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Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00001*eval.txt* For Vim version 7.0aa. Last change: 2005 Mar 26
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002
3
4 VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar
5
6
7Expression evaluation *expression* *expr* *E15* *eval*
8
9Using expressions is introduced in chapter 41 of the user manual |usr_41.txt|.
10
11Note: Expression evaluation can be disabled at compile time. If this has been
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +000012done, the features in this document are not available. See |+eval| and
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000013|no-eval-feature|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000014
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000151. Variables |variables|
16 1.1 Variable types
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +000017 1.2 Function references |Funcref|
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +000018 1.3 Lists |Lists|
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000019 1.4 Dictionaries |Dictionaries|
20 1.5 More about variables |more-variables|
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000212. Expression syntax |expression-syntax|
223. Internal variable |internal-variables|
234. Builtin Functions |functions|
245. Defining functions |user-functions|
256. Curly braces names |curly-braces-names|
267. Commands |expression-commands|
278. Exception handling |exception-handling|
289. Examples |eval-examples|
2910. No +eval feature |no-eval-feature|
3011. The sandbox |eval-sandbox|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000031
32{Vi does not have any of these commands}
33
34==============================================================================
351. Variables *variables*
36
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000371.1 Variable types ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +000038 *E712*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000039There are four types of variables:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000040
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000041Number A 32 bit signed number.
42 Examples: -123 0x10 0177
43
44String A NUL terminated string of 8-bit unsigned characters (bytes).
45 Examples: "ab\txx\"--" 'x-z''a,c'
46
47Funcref A reference to a function |Funcref|.
48 Example: function("strlen")
49
50List An ordered sequence of items |List|.
51 Example: [1, 2, ['a', 'b']]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000052
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000053The Number and String types are converted automatically, depending on how they
54are used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000055
56Conversion from a Number to a String is by making the ASCII representation of
57the Number. Examples: >
58 Number 123 --> String "123"
59 Number 0 --> String "0"
60 Number -1 --> String "-1"
61
62Conversion from a String to a Number is done by converting the first digits
63to a number. Hexadecimal "0xf9" and Octal "017" numbers are recognized. If
64the String doesn't start with digits, the result is zero. Examples: >
65 String "456" --> Number 456
66 String "6bar" --> Number 6
67 String "foo" --> Number 0
68 String "0xf1" --> Number 241
69 String "0100" --> Number 64
70 String "-8" --> Number -8
71 String "+8" --> Number 0
72
73To force conversion from String to Number, add zero to it: >
74 :echo "0100" + 0
75
76For boolean operators Numbers are used. Zero is FALSE, non-zero is TRUE.
77
78Note that in the command >
79 :if "foo"
80"foo" is converted to 0, which means FALSE. To test for a non-empty string,
81use strlen(): >
82 :if strlen("foo")
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +000083< *E745* *E728* *E703* *E729* *E730* *E731*
84List, Dictionary and Funcref types are not automatically converted.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000085
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000086 *E706*
87You will get an error if you try to change the type of a variable. You need
88to |:unlet| it first to avoid this error. String and Number are considered
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000089equivalent though. Consider this sequence of commands: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000090 :let l = "string"
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +000091 :let l = 44 " changes type from String to Number
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000092 :let l = [1, 2, 3] " error!
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000093
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000094
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000951.2 Function references ~
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +000096 *Funcref* *E695* *E718*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000097A Funcref variable is obtained with the |function()| function. It can be used
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +000098in an expression in the place of a function name, before the parenthesis
99around the arguments, to invoke the function it refers to. Example: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000100
101 :let Fn = function("MyFunc")
102 :echo Fn()
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000103< *E704* *E705* *E707*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000104A Funcref variable must start with a capital, "s:", "w:" or "b:". You cannot
105have both a Funcref variable and a function with the same name.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000106
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000107A special case is defining a function and directly assigning its Funcref to a
108Dictionary entry. Example: >
109 :function dict.init() dict
110 : let self.val = 0
111 :endfunction
112
113The key of the Dictionary can start with a lower case letter. The actual
114function name is not used here. Also see |numbered-function|.
115
116A Funcref can also be used with the |:call| command: >
117 :call Fn()
118 :call dict.init()
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000119
120The name of the referenced function can be obtained with |string()|. >
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000121 :let func = string(Fn)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000122
123You can use |call()| to invoke a Funcref and use a list variable for the
124arguments: >
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000125 :let r = call(Fn, mylist)
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000126
127
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001281.3 Lists ~
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +0000129 *List* *Lists* *E686*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000130A List is an ordered sequence of items. An item can be of any type. Items
131can be accessed by their index number. Items can be added and removed at any
132position in the sequence.
133
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000134
135List creation ~
136 *E696* *E697*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000137A List is created with a comma separated list of items in square brackets.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000138Examples: >
139 :let mylist = [1, two, 3, "four"]
140 :let emptylist = []
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000141
142An item can be any expression. Using a List for an item creates a
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000143nested List: >
144 :let nestlist = [[11, 12], [21, 22], [31, 32]]
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000145
146An extra comma after the last item is ignored.
147
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000148
149List index ~
150 *list-index* *E684*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000151An item in the List can be accessed by putting the index in square brackets
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000152after the List. Indexes are zero-based, thus the first item has index zero. >
153 :let item = mylist[0] " get the first item: 1
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000154 :let item = mylist[2] " get the third item: 3
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000155
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000156When the resulting item is a list this can be repeated: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000157 :let item = nestlist[0][1] " get the first list, second item: 12
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000158<
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000159A negative index is counted from the end. Index -1 refers to the last item in
160the List, -2 to the last but one item, etc. >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000161 :let last = mylist[-1] " get the last item: "four"
162
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000163To avoid an error for an invalid index use the |get()| function. When an item
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000164is not available it returns zero or the default value you specify: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000165 :echo get(mylist, idx)
166 :echo get(mylist, idx, "NONE")
167
168
169List concatenation ~
170
171Two lists can be concatenated with the "+" operator: >
172 :let longlist = mylist + [5, 6]
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000173 :let mylist += [7, 8]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000174
175To prepend or append an item turn the item into a list by putting [] around
176it. To change a list in-place see |list-modification| below.
177
178
179Sublist ~
180
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000181A part of the List can be obtained by specifying the first and last index,
182separated by a colon in square brackets: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000183 :let shortlist = mylist[2:-1] " get List [3, "four"]
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000184
185Omitting the first index is similar to zero. Omitting the last index is
186similar to -1. The difference is that there is no error if the items are not
187available. >
Bram Moolenaar540d6e32005-01-09 21:20:18 +0000188 :let endlist = mylist[2:] " from item 2 to the end: [3, "four"]
189 :let shortlist = mylist[2:2] " List with one item: [3]
190 :let otherlist = mylist[:] " make a copy of the List
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000191
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000192The second index can be just before the first index. In that case the result
193is an empty list. If the second index is lower, this results in an error. >
194 :echo mylist[2:1] " result: []
195 :echo mylist[2:0] " error!
196
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000197
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000198List identity ~
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000199 *list-identity*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000200When variable "aa" is a list and you assign it to another variable "bb", both
201variables refer to the same list. Thus changing the list "aa" will also
202change "bb": >
203 :let aa = [1, 2, 3]
204 :let bb = aa
205 :call add(aa, 4)
206 :echo bb
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000207< [1, 2, 3, 4]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000208
209Making a copy of a list is done with the |copy()| function. Using [:] also
210works, as explained above. This creates a shallow copy of the list: Changing
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000211a list item in the list will also change the item in the copied list: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000212 :let aa = [[1, 'a'], 2, 3]
213 :let bb = copy(aa)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000214 :call add(aa, 4)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000215 :let aa[0][1] = 'aaa'
216 :echo aa
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000217< [[1, aaa], 2, 3, 4] >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000218 :echo bb
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000219< [[1, aaa], 2, 3]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000220
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000221To make a completely independent list use |deepcopy()|. This also makes a
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000222copy of the values in the list, recursively. Up to a hundred levels deep.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000223
224The operator "is" can be used to check if two variables refer to the same
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000225List. "isnot" does the opposite. In contrast "==" compares if two lists have
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000226the same value. >
227 :let alist = [1, 2, 3]
228 :let blist = [1, 2, 3]
229 :echo alist is blist
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000230< 0 >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000231 :echo alist == blist
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000232< 1
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000233
234
235List unpack ~
236
237To unpack the items in a list to individual variables, put the variables in
238square brackets, like list items: >
239 :let [var1, var2] = mylist
240
241When the number of variables does not match the number of items in the list
242this produces an error. To handle any extra items from the list append ";"
243and a variable name: >
244 :let [var1, var2; rest] = mylist
245
246This works like: >
247 :let var1 = mylist[0]
248 :let var2 = mylist[1]
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000249 :let rest = mylist[2:]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000250
251Except that there is no error if there are only two items. "rest" will be an
252empty list then.
253
254
255List modification ~
256 *list-modification*
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000257To change a specific item of a list use |:let| this way: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000258 :let list[4] = "four"
259 :let listlist[0][3] = item
260
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000261To change part of a list you can specify the first and last item to be
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000262modified. The value must at least have the number of items in the range: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000263 :let list[3:5] = [3, 4, 5]
264
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000265Adding and removing items from a list is done with functions. Here are a few
266examples: >
267 :call insert(list, 'a') " prepend item 'a'
268 :call insert(list, 'a', 3) " insert item 'a' before list[3]
269 :call add(list, "new") " append String item
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000270 :call add(list, [1, 2]) " append a List as one new item
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000271 :call extend(list, [1, 2]) " extend the list with two more items
272 :let i = remove(list, 3) " remove item 3
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000273 :unlet list[3] " idem
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000274 :let l = remove(list, 3, -1) " remove items 3 to last item
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000275 :unlet list[3 : ] " idem
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000276 :call filter(list, 'v:val !~ "x"') " remove items with an 'x'
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000277
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000278Changing the order of items in a list: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000279 :call sort(list) " sort a list alphabetically
280 :call reverse(list) " reverse the order of items
281
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000282
283For loop ~
284
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000285The |:for| loop executes commands for each item in a list. A variable is set
286to each item in the list in sequence. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000287 :for item in mylist
288 : call Doit(item)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000289 :endfor
290
291This works like: >
292 :let index = 0
293 :while index < len(mylist)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000294 : let item = mylist[index]
295 : :call Doit(item)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000296 : let index = index + 1
297 :endwhile
298
299Note that all items in the list should be of the same type, otherwise this
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000300results in error |E706|. To avoid this |:unlet| the variable at the end of
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000301the loop.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000302
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000303If all you want to do is modify each item in the list then the |map()|
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000304function will be a simpler method than a for loop.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000305
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000306Just like the |:let| command, |:for| also accepts a list of variables. This
307requires the argument to be a list of lists. >
308 :for [lnum, col] in [[1, 3], [2, 8], [3, 0]]
309 : call Doit(lnum, col)
310 :endfor
311
312This works like a |:let| command is done for each list item. Again, the types
313must remain the same to avoid an error.
314
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000315It is also possible to put remaining items in a List variable: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000316 :for [i, j; rest] in listlist
317 : call Doit(i, j)
318 : if !empty(rest)
319 : echo "remainder: " . string(rest)
320 : endif
321 :endfor
322
323
324List functions ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000325 *E714*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000326Functions that are useful with a List: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000327 :let r = call(funcname, list) " call a function with an argument list
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000328 :if empty(list) " check if list is empty
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000329 :let l = len(list) " number of items in list
330 :let big = max(list) " maximum value in list
331 :let small = min(list) " minimum value in list
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000332 :let xs = count(list, 'x') " count nr of times 'x' appears in list
333 :let i = index(list, 'x') " index of first 'x' in list
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000334 :let lines = getline(1, 10) " get ten text lines from buffer
335 :call append('$', lines) " append text lines in buffer
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000336 :let list = split("a b c") " create list from items in a string
337 :let string = join(list, ', ') " create string from list items
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000338 :let s = string(list) " String representation of list
339 :call map(list, '">> " . v:val') " prepend ">> " to each item
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000340
341
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003421.4 Dictionaries ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000343 *Dictionaries* *Dictionary*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000344A Dictionary is an associative array: Each entry has a key and a value. The
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000345entry can be located with the key. The entries are stored without a specific
346ordering.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000347
348
349Dictionary creation ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000350 *E720* *E721* *E722* *E723*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000351A Dictionary is created with a comma separated list of entries in curly
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000352braces. Each entry has a key and a value, separated by a colon. Each key can
353only appear once. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000354 :let mydict = {1: 'one', 2: 'two', 3: 'three'}
355 :let emptydict = {}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000356< *E713* *E716* *E717*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000357A key is always a String. You can use a Number, it will be converted to a
358String automatically. Thus the String '4' and the number 4 will find the same
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000359entry. Note that the String '04' and the Number 04 are different, since the
360Number will be converted to the String '4'.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000361
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000362A value can be any expression. Using a Dictionary for a value creates a
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000363nested Dictionary: >
364 :let nestdict = {1: {11: 'a', 12: 'b'}, 2: {21: 'c'}}
365
366An extra comma after the last entry is ignored.
367
368
369Accessing entries ~
370
371The normal way to access an entry is by putting the key in square brackets: >
372 :let val = mydict["one"]
373 :let mydict["four"] = 4
374
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000375You can add new entries to an existing Dictionary this way, unlike Lists.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000376
377For keys that consist entirely of letters, digits and underscore the following
378form can be used |expr-entry|: >
379 :let val = mydict.one
380 :let mydict.four = 4
381
382Since an entry can be any type, also a List and a Dictionary, the indexing and
383key lookup can be repeated: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000384 :echo dict.key[idx].key
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000385
386
387Dictionary to List conversion ~
388
389You may want to loop over the entries in a dictionary. For this you need to
390turn the Dictionary into a List and pass it to |:for|.
391
392Most often you want to loop over the keys, using the |keys()| function: >
393 :for key in keys(mydict)
394 : echo key . ': ' . mydict[key]
395 :endfor
396
397The List of keys is unsorted. You may want to sort them first: >
398 :for key in sort(keys(mydict))
399
400To loop over the values use the |values()| function: >
401 :for v in values(mydict)
402 : echo "value: " . v
403 :endfor
404
405If you want both the key and the value use the |items()| function. It returns
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000406a List in which each item is a List with two items, the key and the value: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000407 :for entry in items(mydict)
408 : echo entry[0] . ': ' . entry[1]
409 :endfor
410
411
412Dictionary identity ~
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +0000413 *dict-identity*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000414Just like Lists you need to use |copy()| and |deepcopy()| to make a copy of a
415Dictionary. Otherwise, assignment results in referring to the same
416Dictionary: >
417 :let onedict = {'a': 1, 'b': 2}
418 :let adict = onedict
419 :let adict['a'] = 11
420 :echo onedict['a']
421 11
422
423For more info see |list-identity|.
424
425
426Dictionary modification ~
427 *dict-modification*
428To change an already existing entry of a Dictionary, or to add a new entry,
429use |:let| this way: >
430 :let dict[4] = "four"
431 :let dict['one'] = item
432
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000433Removing an entry from a Dictionary is done with |remove()| or |:unlet|.
434Three ways to remove the entry with key "aaa" from dict: >
435 :let i = remove(dict, 'aaa')
436 :unlet dict.aaa
437 :unlet dict['aaa']
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000438
439Merging a Dictionary with another is done with |extend()|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000440 :call extend(adict, bdict)
441This extends adict with all entries from bdict. Duplicate keys cause entries
442in adict to be overwritten. An optional third argument can change this.
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000443Note that the order of entries in a Dictionary is irrelevant, thus don't
444expect ":echo adict" to show the items from bdict after the older entries in
445adict.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000446
447Weeding out entries from a Dictionary can be done with |filter()|: >
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +0000448 :call filter(dict 'v:val =~ "x"')
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000449This removes all entries from "dict" with a value not matching 'x'.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000450
451
452Dictionary function ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000453 *Dictionary-function* *self* *E725*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000454When a function is defined with the "dict" attribute it can be used in a
455special way with a dictionary. Example: >
456 :function Mylen() dict
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000457 : return len(self.data)
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000458 :endfunction
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000459 :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3], 'len': function("Mylen")}
460 :echo mydict.len()
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000461
462This is like a method in object oriented programming. The entry in the
463Dictionary is a |Funcref|. The local variable "self" refers to the dictionary
464the function was invoked from.
465
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000466It is also possible to add a function without the "dict" attribute as a
467Funcref to a Dictionary, but the "self" variable is not available then.
468
469 *numbered-function*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000470To avoid the extra name for the function it can be defined and directly
471assigned to a Dictionary in this way: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000472 :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3]}
473 :function mydict.len() dict
474 : return len(self.data)
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000475 :endfunction
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000476 :echo mydict.len()
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000477
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000478The function will then get a number and the value of dict.len is a |Funcref|
479that references this function. The function can only be used through a
480|Funcref|. It will automatically be deleted when there is no |Funcref|
481remaining that refers to it.
482
483It is not necessary to use the "dict" attribute for a numbered function.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000484
485
486Functions for Dictionaries ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000487 *E715*
488Functions that can be used with a Dictionary: >
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000489 :if has_key(dict, 'foo') " TRUE if dict has entry with key "foo"
490 :if empty(dict) " TRUE if dict is empty
491 :let l = len(dict) " number of items in dict
492 :let big = max(dict) " maximum value in dict
493 :let small = min(dict) " minimum value in dict
494 :let xs = count(dict, 'x') " count nr of times 'x' appears in dict
495 :let s = string(dict) " String representation of dict
496 :call map(dict, '">> " . v:val') " prepend ">> " to each item
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000497
498
4991.5 More about variables ~
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000500 *more-variables*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000501If you need to know the type of a variable or expression, use the |type()|
502function.
503
504When the '!' flag is included in the 'viminfo' option, global variables that
505start with an uppercase letter, and don't contain a lowercase letter, are
506stored in the viminfo file |viminfo-file|.
507
508When the 'sessionoptions' option contains "global", global variables that
509start with an uppercase letter and contain at least one lowercase letter are
510stored in the session file |session-file|.
511
512variable name can be stored where ~
513my_var_6 not
514My_Var_6 session file
515MY_VAR_6 viminfo file
516
517
518It's possible to form a variable name with curly braces, see
519|curly-braces-names|.
520
521==============================================================================
5222. Expression syntax *expression-syntax*
523
524Expression syntax summary, from least to most significant:
525
526|expr1| expr2 ? expr1 : expr1 if-then-else
527
528|expr2| expr3 || expr3 .. logical OR
529
530|expr3| expr4 && expr4 .. logical AND
531
532|expr4| expr5 == expr5 equal
533 expr5 != expr5 not equal
534 expr5 > expr5 greater than
535 expr5 >= expr5 greater than or equal
536 expr5 < expr5 smaller than
537 expr5 <= expr5 smaller than or equal
538 expr5 =~ expr5 regexp matches
539 expr5 !~ expr5 regexp doesn't match
540
541 expr5 ==? expr5 equal, ignoring case
542 expr5 ==# expr5 equal, match case
543 etc. As above, append ? for ignoring case, # for
544 matching case
545
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000546 expr5 is expr5 same List instance
547 expr5 isnot expr5 different List instance
548
549|expr5| expr6 + expr6 .. number addition or list concatenation
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000550 expr6 - expr6 .. number subtraction
551 expr6 . expr6 .. string concatenation
552
553|expr6| expr7 * expr7 .. number multiplication
554 expr7 / expr7 .. number division
555 expr7 % expr7 .. number modulo
556
557|expr7| ! expr7 logical NOT
558 - expr7 unary minus
559 + expr7 unary plus
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000560
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000561
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000562|expr8| expr8[expr1] byte of a String or item of a List
563 expr8[expr1 : expr1] substring of a String or sublist of a List
564 expr8.name entry in a Dictionary
565 expr8(expr1, ...) function call with Funcref variable
566
567|expr9| number number constant
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000568 "string" string constant, backslash is special
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000569 'string' string constant, ' is doubled
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000570 [expr1, ...] List
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000571 {expr1: expr1, ...} Dictionary
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000572 &option option value
573 (expr1) nested expression
574 variable internal variable
575 va{ria}ble internal variable with curly braces
576 $VAR environment variable
577 @r contents of register 'r'
578 function(expr1, ...) function call
579 func{ti}on(expr1, ...) function call with curly braces
580
581
582".." indicates that the operations in this level can be concatenated.
583Example: >
584 &nu || &list && &shell == "csh"
585
586All expressions within one level are parsed from left to right.
587
588
589expr1 *expr1* *E109*
590-----
591
592expr2 ? expr1 : expr1
593
594The expression before the '?' is evaluated to a number. If it evaluates to
595non-zero, the result is the value of the expression between the '?' and ':',
596otherwise the result is the value of the expression after the ':'.
597Example: >
598 :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum
599
600Since the first expression is an "expr2", it cannot contain another ?:. The
601other two expressions can, thus allow for recursive use of ?:.
602Example: >
603 :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum == 1000 ? "last" : lnum
604
605To keep this readable, using |line-continuation| is suggested: >
606 :echo lnum == 1
607 :\ ? "top"
608 :\ : lnum == 1000
609 :\ ? "last"
610 :\ : lnum
611
612
613expr2 and expr3 *expr2* *expr3*
614---------------
615
616 *expr-barbar* *expr-&&*
617The "||" and "&&" operators take one argument on each side. The arguments
618are (converted to) Numbers. The result is:
619
620 input output ~
621n1 n2 n1 || n2 n1 && n2 ~
622zero zero zero zero
623zero non-zero non-zero zero
624non-zero zero non-zero zero
625non-zero non-zero non-zero non-zero
626
627The operators can be concatenated, for example: >
628
629 &nu || &list && &shell == "csh"
630
631Note that "&&" takes precedence over "||", so this has the meaning of: >
632
633 &nu || (&list && &shell == "csh")
634
635Once the result is known, the expression "short-circuits", that is, further
636arguments are not evaluated. This is like what happens in C. For example: >
637
638 let a = 1
639 echo a || b
640
641This is valid even if there is no variable called "b" because "a" is non-zero,
642so the result must be non-zero. Similarly below: >
643
644 echo exists("b") && b == "yes"
645
646This is valid whether "b" has been defined or not. The second clause will
647only be evaluated if "b" has been defined.
648
649
650expr4 *expr4*
651-----
652
653expr5 {cmp} expr5
654
655Compare two expr5 expressions, resulting in a 0 if it evaluates to false, or 1
656if it evaluates to true.
657
658 *expr-==* *expr-!=* *expr->* *expr->=*
659 *expr-<* *expr-<=* *expr-=~* *expr-!~*
660 *expr-==#* *expr-!=#* *expr->#* *expr->=#*
661 *expr-<#* *expr-<=#* *expr-=~#* *expr-!~#*
662 *expr-==?* *expr-!=?* *expr->?* *expr->=?*
663 *expr-<?* *expr-<=?* *expr-=~?* *expr-!~?*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000664 *expr-is*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000665 use 'ignorecase' match case ignore case ~
666equal == ==# ==?
667not equal != !=# !=?
668greater than > ># >?
669greater than or equal >= >=# >=?
670smaller than < <# <?
671smaller than or equal <= <=# <=?
672regexp matches =~ =~# =~?
673regexp doesn't match !~ !~# !~?
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000674same instance is
675different instance isnot
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000676
677Examples:
678"abc" ==# "Abc" evaluates to 0
679"abc" ==? "Abc" evaluates to 1
680"abc" == "Abc" evaluates to 1 if 'ignorecase' is set, 0 otherwise
681
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000682 *E691* *E692*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000683A List can only be compared with a List and only "equal", "not equal" and "is"
684can be used. This compares the values of the list, recursively. Ignoring
685case means case is ignored when comparing item values.
686
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000687 *E735* *E736*
688A Dictionary can only be compared with a Dictionary and only "equal", "not
689equal" and "is" can be used. This compares the key/values of the Dictionary,
690recursively. Ignoring case means case is ignored when comparing item values.
691
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000692 *E693* *E694*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000693A Funcref can only be compared with a Funcref and only "equal" and "not equal"
694can be used. Case is never ignored.
695
696When using "is" or "isnot" with a List this checks if the expressions are
697referring to the same List instance. A copy of a List is different from the
698original List. When using "is" without a List it is equivalent to using
699"equal", using "isnot" equivalent to using "not equal". Except that a
700different type means the values are different. "4 == '4'" is true, "4 is '4'"
701is false.
702
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000703When comparing a String with a Number, the String is converted to a Number,
704and the comparison is done on Numbers. This means that "0 == 'x'" is TRUE,
705because 'x' converted to a Number is zero.
706
707When comparing two Strings, this is done with strcmp() or stricmp(). This
708results in the mathematical difference (comparing byte values), not
709necessarily the alphabetical difference in the local language.
710
711When using the operators with a trailing '#", or the short version and
712'ignorecase' is off, the comparing is done with strcmp().
713
714When using the operators with a trailing '?', or the short version and
715'ignorecase' is set, the comparing is done with stricmp().
716
717The "=~" and "!~" operators match the lefthand argument with the righthand
718argument, which is used as a pattern. See |pattern| for what a pattern is.
719This matching is always done like 'magic' was set and 'cpoptions' is empty, no
720matter what the actual value of 'magic' or 'cpoptions' is. This makes scripts
721portable. To avoid backslashes in the regexp pattern to be doubled, use a
722single-quote string, see |literal-string|.
723Since a string is considered to be a single line, a multi-line pattern
724(containing \n, backslash-n) will not match. However, a literal NL character
725can be matched like an ordinary character. Examples:
726 "foo\nbar" =~ "\n" evaluates to 1
727 "foo\nbar" =~ "\\n" evaluates to 0
728
729
730expr5 and expr6 *expr5* *expr6*
731---------------
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000732expr6 + expr6 .. Number addition or List concatenation *expr-+*
733expr6 - expr6 .. Number subtraction *expr--*
734expr6 . expr6 .. String concatenation *expr-.*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000735
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000736For Lists only "+" is possible and then both expr6 must be a list. The result
737is a new list with the two lists Concatenated.
738
739expr7 * expr7 .. number multiplication *expr-star*
740expr7 / expr7 .. number division *expr-/*
741expr7 % expr7 .. number modulo *expr-%*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000742
743For all, except ".", Strings are converted to Numbers.
744
745Note the difference between "+" and ".":
746 "123" + "456" = 579
747 "123" . "456" = "123456"
748
749When the righthand side of '/' is zero, the result is 0x7fffffff.
750When the righthand side of '%' is zero, the result is 0.
751
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000752None of these work for Funcrefs.
753
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000754
755expr7 *expr7*
756-----
757! expr7 logical NOT *expr-!*
758- expr7 unary minus *expr-unary--*
759+ expr7 unary plus *expr-unary-+*
760
761For '!' non-zero becomes zero, zero becomes one.
762For '-' the sign of the number is changed.
763For '+' the number is unchanged.
764
765A String will be converted to a Number first.
766
767These three can be repeated and mixed. Examples:
768 !-1 == 0
769 !!8 == 1
770 --9 == 9
771
772
773expr8 *expr8*
774-----
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000775expr8[expr1] item of String or List *expr-[]* *E111*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000776
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000777If expr8 is a Number or String this results in a String that contains the
778expr1'th single byte from expr8. expr8 is used as a String, expr1 as a
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000779Number. Note that this doesn't recognize multi-byte encodings.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000780
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000781Index zero gives the first character. This is like it works in C. Careful:
782text column numbers start with one! Example, to get the character under the
783cursor: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000784 :let c = getline(line("."))[col(".") - 1]
785
786If the length of the String is less than the index, the result is an empty
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000787String. A negative index always results in an empty string (reason: backwards
788compatibility). Use [-1:] to get the last byte.
789
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000790If expr8 is a List then it results the item at index expr1. See |list-index|
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000791for possible index values. If the index is out of range this results in an
792error. Example: >
793 :let item = mylist[-1] " get last item
794
795Generally, if a List index is equal to or higher than the length of the List,
796or more negative than the length of the List, this results in an error.
797
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000798
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000799expr8[expr1a : expr1b] substring or sublist *expr-[:]*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000800
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000801If expr8 is a Number or String this results in the substring with the bytes
802from expr1a to and including expr1b. expr8 is used as a String, expr1a and
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000803expr1b are used as a Number. Note that this doesn't recognize multi-byte
804encodings.
805
806If expr1a is omitted zero is used. If expr1b is omitted the length of the
807string minus one is used.
808
809A negative number can be used to measure from the end of the string. -1 is
810the last character, -2 the last but one, etc.
811
812If an index goes out of range for the string characters are omitted. If
813expr1b is smaller than expr1a the result is an empty string.
814
815Examples: >
816 :let c = name[-1:] " last byte of a string
817 :let c = name[-2:-2] " last but one byte of a string
818 :let s = line(".")[4:] " from the fifth byte to the end
819 :let s = s[:-3] " remove last two bytes
820
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000821If expr8 is a List this results in a new List with the items indicated by the
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000822indexes expr1a and expr1b. This works like with a String, as explained just
823above, except that indexes out of range cause an error. Examples: >
824 :let l = mylist[:3] " first four items
825 :let l = mylist[4:4] " List with one item
826 :let l = mylist[:] " shallow copy of a List
827
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000828Using expr8[expr1] or expr8[expr1a : expr1b] on a Funcref results in an error.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000829
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000830
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000831expr8.name entry in a Dictionary *expr-entry*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000832
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000833If expr8 is a Dictionary and it is followed by a dot, then the following name
834will be used as a key in the Dictionary. This is just like: expr8[name].
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000835
836The name must consist of alphanumeric characters, just like a variable name,
837but it may start with a number. Curly braces cannot be used.
838
839There must not be white space before or after the dot.
840
841Examples: >
842 :let dict = {"one": 1, 2: "two"}
843 :echo dict.one
844 :echo dict .2
845
846Note that the dot is also used for String concatenation. To avoid confusion
847always put spaces around the dot for String concatenation.
848
849
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000850expr8(expr1, ...) Funcref function call
851
852When expr8 is a |Funcref| type variable, invoke the function it refers to.
853
854
855
856 *expr9*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000857number
858------
859number number constant *expr-number*
860
861Decimal, Hexadecimal (starting with 0x or 0X), or Octal (starting with 0).
862
863
864string *expr-string* *E114*
865------
866"string" string constant *expr-quote*
867
868Note that double quotes are used.
869
870A string constant accepts these special characters:
871\... three-digit octal number (e.g., "\316")
872\.. two-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit)
873\. one-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit)
874\x.. byte specified with two hex numbers (e.g., "\x1f")
875\x. byte specified with one hex number (must be followed by non-hex char)
876\X.. same as \x..
877\X. same as \x.
878\u.... character specified with up to 4 hex numbers, stored according to the
879 current value of 'encoding' (e.g., "\u02a4")
880\U.... same as \u....
881\b backspace <BS>
882\e escape <Esc>
883\f formfeed <FF>
884\n newline <NL>
885\r return <CR>
886\t tab <Tab>
887\\ backslash
888\" double quote
889\<xxx> Special key named "xxx". e.g. "\<C-W>" for CTRL-W.
890
891Note that "\000" and "\x00" force the end of the string.
892
893
894literal-string *literal-string* *E115*
895---------------
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000896'string' string constant *expr-'*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000897
898Note that single quotes are used.
899
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000900This string is taken as it is. No backslashes are removed or have a special
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000901meaning. The only exception is that two quotes stand for one quote.
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000902
903Single quoted strings are useful for patterns, so that backslashes do not need
904to be doubled. These two commands are equivalent: >
905 if a =~ "\\s*"
906 if a =~ '\s*'
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000907
908
909option *expr-option* *E112* *E113*
910------
911&option option value, local value if possible
912&g:option global option value
913&l:option local option value
914
915Examples: >
916 echo "tabstop is " . &tabstop
917 if &insertmode
918
919Any option name can be used here. See |options|. When using the local value
920and there is no buffer-local or window-local value, the global value is used
921anyway.
922
923
924register *expr-register*
925--------
926@r contents of register 'r'
927
928The result is the contents of the named register, as a single string.
929Newlines are inserted where required. To get the contents of the unnamed
930register use @" or @@. The '=' register can not be used here. See
931|registers| for an explanation of the available registers.
932
933
934nesting *expr-nesting* *E110*
935-------
936(expr1) nested expression
937
938
939environment variable *expr-env*
940--------------------
941$VAR environment variable
942
943The String value of any environment variable. When it is not defined, the
944result is an empty string.
945 *expr-env-expand*
946Note that there is a difference between using $VAR directly and using
947expand("$VAR"). Using it directly will only expand environment variables that
948are known inside the current Vim session. Using expand() will first try using
949the environment variables known inside the current Vim session. If that
950fails, a shell will be used to expand the variable. This can be slow, but it
951does expand all variables that the shell knows about. Example: >
952 :echo $version
953 :echo expand("$version")
954The first one probably doesn't echo anything, the second echoes the $version
955variable (if your shell supports it).
956
957
958internal variable *expr-variable*
959-----------------
960variable internal variable
961See below |internal-variables|.
962
963
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +0000964function call *expr-function* *E116* *E118* *E119* *E120*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000965-------------
966function(expr1, ...) function call
967See below |functions|.
968
969
970==============================================================================
9713. Internal variable *internal-variables* *E121*
972 *E461*
973An internal variable name can be made up of letters, digits and '_'. But it
974cannot start with a digit. It's also possible to use curly braces, see
975|curly-braces-names|.
976
977An internal variable is created with the ":let" command |:let|.
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000978An internal variable is explicitly destroyed with the ":unlet" command
979|:unlet|.
980Using a name that is not an internal variable or refers to a variable that has
981been destroyed results in an error.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000982
983There are several name spaces for variables. Which one is to be used is
984specified by what is prepended:
985
986 (nothing) In a function: local to a function; otherwise: global
987|buffer-variable| b: Local to the current buffer.
988|window-variable| w: Local to the current window.
989|global-variable| g: Global.
990|local-variable| l: Local to a function.
991|script-variable| s: Local to a |:source|'ed Vim script.
992|function-argument| a: Function argument (only inside a function).
993|vim-variable| v: Global, predefined by Vim.
994
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +0000995The scope name by itself can be used as a Dictionary. For example, to delete
996all script-local variables: >
997 :for k in keys(s:)
998 : unlet s:[k]
999 :endfor
1000<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001001 *buffer-variable* *b:var*
1002A variable name that is preceded with "b:" is local to the current buffer.
1003Thus you can have several "b:foo" variables, one for each buffer.
1004This kind of variable is deleted when the buffer is wiped out or deleted with
1005|:bdelete|.
1006
1007One local buffer variable is predefined:
1008 *b:changedtick-variable* *changetick*
1009b:changedtick The total number of changes to the current buffer. It is
1010 incremented for each change. An undo command is also a change
1011 in this case. This can be used to perform an action only when
1012 the buffer has changed. Example: >
1013 :if my_changedtick != b:changedtick
1014 : let my_changedtick = b:changedtick
1015 : call My_Update()
1016 :endif
1017<
1018 *window-variable* *w:var*
1019A variable name that is preceded with "w:" is local to the current window. It
1020is deleted when the window is closed.
1021
1022 *global-variable* *g:var*
1023Inside functions global variables are accessed with "g:". Omitting this will
1024access a variable local to a function. But "g:" can also be used in any other
1025place if you like.
1026
1027 *local-variable* *l:var*
1028Inside functions local variables are accessed without prepending anything.
1029But you can also prepend "l:" if you like.
1030
1031 *script-variable* *s:var*
1032In a Vim script variables starting with "s:" can be used. They cannot be
1033accessed from outside of the scripts, thus are local to the script.
1034
1035They can be used in:
1036- commands executed while the script is sourced
1037- functions defined in the script
1038- autocommands defined in the script
1039- functions and autocommands defined in functions and autocommands which were
1040 defined in the script (recursively)
1041- user defined commands defined in the script
1042Thus not in:
1043- other scripts sourced from this one
1044- mappings
1045- etc.
1046
1047script variables can be used to avoid conflicts with global variable names.
1048Take this example:
1049
1050 let s:counter = 0
1051 function MyCounter()
1052 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1053 echo s:counter
1054 endfunction
1055 command Tick call MyCounter()
1056
1057You can now invoke "Tick" from any script, and the "s:counter" variable in
1058that script will not be changed, only the "s:counter" in the script where
1059"Tick" was defined is used.
1060
1061Another example that does the same: >
1062
1063 let s:counter = 0
1064 command Tick let s:counter = s:counter + 1 | echo s:counter
1065
1066When calling a function and invoking a user-defined command, the context for
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001067script variables is set to the script where the function or command was
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001068defined.
1069
1070The script variables are also available when a function is defined inside a
1071function that is defined in a script. Example: >
1072
1073 let s:counter = 0
1074 function StartCounting(incr)
1075 if a:incr
1076 function MyCounter()
1077 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1078 endfunction
1079 else
1080 function MyCounter()
1081 let s:counter = s:counter - 1
1082 endfunction
1083 endif
1084 endfunction
1085
1086This defines the MyCounter() function either for counting up or counting down
1087when calling StartCounting(). It doesn't matter from where StartCounting() is
1088called, the s:counter variable will be accessible in MyCounter().
1089
1090When the same script is sourced again it will use the same script variables.
1091They will remain valid as long as Vim is running. This can be used to
1092maintain a counter: >
1093
1094 if !exists("s:counter")
1095 let s:counter = 1
1096 echo "script executed for the first time"
1097 else
1098 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1099 echo "script executed " . s:counter . " times now"
1100 endif
1101
1102Note that this means that filetype plugins don't get a different set of script
1103variables for each buffer. Use local buffer variables instead |b:var|.
1104
1105
1106Predefined Vim variables: *vim-variable* *v:var*
1107
Bram Moolenaare4efc3b2005-03-07 23:16:51 +00001108 *v:beval_col* *beval_col-variable*
1109v:beval_col The number of the column, over which the mouse pointer is.
1110 This is the byte index in the |v:beval_lnum| line.
1111 Only valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1112
1113 *v:beval_bufnr* *beval_bufnr-variable*
1114v:beval_bufnr The number of the buffer, over which the mouse pointer is. Only
1115 valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1116
1117 *v:beval_lnum* *beval_lnum-variable*
1118v:beval_lnum The number of the line, over which the mouse pointer is. Only
1119 valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1120
1121 *v:beval_text* *beval_text-variable*
1122v:beval_text The text under or after the mouse pointer. Usually a word as it is
1123 useful for debugging a C program. 'iskeyword' applies, but a
1124 dot and "->" before the position is included. When on a ']'
1125 the text before it is used, including the matching '[' and
1126 word before it. When on a Visual area within one line the
1127 highlighted text is used.
1128 Only valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1129
1130 *v:beval_winnr* *beval_winnr-variable*
1131v:beval_winnr The number of the window, over which the mouse pointer is. Only
1132 valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1133
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001134 *v:charconvert_from* *charconvert_from-variable*
1135v:charconvert_from
1136 The name of the character encoding of a file to be converted.
1137 Only valid while evaluating the 'charconvert' option.
1138
1139 *v:charconvert_to* *charconvert_to-variable*
1140v:charconvert_to
1141 The name of the character encoding of a file after conversion.
1142 Only valid while evaluating the 'charconvert' option.
1143
1144 *v:cmdarg* *cmdarg-variable*
1145v:cmdarg This variable is used for two purposes:
1146 1. The extra arguments given to a file read/write command.
1147 Currently these are "++enc=" and "++ff=". This variable is
1148 set before an autocommand event for a file read/write
1149 command is triggered. There is a leading space to make it
1150 possible to append this variable directly after the
1151 read/write command. Note: The "+cmd" argument isn't
1152 included here, because it will be executed anyway.
1153 2. When printing a PostScript file with ":hardcopy" this is
1154 the argument for the ":hardcopy" command. This can be used
1155 in 'printexpr'.
1156
1157 *v:cmdbang* *cmdbang-variable*
1158v:cmdbang Set like v:cmdarg for a file read/write command. When a "!"
1159 was used the value is 1, otherwise it is 0. Note that this
1160 can only be used in autocommands. For user commands |<bang>|
1161 can be used.
1162
1163 *v:count* *count-variable*
1164v:count The count given for the last Normal mode command. Can be used
1165 to get the count before a mapping. Read-only. Example: >
1166 :map _x :<C-U>echo "the count is " . v:count<CR>
1167< Note: The <C-U> is required to remove the line range that you
1168 get when typing ':' after a count.
1169 "count" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1170
1171 *v:count1* *count1-variable*
1172v:count1 Just like "v:count", but defaults to one when no count is
1173 used.
1174
1175 *v:ctype* *ctype-variable*
1176v:ctype The current locale setting for characters of the runtime
1177 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1178 current locale encoding. Technical: it's the value of
1179 LC_CTYPE. When not using a locale the value is "C".
1180 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1181 command.
1182 See |multi-lang|.
1183
1184 *v:dying* *dying-variable*
1185v:dying Normally zero. When a deadly signal is caught it's set to
1186 one. When multiple signals are caught the number increases.
1187 Can be used in an autocommand to check if Vim didn't
1188 terminate normally. {only works on Unix}
1189 Example: >
1190 :au VimLeave * if v:dying | echo "\nAAAAaaaarrrggghhhh!!!\n" | endif
1191<
1192 *v:errmsg* *errmsg-variable*
1193v:errmsg Last given error message. It's allowed to set this variable.
1194 Example: >
1195 :let v:errmsg = ""
1196 :silent! next
1197 :if v:errmsg != ""
1198 : ... handle error
1199< "errmsg" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1200
1201 *v:exception* *exception-variable*
1202v:exception The value of the exception most recently caught and not
1203 finished. See also |v:throwpoint| and |throw-variables|.
1204 Example: >
1205 :try
1206 : throw "oops"
1207 :catch /.*/
1208 : echo "caught" v:exception
1209 :endtry
1210< Output: "caught oops".
1211
Bram Moolenaar19a09a12005-03-04 23:39:37 +00001212 *v:fcs_reason* *fcs_reason-variable*
1213v:fcs_reason The reason why the |FileChangedShell| event was triggered.
1214 Can be used in an autocommand to decide what to do and/or what
1215 to set v:fcs_choice to. Possible values:
1216 deleted file no longer exists
1217 conflict file contents, mode or timestamp was
1218 changed and buffer is modified
1219 changed file contents has changed
1220 mode mode of file changed
1221 time only file timestamp changed
1222
1223 *v:fcs_choice* *fcs_choice-variable*
1224v:fcs_choice What should happen after a |FileChangedShell| event was
1225 triggered. Can be used in an autocommand to tell Vim what to
1226 do with the affected buffer:
1227 reload Reload the buffer (does not work if
1228 the file was deleted).
1229 ask Ask the user what to do, as if there
1230 was no autocommand. Except that when
1231 only the timestamp changed nothing
1232 will happen.
1233 <empty> Nothing, the autocommand should do
1234 everything that needs to be done.
1235 The default is empty. If another (invalid) value is used then
1236 Vim behaves like it is empty, there is no warning message.
1237
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001238 *v:fname_in* *fname_in-variable*
1239v:fname_in The name of the input file. Only valid while evaluating:
1240 option used for ~
1241 'charconvert' file to be converted
1242 'diffexpr' original file
1243 'patchexpr' original file
1244 'printexpr' file to be printed
1245
1246 *v:fname_out* *fname_out-variable*
1247v:fname_out The name of the output file. Only valid while
1248 evaluating:
1249 option used for ~
1250 'charconvert' resulting converted file (*)
1251 'diffexpr' output of diff
1252 'patchexpr' resulting patched file
1253 (*) When doing conversion for a write command (e.g., ":w
1254 file") it will be equal to v:fname_in. When doing conversion
1255 for a read command (e.g., ":e file") it will be a temporary
1256 file and different from v:fname_in.
1257
1258 *v:fname_new* *fname_new-variable*
1259v:fname_new The name of the new version of the file. Only valid while
1260 evaluating 'diffexpr'.
1261
1262 *v:fname_diff* *fname_diff-variable*
1263v:fname_diff The name of the diff (patch) file. Only valid while
1264 evaluating 'patchexpr'.
1265
1266 *v:folddashes* *folddashes-variable*
1267v:folddashes Used for 'foldtext': dashes representing foldlevel of a closed
1268 fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001269 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001270
1271 *v:foldlevel* *foldlevel-variable*
1272v:foldlevel Used for 'foldtext': foldlevel of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001273 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001274
1275 *v:foldend* *foldend-variable*
1276v:foldend Used for 'foldtext': last line of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001277 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001278
1279 *v:foldstart* *foldstart-variable*
1280v:foldstart Used for 'foldtext': first line of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001281 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001282
Bram Moolenaar843ee412004-06-30 16:16:41 +00001283 *v:insertmode* *insertmode-variable*
1284v:insertmode Used for the |InsertEnter| and |InsertChange| autocommand
1285 events. Values:
1286 i Insert mode
1287 r Replace mode
1288 v Virtual Replace mode
1289
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001290 *v:key* *key-variable*
1291v:key Key of the current item of a Dictionary. Only valid while
1292 evaluating the expression used with |map()| and |filter()|.
1293 Read-only.
1294
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001295 *v:lang* *lang-variable*
1296v:lang The current locale setting for messages of the runtime
1297 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1298 current language. Technical: it's the value of LC_MESSAGES.
1299 The value is system dependent.
1300 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1301 command.
1302 It can be different from |v:ctype| when messages are desired
1303 in a different language than what is used for character
1304 encoding. See |multi-lang|.
1305
1306 *v:lc_time* *lc_time-variable*
1307v:lc_time The current locale setting for time messages of the runtime
1308 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1309 current language. Technical: it's the value of LC_TIME.
1310 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1311 command. See |multi-lang|.
1312
1313 *v:lnum* *lnum-variable*
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001314v:lnum Line number for the 'foldexpr' |fold-expr| and 'indentexpr'
1315 expressions. Only valid while one of these expressions is
1316 being evaluated. Read-only when in the |sandbox|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001317
1318 *v:prevcount* *prevcount-variable*
1319v:prevcount The count given for the last but one Normal mode command.
1320 This is the v:count value of the previous command. Useful if
1321 you want to cancel Visual mode and then use the count. >
1322 :vmap % <Esc>:call MyFilter(v:prevcount)<CR>
1323< Read-only.
1324
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00001325 *v:profiling* *profiling-variable*
1326v:profiling Normally zero. Set to one after using ":profile start".
1327 See |profiling|.
1328
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001329 *v:progname* *progname-variable*
1330v:progname Contains the name (with path removed) with which Vim was
1331 invoked. Allows you to do special initialisations for "view",
1332 "evim" etc., or any other name you might symlink to Vim.
1333 Read-only.
1334
1335 *v:register* *register-variable*
1336v:register The name of the register supplied to the last normal mode
1337 command. Empty if none were supplied. |getreg()| |setreg()|
1338
1339 *v:servername* *servername-variable*
1340v:servername The resulting registered |x11-clientserver| name if any.
1341 Read-only.
1342
1343 *v:shell_error* *shell_error-variable*
1344v:shell_error Result of the last shell command. When non-zero, the last
1345 shell command had an error. When zero, there was no problem.
1346 This only works when the shell returns the error code to Vim.
1347 The value -1 is often used when the command could not be
1348 executed. Read-only.
1349 Example: >
1350 :!mv foo bar
1351 :if v:shell_error
1352 : echo 'could not rename "foo" to "bar"!'
1353 :endif
1354< "shell_error" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1355
1356 *v:statusmsg* *statusmsg-variable*
1357v:statusmsg Last given status message. It's allowed to set this variable.
1358
1359 *v:termresponse* *termresponse-variable*
1360v:termresponse The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the |t_RV|
1361 termcap entry. It is set when Vim receives an escape sequence
1362 that starts with ESC [ or CSI and ends in a 'c', with only
1363 digits, ';' and '.' in between.
1364 When this option is set, the TermResponse autocommand event is
1365 fired, so that you can react to the response from the
1366 terminal.
1367 The response from a new xterm is: "<Esc>[ Pp ; Pv ; Pc c". Pp
1368 is the terminal type: 0 for vt100 and 1 for vt220. Pv is the
1369 patch level (since this was introduced in patch 95, it's
1370 always 95 or bigger). Pc is always zero.
1371 {only when compiled with |+termresponse| feature}
1372
1373 *v:this_session* *this_session-variable*
1374v:this_session Full filename of the last loaded or saved session file. See
1375 |:mksession|. It is allowed to set this variable. When no
1376 session file has been saved, this variable is empty.
1377 "this_session" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1378
1379 *v:throwpoint* *throwpoint-variable*
1380v:throwpoint The point where the exception most recently caught and not
1381 finished was thrown. Not set when commands are typed. See
1382 also |v:exception| and |throw-variables|.
1383 Example: >
1384 :try
1385 : throw "oops"
1386 :catch /.*/
1387 : echo "Exception from" v:throwpoint
1388 :endtry
1389< Output: "Exception from test.vim, line 2"
1390
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001391 *v:val* *val-variable*
1392v:val Value of the current item of a List or Dictionary. Only valid
1393 while evaluating the expression used with |map()| and
1394 |filter()|. Read-only.
1395
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001396 *v:version* *version-variable*
1397v:version Version number of Vim: Major version number times 100 plus
1398 minor version number. Version 5.0 is 500. Version 5.1 (5.01)
1399 is 501. Read-only. "version" also works, for backwards
1400 compatibility.
1401 Use |has()| to check if a certain patch was included, e.g.: >
1402 if has("patch123")
1403< Note that patch numbers are specific to the version, thus both
1404 version 5.0 and 5.1 may have a patch 123, but these are
1405 completely different.
1406
1407 *v:warningmsg* *warningmsg-variable*
1408v:warningmsg Last given warning message. It's allowed to set this variable.
1409
1410==============================================================================
14114. Builtin Functions *functions*
1412
1413See |function-list| for a list grouped by what the function is used for.
1414
1415(Use CTRL-] on the function name to jump to the full explanation)
1416
1417USAGE RESULT DESCRIPTION ~
1418
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001419add( {list}, {item}) List append {item} to List {list}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001420append( {lnum}, {string}) Number append {string} below line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00001421append( {lnum}, {list}) Number append lines {list} below line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001422argc() Number number of files in the argument list
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001423argidx() Number current index in the argument list
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001424argv( {nr}) String {nr} entry of the argument list
1425browse( {save}, {title}, {initdir}, {default})
1426 String put up a file requester
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001427browsedir( {title}, {initdir}) String put up a directory requester
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001428bufexists( {expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} exists
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001429buflisted( {expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} is listed
1430bufloaded( {expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} is loaded
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001431bufname( {expr}) String Name of the buffer {expr}
1432bufnr( {expr}) Number Number of the buffer {expr}
1433bufwinnr( {expr}) Number window number of buffer {expr}
1434byte2line( {byte}) Number line number at byte count {byte}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001435byteidx( {expr}, {nr}) Number byte index of {nr}'th char in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001436call( {func}, {arglist} [, {dict}])
1437 any call {func} with arguments {arglist}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001438char2nr( {expr}) Number ASCII value of first char in {expr}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001439cindent( {lnum}) Number C indent for line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001440col( {expr}) Number column nr of cursor or mark
1441confirm( {msg} [, {choices} [, {default} [, {type}]]])
1442 Number number of choice picked by user
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001443copy( {expr}) any make a shallow copy of {expr}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001444count( {list}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]])
1445 Number count how many {expr} are in {list}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001446cscope_connection( [{num} , {dbpath} [, {prepend}]])
1447 Number checks existence of cscope connection
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001448cursor( {lnum}, {col}) Number position cursor at {lnum}, {col}
1449deepcopy( {expr}) any make a full copy of {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001450delete( {fname}) Number delete file {fname}
1451did_filetype() Number TRUE if FileType autocommand event used
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001452diff_filler( {lnum}) Number diff filler lines about {lnum}
1453diff_hlID( {lnum}, {col}) Number diff highlighting at {lnum}/{col}
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001454empty( {expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} is empty
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001455escape( {string}, {chars}) String escape {chars} in {string} with '\'
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00001456eval( {string}) any evaluate {string} into its value
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001457eventhandler( ) Number TRUE if inside an event handler
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001458executable( {expr}) Number 1 if executable {expr} exists
1459exists( {expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} exists
1460expand( {expr}) String expand special keywords in {expr}
1461filereadable( {file}) Number TRUE if {file} is a readable file
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001462filter( {expr}, {string}) List/Dict remove items from {expr} where
1463 {string} is 0
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001464finddir( {name}[, {path}[, {count}]])
1465 String Find directory {name} in {path}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001466findfile( {name}[, {path}[, {count}]])
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001467 String Find file {name} in {path}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001468filewritable( {file}) Number TRUE if {file} is a writable file
1469fnamemodify( {fname}, {mods}) String modify file name
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001470foldclosed( {lnum}) Number first line of fold at {lnum} if closed
1471foldclosedend( {lnum}) Number last line of fold at {lnum} if closed
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001472foldlevel( {lnum}) Number fold level at {lnum}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001473foldtext( ) String line displayed for closed fold
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001474foreground( ) Number bring the Vim window to the foreground
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001475function( {name}) Funcref reference to function {name}
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001476get( {list}, {idx} [, {def}]) any get item {idx} from {list} or {def}
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001477get( {dict}, {key} [, {def}]) any get item {key} from {dict} or {def}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001478getchar( [expr]) Number get one character from the user
1479getcharmod( ) Number modifiers for the last typed character
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001480getbufvar( {expr}, {varname}) variable {varname} in buffer {expr}
1481getcmdline() String return the current command-line
1482getcmdpos() Number return cursor position in command-line
1483getcwd() String the current working directory
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00001484getfperm( {fname}) String file permissions of file {fname}
1485getfsize( {fname}) Number size in bytes of file {fname}
Bram Moolenaard8b0cf12004-12-12 11:33:30 +00001486getfontname( [{name}]) String name of font being used
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001487getftime( {fname}) Number last modification time of file
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00001488getftype( {fname}) String description of type of file {fname}
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00001489getline( {lnum}) String line {lnum} of current buffer
1490getline( {lnum}, {end}) List lines {lnum} to {end} of current buffer
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00001491getqflist() List list of quickfix items
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001492getreg( [{regname}]) String contents of register
1493getregtype( [{regname}]) String type of register
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001494getwinposx() Number X coord in pixels of GUI Vim window
1495getwinposy() Number Y coord in pixels of GUI Vim window
1496getwinvar( {nr}, {varname}) variable {varname} in window {nr}
1497glob( {expr}) String expand file wildcards in {expr}
1498globpath( {path}, {expr}) String do glob({expr}) for all dirs in {path}
1499has( {feature}) Number TRUE if feature {feature} supported
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001500has_key( {dict}, {key}) Number TRUE if {dict} has entry {key}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001501hasmapto( {what} [, {mode}]) Number TRUE if mapping to {what} exists
1502histadd( {history},{item}) String add an item to a history
1503histdel( {history} [, {item}]) String remove an item from a history
1504histget( {history} [, {index}]) String get the item {index} from a history
1505histnr( {history}) Number highest index of a history
1506hlexists( {name}) Number TRUE if highlight group {name} exists
1507hlID( {name}) Number syntax ID of highlight group {name}
1508hostname() String name of the machine Vim is running on
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001509iconv( {expr}, {from}, {to}) String convert encoding of {expr}
1510indent( {lnum}) Number indent of line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001511index( {list}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]])
1512 Number index in {list} where {expr} appears
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001513input( {prompt} [, {text}]) String get input from the user
1514inputdialog( {p} [, {t} [, {c}]]) String like input() but in a GUI dialog
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001515inputrestore() Number restore typeahead
1516inputsave() Number save and clear typeahead
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001517inputsecret( {prompt} [, {text}]) String like input() but hiding the text
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001518insert( {list}, {item} [, {idx}]) List insert {item} in {list} [before {idx}]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001519isdirectory( {directory}) Number TRUE if {directory} is a directory
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00001520islocked( {expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} is locked
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00001521items( {dict}) List List of key-value pairs in {dict}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001522join( {list} [, {sep}]) String join {list} items into one String
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001523keys( {dict}) List List of keys in {dict}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001524len( {expr}) Number the length of {expr}
1525libcall( {lib}, {func}, {arg}) String call {func} in library {lib} with {arg}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001526libcallnr( {lib}, {func}, {arg}) Number idem, but return a Number
1527line( {expr}) Number line nr of cursor, last line or mark
1528line2byte( {lnum}) Number byte count of line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001529lispindent( {lnum}) Number Lisp indent for line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001530localtime() Number current time
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001531map( {expr}, {string}) List/Dict change each item in {expr} to {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001532maparg( {name}[, {mode}]) String rhs of mapping {name} in mode {mode}
1533mapcheck( {name}[, {mode}]) String check for mappings matching {name}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001534match( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001535 Number position where {pat} matches in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001536matchend( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001537 Number position where {pat} ends in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00001538matchlist( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
1539 List match and submatches of {pat} in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001540matchstr( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
1541 String {count}'th match of {pat} in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001542max({list}) Number maximum value of items in {list}
1543min({list}) Number minumum value of items in {list}
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00001544mkdir({name} [, {path} [, {prot}]])
1545 Number create directory {name}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001546mode() String current editing mode
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001547nextnonblank( {lnum}) Number line nr of non-blank line >= {lnum}
1548nr2char( {expr}) String single char with ASCII value {expr}
1549prevnonblank( {lnum}) Number line nr of non-blank line <= {lnum}
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001550range( {expr} [, {max} [, {stride}]])
1551 List items from {expr} to {max}
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00001552readfile({fname} [, {binary} [, {max}]])
1553 List get list of lines from file {fname}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001554remote_expr( {server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
1555 String send expression
1556remote_foreground( {server}) Number bring Vim server to the foreground
1557remote_peek( {serverid} [, {retvar}])
1558 Number check for reply string
1559remote_read( {serverid}) String read reply string
1560remote_send( {server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
1561 String send key sequence
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001562remove( {list}, {idx} [, {end}]) any remove items {idx}-{end} from {list}
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001563remove( {dict}, {key}) any remove entry {key} from {dict}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001564rename( {from}, {to}) Number rename (move) file from {from} to {to}
1565repeat( {expr}, {count}) String repeat {expr} {count} times
1566resolve( {filename}) String get filename a shortcut points to
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001567reverse( {list}) List reverse {list} in-place
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001568search( {pattern} [, {flags}]) Number search for {pattern}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001569searchpair( {start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip}]])
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001570 Number search for other end of start/end pair
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001571server2client( {clientid}, {string})
1572 Number send reply string
1573serverlist() String get a list of available servers
1574setbufvar( {expr}, {varname}, {val}) set {varname} in buffer {expr} to {val}
1575setcmdpos( {pos}) Number set cursor position in command-line
1576setline( {lnum}, {line}) Number set line {lnum} to {line}
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00001577setqflist( {list} ) Number set list of quickfix items using {list}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001578setreg( {n}, {v}[, {opt}]) Number set register to value and type
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001579setwinvar( {nr}, {varname}, {val}) set {varname} in window {nr} to {val}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001580simplify( {filename}) String simplify filename as much as possible
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001581sort( {list} [, {func}]) List sort {list}, using {func} to compare
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001582split( {expr} [, {pat}]) List make List from {pat} separated {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001583strftime( {format}[, {time}]) String time in specified format
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00001584stridx( {haystack}, {needle}[, {start}])
1585 Number index of {needle} in {haystack}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001586string( {expr}) String String representation of {expr} value
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001587strlen( {expr}) Number length of the String {expr}
1588strpart( {src}, {start}[, {len}])
1589 String {len} characters of {src} at {start}
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00001590strridx( {haystack}, {needle} [, {start}])
1591 Number last index of {needle} in {haystack}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001592strtrans( {expr}) String translate string to make it printable
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001593submatch( {nr}) String specific match in ":substitute"
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001594substitute( {expr}, {pat}, {sub}, {flags})
1595 String all {pat} in {expr} replaced with {sub}
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00001596synID( {lnum}, {col}, {trans}) Number syntax ID at {lnum} and {col}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001597synIDattr( {synID}, {what} [, {mode}])
1598 String attribute {what} of syntax ID {synID}
1599synIDtrans( {synID}) Number translated syntax ID of {synID}
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00001600system( {expr} [, {input}]) String output of shell command/filter {expr}
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00001601taglist({expr}) List list of tags matching {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001602tempname() String name for a temporary file
1603tolower( {expr}) String the String {expr} switched to lowercase
1604toupper( {expr}) String the String {expr} switched to uppercase
Bram Moolenaar8299df92004-07-10 09:47:34 +00001605tr( {src}, {fromstr}, {tostr}) String translate chars of {src} in {fromstr}
1606 to chars in {tostr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001607type( {name}) Number type of variable {name}
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00001608values( {dict}) List List of values in {dict}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001609virtcol( {expr}) Number screen column of cursor or mark
1610visualmode( [expr]) String last visual mode used
1611winbufnr( {nr}) Number buffer number of window {nr}
1612wincol() Number window column of the cursor
1613winheight( {nr}) Number height of window {nr}
1614winline() Number window line of the cursor
1615winnr() Number number of current window
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001616winrestcmd() String returns command to restore window sizes
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001617winwidth( {nr}) Number width of window {nr}
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00001618writefile({list}, {fname} [, {binary}])
1619 Number write list of lines to file {fname}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001620
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001621add({list}, {expr}) *add()*
1622 Append the item {expr} to List {list}. Returns the resulting
1623 List. Examples: >
1624 :let alist = add([1, 2, 3], item)
1625 :call add(mylist, "woodstock")
1626< Note that when {expr} is a List it is appended as a single
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001627 item. Use |extend()| to concatenate Lists.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001628 Use |insert()| to add an item at another position.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001629
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001630
1631append({lnum}, {expr}) *append()*
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00001632 When {expr} is a List: Append each item of the List as a text
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001633 line below line {lnum} in the current buffer.
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00001634 Otherwise append {expr} as one text line below line {lnum} in
1635 the current buffer.
1636 {lnum} can be zero to insert a line before the first one.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001637 Returns 1 for failure ({lnum} out of range or out of memory),
1638 0 for success. Example: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001639 :let failed = append(line('$'), "# THE END")
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001640 :let failed = append(0, ["Chapter 1", "the beginning"])
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001641<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001642 *argc()*
1643argc() The result is the number of files in the argument list of the
1644 current window. See |arglist|.
1645
1646 *argidx()*
1647argidx() The result is the current index in the argument list. 0 is
1648 the first file. argc() - 1 is the last one. See |arglist|.
1649
1650 *argv()*
1651argv({nr}) The result is the {nr}th file in the argument list of the
1652 current window. See |arglist|. "argv(0)" is the first one.
1653 Example: >
1654 :let i = 0
1655 :while i < argc()
1656 : let f = escape(argv(i), '. ')
1657 : exe 'amenu Arg.' . f . ' :e ' . f . '<CR>'
1658 : let i = i + 1
1659 :endwhile
1660<
1661 *browse()*
1662browse({save}, {title}, {initdir}, {default})
1663 Put up a file requester. This only works when "has("browse")"
1664 returns non-zero (only in some GUI versions).
1665 The input fields are:
1666 {save} when non-zero, select file to write
1667 {title} title for the requester
1668 {initdir} directory to start browsing in
1669 {default} default file name
1670 When the "Cancel" button is hit, something went wrong, or
1671 browsing is not possible, an empty string is returned.
1672
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001673 *browsedir()*
1674browsedir({title}, {initdir})
1675 Put up a directory requester. This only works when
1676 "has("browse")" returns non-zero (only in some GUI versions).
1677 On systems where a directory browser is not supported a file
1678 browser is used. In that case: select a file in the directory
1679 to be used.
1680 The input fields are:
1681 {title} title for the requester
1682 {initdir} directory to start browsing in
1683 When the "Cancel" button is hit, something went wrong, or
1684 browsing is not possible, an empty string is returned.
1685
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001686bufexists({expr}) *bufexists()*
1687 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a buffer called
1688 {expr} exists.
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001689 If the {expr} argument is a number, buffer numbers are used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001690 If the {expr} argument is a string it must match a buffer name
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001691 exactly. The name can be:
1692 - Relative to the current directory.
1693 - A full path.
1694 - The name of a buffer with 'filetype' set to "nofile".
1695 - A URL name.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001696 Unlisted buffers will be found.
1697 Note that help files are listed by their short name in the
1698 output of |:buffers|, but bufexists() requires using their
1699 long name to be able to find them.
1700 Use "bufexists(0)" to test for the existence of an alternate
1701 file name.
1702 *buffer_exists()*
1703 Obsolete name: buffer_exists().
1704
1705buflisted({expr}) *buflisted()*
1706 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a buffer called
1707 {expr} exists and is listed (has the 'buflisted' option set).
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001708 The {expr} argument is used like with |bufexists()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001709
1710bufloaded({expr}) *bufloaded()*
1711 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a buffer called
1712 {expr} exists and is loaded (shown in a window or hidden).
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001713 The {expr} argument is used like with |bufexists()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001714
1715bufname({expr}) *bufname()*
1716 The result is the name of a buffer, as it is displayed by the
1717 ":ls" command.
1718 If {expr} is a Number, that buffer number's name is given.
1719 Number zero is the alternate buffer for the current window.
1720 If {expr} is a String, it is used as a |file-pattern| to match
1721 with the buffer names. This is always done like 'magic' is
1722 set and 'cpoptions' is empty. When there is more than one
1723 match an empty string is returned.
1724 "" or "%" can be used for the current buffer, "#" for the
1725 alternate buffer.
1726 A full match is preferred, otherwise a match at the start, end
1727 or middle of the buffer name is accepted.
1728 Listed buffers are found first. If there is a single match
1729 with a listed buffer, that one is returned. Next unlisted
1730 buffers are searched for.
1731 If the {expr} is a String, but you want to use it as a buffer
1732 number, force it to be a Number by adding zero to it: >
1733 :echo bufname("3" + 0)
1734< If the buffer doesn't exist, or doesn't have a name, an empty
1735 string is returned. >
1736 bufname("#") alternate buffer name
1737 bufname(3) name of buffer 3
1738 bufname("%") name of current buffer
1739 bufname("file2") name of buffer where "file2" matches.
1740< *buffer_name()*
1741 Obsolete name: buffer_name().
1742
1743 *bufnr()*
1744bufnr({expr}) The result is the number of a buffer, as it is displayed by
1745 the ":ls" command. For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()|
1746 above. If the buffer doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
1747 bufnr("$") is the last buffer: >
1748 :let last_buffer = bufnr("$")
1749< The result is a Number, which is the highest buffer number
1750 of existing buffers. Note that not all buffers with a smaller
1751 number necessarily exist, because ":bwipeout" may have removed
1752 them. Use bufexists() to test for the existence of a buffer.
1753 *buffer_number()*
1754 Obsolete name: buffer_number().
1755 *last_buffer_nr()*
1756 Obsolete name for bufnr("$"): last_buffer_nr().
1757
1758bufwinnr({expr}) *bufwinnr()*
1759 The result is a Number, which is the number of the first
1760 window associated with buffer {expr}. For the use of {expr},
1761 see |bufname()| above. If buffer {expr} doesn't exist or
1762 there is no such window, -1 is returned. Example: >
1763
1764 echo "A window containing buffer 1 is " . (bufwinnr(1))
1765
1766< The number can be used with |CTRL-W_w| and ":wincmd w"
1767 |:wincmd|.
1768
1769
1770byte2line({byte}) *byte2line()*
1771 Return the line number that contains the character at byte
1772 count {byte} in the current buffer. This includes the
1773 end-of-line character, depending on the 'fileformat' option
1774 for the current buffer. The first character has byte count
1775 one.
1776 Also see |line2byte()|, |go| and |:goto|.
1777 {not available when compiled without the |+byte_offset|
1778 feature}
1779
Bram Moolenaarab79bcb2004-07-18 21:34:53 +00001780byteidx({expr}, {nr}) *byteidx()*
1781 Return byte index of the {nr}'th character in the string
1782 {expr}. Use zero for the first character, it returns zero.
1783 This function is only useful when there are multibyte
1784 characters, otherwise the returned value is equal to {nr}.
1785 Composing characters are counted as a separate character.
1786 Example : >
1787 echo matchstr(str, ".", byteidx(str, 3))
1788< will display the fourth character. Another way to do the
1789 same: >
1790 let s = strpart(str, byteidx(str, 3))
1791 echo strpart(s, 0, byteidx(s, 1))
1792< If there are less than {nr} characters -1 is returned.
1793 If there are exactly {nr} characters the length of the string
1794 is returned.
1795
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001796call({func}, {arglist} [, {dict}]) *call()* *E699*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001797 Call function {func} with the items in List {arglist} as
1798 arguments.
1799 {func} can either be a Funcref or the name of a function.
1800 a:firstline and a:lastline are set to the cursor line.
1801 Returns the return value of the called function.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001802 {dict} is for functions with the "dict" attribute. It will be
1803 used to set the local variable "self". |Dictionary-function|
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001804
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001805char2nr({expr}) *char2nr()*
1806 Return number value of the first char in {expr}. Examples: >
1807 char2nr(" ") returns 32
1808 char2nr("ABC") returns 65
1809< The current 'encoding' is used. Example for "utf-8": >
1810 char2nr("á") returns 225
1811 char2nr("á"[0]) returns 195
1812
1813cindent({lnum}) *cindent()*
1814 Get the amount of indent for line {lnum} according the C
1815 indenting rules, as with 'cindent'.
1816 The indent is counted in spaces, the value of 'tabstop' is
1817 relevant. {lnum} is used just like in |getline()|.
1818 When {lnum} is invalid or Vim was not compiled the |+cindent|
1819 feature, -1 is returned.
1820
1821 *col()*
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00001822col({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the byte index of the column
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001823 position given with {expr}. The accepted positions are:
1824 . the cursor position
1825 $ the end of the cursor line (the result is the
1826 number of characters in the cursor line plus one)
1827 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is
1828 returned)
1829 For the screen column position use |virtcol()|.
1830 Note that only marks in the current file can be used.
1831 Examples: >
1832 col(".") column of cursor
1833 col("$") length of cursor line plus one
1834 col("'t") column of mark t
1835 col("'" . markname) column of mark markname
1836< The first column is 1. 0 is returned for an error.
1837 For the cursor position, when 'virtualedit' is active, the
1838 column is one higher if the cursor is after the end of the
1839 line. This can be used to obtain the column in Insert mode: >
1840 :imap <F2> <C-O>:let save_ve = &ve<CR>
1841 \<C-O>:set ve=all<CR>
1842 \<C-O>:echo col(".") . "\n" <Bar>
1843 \let &ve = save_ve<CR>
1844<
1845 *confirm()*
1846confirm({msg} [, {choices} [, {default} [, {type}]]])
1847 Confirm() offers the user a dialog, from which a choice can be
1848 made. It returns the number of the choice. For the first
1849 choice this is 1.
1850 Note: confirm() is only supported when compiled with dialog
1851 support, see |+dialog_con| and |+dialog_gui|.
1852 {msg} is displayed in a |dialog| with {choices} as the
1853 alternatives. When {choices} is missing or empty, "&OK" is
1854 used (and translated).
1855 {msg} is a String, use '\n' to include a newline. Only on
1856 some systems the string is wrapped when it doesn't fit.
1857 {choices} is a String, with the individual choices separated
1858 by '\n', e.g. >
1859 confirm("Save changes?", "&Yes\n&No\n&Cancel")
1860< The letter after the '&' is the shortcut key for that choice.
1861 Thus you can type 'c' to select "Cancel". The shortcut does
1862 not need to be the first letter: >
1863 confirm("file has been modified", "&Save\nSave &All")
1864< For the console, the first letter of each choice is used as
1865 the default shortcut key.
1866 The optional {default} argument is the number of the choice
1867 that is made if the user hits <CR>. Use 1 to make the first
1868 choice the default one. Use 0 to not set a default. If
1869 {default} is omitted, 1 is used.
1870 The optional {type} argument gives the type of dialog. This
1871 is only used for the icon of the Win32 GUI. It can be one of
1872 these values: "Error", "Question", "Info", "Warning" or
1873 "Generic". Only the first character is relevant. When {type}
1874 is omitted, "Generic" is used.
1875 If the user aborts the dialog by pressing <Esc>, CTRL-C,
1876 or another valid interrupt key, confirm() returns 0.
1877
1878 An example: >
1879 :let choice = confirm("What do you want?", "&Apples\n&Oranges\n&Bananas", 2)
1880 :if choice == 0
1881 : echo "make up your mind!"
1882 :elseif choice == 3
1883 : echo "tasteful"
1884 :else
1885 : echo "I prefer bananas myself."
1886 :endif
1887< In a GUI dialog, buttons are used. The layout of the buttons
1888 depends on the 'v' flag in 'guioptions'. If it is included,
1889 the buttons are always put vertically. Otherwise, confirm()
1890 tries to put the buttons in one horizontal line. If they
1891 don't fit, a vertical layout is used anyway. For some systems
1892 the horizontal layout is always used.
1893
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001894 *copy()*
1895copy({expr}) Make a copy of {expr}. For Numbers and Strings this isn't
1896 different from using {expr} directly.
1897 When {expr} is a List a shallow copy is created. This means
1898 that the original List can be changed without changing the
1899 copy, and vise versa. But the items are identical, thus
1900 changing an item changes the contents of both Lists. Also see
1901 |deepcopy()|.
1902
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001903count({comp}, {expr} [, {ic} [, {start}]]) *count()*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001904 Return the number of times an item with value {expr} appears
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001905 in List or Dictionary {comp}.
1906 If {start} is given then start with the item with this index.
1907 {start} can only be used with a List.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001908 When {ic} is given and it's non-zero then case is ignored.
1909
1910
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001911 *cscope_connection()*
1912cscope_connection([{num} , {dbpath} [, {prepend}]])
1913 Checks for the existence of a |cscope| connection. If no
1914 parameters are specified, then the function returns:
1915 0, if cscope was not available (not compiled in), or
1916 if there are no cscope connections;
1917 1, if there is at least one cscope connection.
1918
1919 If parameters are specified, then the value of {num}
1920 determines how existence of a cscope connection is checked:
1921
1922 {num} Description of existence check
1923 ----- ------------------------------
1924 0 Same as no parameters (e.g., "cscope_connection()").
1925 1 Ignore {prepend}, and use partial string matches for
1926 {dbpath}.
1927 2 Ignore {prepend}, and use exact string matches for
1928 {dbpath}.
1929 3 Use {prepend}, use partial string matches for both
1930 {dbpath} and {prepend}.
1931 4 Use {prepend}, use exact string matches for both
1932 {dbpath} and {prepend}.
1933
1934 Note: All string comparisons are case sensitive!
1935
1936 Examples. Suppose we had the following (from ":cs show"): >
1937
1938 # pid database name prepend path
1939 0 27664 cscope.out /usr/local
1940<
1941 Invocation Return Val ~
1942 ---------- ---------- >
1943 cscope_connection() 1
1944 cscope_connection(1, "out") 1
1945 cscope_connection(2, "out") 0
1946 cscope_connection(3, "out") 0
1947 cscope_connection(3, "out", "local") 1
1948 cscope_connection(4, "out") 0
1949 cscope_connection(4, "out", "local") 0
1950 cscope_connection(4, "cscope.out", "/usr/local") 1
1951<
1952cursor({lnum}, {col}) *cursor()*
1953 Positions the cursor at the column {col} in the line {lnum}.
1954 Does not change the jumplist.
1955 If {lnum} is greater than the number of lines in the buffer,
1956 the cursor will be positioned at the last line in the buffer.
1957 If {lnum} is zero, the cursor will stay in the current line.
1958 If {col} is greater than the number of characters in the line,
1959 the cursor will be positioned at the last character in the
1960 line.
1961 If {col} is zero, the cursor will stay in the current column.
1962
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001963
Bram Moolenaar4399ef42005-02-12 14:29:27 +00001964deepcopy({expr}[, {noref}]) *deepcopy()* *E698*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001965 Make a copy of {expr}. For Numbers and Strings this isn't
1966 different from using {expr} directly.
1967 When {expr} is a List a full copy is created. This means
1968 that the original List can be changed without changing the
1969 copy, and vise versa. When an item is a List, a copy for it
1970 is made, recursively. Thus changing an item in the copy does
1971 not change the contents of the original List.
Bram Moolenaar4399ef42005-02-12 14:29:27 +00001972 When {noref} is omitted or zero a contained List or Dictionary
1973 is only copied once. All references point to this single
1974 copy. With {noref} set to 1 every occurrence of a List or
1975 Dictionary results in a new copy. This also means that a
1976 cyclic reference causes deepcopy() to fail.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00001977 *E724*
1978 Nesting is possible up to 100 levels. When there is an item
Bram Moolenaar4399ef42005-02-12 14:29:27 +00001979 that refers back to a higher level making a deep copy with
1980 {noref} set to 1 will fail.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001981 Also see |copy()|.
1982
1983delete({fname}) *delete()*
1984 Deletes the file by the name {fname}. The result is a Number,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001985 which is 0 if the file was deleted successfully, and non-zero
1986 when the deletion failed.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001987 Use |remove()| to delete an item from a List.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001988
1989 *did_filetype()*
1990did_filetype() Returns non-zero when autocommands are being executed and the
1991 FileType event has been triggered at least once. Can be used
1992 to avoid triggering the FileType event again in the scripts
1993 that detect the file type. |FileType|
1994 When editing another file, the counter is reset, thus this
1995 really checks if the FileType event has been triggered for the
1996 current buffer. This allows an autocommand that starts
1997 editing another buffer to set 'filetype' and load a syntax
1998 file.
1999
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00002000diff_filler({lnum}) *diff_filler()*
2001 Returns the number of filler lines above line {lnum}.
2002 These are the lines that were inserted at this point in
2003 another diff'ed window. These filler lines are shown in the
2004 display but don't exist in the buffer.
2005 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|. Thus "." is the current
2006 line, "'m" mark m, etc.
2007 Returns 0 if the current window is not in diff mode.
2008
2009diff_hlID({lnum}, {col}) *diff_hlID()*
2010 Returns the highlight ID for diff mode at line {lnum} column
2011 {col} (byte index). When the current line does not have a
2012 diff change zero is returned.
2013 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|. Thus "." is the current
2014 line, "'m" mark m, etc.
2015 {col} is 1 for the leftmost column, {lnum} is 1 for the first
2016 line.
2017 The highlight ID can be used with |synIDattr()| to obtain
2018 syntax information about the highlighting.
2019
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00002020empty({expr}) *empty()*
2021 Return the Number 1 if {expr} is empty, zero otherwise.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002022 A List or Dictionary is empty when it does not have any items.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00002023 A Number is empty when its value is zero.
2024 For a long List this is much faster then comparing the length
2025 with zero.
2026
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002027escape({string}, {chars}) *escape()*
2028 Escape the characters in {chars} that occur in {string} with a
2029 backslash. Example: >
2030 :echo escape('c:\program files\vim', ' \')
2031< results in: >
2032 c:\\program\ files\\vim
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002033
2034< *eval()*
2035eval({string}) Evaluate {string} and return the result. Especially useful to
2036 turn the result of |string()| back into the original value.
2037 This works for Numbers, Strings and composites of them.
2038 Also works for Funcrefs that refer to existing functions.
2039
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002040eventhandler() *eventhandler()*
2041 Returns 1 when inside an event handler. That is that Vim got
2042 interrupted while waiting for the user to type a character,
2043 e.g., when dropping a file on Vim. This means interactive
2044 commands cannot be used. Otherwise zero is returned.
2045
2046executable({expr}) *executable()*
2047 This function checks if an executable with the name {expr}
2048 exists. {expr} must be the name of the program without any
Bram Moolenaarf4b8e572004-06-24 15:53:16 +00002049 arguments.
2050 executable() uses the value of $PATH and/or the normal
2051 searchpath for programs. *PATHEXT*
2052 On MS-DOS and MS-Windows the ".exe", ".bat", etc. can
2053 optionally be included. Then the extensions in $PATHEXT are
2054 tried. Thus if "foo.exe" does not exist, "foo.exe.bat" can be
2055 found. If $PATHEXT is not set then ".exe;.com;.bat;.cmd" is
2056 used. A dot by itself can be used in $PATHEXT to try using
2057 the name without an extension. When 'shell' looks like a
2058 Unix shell, then the name is also tried without adding an
2059 extension.
2060 On MS-DOS and MS-Windows it only checks if the file exists and
2061 is not a directory, not if it's really executable.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002062 The result is a Number:
2063 1 exists
2064 0 does not exist
2065 -1 not implemented on this system
2066
2067 *exists()*
2068exists({expr}) The result is a Number, which is non-zero if {expr} is
2069 defined, zero otherwise. The {expr} argument is a string,
2070 which contains one of these:
2071 &option-name Vim option (only checks if it exists,
2072 not if it really works)
2073 +option-name Vim option that works.
2074 $ENVNAME environment variable (could also be
2075 done by comparing with an empty
2076 string)
2077 *funcname built-in function (see |functions|)
2078 or user defined function (see
2079 |user-functions|).
2080 varname internal variable (see
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00002081 |internal-variables|). Also works
2082 for |curly-braces-names|, Dictionary
2083 entries, List items, etc. Beware that
2084 this may cause functions to be
2085 invoked cause an error message for an
2086 invalid expression.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002087 :cmdname Ex command: built-in command, user
2088 command or command modifier |:command|.
2089 Returns:
2090 1 for match with start of a command
2091 2 full match with a command
2092 3 matches several user commands
2093 To check for a supported command
2094 always check the return value to be 2.
2095 #event autocommand defined for this event
2096 #event#pattern autocommand defined for this event and
2097 pattern (the pattern is taken
2098 literally and compared to the
2099 autocommand patterns character by
2100 character)
2101 For checking for a supported feature use |has()|.
2102
2103 Examples: >
2104 exists("&shortname")
2105 exists("$HOSTNAME")
2106 exists("*strftime")
2107 exists("*s:MyFunc")
2108 exists("bufcount")
2109 exists(":Make")
2110 exists("#CursorHold");
2111 exists("#BufReadPre#*.gz")
2112< There must be no space between the symbol (&/$/*/#) and the
2113 name.
2114 Note that the argument must be a string, not the name of the
2115 variable itself! For example: >
2116 exists(bufcount)
2117< This doesn't check for existence of the "bufcount" variable,
2118 but gets the contents of "bufcount", and checks if that
2119 exists.
2120
2121expand({expr} [, {flag}]) *expand()*
2122 Expand wildcards and the following special keywords in {expr}.
2123 The result is a String.
2124
2125 When there are several matches, they are separated by <NL>
2126 characters. [Note: in version 5.0 a space was used, which
2127 caused problems when a file name contains a space]
2128
2129 If the expansion fails, the result is an empty string. A name
2130 for a non-existing file is not included.
2131
2132 When {expr} starts with '%', '#' or '<', the expansion is done
2133 like for the |cmdline-special| variables with their associated
2134 modifiers. Here is a short overview:
2135
2136 % current file name
2137 # alternate file name
2138 #n alternate file name n
2139 <cfile> file name under the cursor
2140 <afile> autocmd file name
2141 <abuf> autocmd buffer number (as a String!)
2142 <amatch> autocmd matched name
2143 <sfile> sourced script file name
2144 <cword> word under the cursor
2145 <cWORD> WORD under the cursor
2146 <client> the {clientid} of the last received
2147 message |server2client()|
2148 Modifiers:
2149 :p expand to full path
2150 :h head (last path component removed)
2151 :t tail (last path component only)
2152 :r root (one extension removed)
2153 :e extension only
2154
2155 Example: >
2156 :let &tags = expand("%:p:h") . "/tags"
2157< Note that when expanding a string that starts with '%', '#' or
2158 '<', any following text is ignored. This does NOT work: >
2159 :let doesntwork = expand("%:h.bak")
2160< Use this: >
2161 :let doeswork = expand("%:h") . ".bak"
2162< Also note that expanding "<cfile>" and others only returns the
2163 referenced file name without further expansion. If "<cfile>"
2164 is "~/.cshrc", you need to do another expand() to have the
2165 "~/" expanded into the path of the home directory: >
2166 :echo expand(expand("<cfile>"))
2167<
2168 There cannot be white space between the variables and the
2169 following modifier. The |fnamemodify()| function can be used
2170 to modify normal file names.
2171
2172 When using '%' or '#', and the current or alternate file name
2173 is not defined, an empty string is used. Using "%:p" in a
2174 buffer with no name, results in the current directory, with a
2175 '/' added.
2176
2177 When {expr} does not start with '%', '#' or '<', it is
2178 expanded like a file name is expanded on the command line.
2179 'suffixes' and 'wildignore' are used, unless the optional
2180 {flag} argument is given and it is non-zero. Names for
2181 non-existing files are included.
2182
2183 Expand() can also be used to expand variables and environment
2184 variables that are only known in a shell. But this can be
2185 slow, because a shell must be started. See |expr-env-expand|.
2186 The expanded variable is still handled like a list of file
2187 names. When an environment variable cannot be expanded, it is
2188 left unchanged. Thus ":echo expand('$FOOBAR')" results in
2189 "$FOOBAR".
2190
2191 See |glob()| for finding existing files. See |system()| for
2192 getting the raw output of an external command.
2193
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002194extend({expr1}, {expr2} [, {expr3}]) *extend()*
2195 {expr1} and {expr2} must be both Lists or both Dictionaries.
2196
2197 If they are Lists: Append {expr2} to {expr1}.
2198 If {expr3} is given insert the items of {expr2} before item
2199 {expr3} in {expr1}. When {expr3} is zero insert before the
2200 first item. When {expr3} is equal to len({expr1}) then
2201 {expr2} is appended.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002202 Examples: >
2203 :echo sort(extend(mylist, [7, 5]))
2204 :call extend(mylist, [2, 3], 1)
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002205< Use |add()| to concatenate one item to a list. To concatenate
2206 two lists into a new list use the + operator: >
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002207 :let newlist = [1, 2, 3] + [4, 5]
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002208<
2209 If they are Dictionaries:
2210 Add all entries from {expr2} to {expr1}.
2211 If a key exists in both {expr1} and {expr2} then {expr3} is
2212 used to decide what to do:
2213 {expr3} = "keep": keep the value of {expr1}
2214 {expr3} = "force": use the value of {expr2}
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00002215 {expr3} = "error": give an error message *E737*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002216 When {expr3} is omitted then "force" is assumed.
2217
2218 {expr1} is changed when {expr2} is not empty. If necessary
2219 make a copy of {expr1} first.
2220 {expr2} remains unchanged.
2221 Returns {expr1}.
2222
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002223
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002224filereadable({file}) *filereadable()*
2225 The result is a Number, which is TRUE when a file with the
2226 name {file} exists, and can be read. If {file} doesn't exist,
2227 or is a directory, the result is FALSE. {file} is any
2228 expression, which is used as a String.
2229 *file_readable()*
2230 Obsolete name: file_readable().
2231
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002232
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002233filter({expr}, {string}) *filter()*
2234 {expr} must be a List or a Dictionary.
2235 For each item in {expr} evaluate {string} and when the result
2236 is zero remove the item from the List or Dictionary.
2237 Inside {string} |v:val| has the value of the current item.
2238 For a Dictionary |v:key| has the key of the current item.
2239 Examples: >
2240 :call filter(mylist, 'v:val !~ "OLD"')
2241< Removes the items where "OLD" appears. >
2242 :call filter(mydict, 'v:key >= 8')
2243< Removes the items with a key below 8. >
2244 :call filter(var, 0)
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00002245< Removes all the items, thus clears the List or Dictionary.
2246
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002247 Note that {string} is the result of expression and is then
2248 used as an expression again. Often it is good to use a
2249 |literal-string| to avoid having to double backslashes.
2250
2251 The operation is done in-place. If you want a List or
2252 Dictionary to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00002253 :let l = filter(copy(mylist), '& =~ "KEEP"')
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002254
2255< Returns {expr}, the List or Dictionary that was filtered.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002256
2257
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00002258finddir({name}[, {path}[, {count}]]) *finddir()*
2259 Find directory {name} in {path}.
2260 If {path} is omitted or empty then 'path' is used.
2261 If the optional {count} is given, find {count}'s occurrence of
2262 {name} in {path}.
2263 This is quite similar to the ex-command |:find|.
2264 When the found directory is below the current directory a
2265 relative path is returned. Otherwise a full path is returned.
2266 Example: >
2267 :echo findfile("tags.vim", ".;")
2268< Searches from the current directory upwards until it finds
2269 the file "tags.vim".
2270 {only available when compiled with the +file_in_path feature}
2271
2272findfile({name}[, {path}[, {count}]]) *findfile()*
2273 Just like |finddir()|, but find a file instead of a directory.
2274
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002275filewritable({file}) *filewritable()*
2276 The result is a Number, which is 1 when a file with the
2277 name {file} exists, and can be written. If {file} doesn't
2278 exist, or is not writable, the result is 0. If (file) is a
2279 directory, and we can write to it, the result is 2.
2280
2281fnamemodify({fname}, {mods}) *fnamemodify()*
2282 Modify file name {fname} according to {mods}. {mods} is a
2283 string of characters like it is used for file names on the
2284 command line. See |filename-modifiers|.
2285 Example: >
2286 :echo fnamemodify("main.c", ":p:h")
2287< results in: >
2288 /home/mool/vim/vim/src
2289< Note: Environment variables and "~" don't work in {fname}, use
2290 |expand()| first then.
2291
2292foldclosed({lnum}) *foldclosed()*
2293 The result is a Number. If the line {lnum} is in a closed
2294 fold, the result is the number of the first line in that fold.
2295 If the line {lnum} is not in a closed fold, -1 is returned.
2296
2297foldclosedend({lnum}) *foldclosedend()*
2298 The result is a Number. If the line {lnum} is in a closed
2299 fold, the result is the number of the last line in that fold.
2300 If the line {lnum} is not in a closed fold, -1 is returned.
2301
2302foldlevel({lnum}) *foldlevel()*
2303 The result is a Number, which is the foldlevel of line {lnum}
2304 in the current buffer. For nested folds the deepest level is
2305 returned. If there is no fold at line {lnum}, zero is
2306 returned. It doesn't matter if the folds are open or closed.
2307 When used while updating folds (from 'foldexpr') -1 is
2308 returned for lines where folds are still to be updated and the
2309 foldlevel is unknown. As a special case the level of the
2310 previous line is usually available.
2311
2312 *foldtext()*
2313foldtext() Returns a String, to be displayed for a closed fold. This is
2314 the default function used for the 'foldtext' option and should
2315 only be called from evaluating 'foldtext'. It uses the
2316 |v:foldstart|, |v:foldend| and |v:folddashes| variables.
2317 The returned string looks like this: >
2318 +-- 45 lines: abcdef
2319< The number of dashes depends on the foldlevel. The "45" is
2320 the number of lines in the fold. "abcdef" is the text in the
2321 first non-blank line of the fold. Leading white space, "//"
2322 or "/*" and the text from the 'foldmarker' and 'commentstring'
2323 options is removed.
2324 {not available when compiled without the |+folding| feature}
2325
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00002326foldtextresult({lnum}) *foldtextresult()*
2327 Returns the text that is displayed for the closed fold at line
2328 {lnum}. Evaluates 'foldtext' in the appropriate context.
2329 When there is no closed fold at {lnum} an empty string is
2330 returned.
2331 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|. Thus "." is the current
2332 line, "'m" mark m, etc.
2333 Useful when exporting folded text, e.g., to HTML.
2334 {not available when compiled without the |+folding| feature}
2335
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002336 *foreground()*
2337foreground() Move the Vim window to the foreground. Useful when sent from
2338 a client to a Vim server. |remote_send()|
2339 On Win32 systems this might not work, the OS does not always
2340 allow a window to bring itself to the foreground. Use
2341 |remote_foreground()| instead.
2342 {only in the Win32, Athena, Motif and GTK GUI versions and the
2343 Win32 console version}
2344
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002345
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00002346function({name}) *function()* *E700*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002347 Return a Funcref variable that refers to function {name}.
2348 {name} can be a user defined function or an internal function.
2349
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002350
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00002351get({list}, {idx} [, {default}]) *get()*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002352 Get item {idx} from List {list}. When this item is not
2353 available return {default}. Return zero when {default} is
2354 omitted.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002355get({dict}, {key} [, {default}])
2356 Get item with key {key} from Dictionary {dict}. When this
2357 item is not available return {default}. Return zero when
2358 {default} is omitted.
2359
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002360
2361getbufvar({expr}, {varname}) *getbufvar()*
2362 The result is the value of option or local buffer variable
2363 {varname} in buffer {expr}. Note that the name without "b:"
2364 must be used.
Bram Moolenaar4317d9b2005-03-18 20:25:31 +00002365 This also works for a global or buffer-local option, but it
2366 doesn't work for a global variable, window-local variable or
2367 window-local option.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002368 For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()| above.
2369 When the buffer or variable doesn't exist an empty string is
2370 returned, there is no error message.
2371 Examples: >
2372 :let bufmodified = getbufvar(1, "&mod")
2373 :echo "todo myvar = " . getbufvar("todo", "myvar")
2374<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002375getchar([expr]) *getchar()*
2376 Get a single character from the user. If it is an 8-bit
2377 character, the result is a number. Otherwise a String is
2378 returned with the encoded character. For a special key it's a
2379 sequence of bytes starting with 0x80 (decimal: 128).
2380 If [expr] is omitted, wait until a character is available.
2381 If [expr] is 0, only get a character when one is available.
2382 If [expr] is 1, only check if a character is available, it is
2383 not consumed. If a normal character is
2384 available, it is returned, otherwise a
2385 non-zero value is returned.
2386 If a normal character available, it is returned as a Number.
2387 Use nr2char() to convert it to a String.
2388 The returned value is zero if no character is available.
2389 The returned value is a string of characters for special keys
2390 and when a modifier (shift, control, alt) was used.
2391 There is no prompt, you will somehow have to make clear to the
2392 user that a character has to be typed.
2393 There is no mapping for the character.
2394 Key codes are replaced, thus when the user presses the <Del>
2395 key you get the code for the <Del> key, not the raw character
2396 sequence. Examples: >
2397 getchar() == "\<Del>"
2398 getchar() == "\<S-Left>"
2399< This example redefines "f" to ignore case: >
2400 :nmap f :call FindChar()<CR>
2401 :function FindChar()
2402 : let c = nr2char(getchar())
2403 : while col('.') < col('$') - 1
2404 : normal l
2405 : if getline('.')[col('.') - 1] ==? c
2406 : break
2407 : endif
2408 : endwhile
2409 :endfunction
2410
2411getcharmod() *getcharmod()*
2412 The result is a Number which is the state of the modifiers for
2413 the last obtained character with getchar() or in another way.
2414 These values are added together:
2415 2 shift
2416 4 control
2417 8 alt (meta)
2418 16 mouse double click
2419 32 mouse triple click
2420 64 mouse quadruple click
2421 128 Macintosh only: command
2422 Only the modifiers that have not been included in the
2423 character itself are obtained. Thus Shift-a results in "A"
2424 with no modifier.
2425
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002426getcmdline() *getcmdline()*
2427 Return the current command-line. Only works when the command
2428 line is being edited, thus requires use of |c_CTRL-\_e| or
2429 |c_CTRL-R_=|.
2430 Example: >
2431 :cmap <F7> <C-\>eescape(getcmdline(), ' \')<CR>
2432< Also see |getcmdpos()| and |setcmdpos()|.
2433
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002434getcmdpos() *getcmdpos()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002435 Return the position of the cursor in the command line as a
2436 byte count. The first column is 1.
2437 Only works when editing the command line, thus requires use of
2438 |c_CTRL-\_e| or |c_CTRL-R_=|. Returns 0 otherwise.
2439 Also see |setcmdpos()| and |getcmdline()|.
2440
2441 *getcwd()*
2442getcwd() The result is a String, which is the name of the current
2443 working directory.
2444
2445getfsize({fname}) *getfsize()*
2446 The result is a Number, which is the size in bytes of the
2447 given file {fname}.
2448 If {fname} is a directory, 0 is returned.
2449 If the file {fname} can't be found, -1 is returned.
2450
Bram Moolenaard8b0cf12004-12-12 11:33:30 +00002451getfontname([{name}]) *getfontname()*
2452 Without an argument returns the name of the normal font being
2453 used. Like what is used for the Normal highlight group
2454 |hl-Normal|.
2455 With an argument a check is done whether {name} is a valid
2456 font name. If not then an empty string is returned.
2457 Otherwise the actual font name is returned, or {name} if the
2458 GUI does not support obtaining the real name.
2459 Only works when the GUI is running, thus not you your vimrc or
2460 Note that the GTK 2 GUI accepts any font name, thus checking
2461 for a valid name does not work.
2462 gvimrc file. Use the |GUIEnter| autocommand to use this
2463 function just after the GUI has started.
2464
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00002465getfperm({fname}) *getfperm()*
2466 The result is a String, which is the read, write, and execute
2467 permissions of the given file {fname}.
2468 If {fname} does not exist or its directory cannot be read, an
2469 empty string is returned.
2470 The result is of the form "rwxrwxrwx", where each group of
2471 "rwx" flags represent, in turn, the permissions of the owner
2472 of the file, the group the file belongs to, and other users.
2473 If a user does not have a given permission the flag for this
2474 is replaced with the string "-". Example: >
2475 :echo getfperm("/etc/passwd")
2476< This will hopefully (from a security point of view) display
2477 the string "rw-r--r--" or even "rw-------".
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00002478
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002479getftime({fname}) *getftime()*
2480 The result is a Number, which is the last modification time of
2481 the given file {fname}. The value is measured as seconds
2482 since 1st Jan 1970, and may be passed to strftime(). See also
2483 |localtime()| and |strftime()|.
2484 If the file {fname} can't be found -1 is returned.
2485
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00002486getftype({fname}) *getftype()*
2487 The result is a String, which is a description of the kind of
2488 file of the given file {fname}.
2489 If {fname} does not exist an empty string is returned.
2490 Here is a table over different kinds of files and their
2491 results:
2492 Normal file "file"
2493 Directory "dir"
2494 Symbolic link "link"
2495 Block device "bdev"
2496 Character device "cdev"
2497 Socket "socket"
2498 FIFO "fifo"
2499 All other "other"
2500 Example: >
2501 getftype("/home")
2502< Note that a type such as "link" will only be returned on
2503 systems that support it. On some systems only "dir" and
2504 "file" are returned.
2505
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002506 *getline()*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002507getline({lnum} [, {end}])
2508 Without {end} the result is a String, which is line {lnum}
2509 from the current buffer. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002510 getline(1)
2511< When {lnum} is a String that doesn't start with a
2512 digit, line() is called to translate the String into a Number.
2513 To get the line under the cursor: >
2514 getline(".")
2515< When {lnum} is smaller than 1 or bigger than the number of
2516 lines in the buffer, an empty string is returned.
2517
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002518 When {end} is given the result is a List where each item is a
2519 line from the current buffer in the range {lnum} to {end},
2520 including line {end}.
2521 {end} is used in the same way as {lnum}.
2522 Non-existing lines are silently omitted.
2523 When {end} is before {lnum} an error is given.
2524 Example: >
2525 :let start = line('.')
2526 :let end = search("^$") - 1
2527 :let lines = getline(start, end)
2528
2529
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00002530getqflist() *getqflist()*
2531 Returns a list with all the current quickfix errors. Each
2532 list item is a dictionary with these entries:
2533 bufnr number of buffer that has the file name, use
2534 bufname() to get the name
2535 lnum line number in the buffer (first line is 1)
2536 col column number (first column is 1)
Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00002537 vcol non-zero: "col" is visual column
2538 zero: "col" is byte index
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00002539 nr error number
2540 text description of the error
2541 type type of the error, 'E', '1', etc.
2542 valid non-zero: recognized error message
2543
2544 Useful application: Find pattern matches in multiple files and
2545 do something with them: >
2546 :vimgrep /theword/jg *.c
2547 :for d in getqflist()
2548 : echo bufname(d.bufnr) ':' d.lnum '=' d.text
2549 :endfor
2550
2551
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002552getreg([{regname}]) *getreg()*
2553 The result is a String, which is the contents of register
2554 {regname}. Example: >
2555 :let cliptext = getreg('*')
2556< getreg('=') returns the last evaluated value of the expression
2557 register. (For use in maps).
2558 If {regname} is not specified, |v:register| is used.
2559
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002560
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002561getregtype([{regname}]) *getregtype()*
2562 The result is a String, which is type of register {regname}.
2563 The value will be one of:
2564 "v" for |characterwise| text
2565 "V" for |linewise| text
2566 "<CTRL-V>{width}" for |blockwise-visual| text
2567 0 for an empty or unknown register
2568 <CTRL-V> is one character with value 0x16.
2569 If {regname} is not specified, |v:register| is used.
2570
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002571
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002572 *getwinposx()*
2573getwinposx() The result is a Number, which is the X coordinate in pixels of
2574 the left hand side of the GUI Vim window. The result will be
2575 -1 if the information is not available.
2576
2577 *getwinposy()*
2578getwinposy() The result is a Number, which is the Y coordinate in pixels of
2579 the top of the GUI Vim window. The result will be -1 if the
2580 information is not available.
2581
2582getwinvar({nr}, {varname}) *getwinvar()*
2583 The result is the value of option or local window variable
2584 {varname} in window {nr}.
Bram Moolenaar4317d9b2005-03-18 20:25:31 +00002585 This also works for a global option, buffer-local option and
2586 window-local option, but it doesn't work for a global variable
2587 or buffer-local variable.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002588 Note that the name without "w:" must be used.
2589 Examples: >
2590 :let list_is_on = getwinvar(2, '&list')
2591 :echo "myvar = " . getwinvar(1, 'myvar')
2592<
2593 *glob()*
2594glob({expr}) Expand the file wildcards in {expr}. The result is a String.
2595 When there are several matches, they are separated by <NL>
2596 characters.
2597 If the expansion fails, the result is an empty string.
2598 A name for a non-existing file is not included.
2599
2600 For most systems backticks can be used to get files names from
2601 any external command. Example: >
2602 :let tagfiles = glob("`find . -name tags -print`")
2603 :let &tags = substitute(tagfiles, "\n", ",", "g")
2604< The result of the program inside the backticks should be one
2605 item per line. Spaces inside an item are allowed.
2606
2607 See |expand()| for expanding special Vim variables. See
2608 |system()| for getting the raw output of an external command.
2609
2610globpath({path}, {expr}) *globpath()*
2611 Perform glob() on all directories in {path} and concatenate
2612 the results. Example: >
2613 :echo globpath(&rtp, "syntax/c.vim")
2614< {path} is a comma-separated list of directory names. Each
2615 directory name is prepended to {expr} and expanded like with
2616 glob(). A path separator is inserted when needed.
2617 To add a comma inside a directory name escape it with a
2618 backslash. Note that on MS-Windows a directory may have a
2619 trailing backslash, remove it if you put a comma after it.
2620 If the expansion fails for one of the directories, there is no
2621 error message.
2622 The 'wildignore' option applies: Names matching one of the
2623 patterns in 'wildignore' will be skipped.
2624
2625 *has()*
2626has({feature}) The result is a Number, which is 1 if the feature {feature} is
2627 supported, zero otherwise. The {feature} argument is a
2628 string. See |feature-list| below.
2629 Also see |exists()|.
2630
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002631
2632has_key({dict}, {key}) *has_key()*
2633 The result is a Number, which is 1 if Dictionary {dict} has an
2634 entry with key {key}. Zero otherwise.
2635
2636
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002637hasmapto({what} [, {mode}]) *hasmapto()*
2638 The result is a Number, which is 1 if there is a mapping that
2639 contains {what} in somewhere in the rhs (what it is mapped to)
2640 and this mapping exists in one of the modes indicated by
2641 {mode}.
2642 Both the global mappings and the mappings local to the current
2643 buffer are checked for a match.
2644 If no matching mapping is found 0 is returned.
2645 The following characters are recognized in {mode}:
2646 n Normal mode
2647 v Visual mode
2648 o Operator-pending mode
2649 i Insert mode
2650 l Language-Argument ("r", "f", "t", etc.)
2651 c Command-line mode
2652 When {mode} is omitted, "nvo" is used.
2653
2654 This function is useful to check if a mapping already exists
2655 to a function in a Vim script. Example: >
2656 :if !hasmapto('\ABCdoit')
2657 : map <Leader>d \ABCdoit
2658 :endif
2659< This installs the mapping to "\ABCdoit" only if there isn't
2660 already a mapping to "\ABCdoit".
2661
2662histadd({history}, {item}) *histadd()*
2663 Add the String {item} to the history {history} which can be
2664 one of: *hist-names*
2665 "cmd" or ":" command line history
2666 "search" or "/" search pattern history
2667 "expr" or "=" typed expression history
2668 "input" or "@" input line history
2669 If {item} does already exist in the history, it will be
2670 shifted to become the newest entry.
2671 The result is a Number: 1 if the operation was successful,
2672 otherwise 0 is returned.
2673
2674 Example: >
2675 :call histadd("input", strftime("%Y %b %d"))
2676 :let date=input("Enter date: ")
2677< This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
2678
2679histdel({history} [, {item}]) *histdel()*
2680 Clear {history}, ie. delete all its entries. See |hist-names|
2681 for the possible values of {history}.
2682
2683 If the parameter {item} is given as String, this is seen
2684 as regular expression. All entries matching that expression
2685 will be removed from the history (if there are any).
2686 Upper/lowercase must match, unless "\c" is used |/\c|.
2687 If {item} is a Number, it will be interpreted as index, see
2688 |:history-indexing|. The respective entry will be removed
2689 if it exists.
2690
2691 The result is a Number: 1 for a successful operation,
2692 otherwise 0 is returned.
2693
2694 Examples:
2695 Clear expression register history: >
2696 :call histdel("expr")
2697<
2698 Remove all entries starting with "*" from the search history: >
2699 :call histdel("/", '^\*')
2700<
2701 The following three are equivalent: >
2702 :call histdel("search", histnr("search"))
2703 :call histdel("search", -1)
2704 :call histdel("search", '^'.histget("search", -1).'$')
2705<
2706 To delete the last search pattern and use the last-but-one for
2707 the "n" command and 'hlsearch': >
2708 :call histdel("search", -1)
2709 :let @/ = histget("search", -1)
2710
2711histget({history} [, {index}]) *histget()*
2712 The result is a String, the entry with Number {index} from
2713 {history}. See |hist-names| for the possible values of
2714 {history}, and |:history-indexing| for {index}. If there is
2715 no such entry, an empty String is returned. When {index} is
2716 omitted, the most recent item from the history is used.
2717
2718 Examples:
2719 Redo the second last search from history. >
2720 :execute '/' . histget("search", -2)
2721
2722< Define an Ex command ":H {num}" that supports re-execution of
2723 the {num}th entry from the output of |:history|. >
2724 :command -nargs=1 H execute histget("cmd", 0+<args>)
2725<
2726histnr({history}) *histnr()*
2727 The result is the Number of the current entry in {history}.
2728 See |hist-names| for the possible values of {history}.
2729 If an error occurred, -1 is returned.
2730
2731 Example: >
2732 :let inp_index = histnr("expr")
2733<
2734hlexists({name}) *hlexists()*
2735 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a highlight group
2736 called {name} exists. This is when the group has been
2737 defined in some way. Not necessarily when highlighting has
2738 been defined for it, it may also have been used for a syntax
2739 item.
2740 *highlight_exists()*
2741 Obsolete name: highlight_exists().
2742
2743 *hlID()*
2744hlID({name}) The result is a Number, which is the ID of the highlight group
2745 with name {name}. When the highlight group doesn't exist,
2746 zero is returned.
2747 This can be used to retrieve information about the highlight
2748 group. For example, to get the background color of the
2749 "Comment" group: >
2750 :echo synIDattr(synIDtrans(hlID("Comment")), "bg")
2751< *highlightID()*
2752 Obsolete name: highlightID().
2753
2754hostname() *hostname()*
2755 The result is a String, which is the name of the machine on
2756 which Vim is currently running. Machine names greater than
2757 256 characters long are truncated.
2758
2759iconv({expr}, {from}, {to}) *iconv()*
2760 The result is a String, which is the text {expr} converted
2761 from encoding {from} to encoding {to}.
2762 When the conversion fails an empty string is returned.
2763 The encoding names are whatever the iconv() library function
2764 can accept, see ":!man 3 iconv".
2765 Most conversions require Vim to be compiled with the |+iconv|
2766 feature. Otherwise only UTF-8 to latin1 conversion and back
2767 can be done.
2768 This can be used to display messages with special characters,
2769 no matter what 'encoding' is set to. Write the message in
2770 UTF-8 and use: >
2771 echo iconv(utf8_str, "utf-8", &enc)
2772< Note that Vim uses UTF-8 for all Unicode encodings, conversion
2773 from/to UCS-2 is automatically changed to use UTF-8. You
2774 cannot use UCS-2 in a string anyway, because of the NUL bytes.
2775 {only available when compiled with the +multi_byte feature}
2776
2777 *indent()*
2778indent({lnum}) The result is a Number, which is indent of line {lnum} in the
2779 current buffer. The indent is counted in spaces, the value
2780 of 'tabstop' is relevant. {lnum} is used just like in
2781 |getline()|.
2782 When {lnum} is invalid -1 is returned.
2783
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002784
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002785index({list}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]]) *index()*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002786 Return the lowest index in List {list} where the item has a
2787 value equal to {expr}.
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00002788 If {start} is given then start looking at the item with index
2789 {start} (may be negative for an item relative to the end).
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002790 When {ic} is given and it is non-zero, ignore case. Otherwise
2791 case must match.
2792 -1 is returned when {expr} is not found in {list}.
2793 Example: >
2794 :let idx = index(words, "the")
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00002795 :if index(numbers, 123) >= 0
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002796
2797
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002798input({prompt} [, {text}]) *input()*
2799 The result is a String, which is whatever the user typed on
2800 the command-line. The parameter is either a prompt string, or
2801 a blank string (for no prompt). A '\n' can be used in the
2802 prompt to start a new line. The highlighting set with
2803 |:echohl| is used for the prompt. The input is entered just
2804 like a command-line, with the same editing commands and
2805 mappings. There is a separate history for lines typed for
2806 input().
2807 If the optional {text} is present, this is used for the
2808 default reply, as if the user typed this.
2809 NOTE: This must not be used in a startup file, for the
2810 versions that only run in GUI mode (e.g., the Win32 GUI).
2811 Note: When input() is called from within a mapping it will
2812 consume remaining characters from that mapping, because a
2813 mapping is handled like the characters were typed.
2814 Use |inputsave()| before input() and |inputrestore()|
2815 after input() to avoid that. Another solution is to avoid
2816 that further characters follow in the mapping, e.g., by using
2817 |:execute| or |:normal|.
2818
2819 Example: >
2820 :if input("Coffee or beer? ") == "beer"
2821 : echo "Cheers!"
2822 :endif
2823< Example with default text: >
2824 :let color = input("Color? ", "white")
2825< Example with a mapping: >
2826 :nmap \x :call GetFoo()<CR>:exe "/" . Foo<CR>
2827 :function GetFoo()
2828 : call inputsave()
2829 : let g:Foo = input("enter search pattern: ")
2830 : call inputrestore()
2831 :endfunction
2832
2833inputdialog({prompt} [, {text} [, {cancelreturn}]]) *inputdialog()*
2834 Like input(), but when the GUI is running and text dialogs are
2835 supported, a dialog window pops up to input the text.
2836 Example: >
2837 :let n = inputdialog("value for shiftwidth", &sw)
2838 :if n != ""
2839 : let &sw = n
2840 :endif
2841< When the dialog is cancelled {cancelreturn} is returned. When
2842 omitted an empty string is returned.
2843 Hitting <Enter> works like pressing the OK button. Hitting
2844 <Esc> works like pressing the Cancel button.
2845
2846inputrestore() *inputrestore()*
2847 Restore typeahead that was saved with a previous inputsave().
2848 Should be called the same number of times inputsave() is
2849 called. Calling it more often is harmless though.
2850 Returns 1 when there is nothing to restore, 0 otherwise.
2851
2852inputsave() *inputsave()*
2853 Preserve typeahead (also from mappings) and clear it, so that
2854 a following prompt gets input from the user. Should be
2855 followed by a matching inputrestore() after the prompt. Can
2856 be used several times, in which case there must be just as
2857 many inputrestore() calls.
2858 Returns 1 when out of memory, 0 otherwise.
2859
2860inputsecret({prompt} [, {text}]) *inputsecret()*
2861 This function acts much like the |input()| function with but
2862 two exceptions:
2863 a) the user's response will be displayed as a sequence of
2864 asterisks ("*") thereby keeping the entry secret, and
2865 b) the user's response will not be recorded on the input
2866 |history| stack.
2867 The result is a String, which is whatever the user actually
2868 typed on the command-line in response to the issued prompt.
2869
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002870insert({list}, {item} [, {idx}]) *insert()*
2871 Insert {item} at the start of List {list}.
2872 If {idx} is specified insert {item} before the item with index
2873 {idx}. If {idx} is zero it goes before the first item, just
2874 like omitting {idx}. A negative {idx} is also possible, see
2875 |list-index|. -1 inserts just before the last item.
2876 Returns the resulting List. Examples: >
2877 :let mylist = insert([2, 3, 5], 1)
2878 :call insert(mylist, 4, -1)
2879 :call insert(mylist, 6, len(mylist))
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002880< The last example can be done simpler with |add()|.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002881 Note that when {item} is a List it is inserted as a single
2882 item. Use |extend()| to concatenate Lists.
2883
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002884isdirectory({directory}) *isdirectory()*
2885 The result is a Number, which is non-zero when a directory
2886 with the name {directory} exists. If {directory} doesn't
2887 exist, or isn't a directory, the result is FALSE. {directory}
2888 is any expression, which is used as a String.
2889
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00002890islocked({expr}) *islocked()*
2891 The result is a Number, which is non-zero when {expr} is the
2892 name of a locked variable.
2893 {expr} must be the name of a variable, List item or Dictionary
2894 entry, not the variable itself! Example: >
2895 :let alist = [0, ['a', 'b'], 2, 3]
2896 :lockvar 1 alist
2897 :echo islocked('alist') " 1
2898 :echo islocked('alist[1]') " 0
2899
2900< When {expr} is a variable that does not exist you get an error
2901 message. Use |exists()| to check for existance.
2902
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00002903items({dict}) *items()*
2904 Return a List with all the key-value pairs of {dict}. Each
2905 List item is a list with two items: the key of a {dict} entry
2906 and the value of this entry. The List is in arbitrary order.
2907
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002908
2909join({list} [, {sep}]) *join()*
2910 Join the items in {list} together into one String.
2911 When {sep} is specified it is put in between the items. If
2912 {sep} is omitted a single space is used.
2913 Note that {sep} is not added at the end. You might want to
2914 add it there too: >
2915 let lines = join(mylist, "\n") . "\n"
2916< String items are used as-is. Lists and Dictionaries are
2917 converted into a string like with |string()|.
2918 The opposite function is |split()|.
2919
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00002920keys({dict}) *keys()*
2921 Return a List with all the keys of {dict}. The List is in
2922 arbitrary order.
2923
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00002924 *len()* *E701*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002925len({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the length of the argument.
2926 When {expr} is a String or a Number the length in bytes is
2927 used, as with |strlen()|.
2928 When {expr} is a List the number of items in the List is
2929 returned.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002930 When {expr} is a Dictionary the number of entries in the
2931 Dictionary is returned.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002932 Otherwise an error is given.
2933
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002934 *libcall()* *E364* *E368*
2935libcall({libname}, {funcname}, {argument})
2936 Call function {funcname} in the run-time library {libname}
2937 with single argument {argument}.
2938 This is useful to call functions in a library that you
2939 especially made to be used with Vim. Since only one argument
2940 is possible, calling standard library functions is rather
2941 limited.
2942 The result is the String returned by the function. If the
2943 function returns NULL, this will appear as an empty string ""
2944 to Vim.
2945 If the function returns a number, use libcallnr()!
2946 If {argument} is a number, it is passed to the function as an
2947 int; if {argument} is a string, it is passed as a
2948 null-terminated string.
2949 This function will fail in |restricted-mode|.
2950
2951 libcall() allows you to write your own 'plug-in' extensions to
2952 Vim without having to recompile the program. It is NOT a
2953 means to call system functions! If you try to do so Vim will
2954 very probably crash.
2955
2956 For Win32, the functions you write must be placed in a DLL
2957 and use the normal C calling convention (NOT Pascal which is
2958 used in Windows System DLLs). The function must take exactly
2959 one parameter, either a character pointer or a long integer,
2960 and must return a character pointer or NULL. The character
2961 pointer returned must point to memory that will remain valid
2962 after the function has returned (e.g. in static data in the
2963 DLL). If it points to allocated memory, that memory will
2964 leak away. Using a static buffer in the function should work,
2965 it's then freed when the DLL is unloaded.
2966
2967 WARNING: If the function returns a non-valid pointer, Vim may
2968 crash! This also happens if the function returns a number,
2969 because Vim thinks it's a pointer.
2970 For Win32 systems, {libname} should be the filename of the DLL
2971 without the ".DLL" suffix. A full path is only required if
2972 the DLL is not in the usual places.
2973 For Unix: When compiling your own plugins, remember that the
2974 object code must be compiled as position-independent ('PIC').
2975 {only in Win32 on some Unix versions, when the |+libcall|
2976 feature is present}
2977 Examples: >
2978 :echo libcall("libc.so", "getenv", "HOME")
2979 :echo libcallnr("/usr/lib/libc.so", "getpid", "")
2980<
2981 *libcallnr()*
2982libcallnr({libname}, {funcname}, {argument})
2983 Just like libcall(), but used for a function that returns an
2984 int instead of a string.
2985 {only in Win32 on some Unix versions, when the |+libcall|
2986 feature is present}
2987 Example (not very useful...): >
2988 :call libcallnr("libc.so", "printf", "Hello World!\n")
2989 :call libcallnr("libc.so", "sleep", 10)
2990<
2991 *line()*
2992line({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the line number of the file
2993 position given with {expr}. The accepted positions are:
2994 . the cursor position
2995 $ the last line in the current buffer
2996 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is
2997 returned)
2998 Note that only marks in the current file can be used.
2999 Examples: >
3000 line(".") line number of the cursor
3001 line("'t") line number of mark t
3002 line("'" . marker) line number of mark marker
3003< *last-position-jump*
3004 This autocommand jumps to the last known position in a file
3005 just after opening it, if the '" mark is set: >
3006 :au BufReadPost * if line("'\"") > 0 && line("'\"") <= line("$") | exe "normal g'\"" | endif
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00003007
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003008line2byte({lnum}) *line2byte()*
3009 Return the byte count from the start of the buffer for line
3010 {lnum}. This includes the end-of-line character, depending on
3011 the 'fileformat' option for the current buffer. The first
3012 line returns 1.
3013 This can also be used to get the byte count for the line just
3014 below the last line: >
3015 line2byte(line("$") + 1)
3016< This is the file size plus one.
3017 When {lnum} is invalid, or the |+byte_offset| feature has been
3018 disabled at compile time, -1 is returned.
3019 Also see |byte2line()|, |go| and |:goto|.
3020
3021lispindent({lnum}) *lispindent()*
3022 Get the amount of indent for line {lnum} according the lisp
3023 indenting rules, as with 'lisp'.
3024 The indent is counted in spaces, the value of 'tabstop' is
3025 relevant. {lnum} is used just like in |getline()|.
3026 When {lnum} is invalid or Vim was not compiled the
3027 |+lispindent| feature, -1 is returned.
3028
3029localtime() *localtime()*
3030 Return the current time, measured as seconds since 1st Jan
3031 1970. See also |strftime()| and |getftime()|.
3032
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003033
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003034map({expr}, {string}) *map()*
3035 {expr} must be a List or a Dictionary.
3036 Replace each item in {expr} with the result of evaluating
3037 {string}.
3038 Inside {string} |v:val| has the value of the current item.
3039 For a Dictionary |v:key| has the key of the current item.
3040 Example: >
3041 :call map(mylist, '"> " . v:val . " <"')
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003042< This puts "> " before and " <" after each item in "mylist".
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003043
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003044 Note that {string} is the result of an expression and is then
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003045 used as an expression again. Often it is good to use a
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003046 |literal-string| to avoid having to double backslashes. You
3047 still have to double ' quotes
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003048
3049 The operation is done in-place. If you want a List or
3050 Dictionary to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003051 :let tlist = map(copy(mylist), ' & . "\t"')
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003052
3053< Returns {expr}, the List or Dictionary that was filtered.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003054
3055
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003056maparg({name}[, {mode}]) *maparg()*
3057 Return the rhs of mapping {name} in mode {mode}. When there
3058 is no mapping for {name}, an empty String is returned.
3059 These characters can be used for {mode}:
3060 "n" Normal
3061 "v" Visual
3062 "o" Operator-pending
3063 "i" Insert
3064 "c" Cmd-line
3065 "l" langmap |language-mapping|
3066 "" Normal, Visual and Operator-pending
3067 When {mode} is omitted, the modes from "" are used.
3068 The {name} can have special key names, like in the ":map"
3069 command. The returned String has special characters
3070 translated like in the output of the ":map" command listing.
3071 The mappings local to the current buffer are checked first,
3072 then the global mappings.
3073
3074mapcheck({name}[, {mode}]) *mapcheck()*
3075 Check if there is a mapping that matches with {name} in mode
3076 {mode}. See |maparg()| for {mode} and special names in
3077 {name}.
3078 A match happens with a mapping that starts with {name} and
3079 with a mapping which is equal to the start of {name}.
3080
3081 matches mapping "a" "ab" "abc" ~
3082 mapcheck("a") yes yes yes
3083 mapcheck("abc") yes yes yes
3084 mapcheck("ax") yes no no
3085 mapcheck("b") no no no
3086
3087 The difference with maparg() is that mapcheck() finds a
3088 mapping that matches with {name}, while maparg() only finds a
3089 mapping for {name} exactly.
3090 When there is no mapping that starts with {name}, an empty
3091 String is returned. If there is one, the rhs of that mapping
3092 is returned. If there are several mappings that start with
3093 {name}, the rhs of one of them is returned.
3094 The mappings local to the current buffer are checked first,
3095 then the global mappings.
3096 This function can be used to check if a mapping can be added
3097 without being ambiguous. Example: >
3098 :if mapcheck("_vv") == ""
3099 : map _vv :set guifont=7x13<CR>
3100 :endif
3101< This avoids adding the "_vv" mapping when there already is a
3102 mapping for "_v" or for "_vvv".
3103
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003104match({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *match()*
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003105 When {expr} is a List then this returns the index of the first
3106 item where {pat} matches. Each item is used as a String,
3107 Lists and Dictionaries are used as echoed.
3108 Otherwise, {expr} is used as a String. The result is a
3109 Number, which gives the index (byte offset) in {expr} where
3110 {pat} matches.
3111 A match at the first character or List item returns zero.
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003112 If there is no match -1 is returned.
3113 Example: >
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003114 :echo match("testing", "ing") " results in 4
3115 :echo match([1, 'x'], '\a') " results in 2
3116< See |string-match| for how {pat} is used.
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00003117 *strpbrk()*
3118 Vim doesn't have a strpbrk() function. But you can do: >
3119 :let sepidx = match(line, '[.,;: \t]')
3120< *strcasestr()*
3121 Vim doesn't have a strcasestr() function. But you can add
3122 "\c" to the pattern to ignore case: >
3123 :let idx = match(haystack, '\cneedle')
3124<
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003125 When {count} is given use the {count}'th match. When a match
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003126 is found in a String the search for the next one starts on
3127 character further. Thus this example results in 1: >
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003128 echo match("testing", "..", 0, 2)
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003129< In a List the search continues in the next item.
3130
3131 If {start} is given, the search starts from byte index
3132 {start} in a String or item {start} in a List.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003133 The result, however, is still the index counted from the
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003134 first character/item. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003135 :echo match("testing", "ing", 2)
3136< result is again "4". >
3137 :echo match("testing", "ing", 4)
3138< result is again "4". >
3139 :echo match("testing", "t", 2)
3140< result is "3".
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003141 For a String, if {start} < 0, it will be set to 0. For a list
3142 the index is counted from the end.
3143 If {start} is out of range (> strlen({expr} for a String or
3144 > len({expr} for a List) -1 is returned.
3145
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003146 See |pattern| for the patterns that are accepted.
3147 The 'ignorecase' option is used to set the ignore-caseness of
3148 the pattern. 'smartcase' is NOT used. The matching is always
3149 done like 'magic' is set and 'cpoptions' is empty.
3150
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003151matchend({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *matchend()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003152 Same as match(), but return the index of first character after
3153 the match. Example: >
3154 :echo matchend("testing", "ing")
3155< results in "7".
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00003156 *strspn()* *strcspn()*
3157 Vim doesn't have a strspn() or strcspn() function, but you can
3158 do it with matchend(): >
3159 :let span = matchend(line, '[a-zA-Z]')
3160 :let span = matchend(line, '[^a-zA-Z]')
3161< Except that -1 is returned when there are no matches.
3162
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003163 The {start}, if given, has the same meaning as for match(). >
3164 :echo matchend("testing", "ing", 2)
3165< results in "7". >
3166 :echo matchend("testing", "ing", 5)
3167< result is "-1".
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003168 When {expr} is a List the result is equal to match().
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003169
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003170matchlist({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *matchlist()*
3171 Same as match(), but return a List. The first item in the
3172 list is the matched string, same as what matchstr() would
3173 return. Following items are submatches, like "\1", "\2", etc.
3174 in |:substitute|.
3175 When there is no match an empty list is returned.
3176
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003177matchstr({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *matchstr()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003178 Same as match(), but return the matched string. Example: >
3179 :echo matchstr("testing", "ing")
3180< results in "ing".
3181 When there is no match "" is returned.
3182 The {start}, if given, has the same meaning as for match(). >
3183 :echo matchstr("testing", "ing", 2)
3184< results in "ing". >
3185 :echo matchstr("testing", "ing", 5)
3186< result is "".
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003187 When {expr} is a List then the matching item is returned.
3188 The type isn't changed, it's not necessarily a String.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003189
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003190 *max()*
3191max({list}) Return the maximum value of all items in {list}.
3192 If {list} is not a list or one of the items in {list} cannot
3193 be used as a Number this results in an error.
3194 An empty List results in zero.
3195
3196 *min()*
3197min({list}) Return the minumum value of all items in {list}.
3198 If {list} is not a list or one of the items in {list} cannot
3199 be used as a Number this results in an error.
3200 An empty List results in zero.
3201
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003202 *mkdir()* *E749*
3203mkdir({name} [, {path} [, {prot}]])
3204 Create directory {name}.
3205 If {path} is "p" then intermediate directories are created as
3206 necessary. Otherwise it must be "".
3207 If {prot} is given it is used to set the protection bits of
3208 the new directory. The default is 0755 (rwxr-xr-x: r/w for
3209 the user readable for others). Use 0700 to make it unreadable
3210 for others.
3211 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3212 Not available on all systems. To check use: >
3213 :if exists("*mkdir")
3214<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003215 *mode()*
3216mode() Return a string that indicates the current mode:
3217 n Normal
3218 v Visual by character
3219 V Visual by line
3220 CTRL-V Visual blockwise
3221 s Select by character
3222 S Select by line
3223 CTRL-S Select blockwise
3224 i Insert
3225 R Replace
3226 c Command-line
3227 r Hit-enter prompt
3228 This is useful in the 'statusline' option. In most other
3229 places it always returns "c" or "n".
3230
3231nextnonblank({lnum}) *nextnonblank()*
3232 Return the line number of the first line at or below {lnum}
3233 that is not blank. Example: >
3234 if getline(nextnonblank(1)) =~ "Java"
3235< When {lnum} is invalid or there is no non-blank line at or
3236 below it, zero is returned.
3237 See also |prevnonblank()|.
3238
3239nr2char({expr}) *nr2char()*
3240 Return a string with a single character, which has the number
3241 value {expr}. Examples: >
3242 nr2char(64) returns "@"
3243 nr2char(32) returns " "
3244< The current 'encoding' is used. Example for "utf-8": >
3245 nr2char(300) returns I with bow character
3246< Note that a NUL character in the file is specified with
3247 nr2char(10), because NULs are represented with newline
3248 characters. nr2char(0) is a real NUL and terminates the
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00003249 string, thus results in an empty string.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003250
3251prevnonblank({lnum}) *prevnonblank()*
3252 Return the line number of the first line at or above {lnum}
3253 that is not blank. Example: >
3254 let ind = indent(prevnonblank(v:lnum - 1))
3255< When {lnum} is invalid or there is no non-blank line at or
3256 above it, zero is returned.
3257 Also see |nextnonblank()|.
3258
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003259 *E726* *E727*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003260range({expr} [, {max} [, {stride}]]) *range()*
3261 Returns a List with Numbers:
3262 - If only {expr} is specified: [0, 1, ..., {expr} - 1]
3263 - If {max} is specified: [{expr}, {expr} + 1, ..., {max}]
3264 - If {stride} is specified: [{expr}, {expr} + {stride}, ...,
3265 {max}] (increasing {expr} with {stride} each time, not
3266 producing a value past {max}).
3267 Examples: >
3268 range(4) " [0, 1, 2, 3]
3269 range(2, 4) " [2, 3, 4]
3270 range(2, 9, 3) " [2, 5, 8]
3271 range(2, -2, -1) " [2, 1, 0, -1, -2]
3272<
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003273 *readfile()*
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003274readfile({fname} [, {binary} [, {max}]])
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003275 Read file {fname} and return a List, each line of the file as
3276 an item. Lines broken at NL characters. Macintosh files
3277 separated with CR will result in a single long line (unless a
3278 NL appears somewhere).
3279 When {binary} is equal to "b" binary mode is used:
3280 - When the last line ends in a NL an extra empty list item is
3281 added.
3282 - No CR characters are removed.
3283 Otherwise:
3284 - CR characters that appear before a NL are removed.
3285 - Whether the last line ends in a NL or not does not matter.
3286 All NUL characters are replaced with a NL character.
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003287 When {max} is given this specifies the maximum number of lines
3288 to be read. Useful if you only want to check the first ten
3289 lines of a file: >
3290 :for line in readfile(fname, '', 10)
3291 : if line =~ 'Date' | echo line | endif
3292 :endfor
Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00003293< When {max} is negative -{max} lines from the end of the file
3294 are returned, or as many as there are.
3295 When {max} is zero the result is an empty list.
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003296 Note that without {max} the whole file is read into memory.
3297 Also note that there is no recognition of encoding. Read a
3298 file into a buffer if you need to.
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003299 When the file can't be opened an error message is given and
3300 the result is an empty list.
3301 Also see |writefile()|.
3302
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003303 *remote_expr()* *E449*
3304remote_expr({server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
3305 Send the {string} to {server}. The string is sent as an
3306 expression and the result is returned after evaluation.
3307 If {idvar} is present, it is taken as the name of a
3308 variable and a {serverid} for later use with
3309 remote_read() is stored there.
3310 See also |clientserver| |RemoteReply|.
3311 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3312 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3313 Note: Any errors will cause a local error message to be issued
3314 and the result will be the empty string.
3315 Examples: >
3316 :echo remote_expr("gvim", "2+2")
3317 :echo remote_expr("gvim1", "b:current_syntax")
3318<
3319
3320remote_foreground({server}) *remote_foreground()*
3321 Move the Vim server with the name {server} to the foreground.
3322 This works like: >
3323 remote_expr({server}, "foreground()")
3324< Except that on Win32 systems the client does the work, to work
3325 around the problem that the OS doesn't always allow the server
3326 to bring itself to the foreground.
3327 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3328 {only in the Win32, Athena, Motif and GTK GUI versions and the
3329 Win32 console version}
3330
3331
3332remote_peek({serverid} [, {retvar}]) *remote_peek()*
3333 Returns a positive number if there are available strings
3334 from {serverid}. Copies any reply string into the variable
3335 {retvar} if specified. {retvar} must be a string with the
3336 name of a variable.
3337 Returns zero if none are available.
3338 Returns -1 if something is wrong.
3339 See also |clientserver|.
3340 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3341 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3342 Examples: >
3343 :let repl = ""
3344 :echo "PEEK: ".remote_peek(id, "repl").": ".repl
3345
3346remote_read({serverid}) *remote_read()*
3347 Return the oldest available reply from {serverid} and consume
3348 it. It blocks until a reply is available.
3349 See also |clientserver|.
3350 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3351 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3352 Example: >
3353 :echo remote_read(id)
3354<
3355 *remote_send()* *E241*
3356remote_send({server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
Bram Moolenaard4755bb2004-09-02 19:12:26 +00003357 Send the {string} to {server}. The string is sent as input
3358 keys and the function returns immediately. At the Vim server
3359 the keys are not mapped |:map|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003360 If {idvar} is present, it is taken as the name of a
3361 variable and a {serverid} for later use with
3362 remote_read() is stored there.
3363 See also |clientserver| |RemoteReply|.
3364 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3365 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3366 Note: Any errors will be reported in the server and may mess
3367 up the display.
3368 Examples: >
3369 :echo remote_send("gvim", ":DropAndReply ".file, "serverid").
3370 \ remote_read(serverid)
3371
3372 :autocmd NONE RemoteReply *
3373 \ echo remote_read(expand("<amatch>"))
3374 :echo remote_send("gvim", ":sleep 10 | echo ".
3375 \ 'server2client(expand("<client>"), "HELLO")<CR>')
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003376<
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003377remove({list}, {idx} [, {end}]) *remove()*
3378 Without {end}: Remove the item at {idx} from List {list} and
3379 return it.
3380 With {end}: Remove items from {idx} to {end} (inclusive) and
3381 return a list with these items. When {idx} points to the same
3382 item as {end} a list with one item is returned. When {end}
3383 points to an item before {idx} this is an error.
3384 See |list-index| for possible values of {idx} and {end}.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003385 Example: >
3386 :echo "last item: " . remove(mylist, -1)
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003387 :call remove(mylist, 0, 9)
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003388remove({dict}, {key})
3389 Remove the entry from {dict} with key {key}. Example: >
3390 :echo "removed " . remove(dict, "one")
3391< If there is no {key} in {dict} this is an error.
3392
3393 Use |delete()| to remove a file.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003394
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003395rename({from}, {to}) *rename()*
3396 Rename the file by the name {from} to the name {to}. This
3397 should also work to move files across file systems. The
3398 result is a Number, which is 0 if the file was renamed
3399 successfully, and non-zero when the renaming failed.
3400 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3401
Bram Moolenaarab79bcb2004-07-18 21:34:53 +00003402repeat({expr}, {count}) *repeat()*
3403 Repeat {expr} {count} times and return the concatenated
3404 result. Example: >
3405 :let seperator = repeat('-', 80)
3406< When {count} is zero or negative the result is empty.
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003407 When {expr} is a List the result is {expr} concatenated
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003408 {count} times. Example: >
3409 :let longlist = repeat(['a', 'b'], 3)
3410< Results in ['a', 'b', 'a', 'b', 'a', 'b'].
Bram Moolenaarab79bcb2004-07-18 21:34:53 +00003411
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003412
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003413resolve({filename}) *resolve()* *E655*
3414 On MS-Windows, when {filename} is a shortcut (a .lnk file),
3415 returns the path the shortcut points to in a simplified form.
3416 On Unix, repeat resolving symbolic links in all path
3417 components of {filename} and return the simplified result.
3418 To cope with link cycles, resolving of symbolic links is
3419 stopped after 100 iterations.
3420 On other systems, return the simplified {filename}.
3421 The simplification step is done as by |simplify()|.
3422 resolve() keeps a leading path component specifying the
3423 current directory (provided the result is still a relative
3424 path name) and also keeps a trailing path separator.
3425
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003426 *reverse()*
3427reverse({list}) Reverse the order of items in {list} in-place. Returns
3428 {list}.
3429 If you want a list to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
3430 :let revlist = reverse(copy(mylist))
3431
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003432search({pattern} [, {flags}]) *search()*
3433 Search for regexp pattern {pattern}. The search starts at the
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00003434 cursor position (you can use |cursor()| to set it).
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003435 {flags} is a String, which can contain these character flags:
3436 'b' search backward instead of forward
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00003437 'n' do Not move the cursor
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003438 'w' wrap around the end of the file
3439 'W' don't wrap around the end of the file
3440 If neither 'w' or 'W' is given, the 'wrapscan' option applies.
3441
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00003442 When a match has been found its line number is returned.
3443 The cursor will be positioned at the match, unless the 'n'
3444 flag is used).
3445 If there is no match a 0 is returned and the cursor doesn't
3446 move. No error message is given.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003447
3448 Example (goes over all files in the argument list): >
3449 :let n = 1
3450 :while n <= argc() " loop over all files in arglist
3451 : exe "argument " . n
3452 : " start at the last char in the file and wrap for the
3453 : " first search to find match at start of file
3454 : normal G$
3455 : let flags = "w"
3456 : while search("foo", flags) > 0
3457 : s/foo/bar/g
3458 : let flags = "W"
3459 : endwhile
3460 : update " write the file if modified
3461 : let n = n + 1
3462 :endwhile
3463<
3464 *searchpair()*
3465searchpair({start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip}]])
3466 Search for the match of a nested start-end pair. This can be
3467 used to find the "endif" that matches an "if", while other
3468 if/endif pairs in between are ignored.
3469 The search starts at the cursor. If a match is found, the
3470 cursor is positioned at it and the line number is returned.
3471 If no match is found 0 or -1 is returned and the cursor
3472 doesn't move. No error message is given.
3473
3474 {start}, {middle} and {end} are patterns, see |pattern|. They
3475 must not contain \( \) pairs. Use of \%( \) is allowed. When
3476 {middle} is not empty, it is found when searching from either
3477 direction, but only when not in a nested start-end pair. A
3478 typical use is: >
3479 searchpair('\<if\>', '\<else\>', '\<endif\>')
3480< By leaving {middle} empty the "else" is skipped.
3481
3482 {flags} are used like with |search()|. Additionally:
3483 'n' do Not move the cursor
3484 'r' Repeat until no more matches found; will find the
3485 outer pair
3486 'm' return number of Matches instead of line number with
3487 the match; will only be > 1 when 'r' is used.
3488
3489 When a match for {start}, {middle} or {end} is found, the
3490 {skip} expression is evaluated with the cursor positioned on
3491 the start of the match. It should return non-zero if this
3492 match is to be skipped. E.g., because it is inside a comment
3493 or a string.
3494 When {skip} is omitted or empty, every match is accepted.
3495 When evaluating {skip} causes an error the search is aborted
3496 and -1 returned.
3497
3498 The value of 'ignorecase' is used. 'magic' is ignored, the
3499 patterns are used like it's on.
3500
3501 The search starts exactly at the cursor. A match with
3502 {start}, {middle} or {end} at the next character, in the
3503 direction of searching, is the first one found. Example: >
3504 if 1
3505 if 2
3506 endif 2
3507 endif 1
3508< When starting at the "if 2", with the cursor on the "i", and
3509 searching forwards, the "endif 2" is found. When starting on
3510 the character just before the "if 2", the "endif 1" will be
3511 found. That's because the "if 2" will be found first, and
3512 then this is considered to be a nested if/endif from "if 2" to
3513 "endif 2".
3514 When searching backwards and {end} is more than one character,
3515 it may be useful to put "\zs" at the end of the pattern, so
3516 that when the cursor is inside a match with the end it finds
3517 the matching start.
3518
3519 Example, to find the "endif" command in a Vim script: >
3520
3521 :echo searchpair('\<if\>', '\<el\%[seif]\>', '\<en\%[dif]\>', 'W',
3522 \ 'getline(".") =~ "^\\s*\""')
3523
3524< The cursor must be at or after the "if" for which a match is
3525 to be found. Note that single-quote strings are used to avoid
3526 having to double the backslashes. The skip expression only
3527 catches comments at the start of a line, not after a command.
3528 Also, a word "en" or "if" halfway a line is considered a
3529 match.
3530 Another example, to search for the matching "{" of a "}": >
3531
3532 :echo searchpair('{', '', '}', 'bW')
3533
3534< This works when the cursor is at or before the "}" for which a
3535 match is to be found. To reject matches that syntax
3536 highlighting recognized as strings: >
3537
3538 :echo searchpair('{', '', '}', 'bW',
3539 \ 'synIDattr(synID(line("."), col("."), 0), "name") =~? "string"')
3540<
3541server2client( {clientid}, {string}) *server2client()*
3542 Send a reply string to {clientid}. The most recent {clientid}
3543 that sent a string can be retrieved with expand("<client>").
3544 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3545 Note:
3546 This id has to be stored before the next command can be
3547 received. Ie. before returning from the received command and
3548 before calling any commands that waits for input.
3549 See also |clientserver|.
3550 Example: >
3551 :echo server2client(expand("<client>"), "HELLO")
3552<
3553serverlist() *serverlist()*
3554 Return a list of available server names, one per line.
3555 When there are no servers or the information is not available
3556 an empty string is returned. See also |clientserver|.
3557 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3558 Example: >
3559 :echo serverlist()
3560<
3561setbufvar({expr}, {varname}, {val}) *setbufvar()*
3562 Set option or local variable {varname} in buffer {expr} to
3563 {val}.
3564 This also works for a global or local window option, but it
3565 doesn't work for a global or local window variable.
3566 For a local window option the global value is unchanged.
3567 For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()| above.
3568 Note that the variable name without "b:" must be used.
3569 Examples: >
3570 :call setbufvar(1, "&mod", 1)
3571 :call setbufvar("todo", "myvar", "foobar")
3572< This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3573
3574setcmdpos({pos}) *setcmdpos()*
3575 Set the cursor position in the command line to byte position
3576 {pos}. The first position is 1.
3577 Use |getcmdpos()| to obtain the current position.
3578 Only works while editing the command line, thus you must use
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003579 |c_CTRL-\_e|, |c_CTRL-R_=| or |c_CTRL-R_CTRL-R| with '='. For
3580 |c_CTRL-\_e| and |c_CTRL-R_CTRL-R| with '=' the position is
3581 set after the command line is set to the expression. For
3582 |c_CTRL-R_=| it is set after evaluating the expression but
3583 before inserting the resulting text.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003584 When the number is too big the cursor is put at the end of the
3585 line. A number smaller than one has undefined results.
3586 Returns 0 when successful, 1 when not editing the command
3587 line.
3588
3589setline({lnum}, {line}) *setline()*
3590 Set line {lnum} of the current buffer to {line}. If this
3591 succeeds, 0 is returned. If this fails (most likely because
3592 {lnum} is invalid) 1 is returned. Example: >
3593 :call setline(5, strftime("%c"))
3594< Note: The '[ and '] marks are not set.
3595
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00003596
3597setqflist({list}) *setqflist()*
3598 Creates a quickfix list using the items in {list}. Each item
3599 in {list} is a dictionary. Non-dictionary items in {list} are
3600 ignored. Each dictionary item can contain the following
3601 entries:
3602
3603 filename name of a file
3604 lnum line number in the file
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00003605 pattern search pattern used to locate the error
Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00003606 col column number
3607 vcol when non-zero: "col" is visual column
3608 when zero: "col" is byte index
3609 nr error number
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00003610 text description of the error
Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00003611 type single-character error type, 'E', 'W', etc.
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00003612
Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00003613 The "col", "vcol", "nr", "type" and "text" entries are
3614 optional. Either "lnum" or "pattern" entry can be used to
3615 locate a matching error line.
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00003616 If the "filename" entry is not present or neither the "lnum"
3617 or "pattern" entries are present, then the item will not be
3618 handled as an error line.
3619 If both "pattern" and "lnum" are present then "pattern" will
3620 be used.
3621
3622 Returns zero for success, -1 for failure.
3623
3624 This function can be used to create a quickfix list
3625 independent of the 'errorformat' setting. Use a command like
3626 ":cc 1" to jump to the first position.
3627
3628
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003629 *setreg()*
3630setreg({regname}, {value} [,{options}])
3631 Set the register {regname} to {value}.
3632 If {options} contains "a" or {regname} is upper case,
3633 then the value is appended.
3634 {options} can also contains a register type specification:
3635 "c" or "v" |characterwise| mode
3636 "l" or "V" |linewise| mode
3637 "b" or "<CTRL-V>" |blockwise-visual| mode
3638 If a number immediately follows "b" or "<CTRL-V>" then this is
3639 used as the width of the selection - if it is not specified
3640 then the width of the block is set to the number of characters
3641 in the longest line (counting a <TAB> as 1 character).
3642
3643 If {options} contains no register settings, then the default
3644 is to use character mode unless {value} ends in a <NL>.
3645 Setting the '=' register is not possible.
3646 Returns zero for success, non-zero for failure.
3647
3648 Examples: >
3649 :call setreg(v:register, @*)
3650 :call setreg('*', @%, 'ac')
3651 :call setreg('a', "1\n2\n3", 'b5')
3652
3653< This example shows using the functions to save and restore a
3654 register. >
3655 :let var_a = getreg('a')
3656 :let var_amode = getregtype('a')
3657 ....
3658 :call setreg('a', var_a, var_amode)
3659
3660< You can also change the type of a register by appending
3661 nothing: >
3662 :call setreg('a', '', 'al')
3663
3664setwinvar({nr}, {varname}, {val}) *setwinvar()*
3665 Set option or local variable {varname} in window {nr} to
3666 {val}.
3667 This also works for a global or local buffer option, but it
3668 doesn't work for a global or local buffer variable.
3669 For a local buffer option the global value is unchanged.
3670 Note that the variable name without "w:" must be used.
3671 Examples: >
3672 :call setwinvar(1, "&list", 0)
3673 :call setwinvar(2, "myvar", "foobar")
3674< This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3675
3676simplify({filename}) *simplify()*
3677 Simplify the file name as much as possible without changing
3678 the meaning. Shortcuts (on MS-Windows) or symbolic links (on
3679 Unix) are not resolved. If the first path component in
3680 {filename} designates the current directory, this will be
3681 valid for the result as well. A trailing path separator is
3682 not removed either.
3683 Example: >
3684 simplify("./dir/.././/file/") == "./file/"
3685< Note: The combination "dir/.." is only removed if "dir" is
3686 a searchable directory or does not exist. On Unix, it is also
3687 removed when "dir" is a symbolic link within the same
3688 directory. In order to resolve all the involved symbolic
3689 links before simplifying the path name, use |resolve()|.
3690
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003691
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00003692sort({list} [, {func}]) *sort()* *E702*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003693 Sort the items in {list} in-place. Returns {list}. If you
3694 want a list to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
3695 :let sortedlist = sort(copy(mylist))
3696< Uses the string representation of each item to sort on.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003697 Numbers sort after Strings, Lists after Numbers.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003698 When {func} is given and it is one then case is ignored.
3699 When {func} is a Funcref or a function name, this function is
3700 called to compare items. The function is invoked with two
3701 items as argument and must return zero if they are equal, 1 if
3702 the first one sorts after the second one, -1 if the first one
3703 sorts before the second one. Example: >
3704 func MyCompare(i1, i2)
3705 return a:i1 == a:i2 ? 0 : a:i1 > a:i2 ? 1 : -1
3706 endfunc
3707 let sortedlist = sort(mylist, "MyCompare")
3708
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003709split({expr} [, {pattern}]) *split()*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003710 Make a List out of {expr}. When {pattern} is omitted each
3711 white-separated sequence of characters becomes an item.
3712 Otherwise the string is split where {pattern} matches,
3713 removing the matched characters. Empty strings are omitted.
3714 Example: >
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003715 :let words = split(getline('.'), '\W\+')
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003716< Since empty strings are not added the "\+" isn't required but
3717 it makes the function work a bit faster.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003718 The opposite function is |join()|.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003719
3720
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003721strftime({format} [, {time}]) *strftime()*
3722 The result is a String, which is a formatted date and time, as
3723 specified by the {format} string. The given {time} is used,
3724 or the current time if no time is given. The accepted
3725 {format} depends on your system, thus this is not portable!
3726 See the manual page of the C function strftime() for the
3727 format. The maximum length of the result is 80 characters.
3728 See also |localtime()| and |getftime()|.
3729 The language can be changed with the |:language| command.
3730 Examples: >
3731 :echo strftime("%c") Sun Apr 27 11:49:23 1997
3732 :echo strftime("%Y %b %d %X") 1997 Apr 27 11:53:25
3733 :echo strftime("%y%m%d %T") 970427 11:53:55
3734 :echo strftime("%H:%M") 11:55
3735 :echo strftime("%c", getftime("file.c"))
3736 Show mod time of file.c.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003737< Not available on all systems. To check use: >
3738 :if exists("*strftime")
3739
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00003740stridx({haystack}, {needle} [, {start}]) *stridx()*
3741 The result is a Number, which gives the byte index in
3742 {haystack} of the first occurrence of the String {needle}.
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00003743 If {start} is specified, the search starts at index {start}.
3744 This can be used to find a second match: >
3745 :let comma1 = stridx(line, ",")
3746 :let comma2 = stridx(line, ",", comma1 + 1)
3747< The search is done case-sensitive.
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00003748 For pattern searches use |match()|.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00003749 -1 is returned if the {needle} does not occur in {haystack}.
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00003750 See also |strridx()|.
3751 Examples: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003752 :echo stridx("An Example", "Example") 3
3753 :echo stridx("Starting point", "Start") 0
3754 :echo stridx("Starting point", "start") -1
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00003755< *strstr()* *strchr()*
3756 stridx() works similar to the C function strstr(). When used
3757 with a single character it works similar to strchr().
3758
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003759 *string()*
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003760string({expr}) Return {expr} converted to a String. If {expr} is a Number,
3761 String or a composition of them, then the result can be parsed
3762 back with |eval()|.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003763 {expr} type result ~
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003764 String 'string'
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003765 Number 123
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003766 Funcref function('name')
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003767 List [item, item]
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003768 Note that in String values the ' character is doubled.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003769
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003770 *strlen()*
3771strlen({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the length of the String
3772 {expr} in bytes. If you want to count the number of
3773 multi-byte characters use something like this: >
3774
3775 :let len = strlen(substitute(str, ".", "x", "g"))
3776
3777< Composing characters are not counted.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003778 If the argument is a Number it is first converted to a String.
3779 For other types an error is given.
3780 Also see |len()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003781
3782strpart({src}, {start}[, {len}]) *strpart()*
3783 The result is a String, which is part of {src}, starting from
3784 byte {start}, with the length {len}.
3785 When non-existing bytes are included, this doesn't result in
3786 an error, the bytes are simply omitted.
3787 If {len} is missing, the copy continues from {start} till the
3788 end of the {src}. >
3789 strpart("abcdefg", 3, 2) == "de"
3790 strpart("abcdefg", -2, 4) == "ab"
3791 strpart("abcdefg", 5, 4) == "fg"
3792 strpart("abcdefg", 3) == "defg"
3793< Note: To get the first character, {start} must be 0. For
3794 example, to get three bytes under and after the cursor: >
3795 strpart(getline(line(".")), col(".") - 1, 3)
3796<
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00003797strridx({haystack}, {needle} [, {start}]) *strridx()*
3798 The result is a Number, which gives the byte index in
3799 {haystack} of the last occurrence of the String {needle}.
3800 When {start} is specified, matches beyond this index are
3801 ignored. This can be used to find a match before a previous
3802 match: >
3803 :let lastcomma = strridx(line, ",")
3804 :let comma2 = strridx(line, ",", lastcomma - 1)
3805< The search is done case-sensitive.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00003806 For pattern searches use |match()|.
3807 -1 is returned if the {needle} does not occur in {haystack}.
Bram Moolenaard4755bb2004-09-02 19:12:26 +00003808 If the {needle} is empty the length of {haystack} is returned.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003809 See also |stridx()|. Examples: >
3810 :echo strridx("an angry armadillo", "an") 3
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00003811< *strrchr()*
3812 When used with a single character it works similar to the C
3813 function strrchr().
3814
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003815strtrans({expr}) *strtrans()*
3816 The result is a String, which is {expr} with all unprintable
3817 characters translated into printable characters |'isprint'|.
3818 Like they are shown in a window. Example: >
3819 echo strtrans(@a)
3820< This displays a newline in register a as "^@" instead of
3821 starting a new line.
3822
3823submatch({nr}) *submatch()*
3824 Only for an expression in a |:substitute| command. Returns
3825 the {nr}'th submatch of the matched text. When {nr} is 0
3826 the whole matched text is returned.
3827 Example: >
3828 :s/\d\+/\=submatch(0) + 1/
3829< This finds the first number in the line and adds one to it.
3830 A line break is included as a newline character.
3831
3832substitute({expr}, {pat}, {sub}, {flags}) *substitute()*
3833 The result is a String, which is a copy of {expr}, in which
3834 the first match of {pat} is replaced with {sub}. This works
3835 like the ":substitute" command (without any flags). But the
3836 matching with {pat} is always done like the 'magic' option is
3837 set and 'cpoptions' is empty (to make scripts portable).
3838 See |string-match| for how {pat} is used.
3839 And a "~" in {sub} is not replaced with the previous {sub}.
3840 Note that some codes in {sub} have a special meaning
3841 |sub-replace-special|. For example, to replace something with
3842 "\n" (two characters), use "\\\\n" or '\\n'.
3843 When {pat} does not match in {expr}, {expr} is returned
3844 unmodified.
3845 When {flags} is "g", all matches of {pat} in {expr} are
3846 replaced. Otherwise {flags} should be "".
3847 Example: >
3848 :let &path = substitute(&path, ",\\=[^,]*$", "", "")
3849< This removes the last component of the 'path' option. >
3850 :echo substitute("testing", ".*", "\\U\\0", "")
3851< results in "TESTING".
3852
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00003853synID({lnum}, {col}, {trans}) *synID()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003854 The result is a Number, which is the syntax ID at the position
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00003855 {lnum} and {col} in the current window.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003856 The syntax ID can be used with |synIDattr()| and
3857 |synIDtrans()| to obtain syntax information about text.
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00003858 {col} is 1 for the leftmost column, {lnum} is 1 for the first
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003859 line.
3860 When {trans} is non-zero, transparent items are reduced to the
3861 item that they reveal. This is useful when wanting to know
3862 the effective color. When {trans} is zero, the transparent
3863 item is returned. This is useful when wanting to know which
3864 syntax item is effective (e.g. inside parens).
3865 Warning: This function can be very slow. Best speed is
3866 obtained by going through the file in forward direction.
3867
3868 Example (echoes the name of the syntax item under the cursor): >
3869 :echo synIDattr(synID(line("."), col("."), 1), "name")
3870<
3871synIDattr({synID}, {what} [, {mode}]) *synIDattr()*
3872 The result is a String, which is the {what} attribute of
3873 syntax ID {synID}. This can be used to obtain information
3874 about a syntax item.
3875 {mode} can be "gui", "cterm" or "term", to get the attributes
3876 for that mode. When {mode} is omitted, or an invalid value is
3877 used, the attributes for the currently active highlighting are
3878 used (GUI, cterm or term).
3879 Use synIDtrans() to follow linked highlight groups.
3880 {what} result
3881 "name" the name of the syntax item
3882 "fg" foreground color (GUI: color name used to set
3883 the color, cterm: color number as a string,
3884 term: empty string)
3885 "bg" background color (like "fg")
3886 "fg#" like "fg", but for the GUI and the GUI is
3887 running the name in "#RRGGBB" form
3888 "bg#" like "fg#" for "bg"
3889 "bold" "1" if bold
3890 "italic" "1" if italic
3891 "reverse" "1" if reverse
3892 "inverse" "1" if inverse (= reverse)
3893 "underline" "1" if underlined
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00003894 "undercurl" "1" if undercurled
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003895
3896 Example (echoes the color of the syntax item under the
3897 cursor): >
3898 :echo synIDattr(synIDtrans(synID(line("."), col("."), 1)), "fg")
3899<
3900synIDtrans({synID}) *synIDtrans()*
3901 The result is a Number, which is the translated syntax ID of
3902 {synID}. This is the syntax group ID of what is being used to
3903 highlight the character. Highlight links given with
3904 ":highlight link" are followed.
3905
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00003906system({expr} [, {input}]) *system()* *E677*
3907 Get the output of the shell command {expr}.
3908 When {input} is given, this string is written to a file and
3909 passed as stdin to the command. The string is written as-is,
3910 you need to take care of using the correct line separators
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00003911 yourself. Pipes are not used.
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00003912 Note: newlines in {expr} may cause the command to fail. The
3913 characters in 'shellquote' and 'shellxquote' may also cause
3914 trouble.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003915 This is not to be used for interactive commands.
3916 The result is a String. Example: >
3917
3918 :let files = system("ls")
3919
3920< To make the result more system-independent, the shell output
3921 is filtered to replace <CR> with <NL> for Macintosh, and
3922 <CR><NL> with <NL> for DOS-like systems.
3923 The command executed is constructed using several options:
3924 'shell' 'shellcmdflag' 'shellxquote' {expr} 'shellredir' {tmp} 'shellxquote'
3925 ({tmp} is an automatically generated file name).
3926 For Unix and OS/2 braces are put around {expr} to allow for
3927 concatenated commands.
3928
3929 The resulting error code can be found in |v:shell_error|.
3930 This function will fail in |restricted-mode|.
3931 Unlike ":!cmd" there is no automatic check for changed files.
3932 Use |:checktime| to force a check.
3933
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00003934
3935taglist({expr}) *taglist()*
3936 Returns a list of tags matching the regular expression {expr}.
3937 Each list item is a dictionary with the following entries:
3938 name name of the tag.
3939 filename name of the file where the tag is
3940 defined.
3941 cmd Ex command used to locate the tag in
3942 the file.
3943 kind type of the tag. The value for this
3944 entry depends on the language specific
3945 kind values generated by the ctags
3946 tool.
3947 static a file specific tag. Refer to
3948 |static-tag| for more information.
Bram Moolenaar4317d9b2005-03-18 20:25:31 +00003949 The "kind" entry is only available when using Exuberant ctags
3950 generated tags file. More entries may be present, depending
3951 on the content of the tags file: access, implementation,
3952 inherits and signature. Refer to the ctags documentation for
3953 information about these fields. For C code the fields
3954 "struct", "class" and "enum" may appear, they give the name of
3955 the entity the tag is contained in.
3956
3957 The ex-command 'cmd' can be either an ex search pattern, a
3958 line number or a line number followed by a byte number.
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00003959
3960 If there are no matching tags, then an empty list is returned.
3961
3962 To get an exact tag match, the anchors '^' and '$' should be
3963 used in {expr}. Refer to |tag-regexp| for more information
3964 about the tag search regular expression pattern.
3965
3966 Refer to |'tags'| for information about how the tags file is
3967 located by Vim. Refer to |tags-file-format| for the format of
3968 the tags file generated by the different ctags tools.
3969
3970
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003971tempname() *tempname()* *temp-file-name*
3972 The result is a String, which is the name of a file that
3973 doesn't exist. It can be used for a temporary file. The name
3974 is different for at least 26 consecutive calls. Example: >
3975 :let tmpfile = tempname()
3976 :exe "redir > " . tmpfile
3977< For Unix, the file will be in a private directory (only
3978 accessible by the current user) to avoid security problems
3979 (e.g., a symlink attack or other people reading your file).
3980 When Vim exits the directory and all files in it are deleted.
3981 For MS-Windows forward slashes are used when the 'shellslash'
3982 option is set or when 'shellcmdflag' starts with '-'.
3983
3984tolower({expr}) *tolower()*
3985 The result is a copy of the String given, with all uppercase
3986 characters turned into lowercase (just like applying |gu| to
3987 the string).
3988
3989toupper({expr}) *toupper()*
3990 The result is a copy of the String given, with all lowercase
3991 characters turned into uppercase (just like applying |gU| to
3992 the string).
3993
Bram Moolenaar8299df92004-07-10 09:47:34 +00003994tr({src}, {fromstr}, {tostr}) *tr()*
3995 The result is a copy of the {src} string with all characters
3996 which appear in {fromstr} replaced by the character in that
3997 position in the {tostr} string. Thus the first character in
3998 {fromstr} is translated into the first character in {tostr}
3999 and so on. Exactly like the unix "tr" command.
4000 This code also deals with multibyte characters properly.
4001
4002 Examples: >
4003 echo tr("hello there", "ht", "HT")
4004< returns "Hello THere" >
4005 echo tr("<blob>", "<>", "{}")
4006< returns "{blob}"
4007
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00004008 *type()*
4009type({expr}) The result is a Number, depending on the type of {expr}:
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00004010 Number: 0
4011 String: 1
4012 Funcref: 2
4013 List: 3
4014 Dictionary: 4
4015 To avoid the magic numbers it should be used this way: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00004016 :if type(myvar) == type(0)
4017 :if type(myvar) == type("")
4018 :if type(myvar) == type(function("tr"))
4019 :if type(myvar) == type([])
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00004020 :if type(myvar) == type({})
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004021
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004022values({dict}) *values()*
4023 Return a List with all the values of {dict}. The List is in
4024 arbitrary order.
4025
4026
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004027virtcol({expr}) *virtcol()*
4028 The result is a Number, which is the screen column of the file
4029 position given with {expr}. That is, the last screen position
4030 occupied by the character at that position, when the screen
4031 would be of unlimited width. When there is a <Tab> at the
4032 position, the returned Number will be the column at the end of
4033 the <Tab>. For example, for a <Tab> in column 1, with 'ts'
4034 set to 8, it returns 8.
4035 For the byte position use |col()|.
4036 When Virtual editing is active in the current mode, a position
4037 beyond the end of the line can be returned. |'virtualedit'|
4038 The accepted positions are:
4039 . the cursor position
4040 $ the end of the cursor line (the result is the
4041 number of displayed characters in the cursor line
4042 plus one)
4043 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is
4044 returned)
4045 Note that only marks in the current file can be used.
4046 Examples: >
4047 virtcol(".") with text "foo^Lbar", with cursor on the "^L", returns 5
4048 virtcol("$") with text "foo^Lbar", returns 9
4049 virtcol("'t") with text " there", with 't at 'h', returns 6
4050< The first column is 1. 0 is returned for an error.
4051
4052visualmode([expr]) *visualmode()*
4053 The result is a String, which describes the last Visual mode
4054 used. Initially it returns an empty string, but once Visual
4055 mode has been used, it returns "v", "V", or "<CTRL-V>" (a
4056 single CTRL-V character) for character-wise, line-wise, or
4057 block-wise Visual mode respectively.
4058 Example: >
4059 :exe "normal " . visualmode()
4060< This enters the same Visual mode as before. It is also useful
4061 in scripts if you wish to act differently depending on the
4062 Visual mode that was used.
4063
4064 If an expression is supplied that results in a non-zero number
4065 or a non-empty string, then the Visual mode will be cleared
4066 and the old value is returned. Note that " " and "0" are also
4067 non-empty strings, thus cause the mode to be cleared.
4068
4069 *winbufnr()*
4070winbufnr({nr}) The result is a Number, which is the number of the buffer
4071 associated with window {nr}. When {nr} is zero, the number of
4072 the buffer in the current window is returned. When window
4073 {nr} doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
4074 Example: >
4075 :echo "The file in the current window is " . bufname(winbufnr(0))
4076<
4077 *wincol()*
4078wincol() The result is a Number, which is the virtual column of the
4079 cursor in the window. This is counting screen cells from the
4080 left side of the window. The leftmost column is one.
4081
4082winheight({nr}) *winheight()*
4083 The result is a Number, which is the height of window {nr}.
4084 When {nr} is zero, the height of the current window is
4085 returned. When window {nr} doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
4086 An existing window always has a height of zero or more.
4087 Examples: >
4088 :echo "The current window has " . winheight(0) . " lines."
4089<
4090 *winline()*
4091winline() The result is a Number, which is the screen line of the cursor
4092 in the window. This is counting screen lines from the top of
4093 the window. The first line is one.
4094
4095 *winnr()*
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00004096winnr([{arg}]) The result is a Number, which is the number of the current
4097 window. The top window has number 1.
4098 When the optional argument is "$", the number of the
4099 last window is returnd (the window count).
4100 When the optional argument is "#", the number of the last
4101 accessed window is returned (where |CTRL-W_p| goes to).
4102 If there is no previous window 0 is returned.
4103 The number can be used with |CTRL-W_w| and ":wincmd w"
4104 |:wincmd|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004105
4106 *winrestcmd()*
4107winrestcmd() Returns a sequence of |:resize| commands that should restore
4108 the current window sizes. Only works properly when no windows
4109 are opened or closed and the current window is unchanged.
4110 Example: >
4111 :let cmd = winrestcmd()
4112 :call MessWithWindowSizes()
4113 :exe cmd
4114
4115winwidth({nr}) *winwidth()*
4116 The result is a Number, which is the width of window {nr}.
4117 When {nr} is zero, the width of the current window is
4118 returned. When window {nr} doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
4119 An existing window always has a width of zero or more.
4120 Examples: >
4121 :echo "The current window has " . winwidth(0) . " columns."
4122 :if winwidth(0) <= 50
4123 : exe "normal 50\<C-W>|"
4124 :endif
4125<
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00004126 *writefile()*
4127writefile({list}, {fname} [, {binary}])
4128 Write List {list} to file {fname}. Each list item is
4129 separated with a NL. Each list item must be a String or
4130 Number.
4131 When {binary} is equal to "b" binary mode is used: There will
4132 not be a NL after the last list item. An empty item at the
4133 end does cause the last line in the file to end in a NL.
4134 All NL characters are replaced with a NUL character.
4135 Inserting CR characters needs to be done before passing {list}
4136 to writefile().
4137 An existing file is overwritten, if possible.
4138 When the write fails -1 is returned, otherwise 0. There is an
4139 error message if the file can't be created or when writing
4140 fails.
4141 Also see |readfile()|.
4142 To copy a file byte for byte: >
4143 :let fl = readfile("foo", "b")
4144 :call writefile(fl, "foocopy", "b")
4145<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004146
4147 *feature-list*
4148There are three types of features:
41491. Features that are only supported when they have been enabled when Vim
4150 was compiled |+feature-list|. Example: >
4151 :if has("cindent")
41522. Features that are only supported when certain conditions have been met.
4153 Example: >
4154 :if has("gui_running")
4155< *has-patch*
41563. Included patches. First check |v:version| for the version of Vim.
4157 Then the "patch123" feature means that patch 123 has been included for
4158 this version. Example (checking version 6.2.148 or later): >
4159 :if v:version > 602 || v:version == 602 && has("patch148")
4160
4161all_builtin_terms Compiled with all builtin terminals enabled.
4162amiga Amiga version of Vim.
4163arabic Compiled with Arabic support |Arabic|.
4164arp Compiled with ARP support (Amiga).
4165autocmd Compiled with autocommands support.
4166balloon_eval Compiled with |balloon-eval| support.
4167beos BeOS version of Vim.
4168browse Compiled with |:browse| support, and browse() will
4169 work.
4170builtin_terms Compiled with some builtin terminals.
4171byte_offset Compiled with support for 'o' in 'statusline'
4172cindent Compiled with 'cindent' support.
4173clientserver Compiled with remote invocation support |clientserver|.
4174clipboard Compiled with 'clipboard' support.
4175cmdline_compl Compiled with |cmdline-completion| support.
4176cmdline_hist Compiled with |cmdline-history| support.
4177cmdline_info Compiled with 'showcmd' and 'ruler' support.
4178comments Compiled with |'comments'| support.
4179cryptv Compiled with encryption support |encryption|.
4180cscope Compiled with |cscope| support.
4181compatible Compiled to be very Vi compatible.
4182debug Compiled with "DEBUG" defined.
4183dialog_con Compiled with console dialog support.
4184dialog_gui Compiled with GUI dialog support.
4185diff Compiled with |vimdiff| and 'diff' support.
4186digraphs Compiled with support for digraphs.
4187dnd Compiled with support for the "~ register |quote_~|.
4188dos32 32 bits DOS (DJGPP) version of Vim.
4189dos16 16 bits DOS version of Vim.
4190ebcdic Compiled on a machine with ebcdic character set.
4191emacs_tags Compiled with support for Emacs tags.
4192eval Compiled with expression evaluation support. Always
4193 true, of course!
4194ex_extra Compiled with extra Ex commands |+ex_extra|.
4195extra_search Compiled with support for |'incsearch'| and
4196 |'hlsearch'|
4197farsi Compiled with Farsi support |farsi|.
4198file_in_path Compiled with support for |gf| and |<cfile>|
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00004199filterpipe When 'shelltemp' is off pipes are used for shell
4200 read/write/filter commands
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004201find_in_path Compiled with support for include file searches
4202 |+find_in_path|.
4203fname_case Case in file names matters (for Amiga, MS-DOS, and
4204 Windows this is not present).
4205folding Compiled with |folding| support.
4206footer Compiled with GUI footer support. |gui-footer|
4207fork Compiled to use fork()/exec() instead of system().
4208gettext Compiled with message translation |multi-lang|
4209gui Compiled with GUI enabled.
4210gui_athena Compiled with Athena GUI.
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00004211gui_beos Compiled with BeOS GUI.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004212gui_gtk Compiled with GTK+ GUI (any version).
4213gui_gtk2 Compiled with GTK+ 2 GUI (gui_gtk is also defined).
Bram Moolenaar843ee412004-06-30 16:16:41 +00004214gui_kde Compiled with KDE GUI |KVim|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004215gui_mac Compiled with Macintosh GUI.
4216gui_motif Compiled with Motif GUI.
4217gui_photon Compiled with Photon GUI.
4218gui_win32 Compiled with MS Windows Win32 GUI.
4219gui_win32s idem, and Win32s system being used (Windows 3.1)
4220gui_running Vim is running in the GUI, or it will start soon.
4221hangul_input Compiled with Hangul input support. |hangul|
4222iconv Can use iconv() for conversion.
4223insert_expand Compiled with support for CTRL-X expansion commands in
4224 Insert mode.
4225jumplist Compiled with |jumplist| support.
4226keymap Compiled with 'keymap' support.
4227langmap Compiled with 'langmap' support.
4228libcall Compiled with |libcall()| support.
4229linebreak Compiled with 'linebreak', 'breakat' and 'showbreak'
4230 support.
4231lispindent Compiled with support for lisp indenting.
4232listcmds Compiled with commands for the buffer list |:files|
4233 and the argument list |arglist|.
4234localmap Compiled with local mappings and abbr. |:map-local|
4235mac Macintosh version of Vim.
4236macunix Macintosh version of Vim, using Unix files (OS-X).
4237menu Compiled with support for |:menu|.
4238mksession Compiled with support for |:mksession|.
4239modify_fname Compiled with file name modifiers. |filename-modifiers|
4240mouse Compiled with support mouse.
4241mouseshape Compiled with support for 'mouseshape'.
4242mouse_dec Compiled with support for Dec terminal mouse.
4243mouse_gpm Compiled with support for gpm (Linux console mouse)
4244mouse_netterm Compiled with support for netterm mouse.
4245mouse_pterm Compiled with support for qnx pterm mouse.
4246mouse_xterm Compiled with support for xterm mouse.
4247multi_byte Compiled with support for editing Korean et al.
4248multi_byte_ime Compiled with support for IME input method.
4249multi_lang Compiled with support for multiple languages.
Bram Moolenaar325b7a22004-07-05 15:58:32 +00004250mzscheme Compiled with MzScheme interface |mzscheme|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004251netbeans_intg Compiled with support for |netbeans|.
Bram Moolenaar009b2592004-10-24 19:18:58 +00004252netbeans_enabled Compiled with support for |netbeans| and it's used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004253ole Compiled with OLE automation support for Win32.
4254os2 OS/2 version of Vim.
4255osfiletype Compiled with support for osfiletypes |+osfiletype|
4256path_extra Compiled with up/downwards search in 'path' and 'tags'
4257perl Compiled with Perl interface.
4258postscript Compiled with PostScript file printing.
4259printer Compiled with |:hardcopy| support.
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00004260profile Compiled with |:profile| support.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004261python Compiled with Python interface.
4262qnx QNX version of Vim.
4263quickfix Compiled with |quickfix| support.
4264rightleft Compiled with 'rightleft' support.
4265ruby Compiled with Ruby interface |ruby|.
4266scrollbind Compiled with 'scrollbind' support.
4267showcmd Compiled with 'showcmd' support.
4268signs Compiled with |:sign| support.
4269smartindent Compiled with 'smartindent' support.
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00004270sniff Compiled with SNiFF interface support.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004271statusline Compiled with support for 'statusline', 'rulerformat'
4272 and special formats of 'titlestring' and 'iconstring'.
4273sun_workshop Compiled with support for Sun |workshop|.
4274syntax Compiled with syntax highlighting support.
4275syntax_items There are active syntax highlighting items for the
4276 current buffer.
4277system Compiled to use system() instead of fork()/exec().
4278tag_binary Compiled with binary searching in tags files
4279 |tag-binary-search|.
4280tag_old_static Compiled with support for old static tags
4281 |tag-old-static|.
4282tag_any_white Compiled with support for any white characters in tags
4283 files |tag-any-white|.
4284tcl Compiled with Tcl interface.
4285terminfo Compiled with terminfo instead of termcap.
4286termresponse Compiled with support for |t_RV| and |v:termresponse|.
4287textobjects Compiled with support for |text-objects|.
4288tgetent Compiled with tgetent support, able to use a termcap
4289 or terminfo file.
4290title Compiled with window title support |'title'|.
4291toolbar Compiled with support for |gui-toolbar|.
4292unix Unix version of Vim.
4293user_commands User-defined commands.
4294viminfo Compiled with viminfo support.
4295vim_starting True while initial source'ing takes place.
4296vertsplit Compiled with vertically split windows |:vsplit|.
4297virtualedit Compiled with 'virtualedit' option.
4298visual Compiled with Visual mode.
4299visualextra Compiled with extra Visual mode commands.
4300 |blockwise-operators|.
4301vms VMS version of Vim.
4302vreplace Compiled with |gR| and |gr| commands.
4303wildignore Compiled with 'wildignore' option.
4304wildmenu Compiled with 'wildmenu' option.
4305windows Compiled with support for more than one window.
4306winaltkeys Compiled with 'winaltkeys' option.
4307win16 Win16 version of Vim (MS-Windows 3.1).
4308win32 Win32 version of Vim (MS-Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP).
4309win64 Win64 version of Vim (MS-Windows 64 bit).
4310win32unix Win32 version of Vim, using Unix files (Cygwin)
4311win95 Win32 version for MS-Windows 95/98/ME.
4312writebackup Compiled with 'writebackup' default on.
4313xfontset Compiled with X fontset support |xfontset|.
4314xim Compiled with X input method support |xim|.
4315xsmp Compiled with X session management support.
4316xsmp_interact Compiled with interactive X session management support.
4317xterm_clipboard Compiled with support for xterm clipboard.
4318xterm_save Compiled with support for saving and restoring the
4319 xterm screen.
4320x11 Compiled with X11 support.
4321
4322 *string-match*
4323Matching a pattern in a String
4324
4325A regexp pattern as explained at |pattern| is normally used to find a match in
4326the buffer lines. When a pattern is used to find a match in a String, almost
4327everything works in the same way. The difference is that a String is handled
4328like it is one line. When it contains a "\n" character, this is not seen as a
4329line break for the pattern. It can be matched with a "\n" in the pattern, or
4330with ".". Example: >
4331 :let a = "aaaa\nxxxx"
4332 :echo matchstr(a, "..\n..")
4333 aa
4334 xx
4335 :echo matchstr(a, "a.x")
4336 a
4337 x
4338
4339Don't forget that "^" will only match at the first character of the String and
4340"$" at the last character of the string. They don't match after or before a
4341"\n".
4342
4343==============================================================================
43445. Defining functions *user-functions*
4345
4346New functions can be defined. These can be called just like builtin
4347functions. The function executes a sequence of Ex commands. Normal mode
4348commands can be executed with the |:normal| command.
4349
4350The function name must start with an uppercase letter, to avoid confusion with
4351builtin functions. To prevent from using the same name in different scripts
4352avoid obvious, short names. A good habit is to start the function name with
4353the name of the script, e.g., "HTMLcolor()".
4354
4355It's also possible to use curly braces, see |curly-braces-names|.
4356
4357 *local-function*
4358A function local to a script must start with "s:". A local script function
4359can only be called from within the script and from functions, user commands
4360and autocommands defined in the script. It is also possible to call the
4361function from a mappings defined in the script, but then |<SID>| must be used
4362instead of "s:" when the mapping is expanded outside of the script.
4363
4364 *:fu* *:function* *E128* *E129* *E123*
4365:fu[nction] List all functions and their arguments.
4366
4367:fu[nction] {name} List function {name}.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004368 {name} can also be a Dictionary entry that is a
4369 Funcref: >
4370 :function dict.init
4371< *E124* *E125*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00004372:fu[nction][!] {name}([arguments]) [range] [abort] [dict]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004373 Define a new function by the name {name}. The name
4374 must be made of alphanumeric characters and '_', and
4375 must start with a capital or "s:" (see above).
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004376
4377 {name} can also be a Dictionary entry that is a
4378 Funcref: >
4379 :function dict.init(arg)
4380< "dict" must be an existing dictionary. The entry
4381 "init" is added if it didn't exist yet. Otherwise [!]
4382 is required to overwrite an existing function. The
4383 result is a |Funcref| to a numbered function. The
4384 function can only be used with a |Funcref| and will be
4385 deleted if there are no more references to it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004386 *E127* *E122*
4387 When a function by this name already exists and [!] is
4388 not used an error message is given. When [!] is used,
4389 an existing function is silently replaced. Unless it
4390 is currently being executed, that is an error.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00004391
4392 For the {arguments} see |function-argument|.
4393
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004394 *a:firstline* *a:lastline*
4395 When the [range] argument is added, the function is
4396 expected to take care of a range itself. The range is
4397 passed as "a:firstline" and "a:lastline". If [range]
4398 is excluded, ":{range}call" will call the function for
4399 each line in the range, with the cursor on the start
4400 of each line. See |function-range-example|.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004401
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004402 When the [abort] argument is added, the function will
4403 abort as soon as an error is detected.
4404 The last used search pattern and the redo command "."
4405 will not be changed by the function.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004406
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00004407 When the [dict] argument is added, the function must
4408 be invoked through an entry in a Dictionary. The
4409 local variable "self" will then be set to the
4410 dictionary. See |Dictionary-function|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004411
4412 *:endf* *:endfunction* *E126* *E193*
4413:endf[unction] The end of a function definition. Must be on a line
4414 by its own, without other commands.
4415
4416 *:delf* *:delfunction* *E130* *E131*
4417:delf[unction] {name} Delete function {name}.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004418 {name} can also be a Dictionary entry that is a
4419 Funcref: >
4420 :delfunc dict.init
4421< This will remove the "init" entry from "dict". The
4422 function is deleted if there are no more references to
4423 it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004424 *:retu* *:return* *E133*
4425:retu[rn] [expr] Return from a function. When "[expr]" is given, it is
4426 evaluated and returned as the result of the function.
4427 If "[expr]" is not given, the number 0 is returned.
4428 When a function ends without an explicit ":return",
4429 the number 0 is returned.
4430 Note that there is no check for unreachable lines,
4431 thus there is no warning if commands follow ":return".
4432
4433 If the ":return" is used after a |:try| but before the
4434 matching |:finally| (if present), the commands
4435 following the ":finally" up to the matching |:endtry|
4436 are executed first. This process applies to all
4437 nested ":try"s inside the function. The function
4438 returns at the outermost ":endtry".
4439
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00004440 *function-argument* *a:var*
4441An argument can be defined by giving its name. In the function this can then
4442be used as "a:name" ("a:" for argument).
4443 *a:0* *a:1* *a:000* *E740*
4444Up to 20 arguments can be given, separated by commas. After the named
4445arguments an argument "..." can be specified, which means that more arguments
4446may optionally be following. In the function the extra arguments can be used
4447as "a:1", "a:2", etc. "a:0" is set to the number of extra arguments (which
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00004448can be 0). "a:000" is set to a List that contains these arguments. Note that
4449"a:1" is the same as "a:000[0]".
4450 *E742*
4451The a: scope and the variables in it cannot be changed, they are fixed.
4452However, if a List or Dictionary is used, you can changes their contents.
4453Thus you can pass a List to a function and have the function add an item to
4454it. If you want to make sure the function cannot change a List or Dictionary
4455use |:lockvar|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004456
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00004457When not using "...", the number of arguments in a function call must be equal
4458to the number of named arguments. When using "...", the number of arguments
4459may be larger.
4460
4461It is also possible to define a function without any arguments. You must
4462still supply the () then. The body of the function follows in the next lines,
4463until the matching |:endfunction|. It is allowed to define another function
4464inside a function body.
4465
4466 *local-variables*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004467Inside a function variables can be used. These are local variables, which
4468will disappear when the function returns. Global variables need to be
4469accessed with "g:".
4470
4471Example: >
4472 :function Table(title, ...)
4473 : echohl Title
4474 : echo a:title
4475 : echohl None
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004476 : echo a:0 . " items:"
4477 : for s in a:000
4478 : echon ' ' . s
4479 : endfor
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004480 :endfunction
4481
4482This function can then be called with: >
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004483 call Table("Table", "line1", "line2")
4484 call Table("Empty Table")
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004485
4486To return more than one value, pass the name of a global variable: >
4487 :function Compute(n1, n2, divname)
4488 : if a:n2 == 0
4489 : return "fail"
4490 : endif
4491 : let g:{a:divname} = a:n1 / a:n2
4492 : return "ok"
4493 :endfunction
4494
4495This function can then be called with: >
4496 :let success = Compute(13, 1324, "div")
4497 :if success == "ok"
4498 : echo div
4499 :endif
4500
4501An alternative is to return a command that can be executed. This also works
4502with local variables in a calling function. Example: >
4503 :function Foo()
4504 : execute Bar()
4505 : echo "line " . lnum . " column " . col
4506 :endfunction
4507
4508 :function Bar()
4509 : return "let lnum = " . line(".") . " | let col = " . col(".")
4510 :endfunction
4511
4512The names "lnum" and "col" could also be passed as argument to Bar(), to allow
4513the caller to set the names.
4514
4515 *:cal* *:call* *E107*
4516:[range]cal[l] {name}([arguments])
4517 Call a function. The name of the function and its arguments
4518 are as specified with |:function|. Up to 20 arguments can be
4519 used.
4520 Without a range and for functions that accept a range, the
4521 function is called once. When a range is given the cursor is
4522 positioned at the start of the first line before executing the
4523 function.
4524 When a range is given and the function doesn't handle it
4525 itself, the function is executed for each line in the range,
4526 with the cursor in the first column of that line. The cursor
4527 is left at the last line (possibly moved by the last function
4528 call). The arguments are re-evaluated for each line. Thus
4529 this works:
4530 *function-range-example* >
4531 :function Mynumber(arg)
4532 : echo line(".") . " " . a:arg
4533 :endfunction
4534 :1,5call Mynumber(getline("."))
4535<
4536 The "a:firstline" and "a:lastline" are defined anyway, they
4537 can be used to do something different at the start or end of
4538 the range.
4539
4540 Example of a function that handles the range itself: >
4541
4542 :function Cont() range
4543 : execute (a:firstline + 1) . "," . a:lastline . 's/^/\t\\ '
4544 :endfunction
4545 :4,8call Cont()
4546<
4547 This function inserts the continuation character "\" in front
4548 of all the lines in the range, except the first one.
4549
4550 *E132*
4551The recursiveness of user functions is restricted with the |'maxfuncdepth'|
4552option.
4553
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00004554
4555AUTOMATICALLY LOADING FUNCTIONS ~
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004556 *autoload-functions*
4557When using many or large functions, it's possible to automatically define them
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00004558only when they are used. There are two methods: with an autocommand and with
4559the "autoload" directory in 'runtimepath'.
4560
4561
4562Using an autocommand ~
4563
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00004564This is introduced in the user manual, section |41.14|.
4565
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00004566The autocommand is useful if you have a plugin that is a long Vim script file.
4567You can define the autocommand and quickly quit the script with |:finish|.
4568That makes Vim startup faster. The autocommand should then load the same file
4569again, setting a variable to skip the |:finish| command.
4570
4571Use the FuncUndefined autocommand event with a pattern that matches the
4572function(s) to be defined. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004573
4574 :au FuncUndefined BufNet* source ~/vim/bufnetfuncs.vim
4575
4576The file "~/vim/bufnetfuncs.vim" should then define functions that start with
4577"BufNet". Also see |FuncUndefined|.
4578
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00004579
4580Using an autoload script ~
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00004581 *autoload* *E746*
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00004582This is introduced in the user manual, section |41.15|.
4583
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00004584Using a script in the "autoload" directory is simpler, but requires using
4585exactly the right file name. A function that can be autoloaded has a name
4586like this: >
4587
4588 :call filename:funcname()
4589
4590When such a function is called, and it is not defined yet, Vim will search the
4591"autoload" directories in 'runtimepath' for a script file called
4592"filename.vim". For example "~/.vim/autoload/filename.vim". That file should
4593then define the function like this: >
4594
4595 function filename:funcname()
4596 echo "Done!"
4597 endfunction
4598
4599The file name and the name used before the colon in the function must match
4600exactly, and the defined function must have the name exactly as it will be
4601called.
4602
4603It is possible to use subdirectories. Every colon in the function name works
4604like a path separator. Thus when calling a function: >
4605
4606 :call foo:bar:func()
4607
4608Vim will look for the file "autoload/foo/bar.vim" in 'runtimepath'.
4609
4610The name before the first colon must be at least two characters long,
4611otherwise it looks like a scope, such as "s:".
4612
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00004613This also works when reading a variable that has not been set yet: >
4614
4615 :let l = foo:bar:lvar
4616
4617When assigning a value to such a variable nothing special happens. This can
4618be used to pass settings to the autoload script before it's loaded: >
4619
4620 :let foo:bar:toggle = 1
4621 :call foo:bar:func()
4622
Bram Moolenaar4399ef42005-02-12 14:29:27 +00004623Note that when you make a mistake and call a function that is supposed to be
4624defined in an autoload script, but the script doesn't actually define the
4625function, the script will be sourced every time you try to call the function.
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00004626And you will get an error message every time.
4627
4628Also note that if you have two script files, and one calls a function in the
4629other and vise versa, before the used function is defined, it won't work.
4630Avoid using the autoload functionality at the toplevel.
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00004631
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004632==============================================================================
46336. Curly braces names *curly-braces-names*
4634
4635Wherever you can use a variable, you can use a "curly braces name" variable.
4636This is a regular variable name with one or more expressions wrapped in braces
4637{} like this: >
4638 my_{adjective}_variable
4639
4640When Vim encounters this, it evaluates the expression inside the braces, puts
4641that in place of the expression, and re-interprets the whole as a variable
4642name. So in the above example, if the variable "adjective" was set to
4643"noisy", then the reference would be to "my_noisy_variable", whereas if
4644"adjective" was set to "quiet", then it would be to "my_quiet_variable".
4645
4646One application for this is to create a set of variables governed by an option
4647value. For example, the statement >
4648 echo my_{&background}_message
4649
4650would output the contents of "my_dark_message" or "my_light_message" depending
4651on the current value of 'background'.
4652
4653You can use multiple brace pairs: >
4654 echo my_{adverb}_{adjective}_message
4655..or even nest them: >
4656 echo my_{ad{end_of_word}}_message
4657where "end_of_word" is either "verb" or "jective".
4658
4659However, the expression inside the braces must evaluate to a valid single
4660variable name. e.g. this is invalid: >
4661 :let foo='a + b'
4662 :echo c{foo}d
4663.. since the result of expansion is "ca + bd", which is not a variable name.
4664
4665 *curly-braces-function-names*
4666You can call and define functions by an evaluated name in a similar way.
4667Example: >
4668 :let func_end='whizz'
4669 :call my_func_{func_end}(parameter)
4670
4671This would call the function "my_func_whizz(parameter)".
4672
4673==============================================================================
46747. Commands *expression-commands*
4675
4676:let {var-name} = {expr1} *:let* *E18*
4677 Set internal variable {var-name} to the result of the
4678 expression {expr1}. The variable will get the type
4679 from the {expr}. If {var-name} didn't exist yet, it
4680 is created.
4681
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00004682:let {var-name}[{idx}] = {expr1} *E689*
4683 Set a list item to the result of the expression
4684 {expr1}. {var-name} must refer to a list and {idx}
4685 must be a valid index in that list. For nested list
4686 the index can be repeated.
4687 This cannot be used to add an item to a list.
4688
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004689 *E711* *E719*
4690:let {var-name}[{idx1}:{idx2}] = {expr1} *E708* *E709* *E710*
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00004691 Set a sequence of items in a List to the result of the
4692 expression {expr1}, which must be a list with the
4693 correct number of items.
4694 {idx1} can be omitted, zero is used instead.
4695 {idx2} can be omitted, meaning the end of the list.
4696 When the selected range of items is partly past the
4697 end of the list, items will be added.
4698
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00004699 *:let+=* *:let-=* *:let.=* *E734*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004700:let {var} += {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} + {expr1}".
4701:let {var} -= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} - {expr1}".
4702:let {var} .= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} . {expr1}".
4703 These fail if {var} was not set yet and when the type
4704 of {var} and {expr1} don't fit the operator.
4705
4706
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004707:let ${env-name} = {expr1} *:let-environment* *:let-$*
4708 Set environment variable {env-name} to the result of
4709 the expression {expr1}. The type is always String.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004710:let ${env-name} .= {expr1}
4711 Append {expr1} to the environment variable {env-name}.
4712 If the environment variable didn't exist yet this
4713 works like "=".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004714
4715:let @{reg-name} = {expr1} *:let-register* *:let-@*
4716 Write the result of the expression {expr1} in register
4717 {reg-name}. {reg-name} must be a single letter, and
4718 must be the name of a writable register (see
4719 |registers|). "@@" can be used for the unnamed
4720 register, "@/" for the search pattern.
4721 If the result of {expr1} ends in a <CR> or <NL>, the
4722 register will be linewise, otherwise it will be set to
4723 characterwise.
4724 This can be used to clear the last search pattern: >
4725 :let @/ = ""
4726< This is different from searching for an empty string,
4727 that would match everywhere.
4728
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004729:let @{reg-name} .= {expr1}
4730 Append {expr1} to register {reg-name}. If the
4731 register was empty it's like setting it to {expr1}.
4732
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004733:let &{option-name} = {expr1} *:let-option* *:let-star*
4734 Set option {option-name} to the result of the
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00004735 expression {expr1}. A String or Number value is
4736 always converted to the type of the option.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004737 For an option local to a window or buffer the effect
4738 is just like using the |:set| command: both the local
4739 value and the global value is changed.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00004740 Example: >
4741 :let &path = &path . ',/usr/local/include'
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004742
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004743:let &{option-name} .= {expr1}
4744 For a string option: Append {expr1} to the value.
4745 Does not insert a comma like |:set+=|.
4746
4747:let &{option-name} += {expr1}
4748:let &{option-name} -= {expr1}
4749 For a number or boolean option: Add or subtract
4750 {expr1}.
4751
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004752:let &l:{option-name} = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004753:let &l:{option-name} .= {expr1}
4754:let &l:{option-name} += {expr1}
4755:let &l:{option-name} -= {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004756 Like above, but only set the local value of an option
4757 (if there is one). Works like |:setlocal|.
4758
4759:let &g:{option-name} = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004760:let &g:{option-name} .= {expr1}
4761:let &g:{option-name} += {expr1}
4762:let &g:{option-name} -= {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004763 Like above, but only set the global value of an option
4764 (if there is one). Works like |:setglobal|.
4765
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00004766:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] = {expr1} *:let-unpack* *E687* *E688*
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00004767 {expr1} must evaluate to a List. The first item in
4768 the list is assigned to {name1}, the second item to
4769 {name2}, etc.
4770 The number of names must match the number of items in
4771 the List.
4772 Each name can be one of the items of the ":let"
4773 command as mentioned above.
4774 Example: >
4775 :let [s, item] = GetItem(s)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004776< Detail: {expr1} is evaluated first, then the
4777 assignments are done in sequence. This matters if
4778 {name2} depends on {name1}. Example: >
4779 :let x = [0, 1]
4780 :let i = 0
4781 :let [i, x[i]] = [1, 2]
4782 :echo x
4783< The result is [0, 2].
4784
4785:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] .= {expr1}
4786:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] += {expr1}
4787:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] -= {expr1}
4788 Like above, but append/add/subtract the value for each
4789 List item.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00004790
4791:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004792 Like |:let-unpack| above, but the List may have more
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004793 items than there are names. A list of the remaining
4794 items is assigned to {lastname}. If there are no
4795 remaining items {lastname} is set to an empty list.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00004796 Example: >
4797 :let [a, b; rest] = ["aval", "bval", 3, 4]
4798<
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004799:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] .= {expr1}
4800:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] += {expr1}
4801:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] -= {expr1}
4802 Like above, but append/add/subtract the value for each
4803 List item.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004804 *E106*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004805:let {var-name} .. List the value of variable {var-name}. Multiple
Bram Moolenaardcaf10e2005-01-21 11:55:25 +00004806 variable names may be given. Special names recognized
4807 here: *E738*
4808 g: global variables.
4809 b: local buffer variables.
4810 w: local window variables.
4811 v: Vim variables.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004812
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00004813:let List the values of all variables. The type of the
4814 variable is indicated before the value:
4815 <nothing> String
4816 # Number
4817 * Funcref
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004818
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00004819
4820:unl[et][!] {name} ... *:unlet* *:unl* *E108*
4821 Remove the internal variable {name}. Several variable
4822 names can be given, they are all removed. The name
4823 may also be a List or Dictionary item.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004824 With [!] no error message is given for non-existing
4825 variables.
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +00004826 One or more items from a List can be removed: >
4827 :unlet list[3] " remove fourth item
4828 :unlet list[3:] " remove fourth item to last
4829< One item from a Dictionary can be removed at a time: >
4830 :unlet dict['two']
4831 :unlet dict.two
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004832
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00004833:lockv[ar][!] [depth] {name} ... *:lockvar* *:lockv*
4834 Lock the internal variable {name}. Locking means that
4835 it can no longer be changed (until it is unlocked).
4836 A locked variable can be deleted: >
4837 :lockvar v
4838 :let v = 'asdf' " fails!
4839 :unlet v
4840< *E741*
4841 If you try to change a locked variable you get an
4842 error message: "E741: Value of {name} is locked"
4843
4844 [depth] is relevant when locking a List or Dictionary.
4845 It specifies how deep the locking goes:
4846 1 Lock the List or Dictionary itself,
4847 cannot add or remove items, but can
4848 still change their values.
4849 2 Also lock the values, cannot change
4850 the items. If an item is a List or
4851 Dictionary, cannot add or remove
4852 items, but can still change the
4853 values.
4854 3 Like 2 but for the List/Dictionary in
4855 the List/Dictionary, one level deeper.
4856 The default [depth] is 2, thus when {name} is a List
4857 or Dictionary the values cannot be changed.
4858 *E743*
4859 For unlimited depth use [!] and omit [depth].
4860 However, there is a maximum depth of 100 to catch
4861 loops.
4862
4863 Note that when two variables refer to the same List
4864 and you lock one of them, the List will also be locked
4865 when used through the other variable. Example: >
4866 :let l = [0, 1, 2, 3]
4867 :let cl = l
4868 :lockvar l
4869 :let cl[1] = 99 " won't work!
4870< You may want to make a copy of a list to avoid this.
4871 See |deepcopy()|.
4872
4873
4874:unlo[ckvar][!] [depth] {name} ... *:unlockvar* *:unlo*
4875 Unlock the internal variable {name}. Does the
4876 opposite of |:lockvar|.
4877
4878
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004879:if {expr1} *:if* *:endif* *:en* *E171* *E579* *E580*
4880:en[dif] Execute the commands until the next matching ":else"
4881 or ":endif" if {expr1} evaluates to non-zero.
4882
4883 From Vim version 4.5 until 5.0, every Ex command in
4884 between the ":if" and ":endif" is ignored. These two
4885 commands were just to allow for future expansions in a
4886 backwards compatible way. Nesting was allowed. Note
4887 that any ":else" or ":elseif" was ignored, the "else"
4888 part was not executed either.
4889
4890 You can use this to remain compatible with older
4891 versions: >
4892 :if version >= 500
4893 : version-5-specific-commands
4894 :endif
4895< The commands still need to be parsed to find the
4896 "endif". Sometimes an older Vim has a problem with a
4897 new command. For example, ":silent" is recognized as
4898 a ":substitute" command. In that case ":execute" can
4899 avoid problems: >
4900 :if version >= 600
4901 : execute "silent 1,$delete"
4902 :endif
4903<
4904 NOTE: The ":append" and ":insert" commands don't work
4905 properly in between ":if" and ":endif".
4906
4907 *:else* *:el* *E581* *E583*
4908:el[se] Execute the commands until the next matching ":else"
4909 or ":endif" if they previously were not being
4910 executed.
4911
4912 *:elseif* *:elsei* *E582* *E584*
4913:elsei[f] {expr1} Short for ":else" ":if", with the addition that there
4914 is no extra ":endif".
4915
4916:wh[ile] {expr1} *:while* *:endwhile* *:wh* *:endw*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004917 *E170* *E585* *E588* *E733*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004918:endw[hile] Repeat the commands between ":while" and ":endwhile",
4919 as long as {expr1} evaluates to non-zero.
4920 When an error is detected from a command inside the
4921 loop, execution continues after the "endwhile".
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004922 Example: >
4923 :let lnum = 1
4924 :while lnum <= line("$")
4925 :call FixLine(lnum)
4926 :let lnum = lnum + 1
4927 :endwhile
4928<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004929 NOTE: The ":append" and ":insert" commands don't work
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00004930 properly inside a ":while" and ":for" loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004931
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00004932:for {var} in {list} *:for* *E690* *E732*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004933:endfo[r] *:endfo* *:endfor*
4934 Repeat the commands between ":for" and ":endfor" for
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00004935 each item in {list}. Variable {var} is set to the
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00004936 value of each item.
4937 When an error is detected for a command inside the
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004938 loop, execution continues after the "endfor".
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00004939 Changing {list} affects what items are used. Make a
4940 copy if this is unwanted: >
4941 :for item in copy(mylist)
4942< When not making a copy, Vim stores a reference to the
4943 next item in the list, before executing the commands
4944 with the current item. Thus the current item can be
4945 removed without effect. Removing any later item means
4946 it will not be found. Thus the following example
4947 works (an inefficient way to make a list empty): >
4948 :for item in mylist
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004949 :call remove(mylist, 0)
4950 :endfor
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00004951< Note that reordering the list (e.g., with sort() or
4952 reverse()) may have unexpected effects.
4953 Note that the type of each list item should be
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004954 identical to avoid errors for the type of {var}
4955 changing. Unlet the variable at the end of the loop
4956 to allow multiple item types.
4957
4958:for {var} in {string}
4959:endfo[r] Like ":for" above, but use each character in {string}
4960 as a list item.
4961 Composing characters are used as separate characters.
4962 A Number is first converted to a String.
4963
4964:for [{var1}, {var2}, ...] in {listlist}
4965:endfo[r]
4966 Like ":for" above, but each item in {listlist} must be
4967 a list, of which each item is assigned to {var1},
4968 {var2}, etc. Example: >
4969 :for [lnum, col] in [[1, 3], [2, 5], [3, 8]]
4970 :echo getline(lnum)[col]
4971 :endfor
4972<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004973 *:continue* *:con* *E586*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004974:con[tinue] When used inside a ":while" or ":for" loop, jumps back
4975 to the start of the loop.
4976 If it is used after a |:try| inside the loop but
4977 before the matching |:finally| (if present), the
4978 commands following the ":finally" up to the matching
4979 |:endtry| are executed first. This process applies to
4980 all nested ":try"s inside the loop. The outermost
4981 ":endtry" then jumps back to the start of the loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004982
4983 *:break* *:brea* *E587*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00004984:brea[k] When used inside a ":while" or ":for" loop, skips to
4985 the command after the matching ":endwhile" or
4986 ":endfor".
4987 If it is used after a |:try| inside the loop but
4988 before the matching |:finally| (if present), the
4989 commands following the ":finally" up to the matching
4990 |:endtry| are executed first. This process applies to
4991 all nested ":try"s inside the loop. The outermost
4992 ":endtry" then jumps to the command after the loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004993
4994:try *:try* *:endt* *:endtry* *E600* *E601* *E602*
4995:endt[ry] Change the error handling for the commands between
4996 ":try" and ":endtry" including everything being
4997 executed across ":source" commands, function calls,
4998 or autocommand invocations.
4999
5000 When an error or interrupt is detected and there is
5001 a |:finally| command following, execution continues
5002 after the ":finally". Otherwise, or when the
5003 ":endtry" is reached thereafter, the next
5004 (dynamically) surrounding ":try" is checked for
5005 a corresponding ":finally" etc. Then the script
5006 processing is terminated. (Whether a function
5007 definition has an "abort" argument does not matter.)
5008 Example: >
5009 :try | edit too much | finally | echo "cleanup" | endtry
5010 :echo "impossible" " not reached, script terminated above
5011<
5012 Moreover, an error or interrupt (dynamically) inside
5013 ":try" and ":endtry" is converted to an exception. It
5014 can be caught as if it were thrown by a |:throw|
5015 command (see |:catch|). In this case, the script
5016 processing is not terminated.
5017
5018 The value "Vim:Interrupt" is used for an interrupt
5019 exception. An error in a Vim command is converted
5020 to a value of the form "Vim({command}):{errmsg}",
5021 other errors are converted to a value of the form
5022 "Vim:{errmsg}". {command} is the full command name,
5023 and {errmsg} is the message that is displayed if the
5024 error exception is not caught, always beginning with
5025 the error number.
5026 Examples: >
5027 :try | sleep 100 | catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/ | endtry
5028 :try | edit | catch /^Vim(edit):E\d\+/ | echo "error" | endtry
5029<
5030 *:cat* *:catch* *E603* *E604* *E605*
5031:cat[ch] /{pattern}/ The following commands until the next ":catch",
5032 |:finally|, or |:endtry| that belongs to the same
5033 |:try| as the ":catch" are executed when an exception
5034 matching {pattern} is being thrown and has not yet
5035 been caught by a previous ":catch". Otherwise, these
5036 commands are skipped.
5037 When {pattern} is omitted all errors are caught.
5038 Examples: >
5039 :catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/ " catch interrupts (CTRL-C)
5040 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E/ " catch all Vim errors
5041 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:/ " catch errors and interrupts
5042 :catch /^Vim(write):/ " catch all errors in :write
5043 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E123/ " catch error E123
5044 :catch /my-exception/ " catch user exception
5045 :catch /.*/ " catch everything
5046 :catch " same as /.*/
5047<
5048 Another character can be used instead of / around the
5049 {pattern}, so long as it does not have a special
5050 meaning (e.g., '|' or '"') and doesn't occur inside
5051 {pattern}.
5052 NOTE: It is not reliable to ":catch" the TEXT of
5053 an error message because it may vary in different
5054 locales.
5055
5056 *:fina* *:finally* *E606* *E607*
5057:fina[lly] The following commands until the matching |:endtry|
5058 are executed whenever the part between the matching
5059 |:try| and the ":finally" is left: either by falling
5060 through to the ":finally" or by a |:continue|,
5061 |:break|, |:finish|, or |:return|, or by an error or
5062 interrupt or exception (see |:throw|).
5063
5064 *:th* *:throw* *E608*
5065:th[row] {expr1} The {expr1} is evaluated and thrown as an exception.
5066 If the ":throw" is used after a |:try| but before the
5067 first corresponding |:catch|, commands are skipped
5068 until the first ":catch" matching {expr1} is reached.
5069 If there is no such ":catch" or if the ":throw" is
5070 used after a ":catch" but before the |:finally|, the
5071 commands following the ":finally" (if present) up to
5072 the matching |:endtry| are executed. If the ":throw"
5073 is after the ":finally", commands up to the ":endtry"
5074 are skipped. At the ":endtry", this process applies
5075 again for the next dynamically surrounding ":try"
5076 (which may be found in a calling function or sourcing
5077 script), until a matching ":catch" has been found.
5078 If the exception is not caught, the command processing
5079 is terminated.
5080 Example: >
5081 :try | throw "oops" | catch /^oo/ | echo "caught" | endtry
5082<
5083
5084 *:ec* *:echo*
5085:ec[ho] {expr1} .. Echoes each {expr1}, with a space in between. The
5086 first {expr1} starts on a new line.
5087 Also see |:comment|.
5088 Use "\n" to start a new line. Use "\r" to move the
5089 cursor to the first column.
5090 Uses the highlighting set by the |:echohl| command.
5091 Cannot be followed by a comment.
5092 Example: >
5093 :echo "the value of 'shell' is" &shell
5094< A later redraw may make the message disappear again.
5095 To avoid that a command from before the ":echo" causes
5096 a redraw afterwards (redraws are often postponed until
5097 you type something), force a redraw with the |:redraw|
5098 command. Example: >
5099 :new | redraw | echo "there is a new window"
5100<
5101 *:echon*
5102:echon {expr1} .. Echoes each {expr1}, without anything added. Also see
5103 |:comment|.
5104 Uses the highlighting set by the |:echohl| command.
5105 Cannot be followed by a comment.
5106 Example: >
5107 :echon "the value of 'shell' is " &shell
5108<
5109 Note the difference between using ":echo", which is a
5110 Vim command, and ":!echo", which is an external shell
5111 command: >
5112 :!echo % --> filename
5113< The arguments of ":!" are expanded, see |:_%|. >
5114 :!echo "%" --> filename or "filename"
5115< Like the previous example. Whether you see the double
5116 quotes or not depends on your 'shell'. >
5117 :echo % --> nothing
5118< The '%' is an illegal character in an expression. >
5119 :echo "%" --> %
5120< This just echoes the '%' character. >
5121 :echo expand("%") --> filename
5122< This calls the expand() function to expand the '%'.
5123
5124 *:echoh* *:echohl*
5125:echoh[l] {name} Use the highlight group {name} for the following
5126 |:echo|, |:echon| and |:echomsg| commands. Also used
5127 for the |input()| prompt. Example: >
5128 :echohl WarningMsg | echo "Don't panic!" | echohl None
5129< Don't forget to set the group back to "None",
5130 otherwise all following echo's will be highlighted.
5131
5132 *:echom* *:echomsg*
5133:echom[sg] {expr1} .. Echo the expression(s) as a true message, saving the
5134 message in the |message-history|.
5135 Spaces are placed between the arguments as with the
5136 |:echo| command. But unprintable characters are
5137 displayed, not interpreted.
5138 Uses the highlighting set by the |:echohl| command.
5139 Example: >
5140 :echomsg "It's a Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz, as you can plainly see."
5141<
5142 *:echoe* *:echoerr*
5143:echoe[rr] {expr1} .. Echo the expression(s) as an error message, saving the
5144 message in the |message-history|. When used in a
5145 script or function the line number will be added.
5146 Spaces are placed between the arguments as with the
5147 :echo command. When used inside a try conditional,
5148 the message is raised as an error exception instead
5149 (see |try-echoerr|).
5150 Example: >
5151 :echoerr "This script just failed!"
5152< If you just want a highlighted message use |:echohl|.
5153 And to get a beep: >
5154 :exe "normal \<Esc>"
5155<
5156 *:exe* *:execute*
5157:exe[cute] {expr1} .. Executes the string that results from the evaluation
5158 of {expr1} as an Ex command. Multiple arguments are
5159 concatenated, with a space in between. {expr1} is
5160 used as the processed command, command line editing
5161 keys are not recognized.
5162 Cannot be followed by a comment.
5163 Examples: >
5164 :execute "buffer " nextbuf
5165 :execute "normal " count . "w"
5166<
5167 ":execute" can be used to append a command to commands
5168 that don't accept a '|'. Example: >
5169 :execute '!ls' | echo "theend"
5170
5171< ":execute" is also a nice way to avoid having to type
5172 control characters in a Vim script for a ":normal"
5173 command: >
5174 :execute "normal ixxx\<Esc>"
5175< This has an <Esc> character, see |expr-string|.
5176
5177 Note: The executed string may be any command-line, but
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00005178 you cannot start or end a "while", "for" or "if"
5179 command. Thus this is illegal: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005180 :execute 'while i > 5'
5181 :execute 'echo "test" | break'
5182<
5183 It is allowed to have a "while" or "if" command
5184 completely in the executed string: >
5185 :execute 'while i < 5 | echo i | let i = i + 1 | endwhile'
5186<
5187
5188 *:comment*
5189 ":execute", ":echo" and ":echon" cannot be followed by
5190 a comment directly, because they see the '"' as the
5191 start of a string. But, you can use '|' followed by a
5192 comment. Example: >
5193 :echo "foo" | "this is a comment
5194
5195==============================================================================
51968. Exception handling *exception-handling*
5197
5198The Vim script language comprises an exception handling feature. This section
5199explains how it can be used in a Vim script.
5200
5201Exceptions may be raised by Vim on an error or on interrupt, see
5202|catch-errors| and |catch-interrupt|. You can also explicitly throw an
5203exception by using the ":throw" command, see |throw-catch|.
5204
5205
5206TRY CONDITIONALS *try-conditionals*
5207
5208Exceptions can be caught or can cause cleanup code to be executed. You can
5209use a try conditional to specify catch clauses (that catch exceptions) and/or
5210a finally clause (to be executed for cleanup).
5211 A try conditional begins with a |:try| command and ends at the matching
5212|:endtry| command. In between, you can use a |:catch| command to start
5213a catch clause, or a |:finally| command to start a finally clause. There may
5214be none or multiple catch clauses, but there is at most one finally clause,
5215which must not be followed by any catch clauses. The lines before the catch
5216clauses and the finally clause is called a try block. >
5217
5218 :try
5219 : ...
5220 : ... TRY BLOCK
5221 : ...
5222 :catch /{pattern}/
5223 : ...
5224 : ... CATCH CLAUSE
5225 : ...
5226 :catch /{pattern}/
5227 : ...
5228 : ... CATCH CLAUSE
5229 : ...
5230 :finally
5231 : ...
5232 : ... FINALLY CLAUSE
5233 : ...
5234 :endtry
5235
5236The try conditional allows to watch code for exceptions and to take the
5237appropriate actions. Exceptions from the try block may be caught. Exceptions
5238from the try block and also the catch clauses may cause cleanup actions.
5239 When no exception is thrown during execution of the try block, the control
5240is transferred to the finally clause, if present. After its execution, the
5241script continues with the line following the ":endtry".
5242 When an exception occurs during execution of the try block, the remaining
5243lines in the try block are skipped. The exception is matched against the
5244patterns specified as arguments to the ":catch" commands. The catch clause
5245after the first matching ":catch" is taken, other catch clauses are not
5246executed. The catch clause ends when the next ":catch", ":finally", or
5247":endtry" command is reached - whatever is first. Then, the finally clause
5248(if present) is executed. When the ":endtry" is reached, the script execution
5249continues in the following line as usual.
5250 When an exception that does not match any of the patterns specified by the
5251":catch" commands is thrown in the try block, the exception is not caught by
5252that try conditional and none of the catch clauses is executed. Only the
5253finally clause, if present, is taken. The exception pends during execution of
5254the finally clause. It is resumed at the ":endtry", so that commands after
5255the ":endtry" are not executed and the exception might be caught elsewhere,
5256see |try-nesting|.
5257 When during execution of a catch clause another exception is thrown, the
5258remaining lines in that catch clause are not executed. The new exception is
5259not matched against the patterns in any of the ":catch" commands of the same
5260try conditional and none of its catch clauses is taken. If there is, however,
5261a finally clause, it is executed, and the exception pends during its
5262execution. The commands following the ":endtry" are not executed. The new
5263exception might, however, be caught elsewhere, see |try-nesting|.
5264 When during execution of the finally clause (if present) an exception is
5265thrown, the remaining lines in the finally clause are skipped. If the finally
5266clause has been taken because of an exception from the try block or one of the
5267catch clauses, the original (pending) exception is discarded. The commands
5268following the ":endtry" are not executed, and the exception from the finally
5269clause is propagated and can be caught elsewhere, see |try-nesting|.
5270
5271The finally clause is also executed, when a ":break" or ":continue" for
5272a ":while" loop enclosing the complete try conditional is executed from the
5273try block or a catch clause. Or when a ":return" or ":finish" is executed
5274from the try block or a catch clause of a try conditional in a function or
5275sourced script, respectively. The ":break", ":continue", ":return", or
5276":finish" pends during execution of the finally clause and is resumed when the
5277":endtry" is reached. It is, however, discarded when an exception is thrown
5278from the finally clause.
5279 When a ":break" or ":continue" for a ":while" loop enclosing the complete
5280try conditional or when a ":return" or ":finish" is encountered in the finally
5281clause, the rest of the finally clause is skipped, and the ":break",
5282":continue", ":return" or ":finish" is executed as usual. If the finally
5283clause has been taken because of an exception or an earlier ":break",
5284":continue", ":return", or ":finish" from the try block or a catch clause,
5285this pending exception or command is discarded.
5286
5287For examples see |throw-catch| and |try-finally|.
5288
5289
5290NESTING OF TRY CONDITIONALS *try-nesting*
5291
5292Try conditionals can be nested arbitrarily. That is, a complete try
5293conditional can be put into the try block, a catch clause, or the finally
5294clause of another try conditional. If the inner try conditional does not
5295catch an exception thrown in its try block or throws a new exception from one
5296of its catch clauses or its finally clause, the outer try conditional is
5297checked according to the rules above. If the inner try conditional is in the
5298try block of the outer try conditional, its catch clauses are checked, but
5299otherwise only the finally clause is executed. It does not matter for
5300nesting, whether the inner try conditional is directly contained in the outer
5301one, or whether the outer one sources a script or calls a function containing
5302the inner try conditional.
5303
5304When none of the active try conditionals catches an exception, just their
5305finally clauses are executed. Thereafter, the script processing terminates.
5306An error message is displayed in case of an uncaught exception explicitly
5307thrown by a ":throw" command. For uncaught error and interrupt exceptions
5308implicitly raised by Vim, the error message(s) or interrupt message are shown
5309as usual.
5310
5311For examples see |throw-catch|.
5312
5313
5314EXAMINING EXCEPTION HANDLING CODE *except-examine*
5315
5316Exception handling code can get tricky. If you are in doubt what happens, set
5317'verbose' to 13 or use the ":13verbose" command modifier when sourcing your
5318script file. Then you see when an exception is thrown, discarded, caught, or
5319finished. When using a verbosity level of at least 14, things pending in
5320a finally clause are also shown. This information is also given in debug mode
5321(see |debug-scripts|).
5322
5323
5324THROWING AND CATCHING EXCEPTIONS *throw-catch*
5325
5326You can throw any number or string as an exception. Use the |:throw| command
5327and pass the value to be thrown as argument: >
5328 :throw 4711
5329 :throw "string"
5330< *throw-expression*
5331You can also specify an expression argument. The expression is then evaluated
5332first, and the result is thrown: >
5333 :throw 4705 + strlen("string")
5334 :throw strpart("strings", 0, 6)
5335
5336An exception might be thrown during evaluation of the argument of the ":throw"
5337command. Unless it is caught there, the expression evaluation is abandoned.
5338The ":throw" command then does not throw a new exception.
5339 Example: >
5340
5341 :function! Foo(arg)
5342 : try
5343 : throw a:arg
5344 : catch /foo/
5345 : endtry
5346 : return 1
5347 :endfunction
5348 :
5349 :function! Bar()
5350 : echo "in Bar"
5351 : return 4710
5352 :endfunction
5353 :
5354 :throw Foo("arrgh") + Bar()
5355
5356This throws "arrgh", and "in Bar" is not displayed since Bar() is not
5357executed. >
5358 :throw Foo("foo") + Bar()
5359however displays "in Bar" and throws 4711.
5360
5361Any other command that takes an expression as argument might also be
5362abandoned by an (uncaught) exception during the expression evaluation. The
5363exception is then propagated to the caller of the command.
5364 Example: >
5365
5366 :if Foo("arrgh")
5367 : echo "then"
5368 :else
5369 : echo "else"
5370 :endif
5371
5372Here neither of "then" or "else" is displayed.
5373
5374 *catch-order*
5375Exceptions can be caught by a try conditional with one or more |:catch|
5376commands, see |try-conditionals|. The values to be caught by each ":catch"
5377command can be specified as a pattern argument. The subsequent catch clause
5378gets executed when a matching exception is caught.
5379 Example: >
5380
5381 :function! Foo(value)
5382 : try
5383 : throw a:value
5384 : catch /^\d\+$/
5385 : echo "Number thrown"
5386 : catch /.*/
5387 : echo "String thrown"
5388 : endtry
5389 :endfunction
5390 :
5391 :call Foo(0x1267)
5392 :call Foo('string')
5393
5394The first call to Foo() displays "Number thrown", the second "String thrown".
5395An exception is matched against the ":catch" commands in the order they are
5396specified. Only the first match counts. So you should place the more
5397specific ":catch" first. The following order does not make sense: >
5398
5399 : catch /.*/
5400 : echo "String thrown"
5401 : catch /^\d\+$/
5402 : echo "Number thrown"
5403
5404The first ":catch" here matches always, so that the second catch clause is
5405never taken.
5406
5407 *throw-variables*
5408If you catch an exception by a general pattern, you may access the exact value
5409in the variable |v:exception|: >
5410
5411 : catch /^\d\+$/
5412 : echo "Number thrown. Value is" v:exception
5413
5414You may also be interested where an exception was thrown. This is stored in
5415|v:throwpoint|. Note that "v:exception" and "v:throwpoint" are valid for the
5416exception most recently caught as long it is not finished.
5417 Example: >
5418
5419 :function! Caught()
5420 : if v:exception != ""
5421 : echo 'Caught "' . v:exception . '" in ' . v:throwpoint
5422 : else
5423 : echo 'Nothing caught'
5424 : endif
5425 :endfunction
5426 :
5427 :function! Foo()
5428 : try
5429 : try
5430 : try
5431 : throw 4711
5432 : finally
5433 : call Caught()
5434 : endtry
5435 : catch /.*/
5436 : call Caught()
5437 : throw "oops"
5438 : endtry
5439 : catch /.*/
5440 : call Caught()
5441 : finally
5442 : call Caught()
5443 : endtry
5444 :endfunction
5445 :
5446 :call Foo()
5447
5448This displays >
5449
5450 Nothing caught
5451 Caught "4711" in function Foo, line 4
5452 Caught "oops" in function Foo, line 10
5453 Nothing caught
5454
5455A practical example: The following command ":LineNumber" displays the line
5456number in the script or function where it has been used: >
5457
5458 :function! LineNumber()
5459 : return substitute(v:throwpoint, '.*\D\(\d\+\).*', '\1', "")
5460 :endfunction
5461 :command! LineNumber try | throw "" | catch | echo LineNumber() | endtry
5462<
5463 *try-nested*
5464An exception that is not caught by a try conditional can be caught by
5465a surrounding try conditional: >
5466
5467 :try
5468 : try
5469 : throw "foo"
5470 : catch /foobar/
5471 : echo "foobar"
5472 : finally
5473 : echo "inner finally"
5474 : endtry
5475 :catch /foo/
5476 : echo "foo"
5477 :endtry
5478
5479The inner try conditional does not catch the exception, just its finally
5480clause is executed. The exception is then caught by the outer try
5481conditional. The example displays "inner finally" and then "foo".
5482
5483 *throw-from-catch*
5484You can catch an exception and throw a new one to be caught elsewhere from the
5485catch clause: >
5486
5487 :function! Foo()
5488 : throw "foo"
5489 :endfunction
5490 :
5491 :function! Bar()
5492 : try
5493 : call Foo()
5494 : catch /foo/
5495 : echo "Caught foo, throw bar"
5496 : throw "bar"
5497 : endtry
5498 :endfunction
5499 :
5500 :try
5501 : call Bar()
5502 :catch /.*/
5503 : echo "Caught" v:exception
5504 :endtry
5505
5506This displays "Caught foo, throw bar" and then "Caught bar".
5507
5508 *rethrow*
5509There is no real rethrow in the Vim script language, but you may throw
5510"v:exception" instead: >
5511
5512 :function! Bar()
5513 : try
5514 : call Foo()
5515 : catch /.*/
5516 : echo "Rethrow" v:exception
5517 : throw v:exception
5518 : endtry
5519 :endfunction
5520< *try-echoerr*
5521Note that this method cannot be used to "rethrow" Vim error or interrupt
5522exceptions, because it is not possible to fake Vim internal exceptions.
5523Trying so causes an error exception. You should throw your own exception
5524denoting the situation. If you want to cause a Vim error exception containing
5525the original error exception value, you can use the |:echoerr| command: >
5526
5527 :try
5528 : try
5529 : asdf
5530 : catch /.*/
5531 : echoerr v:exception
5532 : endtry
5533 :catch /.*/
5534 : echo v:exception
5535 :endtry
5536
5537This code displays
5538
5539 Vim(echoerr):Vim:E492: Not an editor command: asdf ~
5540
5541
5542CLEANUP CODE *try-finally*
5543
5544Scripts often change global settings and restore them at their end. If the
5545user however interrupts the script by pressing CTRL-C, the settings remain in
5546an inconsistent state. The same may happen to you in the development phase of
5547a script when an error occurs or you explicitly throw an exception without
5548catching it. You can solve these problems by using a try conditional with
5549a finally clause for restoring the settings. Its execution is guaranteed on
5550normal control flow, on error, on an explicit ":throw", and on interrupt.
5551(Note that errors and interrupts from inside the try conditional are converted
5552to exceptions. When not caught, they terminate the script after the finally
5553clause has been executed.)
5554Example: >
5555
5556 :try
5557 : let s:saved_ts = &ts
5558 : set ts=17
5559 :
5560 : " Do the hard work here.
5561 :
5562 :finally
5563 : let &ts = s:saved_ts
5564 : unlet s:saved_ts
5565 :endtry
5566
5567This method should be used locally whenever a function or part of a script
5568changes global settings which need to be restored on failure or normal exit of
5569that function or script part.
5570
5571 *break-finally*
5572Cleanup code works also when the try block or a catch clause is left by
5573a ":continue", ":break", ":return", or ":finish".
5574 Example: >
5575
5576 :let first = 1
5577 :while 1
5578 : try
5579 : if first
5580 : echo "first"
5581 : let first = 0
5582 : continue
5583 : else
5584 : throw "second"
5585 : endif
5586 : catch /.*/
5587 : echo v:exception
5588 : break
5589 : finally
5590 : echo "cleanup"
5591 : endtry
5592 : echo "still in while"
5593 :endwhile
5594 :echo "end"
5595
5596This displays "first", "cleanup", "second", "cleanup", and "end". >
5597
5598 :function! Foo()
5599 : try
5600 : return 4711
5601 : finally
5602 : echo "cleanup\n"
5603 : endtry
5604 : echo "Foo still active"
5605 :endfunction
5606 :
5607 :echo Foo() "returned by Foo"
5608
5609This displays "cleanup" and "4711 returned by Foo". You don't need to add an
5610extra ":return" in the finally clause. (Above all, this would override the
5611return value.)
5612
5613 *except-from-finally*
5614Using either of ":continue", ":break", ":return", ":finish", or ":throw" in
5615a finally clause is possible, but not recommended since it abandons the
5616cleanup actions for the try conditional. But, of course, interrupt and error
5617exceptions might get raised from a finally clause.
5618 Example where an error in the finally clause stops an interrupt from
5619working correctly: >
5620
5621 :try
5622 : try
5623 : echo "Press CTRL-C for interrupt"
5624 : while 1
5625 : endwhile
5626 : finally
5627 : unlet novar
5628 : endtry
5629 :catch /novar/
5630 :endtry
5631 :echo "Script still running"
5632 :sleep 1
5633
5634If you need to put commands that could fail into a finally clause, you should
5635think about catching or ignoring the errors in these commands, see
5636|catch-errors| and |ignore-errors|.
5637
5638
5639CATCHING ERRORS *catch-errors*
5640
5641If you want to catch specific errors, you just have to put the code to be
5642watched in a try block and add a catch clause for the error message. The
5643presence of the try conditional causes all errors to be converted to an
5644exception. No message is displayed and |v:errmsg| is not set then. To find
5645the right pattern for the ":catch" command, you have to know how the format of
5646the error exception is.
5647 Error exceptions have the following format: >
5648
5649 Vim({cmdname}):{errmsg}
5650or >
5651 Vim:{errmsg}
5652
5653{cmdname} is the name of the command that failed; the second form is used when
5654the command name is not known. {errmsg} is the error message usually produced
5655when the error occurs outside try conditionals. It always begins with
5656a capital "E", followed by a two or three-digit error number, a colon, and
5657a space.
5658
5659Examples:
5660
5661The command >
5662 :unlet novar
5663normally produces the error message >
5664 E108: No such variable: "novar"
5665which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
5666 Vim(unlet):E108: No such variable: "novar"
5667
5668The command >
5669 :dwim
5670normally produces the error message >
5671 E492: Not an editor command: dwim
5672which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
5673 Vim:E492: Not an editor command: dwim
5674
5675You can catch all ":unlet" errors by a >
5676 :catch /^Vim(unlet):/
5677or all errors for misspelled command names by a >
5678 :catch /^Vim:E492:/
5679
5680Some error messages may be produced by different commands: >
5681 :function nofunc
5682and >
5683 :delfunction nofunc
5684both produce the error message >
5685 E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
5686which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
5687 Vim(function):E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
5688or >
5689 Vim(delfunction):E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
5690respectively. You can catch the error by its number independently on the
5691command that caused it if you use the following pattern: >
5692 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E128:/
5693
5694Some commands like >
5695 :let x = novar
5696produce multiple error messages, here: >
5697 E121: Undefined variable: novar
5698 E15: Invalid expression: novar
5699Only the first is used for the exception value, since it is the most specific
5700one (see |except-several-errors|). So you can catch it by >
5701 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E121:/
5702
5703You can catch all errors related to the name "nofunc" by >
5704 :catch /\<nofunc\>/
5705
5706You can catch all Vim errors in the ":write" and ":read" commands by >
5707 :catch /^Vim(\(write\|read\)):E\d\+:/
5708
5709You can catch all Vim errors by the pattern >
5710 :catch /^Vim\((\a\+)\)\=:E\d\+:/
5711<
5712 *catch-text*
5713NOTE: You should never catch the error message text itself: >
5714 :catch /No such variable/
5715only works in the english locale, but not when the user has selected
5716a different language by the |:language| command. It is however helpful to
5717cite the message text in a comment: >
5718 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E108:/ " No such variable
5719
5720
5721IGNORING ERRORS *ignore-errors*
5722
5723You can ignore errors in a specific Vim command by catching them locally: >
5724
5725 :try
5726 : write
5727 :catch
5728 :endtry
5729
5730But you are strongly recommended NOT to use this simple form, since it could
5731catch more than you want. With the ":write" command, some autocommands could
5732be executed and cause errors not related to writing, for instance: >
5733
5734 :au BufWritePre * unlet novar
5735
5736There could even be such errors you are not responsible for as a script
5737writer: a user of your script might have defined such autocommands. You would
5738then hide the error from the user.
5739 It is much better to use >
5740
5741 :try
5742 : write
5743 :catch /^Vim(write):/
5744 :endtry
5745
5746which only catches real write errors. So catch only what you'd like to ignore
5747intentionally.
5748
5749For a single command that does not cause execution of autocommands, you could
5750even suppress the conversion of errors to exceptions by the ":silent!"
5751command: >
5752 :silent! nunmap k
5753This works also when a try conditional is active.
5754
5755
5756CATCHING INTERRUPTS *catch-interrupt*
5757
5758When there are active try conditionals, an interrupt (CTRL-C) is converted to
5759the exception "Vim:Interrupt". You can catch it like every exception. The
5760script is not terminated, then.
5761 Example: >
5762
5763 :function! TASK1()
5764 : sleep 10
5765 :endfunction
5766
5767 :function! TASK2()
5768 : sleep 20
5769 :endfunction
5770
5771 :while 1
5772 : let command = input("Type a command: ")
5773 : try
5774 : if command == ""
5775 : continue
5776 : elseif command == "END"
5777 : break
5778 : elseif command == "TASK1"
5779 : call TASK1()
5780 : elseif command == "TASK2"
5781 : call TASK2()
5782 : else
5783 : echo "\nIllegal command:" command
5784 : continue
5785 : endif
5786 : catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/
5787 : echo "\nCommand interrupted"
5788 : " Caught the interrupt. Continue with next prompt.
5789 : endtry
5790 :endwhile
5791
5792You can interrupt a task here by pressing CTRL-C; the script then asks for
5793a new command. If you press CTRL-C at the prompt, the script is terminated.
5794
5795For testing what happens when CTRL-C would be pressed on a specific line in
5796your script, use the debug mode and execute the |>quit| or |>interrupt|
5797command on that line. See |debug-scripts|.
5798
5799
5800CATCHING ALL *catch-all*
5801
5802The commands >
5803
5804 :catch /.*/
5805 :catch //
5806 :catch
5807
5808catch everything, error exceptions, interrupt exceptions and exceptions
5809explicitly thrown by the |:throw| command. This is useful at the top level of
5810a script in order to catch unexpected things.
5811 Example: >
5812
5813 :try
5814 :
5815 : " do the hard work here
5816 :
5817 :catch /MyException/
5818 :
5819 : " handle known problem
5820 :
5821 :catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/
5822 : echo "Script interrupted"
5823 :catch /.*/
5824 : echo "Internal error (" . v:exception . ")"
5825 : echo " - occurred at " . v:throwpoint
5826 :endtry
5827 :" end of script
5828
5829Note: Catching all might catch more things than you want. Thus, you are
5830strongly encouraged to catch only for problems that you can really handle by
5831specifying a pattern argument to the ":catch".
5832 Example: Catching all could make it nearly impossible to interrupt a script
5833by pressing CTRL-C: >
5834
5835 :while 1
5836 : try
5837 : sleep 1
5838 : catch
5839 : endtry
5840 :endwhile
5841
5842
5843EXCEPTIONS AND AUTOCOMMANDS *except-autocmd*
5844
5845Exceptions may be used during execution of autocommands. Example: >
5846
5847 :autocmd User x try
5848 :autocmd User x throw "Oops!"
5849 :autocmd User x catch
5850 :autocmd User x echo v:exception
5851 :autocmd User x endtry
5852 :autocmd User x throw "Arrgh!"
5853 :autocmd User x echo "Should not be displayed"
5854 :
5855 :try
5856 : doautocmd User x
5857 :catch
5858 : echo v:exception
5859 :endtry
5860
5861This displays "Oops!" and "Arrgh!".
5862
5863 *except-autocmd-Pre*
5864For some commands, autocommands get executed before the main action of the
5865command takes place. If an exception is thrown and not caught in the sequence
5866of autocommands, the sequence and the command that caused its execution are
5867abandoned and the exception is propagated to the caller of the command.
5868 Example: >
5869
5870 :autocmd BufWritePre * throw "FAIL"
5871 :autocmd BufWritePre * echo "Should not be displayed"
5872 :
5873 :try
5874 : write
5875 :catch
5876 : echo "Caught:" v:exception "from" v:throwpoint
5877 :endtry
5878
5879Here, the ":write" command does not write the file currently being edited (as
5880you can see by checking 'modified'), since the exception from the BufWritePre
5881autocommand abandons the ":write". The exception is then caught and the
5882script displays: >
5883
5884 Caught: FAIL from BufWrite Auto commands for "*"
5885<
5886 *except-autocmd-Post*
5887For some commands, autocommands get executed after the main action of the
5888command has taken place. If this main action fails and the command is inside
5889an active try conditional, the autocommands are skipped and an error exception
5890is thrown that can be caught by the caller of the command.
5891 Example: >
5892
5893 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo "File successfully written!"
5894 :
5895 :try
5896 : write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
5897 :catch
5898 : echo v:exception
5899 :endtry
5900
5901This just displays: >
5902
5903 Vim(write):E212: Can't open file for writing (/i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e)
5904
5905If you really need to execute the autocommands even when the main action
5906fails, trigger the event from the catch clause.
5907 Example: >
5908
5909 :autocmd BufWritePre * set noreadonly
5910 :autocmd BufWritePost * set readonly
5911 :
5912 :try
5913 : write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
5914 :catch
5915 : doautocmd BufWritePost /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
5916 :endtry
5917<
5918You can also use ":silent!": >
5919
5920 :let x = "ok"
5921 :let v:errmsg = ""
5922 :autocmd BufWritePost * if v:errmsg != ""
5923 :autocmd BufWritePost * let x = "after fail"
5924 :autocmd BufWritePost * endif
5925 :try
5926 : silent! write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
5927 :catch
5928 :endtry
5929 :echo x
5930
5931This displays "after fail".
5932
5933If the main action of the command does not fail, exceptions from the
5934autocommands will be catchable by the caller of the command: >
5935
5936 :autocmd BufWritePost * throw ":-("
5937 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo "Should not be displayed"
5938 :
5939 :try
5940 : write
5941 :catch
5942 : echo v:exception
5943 :endtry
5944<
5945 *except-autocmd-Cmd*
5946For some commands, the normal action can be replaced by a sequence of
5947autocommands. Exceptions from that sequence will be catchable by the caller
5948of the command.
5949 Example: For the ":write" command, the caller cannot know whether the file
5950had actually been written when the exception occurred. You need to tell it in
5951some way. >
5952
5953 :if !exists("cnt")
5954 : let cnt = 0
5955 :
5956 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if &modified
5957 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * let cnt = cnt + 1
5958 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if cnt % 3 == 2
5959 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * throw "BufWriteCmdError"
5960 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
5961 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * write | set nomodified
5962 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if cnt % 3 == 0
5963 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * throw "BufWriteCmdError"
5964 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
5965 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * echo "File successfully written!"
5966 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
5967 :endif
5968 :
5969 :try
5970 : write
5971 :catch /^BufWriteCmdError$/
5972 : if &modified
5973 : echo "Error on writing (file contents not changed)"
5974 : else
5975 : echo "Error after writing"
5976 : endif
5977 :catch /^Vim(write):/
5978 : echo "Error on writing"
5979 :endtry
5980
5981When this script is sourced several times after making changes, it displays
5982first >
5983 File successfully written!
5984then >
5985 Error on writing (file contents not changed)
5986then >
5987 Error after writing
5988etc.
5989
5990 *except-autocmd-ill*
5991You cannot spread a try conditional over autocommands for different events.
5992The following code is ill-formed: >
5993
5994 :autocmd BufWritePre * try
5995 :
5996 :autocmd BufWritePost * catch
5997 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo v:exception
5998 :autocmd BufWritePost * endtry
5999 :
6000 :write
6001
6002
6003EXCEPTION HIERARCHIES AND PARAMETERIZED EXCEPTIONS *except-hier-param*
6004
6005Some programming languages allow to use hierarchies of exception classes or to
6006pass additional information with the object of an exception class. You can do
6007similar things in Vim.
6008 In order to throw an exception from a hierarchy, just throw the complete
6009class name with the components separated by a colon, for instance throw the
6010string "EXCEPT:MATHERR:OVERFLOW" for an overflow in a mathematical library.
6011 When you want to pass additional information with your exception class, add
6012it in parentheses, for instance throw the string "EXCEPT:IO:WRITEERR(myfile)"
6013for an error when writing "myfile".
6014 With the appropriate patterns in the ":catch" command, you can catch for
6015base classes or derived classes of your hierarchy. Additional information in
6016parentheses can be cut out from |v:exception| with the ":substitute" command.
6017 Example: >
6018
6019 :function! CheckRange(a, func)
6020 : if a:a < 0
6021 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:RANGE(" . a:func . ")"
6022 : endif
6023 :endfunction
6024 :
6025 :function! Add(a, b)
6026 : call CheckRange(a:a, "Add")
6027 : call CheckRange(a:b, "Add")
6028 : let c = a:a + a:b
6029 : if c < 0
6030 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:OVERFLOW"
6031 : endif
6032 : return c
6033 :endfunction
6034 :
6035 :function! Div(a, b)
6036 : call CheckRange(a:a, "Div")
6037 : call CheckRange(a:b, "Div")
6038 : if (a:b == 0)
6039 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:ZERODIV"
6040 : endif
6041 : return a:a / a:b
6042 :endfunction
6043 :
6044 :function! Write(file)
6045 : try
6046 : execute "write" a:file
6047 : catch /^Vim(write):/
6048 : throw "EXCEPT:IO(" . getcwd() . ", " . a:file . "):WRITEERR"
6049 : endtry
6050 :endfunction
6051 :
6052 :try
6053 :
6054 : " something with arithmetics and I/O
6055 :
6056 :catch /^EXCEPT:MATHERR:RANGE/
6057 : let function = substitute(v:exception, '.*(\(\a\+\)).*', '\1', "")
6058 : echo "Range error in" function
6059 :
6060 :catch /^EXCEPT:MATHERR/ " catches OVERFLOW and ZERODIV
6061 : echo "Math error"
6062 :
6063 :catch /^EXCEPT:IO/
6064 : let dir = substitute(v:exception, '.*(\(.\+\),\s*.\+).*', '\1', "")
6065 : let file = substitute(v:exception, '.*(.\+,\s*\(.\+\)).*', '\1', "")
6066 : if file !~ '^/'
6067 : let file = dir . "/" . file
6068 : endif
6069 : echo 'I/O error for "' . file . '"'
6070 :
6071 :catch /^EXCEPT/
6072 : echo "Unspecified error"
6073 :
6074 :endtry
6075
6076The exceptions raised by Vim itself (on error or when pressing CTRL-C) use
6077a flat hierarchy: they are all in the "Vim" class. You cannot throw yourself
6078exceptions with the "Vim" prefix; they are reserved for Vim.
6079 Vim error exceptions are parameterized with the name of the command that
6080failed, if known. See |catch-errors|.
6081
6082
6083PECULIARITIES
6084 *except-compat*
6085The exception handling concept requires that the command sequence causing the
6086exception is aborted immediately and control is transferred to finally clauses
6087and/or a catch clause.
6088
6089In the Vim script language there are cases where scripts and functions
6090continue after an error: in functions without the "abort" flag or in a command
6091after ":silent!", control flow goes to the following line, and outside
6092functions, control flow goes to the line following the outermost ":endwhile"
6093or ":endif". On the other hand, errors should be catchable as exceptions
6094(thus, requiring the immediate abortion).
6095
6096This problem has been solved by converting errors to exceptions and using
6097immediate abortion (if not suppressed by ":silent!") only when a try
6098conditional is active. This is no restriction since an (error) exception can
6099be caught only from an active try conditional. If you want an immediate
6100termination without catching the error, just use a try conditional without
6101catch clause. (You can cause cleanup code being executed before termination
6102by specifying a finally clause.)
6103
6104When no try conditional is active, the usual abortion and continuation
6105behavior is used instead of immediate abortion. This ensures compatibility of
6106scripts written for Vim 6.1 and earlier.
6107
6108However, when sourcing an existing script that does not use exception handling
6109commands (or when calling one of its functions) from inside an active try
6110conditional of a new script, you might change the control flow of the existing
6111script on error. You get the immediate abortion on error and can catch the
6112error in the new script. If however the sourced script suppresses error
6113messages by using the ":silent!" command (checking for errors by testing
6114|v:errmsg| if appropriate), its execution path is not changed. The error is
6115not converted to an exception. (See |:silent|.) So the only remaining cause
6116where this happens is for scripts that don't care about errors and produce
6117error messages. You probably won't want to use such code from your new
6118scripts.
6119
6120 *except-syntax-err*
6121Syntax errors in the exception handling commands are never caught by any of
6122the ":catch" commands of the try conditional they belong to. Its finally
6123clauses, however, is executed.
6124 Example: >
6125
6126 :try
6127 : try
6128 : throw 4711
6129 : catch /\(/
6130 : echo "in catch with syntax error"
6131 : catch
6132 : echo "inner catch-all"
6133 : finally
6134 : echo "inner finally"
6135 : endtry
6136 :catch
6137 : echo 'outer catch-all caught "' . v:exception . '"'
6138 : finally
6139 : echo "outer finally"
6140 :endtry
6141
6142This displays: >
6143 inner finally
6144 outer catch-all caught "Vim(catch):E54: Unmatched \("
6145 outer finally
6146The original exception is discarded and an error exception is raised, instead.
6147
6148 *except-single-line*
6149The ":try", ":catch", ":finally", and ":endtry" commands can be put on
6150a single line, but then syntax errors may make it difficult to recognize the
6151"catch" line, thus you better avoid this.
6152 Example: >
6153 :try | unlet! foo # | catch | endtry
6154raises an error exception for the trailing characters after the ":unlet!"
6155argument, but does not see the ":catch" and ":endtry" commands, so that the
6156error exception is discarded and the "E488: Trailing characters" message gets
6157displayed.
6158
6159 *except-several-errors*
6160When several errors appear in a single command, the first error message is
6161usually the most specific one and therefor converted to the error exception.
6162 Example: >
6163 echo novar
6164causes >
6165 E121: Undefined variable: novar
6166 E15: Invalid expression: novar
6167The value of the error exception inside try conditionals is: >
6168 Vim(echo):E121: Undefined variable: novar
6169< *except-syntax-error*
6170But when a syntax error is detected after a normal error in the same command,
6171the syntax error is used for the exception being thrown.
6172 Example: >
6173 unlet novar #
6174causes >
6175 E108: No such variable: "novar"
6176 E488: Trailing characters
6177The value of the error exception inside try conditionals is: >
6178 Vim(unlet):E488: Trailing characters
6179This is done because the syntax error might change the execution path in a way
6180not intended by the user. Example: >
6181 try
6182 try | unlet novar # | catch | echo v:exception | endtry
6183 catch /.*/
6184 echo "outer catch:" v:exception
6185 endtry
6186This displays "outer catch: Vim(unlet):E488: Trailing characters", and then
6187a "E600: Missing :endtry" error message is given, see |except-single-line|.
6188
6189==============================================================================
61909. Examples *eval-examples*
6191
6192Printing in Hex ~
6193>
6194 :" The function Nr2Hex() returns the Hex string of a number.
6195 :func Nr2Hex(nr)
6196 : let n = a:nr
6197 : let r = ""
6198 : while n
6199 : let r = '0123456789ABCDEF'[n % 16] . r
6200 : let n = n / 16
6201 : endwhile
6202 : return r
6203 :endfunc
6204
6205 :" The function String2Hex() converts each character in a string to a two
6206 :" character Hex string.
6207 :func String2Hex(str)
6208 : let out = ''
6209 : let ix = 0
6210 : while ix < strlen(a:str)
6211 : let out = out . Nr2Hex(char2nr(a:str[ix]))
6212 : let ix = ix + 1
6213 : endwhile
6214 : return out
6215 :endfunc
6216
6217Example of its use: >
6218 :echo Nr2Hex(32)
6219result: "20" >
6220 :echo String2Hex("32")
6221result: "3332"
6222
6223
6224Sorting lines (by Robert Webb) ~
6225
6226Here is a Vim script to sort lines. Highlight the lines in Vim and type
6227":Sort". This doesn't call any external programs so it'll work on any
6228platform. The function Sort() actually takes the name of a comparison
6229function as its argument, like qsort() does in C. So you could supply it
6230with different comparison functions in order to sort according to date etc.
6231>
6232 :" Function for use with Sort(), to compare two strings.
6233 :func! Strcmp(str1, str2)
6234 : if (a:str1 < a:str2)
6235 : return -1
6236 : elseif (a:str1 > a:str2)
6237 : return 1
6238 : else
6239 : return 0
6240 : endif
6241 :endfunction
6242
6243 :" Sort lines. SortR() is called recursively.
6244 :func! SortR(start, end, cmp)
6245 : if (a:start >= a:end)
6246 : return
6247 : endif
6248 : let partition = a:start - 1
6249 : let middle = partition
6250 : let partStr = getline((a:start + a:end) / 2)
6251 : let i = a:start
6252 : while (i <= a:end)
6253 : let str = getline(i)
6254 : exec "let result = " . a:cmp . "(str, partStr)"
6255 : if (result <= 0)
6256 : " Need to put it before the partition. Swap lines i and partition.
6257 : let partition = partition + 1
6258 : if (result == 0)
6259 : let middle = partition
6260 : endif
6261 : if (i != partition)
6262 : let str2 = getline(partition)
6263 : call setline(i, str2)
6264 : call setline(partition, str)
6265 : endif
6266 : endif
6267 : let i = i + 1
6268 : endwhile
6269
6270 : " Now we have a pointer to the "middle" element, as far as partitioning
6271 : " goes, which could be anywhere before the partition. Make sure it is at
6272 : " the end of the partition.
6273 : if (middle != partition)
6274 : let str = getline(middle)
6275 : let str2 = getline(partition)
6276 : call setline(middle, str2)
6277 : call setline(partition, str)
6278 : endif
6279 : call SortR(a:start, partition - 1, a:cmp)
6280 : call SortR(partition + 1, a:end, a:cmp)
6281 :endfunc
6282
6283 :" To Sort a range of lines, pass the range to Sort() along with the name of a
6284 :" function that will compare two lines.
6285 :func! Sort(cmp) range
6286 : call SortR(a:firstline, a:lastline, a:cmp)
6287 :endfunc
6288
6289 :" :Sort takes a range of lines and sorts them.
6290 :command! -nargs=0 -range Sort <line1>,<line2>call Sort("Strcmp")
6291<
6292 *sscanf*
6293There is no sscanf() function in Vim. If you need to extract parts from a
6294line, you can use matchstr() and substitute() to do it. This example shows
6295how to get the file name, line number and column number out of a line like
6296"foobar.txt, 123, 45". >
6297 :" Set up the match bit
6298 :let mx='\(\f\+\),\s*\(\d\+\),\s*\(\d\+\)'
6299 :"get the part matching the whole expression
6300 :let l = matchstr(line, mx)
6301 :"get each item out of the match
6302 :let file = substitute(l, mx, '\1', '')
6303 :let lnum = substitute(l, mx, '\2', '')
6304 :let col = substitute(l, mx, '\3', '')
6305
6306The input is in the variable "line", the results in the variables "file",
6307"lnum" and "col". (idea from Michael Geddes)
6308
6309==============================================================================
631010. No +eval feature *no-eval-feature*
6311
6312When the |+eval| feature was disabled at compile time, none of the expression
6313evaluation commands are available. To prevent this from causing Vim scripts
6314to generate all kinds of errors, the ":if" and ":endif" commands are still
6315recognized, though the argument of the ":if" and everything between the ":if"
6316and the matching ":endif" is ignored. Nesting of ":if" blocks is allowed, but
6317only if the commands are at the start of the line. The ":else" command is not
6318recognized.
6319
6320Example of how to avoid executing commands when the |+eval| feature is
6321missing: >
6322
6323 :if 1
6324 : echo "Expression evaluation is compiled in"
6325 :else
6326 : echo "You will _never_ see this message"
6327 :endif
6328
6329==============================================================================
633011. The sandbox *eval-sandbox* *sandbox* *E48*
6331
6332The 'foldexpr', 'includeexpr', 'indentexpr', 'statusline' and 'foldtext'
6333options are evaluated in a sandbox. This means that you are protected from
6334these expressions having nasty side effects. This gives some safety for when
6335these options are set from a modeline. It is also used when the command from
6336a tags file is executed.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00006337The sandbox is also used for the |:sandbox| command.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00006338
6339These items are not allowed in the sandbox:
6340 - changing the buffer text
6341 - defining or changing mapping, autocommands, functions, user commands
6342 - setting certain options (see |option-summary|)
6343 - executing a shell command
6344 - reading or writing a file
6345 - jumping to another buffer or editing a file
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00006346This is not guaranteed 100% secure, but it should block most attacks.
6347
6348 *:san* *:sandbox*
6349:sandbox {cmd} Execute {cmd} in the sandbox. Useful to evaluate an
6350 option that may have been set from a modeline, e.g.
6351 'foldexpr'.
6352
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00006353
6354 vim:tw=78:ts=8:ft=help:norl: