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h-east53753f62024-05-05 18:42:31 +02001*map.txt* For Vim version 9.1. Last change: 2024 May 05
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
Bram Moolenaar2f0936c2022-01-08 21:51:59 +00009This subject is introduced in sections |05.4|, |24.7| and |40.1| of the user
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000010manual.
11
121. Key mapping |key-mapping|
Bram Moolenaar63a2e362022-11-23 20:20:18 +000013 1.1 MAP COMMANDS |:map-commands|
14 1.2 Special arguments |:map-arguments|
15 1.3 Mapping and modes |:map-modes|
16 1.4 Listing mappings |map-listing|
17 1.5 Mapping special keys |:map-special-keys|
18 1.6 Special characters |:map-special-chars|
19 1.7 What keys to map |map-which-keys|
20 1.8 Examples |map-examples|
21 1.9 Using mappings |map-typing|
22 1.10 Mapping alt-keys |:map-alt-keys|
Bram Moolenaar4be18e72023-02-03 12:28:07 +000023 1.11 Mapping meta-keys |:map-meta-keys|
Casey Tucker92e90a12024-01-25 22:44:00 +010024 1.12 Mapping super-keys or command keys |:map-super-keys|
25 1.13 Mapping in modifyOtherKeys mode |modifyOtherKeys|
26 1.14 Mapping with Kitty keyboard protocol |kitty-keyboard-protocol|
27 1.15 Mapping an operator |:map-operator|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000282. Abbreviations |abbreviations|
293. Local mappings and functions |script-local|
304. User-defined commands |user-commands|
31
32==============================================================================
331. Key mapping *key-mapping* *mapping* *macro*
34
35Key mapping is used to change the meaning of typed keys. The most common use
Bram Moolenaar24a98a02017-09-27 22:23:55 +020036is to define a sequence of commands for a function key. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000037
38 :map <F2> a<C-R>=strftime("%c")<CR><Esc>
39
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +000040This appends the current date and time after the cursor (in <> notation |<>|).
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000041
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +000042
431.1 MAP COMMANDS *:map-commands*
44
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000045There are commands to enter new mappings, remove mappings and list mappings.
46See |map-overview| for the various forms of "map" and their relationships with
47modes.
48
49{lhs} means left-hand-side *{lhs}*
50{rhs} means right-hand-side *{rhs}*
51
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +000052:map {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:map*
53:nm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-n| *:nm* *:nmap*
54:vm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-v| *:vm* *:vmap*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +000055:xm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-x| *:xm* *:xmap*
Bram Moolenaar531da592013-05-06 05:58:55 +020056:smap {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-s| *:smap*
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +000057:om[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-o| *:om* *:omap*
58:map! {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-ic| *:map!*
59:im[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-i| *:im* *:imap*
Bram Moolenaar61da1bf2019-06-06 12:14:49 +020060:lm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-l| *:lm* *:lma* *:lmap*
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +000061:cm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-c| *:cm* *:cmap*
Bram Moolenaar37c64c72017-09-19 22:06:03 +020062:tma[p] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-t| *:tma* *:tmap*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000063 Map the key sequence {lhs} to {rhs} for the modes
64 where the map command applies. The result, including
65 {rhs}, is then further scanned for mappings. This
66 allows for nested and recursive use of mappings.
Bram Moolenaar519cc552021-11-16 19:18:26 +000067 Note: Trailing spaces are included in the {rhs},
68 because space is a valid Normal mode command.
Bram Moolenaarcfa8f9a2022-06-03 21:59:47 +010069 See |map-trailing-white|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000070
Bram Moolenaar822ff862014-06-12 21:46:14 +020071 *:nore* *:norem*
72:no[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:no* *:noremap* *:nor*
73:nn[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-n| *:nn* *:nnoremap*
74:vn[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-v| *:vn* *:vnoremap*
75:xn[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-x| *:xn* *:xnoremap*
Bram Moolenaar61da1bf2019-06-06 12:14:49 +020076:snor[emap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-s| *:snor* *:snore* *:snoremap*
Bram Moolenaar822ff862014-06-12 21:46:14 +020077:ono[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-o| *:ono* *:onoremap*
78:no[remap]! {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-ic| *:no!* *:noremap!*
Bram Moolenaar61da1bf2019-06-06 12:14:49 +020079:ino[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-i| *:ino* *:inor* *:inoremap*
Bram Moolenaar822ff862014-06-12 21:46:14 +020080:ln[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-l| *:ln* *:lnoremap*
Bram Moolenaar61da1bf2019-06-06 12:14:49 +020081:cno[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-c| *:cno* *:cnor* *:cnoremap*
Bram Moolenaar69fbc9e2017-09-14 20:37:57 +020082:tno[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-t| *:tno* *:tnoremap*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000083 Map the key sequence {lhs} to {rhs} for the modes
84 where the map command applies. Disallow mapping of
85 {rhs}, to avoid nested and recursive mappings. Often
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +020086 used to redefine a command.
Bram Moolenaar1fc34222022-03-03 13:56:24 +000087 Note: When <Plug> appears in the {rhs} this part is
88 always applied even if remapping is disallowed.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000089
90
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +000091:unm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:unm* *:unmap*
92:nun[map] {lhs} |mapmode-n| *:nun* *:nunmap*
93:vu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-v| *:vu* *:vunmap*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +000094:xu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-x| *:xu* *:xunmap*
95:sunm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-s| *:sunm* *:sunmap*
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +000096:ou[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-o| *:ou* *:ounmap*
97:unm[ap]! {lhs} |mapmode-ic| *:unm!* *:unmap!*
98:iu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-i| *:iu* *:iunmap*
99:lu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-l| *:lu* *:lunmap*
Bram Moolenaar61da1bf2019-06-06 12:14:49 +0200100:cu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-c| *:cu* *:cun* *:cunmap*
Bram Moolenaar37c64c72017-09-19 22:06:03 +0200101:tunma[p] {lhs} |mapmode-t| *:tunma* *:tunmap*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000102 Remove the mapping of {lhs} for the modes where the
103 map command applies. The mapping may remain defined
104 for other modes where it applies.
Bram Moolenaar88a42052021-11-21 21:13:36 +0000105 It also works when {lhs} matches the {rhs} of a
Bram Moolenaar2f0936c2022-01-08 21:51:59 +0000106 mapping. This is for when an abbreviation applied.
Bram Moolenaarcfa8f9a2022-06-03 21:59:47 +0100107 Note: Trailing spaces are included in the {lhs}.
108 See |map-trailing-white|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000109
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000110:mapc[lear] |mapmode-nvo| *:mapc* *:mapclear*
111:nmapc[lear] |mapmode-n| *:nmapc* *:nmapclear*
112:vmapc[lear] |mapmode-v| *:vmapc* *:vmapclear*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000113:xmapc[lear] |mapmode-x| *:xmapc* *:xmapclear*
114:smapc[lear] |mapmode-s| *:smapc* *:smapclear*
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000115:omapc[lear] |mapmode-o| *:omapc* *:omapclear*
116:mapc[lear]! |mapmode-ic| *:mapc!* *:mapclear!*
117:imapc[lear] |mapmode-i| *:imapc* *:imapclear*
118:lmapc[lear] |mapmode-l| *:lmapc* *:lmapclear*
119:cmapc[lear] |mapmode-c| *:cmapc* *:cmapclear*
Bram Moolenaar69fbc9e2017-09-14 20:37:57 +0200120:tmapc[lear] |mapmode-t| *:tmapc* *:tmapclear*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000121 Remove ALL mappings for the modes where the map
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +0200122 command applies.
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +0200123 Use the <buffer> argument to remove buffer-local
124 mappings |:map-<buffer>|
Bram Moolenaar921bde82022-05-09 19:50:35 +0100125 Warning: This also removes the |mac-standard-mappings|
126 and the |dos-standard-mappings|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000127
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000128:map |mapmode-nvo|
129:nm[ap] |mapmode-n|
130:vm[ap] |mapmode-v|
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000131:xm[ap] |mapmode-x|
132:sm[ap] |mapmode-s|
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000133:om[ap] |mapmode-o|
134:map! |mapmode-ic|
135:im[ap] |mapmode-i|
136:lm[ap] |mapmode-l|
137:cm[ap] |mapmode-c|
Bram Moolenaar37c64c72017-09-19 22:06:03 +0200138:tma[p] |mapmode-t|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000139 List all key mappings for the modes where the map
140 command applies. Note that ":map" and ":map!" are
141 used most often, because they include the other modes.
142
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000143:map {lhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:map_l*
144:nm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-n| *:nmap_l*
145:vm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-v| *:vmap_l*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000146:xm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-x| *:xmap_l*
147:sm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-s| *:smap_l*
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000148:om[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-o| *:omap_l*
149:map! {lhs} |mapmode-ic| *:map_l!*
150:im[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-i| *:imap_l*
151:lm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-l| *:lmap_l*
152:cm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-c| *:cmap_l*
Bram Moolenaar37c64c72017-09-19 22:06:03 +0200153:tma[p] {lhs} |mapmode-t| *:tmap_l*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000154 List the key mappings for the key sequences starting
155 with {lhs} in the modes where the map command applies.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000156
157These commands are used to map a key or key sequence to a string of
158characters. You can use this to put command sequences under function keys,
159translate one key into another, etc. See |:mkexrc| for how to save and
160restore the current mappings.
161
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000162 *map-ambiguous*
163When two mappings start with the same sequence of characters, they are
164ambiguous. Example: >
165 :imap aa foo
166 :imap aaa bar
167When Vim has read "aa", it will need to get another character to be able to
168decide if "aa" or "aaa" should be mapped. This means that after typing "aa"
169that mapping won't get expanded yet, Vim is waiting for another character.
170If you type a space, then "foo" will get inserted, plus the space. If you
171type "a", then "bar" will get inserted.
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000172
Bram Moolenaarcfa8f9a2022-06-03 21:59:47 +0100173Trailing white space ~
174 *map-trailing-white*
175This unmap command does NOT work: >
176 :map @@ foo
177 :unmap @@ | print
178
179Because it tries to unmap "@@ ", including the white space before the command
180separator "|". Other examples with trailing white space: >
181 unmap @@
182 unmap @@ # Vim9 script comment
Bram Moolenaar8a3b8052022-06-26 12:21:15 +0100183 unmap @@ " legacy script comment
Bram Moolenaarcfa8f9a2022-06-03 21:59:47 +0100184
185An error will be issued, which is very hard to identify, because the ending
186whitespace character in `unmap @@ ` is not visible.
187
188A generic solution is to put the command separator "|" right after the mapped
189keys. After that white space and a comment may follow: >
190
Bram Moolenaar8a3b8052022-06-26 12:21:15 +0100191 unmap @@| # Vim9 script comment
192 unmap @@| " legacy script comment
Bram Moolenaarcfa8f9a2022-06-03 21:59:47 +0100193
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000194
1951.2 SPECIAL ARGUMENTS *:map-arguments*
196
Bram Moolenaar72179e12013-06-29 13:58:31 +0200197"<buffer>", "<nowait>", "<silent>", "<special>", "<script>", "<expr>" and
198"<unique>" can be used in any order. They must appear right after the
199command, before any other arguments.
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000200
Bram Moolenaar8a3b8052022-06-26 12:21:15 +0100201 *:map-local* *:map-<buffer>* *:map-buffer*
202 *E224* *E225*
Bram Moolenaarc236c162008-07-13 17:41:49 +0000203If the first argument to one of these commands is "<buffer>" the mapping will
204be effective in the current buffer only. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000205 :map <buffer> ,w /[.,;]<CR>
206Then you can map ",w" to something else in another buffer: >
207 :map <buffer> ,w /[#&!]<CR>
Bram Moolenaar72179e12013-06-29 13:58:31 +0200208The local buffer mappings are used before the global ones. See <nowait> below
209to make a short local mapping not taking effect when a longer global one
210exists.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000211The "<buffer>" argument can also be used to clear mappings: >
212 :unmap <buffer> ,w
213 :mapclear <buffer>
214Local mappings are also cleared when a buffer is deleted, but not when it is
215unloaded. Just like local option values.
Bram Moolenaarec7944a2013-06-12 21:29:15 +0200216Also see |map-precedence|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000217
Bram Moolenaar72179e12013-06-29 13:58:31 +0200218 *:map-<nowait>* *:map-nowait*
219When defining a buffer-local mapping for "," there may be a global mapping
220that starts with ",". Then you need to type another character for Vim to know
221whether to use the "," mapping or the longer one. To avoid this add the
222<nowait> argument. Then the mapping will be used when it matches, Vim does
223not wait for more characters to be typed. However, if the characters were
Bram Moolenaar6aa8cea2017-06-05 14:44:35 +0200224already typed they are used.
Bram Moolenaar207f0092020-08-30 17:20:20 +0200225Note that this works when the <nowait> mapping fully matches and is found
226before any partial matches. This works when:
227- There is only one matching buffer-local mapping, since these are always
228 found before global mappings.
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +0200229- There is another buffer-local mapping that partly matches, but it is
Bram Moolenaar207f0092020-08-30 17:20:20 +0200230 defined earlier (last defined mapping is found first).
Bram Moolenaar72179e12013-06-29 13:58:31 +0200231
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000232 *:map-<silent>* *:map-silent*
233To define a mapping which will not be echoed on the command line, add
234"<silent>" as the first argument. Example: >
235 :map <silent> ,h /Header<CR>
236The search string will not be echoed when using this mapping. Messages from
237the executed command are still given though. To shut them up too, add a
238":silent" in the executed command: >
239 :map <silent> ,h :exe ":silent normal /Header\r"<CR>
Bram Moolenaar698a00f2022-11-14 22:07:45 +0000240Note that the effect of a command might also be silenced, e.g., when the
241mapping selects another entry for command line completion it won't be
242displayed.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000243Prompts will still be given, e.g., for inputdialog().
244Using "<silent>" for an abbreviation is possible, but will cause redrawing of
245the command line to fail.
246
Bram Moolenaar9c102382006-05-03 21:26:49 +0000247 *:map-<special>* *:map-special*
248Define a mapping with <> notation for special keys, even though the "<" flag
249may appear in 'cpoptions'. This is useful if the side effect of setting
250'cpoptions' is not desired. Example: >
251 :map <special> <F12> /Header<CR>
252<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000253 *:map-<script>* *:map-script*
254If the first argument to one of these commands is "<script>" and it is used to
255define a new mapping or abbreviation, the mapping will only remap characters
256in the {rhs} using mappings that were defined local to a script, starting with
257"<SID>". This can be used to avoid that mappings from outside a script
258interfere (e.g., when CTRL-V is remapped in mswin.vim), but do use other
259mappings defined in the script.
260Note: ":map <script>" and ":noremap <script>" do the same thing. The
261"<script>" overrules the command name. Using ":noremap <script>" is
262preferred, because it's clearer that remapping is (mostly) disabled.
263
Bram Moolenaar0e6adf82021-12-16 14:41:10 +0000264 *:map-<unique>* *:map-unique* *E226* *E227*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000265If the first argument to one of these commands is "<unique>" and it is used to
266define a new mapping or abbreviation, the command will fail if the mapping or
267abbreviation already exists. Example: >
268 :map <unique> ,w /[#&!]<CR>
269When defining a local mapping, there will also be a check if a global map
270already exists which is equal.
271Example of what will fail: >
272 :map ,w /[#&!]<CR>
273 :map <buffer> <unique> ,w /[.,;]<CR>
Bram Moolenaara40ceaf2006-01-13 22:35:40 +0000274If you want to map a key and then have it do what it was originally mapped to,
275have a look at |maparg()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000276
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000277 *:map-<expr>* *:map-expression*
278If the first argument to one of these commands is "<expr>" and it is used to
279define a new mapping or abbreviation, the argument is an expression. The
280expression is evaluated to obtain the {rhs} that is used. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar4c295022021-05-02 17:19:11 +0200281 :inoremap <expr> . <SID>InsertDot()
282The result of the s:InsertDot() function will be inserted. It could check the
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000283text before the cursor and start omni completion when some condition is met.
Bram Moolenaar4c295022021-05-02 17:19:11 +0200284Using a script-local function is preferred, to avoid polluting the global
285namespace. Use <SID> in the RHS so that the script that the mapping was
286defined in can be found.
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000287
Bram Moolenaarda9591e2009-09-30 13:17:02 +0000288For abbreviations |v:char| is set to the character that was typed to trigger
289the abbreviation. You can use this to decide how to expand the {lhs}. You
Bram Moolenaar5302d9e2011-09-14 17:55:08 +0200290should not either insert or change the v:char.
Bram Moolenaarda9591e2009-09-30 13:17:02 +0000291
Bram Moolenaar4f4d51a2020-10-11 13:57:40 +0200292In case you want the mapping to not do anything, you can have the expression
293evaluate to an empty string. If something changed that requires Vim to
294go through the main loop (e.g. to update the display), return "\<Ignore>".
295This is similar to "nothing" but makes Vim return from the loop that waits for
296input. Example: >
297 func s:OpenPopup()
298 call popup_create(... arguments ...)
299 return "\<Ignore>"
300 endfunc
Bram Moolenaar4c295022021-05-02 17:19:11 +0200301 nnoremap <expr> <F3> <SID>OpenPopup()
Bram Moolenaar4f4d51a2020-10-11 13:57:40 +0200302
Bram Moolenaarfd31be22022-01-16 14:46:06 +0000303Keep in mind that the expression may be evaluated when looking for
Bram Moolenaar18b7d862021-03-17 13:28:05 +0100304typeahead, before the previous command has been executed. For example: >
305 func StoreColumn()
306 let g:column = col('.')
307 return 'x'
308 endfunc
309 nnoremap <expr> x StoreColumn()
310 nmap ! f!x
Bram Moolenaardad44732021-03-31 20:07:33 +0200311You will notice that g:column has the value from before executing "f!",
312because "x" is evaluated before "f!" is executed.
Bram Moolenaar18b7d862021-03-17 13:28:05 +0100313This can be solved by inserting <Ignore> before the character that is
314expression-mapped: >
315 nmap ! f!<Ignore>x
316
Bram Moolenaare32c3c42022-01-15 18:26:04 +0000317When defining a mapping in a |Vim9| script, the expression will be evaluated
318in the context of that script. This means that script-local items can be
319accessed in the expression.
320
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000321Be very careful about side effects! The expression is evaluated while
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000322obtaining characters, you may very well make the command dysfunctional.
323For this reason the following is blocked:
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +0000324- Changing the buffer text |textlock|.
325- Editing another buffer.
326- The |:normal| command.
327- Moving the cursor is allowed, but it is restored afterwards.
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000328If you want the mapping to do any of these let the returned characters do
Bram Moolenaar957cf672020-11-12 14:21:06 +0100329that, or use a |<Cmd>| mapping instead.
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000330
Bram Moolenaar15146672011-10-20 22:22:38 +0200331You can use getchar(), it consumes typeahead if there is any. E.g., if you
332have these mappings: >
333 inoremap <expr> <C-L> nr2char(getchar())
334 inoremap <expr> <C-L>x "foo"
335If you now type CTRL-L nothing happens yet, Vim needs the next character to
336decide what mapping to use. If you type 'x' the second mapping is used and
Bram Moolenaarf1568ec2011-12-14 21:17:39 +0100337"foo" is inserted. If you type any other key the first mapping is used,
338getchar() gets the typed key and returns it.
Bram Moolenaar15146672011-10-20 22:22:38 +0200339
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000340Here is an example that inserts a list number that increases: >
341 let counter = 0
342 inoremap <expr> <C-L> ListItem()
343 inoremap <expr> <C-R> ListReset()
344
345 func ListItem()
346 let g:counter += 1
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +0000347 return g:counter .. '. '
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000348 endfunc
349
350 func ListReset()
351 let g:counter = 0
352 return ''
353 endfunc
354
Bram Moolenaard9967712006-03-11 21:18:15 +0000355CTRL-L inserts the next number, CTRL-R resets the count. CTRL-R returns an
Bram Moolenaar4e427192006-03-10 21:34:27 +0000356empty string, so that nothing is inserted.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000357
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +0200358Note that using 0x80 as a single byte before other text does not work, it will
359be seen as a special key.
Bram Moolenaar8424a622006-04-19 21:23:36 +0000360
Bram Moolenaar957cf672020-11-12 14:21:06 +0100361 *<Cmd>* *:map-cmd*
362The special text <Cmd> begins a "command mapping", it executes the command
363directly without changing modes. Where you might use ":...<CR>" in the
364{rhs} of a mapping, you can instead use "<Cmd>...<CR>".
365Example: >
366 noremap x <Cmd>echo mode(1)<CR>
367<
368This is more flexible than `:<C-U>` in Visual and Operator-pending mode, or
369`<C-O>:` in Insert mode, because the commands are executed directly in the
370current mode, instead of always going to Normal mode. Visual mode is
371preserved, so tricks with |gv| are not needed. Commands can be invoked
372directly in Command-line mode (which would otherwise require timer hacks).
373Example of using <Cmd> halfway Insert mode: >
374 nnoremap <F3> aText <Cmd>echo mode(1)<CR> Added<Esc>
375
376Unlike <expr> mappings, there are no special restrictions on the <Cmd>
Bram Moolenaar4466ad62020-11-21 13:16:30 +0100377command: it is executed as if an (unrestricted) |autocommand| was invoked.
Bram Moolenaar957cf672020-11-12 14:21:06 +0100378
Bram Moolenaare32c3c42022-01-15 18:26:04 +0000379 *<ScriptCmd>*
380<ScriptCmd> is like <Cmd> but sets the context to the script the mapping was
381defined in, for the duration of the command execution. This is especially
382useful for |Vim9| script. It also works to access an import, which is useful
Bram Moolenaar5ed11532022-07-06 13:18:11 +0100383in a plugin using a, possibly autoloaded, script: >
Bram Moolenaare32c3c42022-01-15 18:26:04 +0000384 vim9script
385 import autoload 'implementation.vim' as impl
Bram Moolenaarfd31be22022-01-16 14:46:06 +0000386 nnoremap <F4> <ScriptCmd>impl.DoTheWork()<CR>
Bram Moolenaar5ed11532022-07-06 13:18:11 +0100387<
Bram Moolenaare32c3c42022-01-15 18:26:04 +0000388No matter where <F4> is typed, the "impl" import will be found in the script
Bram Moolenaar5ed11532022-07-06 13:18:11 +0100389context of where the mapping was defined. When it's an autoload import, as in
390the example, the "implementation.vim" script will only be loaded once <F4> is
391typed, not when the mapping is defined.
392
393Without <ScriptCmd> using "s:impl" would result in "E121: Undefined variable".
Bram Moolenaare32c3c42022-01-15 18:26:04 +0000394
Bram Moolenaar957cf672020-11-12 14:21:06 +0100395Note:
Bram Moolenaare32c3c42022-01-15 18:26:04 +0000396- Because <Cmd> and <ScriptCmd> avoid mode-changes it does not trigger
397 |CmdlineEnter| and |CmdlineLeave| events, because no user interaction is
398 expected.
Bram Moolenaar957cf672020-11-12 14:21:06 +0100399- For the same reason, |keycodes| like <C-R><C-W> are interpreted as plain,
400 unmapped keys.
Bram Moolenaar4466ad62020-11-21 13:16:30 +0100401- The command is not echo'ed, no need for <silent>.
Bram Moolenaar88a42052021-11-21 21:13:36 +0000402- The {rhs} is not subject to abbreviations nor to other mappings, even if the
403 mapping is recursive.
Bram Moolenaar10e8ff92023-06-10 21:40:39 +0100404- In Visual mode you can use `line('v')` and `col('v')` to get one end of the
Bram Moolenaar4466ad62020-11-21 13:16:30 +0100405 Visual area, the cursor is at the other end.
Bram Moolenaard799daa2022-06-20 11:17:32 +0100406
Bram Moolenaara4d131d2021-12-27 21:33:07 +0000407 *E1255* *E1136*
Bram Moolenaare32c3c42022-01-15 18:26:04 +0000408<Cmd> and <ScriptCmd> commands must terminate, that is, they must be followed
409by <CR> in the {rhs} of the mapping definition. |Command-line| mode is never
Yegappan Lakshmanan49cdd622023-12-24 11:01:23 +0100410entered. To use a literal <CR> in the {rhs}, use |<lt>|.
Bram Moolenaar957cf672020-11-12 14:21:06 +0100411
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000412
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00004131.3 MAPPING AND MODES *:map-modes*
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +0000414 *mapmode-nvo* *mapmode-n* *mapmode-v* *mapmode-o*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000415
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +0000416There are seven sets of mappings
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000417- For Normal mode: When typing commands.
418- For Visual mode: When typing commands while the Visual area is highlighted.
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +0100419- For Select mode: like Visual mode but typing text replaces the selection.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000420- For Operator-pending mode: When an operator is pending (after "d", "y", "c",
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +0000421 etc.). See below: |omap-info|.
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +0000422- For Insert mode. These are also used in Replace mode.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000423- For Command-line mode: When entering a ":" or "/" command.
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +0000424- For Terminal mode: When typing in a |:terminal| buffer.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000425
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000426Special case: While typing a count for a command in Normal mode, mapping zero
427is disabled. This makes it possible to map zero without making it impossible
428to type a count with a zero.
429
430 *map-overview* *map-modes*
Bram Moolenaare968e362014-05-13 20:23:24 +0200431Overview of which map command works in which mode. More details below.
432 COMMANDS MODES ~
433:map :noremap :unmap Normal, Visual, Select, Operator-pending
434:nmap :nnoremap :nunmap Normal
435:vmap :vnoremap :vunmap Visual and Select
436:smap :snoremap :sunmap Select
437:xmap :xnoremap :xunmap Visual
438:omap :onoremap :ounmap Operator-pending
439:map! :noremap! :unmap! Insert and Command-line
440:imap :inoremap :iunmap Insert
441:lmap :lnoremap :lunmap Insert, Command-line, Lang-Arg
442:cmap :cnoremap :cunmap Command-line
Bram Moolenaar69fbc9e2017-09-14 20:37:57 +0200443:tmap :tnoremap :tunmap Terminal-Job
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000444
Bram Moolenaar3ec32172021-05-16 12:39:47 +0200445Same information in a table:
446 *map-table*
447 Mode | Norm | Ins | Cmd | Vis | Sel | Opr | Term | Lang | ~
448Command +------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+ ~
449[nore]map | yes | - | - | yes | yes | yes | - | - |
450n[nore]map | yes | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
451[nore]map! | - | yes | yes | - | - | - | - | - |
452i[nore]map | - | yes | - | - | - | - | - | - |
453c[nore]map | - | - | yes | - | - | - | - | - |
454v[nore]map | - | - | - | yes | yes | - | - | - |
455x[nore]map | - | - | - | yes | - | - | - | - |
456s[nore]map | - | - | - | - | yes | - | - | - |
457o[nore]map | - | - | - | - | - | yes | - | - |
458t[nore]map | - | - | - | - | - | - | yes | - |
459l[nore]map | - | yes | yes | - | - | - | - | yes |
460
Bram Moolenaare968e362014-05-13 20:23:24 +0200461
462 COMMANDS MODES ~
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000463 Normal Visual+Select Operator-pending ~
464:map :noremap :unmap :mapclear yes yes yes
465:nmap :nnoremap :nunmap :nmapclear yes - -
466:vmap :vnoremap :vunmap :vmapclear - yes -
467:omap :onoremap :ounmap :omapclear - - yes
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000468
Bram Moolenaar4c3f5362006-04-11 21:38:50 +0000469:nunmap can also be used outside of a monastery.
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000470 *mapmode-x* *mapmode-s*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000471Some commands work both in Visual and Select mode, some in only one. Note
472that quite often "Visual" is mentioned where both Visual and Select mode
473apply. |Select-mode-mapping|
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +0100474NOTE: Mapping a printable character in Select mode may confuse the user. It's
475better to explicitly use :xmap and :smap for printable characters. Or use
476:sunmap after defining the mapping.
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000477
Bram Moolenaare968e362014-05-13 20:23:24 +0200478 COMMANDS MODES ~
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000479 Visual Select ~
480:vmap :vnoremap :vunmap :vmapclear yes yes
481:xmap :xnoremap :xunmap :xmapclear yes -
482:smap :snoremap :sunmap :smapclear - yes
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000483
Bram Moolenaar06b5db92006-02-10 23:11:56 +0000484 *mapmode-ic* *mapmode-i* *mapmode-c* *mapmode-l*
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +0000485Some commands work both in Insert mode and Command-line mode, some not:
486
Bram Moolenaare968e362014-05-13 20:23:24 +0200487 COMMANDS MODES ~
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000488 Insert Command-line Lang-Arg ~
489:map! :noremap! :unmap! :mapclear! yes yes -
490:imap :inoremap :iunmap :imapclear yes - -
491:cmap :cnoremap :cunmap :cmapclear - yes -
492:lmap :lnoremap :lunmap :lmapclear yes* yes* yes*
493
Bram Moolenaar5ef1c6a2019-11-10 22:09:11 +0100494* If 'iminsert' is 1, see |language-mapping| below.
495
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000496The original Vi did not have separate mappings for
497Normal/Visual/Operator-pending mode and for Insert/Command-line mode.
498Therefore the ":map" and ":map!" commands enter and display mappings for
499several modes. In Vim you can use the ":nmap", ":vmap", ":omap", ":cmap" and
500":imap" commands to enter mappings for each mode separately.
501
Bram Moolenaar69fbc9e2017-09-14 20:37:57 +0200502 *mapmode-t*
503The terminal mappings are used in a terminal window, when typing keys for the
504job running in the terminal. See |terminal-typing|.
505
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +0000506 *omap-info*
507Operator-pending mappings can be used to define a movement command that can be
Bram Moolenaar95bafa22018-10-02 13:26:25 +0200508used with any operator. Simple example: >
509 :omap { w
510makes "y{" work like "yw" and "d{" like "dw".
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +0000511
512To ignore the starting cursor position and select different text, you can have
513the omap start Visual mode to select the text to be operated upon. Example
514that operates on a function name in the current line: >
515 onoremap <silent> F :<C-U>normal! 0f(hviw<CR>
516The CTRL-U (<C-U>) is used to remove the range that Vim may insert. The
517Normal mode commands find the first '(' character and select the first word
518before it. That usually is the function name.
519
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000520To enter a mapping for Normal and Visual mode, but not Operator-pending mode,
Bram Moolenaar95bafa22018-10-02 13:26:25 +0200521first define it for all three modes, then unmap it for
522Operator-pending mode: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000523 :map xx something-difficult
524 :ounmap xx
Bram Moolenaar95bafa22018-10-02 13:26:25 +0200525
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000526Likewise for a mapping for Visual and Operator-pending mode or Normal and
527Operator-pending mode.
528
529 *language-mapping*
530":lmap" defines a mapping that applies to:
531- Insert mode
532- Command-line mode
533- when entering a search pattern
534- the argument of the commands that accept a text character, such as "r" and
535 "f"
536- for the input() line
537Generally: Whenever a character is to be typed that is part of the text in the
538buffer, not a Vim command character. "Lang-Arg" isn't really another mode,
539it's just used here for this situation.
540 The simplest way to load a set of related language mappings is by using the
541'keymap' option. See |45.5|.
542 In Insert mode and in Command-line mode the mappings can be disabled with
Bram Moolenaar7cba6c02013-09-05 22:13:31 +0200543the CTRL-^ command |i_CTRL-^| |c_CTRL-^|. These commands change the value of
Bram Moolenaar3b1db362013-08-10 15:00:24 +0200544the 'iminsert' option. When starting to enter a normal command line (not a
545search pattern) the mappings are disabled until a CTRL-^ is typed. The state
546last used is remembered for Insert mode and Search patterns separately. The
547state for Insert mode is also used when typing a character as an argument to
548command like "f" or "t".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000549 Language mappings will never be applied to already mapped characters. They
550are only used for typed characters. This assumes that the language mapping
551was already done when typing the mapping.
552
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000553
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00005541.4 LISTING MAPPINGS *map-listing*
555
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000556When listing mappings the characters in the first two columns are:
557
558 CHAR MODE ~
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +0000559 <Space> Normal, Visual, Select and Operator-pending
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000560 n Normal
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +0000561 v Visual and Select
562 s Select
563 x Visual
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000564 o Operator-pending
565 ! Insert and Command-line
566 i Insert
567 l ":lmap" mappings for Insert, Command-line and Lang-Arg
568 c Command-line
Bram Moolenaar63c4e8a2017-09-17 20:32:20 +0200569 t Terminal-Job
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000570
571Just before the {rhs} a special character can appear:
572 * indicates that it is not remappable
573 & indicates that only script-local mappings are remappable
574 @ indicates a buffer-local mapping
575
576Everything from the first non-blank after {lhs} up to the end of the line
577(or '|') is considered to be part of {rhs}. This allows the {rhs} to end
578with a space.
579
580Note: When using mappings for Visual mode, you can use the "'<" mark, which
581is the start of the last selected Visual area in the current buffer |'<|.
582
Bram Moolenaar818078d2016-08-27 21:58:42 +0200583The |:filter| command can be used to select what mappings to list. The
584pattern is matched against the {lhs} and {rhs} in the raw form.
585
Bram Moolenaard13166e2022-11-18 21:49:57 +0000586While mappings are being listed, it is not possible to add or clear mappings,
587e.g. from a timer callback. *E1309*
588
Bram Moolenaarae5bce12005-08-15 21:41:48 +0000589 *:map-verbose*
Christian Brabandt0ede5e32024-01-01 18:56:52 +0100590When 'verbose' is non-zero, the detected and used 'keyprotocol' value will be
591displayed in the first line. Also a key map will also display where it was
Bram Moolenaarae5bce12005-08-15 21:41:48 +0000592last defined. Example: >
593
594 :verbose map <C-W>*
zeertzjqd086b8f2024-02-25 15:42:52 +0800595 Kitty keyboard protocol: Cleared
Bram Moolenaarae5bce12005-08-15 21:41:48 +0000596 n <C-W>* * <C-W><C-S>*
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +0000597 Last set from /home/abcd/.vimrc
Bram Moolenaarae5bce12005-08-15 21:41:48 +0000598
Bram Moolenaar5195e452005-08-19 20:32:47 +0000599See |:verbose-cmd| for more information.
Bram Moolenaarae5bce12005-08-15 21:41:48 +0000600
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000601
6021.5 MAPPING SPECIAL KEYS *:map-special-keys*
603
604There are three ways to map a special key:
6051. The Vi-compatible method: Map the key code. Often this is a sequence that
606 starts with <Esc>. To enter a mapping like this you type ":map " and then
607 you have to type CTRL-V before hitting the function key. Note that when
608 the key code for the key is in the termcap (the t_ options), it will
609 automatically be translated into the internal code and become the second
610 way of mapping (unless the 'k' flag is included in 'cpoptions').
6112. The second method is to use the internal code for the function key. To
612 enter such a mapping type CTRL-K and then hit the function key, or use
613 the form "#1", "#2", .. "#9", "#0", "<Up>", "<S-Down>", "<S-F7>", etc.
614 (see table of keys |key-notation|, all keys from <Up> can be used). The
615 first ten function keys can be defined in two ways: Just the number, like
616 "#2", and with "<F>", like "<F2>". Both stand for function key 2. "#0"
617 refers to function key 10, defined with option 't_f10', which may be
618 function key zero on some keyboards. The <> form cannot be used when
619 'cpoptions' includes the '<' flag.
6203. Use the termcap entry, with the form <t_xx>, where "xx" is the name of the
621 termcap entry. Any string entry can be used. For example: >
622 :map <t_F3> G
623< Maps function key 13 to "G". This does not work if 'cpoptions' includes
624 the '<' flag.
625
626The advantage of the second and third method is that the mapping will work on
627different terminals without modification (the function key will be
628translated into the same internal code or the actual key code, no matter what
629terminal you are using. The termcap must be correct for this to work, and you
630must use the same mappings).
631
632DETAIL: Vim first checks if a sequence from the keyboard is mapped. If it
633isn't the terminal key codes are tried (see |terminal-options|). If a
634terminal code is found it is replaced with the internal code. Then the check
635for a mapping is done again (so you can map an internal code to something
636else). What is written into the script file depends on what is recognized.
637If the terminal key code was recognized as a mapping the key code itself is
638written to the script file. If it was recognized as a terminal code the
639internal code is written to the script file.
640
641
6421.6 SPECIAL CHARACTERS *:map-special-chars*
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100643 *map_backslash* *map-backslash*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000644Note that only CTRL-V is mentioned here as a special character for mappings
645and abbreviations. When 'cpoptions' does not contain 'B', a backslash can
646also be used like CTRL-V. The <> notation can be fully used then |<>|. But
647you cannot use "<C-V>" like CTRL-V to escape the special meaning of what
648follows.
649
650To map a backslash, or use a backslash literally in the {rhs}, the special
651sequence "<Bslash>" can be used. This avoids the need to double backslashes
652when using nested mappings.
653
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100654 *map_CTRL-C* *map-CTRL-C*
Bram Moolenaar1e015462005-09-25 22:16:38 +0000655Using CTRL-C in the {lhs} is possible, but it will only work when Vim is
656waiting for a key, not when Vim is busy with something. When Vim is busy
657CTRL-C interrupts/breaks the command.
658When using the GUI version on MS-Windows CTRL-C can be mapped to allow a Copy
659command to the clipboard. Use CTRL-Break to interrupt Vim.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000660
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100661 *map_space_in_lhs* *map-space_in_lhs*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000662To include a space in {lhs} precede it with a CTRL-V (type two CTRL-Vs for
663each space).
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100664 *map_space_in_rhs* *map-space_in_rhs*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000665If you want a {rhs} that starts with a space, use "<Space>". To be fully Vi
666compatible (but unreadable) don't use the |<>| notation, precede {rhs} with a
667single CTRL-V (you have to type CTRL-V two times).
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100668 *map_empty_rhs* *map-empty-rhs*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000669You can create an empty {rhs} by typing nothing after a single CTRL-V (you
670have to type CTRL-V two times). Unfortunately, you cannot do this in a vimrc
671file.
672 *<Nop>*
Bram Moolenaar446beb42011-05-10 17:18:44 +0200673An easier way to get a mapping that doesn't produce anything, is to use
674"<Nop>" for the {rhs}. This only works when the |<>| notation is enabled.
675For example, to make sure that function key 8 does nothing at all: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000676 :map <F8> <Nop>
677 :map! <F8> <Nop>
678<
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000679 *map-multibyte*
680It is possible to map multibyte characters, but only the whole character. You
681cannot map the first byte only. This was done to prevent problems in this
682scenario: >
683 :set encoding=latin1
684 :imap <M-C> foo
685 :set encoding=utf-8
686The mapping for <M-C> is defined with the latin1 encoding, resulting in a 0xc3
Bram Moolenaar85eee132018-05-06 17:57:30 +0200687byte. If you type the character á (0xe1 <M-a>) in UTF-8 encoding this is the
Bram Moolenaar446beb42011-05-10 17:18:44 +0200688two bytes 0xc3 0xa1. You don't want the 0xc3 byte to be mapped then or
Bram Moolenaar85eee132018-05-06 17:57:30 +0200689otherwise it would be impossible to type the á character.
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000690
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000691 *<Leader>* *mapleader*
Bram Moolenaarb529cfb2022-07-25 15:42:07 +0100692To define a mapping which uses the "g:mapleader" variable, the special string
693"<Leader>" can be used. It is replaced with the string value of
694"g:mapleader". If "g:mapleader" is not set or empty, a backslash is used
695instead. Example: >
696 map <Leader>A oanother line<Esc>
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000697Works like: >
Bram Moolenaarb529cfb2022-07-25 15:42:07 +0100698 map \A oanother line<Esc>
699But after (legacy script): >
700 let mapleader = ","
701Or (Vim9 script): >
702 g:mapleader = ","
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000703It works like: >
Bram Moolenaarb529cfb2022-07-25 15:42:07 +0100704 map ,A oanother line<Esc>
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000705
Bram Moolenaarb529cfb2022-07-25 15:42:07 +0100706Note that the value of "g:mapleader" is used at the moment the mapping is
707defined. Changing "g:mapleader" after that has no effect for already defined
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000708mappings.
709
710 *<LocalLeader>* *maplocalleader*
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +0000711<LocalLeader> is just like <Leader>, except that it uses "maplocalleader"
712instead of "mapleader". <LocalLeader> is to be used for mappings which are
713local to a buffer. Example: >
Bram Moolenaarb8ff1fb2012-02-04 21:59:01 +0100714 :map <buffer> <LocalLeader>A oanother line<Esc>
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000715<
716In a global plugin <Leader> should be used and in a filetype plugin
717<LocalLeader>. "mapleader" and "maplocalleader" can be equal. Although, if
718you make them different, there is a smaller chance of mappings from global
719plugins to clash with mappings for filetype plugins. For example, you could
720keep "mapleader" at the default backslash, and set "maplocalleader" to an
721underscore.
722
723 *map-<SID>*
724In a script the special key name "<SID>" can be used to define a mapping
725that's local to the script. See |<SID>| for details.
726
727 *<Plug>*
728The special key name "<Plug>" can be used for an internal mapping, which is
729not to be matched with any key sequence. This is useful in plugins
730|using-<Plug>|.
731
Bram Moolenaarcbaff5e2022-04-08 17:45:08 +0100732 *<MouseMove>*
733The special key name "<MouseMove>" can be used to handle mouse movement. It
734needs to be enabled with 'mousemoveevent'. Currently only works in the GUI.
Bram Moolenaar2d8ed022022-05-21 13:08:16 +0100735The |getmousepos()| function can be used to obtain the mouse position.
Bram Moolenaarcbaff5e2022-04-08 17:45:08 +0100736
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000737 *<Char>* *<Char->*
738To map a character by its decimal, octal or hexadecimal number the <Char>
739construct can be used:
740 <Char-123> character 123
741 <Char-033> character 27
742 <Char-0x7f> character 127
Bram Moolenaar5302d9e2011-09-14 17:55:08 +0200743 <S-Char-114> character 114 ('r') shifted ('R')
Bram Moolenaar207f0092020-08-30 17:20:20 +0200744This is useful to specify a (multibyte) character in a 'keymap' file.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000745Upper and lowercase differences are ignored.
746
747 *map-comments*
748It is not possible to put a comment after these commands, because the '"'
Bram Moolenaar036986f2017-03-16 17:41:02 +0100749character is considered to be part of the {lhs} or {rhs}. However, one can
750use |", since this starts a new, empty command with a comment.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000751
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100752 *map_bar* *map-bar*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000753Since the '|' character is used to separate a map command from the next
754command, you will have to do something special to include a '|' in {rhs}.
755There are three methods:
756 use works when example ~
757 <Bar> '<' is not in 'cpoptions' :map _l :!ls <Bar> more^M
758 \| 'b' is not in 'cpoptions' :map _l :!ls \| more^M
759 ^V| always, in Vim and Vi :map _l :!ls ^V| more^M
760
761(here ^V stands for CTRL-V; to get one CTRL-V you have to type it twice; you
762cannot use the <> notation "<C-V>" here).
763
764All three work when you use the default setting for 'cpoptions'.
765
766When 'b' is present in 'cpoptions', "\|" will be recognized as a mapping
767ending in a '\' and then another command. This is Vi compatible, but
768illogical when compared to other commands.
769
Bram Moolenaar345efa02016-01-15 20:57:49 +0100770 *map_return* *map-return*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000771When you have a mapping that contains an Ex command, you need to put a line
772terminator after it to have it executed. The use of <CR> is recommended for
773this (see |<>|). Example: >
Bram Moolenaar251835e2014-02-24 02:51:51 +0100774 :map _ls :!ls -l %:S<CR>:echo "the end"<CR>
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000775
776To avoid mapping of the characters you type in insert or Command-line mode,
777type a CTRL-V first. The mapping in Insert mode is disabled if the 'paste'
778option is on.
Bram Moolenaare2db6952013-07-24 19:53:36 +0200779 *map-error*
Bram Moolenaar1b5f03e2023-01-09 20:12:45 +0000780Note that when an error is encountered (that causes an error message or might
781cause a beep) the rest of the mapping is not executed. This is Vi-compatible.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000782
783Note that the second character (argument) of the commands @zZtTfF[]rm'`"v
784and CTRL-X is not mapped. This was done to be able to use all the named
785registers and marks, even when the command with the same name has been
786mapped.
787
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000788
7891.7 WHAT KEYS TO MAP *map-which-keys*
790
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000791If you are going to map something, you will need to choose which key(s) to use
792for the {lhs}. You will have to avoid keys that are used for Vim commands,
793otherwise you would not be able to use those commands anymore. Here are a few
794suggestions:
795- Function keys <F2>, <F3>, etc.. Also the shifted function keys <S-F1>,
796 <S-F2>, etc. Note that <F1> is already used for the help command.
Bram Moolenaar4be18e72023-02-03 12:28:07 +0000797- Any key with the Alt or Meta key pressed. Depending on your keyboard
798 accented characters may be used as well. |:map-alt-keys|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000799- Use the '_' or ',' character and then any other character. The "_" and ","
800 commands do exist in Vim (see |_| and |,|), but you probably never use them.
801- Use a key that is a synonym for another command. For example: CTRL-P and
802 CTRL-N. Use an extra character to allow more mappings.
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +0100803- The key defined by <Leader> and one or more other keys. This is especially
804 useful in scripts. |mapleader|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000805
806See the file "index" for keys that are not used and thus can be mapped without
807losing any builtin function. You can also use ":help {key}^D" to find out if
808a key is used for some command. ({key} is the specific key you want to find
809out about, ^D is CTRL-D).
810
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000811
8121.8 EXAMPLES *map-examples*
813
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000814A few examples (given as you type them, for "<CR>" you type four characters;
815the '<' flag must not be present in 'cpoptions' for this to work). >
816
817 :map <F3> o#include
818 :map <M-g> /foo<CR>cwbar<Esc>
819 :map _x d/END/e<CR>
820 :map! qq quadrillion questions
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +0000821
822
823Multiplying a count
824
825When you type a count before triggering a mapping, it's like the count was
826typed before the {lhs}. For example, with this mapping: >
827 :map <F4> 3w
828Typing 2<F4> will result in "23w". Thus not moving 2 * 3 words but 23 words.
829If you want to multiply counts use the expression register: >
830 :map <F4> @='3w'<CR>
831The part between quotes is the expression being executed. |@=|
832
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000833
8341.9 USING MAPPINGS *map-typing*
835
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000836Vim will compare what you type with the start of a mapped sequence. If there
837is an incomplete match, it will get more characters until there either is a
838complete match or until there is no match at all. Example: If you map! "qq",
839the first 'q' will not appear on the screen until you type another
840character. This is because Vim cannot know if the next character will be a
841'q' or not. If the 'timeout' option is on (which is the default) Vim will
842only wait for one second (or as long as specified with the 'timeoutlen'
843option). After that it assumes that the 'q' is to be interpreted as such. If
844you type slowly, or your system is slow, reset the 'timeout' option. Then you
845might want to set the 'ttimeout' option.
846
Bram Moolenaar938ae282023-02-20 20:44:55 +0000847 *map-precedence*
Bram Moolenaarec7944a2013-06-12 21:29:15 +0200848Buffer-local mappings (defined using |:map-<buffer>|) take precedence over
849global mappings. When a buffer-local mapping is the same as a global mapping,
850Vim will use the buffer-local mapping. In addition, Vim will use a complete
Bram Moolenaar14b69452013-06-29 23:05:20 +0200851mapping immediately if it was defined with <nowait>, even if a longer mapping
852has the same prefix. For example, given the following two mappings: >
853 :map <buffer> <nowait> \a :echo "Local \a"<CR>
854 :map \abc :echo "Global \abc"<CR>
855When typing \a the buffer-local mapping will be used immediately. Vim will
856not wait for more characters to see if the user might be typing \abc.
Bram Moolenaarec7944a2013-06-12 21:29:15 +0200857
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000858 *map-keys-fails*
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000859There are situations where key codes might not be recognized:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000860- Vim can only read part of the key code. Mostly this is only the first
861 character. This happens on some Unix versions in an xterm.
862- The key code is after character(s) that are mapped. E.g., "<F1><F1>" or
863 "g<F1>".
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000864
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000865The result is that the key code is not recognized in this situation, and the
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000866mapping fails. There are two actions needed to avoid this problem:
867
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000868- Remove the 'K' flag from 'cpoptions'. This will make Vim wait for the rest
869 of the characters of the function key.
870- When using <F1> to <F4> the actual key code generated may correspond to
871 <xF1> to <xF4>. There are mappings from <xF1> to <F1>, <xF2> to <F2>, etc.,
872 but these are not recognized after another half a mapping. Make sure the
873 key codes for <F1> to <F4> are correct: >
874 :set <F1>=<type CTRL-V><type F1>
875< Type the <F1> as four characters. The part after the "=" must be done with
876 the actual keys, not the literal text.
877Another solution is to use the actual key code in the mapping for the second
878special key: >
879 :map <F1><Esc>OP :echo "yes"<CR>
880Don't type a real <Esc>, Vim will recognize the key code and replace it with
881<F1> anyway.
882
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000883Another problem may be that when keeping ALT or Meta pressed the terminal
884prepends ESC instead of setting the 8th bit. See |:map-alt-keys|.
885
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000886 *recursive_mapping*
887If you include the {lhs} in the {rhs} you have a recursive mapping. When
888{lhs} is typed, it will be replaced with {rhs}. When the {lhs} which is
889included in {rhs} is encountered it will be replaced with {rhs}, and so on.
890This makes it possible to repeat a command an infinite number of times. The
891only problem is that the only way to stop this is by causing an error. The
892macros to solve a maze uses this, look there for an example. There is one
893exception: If the {rhs} starts with {lhs}, the first character is not mapped
894again (this is Vi compatible).
895For example: >
896 :map ab abcd
897will execute the "a" command and insert "bcd" in the text. The "ab" in the
898{rhs} will not be mapped again.
899
900If you want to exchange the meaning of two keys you should use the :noremap
901command. For example: >
902 :noremap k j
903 :noremap j k
904This will exchange the cursor up and down commands.
905
906With the normal :map command, when the 'remap' option is on, mapping takes
907place until the text is found not to be a part of a {lhs}. For example, if
908you use: >
909 :map x y
910 :map y x
911Vim will replace x with y, and then y with x, etc. When this has happened
912'maxmapdepth' times (default 1000), Vim will give the error message
913"recursive mapping".
914
915 *:map-undo*
916If you include an undo command inside a mapped sequence, this will bring the
917text back in the state before executing the macro. This is compatible with
918the original Vi, as long as there is only one undo command in the mapped
919sequence (having two undo commands in a mapped sequence did not make sense
920in the original Vi, you would get back the text before the first undo).
921
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000922
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00009231.10 MAPPING ALT-KEYS *:map-alt-keys*
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000924
Bram Moolenaar938ae282023-02-20 20:44:55 +0000925For a readable mapping command the <A-k> form can be used. Note that <A-k>
926and <A-K> are different, the latter will use an upper case letter. Actually,
927<A-K> and <A-S-K> are the same. Instead of "A" you can use "M". If you have
928an actual Meta modifier key, please see |:map-meta-keys|.
929
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000930In the GUI Vim handles the Alt key itself, thus mapping keys with ALT should
931always work. But in a terminal Vim gets a sequence of bytes and has to figure
932out whether ALT was pressed or not.
933
Bram Moolenaar4b570182019-10-20 19:53:22 +0200934If the terminal supports the modifyOtherKeys mode and it has been enabled,
935then Vim can recognize more key combinations, see |modifyOtherKeys| below.
Bram Moolenaar4be18e72023-02-03 12:28:07 +0000936The Kitty keyboard protocol works in a similar way, see
937|kitty-keyboard-protocol|.
Bram Moolenaar4b570182019-10-20 19:53:22 +0200938
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000939By default Vim assumes that pressing the ALT key sets the 8th bit of a typed
Bram Moolenaar97d29a12005-12-17 22:02:57 +0000940character. Most decent terminals can work that way, such as xterm, aterm and
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000941rxvt. If your <A-k> mappings don't work it might be that the terminal is
942prefixing the character with an ESC character. But you can just as well type
943ESC before a character, thus Vim doesn't know what happened (except for
944checking the delay between characters, which is not reliable).
945
946As of this writing, some mainstream terminals like gnome-terminal and konsole
947use the ESC prefix. There doesn't appear a way to have them use the 8th bit
Bram Moolenaar97d29a12005-12-17 22:02:57 +0000948instead. Xterm should work well by default. Aterm and rxvt should work well
949when started with the "--meta8" argument. You can also tweak resources like
950"metaSendsEscape", "eightBitInput" and "eightBitOutput".
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000951
952On the Linux console, this behavior can be toggled with the "setmetamode"
953command. Bear in mind that not using an ESC prefix could get you in trouble
954with other programs. You should make sure that bash has the "convert-meta"
955option set to "on" in order for your Meta keybindings to still work on it
956(it's the default readline behavior, unless changed by specific system
957configuration). For that, you can add the line: >
958
959 set convert-meta on
960
961to your ~/.inputrc file. If you're creating the file, you might want to use: >
962
963 $include /etc/inputrc
964
965as the first line, if that file exists on your system, to keep global options.
966This may cause a problem for entering special characters, such as the umlaut.
967Then you should use CTRL-V before that character.
968
969Bear in mind that convert-meta has been reported to have troubles when used in
970UTF-8 locales. On terminals like xterm, the "metaSendsEscape" resource can be
971toggled on the fly through the "Main Options" menu, by pressing Ctrl-LeftClick
972on the terminal; that's a good last resource in case you want to send ESC when
Bram Moolenaar6aa8cea2017-06-05 14:44:35 +0200973using other applications but not when inside Vim.
Bram Moolenaarcdbac1e2005-12-11 21:27:22 +0000974
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +0000975
Bram Moolenaar4be18e72023-02-03 12:28:07 +00009761.11 MAPPING META-KEYS *:map-meta-keys*
977
978Mapping keys with the Meta modifier works very similar to using the Alt key.
979What key on your keyboard produces the Meta modifier depends on your keyboard
980and configuration.
981
982Note that mapping <M-a> actually is for using the Alt key. That can be
983confusing! It cannot be changed, it would not be backwards compatible.
984
985For the Meta modifier the "T" character is used. For example, to map Meta-b
986in Insert mode: >
987 :imap <T-b> terrible
988
h-east53753f62024-05-05 18:42:31 +02009891.12 MAPPING SUPER-KEYS or COMMAND-KEYS *:map-super-keys* *:map-cmd-key*
Bram Moolenaar4be18e72023-02-03 12:28:07 +0000990
h-east53753f62024-05-05 18:42:31 +0200991The Super modifier is available in GUI mode (when |gui_running| is 1) for gVim
992on Linux and MacVim on Mac OS. If you're on a Mac, this represents the Command
993key, on Linux with the GTK GUI it represents the Super key.
Casey Tucker92e90a12024-01-25 22:44:00 +0100994The character "D" is used for the Super / Command modifier.
995
996For example, to map Command-b in Insert mode: >
997 :imap <D-b> barritone
998
9991.13 MAPPING IN modifyOtherKeys mode *modifyOtherKeys*
Bram Moolenaar4b570182019-10-20 19:53:22 +02001000
1001Xterm and a few other terminals can be put in a mode where keys with modifiers
1002are sent with a special escape code. Vim recognizes these codes and can then
1003make a difference between CTRL-H and Backspace, even when Backspace sends the
Bram Moolenaar47f1fdc2022-11-24 13:27:36 +00001004character 8. And many more special keys, such as Tab and CTRL-I, which cannot
1005be mapped separately otherwise.
Bram Moolenaar4b570182019-10-20 19:53:22 +02001006
1007For xterm modifyOtherKeys is enabled in the builtin termcap entry. If this is
1008not used you can enable modifyOtherKeys with these lines in your vimrc: >
1009 let &t_TI = "\<Esc>[>4;2m"
1010 let &t_TE = "\<Esc>[>4;m"
1011
Bram Moolenaar47f1fdc2022-11-24 13:27:36 +00001012This sets modifyOtherKeys to level 2. Note that modifyOtherKeys level 1 does
1013not work. Some terminals do not support level 2 and then send key codes that
1014Vim will not be able to correctly recognize.
1015
Bram Moolenaar4b570182019-10-20 19:53:22 +02001016In case the modifyOtherKeys mode causes problems you can disable it: >
1017 let &t_TI = ""
1018 let &t_TE = ""
1019It does not take effect immediately. To have this work without restarting Vim
Bram Moolenaar5ef1c6a2019-11-10 22:09:11 +01001020execute a shell command, e.g.: `!ls` Or put the lines in your |vimrc|.
1021
1022When modifyOtherKeys is enabled you can map <C-[> and <C-S-{>: >
1023 imap <C-[> [[[
Bram Moolenaar9a033d72020-10-07 17:29:48 +02001024 imap <C-{> {{{
1025Without modifyOtherKeys <C-[> and <C-{> are indistinguishable from Esc.
1026Note that <C-{> is used and not <C-S-[> or <C-S-{>. This works on most
1027keyboards. Similarly, <C-}> is used instead of <C-S-]> or <C-S-}> and
1028<C-|> instead of <C-S-\> or <C-S-|>. Note that '|' has a special meaning in a
1029mapping, see |map-bar|.
1030
1031WARNING: if you map <C-[> you may very well break any key codes that start
1032with Esc. Make sure it comes AFTER other mappings.
Bram Moolenaar4b570182019-10-20 19:53:22 +02001033
Bram Moolenaar733a69b2022-12-01 12:03:47 +00001034Starting with xterm version 377 Vim can detect the modifyOtherKeys state by
1035requesting it. For this the 't_RK' termcap entry is used. When the response
1036is found then Vim will know whether modifyOtherKeys level 2 is enabled, and
1037handle mappings accordingly.
1038
1039Before version 377 Vim automatically detects if the modifyOtherKeys mode was
1040enabled when it spots an escape sequence that must have been created by it.
1041To see if Vim detected such an escape sequence use `:verbose map`, the first
1042line will then show "Seen modifyOtherKeys: true" (possibly translated).
Bram Moolenaar9f62ea02022-10-19 13:07:03 +01001043
Bram Moolenaar938ae282023-02-20 20:44:55 +00001044This automatic detection depends on receiving an escape code starting with
Bram Moolenaar47f1fdc2022-11-24 13:27:36 +00001045"<1b>[27;". This is the normal way xterm sends these key codes. However, if
1046the *formatOtherKeys* resource is set another form is used that is not
1047recognized, therefore you must not set formatOtherKeys.
1048
Bram Moolenaar2547aa92020-07-26 17:00:44 +02001049A known side effect is that in Insert mode the raw escape sequence is inserted
1050after the CTRL-V key. This can be used to check whether modifyOtherKeys is
1051enabled: In Insert mode type CTRL-SHIFT-V CTRL-V, if you get one byte then
Bram Moolenaar47f1fdc2022-11-24 13:27:36 +00001052modifyOtherKeys is off, if you get <1b>[27;5;118~ then it is on.
Bram Moolenaar4b570182019-10-20 19:53:22 +02001053
Bram Moolenaar733a69b2022-12-01 12:03:47 +00001054Note that xterm up to version 376 has a bug that makes Shift-Esc send a
1055regular Esc code, the Shift modifier is dropped.
1056
Bram Moolenaar5ef1c6a2019-11-10 22:09:11 +01001057When the 'esckeys' option is off, then modifyOtherKeys will be disabled in
1058Insert mode to avoid every key with a modifier causing Insert mode to end.
1059
Bram Moolenaar4b570182019-10-20 19:53:22 +02001060
Casey Tucker92e90a12024-01-25 22:44:00 +010010611.14 MAPPING WITH KITTY KEYBOARD PROTOCOL *kitty-keyboard-protocol*
Bram Moolenaar63a2e362022-11-23 20:20:18 +00001062
1063If the value of 'term' contains "kitty" then Vim will send out an escape
1064sequence to enable the Kitty keyboard protocol. This can be changed with the
1065'keyprotocol' option.
1066
1067Like modifyOtherKeys, this will make it possible to distinguish between more
1068keys with modifiers. Also, this protocol sends an escape sequence for the Esc
1069key, so that Vim does not need to use a timeout to know whether receiving an
1070Esc character means the Esc key was pressed or it's the start of an escape
1071sequence.
1072
1073Vim automatically detects if the Kitty keyboard protocol was enabled when it
1074spots the response to the status request (this should be part of the |t_TI|
1075termcap entry). To see if Vim detected such an escape sequence use: >
1076 :verbose map
1077The first line will then show "Kitty keyboard protocol: {value}" (possibly
1078translated). The meaning of {value}:
1079 Unknown no status received yet
1080 Off protocol is not used
1081 On protocol is used
1082 Disabled protocol was used but expected to have been disabled
1083 by 't_TE'
Bram Moolenaardd60c362023-02-27 15:49:53 +00001084 Cleared protocol expected to have been disabled by 't_TE',
Bram Moolenaar938ae282023-02-20 20:44:55 +00001085 previous state is unknown
Bram Moolenaar63a2e362022-11-23 20:20:18 +00001086
1087
Casey Tucker92e90a12024-01-25 22:44:00 +010010881.15 MAPPING AN OPERATOR *:map-operator*
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00001089
1090An operator is used before a {motion} command. To define your own operator
Bram Moolenaar1b884a02020-12-10 21:11:27 +01001091you must create a mapping that first sets the 'operatorfunc' option and then
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00001092invoke the |g@| operator. After the user types the {motion} command the
1093specified function will be called.
1094
Bram Moolenaara40ceaf2006-01-13 22:35:40 +00001095 *g@* *E774* *E775*
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00001096g@{motion} Call the function set by the 'operatorfunc' option.
1097 The '[ mark is positioned at the start of the text
1098 moved over by {motion}, the '] mark on the last
1099 character of the text.
1100 The function is called with one String argument:
1101 "line" {motion} was |linewise|
1102 "char" {motion} was |characterwise|
Bram Moolenaarf91787c2010-07-17 12:47:16 +02001103 "block" {motion} was |blockwise-visual|
Bram Moolenaarfa3b7232021-12-24 13:18:38 +00001104 The type can be forced, see |forced-motion|.
Bram Moolenaardb84e452010-08-15 13:50:43 +02001105 {not available when compiled without the |+eval|
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00001106 feature}
1107
1108Here is an example that counts the number of spaces with <F4>: >
1109
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +02001110 nnoremap <expr> <F4> CountSpaces()
1111 xnoremap <expr> <F4> CountSpaces()
1112 " doubling <F4> works on a line
1113 nnoremap <expr> <F4><F4> CountSpaces() .. '_'
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00001114
Bram Moolenaarfa3b7232021-12-24 13:18:38 +00001115 function CountSpaces(context = {}, type = '') abort
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +02001116 if a:type == ''
Bram Moolenaarfa3b7232021-12-24 13:18:38 +00001117 let context = #{
1118 \ dot_command: v:false,
1119 \ extend_block: '',
1120 \ virtualedit: [&l:virtualedit, &g:virtualedit],
1121 \ }
1122 let &operatorfunc = function('CountSpaces', [context])
Bram Moolenaar0e6adf82021-12-16 14:41:10 +00001123 set virtualedit=block
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +02001124 return 'g@'
Bram Moolenaar0e6adf82021-12-16 14:41:10 +00001125 endif
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +02001126
Bram Moolenaarfa3b7232021-12-24 13:18:38 +00001127 let save = #{
1128 \ clipboard: &clipboard,
1129 \ selection: &selection,
1130 \ virtualedit: [&l:virtualedit, &g:virtualedit],
1131 \ register: getreginfo('"'),
1132 \ visual_marks: [getpos("'<"), getpos("'>")],
1133 \ }
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00001134
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +02001135 try
Bram Moolenaar0e6adf82021-12-16 14:41:10 +00001136 set clipboard= selection=inclusive virtualedit=
Bram Moolenaarfa3b7232021-12-24 13:18:38 +00001137 let commands = #{
1138 \ line: "'[V']",
1139 \ char: "`[v`]",
1140 \ block: "`[\<C-V>`]",
1141 \ }[a:type]
1142 let [_, _, col, off] = getpos("']")
1143 if off != 0
1144 let vcol = getline("'[")->strpart(0, col + off)->strdisplaywidth()
1145 if vcol >= [line("'["), '$']->virtcol() - 1
1146 let a:context.extend_block = '$'
1147 else
1148 let a:context.extend_block = vcol .. '|'
1149 endif
1150 endif
1151 if a:context.extend_block != ''
1152 let commands ..= 'oO' .. a:context.extend_block
Bram Moolenaar0e6adf82021-12-16 14:41:10 +00001153 endif
1154 let commands ..= 'y'
1155 execute 'silent noautocmd keepjumps normal! ' .. commands
1156 echomsg getreg('"')->count(' ')
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +02001157 finally
Bram Moolenaarfa3b7232021-12-24 13:18:38 +00001158 call setreg('"', save.register)
1159 call setpos("'<", save.visual_marks[0])
1160 call setpos("'>", save.visual_marks[1])
1161 let &clipboard = save.clipboard
1162 let &selection = save.selection
1163 let [&l:virtualedit, &g:virtualedit] = get(a:context.dot_command ? save : a:context, 'virtualedit')
1164 let a:context.dot_command = v:true
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +02001165 endtry
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00001166 endfunction
1167
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +02001168An <expr> mapping is used to be able to fetch any prefixed count and register.
1169This also avoids using a command line, which would trigger CmdlineEnter and
1170CmdlineLeave autocommands.
1171
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00001172Note that the 'selection' option is temporarily set to "inclusive" to be able
1173to yank exactly the right text by using Visual mode from the '[ to the ']
1174mark.
1175
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +02001176Also note that the 'clipboard' option is temporarily emptied to avoid
1177clobbering the `"*` or `"+` registers, if its value contains the item `unnamed`
1178or `unnamedplus`.
Bram Moolenaar5b962cf2005-12-12 21:58:40 +00001179
Bram Moolenaar079ba762021-10-23 12:08:41 +01001180The `mode()` function will return the state as it will be after applying the
1181operator.
1182
Yegappan Lakshmanan777175b2021-11-18 22:08:57 +00001183Here is an example for using a lambda function to create a normal-mode
1184operator to add quotes around text in the current line: >
1185
1186 nnoremap <F4> <Cmd>let &opfunc='{t ->
1187 \ getline(".")
1188 \ ->split("\\zs")
1189 \ ->insert("\"", col("'']"))
1190 \ ->insert("\"", col("''[") - 1)
1191 \ ->join("")
1192 \ ->setline(".")}'<CR>g@
1193
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001194==============================================================================
11952. Abbreviations *abbreviations* *Abbreviations*
1196
1197Abbreviations are used in Insert mode, Replace mode and Command-line mode.
1198If you enter a word that is an abbreviation, it is replaced with the word it
1199stands for. This can be used to save typing for often used long words. And
1200you can use it to automatically correct obvious spelling errors.
1201Examples:
1202
Bram Moolenaarc1762cc2007-05-10 16:56:30 +00001203 :iab ms Microsoft
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001204 :iab tihs this
1205
1206There are three types of abbreviations:
1207
1208full-id The "full-id" type consists entirely of keyword characters (letters
1209 and characters from 'iskeyword' option). This is the most common
1210 abbreviation.
1211
1212 Examples: "foo", "g3", "-1"
1213
1214end-id The "end-id" type ends in a keyword character, but all the other
1215 characters are not keyword characters.
1216
1217 Examples: "#i", "..f", "$/7"
1218
1219non-id The "non-id" type ends in a non-keyword character, the other
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +00001220 characters may be of any type, excluding space and tab. {this type
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001221 is not supported by Vi}
1222
1223 Examples: "def#", "4/7$"
1224
1225Examples of strings that cannot be abbreviations: "a.b", "#def", "a b", "_$r"
1226
1227An abbreviation is only recognized when you type a non-keyword character.
Bram Moolenaar938ae282023-02-20 20:44:55 +00001228This can also be the <Esc> that ends Insert mode or the <CR> that ends a
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001229command. The non-keyword character which ends the abbreviation is inserted
1230after the expanded abbreviation. An exception to this is the character <C-]>,
1231which is used to expand an abbreviation without inserting any extra
1232characters.
1233
1234Example: >
1235 :ab hh hello
1236< "hh<Space>" is expanded to "hello<Space>"
1237 "hh<C-]>" is expanded to "hello"
1238
1239The characters before the cursor must match the abbreviation. Each type has
1240an additional rule:
1241
1242full-id In front of the match is a non-keyword character, or this is where
1243 the line or insertion starts. Exception: When the abbreviation is
1244 only one character, it is not recognized if there is a non-keyword
Bram Moolenaareb3dc872018-05-13 22:34:24 +02001245 character in front of it, other than a space or a tab. However, for
1246 the command line "'<,'>" (or any other marks) is ignored, as if the
1247 command line starts after it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001248
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +00001249end-id In front of the match is a keyword character, or a space or a tab,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001250 or this is where the line or insertion starts.
1251
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +00001252non-id In front of the match is a space, tab or the start of the line or
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001253 the insertion.
1254
1255Examples: ({CURSOR} is where you type a non-keyword character) >
1256 :ab foo four old otters
1257< " foo{CURSOR}" is expanded to " four old otters"
1258 " foobar{CURSOR}" is not expanded
1259 "barfoo{CURSOR}" is not expanded
1260>
1261 :ab #i #include
1262< "#i{CURSOR}" is expanded to "#include"
1263 ">#i{CURSOR}" is not expanded
1264>
Bram Moolenaar81695252004-12-29 20:58:21 +00001265 :ab ;; <endofline>
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001266< "test;;" is not expanded
1267 "test ;;" is expanded to "test <endofline>"
1268
Bram Moolenaar7d76c802014-10-15 22:51:52 +02001269To avoid the abbreviation in Insert mode: Type CTRL-V before the character
1270that would trigger the abbreviation. E.g. CTRL-V <Space>. Or type part of
1271the abbreviation, exit insert mode with <Esc>, re-enter insert mode with "a"
1272and type the rest.
1273
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001274To avoid the abbreviation in Command-line mode: Type CTRL-V twice somewhere in
1275the abbreviation to avoid it to be replaced. A CTRL-V in front of a normal
1276character is mostly ignored otherwise.
1277
1278It is possible to move the cursor after an abbreviation: >
1279 :iab if if ()<Left>
1280This does not work if 'cpoptions' includes the '<' flag. |<>|
1281
1282You can even do more complicated things. For example, to consume the space
1283typed after an abbreviation: >
1284 func Eatchar(pat)
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001285 let c = nr2char(getchar(0))
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001286 return (c =~ a:pat) ? '' : c
1287 endfunc
1288 iabbr <silent> if if ()<Left><C-R>=Eatchar('\s')<CR>
1289
1290There are no default abbreviations.
1291
1292Abbreviations are never recursive. You can use ":ab f f-o-o" without any
1293problem. But abbreviations can be mapped. {some versions of Vi support
1294recursive abbreviations, for no apparent reason}
1295
1296Abbreviations are disabled if the 'paste' option is on.
1297
1298 *:abbreviate-local* *:abbreviate-<buffer>*
1299Just like mappings, abbreviations can be local to a buffer. This is mostly
1300used in a |filetype-plugin| file. Example for a C plugin file: >
1301 :abb <buffer> FF for (i = 0; i < ; ++i)
1302<
1303 *:ab* *:abbreviate*
1304:ab[breviate] list all abbreviations. The character in the first
1305 column indicates the mode where the abbreviation is
1306 used: 'i' for insert mode, 'c' for Command-line
1307 mode, '!' for both. These are the same as for
1308 mappings, see |map-listing|.
1309
Bram Moolenaare344bea2005-09-01 20:46:49 +00001310 *:abbreviate-verbose*
1311When 'verbose' is non-zero, listing an abbreviation will also display where it
1312was last defined. Example: >
1313
1314 :verbose abbreviate
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +00001315 ! teh the
Bram Moolenaare344bea2005-09-01 20:46:49 +00001316 Last set from /home/abcd/vim/abbr.vim
1317
1318See |:verbose-cmd| for more information.
1319
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001320:ab[breviate] {lhs} list the abbreviations that start with {lhs}
1321 You may need to insert a CTRL-V (type it twice) to
1322 avoid that a typed {lhs} is expanded, since
1323 command-line abbreviations apply here.
1324
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001325:ab[breviate] [<expr>] [<buffer>] {lhs} {rhs}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001326 add abbreviation for {lhs} to {rhs}. If {lhs} already
1327 existed it is replaced with the new {rhs}. {rhs} may
1328 contain spaces.
Bram Moolenaarfc1421e2006-04-20 22:17:20 +00001329 See |:map-<expr>| for the optional <expr> argument.
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001330 See |:map-<buffer>| for the optional <buffer> argument.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001331
1332 *:una* *:unabbreviate*
Bram Moolenaar95a9dd12019-12-19 22:12:03 +01001333:una[bbreviate] [<buffer>] {lhs}
1334 Remove abbreviation for {lhs} from the list. If none
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001335 is found, remove abbreviations in which {lhs} matches
1336 with the {rhs}. This is done so that you can even
1337 remove abbreviations after expansion. To avoid
1338 expansion insert a CTRL-V (type it twice).
1339
1340 *:norea* *:noreabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001341:norea[bbrev] [<expr>] [<buffer>] [lhs] [rhs]
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001342 Same as ":ab", but no remapping for this {rhs}.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001343
Bram Moolenaar61da1bf2019-06-06 12:14:49 +02001344 *:ca* *:cab* *:cabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001345:ca[bbrev] [<expr>] [<buffer>] [lhs] [rhs]
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001346 Same as ":ab", but for Command-line mode only.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001347
1348 *:cuna* *:cunabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar95a9dd12019-12-19 22:12:03 +01001349:cuna[bbrev] [<buffer>] {lhs}
1350 Same as ":una", but for Command-line mode only.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001351
1352 *:cnorea* *:cnoreabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001353:cnorea[bbrev] [<expr>] [<buffer>] [lhs] [rhs]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001354 same as ":ab", but for Command-line mode only and no
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001355 remapping for this {rhs}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001356
1357 *:ia* *:iabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001358:ia[bbrev] [<expr>] [<buffer>] [lhs] [rhs]
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001359 Same as ":ab", but for Insert mode only.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001360
1361 *:iuna* *:iunabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar95a9dd12019-12-19 22:12:03 +01001362:iuna[bbrev] [<buffer>] {lhs}
1363 Same as ":una", but for insert mode only.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001364
1365 *:inorea* *:inoreabbrev*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001366:inorea[bbrev] [<expr>] [<buffer>] [lhs] [rhs]
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001367 Same as ":ab", but for Insert mode only and no
1368 remapping for this {rhs}.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001369
1370 *:abc* *:abclear*
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001371:abc[lear] [<buffer>] Remove all abbreviations.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001372
1373 *:iabc* *:iabclear*
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001374:iabc[lear] [<buffer>] Remove all abbreviations for Insert mode.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001375
1376 *:cabc* *:cabclear*
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001377:cabc[lear] [<buffer>] Remove all abbreviations for Command-line mode.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001378
1379 *using_CTRL-V*
1380It is possible to use special characters in the rhs of an abbreviation.
1381CTRL-V has to be used to avoid the special meaning of most non printable
1382characters. How many CTRL-Vs need to be typed depends on how you enter the
1383abbreviation. This also applies to mappings. Let's use an example here.
1384
1385Suppose you want to abbreviate "esc" to enter an <Esc> character. When you
1386type the ":ab" command in Vim, you have to enter this: (here ^V is a CTRL-V
1387and ^[ is <Esc>)
1388
1389You type: ab esc ^V^V^V^V^V^[
1390
1391 All keyboard input is subjected to ^V quote interpretation, so
1392 the first, third, and fifth ^V characters simply allow the second,
1393 and fourth ^Vs, and the ^[, to be entered into the command-line.
1394
1395You see: ab esc ^V^V^[
1396
1397 The command-line contains two actual ^Vs before the ^[. This is
1398 how it should appear in your .exrc file, if you choose to go that
1399 route. The first ^V is there to quote the second ^V; the :ab
1400 command uses ^V as its own quote character, so you can include quoted
Bram Moolenaar81695252004-12-29 20:58:21 +00001401 whitespace or the | character in the abbreviation. The :ab command
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001402 doesn't do anything special with the ^[ character, so it doesn't need
1403 to be quoted. (Although quoting isn't harmful; that's why typing 7
1404 [but not 8!] ^Vs works.)
1405
1406Stored as: esc ^V^[
1407
1408 After parsing, the abbreviation's short form ("esc") and long form
1409 (the two characters "^V^[") are stored in the abbreviation table.
1410 If you give the :ab command with no arguments, this is how the
1411 abbreviation will be displayed.
1412
1413 Later, when the abbreviation is expanded because the user typed in
1414 the word "esc", the long form is subjected to the same type of
1415 ^V interpretation as keyboard input. So the ^V protects the ^[
Bram Moolenaar81695252004-12-29 20:58:21 +00001416 character from being interpreted as the "exit Insert mode" character.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001417 Instead, the ^[ is inserted into the text.
1418
1419Expands to: ^[
1420
1421[example given by Steve Kirkendall]
1422
1423==============================================================================
14243. Local mappings and functions *script-local*
1425
1426When using several Vim script files, there is the danger that mappings and
1427functions used in one script use the same name as in other scripts. To avoid
1428this, they can be made local to the script.
1429
1430 *<SID>* *<SNR>* *E81*
1431The string "<SID>" can be used in a mapping or menu. This requires that the
Bram Moolenaardd60c362023-02-27 15:49:53 +00001432'<' flag is not present in 'cpoptions'. This is useful if you have a
1433script-local function that you want to call from a mapping in the same script.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001434 When executing the map command, Vim will replace "<SID>" with the special
1435key code <SNR>, followed by a number that's unique for the script, and an
1436underscore. Example: >
1437 :map <SID>Add
Bram Moolenaardd60c362023-02-27 15:49:53 +00001438would define a mapping "<SNR>23_Add".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001439
1440When defining a function in a script, "s:" can be prepended to the name to
Bram Moolenaar75ab5902022-04-18 15:36:40 +01001441make it local to the script (in |Vim9| script functions without a prefix are
1442local to the script). But when a mapping is executed from outside of
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001443the script, it doesn't know in which script the function was defined. To
1444avoid this problem, use "<SID>" instead of "s:". The same translation is done
1445as for mappings. This makes it possible to define a call to the function in
Bram Moolenaar81695252004-12-29 20:58:21 +00001446a mapping.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001447
1448When a local function is executed, it runs in the context of the script it was
1449defined in. This means that new functions and mappings it defines can also
1450use "s:" or "<SID>" and it will use the same unique number as when the
1451function itself was defined. Also, the "s:var" local script variables can be
1452used.
1453
1454When executing an autocommand or a user command, it will run in the context of
1455the script it was defined in. This makes it possible that the command calls a
1456local function or uses a local mapping.
1457
Bram Moolenaar90944302020-08-01 20:45:11 +02001458In case the value is used in a context where <SID> cannot be correctly
1459expanded, use the expand() function: >
1460 let &includexpr = expand('<SID>') .. 'My_includeexpr()'
1461
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001462Otherwise, using "<SID>" outside of a script context is an error.
1463
1464If you need to get the script number to use in a complicated script, you can
Bram Moolenaar4770d092006-01-12 23:22:24 +00001465use this function: >
Bram Moolenaar4466ad62020-11-21 13:16:30 +01001466 func s:ScriptNumber()
1467 return matchstr(expand('<SID>'), '<SNR>\zs\d\+\ze_')
1468 endfunc
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001469
1470The "<SNR>" will be shown when listing functions and mappings. This is useful
1471to find out what they are defined to.
1472
1473The |:scriptnames| command can be used to see which scripts have been sourced
1474and what their <SNR> number is.
1475
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001476This is all {not available when compiled without the |+eval| feature}.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001477
1478==============================================================================
14794. User-defined commands *user-commands*
1480
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001481It is possible to define your own Ex commands. A user-defined command can act
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001482just like a built-in command (it can have a range or arguments, arguments can
1483be completed as filenames or buffer names, etc), except that when the command
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001484is executed, it is transformed into a normal Ex command and then executed.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001485
1486For starters: See section |40.2| in the user manual.
1487
Bram Moolenaar166af9b2010-11-16 20:34:40 +01001488 *E183* *E841* *user-cmd-ambiguous*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001489All user defined commands must start with an uppercase letter, to avoid
Bram Moolenaar166af9b2010-11-16 20:34:40 +01001490confusion with builtin commands. Exceptions are these builtin commands:
1491 :Next
1492 :X
1493They cannot be used for a user defined command. ":Print" is also an existing
1494command, but it is deprecated and can be overruled.
1495
1496The other characters of the user command can be uppercase letters, lowercase
1497letters or digits. When using digits, note that other commands that take a
1498numeric argument may become ambiguous. For example, the command ":Cc2" could
1499be the user command ":Cc2" without an argument, or the command ":Cc" with
1500argument "2". It is advised to put a space between the command name and the
1501argument to avoid these problems.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001502
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001503When using a user-defined command, the command can be abbreviated. However, if
1504an abbreviation is not unique, an error will be issued. Furthermore, a
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001505built-in command will always take precedence.
1506
1507Example: >
1508 :command Rename ...
1509 :command Renumber ...
1510 :Rena " Means "Rename"
1511 :Renu " Means "Renumber"
1512 :Ren " Error - ambiguous
1513 :command Paste ...
1514 :P " The built-in :Print
1515
1516It is recommended that full names for user-defined commands are used in
1517scripts.
1518
1519:com[mand] *:com* *:command*
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001520 List all user-defined commands. When listing commands,
Bram Moolenaara561a412019-04-25 21:27:58 +02001521 the characters in the first columns are:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001522 ! Command has the -bang attribute
1523 " Command has the -register attribute
Bram Moolenaara561a412019-04-25 21:27:58 +02001524 | Command has the -bar attribute
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001525 b Command is local to current buffer
1526 (see below for details on attributes)
Bram Moolenaar818078d2016-08-27 21:58:42 +02001527 The list can be filtered on command name with
1528 |:filter|, e.g., to list all commands with "Pyth" in
1529 the name: >
1530 filter Pyth command
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001531
1532:com[mand] {cmd} List the user-defined commands that start with {cmd}
1533
Bram Moolenaar5b8d8fd2005-08-16 23:01:50 +00001534 *:command-verbose*
1535When 'verbose' is non-zero, listing a command will also display where it was
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00001536last defined and any completion argument. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar5b8d8fd2005-08-16 23:01:50 +00001537
1538 :verbose command TOhtml
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +00001539< Name Args Range Complete Definition ~
1540 TOhtml 0 % :call Convert2HTML(<line1>, <line2>) ~
1541 Last set from /usr/share/vim/vim-7.0/plugin/tohtml.vim ~
1542
Bram Moolenaar5195e452005-08-19 20:32:47 +00001543See |:verbose-cmd| for more information.
Bram Moolenaar5b8d8fd2005-08-16 23:01:50 +00001544
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001545 *E174* *E182*
Bram Moolenaar1b884a02020-12-10 21:11:27 +01001546:com[mand][!] [{attr}...] {cmd} {repl}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001547 Define a user command. The name of the command is
Bram Moolenaar1b884a02020-12-10 21:11:27 +01001548 {cmd} and its replacement text is {repl}. The
1549 command's attributes (see below) are {attr}. If the
1550 command already exists, an error is reported, unless a
1551 ! is specified, in which case the command is
1552 redefined. There is one exception: When sourcing a
1553 script again, a command that was previously defined in
1554 that script will be silently replaced.
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001555
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001556
1557:delc[ommand] {cmd} *:delc* *:delcommand* *E184*
1558 Delete the user-defined command {cmd}.
Bram Moolenaard13166e2022-11-18 21:49:57 +00001559 This is not allowed while listing commands, e.g. from
1560 a timer. *E1311*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001561
Bram Moolenaarbdcba242021-09-12 20:58:02 +02001562:delc[ommand] -buffer {cmd} *E1237*
1563 Delete the user-defined command {cmd} that was defined
1564 for the current buffer.
1565
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001566:comc[lear] *:comc* *:comclear*
1567 Delete all user-defined commands.
1568
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001569
1570Command attributes ~
Bram Moolenaar6ebe4f92022-10-28 20:47:54 +01001571 *command-attributes*
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001572User-defined commands are treated by Vim just like any other Ex commands. They
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001573can have arguments, or have a range specified. Arguments are subject to
1574completion as filenames, buffers, etc. Exactly how this works depends upon the
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001575command's attributes, which are specified when the command is defined.
1576
Bram Moolenaar71badf92023-04-22 22:40:14 +01001577When defining a user command in a script, it will be able to call functions
1578local to the script and use mappings local to the script. When the user
1579invokes the user command, it will run in the context of the script it was
1580defined in. This matters if |<SID>| is used in a command.
1581
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001582There are a number of attributes, split into four categories: argument
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001583handling, completion behavior, range handling, and special cases. The
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001584attributes are described below, by category.
1585
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001586
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001587Argument handling ~
1588 *E175* *E176* *:command-nargs*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001589By default, a user defined command will take no arguments (and an error is
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001590reported if any are supplied). However, it is possible to specify that the
1591command can take arguments, using the -nargs attribute. Valid cases are:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001592
1593 -nargs=0 No arguments are allowed (the default)
Bram Moolenaar9d87a372018-12-18 21:41:50 +01001594 -nargs=1 Exactly one argument is required, it includes spaces
Bram Moolenaar446beb42011-05-10 17:18:44 +02001595 -nargs=* Any number of arguments are allowed (0, 1, or many),
1596 separated by white space
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001597 -nargs=? 0 or 1 arguments are allowed
1598 -nargs=+ Arguments must be supplied, but any number are allowed
1599
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +00001600Arguments are considered to be separated by (unescaped) spaces or tabs in this
Bram Moolenaar446beb42011-05-10 17:18:44 +02001601context, except when there is one argument, then the white space is part of
1602the argument.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001603
1604Note that arguments are used as text, not as expressions. Specifically,
1605"s:var" will use the script-local variable in the script where the command was
1606defined, not where it is invoked! Example:
1607 script1.vim: >
1608 :let s:error = "None"
1609 :command -nargs=1 Error echoerr <args>
1610< script2.vim: >
1611 :source script1.vim
1612 :let s:error = "Wrong!"
1613 :Error s:error
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +00001614Executing script2.vim will result in "None" being echoed. Not what you
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001615intended! Calling a function may be an alternative.
1616
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001617
1618Completion behavior ~
Bram Moolenaar9d87a372018-12-18 21:41:50 +01001619 *:command-completion* *E179* *E180* *E181*
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001620 *:command-complete*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001621By default, the arguments of user defined commands do not undergo completion.
1622However, by specifying one or the other of the following attributes, argument
1623completion can be enabled:
1624
Bram Moolenaarcd43eff2018-03-29 15:55:38 +02001625 -complete=arglist file names in argument list
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001626 -complete=augroup autocmd groups
1627 -complete=buffer buffer names
Bram Moolenaar5ae636b2012-04-30 18:48:53 +02001628 -complete=behave :behave suboptions
Bram Moolenaare9edd7f2011-07-20 16:37:24 +02001629 -complete=color color schemes
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001630 -complete=command Ex command (and arguments)
Bram Moolenaare9edd7f2011-07-20 16:37:24 +02001631 -complete=compiler compilers
Bram Moolenaar4a748032010-09-30 21:47:56 +02001632 -complete=cscope |:cscope| suboptions
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001633 -complete=dir directory names
1634 -complete=environment environment variable names
1635 -complete=event autocommand events
1636 -complete=expression Vim expression
1637 -complete=file file and directory names
Bram Moolenaare9edd7f2011-07-20 16:37:24 +02001638 -complete=file_in_path file and directory names in |'path'|
Bram Moolenaara26559b2010-07-31 14:59:19 +02001639 -complete=filetype filetype names |'filetype'|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001640 -complete=function function name
1641 -complete=help help subjects
1642 -complete=highlight highlight groups
Bram Moolenaar5ae636b2012-04-30 18:48:53 +02001643 -complete=history :history suboptions
Doug Kearns81642d92024-01-04 22:37:44 +01001644 -complete=keymap keyboard mappings
Bram Moolenaare9edd7f2011-07-20 16:37:24 +02001645 -complete=locale locale names (as output of locale -a)
Bram Moolenaarcae92dc2017-08-06 15:22:15 +02001646 -complete=mapclear buffer argument
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001647 -complete=mapping mapping name
1648 -complete=menu menus
Bram Moolenaar9e507ca2016-10-15 15:39:39 +02001649 -complete=messages |:messages| suboptions
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001650 -complete=option options
Bram Moolenaar063b9d12016-07-09 20:21:48 +02001651 -complete=packadd optional package |pack-add| names
Bram Moolenaara26559b2010-07-31 14:59:19 +02001652 -complete=shellcmd Shell command
Bram Moolenaar4a748032010-09-30 21:47:56 +02001653 -complete=sign |:sign| suboptions
Bram Moolenaara26559b2010-07-31 14:59:19 +02001654 -complete=syntax syntax file names |'syntax'|
Bram Moolenaarcd9c4622013-06-08 15:24:48 +02001655 -complete=syntime |:syntime| suboptions
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001656 -complete=tag tags
1657 -complete=tag_listfiles tags, file names are shown when CTRL-D is hit
Bram Moolenaar24305862012-08-15 14:05:05 +02001658 -complete=user user names
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001659 -complete=var user variables
1660 -complete=custom,{func} custom completion, defined via {func}
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001661 -complete=customlist,{func} custom completion, defined via {func}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001662
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00001663If you specify completion while there is nothing to complete (-nargs=0, the
1664default) then you get error *E1208* .
Bram Moolenaar3a991dd2014-10-02 01:41:41 +02001665Note: That some completion methods might expand environment variables.
1666
Bram Moolenaara5792f52005-11-23 21:25:05 +00001667
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001668Custom completion ~
1669 *:command-completion-custom*
1670 *:command-completion-customlist* *E467* *E468*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001671It is possible to define customized completion schemes via the "custom,{func}"
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001672or the "customlist,{func}" completion argument. The {func} part should be a
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +00001673function with the following signature: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001674
1675 :function {func}(ArgLead, CmdLine, CursorPos)
1676
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001677The function need not use all these arguments. The function should provide the
1678completion candidates as the return value.
1679
1680For the "custom" argument, the function should return the completion
1681candidates one per line in a newline separated string.
Bram Moolenaar9712ff12022-09-18 13:04:22 +01001682 *E1303*
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001683For the "customlist" argument, the function should return the completion
Bram Moolenaara5792f52005-11-23 21:25:05 +00001684candidates as a Vim List. Non-string items in the list are ignored.
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001685
1686The function arguments are:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001687 ArgLead the leading portion of the argument currently being
1688 completed on
1689 CmdLine the entire command line
Bram Moolenaara5792f52005-11-23 21:25:05 +00001690 CursorPos the cursor position in it (byte index)
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001691The function may use these for determining context. For the "custom"
1692argument, it is not necessary to filter candidates against the (implicit
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001693pattern in) ArgLead. Vim will filter the candidates with its regexp engine
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00001694after function return, and this is probably more efficient in most cases. If
1695'wildoptions' contains "fuzzy", then the candidates will be filtered using
1696|fuzzy-matching|. For the "customlist" argument, Vim will not
1697filter the returned completion candidates and the user supplied function
1698should filter the candidates.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001699
1700The following example lists user names to a Finger command >
1701 :com -complete=custom,ListUsers -nargs=1 Finger !finger <args>
1702 :fun ListUsers(A,L,P)
1703 : return system("cut -d: -f1 /etc/passwd")
1704 :endfun
1705
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001706The following example completes filenames from the directories specified in
1707the 'path' option: >
1708 :com -nargs=1 -bang -complete=customlist,EditFileComplete
1709 \ EditFile edit<bang> <args>
1710 :fun EditFileComplete(A,L,P)
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001711 : return split(globpath(&path, a:A), "\n")
Bram Moolenaara466c992005-07-09 21:03:22 +00001712 :endfun
1713<
Bram Moolenaar5ac3b1a2010-07-27 22:50:36 +02001714This example does not work for file names with spaces!
1715
Bram Moolenaara5792f52005-11-23 21:25:05 +00001716
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001717Range handling ~
1718 *E177* *E178* *:command-range* *:command-count*
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001719By default, user-defined commands do not accept a line number range. However,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001720it is possible to specify that the command does take a range (the -range
1721attribute), or that it takes an arbitrary count value, either in the line
1722number position (-range=N, like the |:split| command) or as a "count"
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +00001723argument (-count=N, like the |:Next| command). The count will then be
1724available in the argument with |<count>|.
1725
1726Possible attributes are:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001727
1728 -range Range allowed, default is current line
1729 -range=% Range allowed, default is whole file (1,$)
1730 -range=N A count (default N) which is specified in the line
Bram Moolenaar8e5af3e2011-04-28 19:02:44 +02001731 number position (like |:split|); allows for zero line
1732 number.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001733 -count=N A count (default N) which is specified either in the line
Bram Moolenaar32e7b2d2005-02-27 22:36:47 +00001734 number position, or as an initial argument (like |:Next|).
Bram Moolenaar86b48162022-12-06 18:20:10 +00001735 -count Acts like -count=0
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001736
1737Note that -range=N and -count=N are mutually exclusive - only one should be
1738specified.
1739
Bram Moolenaaraa3b15d2016-04-21 08:53:19 +02001740 *:command-addr*
Bram Moolenaarf1d6ccf2014-12-08 04:16:44 +01001741It is possible that the special characters in the range like ., $ or % which
1742by default correspond to the current line, last line and the whole buffer,
1743relate to arguments, (loaded) buffers, windows or tab pages.
1744
Bram Moolenaara561a412019-04-25 21:27:58 +02001745Possible values are (second column is the short name used in listing):
Bram Moolenaar938ae282023-02-20 20:44:55 +00001746 -addr=lines Range of lines (this is the default for -range)
Bram Moolenaara561a412019-04-25 21:27:58 +02001747 -addr=arguments arg Range for arguments
1748 -addr=buffers buf Range for buffers (also not loaded buffers)
1749 -addr=loaded_buffers load Range for loaded buffers
1750 -addr=windows win Range for windows
1751 -addr=tabs tab Range for tab pages
1752 -addr=quickfix qf Range for quickfix entries
Bram Moolenaar86b48162022-12-06 18:20:10 +00001753 -addr=other ? Other kind of range; can use ".", "$" and "%"
Bram Moolenaar25c9c682019-05-05 18:13:34 +02001754 as with "lines" (this is the default for
1755 -count)
Bram Moolenaarf1d6ccf2014-12-08 04:16:44 +01001756
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001757
1758Special cases ~
1759 *:command-bang* *:command-bar*
Bram Moolenaar5c5b0942007-05-06 12:07:59 +00001760 *:command-register* *:command-buffer*
Bram Moolenaar519cc552021-11-16 19:18:26 +00001761 *:command-keepscript*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001762There are some special cases as well:
1763
1764 -bang The command can take a ! modifier (like :q or :w)
1765 -bar The command can be followed by a "|" and another command.
1766 A "|" inside the command argument is not allowed then.
1767 Also checks for a " to start a comment.
1768 -register The first argument to the command can be an optional
1769 register name (like :del, :put, :yank).
1770 -buffer The command will only be available in the current buffer.
Bram Moolenaar58ef8a32021-11-12 11:25:11 +00001771 -keepscript Do not use the location of where the user command was
1772 defined for verbose messages, use the location of where
1773 the user command was invoked.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001774
1775In the cases of the -count and -register attributes, if the optional argument
1776is supplied, it is removed from the argument list and is available to the
1777replacement text separately.
Bram Moolenaar7cba6c02013-09-05 22:13:31 +02001778Note that these arguments can be abbreviated, but that is a deprecated
1779feature. Use the full name for new scripts.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001780
Bram Moolenaar55d46912018-12-08 16:03:28 +01001781
1782Replacement text ~
Bram Moolenaar73b8b0a2021-08-01 14:52:32 +02001783 *:command-repl*
Bram Moolenaar5d7c2df2021-07-27 21:17:32 +02001784The {repl} argument is normally one long string, possibly with "|" separated
1785commands. A special case is when the argument is "{", then the following
1786lines, up to a line starting with "}" are used and |Vim9| syntax applies.
1787Example: >
1788 :command MyCommand {
1789 echo 'hello'
1790 g:calledMyCommand = true
1791 }
Bram Moolenaar63b91732021-08-05 20:40:03 +02001792< *E1231*
1793There must be white space before the "{". No nesting is supported, inline
1794functions cannot be used. Commands where a "|" may appear in the argument,
1795such as commands with an expression argument, cannot be followed by a "|" and
1796another command.
Bram Moolenaar5d7c2df2021-07-27 21:17:32 +02001797
Bram Moolenaar71badf92023-04-22 22:40:14 +01001798If the command is defined in Vim9 script (a script that starts with
1799`:vim9script` and in a `:def` function) then {repl} will be executed as in Vim9
1800script. Thus this depends on where the command is defined, not where it is
1801used.
1802
Bram Moolenaar1b884a02020-12-10 21:11:27 +01001803The replacement text {repl} for a user defined command is scanned for special
1804escape sequences, using <...> notation. Escape sequences are replaced with
1805values from the entered command line, and all other text is copied unchanged.
1806The resulting string is executed as an Ex command. To avoid the replacement
1807use <lt> in place of the initial <. Thus to include "<bang>" literally use
Bram Moolenaar371d5402006-03-20 21:47:49 +00001808"<lt>bang>".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001809
1810The valid escape sequences are
1811
1812 *<line1>*
1813 <line1> The starting line of the command range.
1814 *<line2>*
1815 <line2> The final line of the command range.
Bram Moolenaarc168bd42017-09-10 17:34:35 +02001816 *<range>*
1817 <range> The number of items in the command range: 0, 1 or 2
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001818 *<count>*
1819 <count> Any count supplied (as described for the '-range'
1820 and '-count' attributes).
1821 *<bang>*
1822 <bang> (See the '-bang' attribute) Expands to a ! if the
1823 command was executed with a ! modifier, otherwise
1824 expands to nothing.
Bram Moolenaar1d59aa12020-09-19 18:50:13 +02001825 *<mods>* *<q-mods>* *:command-modifiers*
Bram Moolenaar63a60de2016-06-04 22:08:55 +02001826 <mods> The command modifiers, if specified. Otherwise, expands to
Bram Moolenaarc95a3022016-06-12 23:01:46 +02001827 nothing. Supported modifiers are |:aboveleft|, |:belowright|,
zeertzjqd3de1782022-09-01 12:58:52 +01001828 |:botright|, |:browse|, |:confirm|, |:hide|, |:horizontal|,
1829 |:keepalt|, |:keepjumps|, |:keepmarks|, |:keeppatterns|,
1830 |:leftabove|, |:lockmarks|, |:noautocmd|, |:noswapfile|
1831 |:rightbelow|, |:sandbox|, |:silent|, |:tab|, |:topleft|,
1832 |:unsilent|, |:verbose|, and |:vertical|.
zeertzjq9359e8a2022-07-03 13:16:09 +01001833 Note that |:filter| is not supported.
Bram Moolenaar63a60de2016-06-04 22:08:55 +02001834 Examples: >
1835 command! -nargs=+ -complete=file MyEdit
1836 \ for f in expand(<q-args>, 0, 1) |
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00001837 \ exe '<mods> split ' .. f |
Bram Moolenaar63a60de2016-06-04 22:08:55 +02001838 \ endfor
1839
1840 function! SpecialEdit(files, mods)
1841 for f in expand(a:files, 0, 1)
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00001842 exe a:mods .. ' split ' .. f
Bram Moolenaar63a60de2016-06-04 22:08:55 +02001843 endfor
1844 endfunction
1845 command! -nargs=+ -complete=file Sedit
1846 \ call SpecialEdit(<q-args>, <q-mods>)
1847<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001848 *<reg>* *<register>*
1849 <reg> (See the '-register' attribute) The optional register,
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001850 if specified. Otherwise, expands to nothing. <register>
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001851 is a synonym for this.
1852 *<args>*
1853 <args> The command arguments, exactly as supplied (but as
1854 noted above, any count or register can consume some
1855 of the arguments, which are then not part of <args>).
1856 <lt> A single '<' (Less-Than) character. This is needed if you
1857 want to get a literal copy of one of these escape sequences
1858 into the expansion - for example, to get <bang>, use
1859 <lt>bang>.
1860
1861 *<q-args>*
1862If the first two characters of an escape sequence are "q-" (for example,
1863<q-args>) then the value is quoted in such a way as to make it a valid value
1864for use in an expression. This uses the argument as one single value.
Bram Moolenaar9fbdbb82022-09-27 17:30:34 +01001865When there is no argument <q-args> is an empty string. See the
1866|q-args-example| below.
Bram Moolenaar552f8a12007-03-08 17:12:08 +00001867 *<f-args>*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001868To allow commands to pass their arguments on to a user-defined function, there
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001869is a special form <f-args> ("function args"). This splits the command
Bram Moolenaar34162142007-05-12 13:12:19 +00001870arguments at spaces and tabs, quotes each argument individually, and the
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001871<f-args> sequence is replaced by the comma-separated list of quoted arguments.
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +00001872See the Mycmd example below. If no arguments are given <f-args> is removed.
Bram Moolenaar552f8a12007-03-08 17:12:08 +00001873 To embed whitespace into an argument of <f-args>, prepend a backslash.
1874<f-args> replaces every pair of backslashes (\\) with one backslash. A
1875backslash followed by a character other than white space or a backslash
Bram Moolenaar9fbdbb82022-09-27 17:30:34 +01001876remains unmodified. Also see |f-args-example| below. Overview:
Bram Moolenaar552f8a12007-03-08 17:12:08 +00001877
1878 command <f-args> ~
1879 XX ab 'ab'
1880 XX a\b 'a\b'
1881 XX a\ b 'a b'
1882 XX a\ b 'a ', 'b'
1883 XX a\\b 'a\b'
1884 XX a\\ b 'a\', 'b'
1885 XX a\\\b 'a\\b'
1886 XX a\\\ b 'a\ b'
1887 XX a\\\\b 'a\\b'
1888 XX a\\\\ b 'a\\', 'b'
Bram Moolenaarb7398fe2023-05-14 18:50:25 +01001889 XX [nothing]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001890
Bram Moolenaar9fbdbb82022-09-27 17:30:34 +01001891
Bram Moolenaarb7398fe2023-05-14 18:50:25 +01001892Note that if the "no arguments" situation is to be handled, you have to make
1893sure that the function can be called without arguments. For a compiled
1894function you might want to use variable arguments, see
1895|vim9-variable-arguments|.
1896
Bram Moolenaar9fbdbb82022-09-27 17:30:34 +01001897Examples for user commands: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001898
1899 " Delete everything after here to the end
1900 :com Ddel +,$d
1901
1902 " Rename the current buffer
1903 :com -nargs=1 -bang -complete=file Ren f <args>|w<bang>
1904
1905 " Replace a range with the contents of a file
1906 " (Enter this all as one line)
1907 :com -range -nargs=1 -complete=file
1908 Replace <line1>-pu_|<line1>,<line2>d|r <args>|<line1>d
1909
1910 " Count the number of lines in the range
Bram Moolenaar81695252004-12-29 20:58:21 +00001911 :com! -range -nargs=0 Lines echo <line2> - <line1> + 1 "lines"
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001912
Bram Moolenaar9fbdbb82022-09-27 17:30:34 +01001913< *f-args-example*
1914Call a user function (example of <f-args>) >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001915 :com -nargs=* Mycmd call Myfunc(<f-args>)
1916
1917When executed as: >
1918 :Mycmd arg1 arg2
1919This will invoke: >
1920 :call Myfunc("arg1","arg2")
1921
Bram Moolenaarb59ae592022-11-23 23:46:31 +00001922< *q-args-example*
Bram Moolenaar9fbdbb82022-09-27 17:30:34 +01001923A more substantial example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001924 :function Allargs(command)
Bram Moolenaara7241f52008-06-24 20:39:31 +00001925 : let i = 0
1926 : while i < argc()
1927 : if filereadable(argv(i))
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00001928 : execute "e " .. argv(i)
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001929 : execute a:command
1930 : endif
1931 : let i = i + 1
1932 : endwhile
1933 :endfunction
1934 :command -nargs=+ -complete=command Allargs call Allargs(<q-args>)
1935
1936The command Allargs takes any Vim command(s) as argument and executes it on all
1937files in the argument list. Usage example (note use of the "e" flag to ignore
1938errors and the "update" command to write modified buffers): >
1939 :Allargs %s/foo/bar/ge|update
1940This will invoke: >
1941 :call Allargs("%s/foo/bar/ge|update")
1942<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001943
Bram Moolenaar91f84f62018-07-29 15:07:52 +02001944 vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl: