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Bram Moolenaarcb80aa22020-10-26 21:12:46 +01001*autocmd.txt* For Vim version 8.2. Last change: 2020 Oct 26
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002
3
4 VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar
5
6
Bram Moolenaar675e8d62018-06-24 20:42:01 +02007Automatic commands *autocommand* *autocommands*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00008
9For a basic explanation, see section |40.3| in the user manual.
10
111. Introduction |autocmd-intro|
122. Defining autocommands |autocmd-define|
133. Removing autocommands |autocmd-remove|
144. Listing autocommands |autocmd-list|
155. Events |autocmd-events|
166. Patterns |autocmd-patterns|
Bram Moolenaarb5bf5b82004-12-24 14:35:23 +0000177. Buffer-local autocommands |autocmd-buflocal|
188. Groups |autocmd-groups|
199. Executing autocommands |autocmd-execute|
2010. Using autocommands |autocmd-use|
Bram Moolenaarb3480382005-12-11 21:33:32 +00002111. Disabling autocommands |autocmd-disable|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000022
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000023
24==============================================================================
251. Introduction *autocmd-intro*
26
Bram Moolenaard4755bb2004-09-02 19:12:26 +000027You can specify commands to be executed automatically when reading or writing
28a file, when entering or leaving a buffer or window, and when exiting Vim.
29For example, you can create an autocommand to set the 'cindent' option for
30files matching *.c. You can also use autocommands to implement advanced
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000031features, such as editing compressed files (see |gzip-example|). The usual
32place to put autocommands is in your .vimrc or .exrc file.
33
Bram Moolenaar72540672018-02-09 22:00:53 +010034 *E203* *E204* *E143* *E855* *E937* *E952*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000035WARNING: Using autocommands is very powerful, and may lead to unexpected side
36effects. Be careful not to destroy your text.
37- It's a good idea to do some testing on an expendable copy of a file first.
38 For example: If you use autocommands to decompress a file when starting to
39 edit it, make sure that the autocommands for compressing when writing work
40 correctly.
41- Be prepared for an error halfway through (e.g., disk full). Vim will mostly
42 be able to undo the changes to the buffer, but you may have to clean up the
43 changes to other files by hand (e.g., compress a file that has been
44 decompressed).
45- If the BufRead* events allow you to edit a compressed file, the FileRead*
46 events should do the same (this makes recovery possible in some rare cases).
47 It's a good idea to use the same autocommands for the File* and Buf* events
48 when possible.
49
50==============================================================================
512. Defining autocommands *autocmd-define*
52
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000053 *:au* *:autocmd*
Bram Moolenaareb93f3f2019-04-04 15:04:56 +020054:au[tocmd] [group] {event} {pat} [++once] [++nested] {cmd}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000055 Add {cmd} to the list of commands that Vim will
56 execute automatically on {event} for a file matching
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +010057 {pat} |autocmd-patterns|.
Bram Moolenaar98ef2332018-03-18 14:44:37 +010058 Note: A quote character is seen as argument to the
59 :autocmd and won't start a comment.
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +010060 Vim always adds the {cmd} after existing autocommands,
61 so that the autocommands execute in the order in which
Bram Moolenaareb93f3f2019-04-04 15:04:56 +020062 they were given.
63 See |autocmd-nested| for [++nested]. "nested"
64 (without the ++) can also be used, for backwards
65 compatibility.
66 *autocmd-once*
67 If [++once] is supplied the command is executed once,
68 then removed ("one shot").
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000069
Bram Moolenaarb5bf5b82004-12-24 14:35:23 +000070The special pattern <buffer> or <buffer=N> defines a buffer-local autocommand.
71See |autocmd-buflocal|.
72
Bram Moolenaare99e8442016-07-26 20:43:40 +020073Note: The ":autocmd" command can only be followed by another command when the
74'|' appears before {cmd}. This works: >
75 :augroup mine | au! BufRead | augroup END
76But this sees "augroup" as part of the defined command: >
Bram Moolenaarb0d45e72017-11-05 18:19:24 +010077 :augroup mine | au! BufRead * | augroup END
Bram Moolenaare99e8442016-07-26 20:43:40 +020078 :augroup mine | au BufRead * set tw=70 | augroup END
Bram Moolenaarb0d45e72017-11-05 18:19:24 +010079Instead you can put the group name into the command: >
80 :au! mine BufRead *
81 :au mine BufRead * set tw=70
82Or use `:execute`: >
83 :augroup mine | exe "au! BufRead *" | augroup END
84 :augroup mine | exe "au BufRead * set tw=70" | augroup END
Bram Moolenaare99e8442016-07-26 20:43:40 +020085
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000086Note that special characters (e.g., "%", "<cword>") in the ":autocmd"
87arguments are not expanded when the autocommand is defined. These will be
88expanded when the Event is recognized, and the {cmd} is executed. The only
89exception is that "<sfile>" is expanded when the autocmd is defined. Example:
90>
91 :au BufNewFile,BufRead *.html so <sfile>:h/html.vim
92
93Here Vim expands <sfile> to the name of the file containing this line.
94
Bram Moolenaar2ec618c2016-10-01 14:47:05 +020095`:autocmd` adds to the list of autocommands regardless of whether they are
96already present. When your .vimrc file is sourced twice, the autocommands
97will appear twice. To avoid this, define your autocommands in a group, so
98that you can easily clear them: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000099
Bram Moolenaar2ec618c2016-10-01 14:47:05 +0200100 augroup vimrc
Bram Moolenaar98ef2332018-03-18 14:44:37 +0100101 " Remove all vimrc autocommands
102 autocmd!
Bram Moolenaar2ec618c2016-10-01 14:47:05 +0200103 au BufNewFile,BufRead *.html so <sfile>:h/html.vim
104 augroup END
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000105
106If you don't want to remove all autocommands, you can instead use a variable
107to ensure that Vim includes the autocommands only once: >
108
109 :if !exists("autocommands_loaded")
110 : let autocommands_loaded = 1
111 : au ...
112 :endif
113
114When the [group] argument is not given, Vim uses the current group (as defined
115with ":augroup"); otherwise, Vim uses the group defined with [group]. Note
116that [group] must have been defined before. You cannot define a new group
117with ":au group ..."; use ":augroup" for that.
118
119While testing autocommands, you might find the 'verbose' option to be useful: >
120 :set verbose=9
121This setting makes Vim echo the autocommands as it executes them.
122
123When defining an autocommand in a script, it will be able to call functions
124local to the script and use mappings local to the script. When the event is
125triggered and the command executed, it will run in the context of the script
126it was defined in. This matters if |<SID>| is used in a command.
127
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +0000128When executing the commands, the message from one command overwrites a
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000129previous message. This is different from when executing the commands
130manually. Mostly the screen will not scroll up, thus there is no hit-enter
131prompt. When one command outputs two messages this can happen anyway.
132
133==============================================================================
1343. Removing autocommands *autocmd-remove*
135
Bram Moolenaareb93f3f2019-04-04 15:04:56 +0200136:au[tocmd]! [group] {event} {pat} [++once] [++nested] {cmd}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000137 Remove all autocommands associated with {event} and
Bram Moolenaareb93f3f2019-04-04 15:04:56 +0200138 {pat}, and add the command {cmd}.
139 See |autocmd-once| for [++once].
140 See |autocmd-nested| for [++nested].
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000141
142:au[tocmd]! [group] {event} {pat}
143 Remove all autocommands associated with {event} and
144 {pat}.
145
146:au[tocmd]! [group] * {pat}
147 Remove all autocommands associated with {pat} for all
148 events.
149
150:au[tocmd]! [group] {event}
151 Remove ALL autocommands for {event}.
Bram Moolenaar2ec618c2016-10-01 14:47:05 +0200152 Warning: You should not do this without a group for
153 |BufRead| and other common events, it can break
154 plugins, syntax highlighting, etc.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000155
156:au[tocmd]! [group] Remove ALL autocommands.
Bram Moolenaar98ef2332018-03-18 14:44:37 +0100157 Note: a quote will be seen as argument to the :autocmd
158 and won't start a comment.
Bram Moolenaar2ec618c2016-10-01 14:47:05 +0200159 Warning: You should normally not do this without a
160 group, it breaks plugins, syntax highlighting, etc.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000161
162When the [group] argument is not given, Vim uses the current group (as defined
163with ":augroup"); otherwise, Vim uses the group defined with [group].
164
165==============================================================================
1664. Listing autocommands *autocmd-list*
167
168:au[tocmd] [group] {event} {pat}
169 Show the autocommands associated with {event} and
170 {pat}.
171
172:au[tocmd] [group] * {pat}
173 Show the autocommands associated with {pat} for all
174 events.
175
176:au[tocmd] [group] {event}
177 Show all autocommands for {event}.
178
179:au[tocmd] [group] Show all autocommands.
180
181If you provide the [group] argument, Vim lists only the autocommands for
182[group]; otherwise, Vim lists the autocommands for ALL groups. Note that this
183argument behavior differs from that for defining and removing autocommands.
184
Bram Moolenaarb5bf5b82004-12-24 14:35:23 +0000185In order to list buffer-local autocommands, use a pattern in the form <buffer>
186or <buffer=N>. See |autocmd-buflocal|.
187
Bram Moolenaarac6e65f2005-08-29 22:25:38 +0000188 *:autocmd-verbose*
189When 'verbose' is non-zero, listing an autocommand will also display where it
190was last defined. Example: >
191
192 :verbose autocmd BufEnter
193 FileExplorer BufEnter
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000194 * call s:LocalBrowse(expand("<amatch>"))
Bram Moolenaarac6e65f2005-08-29 22:25:38 +0000195 Last set from /usr/share/vim/vim-7.0/plugin/NetrwPlugin.vim
196<
197See |:verbose-cmd| for more information.
198
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000199==============================================================================
2005. Events *autocmd-events* *E215* *E216*
201
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000202You can specify a comma-separated list of event names. No white space can be
203used in this list. The command applies to all the events in the list.
204
205For READING FILES there are four kinds of events possible:
206 BufNewFile starting to edit a non-existent file
207 BufReadPre BufReadPost starting to edit an existing file
208 FilterReadPre FilterReadPost read the temp file with filter output
209 FileReadPre FileReadPost any other file read
210Vim uses only one of these four kinds when reading a file. The "Pre" and
211"Post" events are both triggered, before and after reading the file.
212
213Note that the autocommands for the *ReadPre events and all the Filter events
214are not allowed to change the current buffer (you will get an error message if
215this happens). This is to prevent the file to be read into the wrong buffer.
216
217Note that the 'modified' flag is reset AFTER executing the BufReadPost
218and BufNewFile autocommands. But when the 'modified' option was set by the
219autocommands, this doesn't happen.
220
221You can use the 'eventignore' option to ignore a number of events or all
222events.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000223 *autocommand-events* *{event}*
224Vim recognizes the following events. Vim ignores the case of event names
225(e.g., you can use "BUFread" or "bufread" instead of "BufRead").
226
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000227First an overview by function with a short explanation. Then the list
Bram Moolenaar551dbcc2006-04-25 22:13:59 +0000228alphabetically with full explanations |autocmd-events-abc|.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000229
230Name triggered by ~
231
232 Reading
233|BufNewFile| starting to edit a file that doesn't exist
234|BufReadPre| starting to edit a new buffer, before reading the file
235|BufRead| starting to edit a new buffer, after reading the file
236|BufReadPost| starting to edit a new buffer, after reading the file
237|BufReadCmd| before starting to edit a new buffer |Cmd-event|
238
239|FileReadPre| before reading a file with a ":read" command
240|FileReadPost| after reading a file with a ":read" command
Bram Moolenaar551dbcc2006-04-25 22:13:59 +0000241|FileReadCmd| before reading a file with a ":read" command |Cmd-event|
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000242
243|FilterReadPre| before reading a file from a filter command
244|FilterReadPost| after reading a file from a filter command
245
246|StdinReadPre| before reading from stdin into the buffer
247|StdinReadPost| After reading from the stdin into the buffer
248
249 Writing
250|BufWrite| starting to write the whole buffer to a file
251|BufWritePre| starting to write the whole buffer to a file
252|BufWritePost| after writing the whole buffer to a file
253|BufWriteCmd| before writing the whole buffer to a file |Cmd-event|
254
255|FileWritePre| starting to write part of a buffer to a file
256|FileWritePost| after writing part of a buffer to a file
257|FileWriteCmd| before writing part of a buffer to a file |Cmd-event|
258
259|FileAppendPre| starting to append to a file
260|FileAppendPost| after appending to a file
261|FileAppendCmd| before appending to a file |Cmd-event|
262
263|FilterWritePre| starting to write a file for a filter command or diff
264|FilterWritePost| after writing a file for a filter command or diff
265
266 Buffers
267|BufAdd| just after adding a buffer to the buffer list
268|BufCreate| just after adding a buffer to the buffer list
269|BufDelete| before deleting a buffer from the buffer list
270|BufWipeout| before completely deleting a buffer
271
272|BufFilePre| before changing the name of the current buffer
273|BufFilePost| after changing the name of the current buffer
274
275|BufEnter| after entering a buffer
276|BufLeave| before leaving to another buffer
277|BufWinEnter| after a buffer is displayed in a window
278|BufWinLeave| before a buffer is removed from a window
279
280|BufUnload| before unloading a buffer
Bram Moolenaarcb80aa22020-10-26 21:12:46 +0100281|BufHidden| just before a buffer becomes hidden
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000282|BufNew| just after creating a new buffer
283
284|SwapExists| detected an existing swap file
285
286 Options
287|FileType| when the 'filetype' option has been set
288|Syntax| when the 'syntax' option has been set
289|EncodingChanged| after the 'encoding' option has been changed
290|TermChanged| after the value of 'term' has changed
Bram Moolenaar53744302015-07-17 17:38:22 +0200291|OptionSet| after setting any option
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000292
293 Startup and exit
294|VimEnter| after doing all the startup stuff
295|GUIEnter| after starting the GUI successfully
Bram Moolenaard09acef2012-09-21 14:54:30 +0200296|GUIFailed| after starting the GUI failed
Bram Moolenaard7afed32007-05-06 13:26:41 +0000297|TermResponse| after the terminal response to |t_RV| is received
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000298
Bram Moolenaar12a96de2018-03-11 14:44:18 +0100299|QuitPre| when using `:quit`, before deciding whether to exit
300|ExitPre| when using a command that may make Vim exit
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000301|VimLeavePre| before exiting Vim, before writing the viminfo file
302|VimLeave| before exiting Vim, after writing the viminfo file
303
Bram Moolenaar28ed4df2019-10-26 16:21:40 +0200304 Terminal
305|TerminalOpen| after a terminal buffer was created
306|TerminalWinOpen| after a terminal buffer was created in a new window
307
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000308 Various
309|FileChangedShell| Vim notices that a file changed since editing started
Bram Moolenaar7d47b6e2006-03-15 22:59:18 +0000310|FileChangedShellPost| After handling a file changed since editing started
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000311|FileChangedRO| before making the first change to a read-only file
312
Bram Moolenaar2c64ca12018-10-19 16:22:31 +0200313|DiffUpdated| after diffs have been updated
Bram Moolenaarb7407d32018-02-03 17:36:27 +0100314|DirChanged| after the working directory has changed
315
Bram Moolenaara94bc432006-03-10 21:42:59 +0000316|ShellCmdPost| after executing a shell command
317|ShellFilterPost| after filtering with a shell command
318
Bram Moolenaard5005162014-08-22 23:05:54 +0200319|CmdUndefined| a user command is used but it isn't defined
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000320|FuncUndefined| a user function is used but it isn't defined
Bram Moolenaarafeb4fa2006-02-01 21:51:12 +0000321|SpellFileMissing| a spell file is used but it can't be found
Bram Moolenaar1f35bf92006-03-07 22:38:47 +0000322|SourcePre| before sourcing a Vim script
Bram Moolenaar2a953fc2019-01-26 17:41:47 +0100323|SourcePost| after sourcing a Vim script
Bram Moolenaar8dd1aa52007-01-16 20:33:19 +0000324|SourceCmd| before sourcing a Vim script |Cmd-event|
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000325
Bram Moolenaar7d47b6e2006-03-15 22:59:18 +0000326|VimResized| after the Vim window size changed
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000327|FocusGained| Vim got input focus
328|FocusLost| Vim lost input focus
329|CursorHold| the user doesn't press a key for a while
Bram Moolenaar754b5602006-02-09 23:53:20 +0000330|CursorHoldI| the user doesn't press a key for a while in Insert mode
331|CursorMoved| the cursor was moved in Normal mode
332|CursorMovedI| the cursor was moved in Insert mode
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000333
Bram Moolenaarc917da42016-07-19 22:31:36 +0200334|WinNew| after creating a new window
Bram Moolenaar12c11d52016-07-19 23:13:03 +0200335|TabNew| after creating a new tab page
336|TabClosed| after closing a tab page
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000337|WinEnter| after entering another window
338|WinLeave| before leaving a window
Bram Moolenaarfaa959a2006-02-20 21:37:40 +0000339|TabEnter| after entering another tab page
340|TabLeave| before leaving a tab page
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000341|CmdwinEnter| after entering the command-line window
342|CmdwinLeave| before leaving the command-line window
343
Bram Moolenaarb5b75622018-03-09 22:22:21 +0100344|CmdlineChanged| after a change was made to the command-line text
345|CmdlineEnter| after the cursor moves to the command line
346|CmdlineLeave| before the cursor leaves the command line
347
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000348|InsertEnter| starting Insert mode
349|InsertChange| when typing <Insert> while in Insert or Replace mode
350|InsertLeave| when leaving Insert mode
Bram Moolenaare659c952011-05-19 17:25:41 +0200351|InsertCharPre| when a character was typed in Insert mode, before
352 inserting it
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000353
Bram Moolenaardfb18412013-12-11 18:53:29 +0100354|TextChanged| after a change was made to the text in Normal mode
355|TextChangedI| after a change was made to the text in Insert mode
Bram Moolenaar5a093432018-02-10 18:15:19 +0100356 when popup menu is not visible
357|TextChangedP| after a change was made to the text in Insert mode
358 when popup menu visible
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +0200359|TextYankPost| after text has been yanked or deleted
Bram Moolenaardfb18412013-12-11 18:53:29 +0100360
Bram Moolenaar8aeec402019-09-15 23:02:04 +0200361|SafeState| nothing pending, going to wait for the user to type a
362 character
Bram Moolenaar69198cb2019-09-16 21:58:13 +0200363|SafeStateAgain| repeated SafeState
Bram Moolenaar8aeec402019-09-15 23:02:04 +0200364
Bram Moolenaar15142e22018-04-30 22:19:58 +0200365|ColorSchemePre| before loading a color scheme
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000366|ColorScheme| after loading a color scheme
367
368|RemoteReply| a reply from a server Vim was received
369
370|QuickFixCmdPre| before a quickfix command is run
371|QuickFixCmdPost| after a quickfix command is run
372
373|SessionLoadPost| after loading a session file
374
375|MenuPopup| just before showing the popup menu
Bram Moolenaard7f246c2019-04-08 18:15:41 +0200376|CompleteChanged| after Insert mode completion menu changed
Bram Moolenaar3f169ce2020-01-26 22:43:31 +0100377|CompleteDonePre| after Insert mode completion is done, before clearing
378 info
379|CompleteDone| after Insert mode completion is done, after clearing
380 info
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000381
382|User| to be used in combination with ":doautocmd"
Bram Moolenaarbe5ee862020-06-10 20:56:58 +0200383|SigUSR1| after the SIGUSR1 signal has been detected
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000384
385
386The alphabetical list of autocommand events: *autocmd-events-abc*
387
388 *BufCreate* *BufAdd*
389BufAdd or BufCreate Just after creating a new buffer which is
390 added to the buffer list, or adding a buffer
391 to the buffer list.
392 Also used just after a buffer in the buffer
393 list has been renamed.
Bram Moolenaar469bdbd2019-12-11 23:05:48 +0100394 Not triggered for the initial buffers created
395 during startup.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000396 The BufCreate event is for historic reasons.
397 NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the
398 current buffer "%" may be different from the
399 buffer being created "<afile>".
400 *BufDelete*
401BufDelete Before deleting a buffer from the buffer list.
402 The BufUnload may be called first (if the
403 buffer was loaded).
404 Also used just before a buffer in the buffer
405 list is renamed.
406 NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the
407 current buffer "%" may be different from the
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +0000408 buffer being deleted "<afile>" and "<abuf>".
Bram Moolenaarb849e712009-06-24 15:51:37 +0000409 Don't change to another buffer, it will cause
410 problems.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000411 *BufEnter*
412BufEnter After entering a buffer. Useful for setting
413 options for a file type. Also executed when
414 starting to edit a buffer, after the
415 BufReadPost autocommands.
416 *BufFilePost*
417BufFilePost After changing the name of the current buffer
418 with the ":file" or ":saveas" command.
Bram Moolenaar4770d092006-01-12 23:22:24 +0000419 *BufFilePre*
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000420BufFilePre Before changing the name of the current buffer
421 with the ":file" or ":saveas" command.
422 *BufHidden*
Bram Moolenaar790c18b2019-07-04 17:22:06 +0200423BufHidden Just before a buffer becomes hidden. That is,
424 when there are no longer windows that show
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000425 the buffer, but the buffer is not unloaded or
426 deleted. Not used for ":qa" or ":q" when
427 exiting Vim.
428 NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the
429 current buffer "%" may be different from the
430 buffer being unloaded "<afile>".
431 *BufLeave*
432BufLeave Before leaving to another buffer. Also when
433 leaving or closing the current window and the
434 new current window is not for the same buffer.
435 Not used for ":qa" or ":q" when exiting Vim.
436 *BufNew*
437BufNew Just after creating a new buffer. Also used
438 just after a buffer has been renamed. When
439 the buffer is added to the buffer list BufAdd
440 will be triggered too.
441 NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the
442 current buffer "%" may be different from the
443 buffer being created "<afile>".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000444 *BufNewFile*
445BufNewFile When starting to edit a file that doesn't
446 exist. Can be used to read in a skeleton
447 file.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000448 *BufRead* *BufReadPost*
449BufRead or BufReadPost When starting to edit a new buffer, after
450 reading the file into the buffer, before
451 executing the modelines. See |BufWinEnter|
452 for when you need to do something after
453 processing the modelines.
454 This does NOT work for ":r file". Not used
455 when the file doesn't exist. Also used after
456 successfully recovering a file.
Bram Moolenaar30b65812012-07-12 22:01:11 +0200457 Also triggered for the filetypedetect group
458 when executing ":filetype detect" and when
459 writing an unnamed buffer in a way that the
460 buffer gets a name.
Bram Moolenaar4770d092006-01-12 23:22:24 +0000461 *BufReadCmd*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000462BufReadCmd Before starting to edit a new buffer. Should
463 read the file into the buffer. |Cmd-event|
Bram Moolenaar4770d092006-01-12 23:22:24 +0000464 *BufReadPre* *E200* *E201*
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000465BufReadPre When starting to edit a new buffer, before
466 reading the file into the buffer. Not used
467 if the file doesn't exist.
468 *BufUnload*
469BufUnload Before unloading a buffer. This is when the
470 text in the buffer is going to be freed. This
471 may be after a BufWritePost and before a
472 BufDelete. Also used for all buffers that are
473 loaded when Vim is going to exit.
474 NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the
475 current buffer "%" may be different from the
476 buffer being unloaded "<afile>".
Bram Moolenaar64d8e252016-09-06 22:12:34 +0200477 Don't change to another buffer or window, it
478 will cause problems!
Bram Moolenaar0e1e25f2010-05-28 21:07:08 +0200479 When exiting and v:dying is 2 or more this
480 event is not triggered.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000481 *BufWinEnter*
482BufWinEnter After a buffer is displayed in a window. This
483 can be when the buffer is loaded (after
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +0000484 processing the modelines) or when a hidden
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000485 buffer is displayed in a window (and is no
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +0000486 longer hidden).
487 Does not happen for |:split| without
488 arguments, since you keep editing the same
489 buffer, or ":split" with a file that's already
Bram Moolenaarc236c162008-07-13 17:41:49 +0000490 open in a window, because it re-uses an
491 existing buffer. But it does happen for a
492 ":split" with the name of the current buffer,
493 since it reloads that buffer.
Bram Moolenaar606cb8b2018-05-03 20:40:20 +0200494 Does not happen for a terminal window, because
495 it starts in Terminal-Job mode and Normal mode
496 commands won't work. Use |TerminalOpen| instead.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000497 *BufWinLeave*
498BufWinLeave Before a buffer is removed from a window.
499 Not when it's still visible in another window.
500 Also triggered when exiting. It's triggered
501 before BufUnload or BufHidden.
502 NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the
503 current buffer "%" may be different from the
504 buffer being unloaded "<afile>".
Bram Moolenaar0e1e25f2010-05-28 21:07:08 +0200505 When exiting and v:dying is 2 or more this
506 event is not triggered.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000507 *BufWipeout*
508BufWipeout Before completely deleting a buffer. The
509 BufUnload and BufDelete events may be called
510 first (if the buffer was loaded and was in the
511 buffer list). Also used just before a buffer
512 is renamed (also when it's not in the buffer
513 list).
514 NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the
515 current buffer "%" may be different from the
516 buffer being deleted "<afile>".
Bram Moolenaarb849e712009-06-24 15:51:37 +0000517 Don't change to another buffer, it will cause
518 problems.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000519 *BufWrite* *BufWritePre*
520BufWrite or BufWritePre Before writing the whole buffer to a file.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000521 *BufWriteCmd*
522BufWriteCmd Before writing the whole buffer to a file.
523 Should do the writing of the file and reset
Bram Moolenaar1cd871b2004-12-19 22:46:22 +0000524 'modified' if successful, unless '+' is in
525 'cpo' and writing to another file |cpo-+|.
526 The buffer contents should not be changed.
Bram Moolenaar5302d9e2011-09-14 17:55:08 +0200527 When the command resets 'modified' the undo
528 information is adjusted to mark older undo
529 states as 'modified', like |:write| does.
Bram Moolenaar1cd871b2004-12-19 22:46:22 +0000530 |Cmd-event|
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000531 *BufWritePost*
532BufWritePost After writing the whole buffer to a file
533 (should undo the commands for BufWritePre).
Bram Moolenaard5005162014-08-22 23:05:54 +0200534 *CmdUndefined*
535CmdUndefined When a user command is used but it isn't
536 defined. Useful for defining a command only
537 when it's used. The pattern is matched
538 against the command name. Both <amatch> and
539 <afile> are set to the name of the command.
540 NOTE: Autocompletion won't work until the
541 command is defined. An alternative is to
542 always define the user command and have it
543 invoke an autoloaded function. See |autoload|.
Bram Moolenaar153b7042018-01-31 15:48:32 +0100544 *CmdlineChanged*
Bram Moolenaarb5b75622018-03-09 22:22:21 +0100545CmdlineChanged After a change was made to the text in the
546 command line. Be careful not to mess up
547 the command line, it may cause Vim to lock up.
Bram Moolenaar153b7042018-01-31 15:48:32 +0100548 <afile> is set to a single character,
549 indicating the type of command-line.
550 |cmdwin-char|
Bram Moolenaarfafcf0d2017-10-19 18:35:51 +0200551 *CmdlineEnter*
552CmdlineEnter After moving the cursor to the command line,
553 where the user can type a command or search
Bram Moolenaar957cf672020-11-12 14:21:06 +0100554 string; including non-interactive use of ":"
555 in a mapping, but not when using |<Cmd>|.
Bram Moolenaarfafcf0d2017-10-19 18:35:51 +0200556 <afile> is set to a single character,
557 indicating the type of command-line.
558 |cmdwin-char|
559 *CmdlineLeave*
Bram Moolenaar957cf672020-11-12 14:21:06 +0100560CmdlineLeave Before leaving the command line; including
561 non-interactive use of ":" in a mapping, but
562 not when using |<Cmd>|.
Bram Moolenaar01164a62017-11-02 22:58:42 +0100563 Also when abandoning the command line, after
564 typing CTRL-C or <Esc>.
565 When the commands result in an error the
566 command line is still executed.
Bram Moolenaarfafcf0d2017-10-19 18:35:51 +0200567 <afile> is set to a single character,
568 indicating the type of command-line.
569 |cmdwin-char|
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000570 *CmdwinEnter*
571CmdwinEnter After entering the command-line window.
572 Useful for setting options specifically for
Bram Moolenaar96e38a82019-09-09 18:35:33 +0200573 this special type of window.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000574 <afile> is set to a single character,
575 indicating the type of command-line.
576 |cmdwin-char|
577 *CmdwinLeave*
578CmdwinLeave Before leaving the command-line window.
579 Useful to clean up any global setting done
Bram Moolenaar96e38a82019-09-09 18:35:33 +0200580 with CmdwinEnter.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000581 <afile> is set to a single character,
582 indicating the type of command-line.
583 |cmdwin-char|
584 *ColorScheme*
585ColorScheme After loading a color scheme. |:colorscheme|
Bram Moolenaarb95186f2013-11-28 18:53:52 +0100586 The pattern is matched against the
587 colorscheme name. <afile> can be used for the
588 name of the actual file where this option was
589 set, and <amatch> for the new colorscheme
590 name.
591
Bram Moolenaar15142e22018-04-30 22:19:58 +0200592 *ColorSchemePre*
593ColorSchemePre Before loading a color scheme. |:colorscheme|
594 Useful to setup removing things added by a
595 color scheme, before another one is loaded.
Bram Moolenaar589edb32019-09-20 14:38:13 +0200596CompleteChanged *CompleteChanged*
Bram Moolenaard7f246c2019-04-08 18:15:41 +0200597 After each time the Insert mode completion
598 menu changed. Not fired on popup menu hide,
Bram Moolenaar3f169ce2020-01-26 22:43:31 +0100599 use |CompleteDonePre| or |CompleteDone| for
600 that. Never triggered recursively.
Bram Moolenaar754b5602006-02-09 23:53:20 +0000601
Bram Moolenaard7f246c2019-04-08 18:15:41 +0200602 Sets these |v:event| keys:
Bram Moolenaar911ead12019-04-21 00:03:35 +0200603 completed_item See |complete-items|.
Bram Moolenaard7f246c2019-04-08 18:15:41 +0200604 height nr of items visible
605 width screen cells
606 row top screen row
607 col leftmost screen column
608 size total nr of items
609 scrollbar TRUE if visible
610
611 It is not allowed to change the text |textlock|.
Bram Moolenaare9bd5722019-08-17 19:36:06 +0200612
613 The size and position of the popup are also
614 available by calling |pum_getpos()|.
615
Bram Moolenaar3f169ce2020-01-26 22:43:31 +0100616 *CompleteDonePre*
617CompleteDonePre After Insert mode completion is done. Either
618 when something was completed or abandoning
619 completion. |ins-completion|
620 |complete_info()| can be used, the info is
621 cleared after triggering CompleteDonePre.
622 The |v:completed_item| variable contains
623 information about the completed item.
624
Bram Moolenaar30b65812012-07-12 22:01:11 +0200625 *CompleteDone*
626CompleteDone After Insert mode completion is done. Either
627 when something was completed or abandoning
628 completion. |ins-completion|
Bram Moolenaar3f169ce2020-01-26 22:43:31 +0100629 |complete_info()| cannot be used, the info is
630 cleared before triggering CompleteDone. Use
631 CompleteDonePre if you need it.
Bram Moolenaar42a45122015-07-10 17:56:23 +0200632 The |v:completed_item| variable contains
633 information about the completed item.
Bram Moolenaar30b65812012-07-12 22:01:11 +0200634
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000635 *CursorHold*
636CursorHold When the user doesn't press a key for the time
Bram Moolenaard58a3bf2020-09-28 21:48:16 +0200637 specified with 'updatetime'. Not triggered
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000638 until the user has pressed a key (i.e. doesn't
639 fire every 'updatetime' ms if you leave Vim to
640 make some coffee. :) See |CursorHold-example|
641 for previewing tags.
642 This event is only triggered in Normal mode.
Bram Moolenaard7afed32007-05-06 13:26:41 +0000643 It is not triggered when waiting for a command
644 argument to be typed, or a movement after an
645 operator.
Bram Moolenaare3226be2005-12-18 22:10:00 +0000646 While recording the CursorHold event is not
647 triggered. |q|
Bram Moolenaar3a991dd2014-10-02 01:41:41 +0200648 *<CursorHold>*
649 Internally the autocommand is triggered by the
650 <CursorHold> key. In an expression mapping
651 |getchar()| may see this character.
652
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000653 Note: Interactive commands cannot be used for
654 this event. There is no hit-enter prompt,
655 the screen is updated directly (when needed).
656 Note: In the future there will probably be
657 another option to set the time.
658 Hint: to force an update of the status lines
659 use: >
660 :let &ro = &ro
Bram Moolenaar5666fcd2019-12-26 14:35:26 +0100661< {only on Amiga, Unix, Win32 and all GUI
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000662 versions}
Bram Moolenaar754b5602006-02-09 23:53:20 +0000663 *CursorHoldI*
664CursorHoldI Just like CursorHold, but in Insert mode.
Bram Moolenaaraa3b15d2016-04-21 08:53:19 +0200665 Not triggered when waiting for another key,
666 e.g. after CTRL-V, and not when in CTRL-X mode
667 |insert_expand|.
Bram Moolenaar754b5602006-02-09 23:53:20 +0000668
669 *CursorMoved*
Bram Moolenaar52b91d82013-06-15 21:39:51 +0200670CursorMoved After the cursor was moved in Normal or Visual
671 mode. Also when the text of the cursor line
672 has been changed, e.g., with "x", "rx" or "p".
Bram Moolenaar754b5602006-02-09 23:53:20 +0000673 Not triggered when there is typeahead or when
674 an operator is pending.
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +0000675 For an example see |match-parens|.
Bram Moolenaar26967612019-03-17 17:13:16 +0100676 Note: This can not be skipped with
677 `:noautocmd`.
Bram Moolenaarbf884932013-04-05 22:26:15 +0200678 Careful: This is triggered very often, don't
679 do anything that the user does not expect or
680 that is slow.
Bram Moolenaar754b5602006-02-09 23:53:20 +0000681 *CursorMovedI*
682CursorMovedI After the cursor was moved in Insert mode.
Bram Moolenaar5302d9e2011-09-14 17:55:08 +0200683 Not triggered when the popup menu is visible.
Bram Moolenaar754b5602006-02-09 23:53:20 +0000684 Otherwise the same as CursorMoved.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000685 *EncodingChanged*
686EncodingChanged Fires off after the 'encoding' option has been
687 changed. Useful to set up fonts, for example.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000688 *FileAppendCmd*
689FileAppendCmd Before appending to a file. Should do the
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000690 appending to the file. Use the '[ and ']
691 marks for the range of lines.|Cmd-event|
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000692 *FileAppendPost*
693FileAppendPost After appending to a file.
694 *FileAppendPre*
695FileAppendPre Before appending to a file. Use the '[ and ']
696 marks for the range of lines.
697 *FileChangedRO*
698FileChangedRO Before making the first change to a read-only
699 file. Can be used to check-out the file from
700 a source control system. Not triggered when
701 the change was caused by an autocommand.
702 This event is triggered when making the first
703 change in a buffer or the first change after
Bram Moolenaar61660ea2006-04-07 21:40:07 +0000704 'readonly' was set, just before the change is
705 applied to the text.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000706 WARNING: If the autocommand moves the cursor
707 the effect of the change is undefined.
Bram Moolenaar910f66f2006-04-05 20:41:53 +0000708 *E788*
709 It is not allowed to change to another buffer
710 here. You can reload the buffer but not edit
711 another one.
Bram Moolenaar92dff182014-02-11 19:15:50 +0100712 *E881*
713 If the number of lines changes saving for undo
714 may fail and the change will be aborted.
Bram Moolenaare8fa05b2018-09-16 15:48:06 +0200715 *DiffUpdated*
716DiffUpdated After diffs have been updated. Depending on
717 what kind of diff is being used (internal or
718 external) this can be triggered on every
719 change or when doing |:diffupdate|.
Bram Moolenaarb7407d32018-02-03 17:36:27 +0100720 *DirChanged*
721DirChanged The working directory has changed in response
Bram Moolenaar00aa0692019-04-27 20:37:57 +0200722 to the |:cd| or |:tcd| or |:lcd| commands, or
723 as a result of the 'autochdir' option.
Bram Moolenaarb7407d32018-02-03 17:36:27 +0100724 The pattern can be:
Bram Moolenaar00aa0692019-04-27 20:37:57 +0200725 "window" to trigger on `:lcd`
726 "tabpage" to trigger on `:tcd`
727 "global" to trigger on `:cd`
728 "auto" to trigger on 'autochdir'.
729 "drop" to trigger on editing a file
Bram Moolenaarb7407d32018-02-03 17:36:27 +0100730 <afile> is set to the new directory name.
Bram Moolenaar12a96de2018-03-11 14:44:18 +0100731 *ExitPre*
732ExitPre When using `:quit`, `:wq` in a way it makes
733 Vim exit, or using `:qall`, just after
734 |QuitPre|. Can be used to close any
Bram Moolenaard2f3a8b2018-06-19 14:35:59 +0200735 non-essential window. Exiting may still be
736 cancelled if there is a modified buffer that
737 isn't automatically saved, use |VimLeavePre|
738 for really exiting.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000739 *FileChangedShell*
740FileChangedShell When Vim notices that the modification time of
741 a file has changed since editing started.
742 Also when the file attributes of the file
Bram Moolenaare968e362014-05-13 20:23:24 +0200743 change or when the size of the file changes.
744 |timestamp|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000745 Mostly triggered after executing a shell
746 command, but also with a |:checktime| command
Bram Moolenaar6aa8cea2017-06-05 14:44:35 +0200747 or when gvim regains input focus.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000748 This autocommand is triggered for each changed
749 file. It is not used when 'autoread' is set
750 and the buffer was not changed. If a
751 FileChangedShell autocommand is present the
752 warning message and prompt is not given.
Bram Moolenaar19a09a12005-03-04 23:39:37 +0000753 The |v:fcs_reason| variable is set to indicate
754 what happened and |v:fcs_choice| can be used
755 to tell Vim what to do next.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000756 NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the
757 current buffer "%" may be different from the
Bram Moolenaarcd5c8f82017-04-09 20:11:58 +0200758 buffer that was changed, which is in "<afile>".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000759 NOTE: The commands must not change the current
760 buffer, jump to another buffer or delete a
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +0100761 buffer. *E246* *E811*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000762 NOTE: This event never nests, to avoid an
763 endless loop. This means that while executing
764 commands for the FileChangedShell event no
765 other FileChangedShell event will be
766 triggered.
Bram Moolenaar7d47b6e2006-03-15 22:59:18 +0000767 *FileChangedShellPost*
768FileChangedShellPost After handling a file that was changed outside
769 of Vim. Can be used to update the statusline.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000770 *FileEncoding*
771FileEncoding Obsolete. It still works and is equivalent
772 to |EncodingChanged|.
773 *FileReadCmd*
774FileReadCmd Before reading a file with a ":read" command.
775 Should do the reading of the file. |Cmd-event|
776 *FileReadPost*
777FileReadPost After reading a file with a ":read" command.
778 Note that Vim sets the '[ and '] marks to the
779 first and last line of the read. This can be
780 used to operate on the lines just read.
781 *FileReadPre*
782FileReadPre Before reading a file with a ":read" command.
783 *FileType*
Bram Moolenaard7afed32007-05-06 13:26:41 +0000784FileType When the 'filetype' option has been set. The
785 pattern is matched against the filetype.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000786 <afile> can be used for the name of the file
787 where this option was set, and <amatch> for
Bram Moolenaar74675a62017-07-15 13:53:23 +0200788 the new value of 'filetype'. Navigating to
789 another window or buffer is not allowed.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000790 See |filetypes|.
791 *FileWriteCmd*
792FileWriteCmd Before writing to a file, when not writing the
793 whole buffer. Should do the writing to the
794 file. Should not change the buffer. Use the
795 '[ and '] marks for the range of lines.
796 |Cmd-event|
797 *FileWritePost*
798FileWritePost After writing to a file, when not writing the
799 whole buffer.
800 *FileWritePre*
801FileWritePre Before writing to a file, when not writing the
802 whole buffer. Use the '[ and '] marks for the
803 range of lines.
804 *FilterReadPost*
805FilterReadPost After reading a file from a filter command.
806 Vim checks the pattern against the name of
807 the current buffer as with FilterReadPre.
808 Not triggered when 'shelltemp' is off.
809 *FilterReadPre* *E135*
810FilterReadPre Before reading a file from a filter command.
811 Vim checks the pattern against the name of
812 the current buffer, not the name of the
813 temporary file that is the output of the
814 filter command.
815 Not triggered when 'shelltemp' is off.
816 *FilterWritePost*
817FilterWritePost After writing a file for a filter command or
Bram Moolenaar4c05fa02019-01-01 15:32:17 +0100818 making a diff with an external diff (see
819 DiffUpdated for internal diff).
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000820 Vim checks the pattern against the name of
821 the current buffer as with FilterWritePre.
822 Not triggered when 'shelltemp' is off.
823 *FilterWritePre*
824FilterWritePre Before writing a file for a filter command or
Bram Moolenaar4c05fa02019-01-01 15:32:17 +0100825 making a diff with an external diff.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000826 Vim checks the pattern against the name of
827 the current buffer, not the name of the
828 temporary file that is the output of the
829 filter command.
830 Not triggered when 'shelltemp' is off.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000831 *FocusGained*
832FocusGained When Vim got input focus. Only for the GUI
833 version and a few console versions where this
834 can be detected.
835 *FocusLost*
836FocusLost When Vim lost input focus. Only for the GUI
837 version and a few console versions where this
Bram Moolenaar843ee412004-06-30 16:16:41 +0000838 can be detected. May also happen when a
839 dialog pops up.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000840 *FuncUndefined*
841FuncUndefined When a user function is used but it isn't
842 defined. Useful for defining a function only
Bram Moolenaard7afed32007-05-06 13:26:41 +0000843 when it's used. The pattern is matched
844 against the function name. Both <amatch> and
845 <afile> are set to the name of the function.
Bram Moolenaard5005162014-08-22 23:05:54 +0200846 NOTE: When writing Vim scripts a better
847 alternative is to use an autoloaded function.
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +0000848 See |autoload-functions|.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000849 *GUIEnter*
850GUIEnter After starting the GUI successfully, and after
851 opening the window. It is triggered before
852 VimEnter when using gvim. Can be used to
853 position the window from a .gvimrc file: >
854 :autocmd GUIEnter * winpos 100 50
Bram Moolenaard7afed32007-05-06 13:26:41 +0000855< *GUIFailed*
856GUIFailed After starting the GUI failed. Vim may
857 continue to run in the terminal, if possible
858 (only on Unix and alikes, when connecting the
859 X server fails). You may want to quit Vim: >
860 :autocmd GUIFailed * qall
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000861< *InsertChange*
862InsertChange When typing <Insert> while in Insert or
863 Replace mode. The |v:insertmode| variable
864 indicates the new mode.
865 Be careful not to move the cursor or do
866 anything else that the user does not expect.
Bram Moolenaare659c952011-05-19 17:25:41 +0200867 *InsertCharPre*
868InsertCharPre When a character is typed in Insert mode,
869 before inserting the char.
870 The |v:char| variable indicates the char typed
871 and can be changed during the event to insert
872 a different character. When |v:char| is set
873 to more than one character this text is
874 inserted literally.
875 It is not allowed to change the text |textlock|.
876 The event is not triggered when 'paste' is
Bram Moolenaarb5b75622018-03-09 22:22:21 +0100877 set. {only with the +eval feature}
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000878 *InsertEnter*
Bram Moolenaard7afed32007-05-06 13:26:41 +0000879InsertEnter Just before starting Insert mode. Also for
880 Replace mode and Virtual Replace mode. The
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000881 |v:insertmode| variable indicates the mode.
Bram Moolenaar097c9922013-05-19 21:15:15 +0200882 Be careful not to do anything else that the
883 user does not expect.
884 The cursor is restored afterwards. If you do
885 not want that set |v:char| to a non-empty
886 string.
Bram Moolenaarb53e13a2020-10-21 12:19:53 +0200887 *InsertLeavePre*
888InsertLeavePre Just before leaving Insert mode. Also when
Bram Moolenaarcb80aa22020-10-26 21:12:46 +0100889 using CTRL-O |i_CTRL-O|. Be careful not to
Bram Moolenaarb53e13a2020-10-21 12:19:53 +0200890 change mode or use `:normal`, it will likely
891 cause trouble.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000892 *InsertLeave*
Bram Moolenaarb53e13a2020-10-21 12:19:53 +0200893InsertLeave Just after leaving Insert mode. Also when
894 using CTRL-O |i_CTRL-O|. But not for |i_CTRL-C|.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000895 *MenuPopup*
896MenuPopup Just before showing the popup menu (under the
897 right mouse button). Useful for adjusting the
898 menu for what is under the cursor or mouse
899 pointer.
Bram Moolenaar4c5d8152018-10-19 22:36:53 +0200900 The pattern is matched against one or two
901 characters representing the mode:
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000902 n Normal
903 v Visual
904 o Operator-pending
905 i Insert
Bram Moolenaar551dbcc2006-04-25 22:13:59 +0000906 c Command line
Bram Moolenaar4c5d8152018-10-19 22:36:53 +0200907 tl Terminal
Bram Moolenaar53744302015-07-17 17:38:22 +0200908 *OptionSet*
909OptionSet After setting an option. The pattern is
910 matched against the long option name.
Bram Moolenaard7c96872019-06-15 17:12:48 +0200911 |<amatch>| indicates what option has been set.
Bram Moolenaar53744302015-07-17 17:38:22 +0200912
Bram Moolenaard7c96872019-06-15 17:12:48 +0200913 |v:option_type| indicates whether it's global
Bram Moolenaar6c1e1572019-06-22 02:13:00 +0200914 or local scoped.
Bram Moolenaard7c96872019-06-15 17:12:48 +0200915 |v:option_command| indicates what type of
916 set/let command was used (follow the tag to
917 see the table).
918 |v:option_new| indicates the newly set value.
Bram Moolenaar6c1e1572019-06-22 02:13:00 +0200919 |v:option_oldlocal| has the old local value.
920 |v:option_oldglobal| has the old global value.
Bram Moolenaard7c96872019-06-15 17:12:48 +0200921 |v:option_old| indicates the old option value.
922
923 |v:option_oldlocal| is only set when |:set|
924 or |:setlocal| or a |modeline| was used to set
925 the option. Similarly |v:option_oldglobal| is
926 only set when |:set| or |:setglobal| was used.
927
928 Note that when setting a |global-local| string
929 option with |:set|, then |v:option_old| is the
930 old global value. However, for all other kinds
931 of options (local string options, global-local
932 number options, ...) it is the old local
933 value.
934
935 OptionSet is not triggered on startup and for
936 the 'key' option for obvious reasons.
Bram Moolenaar53744302015-07-17 17:38:22 +0200937
Bram Moolenaarf9132812015-07-21 19:19:13 +0200938 Usage example: Check for the existence of the
939 directory in the 'backupdir' and 'undodir'
940 options, create the directory if it doesn't
941 exist yet.
942
943 Note: It's a bad idea to reset an option
944 during this autocommand, this may break a
945 plugin. You can always use `:noa` to prevent
946 triggering this autocommand.
Bram Moolenaar53744302015-07-17 17:38:22 +0200947
Bram Moolenaar95bafa22018-10-02 13:26:25 +0200948 When using |:set| in the autocommand the event
949 is not triggered again.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000950 *QuickFixCmdPre*
951QuickFixCmdPre Before a quickfix command is run (|:make|,
Bram Moolenaara6557602006-02-04 22:43:20 +0000952 |:lmake|, |:grep|, |:lgrep|, |:grepadd|,
953 |:lgrepadd|, |:vimgrep|, |:lvimgrep|,
Bram Moolenaar6be7f872012-01-20 21:08:56 +0100954 |:vimgrepadd|, |:lvimgrepadd|, |:cscope|,
Bram Moolenaar84f72352012-03-11 15:57:40 +0100955 |:cfile|, |:cgetfile|, |:caddfile|, |:lfile|,
956 |:lgetfile|, |:laddfile|, |:helpgrep|,
Bram Moolenaar64d8e252016-09-06 22:12:34 +0200957 |:lhelpgrep|, |:cexpr|, |:cgetexpr|,
958 |:caddexpr|, |:cbuffer|, |:cgetbuffer|,
959 |:caddbuffer|).
Bram Moolenaarf1eeae92010-05-14 23:14:42 +0200960 The pattern is matched against the command
961 being run. When |:grep| is used but 'grepprg'
962 is set to "internal" it still matches "grep".
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000963 This command cannot be used to set the
964 'makeprg' and 'grepprg' variables.
965 If this command causes an error, the quickfix
966 command is not executed.
967 *QuickFixCmdPost*
968QuickFixCmdPost Like QuickFixCmdPre, but after a quickfix
Bram Moolenaarf9393ef2006-04-24 19:47:27 +0000969 command is run, before jumping to the first
Bram Moolenaar8ec1f852012-03-07 20:13:49 +0100970 location. For |:cfile| and |:lfile| commands
971 it is run after error file is read and before
Bram Moolenaar92dff182014-02-11 19:15:50 +0100972 moving to the first error.
Bram Moolenaar8ec1f852012-03-07 20:13:49 +0100973 See |QuickFixCmdPost-example|.
Bram Moolenaar30b65812012-07-12 22:01:11 +0200974 *QuitPre*
Bram Moolenaarac7bd632013-03-19 11:35:58 +0100975QuitPre When using `:quit`, `:wq` or `:qall`, before
976 deciding whether it closes the current window
977 or quits Vim. Can be used to close any
978 non-essential window if the current window is
979 the last ordinary window.
Bram Moolenaar12a96de2018-03-11 14:44:18 +0100980 Also see |ExitPre|.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000981 *RemoteReply*
982RemoteReply When a reply from a Vim that functions as
Bram Moolenaard7afed32007-05-06 13:26:41 +0000983 server was received |server2client()|. The
984 pattern is matched against the {serverid}.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +0000985 <amatch> is equal to the {serverid} from which
986 the reply was sent, and <afile> is the actual
987 reply string.
988 Note that even if an autocommand is defined,
989 the reply should be read with |remote_read()|
990 to consume it.
Bram Moolenaar8aeec402019-09-15 23:02:04 +0200991 *SafeState*
992SafeState When nothing is pending, going to wait for the
993 user to type a character.
994 This will not be triggered when:
995 - an operator is pending
996 - a register was entered with "r
997 - halfway executing a command
998 - executing a mapping
999 - there is typeahead
1000 - Insert mode completion is active
1001 - Command line completion is active
1002 You can use `mode()` to find out what state
1003 Vim is in. That may be:
1004 - VIsual mode
1005 - Normal mode
1006 - Insert mode
1007 - Command-line mode
1008 Depending on what you want to do, you may also
1009 check more with `state()`, e.g. whether the
1010 screen was scrolled for messages.
Bram Moolenaar69198cb2019-09-16 21:58:13 +02001011 *SafeStateAgain*
1012SafeStateAgain Like SafeState but after processing any
1013 messages and invoking callbacks. This may be
1014 triggered often, don't do something that takes
1015 time.
Bram Moolenaar8aeec402019-09-15 23:02:04 +02001016
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001017 *SessionLoadPost*
1018SessionLoadPost After loading the session file created using
1019 the |:mksession| command.
Bram Moolenaara94bc432006-03-10 21:42:59 +00001020 *ShellCmdPost*
1021ShellCmdPost After executing a shell command with |:!cmd|,
1022 |:shell|, |:make| and |:grep|. Can be used to
1023 check for any changed files.
1024 *ShellFilterPost*
1025ShellFilterPost After executing a shell command with
1026 ":{range}!cmd", ":w !cmd" or ":r !cmd".
1027 Can be used to check for any changed files.
Bram Moolenaar1f35bf92006-03-07 22:38:47 +00001028 *SourcePre*
1029SourcePre Before sourcing a Vim script. |:source|
Bram Moolenaar8dd1aa52007-01-16 20:33:19 +00001030 <afile> is the name of the file being sourced.
Bram Moolenaar2b618522019-01-12 13:26:03 +01001031 *SourcePost*
1032SourcePost After sourcing a Vim script. |:source|
1033 <afile> is the name of the file being sourced.
1034 Not triggered when sourcing was interrupted.
1035 Also triggered after a SourceCmd autocommand
1036 was triggered.
Bram Moolenaar8dd1aa52007-01-16 20:33:19 +00001037 *SourceCmd*
1038SourceCmd When sourcing a Vim script. |:source|
1039 <afile> is the name of the file being sourced.
1040 The autocommand must source this file.
1041 |Cmd-event|
Bram Moolenaarafeb4fa2006-02-01 21:51:12 +00001042 *SpellFileMissing*
1043SpellFileMissing When trying to load a spell checking file and
Bram Moolenaar8dd1aa52007-01-16 20:33:19 +00001044 it can't be found. The pattern is matched
1045 against the language. <amatch> is the
1046 language, 'encoding' also matters. See
Bram Moolenaarafeb4fa2006-02-01 21:51:12 +00001047 |spell-SpellFileMissing|.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001048 *StdinReadPost*
1049StdinReadPost After reading from the stdin into the buffer,
1050 before executing the modelines. Only used
1051 when the "-" argument was used when Vim was
1052 started |--|.
1053 *StdinReadPre*
1054StdinReadPre Before reading from stdin into the buffer.
1055 Only used when the "-" argument was used when
1056 Vim was started |--|.
1057 *SwapExists*
1058SwapExists Detected an existing swap file when starting
1059 to edit a file. Only when it is possible to
1060 select a way to handle the situation, when Vim
1061 would ask the user what to do.
1062 The |v:swapname| variable holds the name of
Bram Moolenaarb3480382005-12-11 21:33:32 +00001063 the swap file found, <afile> the file being
1064 edited. |v:swapcommand| may contain a command
1065 to be executed in the opened file.
1066 The commands should set the |v:swapchoice|
1067 variable to a string with one character to
1068 tell Vim what should be done next:
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001069 'o' open read-only
1070 'e' edit the file anyway
1071 'r' recover
1072 'd' delete the swap file
1073 'q' quit, don't edit the file
1074 'a' abort, like hitting CTRL-C
1075 When set to an empty string the user will be
1076 asked, as if there was no SwapExists autocmd.
Bram Moolenaarb849e712009-06-24 15:51:37 +00001077 *E812*
1078 It is not allowed to change to another buffer,
1079 change a buffer name or change directory
1080 here.
Bram Moolenaarb5b75622018-03-09 22:22:21 +01001081 {only available with the +eval feature}
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001082 *Syntax*
Bram Moolenaard7afed32007-05-06 13:26:41 +00001083Syntax When the 'syntax' option has been set. The
1084 pattern is matched against the syntax name.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001085 <afile> can be used for the name of the file
1086 where this option was set, and <amatch> for
1087 the new value of 'syntax'.
1088 See |:syn-on|.
Bram Moolenaar12c11d52016-07-19 23:13:03 +02001089 *TabClosed*
1090TabClosed After closing a tab page.
Bram Moolenaarfaa959a2006-02-20 21:37:40 +00001091 *TabEnter*
1092TabEnter Just after entering a tab page. |tab-page|
Bram Moolenaar56a907a2006-05-06 21:44:30 +00001093 After triggering the WinEnter and before
1094 triggering the BufEnter event.
Bram Moolenaarfaa959a2006-02-20 21:37:40 +00001095 *TabLeave*
1096TabLeave Just before leaving a tab page. |tab-page|
1097 A WinLeave event will have been triggered
1098 first.
Bram Moolenaarc917da42016-07-19 22:31:36 +02001099 *TabNew*
1100TabNew When a tab page was created. |tab-page|
1101 A WinEnter event will have been triggered
1102 first, TabEnter follows.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001103 *TermChanged*
1104TermChanged After the value of 'term' has changed. Useful
1105 for re-loading the syntax file to update the
1106 colors, fonts and other terminal-dependent
1107 settings. Executed for all loaded buffers.
Bram Moolenaarb852c3e2018-03-11 16:55:36 +01001108 *TerminalOpen*
1109TerminalOpen Just after a terminal buffer was created, with
1110 `:terminal` or |term_start()|. This event is
1111 triggered even if the buffer is created
1112 without a window, with the ++hidden option.
Bram Moolenaar28ed4df2019-10-26 16:21:40 +02001113 *TerminalWinOpen*
1114TerminalWinOpen Just after a terminal buffer was created, with
1115 `:terminal` or |term_start()|. This event is
1116 triggered only if the buffer is created
1117 with a window. Can be used to set window
1118 local options for the terminal window.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001119 *TermResponse*
1120TermResponse After the response to |t_RV| is received from
1121 the terminal. The value of |v:termresponse|
1122 can be used to do things depending on the
Bram Moolenaar8e5af3e2011-04-28 19:02:44 +02001123 terminal version. Note that this event may be
1124 triggered halfway executing another event,
1125 especially if file I/O, a shell command or
1126 anything else that takes time is involved.
Bram Moolenaarbf884932013-04-05 22:26:15 +02001127 *TextChanged*
1128TextChanged After a change was made to the text in the
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +01001129 current buffer in Normal mode. That is after
1130 |b:changedtick| has changed (also when that
1131 happened before the TextChanged autocommand
1132 was defined).
Bram Moolenaarbf884932013-04-05 22:26:15 +02001133 Not triggered when there is typeahead or when
1134 an operator is pending.
Bram Moolenaar26967612019-03-17 17:13:16 +01001135 Note: This can not be skipped with
1136 `:noautocmd`.
Bram Moolenaarbf884932013-04-05 22:26:15 +02001137 Careful: This is triggered very often, don't
1138 do anything that the user does not expect or
1139 that is slow.
1140 *TextChangedI*
1141TextChangedI After a change was made to the text in the
1142 current buffer in Insert mode.
1143 Not triggered when the popup menu is visible.
1144 Otherwise the same as TextChanged.
Bram Moolenaar5a093432018-02-10 18:15:19 +01001145 *TextChangedP*
1146TextChangedP After a change was made to the text in the
1147 current buffer in Insert mode, only when the
1148 popup menu is visible. Otherwise the same as
1149 TextChanged.
Bram Moolenaarf0b03c42017-12-17 17:17:07 +01001150 *TextYankPost*
Bram Moolenaar7e1652c2017-12-16 18:27:02 +01001151TextYankPost After text has been yanked or deleted in the
1152 current buffer. The following values of
1153 |v:event| can be used to determine the operation
1154 that triggered this autocmd:
Bram Moolenaar589edb32019-09-20 14:38:13 +02001155 operator The operation performed.
1156 regcontents Text that was stored in the
Bram Moolenaar7e1652c2017-12-16 18:27:02 +01001157 register, as a list of lines,
1158 like with: >
1159 getreg(r, 1, 1)
1160< regname Name of the |register| or
1161 empty string for the unnamed
1162 register.
1163 regtype Type of the register, see
1164 |getregtype()|.
Bram Moolenaar37d16732020-06-12 22:09:01 +02001165 visual True if the operation is
1166 performed on a |Visual| area.
Bram Moolenaar7e1652c2017-12-16 18:27:02 +01001167 Not triggered when |quote_| is used nor when
1168 called recursively.
1169 It is not allowed to change the buffer text,
1170 see |textlock|.
Bram Moolenaarb5b75622018-03-09 22:22:21 +01001171 {only when compiled with the +eval feature}
Bram Moolenaarbe5ee862020-06-10 20:56:58 +02001172
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001173 *User*
1174User Never executed automatically. To be used for
1175 autocommands that are only executed with
1176 ":doautocmd".
Bram Moolenaar7dda86f2018-04-20 22:36:41 +02001177 Note that when `:doautocmd User MyEvent` is
1178 used while there are no matching autocommands,
1179 you will get an error. If you don't want
1180 that, define a dummy autocommand yourself.
Bram Moolenaarbe5ee862020-06-10 20:56:58 +02001181
1182 *SigUSR1*
1183SigUSR1 After the SIGUSR1 signal has been detected.
1184 Could be used if other ways of notifying Vim
1185 are not feasible. E.g. to check for the
1186 result of a build that takes a long time, or
1187 when a motion sensor is triggered.
1188 {only on Unix}
1189
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001190 *UserGettingBored*
Bram Moolenaarbf884932013-04-05 22:26:15 +02001191UserGettingBored When the user presses the same key 42 times.
1192 Just kidding! :-)
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001193 *VimEnter*
1194VimEnter After doing all the startup stuff, including
1195 loading .vimrc files, executing the "-c cmd"
1196 arguments, creating all windows and loading
1197 the buffers in them.
Bram Moolenaar14735512016-03-26 21:00:08 +01001198 Just before this event is triggered the
1199 |v:vim_did_enter| variable is set, so that you
1200 can do: >
1201 if v:vim_did_enter
1202 call s:init()
1203 else
Bram Moolenaar589edb32019-09-20 14:38:13 +02001204 au VimEnter * call s:init()
Bram Moolenaar14735512016-03-26 21:00:08 +01001205 endif
1206< *VimLeave*
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001207VimLeave Before exiting Vim, just after writing the
1208 .viminfo file. Executed only once, like
1209 VimLeavePre.
1210 To detect an abnormal exit use |v:dying|.
Bram Moolenaar0e1e25f2010-05-28 21:07:08 +02001211 When v:dying is 2 or more this event is not
1212 triggered.
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001213 *VimLeavePre*
1214VimLeavePre Before exiting Vim, just before writing the
1215 .viminfo file. This is executed only once,
1216 if there is a match with the name of what
1217 happens to be the current buffer when exiting.
1218 Mostly useful with a "*" pattern. >
1219 :autocmd VimLeavePre * call CleanupStuff()
1220< To detect an abnormal exit use |v:dying|.
Bram Moolenaar0e1e25f2010-05-28 21:07:08 +02001221 When v:dying is 2 or more this event is not
1222 triggered.
Bram Moolenaar7d47b6e2006-03-15 22:59:18 +00001223 *VimResized*
1224VimResized After the Vim window was resized, thus 'lines'
1225 and/or 'columns' changed. Not when starting
1226 up though.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001227 *WinEnter*
1228WinEnter After entering another window. Not done for
1229 the first window, when Vim has just started.
1230 Useful for setting the window height.
1231 If the window is for another buffer, Vim
1232 executes the BufEnter autocommands after the
1233 WinEnter autocommands.
Bram Moolenaar7dda86f2018-04-20 22:36:41 +02001234 Note: For split and tabpage commands the
1235 WinEnter event is triggered after the split
1236 or tab command but before the file is loaded.
1237
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001238 *WinLeave*
1239WinLeave Before leaving a window. If the window to be
1240 entered next is for a different buffer, Vim
1241 executes the BufLeave autocommands before the
1242 WinLeave autocommands (but not for ":new").
1243 Not used for ":qa" or ":q" when exiting Vim.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001244
Bram Moolenaar12c11d52016-07-19 23:13:03 +02001245 *WinNew*
1246WinNew When a new window was created. Not done for
Bram Moolenaar50ba5262016-09-22 22:33:02 +02001247 the first window, when Vim has just started.
Bram Moolenaar12c11d52016-07-19 23:13:03 +02001248 Before a WinEnter event.
1249
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001250==============================================================================
12516. Patterns *autocmd-patterns* *{pat}*
1252
Bram Moolenaar5a5f4592015-04-13 12:43:06 +02001253The {pat} argument can be a comma separated list. This works as if the
1254command was given with each pattern separately. Thus this command: >
1255 :autocmd BufRead *.txt,*.info set et
1256Is equivalent to: >
1257 :autocmd BufRead *.txt set et
1258 :autocmd BufRead *.info set et
1259
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001260The file pattern {pat} is tested for a match against the file name in one of
1261two ways:
12621. When there is no '/' in the pattern, Vim checks for a match against only
1263 the tail part of the file name (without its leading directory path).
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +010012642. When there is a '/' in the pattern, Vim checks for a match against both the
1265 short file name (as you typed it) and the full file name (after expanding
1266 it to a full path and resolving symbolic links).
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001267
Bram Moolenaarb5bf5b82004-12-24 14:35:23 +00001268The special pattern <buffer> or <buffer=N> is used for buffer-local
1269autocommands |autocmd-buflocal|. This pattern is not matched against the name
1270of a buffer.
1271
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001272Examples: >
1273 :autocmd BufRead *.txt set et
1274Set the 'et' option for all text files. >
1275
1276 :autocmd BufRead /vim/src/*.c set cindent
1277Set the 'cindent' option for C files in the /vim/src directory. >
1278
1279 :autocmd BufRead /tmp/*.c set ts=5
1280If you have a link from "/tmp/test.c" to "/home/nobody/vim/src/test.c", and
1281you start editing "/tmp/test.c", this autocommand will match.
1282
1283Note: To match part of a path, but not from the root directory, use a '*' as
1284the first character. Example: >
1285 :autocmd BufRead */doc/*.txt set tw=78
1286This autocommand will for example be executed for "/tmp/doc/xx.txt" and
1287"/usr/home/piet/doc/yy.txt". The number of directories does not matter here.
1288
1289
1290The file name that the pattern is matched against is after expanding
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001291wildcards. Thus if you issue this command: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001292 :e $ROOTDIR/main.$EXT
1293The argument is first expanded to: >
1294 /usr/root/main.py
1295Before it's matched with the pattern of the autocommand. Careful with this
1296when using events like FileReadCmd, the value of <amatch> may not be what you
1297expect.
1298
1299
1300Environment variables can be used in a pattern: >
1301 :autocmd BufRead $VIMRUNTIME/doc/*.txt set expandtab
1302And ~ can be used for the home directory (if $HOME is defined): >
1303 :autocmd BufWritePost ~/.vimrc so ~/.vimrc
1304 :autocmd BufRead ~archive/* set readonly
1305The environment variable is expanded when the autocommand is defined, not when
1306the autocommand is executed. This is different from the command!
1307
1308 *file-pattern*
1309The pattern is interpreted like mostly used in file names:
Bram Moolenaar3b1db362013-08-10 15:00:24 +02001310 * matches any sequence of characters; Unusual: includes path
Bram Moolenaar9d98fe92013-08-03 18:35:36 +02001311 separators
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001312 ? matches any single character
1313 \? matches a '?'
1314 . matches a '.'
1315 ~ matches a '~'
1316 , separates patterns
1317 \, matches a ','
1318 { } like \( \) in a |pattern|
1319 , inside { }: like \| in a |pattern|
Bram Moolenaara946afe2013-08-02 15:22:39 +02001320 \} literal }
1321 \{ literal {
1322 \\\{n,m\} like \{n,m} in a |pattern|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001323 \ special meaning like in a |pattern|
1324 [ch] matches 'c' or 'h'
1325 [^ch] match any character but 'c' and 'h'
1326
1327Note that for all systems the '/' character is used for path separator (even
Bram Moolenaar6f345a12019-12-17 21:27:18 +01001328for MS-Windows). This was done because the backslash is difficult to use in a
1329pattern and to make the autocommands portable across different systems.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001330
Bram Moolenaar64d8e252016-09-06 22:12:34 +02001331It is possible to use |pattern| items, but they may not work as expected,
1332because of the translation done for the above.
1333
Bram Moolenaarb5bf5b82004-12-24 14:35:23 +00001334 *autocmd-changes*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001335Matching with the pattern is done when an event is triggered. Changing the
1336buffer name in one of the autocommands, or even deleting the buffer, does not
1337change which autocommands will be executed. Example: >
1338
1339 au BufEnter *.foo bdel
1340 au BufEnter *.foo set modified
1341
1342This will delete the current buffer and then set 'modified' in what has become
1343the current buffer instead. Vim doesn't take into account that "*.foo"
1344doesn't match with that buffer name. It matches "*.foo" with the name of the
1345buffer at the moment the event was triggered.
1346
Bram Moolenaarb5bf5b82004-12-24 14:35:23 +00001347However, buffer-local autocommands will not be executed for a buffer that has
1348been wiped out with |:bwipe|. After deleting the buffer with |:bdel| the
1349buffer actually still exists (it becomes unlisted), thus the autocommands are
1350still executed.
1351
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001352==============================================================================
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +000013537. Buffer-local autocommands *autocmd-buflocal* *autocmd-buffer-local*
1354 *<buffer=N>* *<buffer=abuf>* *E680*
Bram Moolenaarb5bf5b82004-12-24 14:35:23 +00001355
1356Buffer-local autocommands are attached to a specific buffer. They are useful
1357if the buffer does not have a name and when the name does not match a specific
1358pattern. But it also means they must be explicitly added to each buffer.
1359
1360Instead of a pattern buffer-local autocommands use one of these forms:
1361 <buffer> current buffer
1362 <buffer=99> buffer number 99
1363 <buffer=abuf> using <abuf> (only when executing autocommands)
1364 |<abuf>|
1365
1366Examples: >
1367 :au CursorHold <buffer> echo 'hold'
1368 :au CursorHold <buffer=33> echo 'hold'
Bram Moolenaar88774fd2015-08-25 19:52:04 +02001369 :au BufNewFile * au CursorHold <buffer=abuf> echo 'hold'
Bram Moolenaarb5bf5b82004-12-24 14:35:23 +00001370
1371All the commands for autocommands also work with buffer-local autocommands,
1372simply use the special string instead of the pattern. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +00001373 :au! * <buffer> " remove buffer-local autocommands for
1374 " current buffer
1375 :au! * <buffer=33> " remove buffer-local autocommands for
1376 " buffer #33
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001377 :bufdo :au! CursorHold <buffer> " remove autocmd for given event for all
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +00001378 " buffers
1379 :au * <buffer> " list buffer-local autocommands for
1380 " current buffer
Bram Moolenaarb5bf5b82004-12-24 14:35:23 +00001381
1382Note that when an autocommand is defined for the current buffer, it is stored
1383with the buffer number. Thus it uses the form "<buffer=12>", where 12 is the
1384number of the current buffer. You will see this when listing autocommands,
1385for example.
1386
1387To test for presence of buffer-local autocommands use the |exists()| function
1388as follows: >
1389 :if exists("#CursorHold#<buffer=12>") | ... | endif
1390 :if exists("#CursorHold#<buffer>") | ... | endif " for current buffer
1391
1392When a buffer is wiped out its buffer-local autocommands are also gone, of
1393course. Note that when deleting a buffer, e.g., with ":bdel", it is only
1394unlisted, the autocommands are still present. In order to see the removal of
1395buffer-local autocommands: >
1396 :set verbose=6
1397
1398It is not possible to define buffer-local autocommands for a non-existent
1399buffer.
1400
1401==============================================================================
14028. Groups *autocmd-groups*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001403
1404Autocommands can be put together in a group. This is useful for removing or
1405executing a group of autocommands. For example, all the autocommands for
1406syntax highlighting are put in the "highlight" group, to be able to execute
1407":doautoall highlight BufRead" when the GUI starts.
1408
1409When no specific group is selected, Vim uses the default group. The default
1410group does not have a name. You cannot execute the autocommands from the
1411default group separately; you can execute them only by executing autocommands
1412for all groups.
1413
1414Normally, when executing autocommands automatically, Vim uses the autocommands
1415for all groups. The group only matters when executing autocommands with
1416":doautocmd" or ":doautoall", or when defining or deleting autocommands.
1417
1418The group name can contain any characters except white space. The group name
1419"end" is reserved (also in uppercase).
1420
1421The group name is case sensitive. Note that this is different from the event
1422name!
1423
1424 *:aug* *:augroup*
1425:aug[roup] {name} Define the autocmd group name for the
1426 following ":autocmd" commands. The name "end"
1427 or "END" selects the default group.
Bram Moolenaar256972a2015-12-29 19:10:25 +01001428 To avoid confusion, the name should be
1429 different from existing {event} names, as this
1430 most likely will not do what you intended.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001431
Bram Moolenaar64d8e252016-09-06 22:12:34 +02001432 *:augroup-delete* *E367* *W19* *E936*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001433:aug[roup]! {name} Delete the autocmd group {name}. Don't use
1434 this if there is still an autocommand using
Bram Moolenaarbc8801c2016-08-02 21:04:33 +02001435 this group! You will get a warning if doing
Bram Moolenaare7b1ea02020-08-07 19:54:59 +02001436 it anyway. When the group is the current
1437 group you will get error E936.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001438
1439To enter autocommands for a specific group, use this method:
14401. Select the group with ":augroup {name}".
14412. Delete any old autocommands with ":au!".
14423. Define the autocommands.
14434. Go back to the default group with "augroup END".
1444
1445Example: >
1446 :augroup uncompress
1447 : au!
1448 : au BufEnter *.gz %!gunzip
1449 :augroup END
1450
1451This prevents having the autocommands defined twice (e.g., after sourcing the
1452.vimrc file again).
1453
1454==============================================================================
Bram Moolenaarb5bf5b82004-12-24 14:35:23 +000014559. Executing autocommands *autocmd-execute*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001456
1457Vim can also execute Autocommands non-automatically. This is useful if you
1458have changed autocommands, or when Vim has executed the wrong autocommands
1459(e.g., the file pattern match was wrong).
1460
1461Note that the 'eventignore' option applies here too. Events listed in this
1462option will not cause any commands to be executed.
1463
Bram Moolenaar61da1bf2019-06-06 12:14:49 +02001464 *:do* *:doau* *:doaut* *:doautocmd* *E217*
Bram Moolenaar5dc62522012-02-13 00:05:22 +01001465:do[autocmd] [<nomodeline>] [group] {event} [fname]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001466 Apply the autocommands matching [fname] (default:
1467 current file name) for {event} to the current buffer.
1468 You can use this when the current file name does not
1469 match the right pattern, after changing settings, or
1470 to execute autocommands for a certain event.
1471 It's possible to use this inside an autocommand too,
1472 so you can base the autocommands for one extension on
1473 another extension. Example: >
Bram Moolenaarf1568ec2011-12-14 21:17:39 +01001474 :au BufEnter *.cpp so ~/.vimrc_cpp
1475 :au BufEnter *.cpp doau BufEnter x.c
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001476< Be careful to avoid endless loops. See
1477 |autocmd-nested|.
1478
1479 When the [group] argument is not given, Vim executes
1480 the autocommands for all groups. When the [group]
1481 argument is included, Vim executes only the matching
1482 autocommands for that group. Note: if you use an
1483 undefined group name, Vim gives you an error message.
Bram Moolenaar60542ac2012-02-12 20:14:01 +01001484 *<nomodeline>*
1485 After applying the autocommands the modelines are
1486 processed, so that their settings overrule the
1487 settings from autocommands, like what happens when
1488 editing a file. This is skipped when the <nomodeline>
1489 argument is present. You probably want to use
1490 <nomodeline> for events that are not used when loading
1491 a buffer, such as |User|.
Bram Moolenaarc95a3022016-06-12 23:01:46 +02001492 Processing modelines is also skipped when no
1493 matching autocommands were executed.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001494
1495 *:doautoa* *:doautoall*
Bram Moolenaara61d5fb2012-02-12 00:18:58 +01001496:doautoa[ll] [<nomodeline>] [group] {event} [fname]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001497 Like ":doautocmd", but apply the autocommands to each
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001498 loaded buffer. Note that [fname] is used to select
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001499 the autocommands, not the buffers to which they are
1500 applied.
1501 Careful: Don't use this for autocommands that delete a
1502 buffer, change to another buffer or change the
1503 contents of a buffer; the result is unpredictable.
1504 This command is intended for autocommands that set
1505 options, change highlighting, and things like that.
1506
1507==============================================================================
Bram Moolenaarb5bf5b82004-12-24 14:35:23 +0000150810. Using autocommands *autocmd-use*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001509
1510For WRITING FILES there are four possible sets of events. Vim uses only one
1511of these sets for a write command:
1512
1513BufWriteCmd BufWritePre BufWritePost writing the whole buffer
1514 FilterWritePre FilterWritePost writing to filter temp file
1515FileAppendCmd FileAppendPre FileAppendPost appending to a file
1516FileWriteCmd FileWritePre FileWritePost any other file write
1517
1518When there is a matching "*Cmd" autocommand, it is assumed it will do the
1519writing. No further writing is done and the other events are not triggered.
1520|Cmd-event|
1521
1522Note that the *WritePost commands should undo any changes to the buffer that
1523were caused by the *WritePre commands; otherwise, writing the file will have
1524the side effect of changing the buffer.
1525
1526Before executing the autocommands, the buffer from which the lines are to be
1527written temporarily becomes the current buffer. Unless the autocommands
1528change the current buffer or delete the previously current buffer, the
1529previously current buffer is made the current buffer again.
1530
1531The *WritePre and *AppendPre autocommands must not delete the buffer from
1532which the lines are to be written.
1533
1534The '[ and '] marks have a special position:
1535- Before the *ReadPre event the '[ mark is set to the line just above where
1536 the new lines will be inserted.
1537- Before the *ReadPost event the '[ mark is set to the first line that was
1538 just read, the '] mark to the last line.
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +00001539- Before executing the *WriteCmd, *WritePre and *AppendPre autocommands the '[
1540 mark is set to the first line that will be written, the '] mark to the last
1541 line.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001542Careful: '[ and '] change when using commands that change the buffer.
1543
1544In commands which expect a file name, you can use "<afile>" for the file name
1545that is being read |:<afile>| (you can also use "%" for the current file
1546name). "<abuf>" can be used for the buffer number of the currently effective
Bram Moolenaard2f3a8b2018-06-19 14:35:59 +02001547buffer. This also works for buffers that don't have a name. But it doesn't
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001548work for files without a buffer (e.g., with ":r file").
1549
1550 *gzip-example*
1551Examples for reading and writing compressed files: >
1552 :augroup gzip
1553 : autocmd!
1554 : autocmd BufReadPre,FileReadPre *.gz set bin
1555 : autocmd BufReadPost,FileReadPost *.gz '[,']!gunzip
1556 : autocmd BufReadPost,FileReadPost *.gz set nobin
1557 : autocmd BufReadPost,FileReadPost *.gz execute ":doautocmd BufReadPost " . expand("%:r")
1558 : autocmd BufWritePost,FileWritePost *.gz !mv <afile> <afile>:r
1559 : autocmd BufWritePost,FileWritePost *.gz !gzip <afile>:r
1560
1561 : autocmd FileAppendPre *.gz !gunzip <afile>
1562 : autocmd FileAppendPre *.gz !mv <afile>:r <afile>
1563 : autocmd FileAppendPost *.gz !mv <afile> <afile>:r
1564 : autocmd FileAppendPost *.gz !gzip <afile>:r
1565 :augroup END
1566
1567The "gzip" group is used to be able to delete any existing autocommands with
1568":autocmd!", for when the file is sourced twice.
1569
1570("<afile>:r" is the file name without the extension, see |:_%:|)
1571
1572The commands executed for the BufNewFile, BufRead/BufReadPost, BufWritePost,
1573FileAppendPost and VimLeave events do not set or reset the changed flag of the
1574buffer. When you decompress the buffer with the BufReadPost autocommands, you
1575can still exit with ":q". When you use ":undo" in BufWritePost to undo the
1576changes made by BufWritePre commands, you can still do ":q" (this also makes
1577"ZZ" work). If you do want the buffer to be marked as modified, set the
1578'modified' option.
1579
1580To execute Normal mode commands from an autocommand, use the ":normal"
1581command. Use with care! If the Normal mode command is not finished, the user
1582needs to type characters (e.g., after ":normal m" you need to type a mark
1583name).
1584
1585If you want the buffer to be unmodified after changing it, reset the
1586'modified' option. This makes it possible to exit the buffer with ":q"
1587instead of ":q!".
1588
1589 *autocmd-nested* *E218*
Bram Moolenaar26967612019-03-17 17:13:16 +01001590By default, autocommands do not nest. For example, if you use ":e" or ":w" in
1591an autocommand, Vim does not execute the BufRead and BufWrite autocommands for
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001592those commands. If you do want this, use the "nested" flag for those commands
1593in which you want nesting. For example: >
Bram Moolenaareb93f3f2019-04-04 15:04:56 +02001594 :autocmd FileChangedShell *.c ++nested e!
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001595The nesting is limited to 10 levels to get out of recursive loops.
1596
1597It's possible to use the ":au" command in an autocommand. This can be a
1598self-modifying command! This can be useful for an autocommand that should
1599execute only once.
1600
Bram Moolenaarb3480382005-12-11 21:33:32 +00001601If you want to skip autocommands for one command, use the |:noautocmd| command
1602modifier or the 'eventignore' option.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001603
1604Note: When reading a file (with ":read file" or with a filter command) and the
1605last line in the file does not have an <EOL>, Vim remembers this. At the next
1606write (with ":write file" or with a filter command), if the same line is
1607written again as the last line in a file AND 'binary' is set, Vim does not
1608supply an <EOL>. This makes a filter command on the just read lines write the
1609same file as was read, and makes a write command on just filtered lines write
1610the same file as was read from the filter. For example, another way to write
1611a compressed file: >
1612
1613 :autocmd FileWritePre *.gz set bin|'[,']!gzip
1614 :autocmd FileWritePost *.gz undo|set nobin
1615<
1616 *autocommand-pattern*
1617You can specify multiple patterns, separated by commas. Here are some
1618examples: >
1619
1620 :autocmd BufRead * set tw=79 nocin ic infercase fo=2croq
1621 :autocmd BufRead .letter set tw=72 fo=2tcrq
1622 :autocmd BufEnter .letter set dict=/usr/lib/dict/words
1623 :autocmd BufLeave .letter set dict=
1624 :autocmd BufRead,BufNewFile *.c,*.h set tw=0 cin noic
1625 :autocmd BufEnter *.c,*.h abbr FOR for (i = 0; i < 3; ++i)<CR>{<CR>}<Esc>O
1626 :autocmd BufLeave *.c,*.h unabbr FOR
1627
1628For makefiles (makefile, Makefile, imakefile, makefile.unix, etc.): >
1629
1630 :autocmd BufEnter ?akefile* set include=^s\=include
1631 :autocmd BufLeave ?akefile* set include&
1632
1633To always start editing C files at the first function: >
1634
1635 :autocmd BufRead *.c,*.h 1;/^{
1636
1637Without the "1;" above, the search would start from wherever the file was
1638entered, rather than from the start of the file.
1639
1640 *skeleton* *template*
1641To read a skeleton (template) file when opening a new file: >
1642
1643 :autocmd BufNewFile *.c 0r ~/vim/skeleton.c
1644 :autocmd BufNewFile *.h 0r ~/vim/skeleton.h
1645 :autocmd BufNewFile *.java 0r ~/vim/skeleton.java
1646
1647To insert the current date and time in a *.html file when writing it: >
1648
1649 :autocmd BufWritePre,FileWritePre *.html ks|call LastMod()|'s
1650 :fun LastMod()
1651 : if line("$") > 20
1652 : let l = 20
1653 : else
1654 : let l = line("$")
1655 : endif
1656 : exe "1," . l . "g/Last modified: /s/Last modified: .*/Last modified: " .
1657 : \ strftime("%Y %b %d")
1658 :endfun
1659
1660You need to have a line "Last modified: <date time>" in the first 20 lines
1661of the file for this to work. Vim replaces <date time> (and anything in the
1662same line after it) with the current date and time. Explanation:
1663 ks mark current position with mark 's'
1664 call LastMod() call the LastMod() function to do the work
1665 's return the cursor to the old position
1666The LastMod() function checks if the file is shorter than 20 lines, and then
1667uses the ":g" command to find lines that contain "Last modified: ". For those
1668lines the ":s" command is executed to replace the existing date with the
1669current one. The ":execute" command is used to be able to use an expression
1670for the ":g" and ":s" commands. The date is obtained with the strftime()
1671function. You can change its argument to get another date string.
1672
1673When entering :autocmd on the command-line, completion of events and command
1674names may be done (with <Tab>, CTRL-D, etc.) where appropriate.
1675
1676Vim executes all matching autocommands in the order that you specify them.
1677It is recommended that your first autocommand be used for all files by using
1678"*" as the file pattern. This means that you can define defaults you like
1679here for any settings, and if there is another matching autocommand it will
1680override these. But if there is no other matching autocommand, then at least
1681your default settings are recovered (if entering this file from another for
1682which autocommands did match). Note that "*" will also match files starting
1683with ".", unlike Unix shells.
1684
1685 *autocmd-searchpat*
1686Autocommands do not change the current search patterns. Vim saves the current
1687search patterns before executing autocommands then restores them after the
1688autocommands finish. This means that autocommands do not affect the strings
1689highlighted with the 'hlsearch' option. Within autocommands, you can still
1690use search patterns normally, e.g., with the "n" command.
1691If you want an autocommand to set the search pattern, such that it is used
1692after the autocommand finishes, use the ":let @/ =" command.
1693The search-highlighting cannot be switched off with ":nohlsearch" in an
1694autocommand. Use the 'h' flag in the 'viminfo' option to disable search-
1695highlighting when starting Vim.
1696
1697 *Cmd-event*
1698When using one of the "*Cmd" events, the matching autocommands are expected to
Bram Moolenaar8dd1aa52007-01-16 20:33:19 +00001699do the file reading, writing or sourcing. This can be used when working with
1700a special kind of file, for example on a remote system.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001701CAREFUL: If you use these events in a wrong way, it may have the effect of
1702making it impossible to read or write the matching files! Make sure you test
1703your autocommands properly. Best is to use a pattern that will never match a
1704normal file name, for example "ftp://*".
1705
1706When defining a BufReadCmd it will be difficult for Vim to recover a crashed
1707editing session. When recovering from the original file, Vim reads only those
1708parts of a file that are not found in the swap file. Since that is not
1709possible with a BufReadCmd, use the |:preserve| command to make sure the
1710original file isn't needed for recovery. You might want to do this only when
1711you expect the file to be modified.
1712
Bram Moolenaar8dd1aa52007-01-16 20:33:19 +00001713For file read and write commands the |v:cmdarg| variable holds the "++enc="
1714and "++ff=" argument that are effective. These should be used for the command
1715that reads/writes the file. The |v:cmdbang| variable is one when "!" was
1716used, zero otherwise.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001717
Bram Moolenaarc88ebf72010-07-22 22:30:23 +02001718See the $VIMRUNTIME/plugin/netrwPlugin.vim for examples.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001719
Bram Moolenaarb3480382005-12-11 21:33:32 +00001720==============================================================================
172111. Disabling autocommands *autocmd-disable*
1722
1723To disable autocommands for some time use the 'eventignore' option. Note that
1724this may cause unexpected behavior, make sure you restore 'eventignore'
1725afterwards, using a |:try| block with |:finally|.
1726
1727 *:noautocmd* *:noa*
1728To disable autocommands for just one command use the ":noautocmd" command
1729modifier. This will set 'eventignore' to "all" for the duration of the
1730following command. Example: >
1731
1732 :noautocmd w fname.gz
1733
1734This will write the file without triggering the autocommands defined by the
1735gzip plugin.
1736
Bram Moolenaar26967612019-03-17 17:13:16 +01001737Note that some autocommands are not triggered right away, but only later.
1738This specifically applies to |CursorMoved| and |TextChanged|.
1739
Bram Moolenaarb5bf5b82004-12-24 14:35:23 +00001740
Bram Moolenaar91f84f62018-07-29 15:07:52 +02001741 vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl: