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Bram Moolenaara4d131d2021-12-27 21:33:07 +00001*map.txt* For Vim version 8.2. Last change: 2021 Dec 24
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002
3
4 VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar
5
6
7Key mapping, abbreviations and user-defined commands.
8
9This subject is introduced in sections |05.3|, |24.7| and |40.1| of the user
10manual.
11
121. Key mapping |key-mapping|
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +000013 1.1 MAP COMMANDS |:map-commands|
14 1.2 Special arguments |:map-arguments|
15 1.3 Mapping and modes |:map-modes|
16 1.4 Listing mappings |map-listing|
17 1.5 Mapping special keys |:map-special-keys|
18 1.6 Special characters |:map-special-chars|
19 1.7 What keys to map |map-which-keys|
20 1.8 Examples |map-examples|
21 1.9 Using mappings |map-typing|
22 1.10 Mapping alt-keys |:map-alt-keys|
Bram Moolenaar4b570182019-10-20 19:53:22 +020023 1.11 Mapping in modifyOtherKeys mode |modifyOtherKeys|
24 1.12 Mapping an operator |:map-operator|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000252. Abbreviations |abbreviations|
263. Local mappings and functions |script-local|
274. User-defined commands |user-commands|
28
29==============================================================================
301. Key mapping *key-mapping* *mapping* *macro*
31
32Key mapping is used to change the meaning of typed keys. The most common use
Bram Moolenaar24a98a02017-09-27 22:23:55 +020033is to define a sequence of commands for a function key. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000034
35 :map <F2> a<C-R>=strftime("%c")<CR><Esc>
36
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +000037This appends the current date and time after the cursor (in <> notation |<>|).
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000038
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +000039
401.1 MAP COMMANDS *:map-commands*
41
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000042There are commands to enter new mappings, remove mappings and list mappings.
43See |map-overview| for the various forms of "map" and their relationships with
44modes.
45
46{lhs} means left-hand-side *{lhs}*
47{rhs} means right-hand-side *{rhs}*
48
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +000049:map {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:map*
50:nm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-n| *:nm* *:nmap*
51:vm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-v| *:vm* *:vmap*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +000052:xm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-x| *:xm* *:xmap*
Bram Moolenaar531da592013-05-06 05:58:55 +020053:smap {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-s| *:smap*
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +000054:om[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-o| *:om* *:omap*
55:map! {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-ic| *:map!*
56:im[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-i| *:im* *:imap*
Bram Moolenaar61da1bf2019-06-06 12:14:49 +020057:lm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-l| *:lm* *:lma* *:lmap*
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +000058:cm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-c| *:cm* *:cmap*
Bram Moolenaar37c64c72017-09-19 22:06:03 +020059:tma[p] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-t| *:tma* *:tmap*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000060 Map the key sequence {lhs} to {rhs} for the modes
61 where the map command applies. The result, including
62 {rhs}, is then further scanned for mappings. This
63 allows for nested and recursive use of mappings.
Bram Moolenaar519cc552021-11-16 19:18:26 +000064 Note: Trailing spaces are included in the {rhs},
65 because space is a valid Normal mode command.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000066
Bram Moolenaar822ff862014-06-12 21:46:14 +020067 *:nore* *:norem*
68:no[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:no* *:noremap* *:nor*
69:nn[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-n| *:nn* *:nnoremap*
70:vn[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-v| *:vn* *:vnoremap*
71:xn[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-x| *:xn* *:xnoremap*
Bram Moolenaar61da1bf2019-06-06 12:14:49 +020072:snor[emap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-s| *:snor* *:snore* *:snoremap*
Bram Moolenaar822ff862014-06-12 21:46:14 +020073:ono[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-o| *:ono* *:onoremap*
74:no[remap]! {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-ic| *:no!* *:noremap!*
Bram Moolenaar61da1bf2019-06-06 12:14:49 +020075:ino[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-i| *:ino* *:inor* *:inoremap*
Bram Moolenaar822ff862014-06-12 21:46:14 +020076:ln[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-l| *:ln* *:lnoremap*
Bram Moolenaar61da1bf2019-06-06 12:14:49 +020077:cno[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-c| *:cno* *:cnor* *:cnoremap*
Bram Moolenaar69fbc9e2017-09-14 20:37:57 +020078:tno[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-t| *:tno* *:tnoremap*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000079 Map the key sequence {lhs} to {rhs} for the modes
80 where the map command applies. Disallow mapping of
81 {rhs}, to avoid nested and recursive mappings. Often
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +020082 used to redefine a command.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000083
84
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +000085:unm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:unm* *:unmap*
86:nun[map] {lhs} |mapmode-n| *:nun* *:nunmap*
87:vu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-v| *:vu* *:vunmap*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +000088:xu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-x| *:xu* *:xunmap*
89:sunm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-s| *:sunm* *:sunmap*
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +000090:ou[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-o| *:ou* *:ounmap*
91:unm[ap]! {lhs} |mapmode-ic| *:unm!* *:unmap!*
92:iu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-i| *:iu* *:iunmap*
93:lu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-l| *:lu* *:lunmap*
Bram Moolenaar61da1bf2019-06-06 12:14:49 +020094:cu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-c| *:cu* *:cun* *:cunmap*
Bram Moolenaar37c64c72017-09-19 22:06:03 +020095:tunma[p] {lhs} |mapmode-t| *:tunma* *:tunmap*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000096 Remove the mapping of {lhs} for the modes where the
97 map command applies. The mapping may remain defined
98 for other modes where it applies.
Bram Moolenaar88a42052021-11-21 21:13:36 +000099 It also works when {lhs} matches the {rhs} of a
100 mapping. This is for when when an abbreviation
101 applied.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000102 Note: Trailing spaces are included in the {lhs}. This
103 unmap does NOT work: >
104 :map @@ foo
105 :unmap @@ | print
106
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000107:mapc[lear] |mapmode-nvo| *:mapc* *:mapclear*
108:nmapc[lear] |mapmode-n| *:nmapc* *:nmapclear*
109:vmapc[lear] |mapmode-v| *:vmapc* *:vmapclear*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000110:xmapc[lear] |mapmode-x| *:xmapc* *:xmapclear*
111:smapc[lear] |mapmode-s| *:smapc* *:smapclear*
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000112:omapc[lear] |mapmode-o| *:omapc* *:omapclear*
113:mapc[lear]! |mapmode-ic| *:mapc!* *:mapclear!*
114:imapc[lear] |mapmode-i| *:imapc* *:imapclear*
115:lmapc[lear] |mapmode-l| *:lmapc* *:lmapclear*
116:cmapc[lear] |mapmode-c| *:cmapc* *:cmapclear*
Bram Moolenaar69fbc9e2017-09-14 20:37:57 +0200117:tmapc[lear] |mapmode-t| *:tmapc* *:tmapclear*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000118 Remove ALL mappings for the modes where the map
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +0200119 command applies.
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +0200120 Use the <buffer> argument to remove buffer-local
121 mappings |:map-<buffer>|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000122 Warning: This also removes the default mappings.
123
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000124:map |mapmode-nvo|
125:nm[ap] |mapmode-n|
126:vm[ap] |mapmode-v|
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000127:xm[ap] |mapmode-x|
128:sm[ap] |mapmode-s|
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000129:om[ap] |mapmode-o|
130:map! |mapmode-ic|
131:im[ap] |mapmode-i|
132:lm[ap] |mapmode-l|
133:cm[ap] |mapmode-c|
Bram Moolenaar37c64c72017-09-19 22:06:03 +0200134:tma[p] |mapmode-t|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000135 List all key mappings for the modes where the map
136 command applies. Note that ":map" and ":map!" are
137 used most often, because they include the other modes.
138
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000139:map {lhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:map_l*
140:nm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-n| *:nmap_l*
141:vm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-v| *:vmap_l*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000142:xm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-x| *:xmap_l*
143:sm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-s| *:smap_l*
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000144:om[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-o| *:omap_l*
145:map! {lhs} |mapmode-ic| *:map_l!*
146:im[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-i| *:imap_l*
147:lm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-l| *:lmap_l*
148:cm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-c| *:cmap_l*
Bram Moolenaar37c64c72017-09-19 22:06:03 +0200149:tma[p] {lhs} |mapmode-t| *:tmap_l*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000150 List the key mappings for the key sequences starting
151 with {lhs} in the modes where the map command applies.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000152
153These commands are used to map a key or key sequence to a string of
154characters. You can use this to put command sequences under function keys,
155translate one key into another, etc. See |:mkexrc| for how to save and
156restore the current mappings.
157
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000158 *map-ambiguous*
159When two mappings start with the same sequence of characters, they are
160ambiguous. Example: >
161 :imap aa foo
162 :imap aaa bar
163When Vim has read "aa", it will need to get another character to be able to
164decide if "aa" or "aaa" should be mapped. This means that after typing "aa"
165that mapping won't get expanded yet, Vim is waiting for another character.
166If you type a space, then "foo" will get inserted, plus the space. If you
167type "a", then "bar" will get inserted.
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000168
169
1701.2 SPECIAL ARGUMENTS *:map-arguments*
171
Bram Moolenaar72179e12013-06-29 13:58:31 +0200172"<buffer>", "<nowait>", "<silent>", "<special>", "<script>", "<expr>" and
173"<unique>" can be used in any order. They must appear right after the
174command, before any other arguments.
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000175
Bram Moolenaar0e6adf82021-12-16 14:41:10 +0000176 *:map-local* *:map-<buffer>* *:map-buffer* *E224* *E225*
Bram Moolenaarc236c162008-07-13 17:41:49 +0000177If the first argument to one of these commands is "<buffer>" the mapping will
178be effective in the current buffer only. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000179 :map <buffer> ,w /[.,;]<CR>
180Then you can map ",w" to something else in another buffer: >
181 :map <buffer> ,w /[#&!]<CR>
Bram Moolenaar72179e12013-06-29 13:58:31 +0200182The local buffer mappings are used before the global ones. See <nowait> below
183to make a short local mapping not taking effect when a longer global one
184exists.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000185The "<buffer>" argument can also be used to clear mappings: >
186 :unmap <buffer> ,w
187 :mapclear <buffer>
188Local mappings are also cleared when a buffer is deleted, but not when it is
189unloaded. Just like local option values.
Bram Moolenaarec7944a2013-06-12 21:29:15 +0200190Also see |map-precedence|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000191
Bram Moolenaar72179e12013-06-29 13:58:31 +0200192 *:map-<nowait>* *:map-nowait*
193When defining a buffer-local mapping for "," there may be a global mapping
194that starts with ",". Then you need to type another character for Vim to know
195whether to use the "," mapping or the longer one. To avoid this add the
196<nowait> argument. Then the mapping will be used when it matches, Vim does
197not wait for more characters to be typed. However, if the characters were
Bram Moolenaar6aa8cea2017-06-05 14:44:35 +0200198already typed they are used.
Bram Moolenaar207f0092020-08-30 17:20:20 +0200199Note that this works when the <nowait> mapping fully matches and is found
200before any partial matches. This works when:
201- There is only one matching buffer-local mapping, since these are always
202 found before global mappings.
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +0200203- There is another buffer-local mapping that partly matches, but it is
Bram Moolenaar207f0092020-08-30 17:20:20 +0200204 defined earlier (last defined mapping is found first).
Bram Moolenaar72179e12013-06-29 13:58:31 +0200205
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000206 *:map-<silent>* *:map-silent*
207To define a mapping which will not be echoed on the command line, add
208"<silent>" as the first argument. Example: >
209 :map <silent> ,h /Header<CR>
210The search string will not be echoed when using this mapping. Messages from
211the executed command are still given though. To shut them up too, add a
212":silent" in the executed command: >
213 :map <silent> ,h :exe ":silent normal /Header\r"<CR>
214Prompts will still be given, e.g., for inputdialog().
215Using "<silent>" for an abbreviation is possible, but will cause redrawing of
216the command line to fail.
217
Bram Moolenaar9c102382006-05-03 21:26:49 +0000218 *:map-<special>* *:map-special*
219Define a mapping with <> notation for special keys, even though the "<" flag
220may appear in 'cpoptions'. This is useful if the side effect of setting
221'cpoptions' is not desired. Example: >
222 :map <special> <F12> /Header<CR>
223<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000224 *:map-<script>* *:map-script*
225If the first argument to one of these commands is "<script>" and it is used to
226define a new mapping or abbreviation, the mapping will only remap characters
227in the {rhs} using mappings that were defined local to a script, starting with
228"<SID>". This can be used to avoid that mappings from outside a script
229interfere (e.g., when CTRL-V is remapped in mswin.vim), but do use other
230mappings defined in the script.
231Note: ":map <script>" and ":noremap <script>" do the same thing. The
232"<script>" overrules the command name. Using ":noremap <script>" is
233preferred, because it's clearer that remapping is (mostly) disabled.
234
Bram Moolenaar0e6adf82021-12-16 14:41:10 +0000235 *:map-<unique>* *:map-unique* *E226* *E227*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000236If the first argument to one of these commands is "<unique>" and it is used to
237define a new mapping or abbreviation, the command will fail if the mapping or
238abbreviation already exists. Example: >
239 :map <unique> ,w /[#&!]<CR>
240When defining a local mapping, there will also be a check if a global map
241already exists which is equal.
242Example of what will fail: >
243 :map ,w /[#&!]<CR>
244 :map <buffer> <unique> ,w /[.,;]<CR>
Bram Moolenaara40ceaf2006-01-13 22:35:40 +0000245If you want to map a key and then have it do what it was originally mapped to,
246have a look at |maparg()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000247
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000248 *:map-<expr>* *:map-expression*
249If the first argument to one of these commands is "<expr>" and it is used to
250define a new mapping or abbreviation, the argument is an expression. The
251expression is evaluated to obtain the {rhs} that is used. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar4c295022021-05-02 17:19:11 +0200252 :inoremap <expr> . <SID>InsertDot()
253The result of the s:InsertDot() function will be inserted. It could check the
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000254text before the cursor and start omni completion when some condition is met.
Bram Moolenaar4c295022021-05-02 17:19:11 +0200255Using a script-local function is preferred, to avoid polluting the global
256namespace. Use <SID> in the RHS so that the script that the mapping was
257defined in can be found.
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000258
Bram Moolenaarda9591e2009-09-30 13:17:02 +0000259For abbreviations |v:char| is set to the character that was typed to trigger
260the abbreviation. You can use this to decide how to expand the {lhs}. You
Bram Moolenaar5302d9e2011-09-14 17:55:08 +0200261should not either insert or change the v:char.
Bram Moolenaarda9591e2009-09-30 13:17:02 +0000262
Bram Moolenaar4f4d51a2020-10-11 13:57:40 +0200263In case you want the mapping to not do anything, you can have the expression
264evaluate to an empty string. If something changed that requires Vim to
265go through the main loop (e.g. to update the display), return "\<Ignore>".
266This is similar to "nothing" but makes Vim return from the loop that waits for
267input. Example: >
268 func s:OpenPopup()
269 call popup_create(... arguments ...)
270 return "\<Ignore>"
271 endfunc
Bram Moolenaar4c295022021-05-02 17:19:11 +0200272 nnoremap <expr> <F3> <SID>OpenPopup()
Bram Moolenaar4f4d51a2020-10-11 13:57:40 +0200273
Bram Moolenaar18b7d862021-03-17 13:28:05 +0100274Also, keep in mind that the expression may be evaluated when looking for
275typeahead, before the previous command has been executed. For example: >
276 func StoreColumn()
277 let g:column = col('.')
278 return 'x'
279 endfunc
280 nnoremap <expr> x StoreColumn()
281 nmap ! f!x
Bram Moolenaardad44732021-03-31 20:07:33 +0200282You will notice that g:column has the value from before executing "f!",
283because "x" is evaluated before "f!" is executed.
Bram Moolenaar18b7d862021-03-17 13:28:05 +0100284This can be solved by inserting <Ignore> before the character that is
285expression-mapped: >
286 nmap ! f!<Ignore>x
287
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000288Be very careful about side effects! The expression is evaluated while
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000289obtaining characters, you may very well make the command dysfunctional.
290For this reason the following is blocked:
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +0000291- Changing the buffer text |textlock|.
292- Editing another buffer.
293- The |:normal| command.
294- Moving the cursor is allowed, but it is restored afterwards.
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000295If you want the mapping to do any of these let the returned characters do
Bram Moolenaar957cf672020-11-12 14:21:06 +0100296that, or use a |<Cmd>| mapping instead.
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000297
Bram Moolenaar15146672011-10-20 22:22:38 +0200298You can use getchar(), it consumes typeahead if there is any. E.g., if you
299have these mappings: >
300 inoremap <expr> <C-L> nr2char(getchar())
301 inoremap <expr> <C-L>x "foo"
302If you now type CTRL-L nothing happens yet, Vim needs the next character to
303decide what mapping to use. If you type 'x' the second mapping is used and
Bram Moolenaarf1568ec2011-12-14 21:17:39 +0100304"foo" is inserted. If you type any other key the first mapping is used,
305getchar() gets the typed key and returns it.
Bram Moolenaar15146672011-10-20 22:22:38 +0200306
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000307Here is an example that inserts a list number that increases: >
308 let counter = 0
309 inoremap <expr> <C-L> ListItem()
310 inoremap <expr> <C-R> ListReset()
311
312 func ListItem()
313 let g:counter += 1
314 return g:counter . '. '
315 endfunc
316
317 func ListReset()
318 let g:counter = 0
319 return ''
320 endfunc
321
Bram Moolenaard9967712006-03-11 21:18:15 +0000322CTRL-L inserts the next number, CTRL-R resets the count. CTRL-R returns an
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000323empty string, so that nothing is inserted.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000324
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +0200325Note that using 0x80 as a single byte before other text does not work, it will
326be seen as a special key.
Bram Moolenaar8424a622006-04-19 21:23:36 +0000327
Bram Moolenaar957cf672020-11-12 14:21:06 +0100328 *<Cmd>* *:map-cmd*
329The special text <Cmd> begins a "command mapping", it executes the command
330directly without changing modes. Where you might use ":...<CR>" in the
331{rhs} of a mapping, you can instead use "<Cmd>...<CR>".
332Example: >
333 noremap x <Cmd>echo mode(1)<CR>
334<
335This is more flexible than `:<C-U>` in Visual and Operator-pending mode, or
336`<C-O>:` in Insert mode, because the commands are executed directly in the
337current mode, instead of always going to Normal mode. Visual mode is
338preserved, so tricks with |gv| are not needed. Commands can be invoked
339directly in Command-line mode (which would otherwise require timer hacks).
340Example of using <Cmd> halfway Insert mode: >
341 nnoremap <F3> aText <Cmd>echo mode(1)<CR> Added<Esc>
342
343Unlike <expr> mappings, there are no special restrictions on the <Cmd>
Bram Moolenaar4466ad62020-11-21 13:16:30 +0100344command: it is executed as if an (unrestricted) |autocommand| was invoked.
Bram Moolenaar957cf672020-11-12 14:21:06 +0100345
346Note:
347- Because <Cmd> avoids mode-changes it does not trigger |CmdlineEnter| and
348 |CmdlineLeave| events, because no user interaction is expected.
349- For the same reason, |keycodes| like <C-R><C-W> are interpreted as plain,
350 unmapped keys.
Bram Moolenaar4466ad62020-11-21 13:16:30 +0100351- The command is not echo'ed, no need for <silent>.
Bram Moolenaar88a42052021-11-21 21:13:36 +0000352- The {rhs} is not subject to abbreviations nor to other mappings, even if the
353 mapping is recursive.
Bram Moolenaar4466ad62020-11-21 13:16:30 +0100354- In Visual mode you can use `line('v')` and `col('v')` to get one end of the
355 Visual area, the cursor is at the other end.
Bram Moolenaar957cf672020-11-12 14:21:06 +0100356- In Select mode, |:map| and |:vmap| command mappings are executed in
357 Visual mode. Use |:smap| to handle Select mode differently.
358
Bram Moolenaara4d131d2021-12-27 21:33:07 +0000359 *E1255* *E1136*
Bram Moolenaar957cf672020-11-12 14:21:06 +0100360<Cmd> commands must terminate, that is, they must be followed by <CR> in the
361{rhs} of the mapping definition. |Command-line| mode is never entered.
362
363 *E1137*
364<Cmd> commands can have only normal characters and cannot contain special
365characters like function keys.
366
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000367
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00003681.3 MAPPING AND MODES *:map-modes*
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +0000369 *mapmode-nvo* *mapmode-n* *mapmode-v* *mapmode-o*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000370
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +0100371There are six sets of mappings
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000372- For Normal mode: When typing commands.
373- For Visual mode: When typing commands while the Visual area is highlighted.
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +0100374- For Select mode: like Visual mode but typing text replaces the selection.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000375- For Operator-pending mode: When an operator is pending (after "d", "y", "c",
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +0000376 etc.). See below: |omap-info|.
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +0000377- For Insert mode. These are also used in Replace mode.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000378- For Command-line mode: When entering a ":" or "/" command.
379
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000380Special case: While typing a count for a command in Normal mode, mapping zero
381is disabled. This makes it possible to map zero without making it impossible
382to type a count with a zero.
383
384 *map-overview* *map-modes*
Bram Moolenaare968e362014-05-13 20:23:24 +0200385Overview of which map command works in which mode. More details below.
386 COMMANDS MODES ~
387:map :noremap :unmap Normal, Visual, Select, Operator-pending
388:nmap :nnoremap :nunmap Normal
389:vmap :vnoremap :vunmap Visual and Select
390:smap :snoremap :sunmap Select
391:xmap :xnoremap :xunmap Visual
392:omap :onoremap :ounmap Operator-pending
393:map! :noremap! :unmap! Insert and Command-line
394:imap :inoremap :iunmap Insert
395:lmap :lnoremap :lunmap Insert, Command-line, Lang-Arg
396:cmap :cnoremap :cunmap Command-line
Bram Moolenaar69fbc9e2017-09-14 20:37:57 +0200397:tmap :tnoremap :tunmap Terminal-Job
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000398
Bram Moolenaar3ec32172021-05-16 12:39:47 +0200399Same information in a table:
400 *map-table*
401 Mode | Norm | Ins | Cmd | Vis | Sel | Opr | Term | Lang | ~
402Command +------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+ ~
403[nore]map | yes | - | - | yes | yes | yes | - | - |
404n[nore]map | yes | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
405[nore]map! | - | yes | yes | - | - | - | - | - |
406i[nore]map | - | yes | - | - | - | - | - | - |
407c[nore]map | - | - | yes | - | - | - | - | - |
408v[nore]map | - | - | - | yes | yes | - | - | - |
409x[nore]map | - | - | - | yes | - | - | - | - |
410s[nore]map | - | - | - | - | yes | - | - | - |
411o[nore]map | - | - | - | - | - | yes | - | - |
412t[nore]map | - | - | - | - | - | - | yes | - |
413l[nore]map | - | yes | yes | - | - | - | - | yes |
414
Bram Moolenaare968e362014-05-13 20:23:24 +0200415
416 COMMANDS MODES ~
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000417 Normal Visual+Select Operator-pending ~
418:map :noremap :unmap :mapclear yes yes yes
419:nmap :nnoremap :nunmap :nmapclear yes - -
420:vmap :vnoremap :vunmap :vmapclear - yes -
421:omap :onoremap :ounmap :omapclear - - yes
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000422
Bram Moolenaar4c3f5362006-04-11 21:38:50 +0000423:nunmap can also be used outside of a monastery.
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000424 *mapmode-x* *mapmode-s*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000425Some commands work both in Visual and Select mode, some in only one. Note
426that quite often "Visual" is mentioned where both Visual and Select mode
427apply. |Select-mode-mapping|
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +0100428NOTE: Mapping a printable character in Select mode may confuse the user. It's
429better to explicitly use :xmap and :smap for printable characters. Or use
430:sunmap after defining the mapping.
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000431
Bram Moolenaare968e362014-05-13 20:23:24 +0200432 COMMANDS MODES ~
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000433 Visual Select ~
434:vmap :vnoremap :vunmap :vmapclear yes yes
435:xmap :xnoremap :xunmap :xmapclear yes -
436:smap :snoremap :sunmap :smapclear - yes
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000437
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000438 *mapmode-ic* *mapmode-i* *mapmode-c* *mapmode-l*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000439Some commands work both in Insert mode and Command-line mode, some not:
440
Bram Moolenaare968e362014-05-13 20:23:24 +0200441 COMMANDS MODES ~
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000442 Insert Command-line Lang-Arg ~
443:map! :noremap! :unmap! :mapclear! yes yes -
444:imap :inoremap :iunmap :imapclear yes - -
445:cmap :cnoremap :cunmap :cmapclear - yes -
446:lmap :lnoremap :lunmap :lmapclear yes* yes* yes*
447
Bram Moolenaar5ef1c6a2019-11-10 22:09:11 +0100448* If 'iminsert' is 1, see |language-mapping| below.
449
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000450The original Vi did not have separate mappings for
451Normal/Visual/Operator-pending mode and for Insert/Command-line mode.
452Therefore the ":map" and ":map!" commands enter and display mappings for
453several modes. In Vim you can use the ":nmap", ":vmap", ":omap", ":cmap" and
454":imap" commands to enter mappings for each mode separately.
455
Bram Moolenaar69fbc9e2017-09-14 20:37:57 +0200456 *mapmode-t*
457The terminal mappings are used in a terminal window, when typing keys for the
458job running in the terminal. See |terminal-typing|.
459
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +0000460 *omap-info*
461Operator-pending mappings can be used to define a movement command that can be
Bram Moolenaar95bafa22018-10-02 13:26:25 +0200462used with any operator. Simple example: >
463 :omap { w
464makes "y{" work like "yw" and "d{" like "dw".
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +0000465
466To ignore the starting cursor position and select different text, you can have
467the omap start Visual mode to select the text to be operated upon. Example
468that operates on a function name in the current line: >
469 onoremap <silent> F :<C-U>normal! 0f(hviw<CR>
470The CTRL-U (<C-U>) is used to remove the range that Vim may insert. The
471Normal mode commands find the first '(' character and select the first word
472before it. That usually is the function name.
473
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000474To enter a mapping for Normal and Visual mode, but not Operator-pending mode,
Bram Moolenaar95bafa22018-10-02 13:26:25 +0200475first define it for all three modes, then unmap it for
476Operator-pending mode: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000477 :map xx something-difficult
478 :ounmap xx
Bram Moolenaar95bafa22018-10-02 13:26:25 +0200479
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000480Likewise for a mapping for Visual and Operator-pending mode or Normal and
481Operator-pending mode.
482
483 *language-mapping*
484":lmap" defines a mapping that applies to:
485- Insert mode
486- Command-line mode
487- when entering a search pattern
488- the argument of the commands that accept a text character, such as "r" and
489 "f"
490- for the input() line
491Generally: Whenever a character is to be typed that is part of the text in the
492buffer, not a Vim command character. "Lang-Arg" isn't really another mode,
493it's just used here for this situation.
494 The simplest way to load a set of related language mappings is by using the
495'keymap' option. See |45.5|.
496 In Insert mode and in Command-line mode the mappings can be disabled with
Bram Moolenaar7cba6c02013-09-05 22:13:31 +0200497the CTRL-^ command |i_CTRL-^| |c_CTRL-^|. These commands change the value of
Bram Moolenaar3b1db362013-08-10 15:00:24 +0200498the 'iminsert' option. When starting to enter a normal command line (not a
499search pattern) the mappings are disabled until a CTRL-^ is typed. The state
500last used is remembered for Insert mode and Search patterns separately. The
501state for Insert mode is also used when typing a character as an argument to
502command like "f" or "t".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000503 Language mappings will never be applied to already mapped characters. They
504are only used for typed characters. This assumes that the language mapping
505was already done when typing the mapping.
506
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000507
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00005081.4 LISTING MAPPINGS *map-listing*
509
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000510When listing mappings the characters in the first two columns are:
511
512 CHAR MODE ~
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +0000513 <Space> Normal, Visual, Select and Operator-pending
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000514 n Normal
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +0000515 v Visual and Select
516 s Select
517 x Visual
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000518 o Operator-pending
519 ! Insert and Command-line
520 i Insert
521 l ":lmap" mappings for Insert, Command-line and Lang-Arg
522 c Command-line
Bram Moolenaar63c4e8a2017-09-17 20:32:20 +0200523 t Terminal-Job
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000524
525Just before the {rhs} a special character can appear:
526 * indicates that it is not remappable
527 & indicates that only script-local mappings are remappable
528 @ indicates a buffer-local mapping
529
530Everything from the first non-blank after {lhs} up to the end of the line
531(or '|') is considered to be part of {rhs}. This allows the {rhs} to end
532with a space.
533
534Note: When using mappings for Visual mode, you can use the "'<" mark, which
535is the start of the last selected Visual area in the current buffer |'<|.
536
Bram Moolenaar818078d2016-08-27 21:58:42 +0200537The |:filter| command can be used to select what mappings to list. The
538pattern is matched against the {lhs} and {rhs} in the raw form.
539
Bram Moolenaarae5bce12005-08-15 21:41:48 +0000540 *:map-verbose*
541When 'verbose' is non-zero, listing a key map will also display where it was
542last defined. Example: >
543
544 :verbose map <C-W>*
545 n <C-W>* * <C-W><C-S>*
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000546 Last set from /home/abcd/.vimrc
Bram Moolenaarae5bce12005-08-15 21:41:48 +0000547
Bram Moolenaar5195e452005-08-19 20:32:47 +0000548See |:verbose-cmd| for more information.
Bram Moolenaarae5bce12005-08-15 21:41:48 +0000549
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000550
5511.5 MAPPING SPECIAL KEYS *:map-special-keys*
552
553There are three ways to map a special key:
5541. The Vi-compatible method: Map the key code. Often this is a sequence that
555 starts with <Esc>. To enter a mapping like this you type ":map " and then
556 you have to type CTRL-V before hitting the function key. Note that when
557 the key code for the key is in the termcap (the t_ options), it will
558 automatically be translated into the internal code and become the second
559 way of mapping (unless the 'k' flag is included in 'cpoptions').
5602. The second method is to use the internal code for the function key. To
561 enter such a mapping type CTRL-K and then hit the function key, or use
562 the form "#1", "#2", .. "#9", "#0", "<Up>", "<S-Down>", "<S-F7>", etc.
563 (see table of keys |key-notation|, all keys from <Up> can be used). The
564 first ten function keys can be defined in two ways: Just the number, like
565 "#2", and with "<F>", like "<F2>". Both stand for function key 2. "#0"
566 refers to function key 10, defined with option 't_f10', which may be
567 function key zero on some keyboards. The <> form cannot be used when
568 'cpoptions' includes the '<' flag.
5693. Use the termcap entry, with the form <t_xx>, where "xx" is the name of the
570 termcap entry. Any string entry can be used. For example: >
571 :map <t_F3> G
572< Maps function key 13 to "G". This does not work if 'cpoptions' includes
573 the '<' flag.
574
575The advantage of the second and third method is that the mapping will work on
576different terminals without modification (the function key will be
577translated into the same internal code or the actual key code, no matter what
578terminal you are using. The termcap must be correct for this to work, and you
579must use the same mappings).
580
581DETAIL: Vim first checks if a sequence from the keyboard is mapped. If it
582isn't the terminal key codes are tried (see |terminal-options|). If a
583terminal code is found it is replaced with the internal code. Then the check
584for a mapping is done again (so you can map an internal code to something
585else). What is written into the script file depends on what is recognized.
586If the terminal key code was recognized as a mapping the key code itself is
587written to the script file. If it was recognized as a terminal code the
588internal code is written to the script file.
589
590
5911.6 SPECIAL CHARACTERS *:map-special-chars*
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100592 *map_backslash* *map-backslash*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000593Note that only CTRL-V is mentioned here as a special character for mappings
594and abbreviations. When 'cpoptions' does not contain 'B', a backslash can
595also be used like CTRL-V. The <> notation can be fully used then |<>|. But
596you cannot use "<C-V>" like CTRL-V to escape the special meaning of what
597follows.
598
599To map a backslash, or use a backslash literally in the {rhs}, the special
600sequence "<Bslash>" can be used. This avoids the need to double backslashes
601when using nested mappings.
602
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100603 *map_CTRL-C* *map-CTRL-C*
Bram Moolenaar1e015462005-09-25 22:16:38 +0000604Using CTRL-C in the {lhs} is possible, but it will only work when Vim is
605waiting for a key, not when Vim is busy with something. When Vim is busy
606CTRL-C interrupts/breaks the command.
607When using the GUI version on MS-Windows CTRL-C can be mapped to allow a Copy
608command to the clipboard. Use CTRL-Break to interrupt Vim.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000609
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100610 *map_space_in_lhs* *map-space_in_lhs*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000611To include a space in {lhs} precede it with a CTRL-V (type two CTRL-Vs for
612each space).
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100613 *map_space_in_rhs* *map-space_in_rhs*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000614If you want a {rhs} that starts with a space, use "<Space>". To be fully Vi
615compatible (but unreadable) don't use the |<>| notation, precede {rhs} with a
616single CTRL-V (you have to type CTRL-V two times).
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100617 *map_empty_rhs* *map-empty-rhs*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000618You can create an empty {rhs} by typing nothing after a single CTRL-V (you
619have to type CTRL-V two times). Unfortunately, you cannot do this in a vimrc
620file.
621 *<Nop>*
Bram Moolenaar446beb42011-05-10 17:18:44 +0200622An easier way to get a mapping that doesn't produce anything, is to use
623"<Nop>" for the {rhs}. This only works when the |<>| notation is enabled.
624For example, to make sure that function key 8 does nothing at all: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000625 :map <F8> <Nop>
626 :map! <F8> <Nop>
627<
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000628 *map-multibyte*
629It is possible to map multibyte characters, but only the whole character. You
630cannot map the first byte only. This was done to prevent problems in this
631scenario: >
632 :set encoding=latin1
633 :imap <M-C> foo
634 :set encoding=utf-8
635The mapping for <M-C> is defined with the latin1 encoding, resulting in a 0xc3
Bram Moolenaar85eee132018-05-06 17:57:30 +0200636byte. If you type the character á (0xe1 <M-a>) in UTF-8 encoding this is the
Bram Moolenaar446beb42011-05-10 17:18:44 +0200637two bytes 0xc3 0xa1. You don't want the 0xc3 byte to be mapped then or
Bram Moolenaar85eee132018-05-06 17:57:30 +0200638otherwise it would be impossible to type the á character.
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000639
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000640 *<Leader>* *mapleader*
641To define a mapping which uses the "mapleader" variable, the special string
642"<Leader>" can be used. It is replaced with the string value of "mapleader".
643If "mapleader" is not set or empty, a backslash is used instead. Example: >
644 :map <Leader>A oanother line<Esc>
645Works like: >
646 :map \A oanother line<Esc>
647But after: >
648 :let mapleader = ","
649It works like: >
650 :map ,A oanother line<Esc>
651
652Note that the value of "mapleader" is used at the moment the mapping is
653defined. Changing "mapleader" after that has no effect for already defined
654mappings.
655
656 *<LocalLeader>* *maplocalleader*
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +0000657<LocalLeader> is just like <Leader>, except that it uses "maplocalleader"
658instead of "mapleader". <LocalLeader> is to be used for mappings which are
659local to a buffer. Example: >
Bram Moolenaarb8ff1fb2012-02-04 21:59:01 +0100660 :map <buffer> <LocalLeader>A oanother line<Esc>
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000661<
662In a global plugin <Leader> should be used and in a filetype plugin
663<LocalLeader>. "mapleader" and "maplocalleader" can be equal. Although, if
664you make them different, there is a smaller chance of mappings from global
665plugins to clash with mappings for filetype plugins. For example, you could
666keep "mapleader" at the default backslash, and set "maplocalleader" to an
667underscore.
668
669 *map-<SID>*
670In a script the special key name "<SID>" can be used to define a mapping
671that's local to the script. See |<SID>| for details.
672
673 *<Plug>*
674The special key name "<Plug>" can be used for an internal mapping, which is
675not to be matched with any key sequence. This is useful in plugins
676|using-<Plug>|.
677
678 *<Char>* *<Char->*
679To map a character by its decimal, octal or hexadecimal number the <Char>
680construct can be used:
681 <Char-123> character 123
682 <Char-033> character 27
683 <Char-0x7f> character 127
Bram Moolenaar5302d9e2011-09-14 17:55:08 +0200684 <S-Char-114> character 114 ('r') shifted ('R')
Bram Moolenaar207f0092020-08-30 17:20:20 +0200685This is useful to specify a (multibyte) character in a 'keymap' file.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000686Upper and lowercase differences are ignored.
687
688 *map-comments*
689It is not possible to put a comment after these commands, because the '"'
Bram Moolenaar036986f2017-03-16 17:41:02 +0100690character is considered to be part of the {lhs} or {rhs}. However, one can
691use |", since this starts a new, empty command with a comment.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000692
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100693 *map_bar* *map-bar*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000694Since the '|' character is used to separate a map command from the next
695command, you will have to do something special to include a '|' in {rhs}.
696There are three methods:
697 use works when example ~
698 <Bar> '<' is not in 'cpoptions' :map _l :!ls <Bar> more^M
699 \| 'b' is not in 'cpoptions' :map _l :!ls \| more^M
700 ^V| always, in Vim and Vi :map _l :!ls ^V| more^M
701
702(here ^V stands for CTRL-V; to get one CTRL-V you have to type it twice; you
703cannot use the <> notation "<C-V>" here).
704
705All three work when you use the default setting for 'cpoptions'.
706
707When 'b' is present in 'cpoptions', "\|" will be recognized as a mapping
708ending in a '\' and then another command. This is Vi compatible, but
709illogical when compared to other commands.
710
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100711 *map_return* *map-return*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000712When you have a mapping that contains an Ex command, you need to put a line
713terminator after it to have it executed. The use of <CR> is recommended for
714this (see |<>|). Example: >
Bram Moolenaar251835e2014-02-24 02:51:51 +0100715 :map _ls :!ls -l %:S<CR>:echo "the end"<CR>
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000716
717To avoid mapping of the characters you type in insert or Command-line mode,
718type a CTRL-V first. The mapping in Insert mode is disabled if the 'paste'
719option is on.
Bram Moolenaare2db6952013-07-24 19:53:36 +0200720 *map-error*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000721Note that when an error is encountered (that causes an error message or beep)
722the rest of the mapping is not executed. This is Vi-compatible.
723
724Note that the second character (argument) of the commands @zZtTfF[]rm'`"v
725and CTRL-X is not mapped. This was done to be able to use all the named
726registers and marks, even when the command with the same name has been
727mapped.
728
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000729
7301.7 WHAT KEYS TO MAP *map-which-keys*
731
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000732If you are going to map something, you will need to choose which key(s) to use
733for the {lhs}. You will have to avoid keys that are used for Vim commands,
734otherwise you would not be able to use those commands anymore. Here are a few
735suggestions:
736- Function keys <F2>, <F3>, etc.. Also the shifted function keys <S-F1>,
737 <S-F2>, etc. Note that <F1> is already used for the help command.
Bram Moolenaarf91787c2010-07-17 12:47:16 +0200738- Meta-keys (with the ALT key pressed). Depending on your keyboard accented
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +0100739 characters may be used as well. |:map-alt-keys|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000740- Use the '_' or ',' character and then any other character. The "_" and ","
741 commands do exist in Vim (see |_| and |,|), but you probably never use them.
742- Use a key that is a synonym for another command. For example: CTRL-P and
743 CTRL-N. Use an extra character to allow more mappings.
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +0100744- The key defined by <Leader> and one or more other keys. This is especially
745 useful in scripts. |mapleader|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000746
747See the file "index" for keys that are not used and thus can be mapped without
748losing any builtin function. You can also use ":help {key}^D" to find out if
749a key is used for some command. ({key} is the specific key you want to find
750out about, ^D is CTRL-D).
751
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000752
7531.8 EXAMPLES *map-examples*
754
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000755A few examples (given as you type them, for "<CR>" you type four characters;
756the '<' flag must not be present in 'cpoptions' for this to work). >
757
758 :map <F3> o#include
759 :map <M-g> /foo<CR>cwbar<Esc>
760 :map _x d/END/e<CR>
761 :map! qq quadrillion questions
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +0000762
763
764Multiplying a count
765
766When you type a count before triggering a mapping, it's like the count was
767typed before the {lhs}. For example, with this mapping: >
768 :map <F4> 3w
769Typing 2<F4> will result in "23w". Thus not moving 2 * 3 words but 23 words.
770If you want to multiply counts use the expression register: >
771 :map <F4> @='3w'<CR>
772The part between quotes is the expression being executed. |@=|
773
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000774
7751.9 USING MAPPINGS *map-typing*
776
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000777Vim will compare what you type with the start of a mapped sequence. If there
778is an incomplete match, it will get more characters until there either is a
779complete match or until there is no match at all. Example: If you map! "qq",
780the first 'q' will not appear on the screen until you type another
781character. This is because Vim cannot know if the next character will be a
782'q' or not. If the 'timeout' option is on (which is the default) Vim will
783only wait for one second (or as long as specified with the 'timeoutlen'
784option). After that it assumes that the 'q' is to be interpreted as such. If
785you type slowly, or your system is slow, reset the 'timeout' option. Then you
786might want to set the 'ttimeout' option.
787
Bram Moolenaar37c64c72017-09-19 22:06:03 +0200788 *map-precedence*
Bram Moolenaarec7944a2013-06-12 21:29:15 +0200789Buffer-local mappings (defined using |:map-<buffer>|) take precedence over
790global mappings. When a buffer-local mapping is the same as a global mapping,
791Vim will use the buffer-local mapping. In addition, Vim will use a complete
Bram Moolenaar14b69452013-06-29 23:05:20 +0200792mapping immediately if it was defined with <nowait>, even if a longer mapping
793has the same prefix. For example, given the following two mappings: >
794 :map <buffer> <nowait> \a :echo "Local \a"<CR>
795 :map \abc :echo "Global \abc"<CR>
796When typing \a the buffer-local mapping will be used immediately. Vim will
797not wait for more characters to see if the user might be typing \abc.
Bram Moolenaarec7944a2013-06-12 21:29:15 +0200798
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000799 *map-keys-fails*
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000800There are situations where key codes might not be recognized:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000801- Vim can only read part of the key code. Mostly this is only the first
802 character. This happens on some Unix versions in an xterm.
803- The key code is after character(s) that are mapped. E.g., "<F1><F1>" or
804 "g<F1>".
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000805
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000806The result is that the key code is not recognized in this situation, and the
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000807mapping fails. There are two actions needed to avoid this problem:
808
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000809- Remove the 'K' flag from 'cpoptions'. This will make Vim wait for the rest
810 of the characters of the function key.
811- When using <F1> to <F4> the actual key code generated may correspond to
812 <xF1> to <xF4>. There are mappings from <xF1> to <F1>, <xF2> to <F2>, etc.,
813 but these are not recognized after another half a mapping. Make sure the
814 key codes for <F1> to <F4> are correct: >
815 :set <F1>=<type CTRL-V><type F1>
816< Type the <F1> as four characters. The part after the "=" must be done with
817 the actual keys, not the literal text.
818Another solution is to use the actual key code in the mapping for the second
819special key: >
820 :map <F1><Esc>OP :echo "yes"<CR>
821Don't type a real <Esc>, Vim will recognize the key code and replace it with
822<F1> anyway.
823
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000824Another problem may be that when keeping ALT or Meta pressed the terminal
825prepends ESC instead of setting the 8th bit. See |:map-alt-keys|.
826
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000827 *recursive_mapping*
828If you include the {lhs} in the {rhs} you have a recursive mapping. When
829{lhs} is typed, it will be replaced with {rhs}. When the {lhs} which is
830included in {rhs} is encountered it will be replaced with {rhs}, and so on.
831This makes it possible to repeat a command an infinite number of times. The
832only problem is that the only way to stop this is by causing an error. The
833macros to solve a maze uses this, look there for an example. There is one
834exception: If the {rhs} starts with {lhs}, the first character is not mapped
835again (this is Vi compatible).
836For example: >
837 :map ab abcd
838will execute the "a" command and insert "bcd" in the text. The "ab" in the
839{rhs} will not be mapped again.
840
841If you want to exchange the meaning of two keys you should use the :noremap
842command. For example: >
843 :noremap k j
844 :noremap j k
845This will exchange the cursor up and down commands.
846
847With the normal :map command, when the 'remap' option is on, mapping takes
848place until the text is found not to be a part of a {lhs}. For example, if
849you use: >
850 :map x y
851 :map y x
852Vim will replace x with y, and then y with x, etc. When this has happened
853'maxmapdepth' times (default 1000), Vim will give the error message
854"recursive mapping".
855
856 *:map-undo*
857If you include an undo command inside a mapped sequence, this will bring the
858text back in the state before executing the macro. This is compatible with
859the original Vi, as long as there is only one undo command in the mapped
860sequence (having two undo commands in a mapped sequence did not make sense
861in the original Vi, you would get back the text before the first undo).
862
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000863
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00008641.10 MAPPING ALT-KEYS *:map-alt-keys*
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000865
866In the GUI Vim handles the Alt key itself, thus mapping keys with ALT should
867always work. But in a terminal Vim gets a sequence of bytes and has to figure
868out whether ALT was pressed or not.
869
Bram Moolenaar4b570182019-10-20 19:53:22 +0200870If the terminal supports the modifyOtherKeys mode and it has been enabled,
871then Vim can recognize more key combinations, see |modifyOtherKeys| below.
872
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000873By default Vim assumes that pressing the ALT key sets the 8th bit of a typed
Bram Moolenaar97d29a12005-12-17 22:02:57 +0000874character. Most decent terminals can work that way, such as xterm, aterm and
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000875rxvt. If your <A-k> mappings don't work it might be that the terminal is
876prefixing the character with an ESC character. But you can just as well type
877ESC before a character, thus Vim doesn't know what happened (except for
878checking the delay between characters, which is not reliable).
879
880As of this writing, some mainstream terminals like gnome-terminal and konsole
881use the ESC prefix. There doesn't appear a way to have them use the 8th bit
Bram Moolenaar97d29a12005-12-17 22:02:57 +0000882instead. Xterm should work well by default. Aterm and rxvt should work well
883when started with the "--meta8" argument. You can also tweak resources like
884"metaSendsEscape", "eightBitInput" and "eightBitOutput".
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000885
886On the Linux console, this behavior can be toggled with the "setmetamode"
887command. Bear in mind that not using an ESC prefix could get you in trouble
888with other programs. You should make sure that bash has the "convert-meta"
889option set to "on" in order for your Meta keybindings to still work on it
890(it's the default readline behavior, unless changed by specific system
891configuration). For that, you can add the line: >
892
893 set convert-meta on
894
895to your ~/.inputrc file. If you're creating the file, you might want to use: >
896
897 $include /etc/inputrc
898
899as the first line, if that file exists on your system, to keep global options.
900This may cause a problem for entering special characters, such as the umlaut.
901Then you should use CTRL-V before that character.
902
903Bear in mind that convert-meta has been reported to have troubles when used in
904UTF-8 locales. On terminals like xterm, the "metaSendsEscape" resource can be
905toggled on the fly through the "Main Options" menu, by pressing Ctrl-LeftClick
906on the terminal; that's a good last resource in case you want to send ESC when
Bram Moolenaar6aa8cea2017-06-05 14:44:35 +0200907using other applications but not when inside Vim.
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000908
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000909
Bram Moolenaar4b570182019-10-20 19:53:22 +02009101.11 MAPPING IN modifyOtherKeys mode *modifyOtherKeys*
911
912Xterm and a few other terminals can be put in a mode where keys with modifiers
913are sent with a special escape code. Vim recognizes these codes and can then
914make a difference between CTRL-H and Backspace, even when Backspace sends the
915character 8. And many more special keys.
916
917For xterm modifyOtherKeys is enabled in the builtin termcap entry. If this is
918not used you can enable modifyOtherKeys with these lines in your vimrc: >
919 let &t_TI = "\<Esc>[>4;2m"
920 let &t_TE = "\<Esc>[>4;m"
921
922In case the modifyOtherKeys mode causes problems you can disable it: >
923 let &t_TI = ""
924 let &t_TE = ""
925It does not take effect immediately. To have this work without restarting Vim
Bram Moolenaar5ef1c6a2019-11-10 22:09:11 +0100926execute a shell command, e.g.: `!ls` Or put the lines in your |vimrc|.
927
928When modifyOtherKeys is enabled you can map <C-[> and <C-S-{>: >
929 imap <C-[> [[[
Bram Moolenaar9a033d72020-10-07 17:29:48 +0200930 imap <C-{> {{{
931Without modifyOtherKeys <C-[> and <C-{> are indistinguishable from Esc.
932Note that <C-{> is used and not <C-S-[> or <C-S-{>. This works on most
933keyboards. Similarly, <C-}> is used instead of <C-S-]> or <C-S-}> and
934<C-|> instead of <C-S-\> or <C-S-|>. Note that '|' has a special meaning in a
935mapping, see |map-bar|.
936
937WARNING: if you map <C-[> you may very well break any key codes that start
938with Esc. Make sure it comes AFTER other mappings.
Bram Moolenaar4b570182019-10-20 19:53:22 +0200939
Bram Moolenaar2547aa92020-07-26 17:00:44 +0200940A known side effect is that in Insert mode the raw escape sequence is inserted
941after the CTRL-V key. This can be used to check whether modifyOtherKeys is
942enabled: In Insert mode type CTRL-SHIFT-V CTRL-V, if you get one byte then
943modifyOtherKeys is off, if you get <1b>27;5;118~ then it is on.
Bram Moolenaar4b570182019-10-20 19:53:22 +0200944
Bram Moolenaar5ef1c6a2019-11-10 22:09:11 +0100945When the 'esckeys' option is off, then modifyOtherKeys will be disabled in
946Insert mode to avoid every key with a modifier causing Insert mode to end.
947
Bram Moolenaar4b570182019-10-20 19:53:22 +0200948
9491.12 MAPPING AN OPERATOR *:map-operator*
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000950
951An operator is used before a {motion} command. To define your own operator
Bram Moolenaar1b884a02020-12-10 21:11:27 +0100952you must create a mapping that first sets the 'operatorfunc' option and then
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000953invoke the |g@| operator. After the user types the {motion} command the
954specified function will be called.
955
Bram Moolenaara40ceaf2006-01-13 22:35:40 +0000956 *g@* *E774* *E775*
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000957g@{motion} Call the function set by the 'operatorfunc' option.
958 The '[ mark is positioned at the start of the text
959 moved over by {motion}, the '] mark on the last
960 character of the text.
961 The function is called with one String argument:
962 "line" {motion} was |linewise|
963 "char" {motion} was |characterwise|
Bram Moolenaarf91787c2010-07-17 12:47:16 +0200964 "block" {motion} was |blockwise-visual|
Bram Moolenaarfa3b7232021-12-24 13:18:38 +0000965 The type can be forced, see |forced-motion|.
Bram Moolenaardb84e452010-08-15 13:50:43 +0200966 {not available when compiled without the |+eval|
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000967 feature}
968
969Here is an example that counts the number of spaces with <F4>: >
970
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +0200971 nnoremap <expr> <F4> CountSpaces()
972 xnoremap <expr> <F4> CountSpaces()
973 " doubling <F4> works on a line
974 nnoremap <expr> <F4><F4> CountSpaces() .. '_'
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000975
Bram Moolenaarfa3b7232021-12-24 13:18:38 +0000976 function CountSpaces(context = {}, type = '') abort
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +0200977 if a:type == ''
Bram Moolenaarfa3b7232021-12-24 13:18:38 +0000978 let context = #{
979 \ dot_command: v:false,
980 \ extend_block: '',
981 \ virtualedit: [&l:virtualedit, &g:virtualedit],
982 \ }
983 let &operatorfunc = function('CountSpaces', [context])
Bram Moolenaar0e6adf82021-12-16 14:41:10 +0000984 set virtualedit=block
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +0200985 return 'g@'
Bram Moolenaar0e6adf82021-12-16 14:41:10 +0000986 endif
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +0200987
Bram Moolenaarfa3b7232021-12-24 13:18:38 +0000988 let save = #{
989 \ clipboard: &clipboard,
990 \ selection: &selection,
991 \ virtualedit: [&l:virtualedit, &g:virtualedit],
992 \ register: getreginfo('"'),
993 \ visual_marks: [getpos("'<"), getpos("'>")],
994 \ }
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000995
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +0200996 try
Bram Moolenaar0e6adf82021-12-16 14:41:10 +0000997 set clipboard= selection=inclusive virtualedit=
Bram Moolenaarfa3b7232021-12-24 13:18:38 +0000998 let commands = #{
999 \ line: "'[V']",
1000 \ char: "`[v`]",
1001 \ block: "`[\<C-V>`]",
1002 \ }[a:type]
1003 let [_, _, col, off] = getpos("']")
1004 if off != 0
1005 let vcol = getline("'[")->strpart(0, col + off)->strdisplaywidth()
1006 if vcol >= [line("'["), '$']->virtcol() - 1
1007 let a:context.extend_block = '$'
1008 else
1009 let a:context.extend_block = vcol .. '|'
1010 endif
1011 endif
1012 if a:context.extend_block != ''
1013 let commands ..= 'oO' .. a:context.extend_block
Bram Moolenaar0e6adf82021-12-16 14:41:10 +00001014 endif
1015 let commands ..= 'y'
1016 execute 'silent noautocmd keepjumps normal! ' .. commands
1017 echomsg getreg('"')->count(' ')
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +02001018 finally
Bram Moolenaarfa3b7232021-12-24 13:18:38 +00001019 call setreg('"', save.register)
1020 call setpos("'<", save.visual_marks[0])
1021 call setpos("'>", save.visual_marks[1])
1022 let &clipboard = save.clipboard
1023 let &selection = save.selection
1024 let [&l:virtualedit, &g:virtualedit] = get(a:context.dot_command ? save : a:context, 'virtualedit')
1025 let a:context.dot_command = v:true
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +02001026 endtry
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00001027 endfunction
1028
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +02001029An <expr> mapping is used to be able to fetch any prefixed count and register.
1030This also avoids using a command line, which would trigger CmdlineEnter and
1031CmdlineLeave autocommands.
1032
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00001033Note that the 'selection' option is temporarily set to "inclusive" to be able
1034to yank exactly the right text by using Visual mode from the '[ to the ']
1035mark.
1036
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +02001037Also note that the 'clipboard' option is temporarily emptied to avoid
1038clobbering the `"*` or `"+` registers, if its value contains the item `unnamed`
1039or `unnamedplus`.
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00001040
Bram Moolenaar079ba762021-10-23 12:08:41 +01001041The `mode()` function will return the state as it will be after applying the
1042operator.
1043
Yegappan Lakshmanan777175b2021-11-18 22:08:57 +00001044Here is an example for using a lambda function to create a normal-mode
1045operator to add quotes around text in the current line: >
1046
1047 nnoremap <F4> <Cmd>let &opfunc='{t ->
1048 \ getline(".")
1049 \ ->split("\\zs")
1050 \ ->insert("\"", col("'']"))
1051 \ ->insert("\"", col("''[") - 1)
1052 \ ->join("")
1053 \ ->setline(".")}'<CR>g@
1054
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001055==============================================================================
10562. Abbreviations *abbreviations* *Abbreviations*
1057
1058Abbreviations are used in Insert mode, Replace mode and Command-line mode.
1059If you enter a word that is an abbreviation, it is replaced with the word it
1060stands for. This can be used to save typing for often used long words. And
1061you can use it to automatically correct obvious spelling errors.
1062Examples:
1063
Bram Moolenaarc1762cc2007-05-10 16:56:30 +00001064 :iab ms Microsoft
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001065 :iab tihs this
1066
1067There are three types of abbreviations:
1068
1069full-id The "full-id" type consists entirely of keyword characters (letters
1070 and characters from 'iskeyword' option). This is the most common
1071 abbreviation.
1072
1073 Examples: "foo", "g3", "-1"
1074
1075end-id The "end-id" type ends in a keyword character, but all the other
1076 characters are not keyword characters.
1077
1078 Examples: "#i", "..f", "$/7"
1079
1080non-id The "non-id" type ends in a non-keyword character, the other
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +00001081 characters may be of any type, excluding space and tab. {this type
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001082 is not supported by Vi}
1083
1084 Examples: "def#", "4/7$"
1085
1086Examples of strings that cannot be abbreviations: "a.b", "#def", "a b", "_$r"
1087
1088An abbreviation is only recognized when you type a non-keyword character.
1089This can also be the <Esc> that ends insert mode or the <CR> that ends a
1090command. The non-keyword character which ends the abbreviation is inserted
1091after the expanded abbreviation. An exception to this is the character <C-]>,
1092which is used to expand an abbreviation without inserting any extra
1093characters.
1094
1095Example: >
1096 :ab hh hello
1097< "hh<Space>" is expanded to "hello<Space>"
1098 "hh<C-]>" is expanded to "hello"
1099
1100The characters before the cursor must match the abbreviation. Each type has
1101an additional rule:
1102
1103full-id In front of the match is a non-keyword character, or this is where
1104 the line or insertion starts. Exception: When the abbreviation is
1105 only one character, it is not recognized if there is a non-keyword
Bram Moolenaareb3dc872018-05-13 22:34:24 +02001106 character in front of it, other than a space or a tab. However, for
1107 the command line "'<,'>" (or any other marks) is ignored, as if the
1108 command line starts after it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001109
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +00001110end-id In front of the match is a keyword character, or a space or a tab,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001111 or this is where the line or insertion starts.
1112
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +00001113non-id In front of the match is a space, tab or the start of the line or
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001114 the insertion.
1115
1116Examples: ({CURSOR} is where you type a non-keyword character) >
1117 :ab foo four old otters
1118< " foo{CURSOR}" is expanded to " four old otters"
1119 " foobar{CURSOR}" is not expanded
1120 "barfoo{CURSOR}" is not expanded
1121>
1122 :ab #i #include
1123< "#i{CURSOR}" is expanded to "#include"
1124 ">#i{CURSOR}" is not expanded
1125>
Bram Moolenaar81695252004-12-29 20:58:21 +00001126 :ab ;; <endofline>
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001127< "test;;" is not expanded
1128 "test ;;" is expanded to "test <endofline>"
1129
Bram Moolenaar7d76c802014-10-15 22:51:52 +02001130To avoid the abbreviation in Insert mode: Type CTRL-V before the character
1131that would trigger the abbreviation. E.g. CTRL-V <Space>. Or type part of
1132the abbreviation, exit insert mode with <Esc>, re-enter insert mode with "a"
1133and type the rest.
1134
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001135To avoid the abbreviation in Command-line mode: Type CTRL-V twice somewhere in
1136the abbreviation to avoid it to be replaced. A CTRL-V in front of a normal
1137character is mostly ignored otherwise.
1138
1139It is possible to move the cursor after an abbreviation: >
1140 :iab if if ()<Left>
1141This does not work if 'cpoptions' includes the '<' flag. |<>|
1142
1143You can even do more complicated things. For example, to consume the space
1144typed after an abbreviation: >
1145 func Eatchar(pat)
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001146 let c = nr2char(getchar(0))
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001147 return (c =~ a:pat) ? '' : c
1148 endfunc
1149 iabbr <silent> if if ()<Left><C-R>=Eatchar('\s')<CR>
1150
1151There are no default abbreviations.
1152
1153Abbreviations are never recursive. You can use ":ab f f-o-o" without any
1154problem. But abbreviations can be mapped. {some versions of Vi support
1155recursive abbreviations, for no apparent reason}
1156
1157Abbreviations are disabled if the 'paste' option is on.
1158
1159 *:abbreviate-local* *:abbreviate-<buffer>*
1160Just like mappings, abbreviations can be local to a buffer. This is mostly
1161used in a |filetype-plugin| file. Example for a C plugin file: >
1162 :abb <buffer> FF for (i = 0; i < ; ++i)
1163<
1164 *:ab* *:abbreviate*
1165:ab[breviate] list all abbreviations. The character in the first
1166 column indicates the mode where the abbreviation is
1167 used: 'i' for insert mode, 'c' for Command-line
1168 mode, '!' for both. These are the same as for
1169 mappings, see |map-listing|.
1170
Bram Moolenaare344bea2005-09-01 20:46:49 +00001171 *:abbreviate-verbose*
1172When 'verbose' is non-zero, listing an abbreviation will also display where it
1173was last defined. Example: >
1174
1175 :verbose abbreviate
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +00001176 ! teh the
Bram Moolenaare344bea2005-09-01 20:46:49 +00001177 Last set from /home/abcd/vim/abbr.vim
1178
1179See |:verbose-cmd| for more information.
1180
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001181:ab[breviate] {lhs} list the abbreviations that start with {lhs}
1182 You may need to insert a CTRL-V (type it twice) to
1183 avoid that a typed {lhs} is expanded, since
1184 command-line abbreviations apply here.
1185
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001186:ab[breviate] [<expr>] [<buffer>] {lhs} {rhs}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001187 add abbreviation for {lhs} to {rhs}. If {lhs} already
1188 existed it is replaced with the new {rhs}. {rhs} may
1189 contain spaces.
Bram Moolenaarfc1421e2006-04-20 22:17:20 +00001190 See |:map-<expr>| for the optional <expr> argument.
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001191 See |:map-<buffer>| for the optional <buffer> argument.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001192
1193 *:una* *:unabbreviate*
Bram Moolenaar95a9dd12019-12-19 22:12:03 +01001194:una[bbreviate] [<buffer>] {lhs}
1195 Remove abbreviation for {lhs} from the list. If none
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001196 is found, remove abbreviations in which {lhs} matches
1197 with the {rhs}. This is done so that you can even
1198 remove abbreviations after expansion. To avoid
1199 expansion insert a CTRL-V (type it twice).
1200
1201 *:norea* *:noreabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001202:norea[bbrev] [<expr>] [<buffer>] [lhs] [rhs]
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001203 Same as ":ab", but no remapping for this {rhs}.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001204
Bram Moolenaar61da1bf2019-06-06 12:14:49 +02001205 *:ca* *:cab* *:cabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001206:ca[bbrev] [<expr>] [<buffer>] [lhs] [rhs]
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001207 Same as ":ab", but for Command-line mode only.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001208
1209 *:cuna* *:cunabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar95a9dd12019-12-19 22:12:03 +01001210:cuna[bbrev] [<buffer>] {lhs}
1211 Same as ":una", but for Command-line mode only.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001212
1213 *:cnorea* *:cnoreabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001214:cnorea[bbrev] [<expr>] [<buffer>] [lhs] [rhs]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001215 same as ":ab", but for Command-line mode only and no
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001216 remapping for this {rhs}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001217
1218 *:ia* *:iabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001219:ia[bbrev] [<expr>] [<buffer>] [lhs] [rhs]
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001220 Same as ":ab", but for Insert mode only.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001221
1222 *:iuna* *:iunabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar95a9dd12019-12-19 22:12:03 +01001223:iuna[bbrev] [<buffer>] {lhs}
1224 Same as ":una", but for insert mode only.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001225
1226 *:inorea* *:inoreabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001227:inorea[bbrev] [<expr>] [<buffer>] [lhs] [rhs]
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001228 Same as ":ab", but for Insert mode only and no
1229 remapping for this {rhs}.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001230
1231 *:abc* *:abclear*
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001232:abc[lear] [<buffer>] Remove all abbreviations.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001233
1234 *:iabc* *:iabclear*
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001235:iabc[lear] [<buffer>] Remove all abbreviations for Insert mode.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001236
1237 *:cabc* *:cabclear*
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001238:cabc[lear] [<buffer>] Remove all abbreviations for Command-line mode.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001239
1240 *using_CTRL-V*
1241It is possible to use special characters in the rhs of an abbreviation.
1242CTRL-V has to be used to avoid the special meaning of most non printable
1243characters. How many CTRL-Vs need to be typed depends on how you enter the
1244abbreviation. This also applies to mappings. Let's use an example here.
1245
1246Suppose you want to abbreviate "esc" to enter an <Esc> character. When you
1247type the ":ab" command in Vim, you have to enter this: (here ^V is a CTRL-V
1248and ^[ is <Esc>)
1249
1250You type: ab esc ^V^V^V^V^V^[
1251
1252 All keyboard input is subjected to ^V quote interpretation, so
1253 the first, third, and fifth ^V characters simply allow the second,
1254 and fourth ^Vs, and the ^[, to be entered into the command-line.
1255
1256You see: ab esc ^V^V^[
1257
1258 The command-line contains two actual ^Vs before the ^[. This is
1259 how it should appear in your .exrc file, if you choose to go that
1260 route. The first ^V is there to quote the second ^V; the :ab
1261 command uses ^V as its own quote character, so you can include quoted
Bram Moolenaar81695252004-12-29 20:58:21 +00001262 whitespace or the | character in the abbreviation. The :ab command
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001263 doesn't do anything special with the ^[ character, so it doesn't need
1264 to be quoted. (Although quoting isn't harmful; that's why typing 7
1265 [but not 8!] ^Vs works.)
1266
1267Stored as: esc ^V^[
1268
1269 After parsing, the abbreviation's short form ("esc") and long form
1270 (the two characters "^V^[") are stored in the abbreviation table.
1271 If you give the :ab command with no arguments, this is how the
1272 abbreviation will be displayed.
1273
1274 Later, when the abbreviation is expanded because the user typed in
1275 the word "esc", the long form is subjected to the same type of
1276 ^V interpretation as keyboard input. So the ^V protects the ^[
Bram Moolenaar81695252004-12-29 20:58:21 +00001277 character from being interpreted as the "exit Insert mode" character.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001278 Instead, the ^[ is inserted into the text.
1279
1280Expands to: ^[
1281
1282[example given by Steve Kirkendall]
1283
1284==============================================================================
12853. Local mappings and functions *script-local*
1286
1287When using several Vim script files, there is the danger that mappings and
1288functions used in one script use the same name as in other scripts. To avoid
1289this, they can be made local to the script.
1290
1291 *<SID>* *<SNR>* *E81*
1292The string "<SID>" can be used in a mapping or menu. This requires that the
1293'<' flag is not present in 'cpoptions'.
1294 When executing the map command, Vim will replace "<SID>" with the special
1295key code <SNR>, followed by a number that's unique for the script, and an
1296underscore. Example: >
1297 :map <SID>Add
1298could define a mapping "<SNR>23_Add".
1299
1300When defining a function in a script, "s:" can be prepended to the name to
1301make it local to the script. But when a mapping is executed from outside of
1302the script, it doesn't know in which script the function was defined. To
1303avoid this problem, use "<SID>" instead of "s:". The same translation is done
1304as for mappings. This makes it possible to define a call to the function in
Bram Moolenaar81695252004-12-29 20:58:21 +00001305a mapping.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001306
1307When a local function is executed, it runs in the context of the script it was
1308defined in. This means that new functions and mappings it defines can also
1309use "s:" or "<SID>" and it will use the same unique number as when the
1310function itself was defined. Also, the "s:var" local script variables can be
1311used.
1312
1313When executing an autocommand or a user command, it will run in the context of
1314the script it was defined in. This makes it possible that the command calls a
1315local function or uses a local mapping.
1316
Bram Moolenaar90944302020-08-01 20:45:11 +02001317In case the value is used in a context where <SID> cannot be correctly
1318expanded, use the expand() function: >
1319 let &includexpr = expand('<SID>') .. 'My_includeexpr()'
1320
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001321Otherwise, using "<SID>" outside of a script context is an error.
1322
1323If you need to get the script number to use in a complicated script, you can
Bram Moolenaar4770d092006-01-12 23:22:24 +00001324use this function: >
Bram Moolenaar4466ad62020-11-21 13:16:30 +01001325 func s:ScriptNumber()
1326 return matchstr(expand('<SID>'), '<SNR>\zs\d\+\ze_')
1327 endfunc
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001328
1329The "<SNR>" will be shown when listing functions and mappings. This is useful
1330to find out what they are defined to.
1331
1332The |:scriptnames| command can be used to see which scripts have been sourced
1333and what their <SNR> number is.
1334
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001335This is all {not available when compiled without the |+eval| feature}.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001336
1337==============================================================================
13384. User-defined commands *user-commands*
1339
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001340It is possible to define your own Ex commands. A user-defined command can act
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001341just like a built-in command (it can have a range or arguments, arguments can
1342be completed as filenames or buffer names, etc), except that when the command
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001343is executed, it is transformed into a normal Ex command and then executed.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001344
1345For starters: See section |40.2| in the user manual.
1346
Bram Moolenaar166af9b2010-11-16 20:34:40 +01001347 *E183* *E841* *user-cmd-ambiguous*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001348All user defined commands must start with an uppercase letter, to avoid
Bram Moolenaar166af9b2010-11-16 20:34:40 +01001349confusion with builtin commands. Exceptions are these builtin commands:
1350 :Next
1351 :X
1352They cannot be used for a user defined command. ":Print" is also an existing
1353command, but it is deprecated and can be overruled.
1354
1355The other characters of the user command can be uppercase letters, lowercase
1356letters or digits. When using digits, note that other commands that take a
1357numeric argument may become ambiguous. For example, the command ":Cc2" could
1358be the user command ":Cc2" without an argument, or the command ":Cc" with
1359argument "2". It is advised to put a space between the command name and the
1360argument to avoid these problems.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001361
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001362When using a user-defined command, the command can be abbreviated. However, if
1363an abbreviation is not unique, an error will be issued. Furthermore, a
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001364built-in command will always take precedence.
1365
1366Example: >
1367 :command Rename ...
1368 :command Renumber ...
1369 :Rena " Means "Rename"
1370 :Renu " Means "Renumber"
1371 :Ren " Error - ambiguous
1372 :command Paste ...
1373 :P " The built-in :Print
1374
1375It is recommended that full names for user-defined commands are used in
1376scripts.
1377
1378:com[mand] *:com* *:command*
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001379 List all user-defined commands. When listing commands,
Bram Moolenaara561a412019-04-25 21:27:58 +02001380 the characters in the first columns are:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001381 ! Command has the -bang attribute
1382 " Command has the -register attribute
Bram Moolenaara561a412019-04-25 21:27:58 +02001383 | Command has the -bar attribute
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001384 b Command is local to current buffer
1385 (see below for details on attributes)
Bram Moolenaar818078d2016-08-27 21:58:42 +02001386 The list can be filtered on command name with
1387 |:filter|, e.g., to list all commands with "Pyth" in
1388 the name: >
1389 filter Pyth command
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001390
1391:com[mand] {cmd} List the user-defined commands that start with {cmd}
1392
Bram Moolenaar5b8d8fd2005-08-16 23:01:50 +00001393 *:command-verbose*
1394When 'verbose' is non-zero, listing a command will also display where it was
1395last defined. Example: >
1396
1397 :verbose command TOhtml
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +00001398< Name Args Range Complete Definition ~
1399 TOhtml 0 % :call Convert2HTML(<line1>, <line2>) ~
1400 Last set from /usr/share/vim/vim-7.0/plugin/tohtml.vim ~
1401
Bram Moolenaar5195e452005-08-19 20:32:47 +00001402See |:verbose-cmd| for more information.
Bram Moolenaar5b8d8fd2005-08-16 23:01:50 +00001403
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001404 *E174* *E182*
Bram Moolenaar1b884a02020-12-10 21:11:27 +01001405:com[mand][!] [{attr}...] {cmd} {repl}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001406 Define a user command. The name of the command is
Bram Moolenaar1b884a02020-12-10 21:11:27 +01001407 {cmd} and its replacement text is {repl}. The
1408 command's attributes (see below) are {attr}. If the
1409 command already exists, an error is reported, unless a
1410 ! is specified, in which case the command is
1411 redefined. There is one exception: When sourcing a
1412 script again, a command that was previously defined in
1413 that script will be silently replaced.
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001414
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001415
1416:delc[ommand] {cmd} *:delc* *:delcommand* *E184*
1417 Delete the user-defined command {cmd}.
1418
Bram Moolenaarbdcba242021-09-12 20:58:02 +02001419:delc[ommand] -buffer {cmd} *E1237*
1420 Delete the user-defined command {cmd} that was defined
1421 for the current buffer.
1422
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001423:comc[lear] *:comc* *:comclear*
1424 Delete all user-defined commands.
1425
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001426
1427Command attributes ~
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001428
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001429User-defined commands are treated by Vim just like any other Ex commands. They
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001430can have arguments, or have a range specified. Arguments are subject to
1431completion as filenames, buffers, etc. Exactly how this works depends upon the
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001432command's attributes, which are specified when the command is defined.
1433
1434There are a number of attributes, split into four categories: argument
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001435handling, completion behavior, range handling, and special cases. The
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001436attributes are described below, by category.
1437
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001438
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001439Argument handling ~
1440 *E175* *E176* *:command-nargs*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001441By default, a user defined command will take no arguments (and an error is
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001442reported if any are supplied). However, it is possible to specify that the
1443command can take arguments, using the -nargs attribute. Valid cases are:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001444
1445 -nargs=0 No arguments are allowed (the default)
Bram Moolenaar9d87a372018-12-18 21:41:50 +01001446 -nargs=1 Exactly one argument is required, it includes spaces
Bram Moolenaar446beb42011-05-10 17:18:44 +02001447 -nargs=* Any number of arguments are allowed (0, 1, or many),
1448 separated by white space
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001449 -nargs=? 0 or 1 arguments are allowed
1450 -nargs=+ Arguments must be supplied, but any number are allowed
1451
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +00001452Arguments are considered to be separated by (unescaped) spaces or tabs in this
Bram Moolenaar446beb42011-05-10 17:18:44 +02001453context, except when there is one argument, then the white space is part of
1454the argument.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001455
1456Note that arguments are used as text, not as expressions. Specifically,
1457"s:var" will use the script-local variable in the script where the command was
1458defined, not where it is invoked! Example:
1459 script1.vim: >
1460 :let s:error = "None"
1461 :command -nargs=1 Error echoerr <args>
1462< script2.vim: >
1463 :source script1.vim
1464 :let s:error = "Wrong!"
1465 :Error s:error
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +00001466Executing script2.vim will result in "None" being echoed. Not what you
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001467intended! Calling a function may be an alternative.
1468
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001469
1470Completion behavior ~
Bram Moolenaar9d87a372018-12-18 21:41:50 +01001471 *:command-completion* *E179* *E180* *E181*
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001472 *:command-complete*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001473By default, the arguments of user defined commands do not undergo completion.
1474However, by specifying one or the other of the following attributes, argument
1475completion can be enabled:
1476
Bram Moolenaarcd43eff2018-03-29 15:55:38 +02001477 -complete=arglist file names in argument list
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001478 -complete=augroup autocmd groups
1479 -complete=buffer buffer names
Bram Moolenaar5ae636b2012-04-30 18:48:53 +02001480 -complete=behave :behave suboptions
Bram Moolenaare9edd7f2011-07-20 16:37:24 +02001481 -complete=color color schemes
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001482 -complete=command Ex command (and arguments)
Bram Moolenaare9edd7f2011-07-20 16:37:24 +02001483 -complete=compiler compilers
Bram Moolenaar4a748032010-09-30 21:47:56 +02001484 -complete=cscope |:cscope| suboptions
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001485 -complete=dir directory names
1486 -complete=environment environment variable names
1487 -complete=event autocommand events
1488 -complete=expression Vim expression
1489 -complete=file file and directory names
Bram Moolenaare9edd7f2011-07-20 16:37:24 +02001490 -complete=file_in_path file and directory names in |'path'|
Bram Moolenaara26559b2010-07-31 14:59:19 +02001491 -complete=filetype filetype names |'filetype'|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001492 -complete=function function name
1493 -complete=help help subjects
1494 -complete=highlight highlight groups
Bram Moolenaar5ae636b2012-04-30 18:48:53 +02001495 -complete=history :history suboptions
Bram Moolenaare9edd7f2011-07-20 16:37:24 +02001496 -complete=locale locale names (as output of locale -a)
Bram Moolenaarcae92dc2017-08-06 15:22:15 +02001497 -complete=mapclear buffer argument
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001498 -complete=mapping mapping name
1499 -complete=menu menus
Bram Moolenaar9e507ca2016-10-15 15:39:39 +02001500 -complete=messages |:messages| suboptions
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001501 -complete=option options
Bram Moolenaar063b9d12016-07-09 20:21:48 +02001502 -complete=packadd optional package |pack-add| names
Bram Moolenaara26559b2010-07-31 14:59:19 +02001503 -complete=shellcmd Shell command
Bram Moolenaar4a748032010-09-30 21:47:56 +02001504 -complete=sign |:sign| suboptions
Bram Moolenaara26559b2010-07-31 14:59:19 +02001505 -complete=syntax syntax file names |'syntax'|
Bram Moolenaarcd9c4622013-06-08 15:24:48 +02001506 -complete=syntime |:syntime| suboptions
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001507 -complete=tag tags
1508 -complete=tag_listfiles tags, file names are shown when CTRL-D is hit
Bram Moolenaar24305862012-08-15 14:05:05 +02001509 -complete=user user names
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001510 -complete=var user variables
1511 -complete=custom,{func} custom completion, defined via {func}
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001512 -complete=customlist,{func} custom completion, defined via {func}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001513
Bram Moolenaar3a991dd2014-10-02 01:41:41 +02001514Note: That some completion methods might expand environment variables.
1515
Bram Moolenaara5792f52005-11-23 21:25:05 +00001516
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001517Custom completion ~
1518 *:command-completion-custom*
1519 *:command-completion-customlist* *E467* *E468*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001520It is possible to define customized completion schemes via the "custom,{func}"
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001521or the "customlist,{func}" completion argument. The {func} part should be a
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +00001522function with the following signature: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001523
1524 :function {func}(ArgLead, CmdLine, CursorPos)
1525
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001526The function need not use all these arguments. The function should provide the
1527completion candidates as the return value.
1528
1529For the "custom" argument, the function should return the completion
1530candidates one per line in a newline separated string.
1531
1532For the "customlist" argument, the function should return the completion
Bram Moolenaara5792f52005-11-23 21:25:05 +00001533candidates as a Vim List. Non-string items in the list are ignored.
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001534
1535The function arguments are:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001536 ArgLead the leading portion of the argument currently being
1537 completed on
1538 CmdLine the entire command line
Bram Moolenaara5792f52005-11-23 21:25:05 +00001539 CursorPos the cursor position in it (byte index)
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001540The function may use these for determining context. For the "custom"
1541argument, it is not necessary to filter candidates against the (implicit
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001542pattern in) ArgLead. Vim will filter the candidates with its regexp engine
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001543after function return, and this is probably more efficient in most cases. For
1544the "customlist" argument, Vim will not filter the returned completion
1545candidates and the user supplied function should filter the candidates.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001546
1547The following example lists user names to a Finger command >
1548 :com -complete=custom,ListUsers -nargs=1 Finger !finger <args>
1549 :fun ListUsers(A,L,P)
1550 : return system("cut -d: -f1 /etc/passwd")
1551 :endfun
1552
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001553The following example completes filenames from the directories specified in
1554the 'path' option: >
1555 :com -nargs=1 -bang -complete=customlist,EditFileComplete
1556 \ EditFile edit<bang> <args>
1557 :fun EditFileComplete(A,L,P)
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001558 : return split(globpath(&path, a:A), "\n")
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001559 :endfun
1560<
Bram Moolenaar5ac3b1a2010-07-27 22:50:36 +02001561This example does not work for file names with spaces!
1562
Bram Moolenaara5792f52005-11-23 21:25:05 +00001563
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001564Range handling ~
1565 *E177* *E178* *:command-range* *:command-count*
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001566By default, user-defined commands do not accept a line number range. However,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001567it is possible to specify that the command does take a range (the -range
1568attribute), or that it takes an arbitrary count value, either in the line
1569number position (-range=N, like the |:split| command) or as a "count"
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +00001570argument (-count=N, like the |:Next| command). The count will then be
1571available in the argument with |<count>|.
1572
1573Possible attributes are:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001574
1575 -range Range allowed, default is current line
1576 -range=% Range allowed, default is whole file (1,$)
1577 -range=N A count (default N) which is specified in the line
Bram Moolenaar8e5af3e2011-04-28 19:02:44 +02001578 number position (like |:split|); allows for zero line
1579 number.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001580 -count=N A count (default N) which is specified either in the line
Bram Moolenaar32e7b2d2005-02-27 22:36:47 +00001581 number position, or as an initial argument (like |:Next|).
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001582 -count acts like -count=0
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001583
1584Note that -range=N and -count=N are mutually exclusive - only one should be
1585specified.
1586
Bram Moolenaaraa3b15d2016-04-21 08:53:19 +02001587 *:command-addr*
Bram Moolenaarf1d6ccf2014-12-08 04:16:44 +01001588It is possible that the special characters in the range like ., $ or % which
1589by default correspond to the current line, last line and the whole buffer,
1590relate to arguments, (loaded) buffers, windows or tab pages.
1591
Bram Moolenaara561a412019-04-25 21:27:58 +02001592Possible values are (second column is the short name used in listing):
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001593 -addr=lines Range of lines (this is the default for -range)
Bram Moolenaara561a412019-04-25 21:27:58 +02001594 -addr=arguments arg Range for arguments
1595 -addr=buffers buf Range for buffers (also not loaded buffers)
1596 -addr=loaded_buffers load Range for loaded buffers
1597 -addr=windows win Range for windows
1598 -addr=tabs tab Range for tab pages
1599 -addr=quickfix qf Range for quickfix entries
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001600 -addr=other ? other kind of range; can use ".", "$" and "%"
1601 as with "lines" (this is the default for
1602 -count)
Bram Moolenaarf1d6ccf2014-12-08 04:16:44 +01001603
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001604
1605Special cases ~
1606 *:command-bang* *:command-bar*
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +00001607 *:command-register* *:command-buffer*
Bram Moolenaar519cc552021-11-16 19:18:26 +00001608 *:command-keepscript*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001609There are some special cases as well:
1610
1611 -bang The command can take a ! modifier (like :q or :w)
1612 -bar The command can be followed by a "|" and another command.
1613 A "|" inside the command argument is not allowed then.
1614 Also checks for a " to start a comment.
1615 -register The first argument to the command can be an optional
1616 register name (like :del, :put, :yank).
1617 -buffer The command will only be available in the current buffer.
Bram Moolenaar58ef8a32021-11-12 11:25:11 +00001618 -keepscript Do not use the location of where the user command was
1619 defined for verbose messages, use the location of where
1620 the user command was invoked.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001621
1622In the cases of the -count and -register attributes, if the optional argument
1623is supplied, it is removed from the argument list and is available to the
1624replacement text separately.
Bram Moolenaar7cba6c02013-09-05 22:13:31 +02001625Note that these arguments can be abbreviated, but that is a deprecated
1626feature. Use the full name for new scripts.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001627
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001628
1629Replacement text ~
Bram Moolenaar73b8b0a2021-08-01 14:52:32 +02001630 *:command-repl*
Bram Moolenaar5d7c2df2021-07-27 21:17:32 +02001631The {repl} argument is normally one long string, possibly with "|" separated
1632commands. A special case is when the argument is "{", then the following
1633lines, up to a line starting with "}" are used and |Vim9| syntax applies.
1634Example: >
1635 :command MyCommand {
1636 echo 'hello'
1637 g:calledMyCommand = true
1638 }
Bram Moolenaar63b91732021-08-05 20:40:03 +02001639< *E1231*
1640There must be white space before the "{". No nesting is supported, inline
1641functions cannot be used. Commands where a "|" may appear in the argument,
1642such as commands with an expression argument, cannot be followed by a "|" and
1643another command.
Bram Moolenaar5d7c2df2021-07-27 21:17:32 +02001644
Bram Moolenaar1b884a02020-12-10 21:11:27 +01001645The replacement text {repl} for a user defined command is scanned for special
1646escape sequences, using <...> notation. Escape sequences are replaced with
1647values from the entered command line, and all other text is copied unchanged.
1648The resulting string is executed as an Ex command. To avoid the replacement
1649use <lt> in place of the initial <. Thus to include "<bang>" literally use
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +00001650"<lt>bang>".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001651
1652The valid escape sequences are
1653
1654 *<line1>*
1655 <line1> The starting line of the command range.
1656 *<line2>*
1657 <line2> The final line of the command range.
Bram Moolenaarc168bd42017-09-10 17:34:35 +02001658 *<range>*
1659 <range> The number of items in the command range: 0, 1 or 2
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001660 *<count>*
1661 <count> Any count supplied (as described for the '-range'
1662 and '-count' attributes).
1663 *<bang>*
1664 <bang> (See the '-bang' attribute) Expands to a ! if the
1665 command was executed with a ! modifier, otherwise
1666 expands to nothing.
Bram Moolenaar1d59aa12020-09-19 18:50:13 +02001667 *<mods>* *<q-mods>* *:command-modifiers*
Bram Moolenaar63a60de2016-06-04 22:08:55 +02001668 <mods> The command modifiers, if specified. Otherwise, expands to
Bram Moolenaarc95a3022016-06-12 23:01:46 +02001669 nothing. Supported modifiers are |:aboveleft|, |:belowright|,
1670 |:botright|, |:browse|, |:confirm|, |:hide|, |:keepalt|,
Bram Moolenaarbc8801c2016-08-02 21:04:33 +02001671 |:keepjumps|, |:keepmarks|, |:keeppatterns|, |:leftabove|,
1672 |:lockmarks|, |:noswapfile| |:rightbelow|, |:silent|, |:tab|,
1673 |:topleft|, |:verbose|, and |:vertical|.
1674 Note that these are not yet supported: |:noautocmd|,
1675 |:sandbox| and |:unsilent|.
Bram Moolenaar63a60de2016-06-04 22:08:55 +02001676 Examples: >
1677 command! -nargs=+ -complete=file MyEdit
1678 \ for f in expand(<q-args>, 0, 1) |
1679 \ exe '<mods> split ' . f |
1680 \ endfor
1681
1682 function! SpecialEdit(files, mods)
1683 for f in expand(a:files, 0, 1)
1684 exe a:mods . ' split ' . f
1685 endfor
1686 endfunction
1687 command! -nargs=+ -complete=file Sedit
1688 \ call SpecialEdit(<q-args>, <q-mods>)
1689<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001690 *<reg>* *<register>*
1691 <reg> (See the '-register' attribute) The optional register,
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001692 if specified. Otherwise, expands to nothing. <register>
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001693 is a synonym for this.
1694 *<args>*
1695 <args> The command arguments, exactly as supplied (but as
1696 noted above, any count or register can consume some
1697 of the arguments, which are then not part of <args>).
1698 <lt> A single '<' (Less-Than) character. This is needed if you
1699 want to get a literal copy of one of these escape sequences
1700 into the expansion - for example, to get <bang>, use
1701 <lt>bang>.
1702
1703 *<q-args>*
1704If the first two characters of an escape sequence are "q-" (for example,
1705<q-args>) then the value is quoted in such a way as to make it a valid value
1706for use in an expression. This uses the argument as one single value.
Bram Moolenaar51485f02005-06-04 21:55:20 +00001707When there is no argument <q-args> is an empty string.
Bram Moolenaar552f8a12007-03-08 17:12:08 +00001708 *<f-args>*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001709To allow commands to pass their arguments on to a user-defined function, there
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001710is a special form <f-args> ("function args"). This splits the command
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +00001711arguments at spaces and tabs, quotes each argument individually, and the
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001712<f-args> sequence is replaced by the comma-separated list of quoted arguments.
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +00001713See the Mycmd example below. If no arguments are given <f-args> is removed.
Bram Moolenaar552f8a12007-03-08 17:12:08 +00001714 To embed whitespace into an argument of <f-args>, prepend a backslash.
1715<f-args> replaces every pair of backslashes (\\) with one backslash. A
1716backslash followed by a character other than white space or a backslash
1717remains unmodified. Overview:
1718
1719 command <f-args> ~
1720 XX ab 'ab'
1721 XX a\b 'a\b'
1722 XX a\ b 'a b'
1723 XX a\ b 'a ', 'b'
1724 XX a\\b 'a\b'
1725 XX a\\ b 'a\', 'b'
1726 XX a\\\b 'a\\b'
1727 XX a\\\ b 'a\ b'
1728 XX a\\\\b 'a\\b'
1729 XX a\\\\ b 'a\\', 'b'
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001730
1731Examples >
1732
1733 " Delete everything after here to the end
1734 :com Ddel +,$d
1735
1736 " Rename the current buffer
1737 :com -nargs=1 -bang -complete=file Ren f <args>|w<bang>
1738
1739 " Replace a range with the contents of a file
1740 " (Enter this all as one line)
1741 :com -range -nargs=1 -complete=file
1742 Replace <line1>-pu_|<line1>,<line2>d|r <args>|<line1>d
1743
1744 " Count the number of lines in the range
Bram Moolenaar81695252004-12-29 20:58:21 +00001745 :com! -range -nargs=0 Lines echo <line2> - <line1> + 1 "lines"
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001746
1747 " Call a user function (example of <f-args>)
1748 :com -nargs=* Mycmd call Myfunc(<f-args>)
1749
1750When executed as: >
1751 :Mycmd arg1 arg2
1752This will invoke: >
1753 :call Myfunc("arg1","arg2")
1754
1755 :" A more substantial example
1756 :function Allargs(command)
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +00001757 : let i = 0
1758 : while i < argc()
1759 : if filereadable(argv(i))
1760 : execute "e " . argv(i)
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001761 : execute a:command
1762 : endif
1763 : let i = i + 1
1764 : endwhile
1765 :endfunction
1766 :command -nargs=+ -complete=command Allargs call Allargs(<q-args>)
1767
1768The command Allargs takes any Vim command(s) as argument and executes it on all
1769files in the argument list. Usage example (note use of the "e" flag to ignore
1770errors and the "update" command to write modified buffers): >
1771 :Allargs %s/foo/bar/ge|update
1772This will invoke: >
1773 :call Allargs("%s/foo/bar/ge|update")
1774<
Bram Moolenaar1b884a02020-12-10 21:11:27 +01001775If the command is defined in Vim9 script (a script that starts with
1776`:vim9script` and in a `:def` function) then {repl} will be executed as in Vim9
1777script. Thus this depends on where the command is defined, not where it is
1778used.
1779
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001780When defining a user command in a script, it will be able to call functions
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001781local to the script and use mappings local to the script. When the user
1782invokes the user command, it will run in the context of the script it was
1783defined in. This matters if |<SID>| is used in a command.
1784
Bram Moolenaar91f84f62018-07-29 15:07:52 +02001785 vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl: