |add()| to concatenate one item to a list. To concatenate
2127 two lists into a new list use the + operator: >
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002128 :let newlist = [1, 2, 3] + [4, 5]
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002129<
2130 If they are Dictionaries:
2131 Add all entries from {expr2} to {expr1}.
2132 If a key exists in both {expr1} and {expr2} then {expr3} is
2133 used to decide what to do:
2134 {expr3} = "keep": keep the value of {expr1}
2135 {expr3} = "force": use the value of {expr2}
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00002136 {expr3} = "error": give an error message *E737*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002137 When {expr3} is omitted then "force" is assumed.
2138
2139 {expr1} is changed when {expr2} is not empty. If necessary
2140 make a copy of {expr1} first.
2141 {expr2} remains unchanged.
2142 Returns {expr1}.
2143
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002144
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002145filereadable({file}) *filereadable()*
2146 The result is a Number, which is TRUE when a file with the
2147 name {file} exists, and can be read. If {file} doesn't exist,
2148 or is a directory, the result is FALSE. {file} is any
2149 expression, which is used as a String.
2150 *file_readable()*
2151 Obsolete name: file_readable().
2152
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002153
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002154filter({expr}, {string}) *filter()*
2155 {expr} must be a List or a Dictionary.
2156 For each item in {expr} evaluate {string} and when the result
2157 is zero remove the item from the List or Dictionary.
2158 Inside {string} |v:val| has the value of the current item.
2159 For a Dictionary |v:key| has the key of the current item.
2160 Examples: >
2161 :call filter(mylist, 'v:val !~ "OLD"')
2162< Removes the items where "OLD" appears. >
2163 :call filter(mydict, 'v:key >= 8')
2164< Removes the items with a key below 8. >
2165 :call filter(var, 0)
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00002166< Removes all the items, thus clears the List or Dictionary.
2167
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002168 Note that {string} is the result of expression and is then
2169 used as an expression again. Often it is good to use a
2170 |literal-string| to avoid having to double backslashes.
2171
2172 The operation is done in-place. If you want a List or
2173 Dictionary to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00002174 :let l = filter(copy(mylist), '& =~ "KEEP"')
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002175
2176< Returns {expr}, the List or Dictionary that was filtered.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002177
2178
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00002179finddir({name}[, {path}[, {count}]]) *finddir()*
2180 Find directory {name} in {path}.
2181 If {path} is omitted or empty then 'path' is used.
2182 If the optional {count} is given, find {count}'s occurrence of
2183 {name} in {path}.
2184 This is quite similar to the ex-command |:find|.
2185 When the found directory is below the current directory a
2186 relative path is returned. Otherwise a full path is returned.
2187 Example: >
2188 :echo findfile("tags.vim", ".;")
2189< Searches from the current directory upwards until it finds
2190 the file "tags.vim".
2191 {only available when compiled with the +file_in_path feature}
2192
2193findfile({name}[, {path}[, {count}]]) *findfile()*
2194 Just like |finddir()|, but find a file instead of a directory.
2195
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002196filewritable({file}) *filewritable()*
2197 The result is a Number, which is 1 when a file with the
2198 name {file} exists, and can be written. If {file} doesn't
2199 exist, or is not writable, the result is 0. If (file) is a
2200 directory, and we can write to it, the result is 2.
2201
2202fnamemodify({fname}, {mods}) *fnamemodify()*
2203 Modify file name {fname} according to {mods}. {mods} is a
2204 string of characters like it is used for file names on the
2205 command line. See |filename-modifiers|.
2206 Example: >
2207 :echo fnamemodify("main.c", ":p:h")
2208< results in: >
2209 /home/mool/vim/vim/src
2210< Note: Environment variables and "~" don't work in {fname}, use
2211 |expand()| first then.
2212
2213foldclosed({lnum}) *foldclosed()*
2214 The result is a Number. If the line {lnum} is in a closed
2215 fold, the result is the number of the first line in that fold.
2216 If the line {lnum} is not in a closed fold, -1 is returned.
2217
2218foldclosedend({lnum}) *foldclosedend()*
2219 The result is a Number. If the line {lnum} is in a closed
2220 fold, the result is the number of the last line in that fold.
2221 If the line {lnum} is not in a closed fold, -1 is returned.
2222
2223foldlevel({lnum}) *foldlevel()*
2224 The result is a Number, which is the foldlevel of line {lnum}
2225 in the current buffer. For nested folds the deepest level is
2226 returned. If there is no fold at line {lnum}, zero is
2227 returned. It doesn't matter if the folds are open or closed.
2228 When used while updating folds (from 'foldexpr') -1 is
2229 returned for lines where folds are still to be updated and the
2230 foldlevel is unknown. As a special case the level of the
2231 previous line is usually available.
2232
2233 *foldtext()*
2234foldtext() Returns a String, to be displayed for a closed fold. This is
2235 the default function used for the 'foldtext' option and should
2236 only be called from evaluating 'foldtext'. It uses the
2237 |v:foldstart|, |v:foldend| and |v:folddashes| variables.
2238 The returned string looks like this: >
2239 +-- 45 lines: abcdef
2240< The number of dashes depends on the foldlevel. The "45" is
2241 the number of lines in the fold. "abcdef" is the text in the
2242 first non-blank line of the fold. Leading white space, "//"
2243 or "/*" and the text from the 'foldmarker' and 'commentstring'
2244 options is removed.
2245 {not available when compiled without the |+folding| feature}
2246
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00002247foldtextresult({lnum}) *foldtextresult()*
2248 Returns the text that is displayed for the closed fold at line
2249 {lnum}. Evaluates 'foldtext' in the appropriate context.
2250 When there is no closed fold at {lnum} an empty string is
2251 returned.
2252 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|. Thus "." is the current
2253 line, "'m" mark m, etc.
2254 Useful when exporting folded text, e.g., to HTML.
2255 {not available when compiled without the |+folding| feature}
2256
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002257 *foreground()*
2258foreground() Move the Vim window to the foreground. Useful when sent from
2259 a client to a Vim server. |remote_send()|
2260 On Win32 systems this might not work, the OS does not always
2261 allow a window to bring itself to the foreground. Use
2262 |remote_foreground()| instead.
2263 {only in the Win32, Athena, Motif and GTK GUI versions and the
2264 Win32 console version}
2265
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002266
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00002267function({name}) *function()* *E700*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002268 Return a Funcref variable that refers to function {name}.
2269 {name} can be a user defined function or an internal function.
2270
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002271
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00002272get({list}, {idx} [, {default}]) *get()*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002273 Get item {idx} from List {list}. When this item is not
2274 available return {default}. Return zero when {default} is
2275 omitted.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002276get({dict}, {key} [, {default}])
2277 Get item with key {key} from Dictionary {dict}. When this
2278 item is not available return {default}. Return zero when
2279 {default} is omitted.
2280
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002281
2282getbufvar({expr}, {varname}) *getbufvar()*
2283 The result is the value of option or local buffer variable
2284 {varname} in buffer {expr}. Note that the name without "b:"
2285 must be used.
2286 This also works for a global or local window option, but it
2287 doesn't work for a global or local window variable.
2288 For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()| above.
2289 When the buffer or variable doesn't exist an empty string is
2290 returned, there is no error message.
2291 Examples: >
2292 :let bufmodified = getbufvar(1, "&mod")
2293 :echo "todo myvar = " . getbufvar("todo", "myvar")
2294<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002295getchar([expr]) *getchar()*
2296 Get a single character from the user. If it is an 8-bit
2297 character, the result is a number. Otherwise a String is
2298 returned with the encoded character. For a special key it's a
2299 sequence of bytes starting with 0x80 (decimal: 128).
2300 If [expr] is omitted, wait until a character is available.
2301 If [expr] is 0, only get a character when one is available.
2302 If [expr] is 1, only check if a character is available, it is
2303 not consumed. If a normal character is
2304 available, it is returned, otherwise a
2305 non-zero value is returned.
2306 If a normal character available, it is returned as a Number.
2307 Use nr2char() to convert it to a String.
2308 The returned value is zero if no character is available.
2309 The returned value is a string of characters for special keys
2310 and when a modifier (shift, control, alt) was used.
2311 There is no prompt, you will somehow have to make clear to the
2312 user that a character has to be typed.
2313 There is no mapping for the character.
2314 Key codes are replaced, thus when the user presses the <Del>
2315 key you get the code for the <Del> key, not the raw character
2316 sequence. Examples: >
2317 getchar() == "\<Del>"
2318 getchar() == "\<S-Left>"
2319< This example redefines "f" to ignore case: >
2320 :nmap f :call FindChar()<CR>
2321 :function FindChar()
2322 : let c = nr2char(getchar())
2323 : while col('.') < col('$') - 1
2324 : normal l
2325 : if getline('.')[col('.') - 1] ==? c
2326 : break
2327 : endif
2328 : endwhile
2329 :endfunction
2330
2331getcharmod() *getcharmod()*
2332 The result is a Number which is the state of the modifiers for
2333 the last obtained character with getchar() or in another way.
2334 These values are added together:
2335 2 shift
2336 4 control
2337 8 alt (meta)
2338 16 mouse double click
2339 32 mouse triple click
2340 64 mouse quadruple click
2341 128 Macintosh only: command
2342 Only the modifiers that have not been included in the
2343 character itself are obtained. Thus Shift-a results in "A"
2344 with no modifier.
2345
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002346getcmdline() *getcmdline()*
2347 Return the current command-line. Only works when the command
2348 line is being edited, thus requires use of |c_CTRL-\_e| or
2349 |c_CTRL-R_=|.
2350 Example: >
2351 :cmap <F7> <C-\>eescape(getcmdline(), ' \')<CR>
2352< Also see |getcmdpos()| and |setcmdpos()|.
2353
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002354getcmdpos() *getcmdpos()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002355 Return the position of the cursor in the command line as a
2356 byte count. The first column is 1.
2357 Only works when editing the command line, thus requires use of
2358 |c_CTRL-\_e| or |c_CTRL-R_=|. Returns 0 otherwise.
2359 Also see |setcmdpos()| and |getcmdline()|.
2360
2361 *getcwd()*
2362getcwd() The result is a String, which is the name of the current
2363 working directory.
2364
2365getfsize({fname}) *getfsize()*
2366 The result is a Number, which is the size in bytes of the
2367 given file {fname}.
2368 If {fname} is a directory, 0 is returned.
2369 If the file {fname} can't be found, -1 is returned.
2370
Bram Moolenaard8b0cf12004-12-12 11:33:30 +00002371getfontname([{name}]) *getfontname()*
2372 Without an argument returns the name of the normal font being
2373 used. Like what is used for the Normal highlight group
2374 |hl-Normal|.
2375 With an argument a check is done whether {name} is a valid
2376 font name. If not then an empty string is returned.
2377 Otherwise the actual font name is returned, or {name} if the
2378 GUI does not support obtaining the real name.
2379 Only works when the GUI is running, thus not you your vimrc or
2380 Note that the GTK 2 GUI accepts any font name, thus checking
2381 for a valid name does not work.
2382 gvimrc file. Use the |GUIEnter| autocommand to use this
2383 function just after the GUI has started.
2384
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00002385getfperm({fname}) *getfperm()*
2386 The result is a String, which is the read, write, and execute
2387 permissions of the given file {fname}.
2388 If {fname} does not exist or its directory cannot be read, an
2389 empty string is returned.
2390 The result is of the form "rwxrwxrwx", where each group of
2391 "rwx" flags represent, in turn, the permissions of the owner
2392 of the file, the group the file belongs to, and other users.
2393 If a user does not have a given permission the flag for this
2394 is replaced with the string "-". Example: >
2395 :echo getfperm("/etc/passwd")
2396< This will hopefully (from a security point of view) display
2397 the string "rw-r--r--" or even "rw-------".
2398
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002399getftime({fname}) *getftime()*
2400 The result is a Number, which is the last modification time of
2401 the given file {fname}. The value is measured as seconds
2402 since 1st Jan 1970, and may be passed to strftime(). See also
2403 |localtime()| and |strftime()|.
2404 If the file {fname} can't be found -1 is returned.
2405
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00002406getftype({fname}) *getftype()*
2407 The result is a String, which is a description of the kind of
2408 file of the given file {fname}.
2409 If {fname} does not exist an empty string is returned.
2410 Here is a table over different kinds of files and their
2411 results:
2412 Normal file "file"
2413 Directory "dir"
2414 Symbolic link "link"
2415 Block device "bdev"
2416 Character device "cdev"
2417 Socket "socket"
2418 FIFO "fifo"
2419 All other "other"
2420 Example: >
2421 getftype("/home")
2422< Note that a type such as "link" will only be returned on
2423 systems that support it. On some systems only "dir" and
2424 "file" are returned.
2425
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002426 *getline()*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002427getline({lnum} [, {end}])
2428 Without {end} the result is a String, which is line {lnum}
2429 from the current buffer. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002430 getline(1)
2431< When {lnum} is a String that doesn't start with a
2432 digit, line() is called to translate the String into a Number.
2433 To get the line under the cursor: >
2434 getline(".")
2435< When {lnum} is smaller than 1 or bigger than the number of
2436 lines in the buffer, an empty string is returned.
2437
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002438 When {end} is given the result is a List where each item is a
2439 line from the current buffer in the range {lnum} to {end},
2440 including line {end}.
2441 {end} is used in the same way as {lnum}.
2442 Non-existing lines are silently omitted.
2443 When {end} is before {lnum} an error is given.
2444 Example: >
2445 :let start = line('.')
2446 :let end = search("^$") - 1
2447 :let lines = getline(start, end)
2448
2449
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002450getreg([{regname}]) *getreg()*
2451 The result is a String, which is the contents of register
2452 {regname}. Example: >
2453 :let cliptext = getreg('*')
2454< getreg('=') returns the last evaluated value of the expression
2455 register. (For use in maps).
2456 If {regname} is not specified, |v:register| is used.
2457
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002458
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002459getregtype([{regname}]) *getregtype()*
2460 The result is a String, which is type of register {regname}.
2461 The value will be one of:
2462 "v" for |characterwise| text
2463 "V" for |linewise| text
2464 "<CTRL-V>{width}" for |blockwise-visual| text
2465 0 for an empty or unknown register
2466 <CTRL-V> is one character with value 0x16.
2467 If {regname} is not specified, |v:register| is used.
2468
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002469
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002470 *getwinposx()*
2471getwinposx() The result is a Number, which is the X coordinate in pixels of
2472 the left hand side of the GUI Vim window. The result will be
2473 -1 if the information is not available.
2474
2475 *getwinposy()*
2476getwinposy() The result is a Number, which is the Y coordinate in pixels of
2477 the top of the GUI Vim window. The result will be -1 if the
2478 information is not available.
2479
2480getwinvar({nr}, {varname}) *getwinvar()*
2481 The result is the value of option or local window variable
2482 {varname} in window {nr}.
2483 This also works for a global or local buffer option, but it
2484 doesn't work for a global or local buffer variable.
2485 Note that the name without "w:" must be used.
2486 Examples: >
2487 :let list_is_on = getwinvar(2, '&list')
2488 :echo "myvar = " . getwinvar(1, 'myvar')
2489<
2490 *glob()*
2491glob({expr}) Expand the file wildcards in {expr}. The result is a String.
2492 When there are several matches, they are separated by <NL>
2493 characters.
2494 If the expansion fails, the result is an empty string.
2495 A name for a non-existing file is not included.
2496
2497 For most systems backticks can be used to get files names from
2498 any external command. Example: >
2499 :let tagfiles = glob("`find . -name tags -print`")
2500 :let &tags = substitute(tagfiles, "\n", ",", "g")
2501< The result of the program inside the backticks should be one
2502 item per line. Spaces inside an item are allowed.
2503
2504 See |expand()| for expanding special Vim variables. See
2505 |system()| for getting the raw output of an external command.
2506
2507globpath({path}, {expr}) *globpath()*
2508 Perform glob() on all directories in {path} and concatenate
2509 the results. Example: >
2510 :echo globpath(&rtp, "syntax/c.vim")
2511< {path} is a comma-separated list of directory names. Each
2512 directory name is prepended to {expr} and expanded like with
2513 glob(). A path separator is inserted when needed.
2514 To add a comma inside a directory name escape it with a
2515 backslash. Note that on MS-Windows a directory may have a
2516 trailing backslash, remove it if you put a comma after it.
2517 If the expansion fails for one of the directories, there is no
2518 error message.
2519 The 'wildignore' option applies: Names matching one of the
2520 patterns in 'wildignore' will be skipped.
2521
2522 *has()*
2523has({feature}) The result is a Number, which is 1 if the feature {feature} is
2524 supported, zero otherwise. The {feature} argument is a
2525 string. See |feature-list| below.
2526 Also see |exists()|.
2527
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002528
2529has_key({dict}, {key}) *has_key()*
2530 The result is a Number, which is 1 if Dictionary {dict} has an
2531 entry with key {key}. Zero otherwise.
2532
2533
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002534hasmapto({what} [, {mode}]) *hasmapto()*
2535 The result is a Number, which is 1 if there is a mapping that
2536 contains {what} in somewhere in the rhs (what it is mapped to)
2537 and this mapping exists in one of the modes indicated by
2538 {mode}.
2539 Both the global mappings and the mappings local to the current
2540 buffer are checked for a match.
2541 If no matching mapping is found 0 is returned.
2542 The following characters are recognized in {mode}:
2543 n Normal mode
2544 v Visual mode
2545 o Operator-pending mode
2546 i Insert mode
2547 l Language-Argument ("r", "f", "t", etc.)
2548 c Command-line mode
2549 When {mode} is omitted, "nvo" is used.
2550
2551 This function is useful to check if a mapping already exists
2552 to a function in a Vim script. Example: >
2553 :if !hasmapto('\ABCdoit')
2554 : map <Leader>d \ABCdoit
2555 :endif
2556< This installs the mapping to "\ABCdoit" only if there isn't
2557 already a mapping to "\ABCdoit".
2558
2559histadd({history}, {item}) *histadd()*
2560 Add the String {item} to the history {history} which can be
2561 one of: *hist-names*
2562 "cmd" or ":" command line history
2563 "search" or "/" search pattern history
2564 "expr" or "=" typed expression history
2565 "input" or "@" input line history
2566 If {item} does already exist in the history, it will be
2567 shifted to become the newest entry.
2568 The result is a Number: 1 if the operation was successful,
2569 otherwise 0 is returned.
2570
2571 Example: >
2572 :call histadd("input", strftime("%Y %b %d"))
2573 :let date=input("Enter date: ")
2574< This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
2575
2576histdel({history} [, {item}]) *histdel()*
2577 Clear {history}, ie. delete all its entries. See |hist-names|
2578 for the possible values of {history}.
2579
2580 If the parameter {item} is given as String, this is seen
2581 as regular expression. All entries matching that expression
2582 will be removed from the history (if there are any).
2583 Upper/lowercase must match, unless "\c" is used |/\c|.
2584 If {item} is a Number, it will be interpreted as index, see
2585 |:history-indexing|. The respective entry will be removed
2586 if it exists.
2587
2588 The result is a Number: 1 for a successful operation,
2589 otherwise 0 is returned.
2590
2591 Examples:
2592 Clear expression register history: >
2593 :call histdel("expr")
2594<
2595 Remove all entries starting with "*" from the search history: >
2596 :call histdel("/", '^\*')
2597<
2598 The following three are equivalent: >
2599 :call histdel("search", histnr("search"))
2600 :call histdel("search", -1)
2601 :call histdel("search", '^'.histget("search", -1).'$')
2602<
2603 To delete the last search pattern and use the last-but-one for
2604 the "n" command and 'hlsearch': >
2605 :call histdel("search", -1)
2606 :let @/ = histget("search", -1)
2607
2608histget({history} [, {index}]) *histget()*
2609 The result is a String, the entry with Number {index} from
2610 {history}. See |hist-names| for the possible values of
2611 {history}, and |:history-indexing| for {index}. If there is
2612 no such entry, an empty String is returned. When {index} is
2613 omitted, the most recent item from the history is used.
2614
2615 Examples:
2616 Redo the second last search from history. >
2617 :execute '/' . histget("search", -2)
2618
2619< Define an Ex command ":H {num}" that supports re-execution of
2620 the {num}th entry from the output of |:history|. >
2621 :command -nargs=1 H execute histget("cmd", 0+<args>)
2622<
2623histnr({history}) *histnr()*
2624 The result is the Number of the current entry in {history}.
2625 See |hist-names| for the possible values of {history}.
2626 If an error occurred, -1 is returned.
2627
2628 Example: >
2629 :let inp_index = histnr("expr")
2630<
2631hlexists({name}) *hlexists()*
2632 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a highlight group
2633 called {name} exists. This is when the group has been
2634 defined in some way. Not necessarily when highlighting has
2635 been defined for it, it may also have been used for a syntax
2636 item.
2637 *highlight_exists()*
2638 Obsolete name: highlight_exists().
2639
2640 *hlID()*
2641hlID({name}) The result is a Number, which is the ID of the highlight group
2642 with name {name}. When the highlight group doesn't exist,
2643 zero is returned.
2644 This can be used to retrieve information about the highlight
2645 group. For example, to get the background color of the
2646 "Comment" group: >
2647 :echo synIDattr(synIDtrans(hlID("Comment")), "bg")
2648< *highlightID()*
2649 Obsolete name: highlightID().
2650
2651hostname() *hostname()*
2652 The result is a String, which is the name of the machine on
2653 which Vim is currently running. Machine names greater than
2654 256 characters long are truncated.
2655
2656iconv({expr}, {from}, {to}) *iconv()*
2657 The result is a String, which is the text {expr} converted
2658 from encoding {from} to encoding {to}.
2659 When the conversion fails an empty string is returned.
2660 The encoding names are whatever the iconv() library function
2661 can accept, see ":!man 3 iconv".
2662 Most conversions require Vim to be compiled with the |+iconv|
2663 feature. Otherwise only UTF-8 to latin1 conversion and back
2664 can be done.
2665 This can be used to display messages with special characters,
2666 no matter what 'encoding' is set to. Write the message in
2667 UTF-8 and use: >
2668 echo iconv(utf8_str, "utf-8", &enc)
2669< Note that Vim uses UTF-8 for all Unicode encodings, conversion
2670 from/to UCS-2 is automatically changed to use UTF-8. You
2671 cannot use UCS-2 in a string anyway, because of the NUL bytes.
2672 {only available when compiled with the +multi_byte feature}
2673
2674 *indent()*
2675indent({lnum}) The result is a Number, which is indent of line {lnum} in the
2676 current buffer. The indent is counted in spaces, the value
2677 of 'tabstop' is relevant. {lnum} is used just like in
2678 |getline()|.
2679 When {lnum} is invalid -1 is returned.
2680
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002681
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002682index({list}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]]) *index()*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002683 Return the lowest index in List {list} where the item has a
2684 value equal to {expr}.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002685 If {start} is given then skip items with a lower index.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002686 When {ic} is given and it is non-zero, ignore case. Otherwise
2687 case must match.
2688 -1 is returned when {expr} is not found in {list}.
2689 Example: >
2690 :let idx = index(words, "the")
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00002691 :if index(numbers, 123) >= 0
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002692
2693
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002694input({prompt} [, {text}]) *input()*
2695 The result is a String, which is whatever the user typed on
2696 the command-line. The parameter is either a prompt string, or
2697 a blank string (for no prompt). A '\n' can be used in the
2698 prompt to start a new line. The highlighting set with
2699 |:echohl| is used for the prompt. The input is entered just
2700 like a command-line, with the same editing commands and
2701 mappings. There is a separate history for lines typed for
2702 input().
2703 If the optional {text} is present, this is used for the
2704 default reply, as if the user typed this.
2705 NOTE: This must not be used in a startup file, for the
2706 versions that only run in GUI mode (e.g., the Win32 GUI).
2707 Note: When input() is called from within a mapping it will
2708 consume remaining characters from that mapping, because a
2709 mapping is handled like the characters were typed.
2710 Use |inputsave()| before input() and |inputrestore()|
2711 after input() to avoid that. Another solution is to avoid
2712 that further characters follow in the mapping, e.g., by using
2713 |:execute| or |:normal|.
2714
2715 Example: >
2716 :if input("Coffee or beer? ") == "beer"
2717 : echo "Cheers!"
2718 :endif
2719< Example with default text: >
2720 :let color = input("Color? ", "white")
2721< Example with a mapping: >
2722 :nmap \x :call GetFoo()<CR>:exe "/" . Foo<CR>
2723 :function GetFoo()
2724 : call inputsave()
2725 : let g:Foo = input("enter search pattern: ")
2726 : call inputrestore()
2727 :endfunction
2728
2729inputdialog({prompt} [, {text} [, {cancelreturn}]]) *inputdialog()*
2730 Like input(), but when the GUI is running and text dialogs are
2731 supported, a dialog window pops up to input the text.
2732 Example: >
2733 :let n = inputdialog("value for shiftwidth", &sw)
2734 :if n != ""
2735 : let &sw = n
2736 :endif
2737< When the dialog is cancelled {cancelreturn} is returned. When
2738 omitted an empty string is returned.
2739 Hitting <Enter> works like pressing the OK button. Hitting
2740 <Esc> works like pressing the Cancel button.
2741
2742inputrestore() *inputrestore()*
2743 Restore typeahead that was saved with a previous inputsave().
2744 Should be called the same number of times inputsave() is
2745 called. Calling it more often is harmless though.
2746 Returns 1 when there is nothing to restore, 0 otherwise.
2747
2748inputsave() *inputsave()*
2749 Preserve typeahead (also from mappings) and clear it, so that
2750 a following prompt gets input from the user. Should be
2751 followed by a matching inputrestore() after the prompt. Can
2752 be used several times, in which case there must be just as
2753 many inputrestore() calls.
2754 Returns 1 when out of memory, 0 otherwise.
2755
2756inputsecret({prompt} [, {text}]) *inputsecret()*
2757 This function acts much like the |input()| function with but
2758 two exceptions:
2759 a) the user's response will be displayed as a sequence of
2760 asterisks ("*") thereby keeping the entry secret, and
2761 b) the user's response will not be recorded on the input
2762 |history| stack.
2763 The result is a String, which is whatever the user actually
2764 typed on the command-line in response to the issued prompt.
2765
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002766insert({list}, {item} [, {idx}]) *insert()*
2767 Insert {item} at the start of List {list}.
2768 If {idx} is specified insert {item} before the item with index
2769 {idx}. If {idx} is zero it goes before the first item, just
2770 like omitting {idx}. A negative {idx} is also possible, see
2771 |list-index|. -1 inserts just before the last item.
2772 Returns the resulting List. Examples: >
2773 :let mylist = insert([2, 3, 5], 1)
2774 :call insert(mylist, 4, -1)
2775 :call insert(mylist, 6, len(mylist))
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002776< The last example can be done simpler with |add()|.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002777 Note that when {item} is a List it is inserted as a single
2778 item. Use |extend()| to concatenate Lists.
2779
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002780isdirectory({directory}) *isdirectory()*
2781 The result is a Number, which is non-zero when a directory
2782 with the name {directory} exists. If {directory} doesn't
2783 exist, or isn't a directory, the result is FALSE. {directory}
2784 is any expression, which is used as a String.
2785
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00002786items({dict}) *items()*
2787 Return a List with all the key-value pairs of {dict}. Each
2788 List item is a list with two items: the key of a {dict} entry
2789 and the value of this entry. The List is in arbitrary order.
2790
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002791
2792join({list} [, {sep}]) *join()*
2793 Join the items in {list} together into one String.
2794 When {sep} is specified it is put in between the items. If
2795 {sep} is omitted a single space is used.
2796 Note that {sep} is not added at the end. You might want to
2797 add it there too: >
2798 let lines = join(mylist, "\n") . "\n"
2799< String items are used as-is. Lists and Dictionaries are
2800 converted into a string like with |string()|.
2801 The opposite function is |split()|.
2802
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00002803keys({dict}) *keys()*
2804 Return a List with all the keys of {dict}. The List is in
2805 arbitrary order.
2806
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00002807 *len()* *E701*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002808len({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the length of the argument.
2809 When {expr} is a String or a Number the length in bytes is
2810 used, as with |strlen()|.
2811 When {expr} is a List the number of items in the List is
2812 returned.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002813 When {expr} is a Dictionary the number of entries in the
2814 Dictionary is returned.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002815 Otherwise an error is given.
2816
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002817 *libcall()* *E364* *E368*
2818libcall({libname}, {funcname}, {argument})
2819 Call function {funcname} in the run-time library {libname}
2820 with single argument {argument}.
2821 This is useful to call functions in a library that you
2822 especially made to be used with Vim. Since only one argument
2823 is possible, calling standard library functions is rather
2824 limited.
2825 The result is the String returned by the function. If the
2826 function returns NULL, this will appear as an empty string ""
2827 to Vim.
2828 If the function returns a number, use libcallnr()!
2829 If {argument} is a number, it is passed to the function as an
2830 int; if {argument} is a string, it is passed as a
2831 null-terminated string.
2832 This function will fail in |restricted-mode|.
2833
2834 libcall() allows you to write your own 'plug-in' extensions to
2835 Vim without having to recompile the program. It is NOT a
2836 means to call system functions! If you try to do so Vim will
2837 very probably crash.
2838
2839 For Win32, the functions you write must be placed in a DLL
2840 and use the normal C calling convention (NOT Pascal which is
2841 used in Windows System DLLs). The function must take exactly
2842 one parameter, either a character pointer or a long integer,
2843 and must return a character pointer or NULL. The character
2844 pointer returned must point to memory that will remain valid
2845 after the function has returned (e.g. in static data in the
2846 DLL). If it points to allocated memory, that memory will
2847 leak away. Using a static buffer in the function should work,
2848 it's then freed when the DLL is unloaded.
2849
2850 WARNING: If the function returns a non-valid pointer, Vim may
2851 crash! This also happens if the function returns a number,
2852 because Vim thinks it's a pointer.
2853 For Win32 systems, {libname} should be the filename of the DLL
2854 without the ".DLL" suffix. A full path is only required if
2855 the DLL is not in the usual places.
2856 For Unix: When compiling your own plugins, remember that the
2857 object code must be compiled as position-independent ('PIC').
2858 {only in Win32 on some Unix versions, when the |+libcall|
2859 feature is present}
2860 Examples: >
2861 :echo libcall("libc.so", "getenv", "HOME")
2862 :echo libcallnr("/usr/lib/libc.so", "getpid", "")
2863<
2864 *libcallnr()*
2865libcallnr({libname}, {funcname}, {argument})
2866 Just like libcall(), but used for a function that returns an
2867 int instead of a string.
2868 {only in Win32 on some Unix versions, when the |+libcall|
2869 feature is present}
2870 Example (not very useful...): >
2871 :call libcallnr("libc.so", "printf", "Hello World!\n")
2872 :call libcallnr("libc.so", "sleep", 10)
2873<
2874 *line()*
2875line({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the line number of the file
2876 position given with {expr}. The accepted positions are:
2877 . the cursor position
2878 $ the last line in the current buffer
2879 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is
2880 returned)
2881 Note that only marks in the current file can be used.
2882 Examples: >
2883 line(".") line number of the cursor
2884 line("'t") line number of mark t
2885 line("'" . marker) line number of mark marker
2886< *last-position-jump*
2887 This autocommand jumps to the last known position in a file
2888 just after opening it, if the '" mark is set: >
2889 :au BufReadPost * if line("'\"") > 0 && line("'\"") <= line("$") | exe "normal g'\"" | endif
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00002890
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002891line2byte({lnum}) *line2byte()*
2892 Return the byte count from the start of the buffer for line
2893 {lnum}. This includes the end-of-line character, depending on
2894 the 'fileformat' option for the current buffer. The first
2895 line returns 1.
2896 This can also be used to get the byte count for the line just
2897 below the last line: >
2898 line2byte(line("$") + 1)
2899< This is the file size plus one.
2900 When {lnum} is invalid, or the |+byte_offset| feature has been
2901 disabled at compile time, -1 is returned.
2902 Also see |byte2line()|, |go| and |:goto|.
2903
2904lispindent({lnum}) *lispindent()*
2905 Get the amount of indent for line {lnum} according the lisp
2906 indenting rules, as with 'lisp'.
2907 The indent is counted in spaces, the value of 'tabstop' is
2908 relevant. {lnum} is used just like in |getline()|.
2909 When {lnum} is invalid or Vim was not compiled the
2910 |+lispindent| feature, -1 is returned.
2911
2912localtime() *localtime()*
2913 Return the current time, measured as seconds since 1st Jan
2914 1970. See also |strftime()| and |getftime()|.
2915
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002916
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002917map({expr}, {string}) *map()*
2918 {expr} must be a List or a Dictionary.
2919 Replace each item in {expr} with the result of evaluating
2920 {string}.
2921 Inside {string} |v:val| has the value of the current item.
2922 For a Dictionary |v:key| has the key of the current item.
2923 Example: >
2924 :call map(mylist, '"> " . v:val . " <"')
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002925< This puts "> " before and " <" after each item in "mylist".
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002926
2927 Note that {string} is the result of expression and is then
2928 used as an expression again. Often it is good to use a
2929 |literal-string| to avoid having to double backslashes.
2930
2931 The operation is done in-place. If you want a List or
2932 Dictionary to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00002933 :let tlist = map(copy(mylist), ' & . "\t"')
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002934
2935< Returns {expr}, the List or Dictionary that was filtered.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002936
2937
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002938maparg({name}[, {mode}]) *maparg()*
2939 Return the rhs of mapping {name} in mode {mode}. When there
2940 is no mapping for {name}, an empty String is returned.
2941 These characters can be used for {mode}:
2942 "n" Normal
2943 "v" Visual
2944 "o" Operator-pending
2945 "i" Insert
2946 "c" Cmd-line
2947 "l" langmap |language-mapping|
2948 "" Normal, Visual and Operator-pending
2949 When {mode} is omitted, the modes from "" are used.
2950 The {name} can have special key names, like in the ":map"
2951 command. The returned String has special characters
2952 translated like in the output of the ":map" command listing.
2953 The mappings local to the current buffer are checked first,
2954 then the global mappings.
2955
2956mapcheck({name}[, {mode}]) *mapcheck()*
2957 Check if there is a mapping that matches with {name} in mode
2958 {mode}. See |maparg()| for {mode} and special names in
2959 {name}.
2960 A match happens with a mapping that starts with {name} and
2961 with a mapping which is equal to the start of {name}.
2962
2963 matches mapping "a" "ab" "abc" ~
2964 mapcheck("a") yes yes yes
2965 mapcheck("abc") yes yes yes
2966 mapcheck("ax") yes no no
2967 mapcheck("b") no no no
2968
2969 The difference with maparg() is that mapcheck() finds a
2970 mapping that matches with {name}, while maparg() only finds a
2971 mapping for {name} exactly.
2972 When there is no mapping that starts with {name}, an empty
2973 String is returned. If there is one, the rhs of that mapping
2974 is returned. If there are several mappings that start with
2975 {name}, the rhs of one of them is returned.
2976 The mappings local to the current buffer are checked first,
2977 then the global mappings.
2978 This function can be used to check if a mapping can be added
2979 without being ambiguous. Example: >
2980 :if mapcheck("_vv") == ""
2981 : map _vv :set guifont=7x13<CR>
2982 :endif
2983< This avoids adding the "_vv" mapping when there already is a
2984 mapping for "_v" or for "_vvv".
2985
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00002986match({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *match()*
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002987 When {expr} is a List then this returns the index of the first
2988 item where {pat} matches. Each item is used as a String,
2989 Lists and Dictionaries are used as echoed.
2990 Otherwise, {expr} is used as a String. The result is a
2991 Number, which gives the index (byte offset) in {expr} where
2992 {pat} matches.
2993 A match at the first character or List item returns zero.
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00002994 If there is no match -1 is returned.
2995 Example: >
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002996 :echo match("testing", "ing") " results in 4
2997 :echo match([1, 'x'], '\a') " results in 2
2998< See |string-match| for how {pat} is used.
2999
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003000 When {count} is given use the {count}'th match. When a match
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003001 is found in a String the search for the next one starts on
3002 character further. Thus this example results in 1: >
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003003 echo match("testing", "..", 0, 2)
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003004< In a List the search continues in the next item.
3005
3006 If {start} is given, the search starts from byte index
3007 {start} in a String or item {start} in a List.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003008 The result, however, is still the index counted from the
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003009 first character/item. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003010 :echo match("testing", "ing", 2)
3011< result is again "4". >
3012 :echo match("testing", "ing", 4)
3013< result is again "4". >
3014 :echo match("testing", "t", 2)
3015< result is "3".
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003016 For a String, if {start} < 0, it will be set to 0. For a list
3017 the index is counted from the end.
3018 If {start} is out of range (> strlen({expr} for a String or
3019 > len({expr} for a List) -1 is returned.
3020
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003021 See |pattern| for the patterns that are accepted.
3022 The 'ignorecase' option is used to set the ignore-caseness of
3023 the pattern. 'smartcase' is NOT used. The matching is always
3024 done like 'magic' is set and 'cpoptions' is empty.
3025
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003026matchend({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *matchend()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003027 Same as match(), but return the index of first character after
3028 the match. Example: >
3029 :echo matchend("testing", "ing")
3030< results in "7".
3031 The {start}, if given, has the same meaning as for match(). >
3032 :echo matchend("testing", "ing", 2)
3033< results in "7". >
3034 :echo matchend("testing", "ing", 5)
3035< result is "-1".
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003036 When {expr} is a List the result is equal to match().
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003037
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003038matchstr({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *matchstr()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003039 Same as match(), but return the matched string. Example: >
3040 :echo matchstr("testing", "ing")
3041< results in "ing".
3042 When there is no match "" is returned.
3043 The {start}, if given, has the same meaning as for match(). >
3044 :echo matchstr("testing", "ing", 2)
3045< results in "ing". >
3046 :echo matchstr("testing", "ing", 5)
3047< result is "".
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003048 When {expr} is a List then the matching item is returned.
3049 The type isn't changed, it's not necessarily a String.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003050
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003051 *max()*
3052max({list}) Return the maximum value of all items in {list}.
3053 If {list} is not a list or one of the items in {list} cannot
3054 be used as a Number this results in an error.
3055 An empty List results in zero.
3056
3057 *min()*
3058min({list}) Return the minumum value of all items in {list}.
3059 If {list} is not a list or one of the items in {list} cannot
3060 be used as a Number this results in an error.
3061 An empty List results in zero.
3062
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003063 *mode()*
3064mode() Return a string that indicates the current mode:
3065 n Normal
3066 v Visual by character
3067 V Visual by line
3068 CTRL-V Visual blockwise
3069 s Select by character
3070 S Select by line
3071 CTRL-S Select blockwise
3072 i Insert
3073 R Replace
3074 c Command-line
3075 r Hit-enter prompt
3076 This is useful in the 'statusline' option. In most other
3077 places it always returns "c" or "n".
3078
3079nextnonblank({lnum}) *nextnonblank()*
3080 Return the line number of the first line at or below {lnum}
3081 that is not blank. Example: >
3082 if getline(nextnonblank(1)) =~ "Java"
3083< When {lnum} is invalid or there is no non-blank line at or
3084 below it, zero is returned.
3085 See also |prevnonblank()|.
3086
3087nr2char({expr}) *nr2char()*
3088 Return a string with a single character, which has the number
3089 value {expr}. Examples: >
3090 nr2char(64) returns "@"
3091 nr2char(32) returns " "
3092< The current 'encoding' is used. Example for "utf-8": >
3093 nr2char(300) returns I with bow character
3094< Note that a NUL character in the file is specified with
3095 nr2char(10), because NULs are represented with newline
3096 characters. nr2char(0) is a real NUL and terminates the
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00003097 string, thus results in an empty string.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003098
3099prevnonblank({lnum}) *prevnonblank()*
3100 Return the line number of the first line at or above {lnum}
3101 that is not blank. Example: >
3102 let ind = indent(prevnonblank(v:lnum - 1))
3103< When {lnum} is invalid or there is no non-blank line at or
3104 above it, zero is returned.
3105 Also see |nextnonblank()|.
3106
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003107 *E726* *E727*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003108range({expr} [, {max} [, {stride}]]) *range()*
3109 Returns a List with Numbers:
3110 - If only {expr} is specified: [0, 1, ..., {expr} - 1]
3111 - If {max} is specified: [{expr}, {expr} + 1, ..., {max}]
3112 - If {stride} is specified: [{expr}, {expr} + {stride}, ...,
3113 {max}] (increasing {expr} with {stride} each time, not
3114 producing a value past {max}).
3115 Examples: >
3116 range(4) " [0, 1, 2, 3]
3117 range(2, 4) " [2, 3, 4]
3118 range(2, 9, 3) " [2, 5, 8]
3119 range(2, -2, -1) " [2, 1, 0, -1, -2]
3120<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003121 *remote_expr()* *E449*
3122remote_expr({server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
3123 Send the {string} to {server}. The string is sent as an
3124 expression and the result is returned after evaluation.
3125 If {idvar} is present, it is taken as the name of a
3126 variable and a {serverid} for later use with
3127 remote_read() is stored there.
3128 See also |clientserver| |RemoteReply|.
3129 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3130 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3131 Note: Any errors will cause a local error message to be issued
3132 and the result will be the empty string.
3133 Examples: >
3134 :echo remote_expr("gvim", "2+2")
3135 :echo remote_expr("gvim1", "b:current_syntax")
3136<
3137
3138remote_foreground({server}) *remote_foreground()*
3139 Move the Vim server with the name {server} to the foreground.
3140 This works like: >
3141 remote_expr({server}, "foreground()")
3142< Except that on Win32 systems the client does the work, to work
3143 around the problem that the OS doesn't always allow the server
3144 to bring itself to the foreground.
3145 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3146 {only in the Win32, Athena, Motif and GTK GUI versions and the
3147 Win32 console version}
3148
3149
3150remote_peek({serverid} [, {retvar}]) *remote_peek()*
3151 Returns a positive number if there are available strings
3152 from {serverid}. Copies any reply string into the variable
3153 {retvar} if specified. {retvar} must be a string with the
3154 name of a variable.
3155 Returns zero if none are available.
3156 Returns -1 if something is wrong.
3157 See also |clientserver|.
3158 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3159 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3160 Examples: >
3161 :let repl = ""
3162 :echo "PEEK: ".remote_peek(id, "repl").": ".repl
3163
3164remote_read({serverid}) *remote_read()*
3165 Return the oldest available reply from {serverid} and consume
3166 it. It blocks until a reply is available.
3167 See also |clientserver|.
3168 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3169 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3170 Example: >
3171 :echo remote_read(id)
3172<
3173 *remote_send()* *E241*
3174remote_send({server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
Bram Moolenaard4755bb2004-09-02 19:12:26 +00003175 Send the {string} to {server}. The string is sent as input
3176 keys and the function returns immediately. At the Vim server
3177 the keys are not mapped |:map|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003178 If {idvar} is present, it is taken as the name of a
3179 variable and a {serverid} for later use with
3180 remote_read() is stored there.
3181 See also |clientserver| |RemoteReply|.
3182 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3183 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3184 Note: Any errors will be reported in the server and may mess
3185 up the display.
3186 Examples: >
3187 :echo remote_send("gvim", ":DropAndReply ".file, "serverid").
3188 \ remote_read(serverid)
3189
3190 :autocmd NONE RemoteReply *
3191 \ echo remote_read(expand("<amatch>"))
3192 :echo remote_send("gvim", ":sleep 10 | echo ".
3193 \ 'server2client(expand("<client>"), "HELLO")<CR>')
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003194<
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003195remove({list}, {idx} [, {end}]) *remove()*
3196 Without {end}: Remove the item at {idx} from List {list} and
3197 return it.
3198 With {end}: Remove items from {idx} to {end} (inclusive) and
3199 return a list with these items. When {idx} points to the same
3200 item as {end} a list with one item is returned. When {end}
3201 points to an item before {idx} this is an error.
3202 See |list-index| for possible values of {idx} and {end}.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003203 Example: >
3204 :echo "last item: " . remove(mylist, -1)
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003205 :call remove(mylist, 0, 9)
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003206remove({dict}, {key})
3207 Remove the entry from {dict} with key {key}. Example: >
3208 :echo "removed " . remove(dict, "one")
3209< If there is no {key} in {dict} this is an error.
3210
3211 Use |delete()| to remove a file.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003212
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003213rename({from}, {to}) *rename()*
3214 Rename the file by the name {from} to the name {to}. This
3215 should also work to move files across file systems. The
3216 result is a Number, which is 0 if the file was renamed
3217 successfully, and non-zero when the renaming failed.
3218 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3219
Bram Moolenaarab79bcb2004-07-18 21:34:53 +00003220repeat({expr}, {count}) *repeat()*
3221 Repeat {expr} {count} times and return the concatenated
3222 result. Example: >
3223 :let seperator = repeat('-', 80)
3224< When {count} is zero or negative the result is empty.
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003225 When {expr} is a List the result is {expr} concatenated
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003226 {count} times. Example: >
3227 :let longlist = repeat(['a', 'b'], 3)
3228< Results in ['a', 'b', 'a', 'b', 'a', 'b'].
Bram Moolenaarab79bcb2004-07-18 21:34:53 +00003229
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003230
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003231resolve({filename}) *resolve()* *E655*
3232 On MS-Windows, when {filename} is a shortcut (a .lnk file),
3233 returns the path the shortcut points to in a simplified form.
3234 On Unix, repeat resolving symbolic links in all path
3235 components of {filename} and return the simplified result.
3236 To cope with link cycles, resolving of symbolic links is
3237 stopped after 100 iterations.
3238 On other systems, return the simplified {filename}.
3239 The simplification step is done as by |simplify()|.
3240 resolve() keeps a leading path component specifying the
3241 current directory (provided the result is still a relative
3242 path name) and also keeps a trailing path separator.
3243
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003244 *reverse()*
3245reverse({list}) Reverse the order of items in {list} in-place. Returns
3246 {list}.
3247 If you want a list to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
3248 :let revlist = reverse(copy(mylist))
3249
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003250search({pattern} [, {flags}]) *search()*
3251 Search for regexp pattern {pattern}. The search starts at the
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00003252 cursor position (you can use |cursor()| to set it).
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003253 {flags} is a String, which can contain these character flags:
3254 'b' search backward instead of forward
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00003255 'n' do Not move the cursor
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003256 'w' wrap around the end of the file
3257 'W' don't wrap around the end of the file
3258 If neither 'w' or 'W' is given, the 'wrapscan' option applies.
3259
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00003260 When a match has been found its line number is returned.
3261 The cursor will be positioned at the match, unless the 'n'
3262 flag is used).
3263 If there is no match a 0 is returned and the cursor doesn't
3264 move. No error message is given.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003265
3266 Example (goes over all files in the argument list): >
3267 :let n = 1
3268 :while n <= argc() " loop over all files in arglist
3269 : exe "argument " . n
3270 : " start at the last char in the file and wrap for the
3271 : " first search to find match at start of file
3272 : normal G$
3273 : let flags = "w"
3274 : while search("foo", flags) > 0
3275 : s/foo/bar/g
3276 : let flags = "W"
3277 : endwhile
3278 : update " write the file if modified
3279 : let n = n + 1
3280 :endwhile
3281<
3282 *searchpair()*
3283searchpair({start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip}]])
3284 Search for the match of a nested start-end pair. This can be
3285 used to find the "endif" that matches an "if", while other
3286 if/endif pairs in between are ignored.
3287 The search starts at the cursor. If a match is found, the
3288 cursor is positioned at it and the line number is returned.
3289 If no match is found 0 or -1 is returned and the cursor
3290 doesn't move. No error message is given.
3291
3292 {start}, {middle} and {end} are patterns, see |pattern|. They
3293 must not contain \( \) pairs. Use of \%( \) is allowed. When
3294 {middle} is not empty, it is found when searching from either
3295 direction, but only when not in a nested start-end pair. A
3296 typical use is: >
3297 searchpair('\<if\>', '\<else\>', '\<endif\>')
3298< By leaving {middle} empty the "else" is skipped.
3299
3300 {flags} are used like with |search()|. Additionally:
3301 'n' do Not move the cursor
3302 'r' Repeat until no more matches found; will find the
3303 outer pair
3304 'm' return number of Matches instead of line number with
3305 the match; will only be > 1 when 'r' is used.
3306
3307 When a match for {start}, {middle} or {end} is found, the
3308 {skip} expression is evaluated with the cursor positioned on
3309 the start of the match. It should return non-zero if this
3310 match is to be skipped. E.g., because it is inside a comment
3311 or a string.
3312 When {skip} is omitted or empty, every match is accepted.
3313 When evaluating {skip} causes an error the search is aborted
3314 and -1 returned.
3315
3316 The value of 'ignorecase' is used. 'magic' is ignored, the
3317 patterns are used like it's on.
3318
3319 The search starts exactly at the cursor. A match with
3320 {start}, {middle} or {end} at the next character, in the
3321 direction of searching, is the first one found. Example: >
3322 if 1
3323 if 2
3324 endif 2
3325 endif 1
3326< When starting at the "if 2", with the cursor on the "i", and
3327 searching forwards, the "endif 2" is found. When starting on
3328 the character just before the "if 2", the "endif 1" will be
3329 found. That's because the "if 2" will be found first, and
3330 then this is considered to be a nested if/endif from "if 2" to
3331 "endif 2".
3332 When searching backwards and {end} is more than one character,
3333 it may be useful to put "\zs" at the end of the pattern, so
3334 that when the cursor is inside a match with the end it finds
3335 the matching start.
3336
3337 Example, to find the "endif" command in a Vim script: >
3338
3339 :echo searchpair('\<if\>', '\<el\%[seif]\>', '\<en\%[dif]\>', 'W',
3340 \ 'getline(".") =~ "^\\s*\""')
3341
3342< The cursor must be at or after the "if" for which a match is
3343 to be found. Note that single-quote strings are used to avoid
3344 having to double the backslashes. The skip expression only
3345 catches comments at the start of a line, not after a command.
3346 Also, a word "en" or "if" halfway a line is considered a
3347 match.
3348 Another example, to search for the matching "{" of a "}": >
3349
3350 :echo searchpair('{', '', '}', 'bW')
3351
3352< This works when the cursor is at or before the "}" for which a
3353 match is to be found. To reject matches that syntax
3354 highlighting recognized as strings: >
3355
3356 :echo searchpair('{', '', '}', 'bW',
3357 \ 'synIDattr(synID(line("."), col("."), 0), "name") =~? "string"')
3358<
3359server2client( {clientid}, {string}) *server2client()*
3360 Send a reply string to {clientid}. The most recent {clientid}
3361 that sent a string can be retrieved with expand("<client>").
3362 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3363 Note:
3364 This id has to be stored before the next command can be
3365 received. Ie. before returning from the received command and
3366 before calling any commands that waits for input.
3367 See also |clientserver|.
3368 Example: >
3369 :echo server2client(expand("<client>"), "HELLO")
3370<
3371serverlist() *serverlist()*
3372 Return a list of available server names, one per line.
3373 When there are no servers or the information is not available
3374 an empty string is returned. See also |clientserver|.
3375 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3376 Example: >
3377 :echo serverlist()
3378<
3379setbufvar({expr}, {varname}, {val}) *setbufvar()*
3380 Set option or local variable {varname} in buffer {expr} to
3381 {val}.
3382 This also works for a global or local window option, but it
3383 doesn't work for a global or local window variable.
3384 For a local window option the global value is unchanged.
3385 For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()| above.
3386 Note that the variable name without "b:" must be used.
3387 Examples: >
3388 :call setbufvar(1, "&mod", 1)
3389 :call setbufvar("todo", "myvar", "foobar")
3390< This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3391
3392setcmdpos({pos}) *setcmdpos()*
3393 Set the cursor position in the command line to byte position
3394 {pos}. The first position is 1.
3395 Use |getcmdpos()| to obtain the current position.
3396 Only works while editing the command line, thus you must use
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003397 |c_CTRL-\_e|, |c_CTRL-R_=| or |c_CTRL-R_CTRL-R| with '='. For
3398 |c_CTRL-\_e| and |c_CTRL-R_CTRL-R| with '=' the position is
3399 set after the command line is set to the expression. For
3400 |c_CTRL-R_=| it is set after evaluating the expression but
3401 before inserting the resulting text.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003402 When the number is too big the cursor is put at the end of the
3403 line. A number smaller than one has undefined results.
3404 Returns 0 when successful, 1 when not editing the command
3405 line.
3406
3407setline({lnum}, {line}) *setline()*
3408 Set line {lnum} of the current buffer to {line}. If this
3409 succeeds, 0 is returned. If this fails (most likely because
3410 {lnum} is invalid) 1 is returned. Example: >
3411 :call setline(5, strftime("%c"))
3412< Note: The '[ and '] marks are not set.
3413
3414 *setreg()*
3415setreg({regname}, {value} [,{options}])
3416 Set the register {regname} to {value}.
3417 If {options} contains "a" or {regname} is upper case,
3418 then the value is appended.
3419 {options} can also contains a register type specification:
3420 "c" or "v" |characterwise| mode
3421 "l" or "V" |linewise| mode
3422 "b" or "<CTRL-V>" |blockwise-visual| mode
3423 If a number immediately follows "b" or "<CTRL-V>" then this is
3424 used as the width of the selection - if it is not specified
3425 then the width of the block is set to the number of characters
3426 in the longest line (counting a <TAB> as 1 character).
3427
3428 If {options} contains no register settings, then the default
3429 is to use character mode unless {value} ends in a <NL>.
3430 Setting the '=' register is not possible.
3431 Returns zero for success, non-zero for failure.
3432
3433 Examples: >
3434 :call setreg(v:register, @*)
3435 :call setreg('*', @%, 'ac')
3436 :call setreg('a', "1\n2\n3", 'b5')
3437
3438< This example shows using the functions to save and restore a
3439 register. >
3440 :let var_a = getreg('a')
3441 :let var_amode = getregtype('a')
3442 ....
3443 :call setreg('a', var_a, var_amode)
3444
3445< You can also change the type of a register by appending
3446 nothing: >
3447 :call setreg('a', '', 'al')
3448
3449setwinvar({nr}, {varname}, {val}) *setwinvar()*
3450 Set option or local variable {varname} in window {nr} to
3451 {val}.
3452 This also works for a global or local buffer option, but it
3453 doesn't work for a global or local buffer variable.
3454 For a local buffer option the global value is unchanged.
3455 Note that the variable name without "w:" must be used.
3456 Examples: >
3457 :call setwinvar(1, "&list", 0)
3458 :call setwinvar(2, "myvar", "foobar")
3459< This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3460
3461simplify({filename}) *simplify()*
3462 Simplify the file name as much as possible without changing
3463 the meaning. Shortcuts (on MS-Windows) or symbolic links (on
3464 Unix) are not resolved. If the first path component in
3465 {filename} designates the current directory, this will be
3466 valid for the result as well. A trailing path separator is
3467 not removed either.
3468 Example: >
3469 simplify("./dir/.././/file/") == "./file/"
3470< Note: The combination "dir/.." is only removed if "dir" is
3471 a searchable directory or does not exist. On Unix, it is also
3472 removed when "dir" is a symbolic link within the same
3473 directory. In order to resolve all the involved symbolic
3474 links before simplifying the path name, use |resolve()|.
3475
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003476
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00003477sort({list} [, {func}]) *sort()* *E702*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003478 Sort the items in {list} in-place. Returns {list}. If you
3479 want a list to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
3480 :let sortedlist = sort(copy(mylist))
3481< Uses the string representation of each item to sort on.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003482 Numbers sort after Strings, Lists after Numbers.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003483 When {func} is given and it is one then case is ignored.
3484 When {func} is a Funcref or a function name, this function is
3485 called to compare items. The function is invoked with two
3486 items as argument and must return zero if they are equal, 1 if
3487 the first one sorts after the second one, -1 if the first one
3488 sorts before the second one. Example: >
3489 func MyCompare(i1, i2)
3490 return a:i1 == a:i2 ? 0 : a:i1 > a:i2 ? 1 : -1
3491 endfunc
3492 let sortedlist = sort(mylist, "MyCompare")
3493
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003494split({expr} [, {pattern}]) *split()*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003495 Make a List out of {expr}. When {pattern} is omitted each
3496 white-separated sequence of characters becomes an item.
3497 Otherwise the string is split where {pattern} matches,
3498 removing the matched characters. Empty strings are omitted.
3499 Example: >
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003500 :let words = split(getline('.'), '\W\+')
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003501< Since empty strings are not added the "\+" isn't required but
3502 it makes the function work a bit faster.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003503 The opposite function is |join()|.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003504
3505
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003506strftime({format} [, {time}]) *strftime()*
3507 The result is a String, which is a formatted date and time, as
3508 specified by the {format} string. The given {time} is used,
3509 or the current time if no time is given. The accepted
3510 {format} depends on your system, thus this is not portable!
3511 See the manual page of the C function strftime() for the
3512 format. The maximum length of the result is 80 characters.
3513 See also |localtime()| and |getftime()|.
3514 The language can be changed with the |:language| command.
3515 Examples: >
3516 :echo strftime("%c") Sun Apr 27 11:49:23 1997
3517 :echo strftime("%Y %b %d %X") 1997 Apr 27 11:53:25
3518 :echo strftime("%y%m%d %T") 970427 11:53:55
3519 :echo strftime("%H:%M") 11:55
3520 :echo strftime("%c", getftime("file.c"))
3521 Show mod time of file.c.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003522< Not available on all systems. To check use: >
3523 :if exists("*strftime")
3524
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00003525stridx({haystack}, {needle} [, {start}]) *stridx()*
3526 The result is a Number, which gives the byte index in
3527 {haystack} of the first occurrence of the String {needle}.
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00003528 If {start} is specified, the search starts at index {start}.
3529 This can be used to find a second match: >
3530 :let comma1 = stridx(line, ",")
3531 :let comma2 = stridx(line, ",", comma1 + 1)
3532< The search is done case-sensitive.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00003533 For pattern searches use |match()|.
3534 -1 is returned if the {needle} does not occur in {haystack}.
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00003535 See also |strridx()|.
3536 Examples: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003537 :echo stridx("An Example", "Example") 3
3538 :echo stridx("Starting point", "Start") 0
3539 :echo stridx("Starting point", "start") -1
3540<
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003541 *string()*
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003542string({expr}) Return {expr} converted to a String. If {expr} is a Number,
3543 String or a composition of them, then the result can be parsed
3544 back with |eval()|.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003545 {expr} type result ~
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003546 String 'string'
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003547 Number 123
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003548 Funcref function('name')
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003549 List [item, item]
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003550 Note that in String values the ' character is doubled.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003551
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003552 *strlen()*
3553strlen({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the length of the String
3554 {expr} in bytes. If you want to count the number of
3555 multi-byte characters use something like this: >
3556
3557 :let len = strlen(substitute(str, ".", "x", "g"))
3558
3559< Composing characters are not counted.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003560 If the argument is a Number it is first converted to a String.
3561 For other types an error is given.
3562 Also see |len()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003563
3564strpart({src}, {start}[, {len}]) *strpart()*
3565 The result is a String, which is part of {src}, starting from
3566 byte {start}, with the length {len}.
3567 When non-existing bytes are included, this doesn't result in
3568 an error, the bytes are simply omitted.
3569 If {len} is missing, the copy continues from {start} till the
3570 end of the {src}. >
3571 strpart("abcdefg", 3, 2) == "de"
3572 strpart("abcdefg", -2, 4) == "ab"
3573 strpart("abcdefg", 5, 4) == "fg"
3574 strpart("abcdefg", 3) == "defg"
3575< Note: To get the first character, {start} must be 0. For
3576 example, to get three bytes under and after the cursor: >
3577 strpart(getline(line(".")), col(".") - 1, 3)
3578<
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00003579strridx({haystack}, {needle} [, {start}]) *strridx()*
3580 The result is a Number, which gives the byte index in
3581 {haystack} of the last occurrence of the String {needle}.
3582 When {start} is specified, matches beyond this index are
3583 ignored. This can be used to find a match before a previous
3584 match: >
3585 :let lastcomma = strridx(line, ",")
3586 :let comma2 = strridx(line, ",", lastcomma - 1)
3587< The search is done case-sensitive.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00003588 For pattern searches use |match()|.
3589 -1 is returned if the {needle} does not occur in {haystack}.
Bram Moolenaard4755bb2004-09-02 19:12:26 +00003590 If the {needle} is empty the length of {haystack} is returned.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003591 See also |stridx()|. Examples: >
3592 :echo strridx("an angry armadillo", "an") 3
3593<
3594strtrans({expr}) *strtrans()*
3595 The result is a String, which is {expr} with all unprintable
3596 characters translated into printable characters |'isprint'|.
3597 Like they are shown in a window. Example: >
3598 echo strtrans(@a)
3599< This displays a newline in register a as "^@" instead of
3600 starting a new line.
3601
3602submatch({nr}) *submatch()*
3603 Only for an expression in a |:substitute| command. Returns
3604 the {nr}'th submatch of the matched text. When {nr} is 0
3605 the whole matched text is returned.
3606 Example: >
3607 :s/\d\+/\=submatch(0) + 1/
3608< This finds the first number in the line and adds one to it.
3609 A line break is included as a newline character.
3610
3611substitute({expr}, {pat}, {sub}, {flags}) *substitute()*
3612 The result is a String, which is a copy of {expr}, in which
3613 the first match of {pat} is replaced with {sub}. This works
3614 like the ":substitute" command (without any flags). But the
3615 matching with {pat} is always done like the 'magic' option is
3616 set and 'cpoptions' is empty (to make scripts portable).
3617 See |string-match| for how {pat} is used.
3618 And a "~" in {sub} is not replaced with the previous {sub}.
3619 Note that some codes in {sub} have a special meaning
3620 |sub-replace-special|. For example, to replace something with
3621 "\n" (two characters), use "\\\\n" or '\\n'.
3622 When {pat} does not match in {expr}, {expr} is returned
3623 unmodified.
3624 When {flags} is "g", all matches of {pat} in {expr} are
3625 replaced. Otherwise {flags} should be "".
3626 Example: >
3627 :let &path = substitute(&path, ",\\=[^,]*$", "", "")
3628< This removes the last component of the 'path' option. >
3629 :echo substitute("testing", ".*", "\\U\\0", "")
3630< results in "TESTING".
3631
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00003632synID({lnum}, {col}, {trans}) *synID()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003633 The result is a Number, which is the syntax ID at the position
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00003634 {lnum} and {col} in the current window.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003635 The syntax ID can be used with |synIDattr()| and
3636 |synIDtrans()| to obtain syntax information about text.
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00003637 {col} is 1 for the leftmost column, {lnum} is 1 for the first
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003638 line.
3639 When {trans} is non-zero, transparent items are reduced to the
3640 item that they reveal. This is useful when wanting to know
3641 the effective color. When {trans} is zero, the transparent
3642 item is returned. This is useful when wanting to know which
3643 syntax item is effective (e.g. inside parens).
3644 Warning: This function can be very slow. Best speed is
3645 obtained by going through the file in forward direction.
3646
3647 Example (echoes the name of the syntax item under the cursor): >
3648 :echo synIDattr(synID(line("."), col("."), 1), "name")
3649<
3650synIDattr({synID}, {what} [, {mode}]) *synIDattr()*
3651 The result is a String, which is the {what} attribute of
3652 syntax ID {synID}. This can be used to obtain information
3653 about a syntax item.
3654 {mode} can be "gui", "cterm" or "term", to get the attributes
3655 for that mode. When {mode} is omitted, or an invalid value is
3656 used, the attributes for the currently active highlighting are
3657 used (GUI, cterm or term).
3658 Use synIDtrans() to follow linked highlight groups.
3659 {what} result
3660 "name" the name of the syntax item
3661 "fg" foreground color (GUI: color name used to set
3662 the color, cterm: color number as a string,
3663 term: empty string)
3664 "bg" background color (like "fg")
3665 "fg#" like "fg", but for the GUI and the GUI is
3666 running the name in "#RRGGBB" form
3667 "bg#" like "fg#" for "bg"
3668 "bold" "1" if bold
3669 "italic" "1" if italic
3670 "reverse" "1" if reverse
3671 "inverse" "1" if inverse (= reverse)
3672 "underline" "1" if underlined
3673
3674 Example (echoes the color of the syntax item under the
3675 cursor): >
3676 :echo synIDattr(synIDtrans(synID(line("."), col("."), 1)), "fg")
3677<
3678synIDtrans({synID}) *synIDtrans()*
3679 The result is a Number, which is the translated syntax ID of
3680 {synID}. This is the syntax group ID of what is being used to
3681 highlight the character. Highlight links given with
3682 ":highlight link" are followed.
3683
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00003684system({expr} [, {input}]) *system()* *E677*
3685 Get the output of the shell command {expr}.
3686 When {input} is given, this string is written to a file and
3687 passed as stdin to the command. The string is written as-is,
3688 you need to take care of using the correct line separators
3689 yourself.
3690 Note: newlines in {expr} may cause the command to fail. The
3691 characters in 'shellquote' and 'shellxquote' may also cause
3692 trouble.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003693 This is not to be used for interactive commands.
3694 The result is a String. Example: >
3695
3696 :let files = system("ls")
3697
3698< To make the result more system-independent, the shell output
3699 is filtered to replace <CR> with <NL> for Macintosh, and
3700 <CR><NL> with <NL> for DOS-like systems.
3701 The command executed is constructed using several options:
3702 'shell' 'shellcmdflag' 'shellxquote' {expr} 'shellredir' {tmp} 'shellxquote'
3703 ({tmp} is an automatically generated file name).
3704 For Unix and OS/2 braces are put around {expr} to allow for
3705 concatenated commands.
3706
3707 The resulting error code can be found in |v:shell_error|.
3708 This function will fail in |restricted-mode|.
3709 Unlike ":!cmd" there is no automatic check for changed files.
3710 Use |:checktime| to force a check.
3711
3712tempname() *tempname()* *temp-file-name*
3713 The result is a String, which is the name of a file that
3714 doesn't exist. It can be used for a temporary file. The name
3715 is different for at least 26 consecutive calls. Example: >
3716 :let tmpfile = tempname()
3717 :exe "redir > " . tmpfile
3718< For Unix, the file will be in a private directory (only
3719 accessible by the current user) to avoid security problems
3720 (e.g., a symlink attack or other people reading your file).
3721 When Vim exits the directory and all files in it are deleted.
3722 For MS-Windows forward slashes are used when the 'shellslash'
3723 option is set or when 'shellcmdflag' starts with '-'.
3724
3725tolower({expr}) *tolower()*
3726 The result is a copy of the String given, with all uppercase
3727 characters turned into lowercase (just like applying |gu| to
3728 the string).
3729
3730toupper({expr}) *toupper()*
3731 The result is a copy of the String given, with all lowercase
3732 characters turned into uppercase (just like applying |gU| to
3733 the string).
3734
Bram Moolenaar8299df92004-07-10 09:47:34 +00003735tr({src}, {fromstr}, {tostr}) *tr()*
3736 The result is a copy of the {src} string with all characters
3737 which appear in {fromstr} replaced by the character in that
3738 position in the {tostr} string. Thus the first character in
3739 {fromstr} is translated into the first character in {tostr}
3740 and so on. Exactly like the unix "tr" command.
3741 This code also deals with multibyte characters properly.
3742
3743 Examples: >
3744 echo tr("hello there", "ht", "HT")
3745< returns "Hello THere" >
3746 echo tr("<blob>", "<>", "{}")
3747< returns "{blob}"
3748
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003749 *type()*
3750type({expr}) The result is a Number, depending on the type of {expr}:
3751 Number: 0
3752 String: 1
3753 Funcref: 2
3754 List: 3
3755 To avoid the magic numbers it can be used this way: >
3756 :if type(myvar) == type(0)
3757 :if type(myvar) == type("")
3758 :if type(myvar) == type(function("tr"))
3759 :if type(myvar) == type([])
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003760
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00003761values({dict}) *values()*
3762 Return a List with all the values of {dict}. The List is in
3763 arbitrary order.
3764
3765
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003766virtcol({expr}) *virtcol()*
3767 The result is a Number, which is the screen column of the file
3768 position given with {expr}. That is, the last screen position
3769 occupied by the character at that position, when the screen
3770 would be of unlimited width. When there is a <Tab> at the
3771 position, the returned Number will be the column at the end of
3772 the <Tab>. For example, for a <Tab> in column 1, with 'ts'
3773 set to 8, it returns 8.
3774 For the byte position use |col()|.
3775 When Virtual editing is active in the current mode, a position
3776 beyond the end of the line can be returned. |'virtualedit'|
3777 The accepted positions are:
3778 . the cursor position
3779 $ the end of the cursor line (the result is the
3780 number of displayed characters in the cursor line
3781 plus one)
3782 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is
3783 returned)
3784 Note that only marks in the current file can be used.
3785 Examples: >
3786 virtcol(".") with text "foo^Lbar", with cursor on the "^L", returns 5
3787 virtcol("$") with text "foo^Lbar", returns 9
3788 virtcol("'t") with text " there", with 't at 'h', returns 6
3789< The first column is 1. 0 is returned for an error.
3790
3791visualmode([expr]) *visualmode()*
3792 The result is a String, which describes the last Visual mode
3793 used. Initially it returns an empty string, but once Visual
3794 mode has been used, it returns "v", "V", or "<CTRL-V>" (a
3795 single CTRL-V character) for character-wise, line-wise, or
3796 block-wise Visual mode respectively.
3797 Example: >
3798 :exe "normal " . visualmode()
3799< This enters the same Visual mode as before. It is also useful
3800 in scripts if you wish to act differently depending on the
3801 Visual mode that was used.
3802
3803 If an expression is supplied that results in a non-zero number
3804 or a non-empty string, then the Visual mode will be cleared
3805 and the old value is returned. Note that " " and "0" are also
3806 non-empty strings, thus cause the mode to be cleared.
3807
3808 *winbufnr()*
3809winbufnr({nr}) The result is a Number, which is the number of the buffer
3810 associated with window {nr}. When {nr} is zero, the number of
3811 the buffer in the current window is returned. When window
3812 {nr} doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
3813 Example: >
3814 :echo "The file in the current window is " . bufname(winbufnr(0))
3815<
3816 *wincol()*
3817wincol() The result is a Number, which is the virtual column of the
3818 cursor in the window. This is counting screen cells from the
3819 left side of the window. The leftmost column is one.
3820
3821winheight({nr}) *winheight()*
3822 The result is a Number, which is the height of window {nr}.
3823 When {nr} is zero, the height of the current window is
3824 returned. When window {nr} doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
3825 An existing window always has a height of zero or more.
3826 Examples: >
3827 :echo "The current window has " . winheight(0) . " lines."
3828<
3829 *winline()*
3830winline() The result is a Number, which is the screen line of the cursor
3831 in the window. This is counting screen lines from the top of
3832 the window. The first line is one.
3833
3834 *winnr()*
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00003835winnr([{arg}]) The result is a Number, which is the number of the current
3836 window. The top window has number 1.
3837 When the optional argument is "$", the number of the
3838 last window is returnd (the window count).
3839 When the optional argument is "#", the number of the last
3840 accessed window is returned (where |CTRL-W_p| goes to).
3841 If there is no previous window 0 is returned.
3842 The number can be used with |CTRL-W_w| and ":wincmd w"
3843 |:wincmd|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003844
3845 *winrestcmd()*
3846winrestcmd() Returns a sequence of |:resize| commands that should restore
3847 the current window sizes. Only works properly when no windows
3848 are opened or closed and the current window is unchanged.
3849 Example: >
3850 :let cmd = winrestcmd()
3851 :call MessWithWindowSizes()
3852 :exe cmd
3853
3854winwidth({nr}) *winwidth()*
3855 The result is a Number, which is the width of window {nr}.
3856 When {nr} is zero, the width of the current window is
3857 returned. When window {nr} doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
3858 An existing window always has a width of zero or more.
3859 Examples: >
3860 :echo "The current window has " . winwidth(0) . " columns."
3861 :if winwidth(0) <= 50
3862 : exe "normal 50\<C-W>|"
3863 :endif
3864<
3865
3866 *feature-list*
3867There are three types of features:
38681. Features that are only supported when they have been enabled when Vim
3869 was compiled |+feature-list|. Example: >
3870 :if has("cindent")
38712. Features that are only supported when certain conditions have been met.
3872 Example: >
3873 :if has("gui_running")
3874< *has-patch*
38753. Included patches. First check |v:version| for the version of Vim.
3876 Then the "patch123" feature means that patch 123 has been included for
3877 this version. Example (checking version 6.2.148 or later): >
3878 :if v:version > 602 || v:version == 602 && has("patch148")
3879
3880all_builtin_terms Compiled with all builtin terminals enabled.
3881amiga Amiga version of Vim.
3882arabic Compiled with Arabic support |Arabic|.
3883arp Compiled with ARP support (Amiga).
3884autocmd Compiled with autocommands support.
3885balloon_eval Compiled with |balloon-eval| support.
3886beos BeOS version of Vim.
3887browse Compiled with |:browse| support, and browse() will
3888 work.
3889builtin_terms Compiled with some builtin terminals.
3890byte_offset Compiled with support for 'o' in 'statusline'
3891cindent Compiled with 'cindent' support.
3892clientserver Compiled with remote invocation support |clientserver|.
3893clipboard Compiled with 'clipboard' support.
3894cmdline_compl Compiled with |cmdline-completion| support.
3895cmdline_hist Compiled with |cmdline-history| support.
3896cmdline_info Compiled with 'showcmd' and 'ruler' support.
3897comments Compiled with |'comments'| support.
3898cryptv Compiled with encryption support |encryption|.
3899cscope Compiled with |cscope| support.
3900compatible Compiled to be very Vi compatible.
3901debug Compiled with "DEBUG" defined.
3902dialog_con Compiled with console dialog support.
3903dialog_gui Compiled with GUI dialog support.
3904diff Compiled with |vimdiff| and 'diff' support.
3905digraphs Compiled with support for digraphs.
3906dnd Compiled with support for the "~ register |quote_~|.
3907dos32 32 bits DOS (DJGPP) version of Vim.
3908dos16 16 bits DOS version of Vim.
3909ebcdic Compiled on a machine with ebcdic character set.
3910emacs_tags Compiled with support for Emacs tags.
3911eval Compiled with expression evaluation support. Always
3912 true, of course!
3913ex_extra Compiled with extra Ex commands |+ex_extra|.
3914extra_search Compiled with support for |'incsearch'| and
3915 |'hlsearch'|
3916farsi Compiled with Farsi support |farsi|.
3917file_in_path Compiled with support for |gf| and |<cfile>|
3918find_in_path Compiled with support for include file searches
3919 |+find_in_path|.
3920fname_case Case in file names matters (for Amiga, MS-DOS, and
3921 Windows this is not present).
3922folding Compiled with |folding| support.
3923footer Compiled with GUI footer support. |gui-footer|
3924fork Compiled to use fork()/exec() instead of system().
3925gettext Compiled with message translation |multi-lang|
3926gui Compiled with GUI enabled.
3927gui_athena Compiled with Athena GUI.
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00003928gui_beos Compiled with BeOS GUI.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003929gui_gtk Compiled with GTK+ GUI (any version).
3930gui_gtk2 Compiled with GTK+ 2 GUI (gui_gtk is also defined).
Bram Moolenaar843ee412004-06-30 16:16:41 +00003931gui_kde Compiled with KDE GUI |KVim|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003932gui_mac Compiled with Macintosh GUI.
3933gui_motif Compiled with Motif GUI.
3934gui_photon Compiled with Photon GUI.
3935gui_win32 Compiled with MS Windows Win32 GUI.
3936gui_win32s idem, and Win32s system being used (Windows 3.1)
3937gui_running Vim is running in the GUI, or it will start soon.
3938hangul_input Compiled with Hangul input support. |hangul|
3939iconv Can use iconv() for conversion.
3940insert_expand Compiled with support for CTRL-X expansion commands in
3941 Insert mode.
3942jumplist Compiled with |jumplist| support.
3943keymap Compiled with 'keymap' support.
3944langmap Compiled with 'langmap' support.
3945libcall Compiled with |libcall()| support.
3946linebreak Compiled with 'linebreak', 'breakat' and 'showbreak'
3947 support.
3948lispindent Compiled with support for lisp indenting.
3949listcmds Compiled with commands for the buffer list |:files|
3950 and the argument list |arglist|.
3951localmap Compiled with local mappings and abbr. |:map-local|
3952mac Macintosh version of Vim.
3953macunix Macintosh version of Vim, using Unix files (OS-X).
3954menu Compiled with support for |:menu|.
3955mksession Compiled with support for |:mksession|.
3956modify_fname Compiled with file name modifiers. |filename-modifiers|
3957mouse Compiled with support mouse.
3958mouseshape Compiled with support for 'mouseshape'.
3959mouse_dec Compiled with support for Dec terminal mouse.
3960mouse_gpm Compiled with support for gpm (Linux console mouse)
3961mouse_netterm Compiled with support for netterm mouse.
3962mouse_pterm Compiled with support for qnx pterm mouse.
3963mouse_xterm Compiled with support for xterm mouse.
3964multi_byte Compiled with support for editing Korean et al.
3965multi_byte_ime Compiled with support for IME input method.
3966multi_lang Compiled with support for multiple languages.
Bram Moolenaar325b7a22004-07-05 15:58:32 +00003967mzscheme Compiled with MzScheme interface |mzscheme|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003968netbeans_intg Compiled with support for |netbeans|.
Bram Moolenaar009b2592004-10-24 19:18:58 +00003969netbeans_enabled Compiled with support for |netbeans| and it's used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003970ole Compiled with OLE automation support for Win32.
3971os2 OS/2 version of Vim.
3972osfiletype Compiled with support for osfiletypes |+osfiletype|
3973path_extra Compiled with up/downwards search in 'path' and 'tags'
3974perl Compiled with Perl interface.
3975postscript Compiled with PostScript file printing.
3976printer Compiled with |:hardcopy| support.
3977python Compiled with Python interface.
3978qnx QNX version of Vim.
3979quickfix Compiled with |quickfix| support.
3980rightleft Compiled with 'rightleft' support.
3981ruby Compiled with Ruby interface |ruby|.
3982scrollbind Compiled with 'scrollbind' support.
3983showcmd Compiled with 'showcmd' support.
3984signs Compiled with |:sign| support.
3985smartindent Compiled with 'smartindent' support.
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00003986sniff Compiled with SNiFF interface support.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003987statusline Compiled with support for 'statusline', 'rulerformat'
3988 and special formats of 'titlestring' and 'iconstring'.
3989sun_workshop Compiled with support for Sun |workshop|.
3990syntax Compiled with syntax highlighting support.
3991syntax_items There are active syntax highlighting items for the
3992 current buffer.
3993system Compiled to use system() instead of fork()/exec().
3994tag_binary Compiled with binary searching in tags files
3995 |tag-binary-search|.
3996tag_old_static Compiled with support for old static tags
3997 |tag-old-static|.
3998tag_any_white Compiled with support for any white characters in tags
3999 files |tag-any-white|.
4000tcl Compiled with Tcl interface.
4001terminfo Compiled with terminfo instead of termcap.
4002termresponse Compiled with support for |t_RV| and |v:termresponse|.
4003textobjects Compiled with support for |text-objects|.
4004tgetent Compiled with tgetent support, able to use a termcap
4005 or terminfo file.
4006title Compiled with window title support |'title'|.
4007toolbar Compiled with support for |gui-toolbar|.
4008unix Unix version of Vim.
4009user_commands User-defined commands.
4010viminfo Compiled with viminfo support.
4011vim_starting True while initial source'ing takes place.
4012vertsplit Compiled with vertically split windows |:vsplit|.
4013virtualedit Compiled with 'virtualedit' option.
4014visual Compiled with Visual mode.
4015visualextra Compiled with extra Visual mode commands.
4016 |blockwise-operators|.
4017vms VMS version of Vim.
4018vreplace Compiled with |gR| and |gr| commands.
4019wildignore Compiled with 'wildignore' option.
4020wildmenu Compiled with 'wildmenu' option.
4021windows Compiled with support for more than one window.
4022winaltkeys Compiled with 'winaltkeys' option.
4023win16 Win16 version of Vim (MS-Windows 3.1).
4024win32 Win32 version of Vim (MS-Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP).
4025win64 Win64 version of Vim (MS-Windows 64 bit).
4026win32unix Win32 version of Vim, using Unix files (Cygwin)
4027win95 Win32 version for MS-Windows 95/98/ME.
4028writebackup Compiled with 'writebackup' default on.
4029xfontset Compiled with X fontset support |xfontset|.
4030xim Compiled with X input method support |xim|.
4031xsmp Compiled with X session management support.
4032xsmp_interact Compiled with interactive X session management support.
4033xterm_clipboard Compiled with support for xterm clipboard.
4034xterm_save Compiled with support for saving and restoring the
4035 xterm screen.
4036x11 Compiled with X11 support.
4037
4038 *string-match*
4039Matching a pattern in a String
4040
4041A regexp pattern as explained at |pattern| is normally used to find a match in
4042the buffer lines. When a pattern is used to find a match in a String, almost
4043everything works in the same way. The difference is that a String is handled
4044like it is one line. When it contains a "\n" character, this is not seen as a
4045line break for the pattern. It can be matched with a "\n" in the pattern, or
4046with ".". Example: >
4047 :let a = "aaaa\nxxxx"
4048 :echo matchstr(a, "..\n..")
4049 aa
4050 xx
4051 :echo matchstr(a, "a.x")
4052 a
4053 x
4054
4055Don't forget that "^" will only match at the first character of the String and
4056"$" at the last character of the string. They don't match after or before a
4057"\n".
4058
4059==============================================================================
40605. Defining functions *user-functions*
4061
4062New functions can be defined. These can be called just like builtin
4063functions. The function executes a sequence of Ex commands. Normal mode
4064commands can be executed with the |:normal| command.
4065
4066The function name must start with an uppercase letter, to avoid confusion with
4067builtin functions. To prevent from using the same name in different scripts
4068avoid obvious, short names. A good habit is to start the function name with
4069the name of the script, e.g., "HTMLcolor()".
4070
4071It's also possible to use curly braces, see |curly-braces-names|.
4072
4073 *local-function*
4074A function local to a script must start with "s:". A local script function
4075can only be called from within the script and from functions, user commands
4076and autocommands defined in the script. It is also possible to call the
4077function from a mappings defined in the script, but then |<SID>| must be used
4078instead of "s:" when the mapping is expanded outside of the script.
4079
4080 *:fu* *:function* *E128* *E129* *E123*
4081:fu[nction] List all functions and their arguments.
4082
4083:fu[nction] {name} List function {name}.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004084 {name} can also be a Dictionary entry that is a
4085 Funcref: >
4086 :function dict.init
4087< *E124* *E125*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00004088:fu[nction][!] {name}([arguments]) [range] [abort] [dict]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004089 Define a new function by the name {name}. The name
4090 must be made of alphanumeric characters and '_', and
4091 must start with a capital or "s:" (see above).
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004092
4093 {name} can also be a Dictionary entry that is a
4094 Funcref: >
4095 :function dict.init(arg)
4096< "dict" must be an existing dictionary. The entry
4097 "init" is added if it didn't exist yet. Otherwise [!]
4098 is required to overwrite an existing function. The
4099 result is a |Funcref| to a numbered function. The
4100 function can only be used with a |Funcref| and will be
4101 deleted if there are no more references to it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004102 *E127* *E122*
4103 When a function by this name already exists and [!] is
4104 not used an error message is given. When [!] is used,
4105 an existing function is silently replaced. Unless it
4106 is currently being executed, that is an error.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00004107
4108 For the {arguments} see |function-argument|.
4109
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004110 *a:firstline* *a:lastline*
4111 When the [range] argument is added, the function is
4112 expected to take care of a range itself. The range is
4113 passed as "a:firstline" and "a:lastline". If [range]
4114 is excluded, ":{range}call" will call the function for
4115 each line in the range, with the cursor on the start
4116 of each line. See |function-range-example|.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004117
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004118 When the [abort] argument is added, the function will
4119 abort as soon as an error is detected.
4120 The last used search pattern and the redo command "."
4121 will not be changed by the function.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004122
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00004123 When the [dict] argument is added, the function must
4124 be invoked through an entry in a Dictionary. The
4125 local variable "self" will then be set to the
4126 dictionary. See |Dictionary-function|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004127
4128 *:endf* *:endfunction* *E126* *E193*
4129:endf[unction] The end of a function definition. Must be on a line
4130 by its own, without other commands.
4131
4132 *:delf* *:delfunction* *E130* *E131*
4133:delf[unction] {name} Delete function {name}.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004134 {name} can also be a Dictionary entry that is a
4135 Funcref: >
4136 :delfunc dict.init
4137< This will remove the "init" entry from "dict". The
4138 function is deleted if there are no more references to
4139 it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004140 *:retu* *:return* *E133*
4141:retu[rn] [expr] Return from a function. When "[expr]" is given, it is
4142 evaluated and returned as the result of the function.
4143 If "[expr]" is not given, the number 0 is returned.
4144 When a function ends without an explicit ":return",
4145 the number 0 is returned.
4146 Note that there is no check for unreachable lines,
4147 thus there is no warning if commands follow ":return".
4148
4149 If the ":return" is used after a |:try| but before the
4150 matching |:finally| (if present), the commands
4151 following the ":finally" up to the matching |:endtry|
4152 are executed first. This process applies to all
4153 nested ":try"s inside the function. The function
4154 returns at the outermost ":endtry".
4155
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00004156 *function-argument* *a:var*
4157An argument can be defined by giving its name. In the function this can then
4158be used as "a:name" ("a:" for argument).
4159 *a:0* *a:1* *a:000* *E740*
4160Up to 20 arguments can be given, separated by commas. After the named
4161arguments an argument "..." can be specified, which means that more arguments
4162may optionally be following. In the function the extra arguments can be used
4163as "a:1", "a:2", etc. "a:0" is set to the number of extra arguments (which
4164can be 0). "a:000" is set to a List that contains these arguments.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004165
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00004166When not using "...", the number of arguments in a function call must be equal
4167to the number of named arguments. When using "...", the number of arguments
4168may be larger.
4169
4170It is also possible to define a function without any arguments. You must
4171still supply the () then. The body of the function follows in the next lines,
4172until the matching |:endfunction|. It is allowed to define another function
4173inside a function body.
4174
4175 *local-variables*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004176Inside a function variables can be used. These are local variables, which
4177will disappear when the function returns. Global variables need to be
4178accessed with "g:".
4179
4180Example: >
4181 :function Table(title, ...)
4182 : echohl Title
4183 : echo a:title
4184 : echohl None
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004185 : echo a:0 . " items:"
4186 : for s in a:000
4187 : echon ' ' . s
4188 : endfor
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004189 :endfunction
4190
4191This function can then be called with: >
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004192 call Table("Table", "line1", "line2")
4193 call Table("Empty Table")
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004194
4195To return more than one value, pass the name of a global variable: >
4196 :function Compute(n1, n2, divname)
4197 : if a:n2 == 0
4198 : return "fail"
4199 : endif
4200 : let g:{a:divname} = a:n1 / a:n2
4201 : return "ok"
4202 :endfunction
4203
4204This function can then be called with: >
4205 :let success = Compute(13, 1324, "div")
4206 :if success == "ok"
4207 : echo div
4208 :endif
4209
4210An alternative is to return a command that can be executed. This also works
4211with local variables in a calling function. Example: >
4212 :function Foo()
4213 : execute Bar()
4214 : echo "line " . lnum . " column " . col
4215 :endfunction
4216
4217 :function Bar()
4218 : return "let lnum = " . line(".") . " | let col = " . col(".")
4219 :endfunction
4220
4221The names "lnum" and "col" could also be passed as argument to Bar(), to allow
4222the caller to set the names.
4223
4224 *:cal* *:call* *E107*
4225:[range]cal[l] {name}([arguments])
4226 Call a function. The name of the function and its arguments
4227 are as specified with |:function|. Up to 20 arguments can be
4228 used.
4229 Without a range and for functions that accept a range, the
4230 function is called once. When a range is given the cursor is
4231 positioned at the start of the first line before executing the
4232 function.
4233 When a range is given and the function doesn't handle it
4234 itself, the function is executed for each line in the range,
4235 with the cursor in the first column of that line. The cursor
4236 is left at the last line (possibly moved by the last function
4237 call). The arguments are re-evaluated for each line. Thus
4238 this works:
4239 *function-range-example* >
4240 :function Mynumber(arg)
4241 : echo line(".") . " " . a:arg
4242 :endfunction
4243 :1,5call Mynumber(getline("."))
4244<
4245 The "a:firstline" and "a:lastline" are defined anyway, they
4246 can be used to do something different at the start or end of
4247 the range.
4248
4249 Example of a function that handles the range itself: >
4250
4251 :function Cont() range
4252 : execute (a:firstline + 1) . "," . a:lastline . 's/^/\t\\ '
4253 :endfunction
4254 :4,8call Cont()
4255<
4256 This function inserts the continuation character "\" in front
4257 of all the lines in the range, except the first one.
4258
4259 *E132*
4260The recursiveness of user functions is restricted with the |'maxfuncdepth'|
4261option.
4262
4263 *autoload-functions*
4264When using many or large functions, it's possible to automatically define them
4265only when they are used. Use the FuncUndefined autocommand event with a
4266pattern that matches the function(s) to be defined. Example: >
4267
4268 :au FuncUndefined BufNet* source ~/vim/bufnetfuncs.vim
4269
4270The file "~/vim/bufnetfuncs.vim" should then define functions that start with
4271"BufNet". Also see |FuncUndefined|.
4272
4273==============================================================================
42746. Curly braces names *curly-braces-names*
4275
4276Wherever you can use a variable, you can use a "curly braces name" variable.
4277This is a regular variable name with one or more expressions wrapped in braces
4278{} like this: >
4279 my_{adjective}_variable
4280
4281When Vim encounters this, it evaluates the expression inside the braces, puts
4282that in place of the expression, and re-interprets the whole as a variable
4283name. So in the above example, if the variable "adjective" was set to
4284"noisy", then the reference would be to "my_noisy_variable", whereas if
4285"adjective" was set to "quiet", then it would be to "my_quiet_variable".
4286
4287One application for this is to create a set of variables governed by an option
4288value. For example, the statement >
4289 echo my_{&background}_message
4290
4291would output the contents of "my_dark_message" or "my_light_message" depending
4292on the current value of 'background'.
4293
4294You can use multiple brace pairs: >
4295 echo my_{adverb}_{adjective}_message
4296..or even nest them: >
4297 echo my_{ad{end_of_word}}_message
4298where "end_of_word" is either "verb" or "jective".
4299
4300However, the expression inside the braces must evaluate to a valid single
4301variable name. e.g. this is invalid: >
4302 :let foo='a + b'
4303 :echo c{foo}d
4304.. since the result of expansion is "ca + bd", which is not a variable name.
4305
4306 *curly-braces-function-names*
4307You can call and define functions by an evaluated name in a similar way.
4308Example: >
4309 :let func_end='whizz'
4310 :call my_func_{func_end}(parameter)
4311
4312This would call the function "my_func_whizz(parameter)".
4313
4314==============================================================================
43157. Commands *expression-commands*
4316
4317:let {var-name} = {expr1} *:let* *E18*
4318 Set internal variable {var-name} to the result of the
4319 expression {expr1}. The variable will get the type
4320 from the {expr}. If {var-name} didn't exist yet, it
4321 is created.
4322
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00004323:let {var-name}[{idx}] = {expr1} *E689*
4324 Set a list item to the result of the expression
4325 {expr1}. {var-name} must refer to a list and {idx}
4326 must be a valid index in that list. For nested list
4327 the index can be repeated.
4328 This cannot be used to add an item to a list.
4329
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004330 *E711* *E719*
4331:let {var-name}[{idx1}:{idx2}] = {expr1} *E708* *E709* *E710*
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00004332 Set a sequence of items in a List to the result of the
4333 expression {expr1}, which must be a list with the
4334 correct number of items.
4335 {idx1} can be omitted, zero is used instead.
4336 {idx2} can be omitted, meaning the end of the list.
4337 When the selected range of items is partly past the
4338 end of the list, items will be added.
4339
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00004340 *:let+=* *:let-=* *:let.=*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004341:let {var} += {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} + {expr1}".
4342:let {var} -= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} - {expr1}".
4343:let {var} .= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} . {expr1}".
4344 These fail if {var} was not set yet and when the type
4345 of {var} and {expr1} don't fit the operator.
4346
4347
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004348:let ${env-name} = {expr1} *:let-environment* *:let-$*
4349 Set environment variable {env-name} to the result of
4350 the expression {expr1}. The type is always String.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004351:let ${env-name} .= {expr1}
4352 Append {expr1} to the environment variable {env-name}.
4353 If the environment variable didn't exist yet this
4354 works like "=".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004355
4356:let @{reg-name} = {expr1} *:let-register* *:let-@*
4357 Write the result of the expression {expr1} in register
4358 {reg-name}. {reg-name} must be a single letter, and
4359 must be the name of a writable register (see
4360 |registers|). "@@" can be used for the unnamed
4361 register, "@/" for the search pattern.
4362 If the result of {expr1} ends in a <CR> or <NL>, the
4363 register will be linewise, otherwise it will be set to
4364 characterwise.
4365 This can be used to clear the last search pattern: >
4366 :let @/ = ""
4367< This is different from searching for an empty string,
4368 that would match everywhere.
4369
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004370:let @{reg-name} .= {expr1}
4371 Append {expr1} to register {reg-name}. If the
4372 register was empty it's like setting it to {expr1}.
4373
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004374:let &{option-name} = {expr1} *:let-option* *:let-star*
4375 Set option {option-name} to the result of the
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00004376 expression {expr1}. A String or Number value is
4377 always converted to the type of the option.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004378 For an option local to a window or buffer the effect
4379 is just like using the |:set| command: both the local
4380 value and the global value is changed.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00004381 Example: >
4382 :let &path = &path . ',/usr/local/include'
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004383
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004384:let &{option-name} .= {expr1}
4385 For a string option: Append {expr1} to the value.
4386 Does not insert a comma like |:set+=|.
4387
4388:let &{option-name} += {expr1}
4389:let &{option-name} -= {expr1}
4390 For a number or boolean option: Add or subtract
4391 {expr1}.
4392
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004393:let &l:{option-name} = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004394:let &l:{option-name} .= {expr1}
4395:let &l:{option-name} += {expr1}
4396:let &l:{option-name} -= {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004397 Like above, but only set the local value of an option
4398 (if there is one). Works like |:setlocal|.
4399
4400:let &g:{option-name} = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004401:let &g:{option-name} .= {expr1}
4402:let &g:{option-name} += {expr1}
4403:let &g:{option-name} -= {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004404 Like above, but only set the global value of an option
4405 (if there is one). Works like |:setglobal|.
4406
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00004407:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] = {expr1} *:let-unpack* *E687* *E688*
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00004408 {expr1} must evaluate to a List. The first item in
4409 the list is assigned to {name1}, the second item to
4410 {name2}, etc.
4411 The number of names must match the number of items in
4412 the List.
4413 Each name can be one of the items of the ":let"
4414 command as mentioned above.
4415 Example: >
4416 :let [s, item] = GetItem(s)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004417< Detail: {expr1} is evaluated first, then the
4418 assignments are done in sequence. This matters if
4419 {name2} depends on {name1}. Example: >
4420 :let x = [0, 1]
4421 :let i = 0
4422 :let [i, x[i]] = [1, 2]
4423 :echo x
4424< The result is [0, 2].
4425
4426:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] .= {expr1}
4427:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] += {expr1}
4428:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] -= {expr1}
4429 Like above, but append/add/subtract the value for each
4430 List item.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00004431
4432:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004433 Like |:let-unpack| above, but the List may have more
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004434 items than there are names. A list of the remaining
4435 items is assigned to {lastname}. If there are no
4436 remaining items {lastname} is set to an empty list.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00004437 Example: >
4438 :let [a, b; rest] = ["aval", "bval", 3, 4]
4439<
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004440:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] .= {expr1}
4441:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] += {expr1}
4442:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] -= {expr1}
4443 Like above, but append/add/subtract the value for each
4444 List item.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004445 *E106*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004446:let {var-name} .. List the value of variable {var-name}. Multiple
Bram Moolenaardcaf10e2005-01-21 11:55:25 +00004447 variable names may be given. Special names recognized
4448 here: *E738*
4449 g: global variables.
4450 b: local buffer variables.
4451 w: local window variables.
4452 v: Vim variables.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004453
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00004454:let List the values of all variables. The type of the
4455 variable is indicated before the value:
4456 <nothing> String
4457 # Number
4458 * Funcref
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004459
4460 *:unlet* *:unl* *E108*
4461:unl[et][!] {var-name} ...
4462 Remove the internal variable {var-name}. Several
4463 variable names can be given, they are all removed.
4464 With [!] no error message is given for non-existing
4465 variables.
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +00004466 One or more items from a List can be removed: >
4467 :unlet list[3] " remove fourth item
4468 :unlet list[3:] " remove fourth item to last
4469< One item from a Dictionary can be removed at a time: >
4470 :unlet dict['two']
4471 :unlet dict.two
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004472
4473:if {expr1} *:if* *:endif* *:en* *E171* *E579* *E580*
4474:en[dif] Execute the commands until the next matching ":else"
4475 or ":endif" if {expr1} evaluates to non-zero.
4476
4477 From Vim version 4.5 until 5.0, every Ex command in
4478 between the ":if" and ":endif" is ignored. These two
4479 commands were just to allow for future expansions in a
4480 backwards compatible way. Nesting was allowed. Note
4481 that any ":else" or ":elseif" was ignored, the "else"
4482 part was not executed either.
4483
4484 You can use this to remain compatible with older
4485 versions: >
4486 :if version >= 500
4487 : version-5-specific-commands
4488 :endif
4489< The commands still need to be parsed to find the
4490 "endif". Sometimes an older Vim has a problem with a
4491 new command. For example, ":silent" is recognized as
4492 a ":substitute" command. In that case ":execute" can
4493 avoid problems: >
4494 :if version >= 600
4495 : execute "silent 1,$delete"
4496 :endif
4497<
4498 NOTE: The ":append" and ":insert" commands don't work
4499 properly in between ":if" and ":endif".
4500
4501 *:else* *:el* *E581* *E583*
4502:el[se] Execute the commands until the next matching ":else"
4503 or ":endif" if they previously were not being
4504 executed.
4505
4506 *:elseif* *:elsei* *E582* *E584*
4507:elsei[f] {expr1} Short for ":else" ":if", with the addition that there
4508 is no extra ":endif".
4509
4510:wh[ile] {expr1} *:while* *:endwhile* *:wh* *:endw*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004511 *E170* *E585* *E588* *E733*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004512:endw[hile] Repeat the commands between ":while" and ":endwhile",
4513 as long as {expr1} evaluates to non-zero.
4514 When an error is detected from a command inside the
4515 loop, execution continues after the "endwhile".
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004516 Example: >
4517 :let lnum = 1
4518 :while lnum <= line("$")
4519 :call FixLine(lnum)
4520 :let lnum = lnum + 1
4521 :endwhile
4522<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004523 NOTE: The ":append" and ":insert" commands don't work
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00004524 properly inside a ":while" and ":for" loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004525
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004526:for {var} in {list} *:for* *E690* *E732*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004527:endfo[r] *:endfo* *:endfor*
4528 Repeat the commands between ":for" and ":endfor" for
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00004529 each item in {list}. variable {var} is set to the
4530 value of each item.
4531 When an error is detected for a command inside the
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004532 loop, execution continues after the "endfor".
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00004533 Changing {list} affects what items are used. Make a
4534 copy if this is unwanted: >
4535 :for item in copy(mylist)
4536< When not making a copy, Vim stores a reference to the
4537 next item in the list, before executing the commands
4538 with the current item. Thus the current item can be
4539 removed without effect. Removing any later item means
4540 it will not be found. Thus the following example
4541 works (an inefficient way to make a list empty): >
4542 :for item in mylist
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004543 :call remove(mylist, 0)
4544 :endfor
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00004545< Note that reordering the list (e.g., with sort() or
4546 reverse()) may have unexpected effects.
4547 Note that the type of each list item should be
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004548 identical to avoid errors for the type of {var}
4549 changing. Unlet the variable at the end of the loop
4550 to allow multiple item types.
4551
4552:for {var} in {string}
4553:endfo[r] Like ":for" above, but use each character in {string}
4554 as a list item.
4555 Composing characters are used as separate characters.
4556 A Number is first converted to a String.
4557
4558:for [{var1}, {var2}, ...] in {listlist}
4559:endfo[r]
4560 Like ":for" above, but each item in {listlist} must be
4561 a list, of which each item is assigned to {var1},
4562 {var2}, etc. Example: >
4563 :for [lnum, col] in [[1, 3], [2, 5], [3, 8]]
4564 :echo getline(lnum)[col]
4565 :endfor
4566<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004567 *:continue* *:con* *E586*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004568:con[tinue] When used inside a ":while" or ":for" loop, jumps back
4569 to the start of the loop.
4570 If it is used after a |:try| inside the loop but
4571 before the matching |:finally| (if present), the
4572 commands following the ":finally" up to the matching
4573 |:endtry| are executed first. This process applies to
4574 all nested ":try"s inside the loop. The outermost
4575 ":endtry" then jumps back to the start of the loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004576
4577 *:break* *:brea* *E587*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004578:brea[k] When used inside a ":while" or ":for" loop, skips to
4579 the command after the matching ":endwhile" or
4580 ":endfor".
4581 If it is used after a |:try| inside the loop but
4582 before the matching |:finally| (if present), the
4583 commands following the ":finally" up to the matching
4584 |:endtry| are executed first. This process applies to
4585 all nested ":try"s inside the loop. The outermost
4586 ":endtry" then jumps to the command after the loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004587
4588:try *:try* *:endt* *:endtry* *E600* *E601* *E602*
4589:endt[ry] Change the error handling for the commands between
4590 ":try" and ":endtry" including everything being
4591 executed across ":source" commands, function calls,
4592 or autocommand invocations.
4593
4594 When an error or interrupt is detected and there is
4595 a |:finally| command following, execution continues
4596 after the ":finally". Otherwise, or when the
4597 ":endtry" is reached thereafter, the next
4598 (dynamically) surrounding ":try" is checked for
4599 a corresponding ":finally" etc. Then the script
4600 processing is terminated. (Whether a function
4601 definition has an "abort" argument does not matter.)
4602 Example: >
4603 :try | edit too much | finally | echo "cleanup" | endtry
4604 :echo "impossible" " not reached, script terminated above
4605<
4606 Moreover, an error or interrupt (dynamically) inside
4607 ":try" and ":endtry" is converted to an exception. It
4608 can be caught as if it were thrown by a |:throw|
4609 command (see |:catch|). In this case, the script
4610 processing is not terminated.
4611
4612 The value "Vim:Interrupt" is used for an interrupt
4613 exception. An error in a Vim command is converted
4614 to a value of the form "Vim({command}):{errmsg}",
4615 other errors are converted to a value of the form
4616 "Vim:{errmsg}". {command} is the full command name,
4617 and {errmsg} is the message that is displayed if the
4618 error exception is not caught, always beginning with
4619 the error number.
4620 Examples: >
4621 :try | sleep 100 | catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/ | endtry
4622 :try | edit | catch /^Vim(edit):E\d\+/ | echo "error" | endtry
4623<
4624 *:cat* *:catch* *E603* *E604* *E605*
4625:cat[ch] /{pattern}/ The following commands until the next ":catch",
4626 |:finally|, or |:endtry| that belongs to the same
4627 |:try| as the ":catch" are executed when an exception
4628 matching {pattern} is being thrown and has not yet
4629 been caught by a previous ":catch". Otherwise, these
4630 commands are skipped.
4631 When {pattern} is omitted all errors are caught.
4632 Examples: >
4633 :catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/ " catch interrupts (CTRL-C)
4634 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E/ " catch all Vim errors
4635 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:/ " catch errors and interrupts
4636 :catch /^Vim(write):/ " catch all errors in :write
4637 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E123/ " catch error E123
4638 :catch /my-exception/ " catch user exception
4639 :catch /.*/ " catch everything
4640 :catch " same as /.*/
4641<
4642 Another character can be used instead of / around the
4643 {pattern}, so long as it does not have a special
4644 meaning (e.g., '|' or '"') and doesn't occur inside
4645 {pattern}.
4646 NOTE: It is not reliable to ":catch" the TEXT of
4647 an error message because it may vary in different
4648 locales.
4649
4650 *:fina* *:finally* *E606* *E607*
4651:fina[lly] The following commands until the matching |:endtry|
4652 are executed whenever the part between the matching
4653 |:try| and the ":finally" is left: either by falling
4654 through to the ":finally" or by a |:continue|,
4655 |:break|, |:finish|, or |:return|, or by an error or
4656 interrupt or exception (see |:throw|).
4657
4658 *:th* *:throw* *E608*
4659:th[row] {expr1} The {expr1} is evaluated and thrown as an exception.
4660 If the ":throw" is used after a |:try| but before the
4661 first corresponding |:catch|, commands are skipped
4662 until the first ":catch" matching {expr1} is reached.
4663 If there is no such ":catch" or if the ":throw" is
4664 used after a ":catch" but before the |:finally|, the
4665 commands following the ":finally" (if present) up to
4666 the matching |:endtry| are executed. If the ":throw"
4667 is after the ":finally", commands up to the ":endtry"
4668 are skipped. At the ":endtry", this process applies
4669 again for the next dynamically surrounding ":try"
4670 (which may be found in a calling function or sourcing
4671 script), until a matching ":catch" has been found.
4672 If the exception is not caught, the command processing
4673 is terminated.
4674 Example: >
4675 :try | throw "oops" | catch /^oo/ | echo "caught" | endtry
4676<
4677
4678 *:ec* *:echo*
4679:ec[ho] {expr1} .. Echoes each {expr1}, with a space in between. The
4680 first {expr1} starts on a new line.
4681 Also see |:comment|.
4682 Use "\n" to start a new line. Use "\r" to move the
4683 cursor to the first column.
4684 Uses the highlighting set by the |:echohl| command.
4685 Cannot be followed by a comment.
4686 Example: >
4687 :echo "the value of 'shell' is" &shell
4688< A later redraw may make the message disappear again.
4689 To avoid that a command from before the ":echo" causes
4690 a redraw afterwards (redraws are often postponed until
4691 you type something), force a redraw with the |:redraw|
4692 command. Example: >
4693 :new | redraw | echo "there is a new window"
4694<
4695 *:echon*
4696:echon {expr1} .. Echoes each {expr1}, without anything added. Also see
4697 |:comment|.
4698 Uses the highlighting set by the |:echohl| command.
4699 Cannot be followed by a comment.
4700 Example: >
4701 :echon "the value of 'shell' is " &shell
4702<
4703 Note the difference between using ":echo", which is a
4704 Vim command, and ":!echo", which is an external shell
4705 command: >
4706 :!echo % --> filename
4707< The arguments of ":!" are expanded, see |:_%|. >
4708 :!echo "%" --> filename or "filename"
4709< Like the previous example. Whether you see the double
4710 quotes or not depends on your 'shell'. >
4711 :echo % --> nothing
4712< The '%' is an illegal character in an expression. >
4713 :echo "%" --> %
4714< This just echoes the '%' character. >
4715 :echo expand("%") --> filename
4716< This calls the expand() function to expand the '%'.
4717
4718 *:echoh* *:echohl*
4719:echoh[l] {name} Use the highlight group {name} for the following
4720 |:echo|, |:echon| and |:echomsg| commands. Also used
4721 for the |input()| prompt. Example: >
4722 :echohl WarningMsg | echo "Don't panic!" | echohl None
4723< Don't forget to set the group back to "None",
4724 otherwise all following echo's will be highlighted.
4725
4726 *:echom* *:echomsg*
4727:echom[sg] {expr1} .. Echo the expression(s) as a true message, saving the
4728 message in the |message-history|.
4729 Spaces are placed between the arguments as with the
4730 |:echo| command. But unprintable characters are
4731 displayed, not interpreted.
4732 Uses the highlighting set by the |:echohl| command.
4733 Example: >
4734 :echomsg "It's a Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz, as you can plainly see."
4735<
4736 *:echoe* *:echoerr*
4737:echoe[rr] {expr1} .. Echo the expression(s) as an error message, saving the
4738 message in the |message-history|. When used in a
4739 script or function the line number will be added.
4740 Spaces are placed between the arguments as with the
4741 :echo command. When used inside a try conditional,
4742 the message is raised as an error exception instead
4743 (see |try-echoerr|).
4744 Example: >
4745 :echoerr "This script just failed!"
4746< If you just want a highlighted message use |:echohl|.
4747 And to get a beep: >
4748 :exe "normal \<Esc>"
4749<
4750 *:exe* *:execute*
4751:exe[cute] {expr1} .. Executes the string that results from the evaluation
4752 of {expr1} as an Ex command. Multiple arguments are
4753 concatenated, with a space in between. {expr1} is
4754 used as the processed command, command line editing
4755 keys are not recognized.
4756 Cannot be followed by a comment.
4757 Examples: >
4758 :execute "buffer " nextbuf
4759 :execute "normal " count . "w"
4760<
4761 ":execute" can be used to append a command to commands
4762 that don't accept a '|'. Example: >
4763 :execute '!ls' | echo "theend"
4764
4765< ":execute" is also a nice way to avoid having to type
4766 control characters in a Vim script for a ":normal"
4767 command: >
4768 :execute "normal ixxx\<Esc>"
4769< This has an <Esc> character, see |expr-string|.
4770
4771 Note: The executed string may be any command-line, but
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00004772 you cannot start or end a "while", "for" or "if"
4773 command. Thus this is illegal: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004774 :execute 'while i > 5'
4775 :execute 'echo "test" | break'
4776<
4777 It is allowed to have a "while" or "if" command
4778 completely in the executed string: >
4779 :execute 'while i < 5 | echo i | let i = i + 1 | endwhile'
4780<
4781
4782 *:comment*
4783 ":execute", ":echo" and ":echon" cannot be followed by
4784 a comment directly, because they see the '"' as the
4785 start of a string. But, you can use '|' followed by a
4786 comment. Example: >
4787 :echo "foo" | "this is a comment
4788
4789==============================================================================
47908. Exception handling *exception-handling*
4791
4792The Vim script language comprises an exception handling feature. This section
4793explains how it can be used in a Vim script.
4794
4795Exceptions may be raised by Vim on an error or on interrupt, see
4796|catch-errors| and |catch-interrupt|. You can also explicitly throw an
4797exception by using the ":throw" command, see |throw-catch|.
4798
4799
4800TRY CONDITIONALS *try-conditionals*
4801
4802Exceptions can be caught or can cause cleanup code to be executed. You can
4803use a try conditional to specify catch clauses (that catch exceptions) and/or
4804a finally clause (to be executed for cleanup).
4805 A try conditional begins with a |:try| command and ends at the matching
4806|:endtry| command. In between, you can use a |:catch| command to start
4807a catch clause, or a |:finally| command to start a finally clause. There may
4808be none or multiple catch clauses, but there is at most one finally clause,
4809which must not be followed by any catch clauses. The lines before the catch
4810clauses and the finally clause is called a try block. >
4811
4812 :try
4813 : ...
4814 : ... TRY BLOCK
4815 : ...
4816 :catch /{pattern}/
4817 : ...
4818 : ... CATCH CLAUSE
4819 : ...
4820 :catch /{pattern}/
4821 : ...
4822 : ... CATCH CLAUSE
4823 : ...
4824 :finally
4825 : ...
4826 : ... FINALLY CLAUSE
4827 : ...
4828 :endtry
4829
4830The try conditional allows to watch code for exceptions and to take the
4831appropriate actions. Exceptions from the try block may be caught. Exceptions
4832from the try block and also the catch clauses may cause cleanup actions.
4833 When no exception is thrown during execution of the try block, the control
4834is transferred to the finally clause, if present. After its execution, the
4835script continues with the line following the ":endtry".
4836 When an exception occurs during execution of the try block, the remaining
4837lines in the try block are skipped. The exception is matched against the
4838patterns specified as arguments to the ":catch" commands. The catch clause
4839after the first matching ":catch" is taken, other catch clauses are not
4840executed. The catch clause ends when the next ":catch", ":finally", or
4841":endtry" command is reached - whatever is first. Then, the finally clause
4842(if present) is executed. When the ":endtry" is reached, the script execution
4843continues in the following line as usual.
4844 When an exception that does not match any of the patterns specified by the
4845":catch" commands is thrown in the try block, the exception is not caught by
4846that try conditional and none of the catch clauses is executed. Only the
4847finally clause, if present, is taken. The exception pends during execution of
4848the finally clause. It is resumed at the ":endtry", so that commands after
4849the ":endtry" are not executed and the exception might be caught elsewhere,
4850see |try-nesting|.
4851 When during execution of a catch clause another exception is thrown, the
4852remaining lines in that catch clause are not executed. The new exception is
4853not matched against the patterns in any of the ":catch" commands of the same
4854try conditional and none of its catch clauses is taken. If there is, however,
4855a finally clause, it is executed, and the exception pends during its
4856execution. The commands following the ":endtry" are not executed. The new
4857exception might, however, be caught elsewhere, see |try-nesting|.
4858 When during execution of the finally clause (if present) an exception is
4859thrown, the remaining lines in the finally clause are skipped. If the finally
4860clause has been taken because of an exception from the try block or one of the
4861catch clauses, the original (pending) exception is discarded. The commands
4862following the ":endtry" are not executed, and the exception from the finally
4863clause is propagated and can be caught elsewhere, see |try-nesting|.
4864
4865The finally clause is also executed, when a ":break" or ":continue" for
4866a ":while" loop enclosing the complete try conditional is executed from the
4867try block or a catch clause. Or when a ":return" or ":finish" is executed
4868from the try block or a catch clause of a try conditional in a function or
4869sourced script, respectively. The ":break", ":continue", ":return", or
4870":finish" pends during execution of the finally clause and is resumed when the
4871":endtry" is reached. It is, however, discarded when an exception is thrown
4872from the finally clause.
4873 When a ":break" or ":continue" for a ":while" loop enclosing the complete
4874try conditional or when a ":return" or ":finish" is encountered in the finally
4875clause, the rest of the finally clause is skipped, and the ":break",
4876":continue", ":return" or ":finish" is executed as usual. If the finally
4877clause has been taken because of an exception or an earlier ":break",
4878":continue", ":return", or ":finish" from the try block or a catch clause,
4879this pending exception or command is discarded.
4880
4881For examples see |throw-catch| and |try-finally|.
4882
4883
4884NESTING OF TRY CONDITIONALS *try-nesting*
4885
4886Try conditionals can be nested arbitrarily. That is, a complete try
4887conditional can be put into the try block, a catch clause, or the finally
4888clause of another try conditional. If the inner try conditional does not
4889catch an exception thrown in its try block or throws a new exception from one
4890of its catch clauses or its finally clause, the outer try conditional is
4891checked according to the rules above. If the inner try conditional is in the
4892try block of the outer try conditional, its catch clauses are checked, but
4893otherwise only the finally clause is executed. It does not matter for
4894nesting, whether the inner try conditional is directly contained in the outer
4895one, or whether the outer one sources a script or calls a function containing
4896the inner try conditional.
4897
4898When none of the active try conditionals catches an exception, just their
4899finally clauses are executed. Thereafter, the script processing terminates.
4900An error message is displayed in case of an uncaught exception explicitly
4901thrown by a ":throw" command. For uncaught error and interrupt exceptions
4902implicitly raised by Vim, the error message(s) or interrupt message are shown
4903as usual.
4904
4905For examples see |throw-catch|.
4906
4907
4908EXAMINING EXCEPTION HANDLING CODE *except-examine*
4909
4910Exception handling code can get tricky. If you are in doubt what happens, set
4911'verbose' to 13 or use the ":13verbose" command modifier when sourcing your
4912script file. Then you see when an exception is thrown, discarded, caught, or
4913finished. When using a verbosity level of at least 14, things pending in
4914a finally clause are also shown. This information is also given in debug mode
4915(see |debug-scripts|).
4916
4917
4918THROWING AND CATCHING EXCEPTIONS *throw-catch*
4919
4920You can throw any number or string as an exception. Use the |:throw| command
4921and pass the value to be thrown as argument: >
4922 :throw 4711
4923 :throw "string"
4924< *throw-expression*
4925You can also specify an expression argument. The expression is then evaluated
4926first, and the result is thrown: >
4927 :throw 4705 + strlen("string")
4928 :throw strpart("strings", 0, 6)
4929
4930An exception might be thrown during evaluation of the argument of the ":throw"
4931command. Unless it is caught there, the expression evaluation is abandoned.
4932The ":throw" command then does not throw a new exception.
4933 Example: >
4934
4935 :function! Foo(arg)
4936 : try
4937 : throw a:arg
4938 : catch /foo/
4939 : endtry
4940 : return 1
4941 :endfunction
4942 :
4943 :function! Bar()
4944 : echo "in Bar"
4945 : return 4710
4946 :endfunction
4947 :
4948 :throw Foo("arrgh") + Bar()
4949
4950This throws "arrgh", and "in Bar" is not displayed since Bar() is not
4951executed. >
4952 :throw Foo("foo") + Bar()
4953however displays "in Bar" and throws 4711.
4954
4955Any other command that takes an expression as argument might also be
4956abandoned by an (uncaught) exception during the expression evaluation. The
4957exception is then propagated to the caller of the command.
4958 Example: >
4959
4960 :if Foo("arrgh")
4961 : echo "then"
4962 :else
4963 : echo "else"
4964 :endif
4965
4966Here neither of "then" or "else" is displayed.
4967
4968 *catch-order*
4969Exceptions can be caught by a try conditional with one or more |:catch|
4970commands, see |try-conditionals|. The values to be caught by each ":catch"
4971command can be specified as a pattern argument. The subsequent catch clause
4972gets executed when a matching exception is caught.
4973 Example: >
4974
4975 :function! Foo(value)
4976 : try
4977 : throw a:value
4978 : catch /^\d\+$/
4979 : echo "Number thrown"
4980 : catch /.*/
4981 : echo "String thrown"
4982 : endtry
4983 :endfunction
4984 :
4985 :call Foo(0x1267)
4986 :call Foo('string')
4987
4988The first call to Foo() displays "Number thrown", the second "String thrown".
4989An exception is matched against the ":catch" commands in the order they are
4990specified. Only the first match counts. So you should place the more
4991specific ":catch" first. The following order does not make sense: >
4992
4993 : catch /.*/
4994 : echo "String thrown"
4995 : catch /^\d\+$/
4996 : echo "Number thrown"
4997
4998The first ":catch" here matches always, so that the second catch clause is
4999never taken.
5000
5001 *throw-variables*
5002If you catch an exception by a general pattern, you may access the exact value
5003in the variable |v:exception|: >
5004
5005 : catch /^\d\+$/
5006 : echo "Number thrown. Value is" v:exception
5007
5008You may also be interested where an exception was thrown. This is stored in
5009|v:throwpoint|. Note that "v:exception" and "v:throwpoint" are valid for the
5010exception most recently caught as long it is not finished.
5011 Example: >
5012
5013 :function! Caught()
5014 : if v:exception != ""
5015 : echo 'Caught "' . v:exception . '" in ' . v:throwpoint
5016 : else
5017 : echo 'Nothing caught'
5018 : endif
5019 :endfunction
5020 :
5021 :function! Foo()
5022 : try
5023 : try
5024 : try
5025 : throw 4711
5026 : finally
5027 : call Caught()
5028 : endtry
5029 : catch /.*/
5030 : call Caught()
5031 : throw "oops"
5032 : endtry
5033 : catch /.*/
5034 : call Caught()
5035 : finally
5036 : call Caught()
5037 : endtry
5038 :endfunction
5039 :
5040 :call Foo()
5041
5042This displays >
5043
5044 Nothing caught
5045 Caught "4711" in function Foo, line 4
5046 Caught "oops" in function Foo, line 10
5047 Nothing caught
5048
5049A practical example: The following command ":LineNumber" displays the line
5050number in the script or function where it has been used: >
5051
5052 :function! LineNumber()
5053 : return substitute(v:throwpoint, '.*\D\(\d\+\).*', '\1', "")
5054 :endfunction
5055 :command! LineNumber try | throw "" | catch | echo LineNumber() | endtry
5056<
5057 *try-nested*
5058An exception that is not caught by a try conditional can be caught by
5059a surrounding try conditional: >
5060
5061 :try
5062 : try
5063 : throw "foo"
5064 : catch /foobar/
5065 : echo "foobar"
5066 : finally
5067 : echo "inner finally"
5068 : endtry
5069 :catch /foo/
5070 : echo "foo"
5071 :endtry
5072
5073The inner try conditional does not catch the exception, just its finally
5074clause is executed. The exception is then caught by the outer try
5075conditional. The example displays "inner finally" and then "foo".
5076
5077 *throw-from-catch*
5078You can catch an exception and throw a new one to be caught elsewhere from the
5079catch clause: >
5080
5081 :function! Foo()
5082 : throw "foo"
5083 :endfunction
5084 :
5085 :function! Bar()
5086 : try
5087 : call Foo()
5088 : catch /foo/
5089 : echo "Caught foo, throw bar"
5090 : throw "bar"
5091 : endtry
5092 :endfunction
5093 :
5094 :try
5095 : call Bar()
5096 :catch /.*/
5097 : echo "Caught" v:exception
5098 :endtry
5099
5100This displays "Caught foo, throw bar" and then "Caught bar".
5101
5102 *rethrow*
5103There is no real rethrow in the Vim script language, but you may throw
5104"v:exception" instead: >
5105
5106 :function! Bar()
5107 : try
5108 : call Foo()
5109 : catch /.*/
5110 : echo "Rethrow" v:exception
5111 : throw v:exception
5112 : endtry
5113 :endfunction
5114< *try-echoerr*
5115Note that this method cannot be used to "rethrow" Vim error or interrupt
5116exceptions, because it is not possible to fake Vim internal exceptions.
5117Trying so causes an error exception. You should throw your own exception
5118denoting the situation. If you want to cause a Vim error exception containing
5119the original error exception value, you can use the |:echoerr| command: >
5120
5121 :try
5122 : try
5123 : asdf
5124 : catch /.*/
5125 : echoerr v:exception
5126 : endtry
5127 :catch /.*/
5128 : echo v:exception
5129 :endtry
5130
5131This code displays
5132
5133 Vim(echoerr):Vim:E492: Not an editor command: asdf ~
5134
5135
5136CLEANUP CODE *try-finally*
5137
5138Scripts often change global settings and restore them at their end. If the
5139user however interrupts the script by pressing CTRL-C, the settings remain in
5140an inconsistent state. The same may happen to you in the development phase of
5141a script when an error occurs or you explicitly throw an exception without
5142catching it. You can solve these problems by using a try conditional with
5143a finally clause for restoring the settings. Its execution is guaranteed on
5144normal control flow, on error, on an explicit ":throw", and on interrupt.
5145(Note that errors and interrupts from inside the try conditional are converted
5146to exceptions. When not caught, they terminate the script after the finally
5147clause has been executed.)
5148Example: >
5149
5150 :try
5151 : let s:saved_ts = &ts
5152 : set ts=17
5153 :
5154 : " Do the hard work here.
5155 :
5156 :finally
5157 : let &ts = s:saved_ts
5158 : unlet s:saved_ts
5159 :endtry
5160
5161This method should be used locally whenever a function or part of a script
5162changes global settings which need to be restored on failure or normal exit of
5163that function or script part.
5164
5165 *break-finally*
5166Cleanup code works also when the try block or a catch clause is left by
5167a ":continue", ":break", ":return", or ":finish".
5168 Example: >
5169
5170 :let first = 1
5171 :while 1
5172 : try
5173 : if first
5174 : echo "first"
5175 : let first = 0
5176 : continue
5177 : else
5178 : throw "second"
5179 : endif
5180 : catch /.*/
5181 : echo v:exception
5182 : break
5183 : finally
5184 : echo "cleanup"
5185 : endtry
5186 : echo "still in while"
5187 :endwhile
5188 :echo "end"
5189
5190This displays "first", "cleanup", "second", "cleanup", and "end". >
5191
5192 :function! Foo()
5193 : try
5194 : return 4711
5195 : finally
5196 : echo "cleanup\n"
5197 : endtry
5198 : echo "Foo still active"
5199 :endfunction
5200 :
5201 :echo Foo() "returned by Foo"
5202
5203This displays "cleanup" and "4711 returned by Foo". You don't need to add an
5204extra ":return" in the finally clause. (Above all, this would override the
5205return value.)
5206
5207 *except-from-finally*
5208Using either of ":continue", ":break", ":return", ":finish", or ":throw" in
5209a finally clause is possible, but not recommended since it abandons the
5210cleanup actions for the try conditional. But, of course, interrupt and error
5211exceptions might get raised from a finally clause.
5212 Example where an error in the finally clause stops an interrupt from
5213working correctly: >
5214
5215 :try
5216 : try
5217 : echo "Press CTRL-C for interrupt"
5218 : while 1
5219 : endwhile
5220 : finally
5221 : unlet novar
5222 : endtry
5223 :catch /novar/
5224 :endtry
5225 :echo "Script still running"
5226 :sleep 1
5227
5228If you need to put commands that could fail into a finally clause, you should
5229think about catching or ignoring the errors in these commands, see
5230|catch-errors| and |ignore-errors|.
5231
5232
5233CATCHING ERRORS *catch-errors*
5234
5235If you want to catch specific errors, you just have to put the code to be
5236watched in a try block and add a catch clause for the error message. The
5237presence of the try conditional causes all errors to be converted to an
5238exception. No message is displayed and |v:errmsg| is not set then. To find
5239the right pattern for the ":catch" command, you have to know how the format of
5240the error exception is.
5241 Error exceptions have the following format: >
5242
5243 Vim({cmdname}):{errmsg}
5244or >
5245 Vim:{errmsg}
5246
5247{cmdname} is the name of the command that failed; the second form is used when
5248the command name is not known. {errmsg} is the error message usually produced
5249when the error occurs outside try conditionals. It always begins with
5250a capital "E", followed by a two or three-digit error number, a colon, and
5251a space.
5252
5253Examples:
5254
5255The command >
5256 :unlet novar
5257normally produces the error message >
5258 E108: No such variable: "novar"
5259which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
5260 Vim(unlet):E108: No such variable: "novar"
5261
5262The command >
5263 :dwim
5264normally produces the error message >
5265 E492: Not an editor command: dwim
5266which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
5267 Vim:E492: Not an editor command: dwim
5268
5269You can catch all ":unlet" errors by a >
5270 :catch /^Vim(unlet):/
5271or all errors for misspelled command names by a >
5272 :catch /^Vim:E492:/
5273
5274Some error messages may be produced by different commands: >
5275 :function nofunc
5276and >
5277 :delfunction nofunc
5278both produce the error message >
5279 E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
5280which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
5281 Vim(function):E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
5282or >
5283 Vim(delfunction):E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
5284respectively. You can catch the error by its number independently on the
5285command that caused it if you use the following pattern: >
5286 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E128:/
5287
5288Some commands like >
5289 :let x = novar
5290produce multiple error messages, here: >
5291 E121: Undefined variable: novar
5292 E15: Invalid expression: novar
5293Only the first is used for the exception value, since it is the most specific
5294one (see |except-several-errors|). So you can catch it by >
5295 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E121:/
5296
5297You can catch all errors related to the name "nofunc" by >
5298 :catch /\<nofunc\>/
5299
5300You can catch all Vim errors in the ":write" and ":read" commands by >
5301 :catch /^Vim(\(write\|read\)):E\d\+:/
5302
5303You can catch all Vim errors by the pattern >
5304 :catch /^Vim\((\a\+)\)\=:E\d\+:/
5305<
5306 *catch-text*
5307NOTE: You should never catch the error message text itself: >
5308 :catch /No such variable/
5309only works in the english locale, but not when the user has selected
5310a different language by the |:language| command. It is however helpful to
5311cite the message text in a comment: >
5312 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E108:/ " No such variable
5313
5314
5315IGNORING ERRORS *ignore-errors*
5316
5317You can ignore errors in a specific Vim command by catching them locally: >
5318
5319 :try
5320 : write
5321 :catch
5322 :endtry
5323
5324But you are strongly recommended NOT to use this simple form, since it could
5325catch more than you want. With the ":write" command, some autocommands could
5326be executed and cause errors not related to writing, for instance: >
5327
5328 :au BufWritePre * unlet novar
5329
5330There could even be such errors you are not responsible for as a script
5331writer: a user of your script might have defined such autocommands. You would
5332then hide the error from the user.
5333 It is much better to use >
5334
5335 :try
5336 : write
5337 :catch /^Vim(write):/
5338 :endtry
5339
5340which only catches real write errors. So catch only what you'd like to ignore
5341intentionally.
5342
5343For a single command that does not cause execution of autocommands, you could
5344even suppress the conversion of errors to exceptions by the ":silent!"
5345command: >
5346 :silent! nunmap k
5347This works also when a try conditional is active.
5348
5349
5350CATCHING INTERRUPTS *catch-interrupt*
5351
5352When there are active try conditionals, an interrupt (CTRL-C) is converted to
5353the exception "Vim:Interrupt". You can catch it like every exception. The
5354script is not terminated, then.
5355 Example: >
5356
5357 :function! TASK1()
5358 : sleep 10
5359 :endfunction
5360
5361 :function! TASK2()
5362 : sleep 20
5363 :endfunction
5364
5365 :while 1
5366 : let command = input("Type a command: ")
5367 : try
5368 : if command == ""
5369 : continue
5370 : elseif command == "END"
5371 : break
5372 : elseif command == "TASK1"
5373 : call TASK1()
5374 : elseif command == "TASK2"
5375 : call TASK2()
5376 : else
5377 : echo "\nIllegal command:" command
5378 : continue
5379 : endif
5380 : catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/
5381 : echo "\nCommand interrupted"
5382 : " Caught the interrupt. Continue with next prompt.
5383 : endtry
5384 :endwhile
5385
5386You can interrupt a task here by pressing CTRL-C; the script then asks for
5387a new command. If you press CTRL-C at the prompt, the script is terminated.
5388
5389For testing what happens when CTRL-C would be pressed on a specific line in
5390your script, use the debug mode and execute the |>quit| or |>interrupt|
5391command on that line. See |debug-scripts|.
5392
5393
5394CATCHING ALL *catch-all*
5395
5396The commands >
5397
5398 :catch /.*/
5399 :catch //
5400 :catch
5401
5402catch everything, error exceptions, interrupt exceptions and exceptions
5403explicitly thrown by the |:throw| command. This is useful at the top level of
5404a script in order to catch unexpected things.
5405 Example: >
5406
5407 :try
5408 :
5409 : " do the hard work here
5410 :
5411 :catch /MyException/
5412 :
5413 : " handle known problem
5414 :
5415 :catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/
5416 : echo "Script interrupted"
5417 :catch /.*/
5418 : echo "Internal error (" . v:exception . ")"
5419 : echo " - occurred at " . v:throwpoint
5420 :endtry
5421 :" end of script
5422
5423Note: Catching all might catch more things than you want. Thus, you are
5424strongly encouraged to catch only for problems that you can really handle by
5425specifying a pattern argument to the ":catch".
5426 Example: Catching all could make it nearly impossible to interrupt a script
5427by pressing CTRL-C: >
5428
5429 :while 1
5430 : try
5431 : sleep 1
5432 : catch
5433 : endtry
5434 :endwhile
5435
5436
5437EXCEPTIONS AND AUTOCOMMANDS *except-autocmd*
5438
5439Exceptions may be used during execution of autocommands. Example: >
5440
5441 :autocmd User x try
5442 :autocmd User x throw "Oops!"
5443 :autocmd User x catch
5444 :autocmd User x echo v:exception
5445 :autocmd User x endtry
5446 :autocmd User x throw "Arrgh!"
5447 :autocmd User x echo "Should not be displayed"
5448 :
5449 :try
5450 : doautocmd User x
5451 :catch
5452 : echo v:exception
5453 :endtry
5454
5455This displays "Oops!" and "Arrgh!".
5456
5457 *except-autocmd-Pre*
5458For some commands, autocommands get executed before the main action of the
5459command takes place. If an exception is thrown and not caught in the sequence
5460of autocommands, the sequence and the command that caused its execution are
5461abandoned and the exception is propagated to the caller of the command.
5462 Example: >
5463
5464 :autocmd BufWritePre * throw "FAIL"
5465 :autocmd BufWritePre * echo "Should not be displayed"
5466 :
5467 :try
5468 : write
5469 :catch
5470 : echo "Caught:" v:exception "from" v:throwpoint
5471 :endtry
5472
5473Here, the ":write" command does not write the file currently being edited (as
5474you can see by checking 'modified'), since the exception from the BufWritePre
5475autocommand abandons the ":write". The exception is then caught and the
5476script displays: >
5477
5478 Caught: FAIL from BufWrite Auto commands for "*"
5479<
5480 *except-autocmd-Post*
5481For some commands, autocommands get executed after the main action of the
5482command has taken place. If this main action fails and the command is inside
5483an active try conditional, the autocommands are skipped and an error exception
5484is thrown that can be caught by the caller of the command.
5485 Example: >
5486
5487 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo "File successfully written!"
5488 :
5489 :try
5490 : write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
5491 :catch
5492 : echo v:exception
5493 :endtry
5494
5495This just displays: >
5496
5497 Vim(write):E212: Can't open file for writing (/i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e)
5498
5499If you really need to execute the autocommands even when the main action
5500fails, trigger the event from the catch clause.
5501 Example: >
5502
5503 :autocmd BufWritePre * set noreadonly
5504 :autocmd BufWritePost * set readonly
5505 :
5506 :try
5507 : write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
5508 :catch
5509 : doautocmd BufWritePost /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
5510 :endtry
5511<
5512You can also use ":silent!": >
5513
5514 :let x = "ok"
5515 :let v:errmsg = ""
5516 :autocmd BufWritePost * if v:errmsg != ""
5517 :autocmd BufWritePost * let x = "after fail"
5518 :autocmd BufWritePost * endif
5519 :try
5520 : silent! write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
5521 :catch
5522 :endtry
5523 :echo x
5524
5525This displays "after fail".
5526
5527If the main action of the command does not fail, exceptions from the
5528autocommands will be catchable by the caller of the command: >
5529
5530 :autocmd BufWritePost * throw ":-("
5531 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo "Should not be displayed"
5532 :
5533 :try
5534 : write
5535 :catch
5536 : echo v:exception
5537 :endtry
5538<
5539 *except-autocmd-Cmd*
5540For some commands, the normal action can be replaced by a sequence of
5541autocommands. Exceptions from that sequence will be catchable by the caller
5542of the command.
5543 Example: For the ":write" command, the caller cannot know whether the file
5544had actually been written when the exception occurred. You need to tell it in
5545some way. >
5546
5547 :if !exists("cnt")
5548 : let cnt = 0
5549 :
5550 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if &modified
5551 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * let cnt = cnt + 1
5552 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if cnt % 3 == 2
5553 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * throw "BufWriteCmdError"
5554 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
5555 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * write | set nomodified
5556 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if cnt % 3 == 0
5557 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * throw "BufWriteCmdError"
5558 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
5559 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * echo "File successfully written!"
5560 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
5561 :endif
5562 :
5563 :try
5564 : write
5565 :catch /^BufWriteCmdError$/
5566 : if &modified
5567 : echo "Error on writing (file contents not changed)"
5568 : else
5569 : echo "Error after writing"
5570 : endif
5571 :catch /^Vim(write):/
5572 : echo "Error on writing"
5573 :endtry
5574
5575When this script is sourced several times after making changes, it displays
5576first >
5577 File successfully written!
5578then >
5579 Error on writing (file contents not changed)
5580then >
5581 Error after writing
5582etc.
5583
5584 *except-autocmd-ill*
5585You cannot spread a try conditional over autocommands for different events.
5586The following code is ill-formed: >
5587
5588 :autocmd BufWritePre * try
5589 :
5590 :autocmd BufWritePost * catch
5591 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo v:exception
5592 :autocmd BufWritePost * endtry
5593 :
5594 :write
5595
5596
5597EXCEPTION HIERARCHIES AND PARAMETERIZED EXCEPTIONS *except-hier-param*
5598
5599Some programming languages allow to use hierarchies of exception classes or to
5600pass additional information with the object of an exception class. You can do
5601similar things in Vim.
5602 In order to throw an exception from a hierarchy, just throw the complete
5603class name with the components separated by a colon, for instance throw the
5604string "EXCEPT:MATHERR:OVERFLOW" for an overflow in a mathematical library.
5605 When you want to pass additional information with your exception class, add
5606it in parentheses, for instance throw the string "EXCEPT:IO:WRITEERR(myfile)"
5607for an error when writing "myfile".
5608 With the appropriate patterns in the ":catch" command, you can catch for
5609base classes or derived classes of your hierarchy. Additional information in
5610parentheses can be cut out from |v:exception| with the ":substitute" command.
5611 Example: >
5612
5613 :function! CheckRange(a, func)
5614 : if a:a < 0
5615 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:RANGE(" . a:func . ")"
5616 : endif
5617 :endfunction
5618 :
5619 :function! Add(a, b)
5620 : call CheckRange(a:a, "Add")
5621 : call CheckRange(a:b, "Add")
5622 : let c = a:a + a:b
5623 : if c < 0
5624 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:OVERFLOW"
5625 : endif
5626 : return c
5627 :endfunction
5628 :
5629 :function! Div(a, b)
5630 : call CheckRange(a:a, "Div")
5631 : call CheckRange(a:b, "Div")
5632 : if (a:b == 0)
5633 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:ZERODIV"
5634 : endif
5635 : return a:a / a:b
5636 :endfunction
5637 :
5638 :function! Write(file)
5639 : try
5640 : execute "write" a:file
5641 : catch /^Vim(write):/
5642 : throw "EXCEPT:IO(" . getcwd() . ", " . a:file . "):WRITEERR"
5643 : endtry
5644 :endfunction
5645 :
5646 :try
5647 :
5648 : " something with arithmetics and I/O
5649 :
5650 :catch /^EXCEPT:MATHERR:RANGE/
5651 : let function = substitute(v:exception, '.*(\(\a\+\)).*', '\1', "")
5652 : echo "Range error in" function
5653 :
5654 :catch /^EXCEPT:MATHERR/ " catches OVERFLOW and ZERODIV
5655 : echo "Math error"
5656 :
5657 :catch /^EXCEPT:IO/
5658 : let dir = substitute(v:exception, '.*(\(.\+\),\s*.\+).*', '\1', "")
5659 : let file = substitute(v:exception, '.*(.\+,\s*\(.\+\)).*', '\1', "")
5660 : if file !~ '^/'
5661 : let file = dir . "/" . file
5662 : endif
5663 : echo 'I/O error for "' . file . '"'
5664 :
5665 :catch /^EXCEPT/
5666 : echo "Unspecified error"
5667 :
5668 :endtry
5669
5670The exceptions raised by Vim itself (on error or when pressing CTRL-C) use
5671a flat hierarchy: they are all in the "Vim" class. You cannot throw yourself
5672exceptions with the "Vim" prefix; they are reserved for Vim.
5673 Vim error exceptions are parameterized with the name of the command that
5674failed, if known. See |catch-errors|.
5675
5676
5677PECULIARITIES
5678 *except-compat*
5679The exception handling concept requires that the command sequence causing the
5680exception is aborted immediately and control is transferred to finally clauses
5681and/or a catch clause.
5682
5683In the Vim script language there are cases where scripts and functions
5684continue after an error: in functions without the "abort" flag or in a command
5685after ":silent!", control flow goes to the following line, and outside
5686functions, control flow goes to the line following the outermost ":endwhile"
5687or ":endif". On the other hand, errors should be catchable as exceptions
5688(thus, requiring the immediate abortion).
5689
5690This problem has been solved by converting errors to exceptions and using
5691immediate abortion (if not suppressed by ":silent!") only when a try
5692conditional is active. This is no restriction since an (error) exception can
5693be caught only from an active try conditional. If you want an immediate
5694termination without catching the error, just use a try conditional without
5695catch clause. (You can cause cleanup code being executed before termination
5696by specifying a finally clause.)
5697
5698When no try conditional is active, the usual abortion and continuation
5699behavior is used instead of immediate abortion. This ensures compatibility of
5700scripts written for Vim 6.1 and earlier.
5701
5702However, when sourcing an existing script that does not use exception handling
5703commands (or when calling one of its functions) from inside an active try
5704conditional of a new script, you might change the control flow of the existing
5705script on error. You get the immediate abortion on error and can catch the
5706error in the new script. If however the sourced script suppresses error
5707messages by using the ":silent!" command (checking for errors by testing
5708|v:errmsg| if appropriate), its execution path is not changed. The error is
5709not converted to an exception. (See |:silent|.) So the only remaining cause
5710where this happens is for scripts that don't care about errors and produce
5711error messages. You probably won't want to use such code from your new
5712scripts.
5713
5714 *except-syntax-err*
5715Syntax errors in the exception handling commands are never caught by any of
5716the ":catch" commands of the try conditional they belong to. Its finally
5717clauses, however, is executed.
5718 Example: >
5719
5720 :try
5721 : try
5722 : throw 4711
5723 : catch /\(/
5724 : echo "in catch with syntax error"
5725 : catch
5726 : echo "inner catch-all"
5727 : finally
5728 : echo "inner finally"
5729 : endtry
5730 :catch
5731 : echo 'outer catch-all caught "' . v:exception . '"'
5732 : finally
5733 : echo "outer finally"
5734 :endtry
5735
5736This displays: >
5737 inner finally
5738 outer catch-all caught "Vim(catch):E54: Unmatched \("
5739 outer finally
5740The original exception is discarded and an error exception is raised, instead.
5741
5742 *except-single-line*
5743The ":try", ":catch", ":finally", and ":endtry" commands can be put on
5744a single line, but then syntax errors may make it difficult to recognize the
5745"catch" line, thus you better avoid this.
5746 Example: >
5747 :try | unlet! foo # | catch | endtry
5748raises an error exception for the trailing characters after the ":unlet!"
5749argument, but does not see the ":catch" and ":endtry" commands, so that the
5750error exception is discarded and the "E488: Trailing characters" message gets
5751displayed.
5752
5753 *except-several-errors*
5754When several errors appear in a single command, the first error message is
5755usually the most specific one and therefor converted to the error exception.
5756 Example: >
5757 echo novar
5758causes >
5759 E121: Undefined variable: novar
5760 E15: Invalid expression: novar
5761The value of the error exception inside try conditionals is: >
5762 Vim(echo):E121: Undefined variable: novar
5763< *except-syntax-error*
5764But when a syntax error is detected after a normal error in the same command,
5765the syntax error is used for the exception being thrown.
5766 Example: >
5767 unlet novar #
5768causes >
5769 E108: No such variable: "novar"
5770 E488: Trailing characters
5771The value of the error exception inside try conditionals is: >
5772 Vim(unlet):E488: Trailing characters
5773This is done because the syntax error might change the execution path in a way
5774not intended by the user. Example: >
5775 try
5776 try | unlet novar # | catch | echo v:exception | endtry
5777 catch /.*/
5778 echo "outer catch:" v:exception
5779 endtry
5780This displays "outer catch: Vim(unlet):E488: Trailing characters", and then
5781a "E600: Missing :endtry" error message is given, see |except-single-line|.
5782
5783==============================================================================
57849. Examples *eval-examples*
5785
5786Printing in Hex ~
5787>
5788 :" The function Nr2Hex() returns the Hex string of a number.
5789 :func Nr2Hex(nr)
5790 : let n = a:nr
5791 : let r = ""
5792 : while n
5793 : let r = '0123456789ABCDEF'[n % 16] . r
5794 : let n = n / 16
5795 : endwhile
5796 : return r
5797 :endfunc
5798
5799 :" The function String2Hex() converts each character in a string to a two
5800 :" character Hex string.
5801 :func String2Hex(str)
5802 : let out = ''
5803 : let ix = 0
5804 : while ix < strlen(a:str)
5805 : let out = out . Nr2Hex(char2nr(a:str[ix]))
5806 : let ix = ix + 1
5807 : endwhile
5808 : return out
5809 :endfunc
5810
5811Example of its use: >
5812 :echo Nr2Hex(32)
5813result: "20" >
5814 :echo String2Hex("32")
5815result: "3332"
5816
5817
5818Sorting lines (by Robert Webb) ~
5819
5820Here is a Vim script to sort lines. Highlight the lines in Vim and type
5821":Sort". This doesn't call any external programs so it'll work on any
5822platform. The function Sort() actually takes the name of a comparison
5823function as its argument, like qsort() does in C. So you could supply it
5824with different comparison functions in order to sort according to date etc.
5825>
5826 :" Function for use with Sort(), to compare two strings.
5827 :func! Strcmp(str1, str2)
5828 : if (a:str1 < a:str2)
5829 : return -1
5830 : elseif (a:str1 > a:str2)
5831 : return 1
5832 : else
5833 : return 0
5834 : endif
5835 :endfunction
5836
5837 :" Sort lines. SortR() is called recursively.
5838 :func! SortR(start, end, cmp)
5839 : if (a:start >= a:end)
5840 : return
5841 : endif
5842 : let partition = a:start - 1
5843 : let middle = partition
5844 : let partStr = getline((a:start + a:end) / 2)
5845 : let i = a:start
5846 : while (i <= a:end)
5847 : let str = getline(i)
5848 : exec "let result = " . a:cmp . "(str, partStr)"
5849 : if (result <= 0)
5850 : " Need to put it before the partition. Swap lines i and partition.
5851 : let partition = partition + 1
5852 : if (result == 0)
5853 : let middle = partition
5854 : endif
5855 : if (i != partition)
5856 : let str2 = getline(partition)
5857 : call setline(i, str2)
5858 : call setline(partition, str)
5859 : endif
5860 : endif
5861 : let i = i + 1
5862 : endwhile
5863
5864 : " Now we have a pointer to the "middle" element, as far as partitioning
5865 : " goes, which could be anywhere before the partition. Make sure it is at
5866 : " the end of the partition.
5867 : if (middle != partition)
5868 : let str = getline(middle)
5869 : let str2 = getline(partition)
5870 : call setline(middle, str2)
5871 : call setline(partition, str)
5872 : endif
5873 : call SortR(a:start, partition - 1, a:cmp)
5874 : call SortR(partition + 1, a:end, a:cmp)
5875 :endfunc
5876
5877 :" To Sort a range of lines, pass the range to Sort() along with the name of a
5878 :" function that will compare two lines.
5879 :func! Sort(cmp) range
5880 : call SortR(a:firstline, a:lastline, a:cmp)
5881 :endfunc
5882
5883 :" :Sort takes a range of lines and sorts them.
5884 :command! -nargs=0 -range Sort <line1>,<line2>call Sort("Strcmp")
5885<
5886 *sscanf*
5887There is no sscanf() function in Vim. If you need to extract parts from a
5888line, you can use matchstr() and substitute() to do it. This example shows
5889how to get the file name, line number and column number out of a line like
5890"foobar.txt, 123, 45". >
5891 :" Set up the match bit
5892 :let mx='\(\f\+\),\s*\(\d\+\),\s*\(\d\+\)'
5893 :"get the part matching the whole expression
5894 :let l = matchstr(line, mx)
5895 :"get each item out of the match
5896 :let file = substitute(l, mx, '\1', '')
5897 :let lnum = substitute(l, mx, '\2', '')
5898 :let col = substitute(l, mx, '\3', '')
5899
5900The input is in the variable "line", the results in the variables "file",
5901"lnum" and "col". (idea from Michael Geddes)
5902
5903==============================================================================
590410. No +eval feature *no-eval-feature*
5905
5906When the |+eval| feature was disabled at compile time, none of the expression
5907evaluation commands are available. To prevent this from causing Vim scripts
5908to generate all kinds of errors, the ":if" and ":endif" commands are still
5909recognized, though the argument of the ":if" and everything between the ":if"
5910and the matching ":endif" is ignored. Nesting of ":if" blocks is allowed, but
5911only if the commands are at the start of the line. The ":else" command is not
5912recognized.
5913
5914Example of how to avoid executing commands when the |+eval| feature is
5915missing: >
5916
5917 :if 1
5918 : echo "Expression evaluation is compiled in"
5919 :else
5920 : echo "You will _never_ see this message"
5921 :endif
5922
5923==============================================================================
592411. The sandbox *eval-sandbox* *sandbox* *E48*
5925
5926The 'foldexpr', 'includeexpr', 'indentexpr', 'statusline' and 'foldtext'
5927options are evaluated in a sandbox. This means that you are protected from
5928these expressions having nasty side effects. This gives some safety for when
5929these options are set from a modeline. It is also used when the command from
5930a tags file is executed.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00005931The sandbox is also used for the |:sandbox| command.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005932
5933These items are not allowed in the sandbox:
5934 - changing the buffer text
5935 - defining or changing mapping, autocommands, functions, user commands
5936 - setting certain options (see |option-summary|)
5937 - executing a shell command
5938 - reading or writing a file
5939 - jumping to another buffer or editing a file
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00005940This is not guaranteed 100% secure, but it should block most attacks.
5941
5942 *:san* *:sandbox*
5943:sandbox {cmd} Execute {cmd} in the sandbox. Useful to evaluate an
5944 option that may have been set from a modeline, e.g.
5945 'foldexpr'.
5946
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005947
5948 vim:tw=78:ts=8:ft=help:norl: