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Bram Moolenaarbb76f242016-09-12 14:24:39 +02001*map.txt* For Vim version 8.0. Last change: 2016 Aug 26
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002
3
4 VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar
5
6
7Key mapping, abbreviations and user-defined commands.
8
9This subject is introduced in sections |05.3|, |24.7| and |40.1| of the user
10manual.
11
121. Key mapping |key-mapping|
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +000013 1.1 MAP COMMANDS |:map-commands|
14 1.2 Special arguments |:map-arguments|
15 1.3 Mapping and modes |:map-modes|
16 1.4 Listing mappings |map-listing|
17 1.5 Mapping special keys |:map-special-keys|
18 1.6 Special characters |:map-special-chars|
19 1.7 What keys to map |map-which-keys|
20 1.8 Examples |map-examples|
21 1.9 Using mappings |map-typing|
22 1.10 Mapping alt-keys |:map-alt-keys|
23 1.11 Mapping an operator |:map-operator|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000242. Abbreviations |abbreviations|
253. Local mappings and functions |script-local|
264. User-defined commands |user-commands|
27
28==============================================================================
291. Key mapping *key-mapping* *mapping* *macro*
30
31Key mapping is used to change the meaning of typed keys. The most common use
32is to define a sequence commands for a function key. Example: >
33
34 :map <F2> a<C-R>=strftime("%c")<CR><Esc>
35
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +000036This appends the current date and time after the cursor (in <> notation |<>|).
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000037
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +000038
391.1 MAP COMMANDS *:map-commands*
40
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000041There are commands to enter new mappings, remove mappings and list mappings.
42See |map-overview| for the various forms of "map" and their relationships with
43modes.
44
45{lhs} means left-hand-side *{lhs}*
46{rhs} means right-hand-side *{rhs}*
47
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +000048:map {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:map*
49:nm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-n| *:nm* *:nmap*
50:vm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-v| *:vm* *:vmap*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +000051:xm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-x| *:xm* *:xmap*
Bram Moolenaar531da592013-05-06 05:58:55 +020052:smap {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-s| *:smap*
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +000053:om[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-o| *:om* *:omap*
54:map! {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-ic| *:map!*
55:im[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-i| *:im* *:imap*
56:lm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-l| *:lm* *:lmap*
57:cm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-c| *:cm* *:cmap*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000058 Map the key sequence {lhs} to {rhs} for the modes
59 where the map command applies. The result, including
60 {rhs}, is then further scanned for mappings. This
61 allows for nested and recursive use of mappings.
62
Bram Moolenaar822ff862014-06-12 21:46:14 +020063 *:nore* *:norem*
64:no[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:no* *:noremap* *:nor*
65:nn[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-n| *:nn* *:nnoremap*
66:vn[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-v| *:vn* *:vnoremap*
67:xn[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-x| *:xn* *:xnoremap*
68:snor[emap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-s| *:snor* *:snoremap*
69:ono[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-o| *:ono* *:onoremap*
70:no[remap]! {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-ic| *:no!* *:noremap!*
71:ino[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-i| *:ino* *:inoremap*
72:ln[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-l| *:ln* *:lnoremap*
73:cno[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-c| *:cno* *:cnoremap*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000074 Map the key sequence {lhs} to {rhs} for the modes
75 where the map command applies. Disallow mapping of
76 {rhs}, to avoid nested and recursive mappings. Often
77 used to redefine a command. {not in Vi}
78
79
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +000080:unm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:unm* *:unmap*
81:nun[map] {lhs} |mapmode-n| *:nun* *:nunmap*
82:vu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-v| *:vu* *:vunmap*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +000083:xu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-x| *:xu* *:xunmap*
84:sunm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-s| *:sunm* *:sunmap*
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +000085:ou[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-o| *:ou* *:ounmap*
86:unm[ap]! {lhs} |mapmode-ic| *:unm!* *:unmap!*
87:iu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-i| *:iu* *:iunmap*
88:lu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-l| *:lu* *:lunmap*
89:cu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-c| *:cu* *:cunmap*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000090 Remove the mapping of {lhs} for the modes where the
91 map command applies. The mapping may remain defined
92 for other modes where it applies.
93 Note: Trailing spaces are included in the {lhs}. This
94 unmap does NOT work: >
95 :map @@ foo
96 :unmap @@ | print
97
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +000098:mapc[lear] |mapmode-nvo| *:mapc* *:mapclear*
99:nmapc[lear] |mapmode-n| *:nmapc* *:nmapclear*
100:vmapc[lear] |mapmode-v| *:vmapc* *:vmapclear*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000101:xmapc[lear] |mapmode-x| *:xmapc* *:xmapclear*
102:smapc[lear] |mapmode-s| *:smapc* *:smapclear*
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000103:omapc[lear] |mapmode-o| *:omapc* *:omapclear*
104:mapc[lear]! |mapmode-ic| *:mapc!* *:mapclear!*
105:imapc[lear] |mapmode-i| *:imapc* *:imapclear*
106:lmapc[lear] |mapmode-l| *:lmapc* *:lmapclear*
107:cmapc[lear] |mapmode-c| *:cmapc* *:cmapclear*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000108 Remove ALL mappings for the modes where the map
109 command applies. {not in Vi}
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +0200110 Use the <buffer> argument to remove buffer-local
111 mappings |:map-<buffer>|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000112 Warning: This also removes the default mappings.
113
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000114:map |mapmode-nvo|
115:nm[ap] |mapmode-n|
116:vm[ap] |mapmode-v|
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000117:xm[ap] |mapmode-x|
118:sm[ap] |mapmode-s|
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000119:om[ap] |mapmode-o|
120:map! |mapmode-ic|
121:im[ap] |mapmode-i|
122:lm[ap] |mapmode-l|
123:cm[ap] |mapmode-c|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000124 List all key mappings for the modes where the map
125 command applies. Note that ":map" and ":map!" are
126 used most often, because they include the other modes.
127
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000128:map {lhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:map_l*
129:nm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-n| *:nmap_l*
130:vm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-v| *:vmap_l*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000131:xm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-x| *:xmap_l*
132:sm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-s| *:smap_l*
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000133:om[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-o| *:omap_l*
134:map! {lhs} |mapmode-ic| *:map_l!*
135:im[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-i| *:imap_l*
136:lm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-l| *:lmap_l*
137:cm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-c| *:cmap_l*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000138 List the key mappings for the key sequences starting
139 with {lhs} in the modes where the map command applies.
140 {not in Vi}
141
142These commands are used to map a key or key sequence to a string of
143characters. You can use this to put command sequences under function keys,
144translate one key into another, etc. See |:mkexrc| for how to save and
145restore the current mappings.
146
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000147 *map-ambiguous*
148When two mappings start with the same sequence of characters, they are
149ambiguous. Example: >
150 :imap aa foo
151 :imap aaa bar
152When Vim has read "aa", it will need to get another character to be able to
153decide if "aa" or "aaa" should be mapped. This means that after typing "aa"
154that mapping won't get expanded yet, Vim is waiting for another character.
155If you type a space, then "foo" will get inserted, plus the space. If you
156type "a", then "bar" will get inserted.
157{Vi does not allow ambiguous mappings}
158
159
1601.2 SPECIAL ARGUMENTS *:map-arguments*
161
Bram Moolenaar72179e12013-06-29 13:58:31 +0200162"<buffer>", "<nowait>", "<silent>", "<special>", "<script>", "<expr>" and
163"<unique>" can be used in any order. They must appear right after the
164command, before any other arguments.
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000165
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000166 *:map-local* *:map-<buffer>* *E224* *E225*
Bram Moolenaarc236c162008-07-13 17:41:49 +0000167If the first argument to one of these commands is "<buffer>" the mapping will
168be effective in the current buffer only. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000169 :map <buffer> ,w /[.,;]<CR>
170Then you can map ",w" to something else in another buffer: >
171 :map <buffer> ,w /[#&!]<CR>
Bram Moolenaar72179e12013-06-29 13:58:31 +0200172The local buffer mappings are used before the global ones. See <nowait> below
173to make a short local mapping not taking effect when a longer global one
174exists.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000175The "<buffer>" argument can also be used to clear mappings: >
176 :unmap <buffer> ,w
177 :mapclear <buffer>
178Local mappings are also cleared when a buffer is deleted, but not when it is
179unloaded. Just like local option values.
Bram Moolenaarec7944a2013-06-12 21:29:15 +0200180Also see |map-precedence|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000181
Bram Moolenaar72179e12013-06-29 13:58:31 +0200182 *:map-<nowait>* *:map-nowait*
183When defining a buffer-local mapping for "," there may be a global mapping
184that starts with ",". Then you need to type another character for Vim to know
185whether to use the "," mapping or the longer one. To avoid this add the
186<nowait> argument. Then the mapping will be used when it matches, Vim does
187not wait for more characters to be typed. However, if the characters were
188already type they are used.
189
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000190 *:map-<silent>* *:map-silent*
191To define a mapping which will not be echoed on the command line, add
192"<silent>" as the first argument. Example: >
193 :map <silent> ,h /Header<CR>
194The search string will not be echoed when using this mapping. Messages from
195the executed command are still given though. To shut them up too, add a
196":silent" in the executed command: >
197 :map <silent> ,h :exe ":silent normal /Header\r"<CR>
198Prompts will still be given, e.g., for inputdialog().
199Using "<silent>" for an abbreviation is possible, but will cause redrawing of
200the command line to fail.
201
Bram Moolenaar9c102382006-05-03 21:26:49 +0000202 *:map-<special>* *:map-special*
203Define a mapping with <> notation for special keys, even though the "<" flag
204may appear in 'cpoptions'. This is useful if the side effect of setting
205'cpoptions' is not desired. Example: >
206 :map <special> <F12> /Header<CR>
207<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000208 *:map-<script>* *:map-script*
209If the first argument to one of these commands is "<script>" and it is used to
210define a new mapping or abbreviation, the mapping will only remap characters
211in the {rhs} using mappings that were defined local to a script, starting with
212"<SID>". This can be used to avoid that mappings from outside a script
213interfere (e.g., when CTRL-V is remapped in mswin.vim), but do use other
214mappings defined in the script.
215Note: ":map <script>" and ":noremap <script>" do the same thing. The
216"<script>" overrules the command name. Using ":noremap <script>" is
217preferred, because it's clearer that remapping is (mostly) disabled.
218
219 *:map-<unique>* *E226* *E227*
220If the first argument to one of these commands is "<unique>" and it is used to
221define a new mapping or abbreviation, the command will fail if the mapping or
222abbreviation already exists. Example: >
223 :map <unique> ,w /[#&!]<CR>
224When defining a local mapping, there will also be a check if a global map
225already exists which is equal.
226Example of what will fail: >
227 :map ,w /[#&!]<CR>
228 :map <buffer> <unique> ,w /[.,;]<CR>
Bram Moolenaara40ceaf2006-01-13 22:35:40 +0000229If you want to map a key and then have it do what it was originally mapped to,
230have a look at |maparg()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000231
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000232 *:map-<expr>* *:map-expression*
233If the first argument to one of these commands is "<expr>" and it is used to
234define a new mapping or abbreviation, the argument is an expression. The
235expression is evaluated to obtain the {rhs} that is used. Example: >
236 :inoremap <expr> . InsertDot()
237The result of the InsertDot() function will be inserted. It could check the
238text before the cursor and start omni completion when some condition is met.
239
Bram Moolenaarda9591e2009-09-30 13:17:02 +0000240For abbreviations |v:char| is set to the character that was typed to trigger
241the abbreviation. You can use this to decide how to expand the {lhs}. You
Bram Moolenaar5302d9e2011-09-14 17:55:08 +0200242should not either insert or change the v:char.
Bram Moolenaarda9591e2009-09-30 13:17:02 +0000243
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000244Be very careful about side effects! The expression is evaluated while
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000245obtaining characters, you may very well make the command dysfunctional.
246For this reason the following is blocked:
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +0000247- Changing the buffer text |textlock|.
248- Editing another buffer.
249- The |:normal| command.
250- Moving the cursor is allowed, but it is restored afterwards.
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000251If you want the mapping to do any of these let the returned characters do
252that.
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000253
Bram Moolenaar15146672011-10-20 22:22:38 +0200254You can use getchar(), it consumes typeahead if there is any. E.g., if you
255have these mappings: >
256 inoremap <expr> <C-L> nr2char(getchar())
257 inoremap <expr> <C-L>x "foo"
258If you now type CTRL-L nothing happens yet, Vim needs the next character to
259decide what mapping to use. If you type 'x' the second mapping is used and
Bram Moolenaarf1568ec2011-12-14 21:17:39 +0100260"foo" is inserted. If you type any other key the first mapping is used,
261getchar() gets the typed key and returns it.
Bram Moolenaar15146672011-10-20 22:22:38 +0200262
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000263Here is an example that inserts a list number that increases: >
264 let counter = 0
265 inoremap <expr> <C-L> ListItem()
266 inoremap <expr> <C-R> ListReset()
267
268 func ListItem()
269 let g:counter += 1
270 return g:counter . '. '
271 endfunc
272
273 func ListReset()
274 let g:counter = 0
275 return ''
276 endfunc
277
Bram Moolenaard9967712006-03-11 21:18:15 +0000278CTRL-L inserts the next number, CTRL-R resets the count. CTRL-R returns an
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000279empty string, so that nothing is inserted.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000280
Bram Moolenaar8424a622006-04-19 21:23:36 +0000281Note that there are some tricks to make special keys work and escape CSI bytes
282in the text. The |:map| command also does this, thus you must avoid that it
283is done twice. This does not work: >
284 :imap <expr> <F3> "<Char-0x611B>"
285Because the <Char- sequence is escaped for being a |:imap| argument and then
286again for using <expr>. This does work: >
287 :imap <expr> <F3> "\u611B"
288Using 0x80 as a single byte before other text does not work, it will be seen
289as a special key.
290
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000291
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00002921.3 MAPPING AND MODES *:map-modes*
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +0000293 *mapmode-nvo* *mapmode-n* *mapmode-v* *mapmode-o*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000294
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +0100295There are six sets of mappings
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000296- For Normal mode: When typing commands.
297- For Visual mode: When typing commands while the Visual area is highlighted.
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +0100298- For Select mode: like Visual mode but typing text replaces the selection.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000299- For Operator-pending mode: When an operator is pending (after "d", "y", "c",
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +0000300 etc.). See below: |omap-info|.
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +0000301- For Insert mode. These are also used in Replace mode.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000302- For Command-line mode: When entering a ":" or "/" command.
303
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000304Special case: While typing a count for a command in Normal mode, mapping zero
305is disabled. This makes it possible to map zero without making it impossible
306to type a count with a zero.
307
308 *map-overview* *map-modes*
Bram Moolenaare968e362014-05-13 20:23:24 +0200309Overview of which map command works in which mode. More details below.
310 COMMANDS MODES ~
311:map :noremap :unmap Normal, Visual, Select, Operator-pending
312:nmap :nnoremap :nunmap Normal
313:vmap :vnoremap :vunmap Visual and Select
314:smap :snoremap :sunmap Select
315:xmap :xnoremap :xunmap Visual
316:omap :onoremap :ounmap Operator-pending
317:map! :noremap! :unmap! Insert and Command-line
318:imap :inoremap :iunmap Insert
319:lmap :lnoremap :lunmap Insert, Command-line, Lang-Arg
320:cmap :cnoremap :cunmap Command-line
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000321
Bram Moolenaare968e362014-05-13 20:23:24 +0200322
323 COMMANDS MODES ~
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000324 Normal Visual+Select Operator-pending ~
325:map :noremap :unmap :mapclear yes yes yes
326:nmap :nnoremap :nunmap :nmapclear yes - -
327:vmap :vnoremap :vunmap :vmapclear - yes -
328:omap :onoremap :ounmap :omapclear - - yes
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000329
Bram Moolenaar4c3f5362006-04-11 21:38:50 +0000330:nunmap can also be used outside of a monastery.
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000331 *mapmode-x* *mapmode-s*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000332Some commands work both in Visual and Select mode, some in only one. Note
333that quite often "Visual" is mentioned where both Visual and Select mode
334apply. |Select-mode-mapping|
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +0100335NOTE: Mapping a printable character in Select mode may confuse the user. It's
336better to explicitly use :xmap and :smap for printable characters. Or use
337:sunmap after defining the mapping.
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000338
Bram Moolenaare968e362014-05-13 20:23:24 +0200339 COMMANDS MODES ~
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000340 Visual Select ~
341:vmap :vnoremap :vunmap :vmapclear yes yes
342:xmap :xnoremap :xunmap :xmapclear yes -
343:smap :snoremap :sunmap :smapclear - yes
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000344
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000345 *mapmode-ic* *mapmode-i* *mapmode-c* *mapmode-l*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000346Some commands work both in Insert mode and Command-line mode, some not:
347
Bram Moolenaare968e362014-05-13 20:23:24 +0200348 COMMANDS MODES ~
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000349 Insert Command-line Lang-Arg ~
350:map! :noremap! :unmap! :mapclear! yes yes -
351:imap :inoremap :iunmap :imapclear yes - -
352:cmap :cnoremap :cunmap :cmapclear - yes -
353:lmap :lnoremap :lunmap :lmapclear yes* yes* yes*
354
355The original Vi did not have separate mappings for
356Normal/Visual/Operator-pending mode and for Insert/Command-line mode.
357Therefore the ":map" and ":map!" commands enter and display mappings for
358several modes. In Vim you can use the ":nmap", ":vmap", ":omap", ":cmap" and
359":imap" commands to enter mappings for each mode separately.
360
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +0000361 *omap-info*
362Operator-pending mappings can be used to define a movement command that can be
363used with any operator. Simple example: ":omap { w" makes "y{" work like "yw"
364and "d{" like "dw".
365
366To ignore the starting cursor position and select different text, you can have
367the omap start Visual mode to select the text to be operated upon. Example
368that operates on a function name in the current line: >
369 onoremap <silent> F :<C-U>normal! 0f(hviw<CR>
370The CTRL-U (<C-U>) is used to remove the range that Vim may insert. The
371Normal mode commands find the first '(' character and select the first word
372before it. That usually is the function name.
373
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000374To enter a mapping for Normal and Visual mode, but not Operator-pending mode,
375first define it for all three modes, then unmap it for Operator-pending mode:
376 :map xx something-difficult
377 :ounmap xx
378Likewise for a mapping for Visual and Operator-pending mode or Normal and
379Operator-pending mode.
380
381 *language-mapping*
382":lmap" defines a mapping that applies to:
383- Insert mode
384- Command-line mode
385- when entering a search pattern
386- the argument of the commands that accept a text character, such as "r" and
387 "f"
388- for the input() line
389Generally: Whenever a character is to be typed that is part of the text in the
390buffer, not a Vim command character. "Lang-Arg" isn't really another mode,
391it's just used here for this situation.
392 The simplest way to load a set of related language mappings is by using the
393'keymap' option. See |45.5|.
394 In Insert mode and in Command-line mode the mappings can be disabled with
Bram Moolenaar7cba6c02013-09-05 22:13:31 +0200395the CTRL-^ command |i_CTRL-^| |c_CTRL-^|. These commands change the value of
Bram Moolenaar3b1db362013-08-10 15:00:24 +0200396the 'iminsert' option. When starting to enter a normal command line (not a
397search pattern) the mappings are disabled until a CTRL-^ is typed. The state
398last used is remembered for Insert mode and Search patterns separately. The
399state for Insert mode is also used when typing a character as an argument to
400command like "f" or "t".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000401 Language mappings will never be applied to already mapped characters. They
402are only used for typed characters. This assumes that the language mapping
403was already done when typing the mapping.
404
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000405
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00004061.4 LISTING MAPPINGS *map-listing*
407
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000408When listing mappings the characters in the first two columns are:
409
410 CHAR MODE ~
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +0000411 <Space> Normal, Visual, Select and Operator-pending
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000412 n Normal
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +0000413 v Visual and Select
414 s Select
415 x Visual
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000416 o Operator-pending
417 ! Insert and Command-line
418 i Insert
419 l ":lmap" mappings for Insert, Command-line and Lang-Arg
420 c Command-line
421
422Just before the {rhs} a special character can appear:
423 * indicates that it is not remappable
424 & indicates that only script-local mappings are remappable
425 @ indicates a buffer-local mapping
426
427Everything from the first non-blank after {lhs} up to the end of the line
428(or '|') is considered to be part of {rhs}. This allows the {rhs} to end
429with a space.
430
431Note: When using mappings for Visual mode, you can use the "'<" mark, which
432is the start of the last selected Visual area in the current buffer |'<|.
433
Bram Moolenaar818078d2016-08-27 21:58:42 +0200434The |:filter| command can be used to select what mappings to list. The
435pattern is matched against the {lhs} and {rhs} in the raw form.
436
Bram Moolenaarae5bce12005-08-15 21:41:48 +0000437 *:map-verbose*
438When 'verbose' is non-zero, listing a key map will also display where it was
439last defined. Example: >
440
441 :verbose map <C-W>*
442 n <C-W>* * <C-W><C-S>*
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000443 Last set from /home/abcd/.vimrc
Bram Moolenaarae5bce12005-08-15 21:41:48 +0000444
Bram Moolenaar5195e452005-08-19 20:32:47 +0000445See |:verbose-cmd| for more information.
Bram Moolenaarae5bce12005-08-15 21:41:48 +0000446
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000447
4481.5 MAPPING SPECIAL KEYS *:map-special-keys*
449
450There are three ways to map a special key:
4511. The Vi-compatible method: Map the key code. Often this is a sequence that
452 starts with <Esc>. To enter a mapping like this you type ":map " and then
453 you have to type CTRL-V before hitting the function key. Note that when
454 the key code for the key is in the termcap (the t_ options), it will
455 automatically be translated into the internal code and become the second
456 way of mapping (unless the 'k' flag is included in 'cpoptions').
4572. The second method is to use the internal code for the function key. To
458 enter such a mapping type CTRL-K and then hit the function key, or use
459 the form "#1", "#2", .. "#9", "#0", "<Up>", "<S-Down>", "<S-F7>", etc.
460 (see table of keys |key-notation|, all keys from <Up> can be used). The
461 first ten function keys can be defined in two ways: Just the number, like
462 "#2", and with "<F>", like "<F2>". Both stand for function key 2. "#0"
463 refers to function key 10, defined with option 't_f10', which may be
464 function key zero on some keyboards. The <> form cannot be used when
465 'cpoptions' includes the '<' flag.
4663. Use the termcap entry, with the form <t_xx>, where "xx" is the name of the
467 termcap entry. Any string entry can be used. For example: >
468 :map <t_F3> G
469< Maps function key 13 to "G". This does not work if 'cpoptions' includes
470 the '<' flag.
471
472The advantage of the second and third method is that the mapping will work on
473different terminals without modification (the function key will be
474translated into the same internal code or the actual key code, no matter what
475terminal you are using. The termcap must be correct for this to work, and you
476must use the same mappings).
477
478DETAIL: Vim first checks if a sequence from the keyboard is mapped. If it
479isn't the terminal key codes are tried (see |terminal-options|). If a
480terminal code is found it is replaced with the internal code. Then the check
481for a mapping is done again (so you can map an internal code to something
482else). What is written into the script file depends on what is recognized.
483If the terminal key code was recognized as a mapping the key code itself is
484written to the script file. If it was recognized as a terminal code the
485internal code is written to the script file.
486
487
4881.6 SPECIAL CHARACTERS *:map-special-chars*
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100489 *map_backslash* *map-backslash*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000490Note that only CTRL-V is mentioned here as a special character for mappings
491and abbreviations. When 'cpoptions' does not contain 'B', a backslash can
492also be used like CTRL-V. The <> notation can be fully used then |<>|. But
493you cannot use "<C-V>" like CTRL-V to escape the special meaning of what
494follows.
495
496To map a backslash, or use a backslash literally in the {rhs}, the special
497sequence "<Bslash>" can be used. This avoids the need to double backslashes
498when using nested mappings.
499
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100500 *map_CTRL-C* *map-CTRL-C*
Bram Moolenaar1e015462005-09-25 22:16:38 +0000501Using CTRL-C in the {lhs} is possible, but it will only work when Vim is
502waiting for a key, not when Vim is busy with something. When Vim is busy
503CTRL-C interrupts/breaks the command.
504When using the GUI version on MS-Windows CTRL-C can be mapped to allow a Copy
505command to the clipboard. Use CTRL-Break to interrupt Vim.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000506
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100507 *map_space_in_lhs* *map-space_in_lhs*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000508To include a space in {lhs} precede it with a CTRL-V (type two CTRL-Vs for
509each space).
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100510 *map_space_in_rhs* *map-space_in_rhs*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000511If you want a {rhs} that starts with a space, use "<Space>". To be fully Vi
512compatible (but unreadable) don't use the |<>| notation, precede {rhs} with a
513single CTRL-V (you have to type CTRL-V two times).
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100514 *map_empty_rhs* *map-empty-rhs*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000515You can create an empty {rhs} by typing nothing after a single CTRL-V (you
516have to type CTRL-V two times). Unfortunately, you cannot do this in a vimrc
517file.
518 *<Nop>*
Bram Moolenaar446beb42011-05-10 17:18:44 +0200519An easier way to get a mapping that doesn't produce anything, is to use
520"<Nop>" for the {rhs}. This only works when the |<>| notation is enabled.
521For example, to make sure that function key 8 does nothing at all: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000522 :map <F8> <Nop>
523 :map! <F8> <Nop>
524<
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000525 *map-multibyte*
526It is possible to map multibyte characters, but only the whole character. You
527cannot map the first byte only. This was done to prevent problems in this
528scenario: >
529 :set encoding=latin1
530 :imap <M-C> foo
531 :set encoding=utf-8
532The mapping for <M-C> is defined with the latin1 encoding, resulting in a 0xc3
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +0000533byte. If you type the character á (0xe1 <M-a>) in UTF-8 encoding this is the
Bram Moolenaar446beb42011-05-10 17:18:44 +0200534two bytes 0xc3 0xa1. You don't want the 0xc3 byte to be mapped then or
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000535otherwise it would be impossible to type the á character.
536
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000537 *<Leader>* *mapleader*
538To define a mapping which uses the "mapleader" variable, the special string
539"<Leader>" can be used. It is replaced with the string value of "mapleader".
540If "mapleader" is not set or empty, a backslash is used instead. Example: >
541 :map <Leader>A oanother line<Esc>
542Works like: >
543 :map \A oanother line<Esc>
544But after: >
545 :let mapleader = ","
546It works like: >
547 :map ,A oanother line<Esc>
548
549Note that the value of "mapleader" is used at the moment the mapping is
550defined. Changing "mapleader" after that has no effect for already defined
551mappings.
552
553 *<LocalLeader>* *maplocalleader*
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +0000554<LocalLeader> is just like <Leader>, except that it uses "maplocalleader"
555instead of "mapleader". <LocalLeader> is to be used for mappings which are
556local to a buffer. Example: >
Bram Moolenaarb8ff1fb2012-02-04 21:59:01 +0100557 :map <buffer> <LocalLeader>A oanother line<Esc>
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000558<
559In a global plugin <Leader> should be used and in a filetype plugin
560<LocalLeader>. "mapleader" and "maplocalleader" can be equal. Although, if
561you make them different, there is a smaller chance of mappings from global
562plugins to clash with mappings for filetype plugins. For example, you could
563keep "mapleader" at the default backslash, and set "maplocalleader" to an
564underscore.
565
566 *map-<SID>*
567In a script the special key name "<SID>" can be used to define a mapping
568that's local to the script. See |<SID>| for details.
569
570 *<Plug>*
571The special key name "<Plug>" can be used for an internal mapping, which is
572not to be matched with any key sequence. This is useful in plugins
573|using-<Plug>|.
574
575 *<Char>* *<Char->*
576To map a character by its decimal, octal or hexadecimal number the <Char>
577construct can be used:
578 <Char-123> character 123
579 <Char-033> character 27
580 <Char-0x7f> character 127
Bram Moolenaar5302d9e2011-09-14 17:55:08 +0200581 <S-Char-114> character 114 ('r') shifted ('R')
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000582This is useful to specify a (multi-byte) character in a 'keymap' file.
583Upper and lowercase differences are ignored.
584
585 *map-comments*
586It is not possible to put a comment after these commands, because the '"'
587character is considered to be part of the {lhs} or {rhs}.
588
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100589 *map_bar* *map-bar*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000590Since the '|' character is used to separate a map command from the next
591command, you will have to do something special to include a '|' in {rhs}.
592There are three methods:
593 use works when example ~
594 <Bar> '<' is not in 'cpoptions' :map _l :!ls <Bar> more^M
595 \| 'b' is not in 'cpoptions' :map _l :!ls \| more^M
596 ^V| always, in Vim and Vi :map _l :!ls ^V| more^M
597
598(here ^V stands for CTRL-V; to get one CTRL-V you have to type it twice; you
599cannot use the <> notation "<C-V>" here).
600
601All three work when you use the default setting for 'cpoptions'.
602
603When 'b' is present in 'cpoptions', "\|" will be recognized as a mapping
604ending in a '\' and then another command. This is Vi compatible, but
605illogical when compared to other commands.
606
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100607 *map_return* *map-return*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000608When you have a mapping that contains an Ex command, you need to put a line
609terminator after it to have it executed. The use of <CR> is recommended for
610this (see |<>|). Example: >
Bram Moolenaar251835e2014-02-24 02:51:51 +0100611 :map _ls :!ls -l %:S<CR>:echo "the end"<CR>
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000612
613To avoid mapping of the characters you type in insert or Command-line mode,
614type a CTRL-V first. The mapping in Insert mode is disabled if the 'paste'
615option is on.
Bram Moolenaare2db6952013-07-24 19:53:36 +0200616 *map-error*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000617Note that when an error is encountered (that causes an error message or beep)
618the rest of the mapping is not executed. This is Vi-compatible.
619
620Note that the second character (argument) of the commands @zZtTfF[]rm'`"v
621and CTRL-X is not mapped. This was done to be able to use all the named
622registers and marks, even when the command with the same name has been
623mapped.
624
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000625
6261.7 WHAT KEYS TO MAP *map-which-keys*
627
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000628If you are going to map something, you will need to choose which key(s) to use
629for the {lhs}. You will have to avoid keys that are used for Vim commands,
630otherwise you would not be able to use those commands anymore. Here are a few
631suggestions:
632- Function keys <F2>, <F3>, etc.. Also the shifted function keys <S-F1>,
633 <S-F2>, etc. Note that <F1> is already used for the help command.
Bram Moolenaarf91787c2010-07-17 12:47:16 +0200634- Meta-keys (with the ALT key pressed). Depending on your keyboard accented
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +0100635 characters may be used as well. |:map-alt-keys|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000636- Use the '_' or ',' character and then any other character. The "_" and ","
637 commands do exist in Vim (see |_| and |,|), but you probably never use them.
638- Use a key that is a synonym for another command. For example: CTRL-P and
639 CTRL-N. Use an extra character to allow more mappings.
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +0100640- The key defined by <Leader> and one or more other keys. This is especially
641 useful in scripts. |mapleader|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000642
643See the file "index" for keys that are not used and thus can be mapped without
644losing any builtin function. You can also use ":help {key}^D" to find out if
645a key is used for some command. ({key} is the specific key you want to find
646out about, ^D is CTRL-D).
647
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000648
6491.8 EXAMPLES *map-examples*
650
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000651A few examples (given as you type them, for "<CR>" you type four characters;
652the '<' flag must not be present in 'cpoptions' for this to work). >
653
654 :map <F3> o#include
655 :map <M-g> /foo<CR>cwbar<Esc>
656 :map _x d/END/e<CR>
657 :map! qq quadrillion questions
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +0000658
659
660Multiplying a count
661
662When you type a count before triggering a mapping, it's like the count was
663typed before the {lhs}. For example, with this mapping: >
664 :map <F4> 3w
665Typing 2<F4> will result in "23w". Thus not moving 2 * 3 words but 23 words.
666If you want to multiply counts use the expression register: >
667 :map <F4> @='3w'<CR>
668The part between quotes is the expression being executed. |@=|
669
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000670
6711.9 USING MAPPINGS *map-typing*
672
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000673Vim will compare what you type with the start of a mapped sequence. If there
674is an incomplete match, it will get more characters until there either is a
675complete match or until there is no match at all. Example: If you map! "qq",
676the first 'q' will not appear on the screen until you type another
677character. This is because Vim cannot know if the next character will be a
678'q' or not. If the 'timeout' option is on (which is the default) Vim will
679only wait for one second (or as long as specified with the 'timeoutlen'
680option). After that it assumes that the 'q' is to be interpreted as such. If
681you type slowly, or your system is slow, reset the 'timeout' option. Then you
682might want to set the 'ttimeout' option.
683
Bram Moolenaarec7944a2013-06-12 21:29:15 +0200684 *map-precedence*
685Buffer-local mappings (defined using |:map-<buffer>|) take precedence over
686global mappings. When a buffer-local mapping is the same as a global mapping,
687Vim will use the buffer-local mapping. In addition, Vim will use a complete
Bram Moolenaar14b69452013-06-29 23:05:20 +0200688mapping immediately if it was defined with <nowait>, even if a longer mapping
689has the same prefix. For example, given the following two mappings: >
690 :map <buffer> <nowait> \a :echo "Local \a"<CR>
691 :map \abc :echo "Global \abc"<CR>
692When typing \a the buffer-local mapping will be used immediately. Vim will
693not wait for more characters to see if the user might be typing \abc.
Bram Moolenaarec7944a2013-06-12 21:29:15 +0200694
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000695 *map-keys-fails*
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000696There are situations where key codes might not be recognized:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000697- Vim can only read part of the key code. Mostly this is only the first
698 character. This happens on some Unix versions in an xterm.
699- The key code is after character(s) that are mapped. E.g., "<F1><F1>" or
700 "g<F1>".
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000701
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000702The result is that the key code is not recognized in this situation, and the
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000703mapping fails. There are two actions needed to avoid this problem:
704
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000705- Remove the 'K' flag from 'cpoptions'. This will make Vim wait for the rest
706 of the characters of the function key.
707- When using <F1> to <F4> the actual key code generated may correspond to
708 <xF1> to <xF4>. There are mappings from <xF1> to <F1>, <xF2> to <F2>, etc.,
709 but these are not recognized after another half a mapping. Make sure the
710 key codes for <F1> to <F4> are correct: >
711 :set <F1>=<type CTRL-V><type F1>
712< Type the <F1> as four characters. The part after the "=" must be done with
713 the actual keys, not the literal text.
714Another solution is to use the actual key code in the mapping for the second
715special key: >
716 :map <F1><Esc>OP :echo "yes"<CR>
717Don't type a real <Esc>, Vim will recognize the key code and replace it with
718<F1> anyway.
719
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000720Another problem may be that when keeping ALT or Meta pressed the terminal
721prepends ESC instead of setting the 8th bit. See |:map-alt-keys|.
722
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000723 *recursive_mapping*
724If you include the {lhs} in the {rhs} you have a recursive mapping. When
725{lhs} is typed, it will be replaced with {rhs}. When the {lhs} which is
726included in {rhs} is encountered it will be replaced with {rhs}, and so on.
727This makes it possible to repeat a command an infinite number of times. The
728only problem is that the only way to stop this is by causing an error. The
729macros to solve a maze uses this, look there for an example. There is one
730exception: If the {rhs} starts with {lhs}, the first character is not mapped
731again (this is Vi compatible).
732For example: >
733 :map ab abcd
734will execute the "a" command and insert "bcd" in the text. The "ab" in the
735{rhs} will not be mapped again.
736
737If you want to exchange the meaning of two keys you should use the :noremap
738command. For example: >
739 :noremap k j
740 :noremap j k
741This will exchange the cursor up and down commands.
742
743With the normal :map command, when the 'remap' option is on, mapping takes
744place until the text is found not to be a part of a {lhs}. For example, if
745you use: >
746 :map x y
747 :map y x
748Vim will replace x with y, and then y with x, etc. When this has happened
749'maxmapdepth' times (default 1000), Vim will give the error message
750"recursive mapping".
751
752 *:map-undo*
753If you include an undo command inside a mapped sequence, this will bring the
754text back in the state before executing the macro. This is compatible with
755the original Vi, as long as there is only one undo command in the mapped
756sequence (having two undo commands in a mapped sequence did not make sense
757in the original Vi, you would get back the text before the first undo).
758
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000759
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00007601.10 MAPPING ALT-KEYS *:map-alt-keys*
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000761
762In the GUI Vim handles the Alt key itself, thus mapping keys with ALT should
763always work. But in a terminal Vim gets a sequence of bytes and has to figure
764out whether ALT was pressed or not.
765
766By default Vim assumes that pressing the ALT key sets the 8th bit of a typed
Bram Moolenaar97d29a12005-12-17 22:02:57 +0000767character. Most decent terminals can work that way, such as xterm, aterm and
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000768rxvt. If your <A-k> mappings don't work it might be that the terminal is
769prefixing the character with an ESC character. But you can just as well type
770ESC before a character, thus Vim doesn't know what happened (except for
771checking the delay between characters, which is not reliable).
772
773As of this writing, some mainstream terminals like gnome-terminal and konsole
774use the ESC prefix. There doesn't appear a way to have them use the 8th bit
Bram Moolenaar97d29a12005-12-17 22:02:57 +0000775instead. Xterm should work well by default. Aterm and rxvt should work well
776when started with the "--meta8" argument. You can also tweak resources like
777"metaSendsEscape", "eightBitInput" and "eightBitOutput".
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000778
779On the Linux console, this behavior can be toggled with the "setmetamode"
780command. Bear in mind that not using an ESC prefix could get you in trouble
781with other programs. You should make sure that bash has the "convert-meta"
782option set to "on" in order for your Meta keybindings to still work on it
783(it's the default readline behavior, unless changed by specific system
784configuration). For that, you can add the line: >
785
786 set convert-meta on
787
788to your ~/.inputrc file. If you're creating the file, you might want to use: >
789
790 $include /etc/inputrc
791
792as the first line, if that file exists on your system, to keep global options.
793This may cause a problem for entering special characters, such as the umlaut.
794Then you should use CTRL-V before that character.
795
796Bear in mind that convert-meta has been reported to have troubles when used in
797UTF-8 locales. On terminals like xterm, the "metaSendsEscape" resource can be
798toggled on the fly through the "Main Options" menu, by pressing Ctrl-LeftClick
799on the terminal; that's a good last resource in case you want to send ESC when
800using other applications but not when inside VIM.
801
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000802
8031.11 MAPPING AN OPERATOR *:map-operator*
804
805An operator is used before a {motion} command. To define your own operator
806you must create mapping that first sets the 'operatorfunc' option and then
807invoke the |g@| operator. After the user types the {motion} command the
808specified function will be called.
809
Bram Moolenaara40ceaf2006-01-13 22:35:40 +0000810 *g@* *E774* *E775*
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000811g@{motion} Call the function set by the 'operatorfunc' option.
812 The '[ mark is positioned at the start of the text
813 moved over by {motion}, the '] mark on the last
814 character of the text.
815 The function is called with one String argument:
816 "line" {motion} was |linewise|
817 "char" {motion} was |characterwise|
Bram Moolenaarf91787c2010-07-17 12:47:16 +0200818 "block" {motion} was |blockwise-visual|
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000819 Although "block" would rarely appear, since it can
820 only result from Visual mode where "g@" is not useful.
Bram Moolenaardb84e452010-08-15 13:50:43 +0200821 {not available when compiled without the |+eval|
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000822 feature}
823
824Here is an example that counts the number of spaces with <F4>: >
825
826 nmap <silent> <F4> :set opfunc=CountSpaces<CR>g@
827 vmap <silent> <F4> :<C-U>call CountSpaces(visualmode(), 1)<CR>
828
829 function! CountSpaces(type, ...)
830 let sel_save = &selection
831 let &selection = "inclusive"
832 let reg_save = @@
833
Bram Moolenaar822ff862014-06-12 21:46:14 +0200834 if a:0 " Invoked from Visual mode, use gv command.
835 silent exe "normal! gvy"
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000836 elseif a:type == 'line'
837 silent exe "normal! '[V']y"
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000838 else
839 silent exe "normal! `[v`]y"
840 endif
841
842 echomsg strlen(substitute(@@, '[^ ]', '', 'g'))
843
844 let &selection = sel_save
845 let @@ = reg_save
846 endfunction
847
848Note that the 'selection' option is temporarily set to "inclusive" to be able
849to yank exactly the right text by using Visual mode from the '[ to the ']
850mark.
851
852Also note that there is a separate mapping for Visual mode. It removes the
853"'<,'>" range that ":" inserts in Visual mode and invokes the function with
854visualmode() and an extra argument.
855
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000856==============================================================================
8572. Abbreviations *abbreviations* *Abbreviations*
858
859Abbreviations are used in Insert mode, Replace mode and Command-line mode.
860If you enter a word that is an abbreviation, it is replaced with the word it
861stands for. This can be used to save typing for often used long words. And
862you can use it to automatically correct obvious spelling errors.
863Examples:
864
Bram Moolenaarc1762cc2007-05-10 16:56:30 +0000865 :iab ms Microsoft
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000866 :iab tihs this
867
868There are three types of abbreviations:
869
870full-id The "full-id" type consists entirely of keyword characters (letters
871 and characters from 'iskeyword' option). This is the most common
872 abbreviation.
873
874 Examples: "foo", "g3", "-1"
875
876end-id The "end-id" type ends in a keyword character, but all the other
877 characters are not keyword characters.
878
879 Examples: "#i", "..f", "$/7"
880
881non-id The "non-id" type ends in a non-keyword character, the other
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +0000882 characters may be of any type, excluding space and tab. {this type
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000883 is not supported by Vi}
884
885 Examples: "def#", "4/7$"
886
887Examples of strings that cannot be abbreviations: "a.b", "#def", "a b", "_$r"
888
889An abbreviation is only recognized when you type a non-keyword character.
890This can also be the <Esc> that ends insert mode or the <CR> that ends a
891command. The non-keyword character which ends the abbreviation is inserted
892after the expanded abbreviation. An exception to this is the character <C-]>,
893which is used to expand an abbreviation without inserting any extra
894characters.
895
896Example: >
897 :ab hh hello
898< "hh<Space>" is expanded to "hello<Space>"
899 "hh<C-]>" is expanded to "hello"
900
901The characters before the cursor must match the abbreviation. Each type has
902an additional rule:
903
904full-id In front of the match is a non-keyword character, or this is where
905 the line or insertion starts. Exception: When the abbreviation is
906 only one character, it is not recognized if there is a non-keyword
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +0000907 character in front of it, other than a space or a tab.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000908
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +0000909end-id In front of the match is a keyword character, or a space or a tab,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000910 or this is where the line or insertion starts.
911
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +0000912non-id In front of the match is a space, tab or the start of the line or
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000913 the insertion.
914
915Examples: ({CURSOR} is where you type a non-keyword character) >
916 :ab foo four old otters
917< " foo{CURSOR}" is expanded to " four old otters"
918 " foobar{CURSOR}" is not expanded
919 "barfoo{CURSOR}" is not expanded
920>
921 :ab #i #include
922< "#i{CURSOR}" is expanded to "#include"
923 ">#i{CURSOR}" is not expanded
924>
Bram Moolenaar81695252004-12-29 20:58:21 +0000925 :ab ;; <endofline>
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000926< "test;;" is not expanded
927 "test ;;" is expanded to "test <endofline>"
928
Bram Moolenaar7d76c802014-10-15 22:51:52 +0200929To avoid the abbreviation in Insert mode: Type CTRL-V before the character
930that would trigger the abbreviation. E.g. CTRL-V <Space>. Or type part of
931the abbreviation, exit insert mode with <Esc>, re-enter insert mode with "a"
932and type the rest.
933
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000934To avoid the abbreviation in Command-line mode: Type CTRL-V twice somewhere in
935the abbreviation to avoid it to be replaced. A CTRL-V in front of a normal
936character is mostly ignored otherwise.
937
938It is possible to move the cursor after an abbreviation: >
939 :iab if if ()<Left>
940This does not work if 'cpoptions' includes the '<' flag. |<>|
941
942You can even do more complicated things. For example, to consume the space
943typed after an abbreviation: >
944 func Eatchar(pat)
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000945 let c = nr2char(getchar(0))
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000946 return (c =~ a:pat) ? '' : c
947 endfunc
948 iabbr <silent> if if ()<Left><C-R>=Eatchar('\s')<CR>
949
950There are no default abbreviations.
951
952Abbreviations are never recursive. You can use ":ab f f-o-o" without any
953problem. But abbreviations can be mapped. {some versions of Vi support
954recursive abbreviations, for no apparent reason}
955
956Abbreviations are disabled if the 'paste' option is on.
957
958 *:abbreviate-local* *:abbreviate-<buffer>*
959Just like mappings, abbreviations can be local to a buffer. This is mostly
960used in a |filetype-plugin| file. Example for a C plugin file: >
961 :abb <buffer> FF for (i = 0; i < ; ++i)
962<
963 *:ab* *:abbreviate*
964:ab[breviate] list all abbreviations. The character in the first
965 column indicates the mode where the abbreviation is
966 used: 'i' for insert mode, 'c' for Command-line
967 mode, '!' for both. These are the same as for
968 mappings, see |map-listing|.
969
Bram Moolenaare344bea2005-09-01 20:46:49 +0000970 *:abbreviate-verbose*
971When 'verbose' is non-zero, listing an abbreviation will also display where it
972was last defined. Example: >
973
974 :verbose abbreviate
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000975 ! teh the
Bram Moolenaare344bea2005-09-01 20:46:49 +0000976 Last set from /home/abcd/vim/abbr.vim
977
978See |:verbose-cmd| for more information.
979
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000980:ab[breviate] {lhs} list the abbreviations that start with {lhs}
981 You may need to insert a CTRL-V (type it twice) to
982 avoid that a typed {lhs} is expanded, since
983 command-line abbreviations apply here.
984
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +0200985:ab[breviate] [<expr>] [<buffer>] {lhs} {rhs}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000986 add abbreviation for {lhs} to {rhs}. If {lhs} already
987 existed it is replaced with the new {rhs}. {rhs} may
988 contain spaces.
Bram Moolenaarfc1421e2006-04-20 22:17:20 +0000989 See |:map-<expr>| for the optional <expr> argument.
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +0200990 See |:map-<buffer>| for the optional <buffer> argument.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000991
992 *:una* *:unabbreviate*
993:una[bbreviate] {lhs} Remove abbreviation for {lhs} from the list. If none
994 is found, remove abbreviations in which {lhs} matches
995 with the {rhs}. This is done so that you can even
996 remove abbreviations after expansion. To avoid
997 expansion insert a CTRL-V (type it twice).
998
999 *:norea* *:noreabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001000:norea[bbrev] [<expr>] [<buffer>] [lhs] [rhs]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001001 same as ":ab", but no remapping for this {rhs} {not
1002 in Vi}
1003
1004 *:ca* *:cabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001005:ca[bbrev] [<expr>] [<buffer>] [lhs] [rhs]
Bram Moolenaarfc1421e2006-04-20 22:17:20 +00001006 same as ":ab", but for Command-line mode only. {not
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001007 in Vi}
1008
1009 *:cuna* *:cunabbrev*
1010:cuna[bbrev] {lhs} same as ":una", but for Command-line mode only. {not
1011 in Vi}
1012
1013 *:cnorea* *:cnoreabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001014:cnorea[bbrev] [<expr>] [<buffer>] [lhs] [rhs]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001015 same as ":ab", but for Command-line mode only and no
1016 remapping for this {rhs} {not in Vi}
1017
1018 *:ia* *:iabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001019:ia[bbrev] [<expr>] [<buffer>] [lhs] [rhs]
Bram Moolenaarfc1421e2006-04-20 22:17:20 +00001020 same as ":ab", but for Insert mode only. {not in Vi}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001021
1022 *:iuna* *:iunabbrev*
1023:iuna[bbrev] {lhs} same as ":una", but for insert mode only. {not in
1024 Vi}
1025
1026 *:inorea* *:inoreabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001027:inorea[bbrev] [<expr>] [<buffer>] [lhs] [rhs]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001028 same as ":ab", but for Insert mode only and no
1029 remapping for this {rhs} {not in Vi}
1030
1031 *:abc* *:abclear*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001032:abc[lear] [<buffer>] Remove all abbreviations. {not in Vi}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001033
1034 *:iabc* *:iabclear*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001035:iabc[lear] [<buffer>] Remove all abbreviations for Insert mode. {not in Vi}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001036
1037 *:cabc* *:cabclear*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001038:cabc[lear] [<buffer>] Remove all abbreviations for Command-line mode. {not
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001039 in Vi}
1040
1041 *using_CTRL-V*
1042It is possible to use special characters in the rhs of an abbreviation.
1043CTRL-V has to be used to avoid the special meaning of most non printable
1044characters. How many CTRL-Vs need to be typed depends on how you enter the
1045abbreviation. This also applies to mappings. Let's use an example here.
1046
1047Suppose you want to abbreviate "esc" to enter an <Esc> character. When you
1048type the ":ab" command in Vim, you have to enter this: (here ^V is a CTRL-V
1049and ^[ is <Esc>)
1050
1051You type: ab esc ^V^V^V^V^V^[
1052
1053 All keyboard input is subjected to ^V quote interpretation, so
1054 the first, third, and fifth ^V characters simply allow the second,
1055 and fourth ^Vs, and the ^[, to be entered into the command-line.
1056
1057You see: ab esc ^V^V^[
1058
1059 The command-line contains two actual ^Vs before the ^[. This is
1060 how it should appear in your .exrc file, if you choose to go that
1061 route. The first ^V is there to quote the second ^V; the :ab
1062 command uses ^V as its own quote character, so you can include quoted
Bram Moolenaar81695252004-12-29 20:58:21 +00001063 whitespace or the | character in the abbreviation. The :ab command
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001064 doesn't do anything special with the ^[ character, so it doesn't need
1065 to be quoted. (Although quoting isn't harmful; that's why typing 7
1066 [but not 8!] ^Vs works.)
1067
1068Stored as: esc ^V^[
1069
1070 After parsing, the abbreviation's short form ("esc") and long form
1071 (the two characters "^V^[") are stored in the abbreviation table.
1072 If you give the :ab command with no arguments, this is how the
1073 abbreviation will be displayed.
1074
1075 Later, when the abbreviation is expanded because the user typed in
1076 the word "esc", the long form is subjected to the same type of
1077 ^V interpretation as keyboard input. So the ^V protects the ^[
Bram Moolenaar81695252004-12-29 20:58:21 +00001078 character from being interpreted as the "exit Insert mode" character.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001079 Instead, the ^[ is inserted into the text.
1080
1081Expands to: ^[
1082
1083[example given by Steve Kirkendall]
1084
1085==============================================================================
10863. Local mappings and functions *script-local*
1087
1088When using several Vim script files, there is the danger that mappings and
1089functions used in one script use the same name as in other scripts. To avoid
1090this, they can be made local to the script.
1091
1092 *<SID>* *<SNR>* *E81*
1093The string "<SID>" can be used in a mapping or menu. This requires that the
1094'<' flag is not present in 'cpoptions'.
1095 When executing the map command, Vim will replace "<SID>" with the special
1096key code <SNR>, followed by a number that's unique for the script, and an
1097underscore. Example: >
1098 :map <SID>Add
1099could define a mapping "<SNR>23_Add".
1100
1101When defining a function in a script, "s:" can be prepended to the name to
1102make it local to the script. But when a mapping is executed from outside of
1103the script, it doesn't know in which script the function was defined. To
1104avoid this problem, use "<SID>" instead of "s:". The same translation is done
1105as for mappings. This makes it possible to define a call to the function in
Bram Moolenaar81695252004-12-29 20:58:21 +00001106a mapping.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001107
1108When a local function is executed, it runs in the context of the script it was
1109defined in. This means that new functions and mappings it defines can also
1110use "s:" or "<SID>" and it will use the same unique number as when the
1111function itself was defined. Also, the "s:var" local script variables can be
1112used.
1113
1114When executing an autocommand or a user command, it will run in the context of
1115the script it was defined in. This makes it possible that the command calls a
1116local function or uses a local mapping.
1117
1118Otherwise, using "<SID>" outside of a script context is an error.
1119
1120If you need to get the script number to use in a complicated script, you can
Bram Moolenaar4770d092006-01-12 23:22:24 +00001121use this function: >
1122 function s:SID()
1123 return matchstr(expand('<sfile>'), '<SNR>\zs\d\+\ze_SID$')
1124 endfun
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001125
1126The "<SNR>" will be shown when listing functions and mappings. This is useful
1127to find out what they are defined to.
1128
1129The |:scriptnames| command can be used to see which scripts have been sourced
1130and what their <SNR> number is.
1131
Bram Moolenaardb84e452010-08-15 13:50:43 +02001132This is all {not in Vi} and {not available when compiled without the |+eval|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001133feature}.
1134
1135==============================================================================
11364. User-defined commands *user-commands*
1137
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001138It is possible to define your own Ex commands. A user-defined command can act
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001139just like a built-in command (it can have a range or arguments, arguments can
1140be completed as filenames or buffer names, etc), except that when the command
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001141is executed, it is transformed into a normal Ex command and then executed.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001142
1143For starters: See section |40.2| in the user manual.
1144
Bram Moolenaar166af9b2010-11-16 20:34:40 +01001145 *E183* *E841* *user-cmd-ambiguous*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001146All user defined commands must start with an uppercase letter, to avoid
Bram Moolenaar166af9b2010-11-16 20:34:40 +01001147confusion with builtin commands. Exceptions are these builtin commands:
1148 :Next
1149 :X
1150They cannot be used for a user defined command. ":Print" is also an existing
1151command, but it is deprecated and can be overruled.
1152
1153The other characters of the user command can be uppercase letters, lowercase
1154letters or digits. When using digits, note that other commands that take a
1155numeric argument may become ambiguous. For example, the command ":Cc2" could
1156be the user command ":Cc2" without an argument, or the command ":Cc" with
1157argument "2". It is advised to put a space between the command name and the
1158argument to avoid these problems.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001159
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001160When using a user-defined command, the command can be abbreviated. However, if
1161an abbreviation is not unique, an error will be issued. Furthermore, a
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001162built-in command will always take precedence.
1163
1164Example: >
1165 :command Rename ...
1166 :command Renumber ...
1167 :Rena " Means "Rename"
1168 :Renu " Means "Renumber"
1169 :Ren " Error - ambiguous
1170 :command Paste ...
1171 :P " The built-in :Print
1172
1173It is recommended that full names for user-defined commands are used in
1174scripts.
1175
1176:com[mand] *:com* *:command*
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001177 List all user-defined commands. When listing commands,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001178 the characters in the first two columns are
1179 ! Command has the -bang attribute
1180 " Command has the -register attribute
1181 b Command is local to current buffer
1182 (see below for details on attributes)
Bram Moolenaar818078d2016-08-27 21:58:42 +02001183 The list can be filtered on command name with
1184 |:filter|, e.g., to list all commands with "Pyth" in
1185 the name: >
1186 filter Pyth command
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001187
1188:com[mand] {cmd} List the user-defined commands that start with {cmd}
1189
Bram Moolenaar5b8d8fd2005-08-16 23:01:50 +00001190 *:command-verbose*
1191When 'verbose' is non-zero, listing a command will also display where it was
1192last defined. Example: >
1193
1194 :verbose command TOhtml
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +00001195< Name Args Range Complete Definition ~
1196 TOhtml 0 % :call Convert2HTML(<line1>, <line2>) ~
1197 Last set from /usr/share/vim/vim-7.0/plugin/tohtml.vim ~
1198
Bram Moolenaar5195e452005-08-19 20:32:47 +00001199See |:verbose-cmd| for more information.
Bram Moolenaar5b8d8fd2005-08-16 23:01:50 +00001200
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001201 *E174* *E182*
1202:com[mand][!] [{attr}...] {cmd} {rep}
1203 Define a user command. The name of the command is
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001204 {cmd} and its replacement text is {rep}. The command's
1205 attributes (see below) are {attr}. If the command
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001206 already exists, an error is reported, unless a ! is
1207 specified, in which case the command is redefined.
1208
1209:delc[ommand] {cmd} *:delc* *:delcommand* *E184*
1210 Delete the user-defined command {cmd}.
1211
1212:comc[lear] *:comc* *:comclear*
1213 Delete all user-defined commands.
1214
1215Command attributes
1216
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001217User-defined commands are treated by Vim just like any other Ex commands. They
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001218can have arguments, or have a range specified. Arguments are subject to
1219completion as filenames, buffers, etc. Exactly how this works depends upon the
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001220command's attributes, which are specified when the command is defined.
1221
1222There are a number of attributes, split into four categories: argument
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001223handling, completion behavior, range handling, and special cases. The
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001224attributes are described below, by category.
1225
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +00001226Argument handling *E175* *E176* *:command-nargs*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001227
1228By default, a user defined command will take no arguments (and an error is
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001229reported if any are supplied). However, it is possible to specify that the
1230command can take arguments, using the -nargs attribute. Valid cases are:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001231
1232 -nargs=0 No arguments are allowed (the default)
Bram Moolenaar53bfca22012-04-13 23:04:47 +02001233 -nargs=1 Exactly one argument is required, it includes spaces
Bram Moolenaar446beb42011-05-10 17:18:44 +02001234 -nargs=* Any number of arguments are allowed (0, 1, or many),
1235 separated by white space
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001236 -nargs=? 0 or 1 arguments are allowed
1237 -nargs=+ Arguments must be supplied, but any number are allowed
1238
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +00001239Arguments are considered to be separated by (unescaped) spaces or tabs in this
Bram Moolenaar446beb42011-05-10 17:18:44 +02001240context, except when there is one argument, then the white space is part of
1241the argument.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001242
1243Note that arguments are used as text, not as expressions. Specifically,
1244"s:var" will use the script-local variable in the script where the command was
1245defined, not where it is invoked! Example:
1246 script1.vim: >
1247 :let s:error = "None"
1248 :command -nargs=1 Error echoerr <args>
1249< script2.vim: >
1250 :source script1.vim
1251 :let s:error = "Wrong!"
1252 :Error s:error
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +00001253Executing script2.vim will result in "None" being echoed. Not what you
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001254intended! Calling a function may be an alternative.
1255
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +00001256Completion behavior *:command-completion* *E179*
1257 *E180* *E181* *:command-complete*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001258By default, the arguments of user defined commands do not undergo completion.
1259However, by specifying one or the other of the following attributes, argument
1260completion can be enabled:
1261
1262 -complete=augroup autocmd groups
1263 -complete=buffer buffer names
Bram Moolenaar5ae636b2012-04-30 18:48:53 +02001264 -complete=behave :behave suboptions
Bram Moolenaare9edd7f2011-07-20 16:37:24 +02001265 -complete=color color schemes
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001266 -complete=command Ex command (and arguments)
Bram Moolenaare9edd7f2011-07-20 16:37:24 +02001267 -complete=compiler compilers
Bram Moolenaar4a748032010-09-30 21:47:56 +02001268 -complete=cscope |:cscope| suboptions
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001269 -complete=dir directory names
1270 -complete=environment environment variable names
1271 -complete=event autocommand events
1272 -complete=expression Vim expression
1273 -complete=file file and directory names
Bram Moolenaare9edd7f2011-07-20 16:37:24 +02001274 -complete=file_in_path file and directory names in |'path'|
Bram Moolenaara26559b2010-07-31 14:59:19 +02001275 -complete=filetype filetype names |'filetype'|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001276 -complete=function function name
1277 -complete=help help subjects
1278 -complete=highlight highlight groups
Bram Moolenaar5ae636b2012-04-30 18:48:53 +02001279 -complete=history :history suboptions
Bram Moolenaare9edd7f2011-07-20 16:37:24 +02001280 -complete=locale locale names (as output of locale -a)
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001281 -complete=mapping mapping name
1282 -complete=menu menus
1283 -complete=option options
Bram Moolenaar063b9d12016-07-09 20:21:48 +02001284 -complete=packadd optional package |pack-add| names
Bram Moolenaara26559b2010-07-31 14:59:19 +02001285 -complete=shellcmd Shell command
Bram Moolenaar4a748032010-09-30 21:47:56 +02001286 -complete=sign |:sign| suboptions
Bram Moolenaara26559b2010-07-31 14:59:19 +02001287 -complete=syntax syntax file names |'syntax'|
Bram Moolenaarcd9c4622013-06-08 15:24:48 +02001288 -complete=syntime |:syntime| suboptions
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001289 -complete=tag tags
1290 -complete=tag_listfiles tags, file names are shown when CTRL-D is hit
Bram Moolenaar24305862012-08-15 14:05:05 +02001291 -complete=user user names
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001292 -complete=var user variables
1293 -complete=custom,{func} custom completion, defined via {func}
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001294 -complete=customlist,{func} custom completion, defined via {func}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001295
Bram Moolenaar3a991dd2014-10-02 01:41:41 +02001296Note: That some completion methods might expand environment variables.
1297
Bram Moolenaara5792f52005-11-23 21:25:05 +00001298
1299Custom completion *:command-completion-custom*
1300 *:command-completion-customlist*
1301 *E467* *E468*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001302It is possible to define customized completion schemes via the "custom,{func}"
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001303or the "customlist,{func}" completion argument. The {func} part should be a
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +00001304function with the following signature: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001305
1306 :function {func}(ArgLead, CmdLine, CursorPos)
1307
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001308The function need not use all these arguments. The function should provide the
1309completion candidates as the return value.
1310
1311For the "custom" argument, the function should return the completion
1312candidates one per line in a newline separated string.
1313
1314For the "customlist" argument, the function should return the completion
Bram Moolenaara5792f52005-11-23 21:25:05 +00001315candidates as a Vim List. Non-string items in the list are ignored.
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001316
1317The function arguments are:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001318 ArgLead the leading portion of the argument currently being
1319 completed on
1320 CmdLine the entire command line
Bram Moolenaara5792f52005-11-23 21:25:05 +00001321 CursorPos the cursor position in it (byte index)
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001322The function may use these for determining context. For the "custom"
1323argument, it is not necessary to filter candidates against the (implicit
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001324pattern in) ArgLead. Vim will filter the candidates with its regexp engine
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001325after function return, and this is probably more efficient in most cases. For
1326the "customlist" argument, Vim will not filter the returned completion
1327candidates and the user supplied function should filter the candidates.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001328
1329The following example lists user names to a Finger command >
1330 :com -complete=custom,ListUsers -nargs=1 Finger !finger <args>
1331 :fun ListUsers(A,L,P)
1332 : return system("cut -d: -f1 /etc/passwd")
1333 :endfun
1334
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001335The following example completes filenames from the directories specified in
1336the 'path' option: >
1337 :com -nargs=1 -bang -complete=customlist,EditFileComplete
1338 \ EditFile edit<bang> <args>
1339 :fun EditFileComplete(A,L,P)
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001340 : return split(globpath(&path, a:A), "\n")
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001341 :endfun
1342<
Bram Moolenaar5ac3b1a2010-07-27 22:50:36 +02001343This example does not work for file names with spaces!
1344
Bram Moolenaara5792f52005-11-23 21:25:05 +00001345
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +00001346Range handling *E177* *E178* *:command-range*
1347 *:command-count*
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001348By default, user-defined commands do not accept a line number range. However,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001349it is possible to specify that the command does take a range (the -range
1350attribute), or that it takes an arbitrary count value, either in the line
1351number position (-range=N, like the |:split| command) or as a "count"
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +00001352argument (-count=N, like the |:Next| command). The count will then be
1353available in the argument with |<count>|.
1354
1355Possible attributes are:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001356
1357 -range Range allowed, default is current line
1358 -range=% Range allowed, default is whole file (1,$)
1359 -range=N A count (default N) which is specified in the line
Bram Moolenaar8e5af3e2011-04-28 19:02:44 +02001360 number position (like |:split|); allows for zero line
1361 number.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001362 -count=N A count (default N) which is specified either in the line
Bram Moolenaar32e7b2d2005-02-27 22:36:47 +00001363 number position, or as an initial argument (like |:Next|).
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001364 Specifying -count (without a default) acts like -count=0
1365
1366Note that -range=N and -count=N are mutually exclusive - only one should be
1367specified.
1368
Bram Moolenaaraa3b15d2016-04-21 08:53:19 +02001369 *:command-addr*
Bram Moolenaarf1d6ccf2014-12-08 04:16:44 +01001370It is possible that the special characters in the range like ., $ or % which
1371by default correspond to the current line, last line and the whole buffer,
1372relate to arguments, (loaded) buffers, windows or tab pages.
1373
1374Possible values are:
1375 -addr=lines Range of lines (this is the default)
1376 -addr=arguments Range for arguments
1377 -addr=buffers Range for buffers (also not loaded buffers)
1378 -addr=loaded_buffers Range for loaded buffers
1379 -addr=windows Range for windows
1380 -addr=tabs Range for tab pages
1381
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +00001382Special cases *:command-bang* *:command-bar*
1383 *:command-register* *:command-buffer*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001384There are some special cases as well:
1385
1386 -bang The command can take a ! modifier (like :q or :w)
1387 -bar The command can be followed by a "|" and another command.
1388 A "|" inside the command argument is not allowed then.
1389 Also checks for a " to start a comment.
1390 -register The first argument to the command can be an optional
1391 register name (like :del, :put, :yank).
1392 -buffer The command will only be available in the current buffer.
1393
1394In the cases of the -count and -register attributes, if the optional argument
1395is supplied, it is removed from the argument list and is available to the
1396replacement text separately.
Bram Moolenaar7cba6c02013-09-05 22:13:31 +02001397Note that these arguments can be abbreviated, but that is a deprecated
1398feature. Use the full name for new scripts.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001399
1400Replacement text
1401
1402The replacement text for a user defined command is scanned for special escape
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001403sequences, using <...> notation. Escape sequences are replaced with values
1404from the entered command line, and all other text is copied unchanged. The
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +00001405resulting string is executed as an Ex command. To avoid the replacement use
Bram Moolenaared39e1d2008-08-09 17:55:22 +00001406<lt> in place of the initial <. Thus to include "<bang>" literally use
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +00001407"<lt>bang>".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001408
1409The valid escape sequences are
1410
1411 *<line1>*
1412 <line1> The starting line of the command range.
1413 *<line2>*
1414 <line2> The final line of the command range.
1415 *<count>*
1416 <count> Any count supplied (as described for the '-range'
1417 and '-count' attributes).
1418 *<bang>*
1419 <bang> (See the '-bang' attribute) Expands to a ! if the
1420 command was executed with a ! modifier, otherwise
1421 expands to nothing.
Bram Moolenaar63a60de2016-06-04 22:08:55 +02001422 *<mods>*
1423 <mods> The command modifiers, if specified. Otherwise, expands to
Bram Moolenaarc95a3022016-06-12 23:01:46 +02001424 nothing. Supported modifiers are |:aboveleft|, |:belowright|,
1425 |:botright|, |:browse|, |:confirm|, |:hide|, |:keepalt|,
Bram Moolenaarbc8801c2016-08-02 21:04:33 +02001426 |:keepjumps|, |:keepmarks|, |:keeppatterns|, |:leftabove|,
1427 |:lockmarks|, |:noswapfile| |:rightbelow|, |:silent|, |:tab|,
1428 |:topleft|, |:verbose|, and |:vertical|.
1429 Note that these are not yet supported: |:noautocmd|,
1430 |:sandbox| and |:unsilent|.
Bram Moolenaar63a60de2016-06-04 22:08:55 +02001431 Examples: >
1432 command! -nargs=+ -complete=file MyEdit
1433 \ for f in expand(<q-args>, 0, 1) |
1434 \ exe '<mods> split ' . f |
1435 \ endfor
1436
1437 function! SpecialEdit(files, mods)
1438 for f in expand(a:files, 0, 1)
1439 exe a:mods . ' split ' . f
1440 endfor
1441 endfunction
1442 command! -nargs=+ -complete=file Sedit
1443 \ call SpecialEdit(<q-args>, <q-mods>)
1444<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001445 *<reg>* *<register>*
1446 <reg> (See the '-register' attribute) The optional register,
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001447 if specified. Otherwise, expands to nothing. <register>
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001448 is a synonym for this.
1449 *<args>*
1450 <args> The command arguments, exactly as supplied (but as
1451 noted above, any count or register can consume some
1452 of the arguments, which are then not part of <args>).
1453 <lt> A single '<' (Less-Than) character. This is needed if you
1454 want to get a literal copy of one of these escape sequences
1455 into the expansion - for example, to get <bang>, use
1456 <lt>bang>.
1457
1458 *<q-args>*
1459If the first two characters of an escape sequence are "q-" (for example,
1460<q-args>) then the value is quoted in such a way as to make it a valid value
1461for use in an expression. This uses the argument as one single value.
Bram Moolenaar51485f02005-06-04 21:55:20 +00001462When there is no argument <q-args> is an empty string.
Bram Moolenaar552f8a12007-03-08 17:12:08 +00001463 *<f-args>*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001464To allow commands to pass their arguments on to a user-defined function, there
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001465is a special form <f-args> ("function args"). This splits the command
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +00001466arguments at spaces and tabs, quotes each argument individually, and the
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001467<f-args> sequence is replaced by the comma-separated list of quoted arguments.
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +00001468See the Mycmd example below. If no arguments are given <f-args> is removed.
Bram Moolenaar552f8a12007-03-08 17:12:08 +00001469 To embed whitespace into an argument of <f-args>, prepend a backslash.
1470<f-args> replaces every pair of backslashes (\\) with one backslash. A
1471backslash followed by a character other than white space or a backslash
1472remains unmodified. Overview:
1473
1474 command <f-args> ~
1475 XX ab 'ab'
1476 XX a\b 'a\b'
1477 XX a\ b 'a b'
1478 XX a\ b 'a ', 'b'
1479 XX a\\b 'a\b'
1480 XX a\\ b 'a\', 'b'
1481 XX a\\\b 'a\\b'
1482 XX a\\\ b 'a\ b'
1483 XX a\\\\b 'a\\b'
1484 XX a\\\\ b 'a\\', 'b'
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001485
1486Examples >
1487
1488 " Delete everything after here to the end
1489 :com Ddel +,$d
1490
1491 " Rename the current buffer
1492 :com -nargs=1 -bang -complete=file Ren f <args>|w<bang>
1493
1494 " Replace a range with the contents of a file
1495 " (Enter this all as one line)
1496 :com -range -nargs=1 -complete=file
1497 Replace <line1>-pu_|<line1>,<line2>d|r <args>|<line1>d
1498
1499 " Count the number of lines in the range
Bram Moolenaar81695252004-12-29 20:58:21 +00001500 :com! -range -nargs=0 Lines echo <line2> - <line1> + 1 "lines"
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001501
1502 " Call a user function (example of <f-args>)
1503 :com -nargs=* Mycmd call Myfunc(<f-args>)
1504
1505When executed as: >
1506 :Mycmd arg1 arg2
1507This will invoke: >
1508 :call Myfunc("arg1","arg2")
1509
1510 :" A more substantial example
1511 :function Allargs(command)
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +00001512 : let i = 0
1513 : while i < argc()
1514 : if filereadable(argv(i))
1515 : execute "e " . argv(i)
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001516 : execute a:command
1517 : endif
1518 : let i = i + 1
1519 : endwhile
1520 :endfunction
1521 :command -nargs=+ -complete=command Allargs call Allargs(<q-args>)
1522
1523The command Allargs takes any Vim command(s) as argument and executes it on all
1524files in the argument list. Usage example (note use of the "e" flag to ignore
1525errors and the "update" command to write modified buffers): >
1526 :Allargs %s/foo/bar/ge|update
1527This will invoke: >
1528 :call Allargs("%s/foo/bar/ge|update")
1529<
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001530When defining a user command in a script, it will be able to call functions
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001531local to the script and use mappings local to the script. When the user
1532invokes the user command, it will run in the context of the script it was
1533defined in. This matters if |<SID>| is used in a command.
1534
1535 vim:tw=78:ts=8:ft=help:norl: