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Bram Moolenaar1f35bf92006-03-07 22:38:47 +00001*eval.txt* For Vim version 7.0aa. Last change: 2006 Mar 07
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002
3
4 VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar
5
6
7Expression evaluation *expression* *expr* *E15* *eval*
8
9Using expressions is introduced in chapter 41 of the user manual |usr_41.txt|.
10
11Note: Expression evaluation can be disabled at compile time. If this has been
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +000012done, the features in this document are not available. See |+eval| and
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000013|no-eval-feature|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000014
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000151. Variables |variables|
16 1.1 Variable types
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +000017 1.2 Function references |Funcref|
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +000018 1.3 Lists |Lists|
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000019 1.4 Dictionaries |Dictionaries|
20 1.5 More about variables |more-variables|
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000212. Expression syntax |expression-syntax|
223. Internal variable |internal-variables|
234. Builtin Functions |functions|
245. Defining functions |user-functions|
256. Curly braces names |curly-braces-names|
267. Commands |expression-commands|
278. Exception handling |exception-handling|
289. Examples |eval-examples|
2910. No +eval feature |no-eval-feature|
3011. The sandbox |eval-sandbox|
Bram Moolenaarb71eaae2006-01-20 23:10:18 +00003112. Textlock |textlock|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000032
33{Vi does not have any of these commands}
34
35==============================================================================
361. Variables *variables*
37
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000381.1 Variable types ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +000039 *E712*
Bram Moolenaar39a58ca2005-06-27 22:42:44 +000040There are five types of variables:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000041
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000042Number A 32 bit signed number.
43 Examples: -123 0x10 0177
44
45String A NUL terminated string of 8-bit unsigned characters (bytes).
46 Examples: "ab\txx\"--" 'x-z''a,c'
47
48Funcref A reference to a function |Funcref|.
49 Example: function("strlen")
50
51List An ordered sequence of items |List|.
52 Example: [1, 2, ['a', 'b']]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000053
Bram Moolenaar39a58ca2005-06-27 22:42:44 +000054Dictionary An associative, unordered array: Each entry has a key and a
55 value. |Dictionary|
56 Example: {'blue': "#0000ff", 'red': "#ff0000"}
57
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000058The Number and String types are converted automatically, depending on how they
59are used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000060
61Conversion from a Number to a String is by making the ASCII representation of
62the Number. Examples: >
63 Number 123 --> String "123"
64 Number 0 --> String "0"
65 Number -1 --> String "-1"
66
67Conversion from a String to a Number is done by converting the first digits
68to a number. Hexadecimal "0xf9" and Octal "017" numbers are recognized. If
69the String doesn't start with digits, the result is zero. Examples: >
70 String "456" --> Number 456
71 String "6bar" --> Number 6
72 String "foo" --> Number 0
73 String "0xf1" --> Number 241
74 String "0100" --> Number 64
75 String "-8" --> Number -8
76 String "+8" --> Number 0
77
78To force conversion from String to Number, add zero to it: >
79 :echo "0100" + 0
80
81For boolean operators Numbers are used. Zero is FALSE, non-zero is TRUE.
82
83Note that in the command >
84 :if "foo"
85"foo" is converted to 0, which means FALSE. To test for a non-empty string,
86use strlen(): >
87 :if strlen("foo")
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +000088< *E745* *E728* *E703* *E729* *E730* *E731*
89List, Dictionary and Funcref types are not automatically converted.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000090
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000091 *E706*
92You will get an error if you try to change the type of a variable. You need
93to |:unlet| it first to avoid this error. String and Number are considered
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000094equivalent though. Consider this sequence of commands: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000095 :let l = "string"
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +000096 :let l = 44 " changes type from String to Number
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000097 :let l = [1, 2, 3] " error!
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000098
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +000099
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001001.2 Function references ~
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +0000101 *Funcref* *E695* *E718*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000102A Funcref variable is obtained with the |function()| function. It can be used
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000103in an expression in the place of a function name, before the parenthesis
104around the arguments, to invoke the function it refers to. Example: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000105
106 :let Fn = function("MyFunc")
107 :echo Fn()
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000108< *E704* *E705* *E707*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000109A Funcref variable must start with a capital, "s:", "w:" or "b:". You cannot
110have both a Funcref variable and a function with the same name.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000111
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000112A special case is defining a function and directly assigning its Funcref to a
113Dictionary entry. Example: >
114 :function dict.init() dict
115 : let self.val = 0
116 :endfunction
117
118The key of the Dictionary can start with a lower case letter. The actual
119function name is not used here. Also see |numbered-function|.
120
121A Funcref can also be used with the |:call| command: >
122 :call Fn()
123 :call dict.init()
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000124
125The name of the referenced function can be obtained with |string()|. >
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000126 :let func = string(Fn)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000127
128You can use |call()| to invoke a Funcref and use a list variable for the
129arguments: >
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000130 :let r = call(Fn, mylist)
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000131
132
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001331.3 Lists ~
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +0000134 *List* *Lists* *E686*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000135A List is an ordered sequence of items. An item can be of any type. Items
136can be accessed by their index number. Items can be added and removed at any
137position in the sequence.
138
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000139
140List creation ~
141 *E696* *E697*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000142A List is created with a comma separated list of items in square brackets.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000143Examples: >
144 :let mylist = [1, two, 3, "four"]
145 :let emptylist = []
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000146
147An item can be any expression. Using a List for an item creates a
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000148nested List: >
149 :let nestlist = [[11, 12], [21, 22], [31, 32]]
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000150
151An extra comma after the last item is ignored.
152
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000153
154List index ~
155 *list-index* *E684*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000156An item in the List can be accessed by putting the index in square brackets
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000157after the List. Indexes are zero-based, thus the first item has index zero. >
158 :let item = mylist[0] " get the first item: 1
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000159 :let item = mylist[2] " get the third item: 3
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000160
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000161When the resulting item is a list this can be repeated: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000162 :let item = nestlist[0][1] " get the first list, second item: 12
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000163<
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000164A negative index is counted from the end. Index -1 refers to the last item in
165the List, -2 to the last but one item, etc. >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000166 :let last = mylist[-1] " get the last item: "four"
167
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000168To avoid an error for an invalid index use the |get()| function. When an item
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000169is not available it returns zero or the default value you specify: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000170 :echo get(mylist, idx)
171 :echo get(mylist, idx, "NONE")
172
173
174List concatenation ~
175
176Two lists can be concatenated with the "+" operator: >
177 :let longlist = mylist + [5, 6]
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000178 :let mylist += [7, 8]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000179
180To prepend or append an item turn the item into a list by putting [] around
181it. To change a list in-place see |list-modification| below.
182
183
184Sublist ~
185
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000186A part of the List can be obtained by specifying the first and last index,
187separated by a colon in square brackets: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000188 :let shortlist = mylist[2:-1] " get List [3, "four"]
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000189
190Omitting the first index is similar to zero. Omitting the last index is
191similar to -1. The difference is that there is no error if the items are not
192available. >
Bram Moolenaar540d6e32005-01-09 21:20:18 +0000193 :let endlist = mylist[2:] " from item 2 to the end: [3, "four"]
194 :let shortlist = mylist[2:2] " List with one item: [3]
195 :let otherlist = mylist[:] " make a copy of the List
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000196
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000197The second index can be just before the first index. In that case the result
198is an empty list. If the second index is lower, this results in an error. >
199 :echo mylist[2:1] " result: []
200 :echo mylist[2:0] " error!
201
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +0000202NOTE: mylist[s:e] means using the variable "s:e" as index. Watch out for
203using a single letter variable before the ":". Insert a space when needed:
204mylist[s : e].
205
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000206
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000207List identity ~
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000208 *list-identity*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000209When variable "aa" is a list and you assign it to another variable "bb", both
210variables refer to the same list. Thus changing the list "aa" will also
211change "bb": >
212 :let aa = [1, 2, 3]
213 :let bb = aa
214 :call add(aa, 4)
215 :echo bb
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000216< [1, 2, 3, 4]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000217
218Making a copy of a list is done with the |copy()| function. Using [:] also
219works, as explained above. This creates a shallow copy of the list: Changing
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000220a list item in the list will also change the item in the copied list: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000221 :let aa = [[1, 'a'], 2, 3]
222 :let bb = copy(aa)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000223 :call add(aa, 4)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000224 :let aa[0][1] = 'aaa'
225 :echo aa
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000226< [[1, aaa], 2, 3, 4] >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000227 :echo bb
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000228< [[1, aaa], 2, 3]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000229
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000230To make a completely independent list use |deepcopy()|. This also makes a
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000231copy of the values in the list, recursively. Up to a hundred levels deep.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000232
233The operator "is" can be used to check if two variables refer to the same
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000234List. "isnot" does the opposite. In contrast "==" compares if two lists have
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000235the same value. >
236 :let alist = [1, 2, 3]
237 :let blist = [1, 2, 3]
238 :echo alist is blist
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000239< 0 >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000240 :echo alist == blist
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000241< 1
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000242
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +0000243Note about comparing lists: Two lists are considered equal if they have the
244same length and all items compare equal, as with using "==". There is one
Bram Moolenaar7d1f5db2005-07-03 21:39:27 +0000245exception: When comparing a number with a string they are considered
246different. There is no automatic type conversion, as with using "==" on
247variables. Example: >
248 echo 4 == "4"
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +0000249< 1 >
Bram Moolenaar7d1f5db2005-07-03 21:39:27 +0000250 echo [4] == ["4"]
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +0000251< 0
252
Bram Moolenaar7d1f5db2005-07-03 21:39:27 +0000253Thus comparing Lists is more strict than comparing numbers and strings. You
254can compare simple values this way too by putting them in a string: >
255
256 :let a = 5
257 :let b = "5"
258 echo a == b
259< 1 >
260 echo [a] == [b]
261< 0
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +0000262
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000263
264List unpack ~
265
266To unpack the items in a list to individual variables, put the variables in
267square brackets, like list items: >
268 :let [var1, var2] = mylist
269
270When the number of variables does not match the number of items in the list
271this produces an error. To handle any extra items from the list append ";"
272and a variable name: >
273 :let [var1, var2; rest] = mylist
274
275This works like: >
276 :let var1 = mylist[0]
277 :let var2 = mylist[1]
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000278 :let rest = mylist[2:]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000279
280Except that there is no error if there are only two items. "rest" will be an
281empty list then.
282
283
284List modification ~
285 *list-modification*
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000286To change a specific item of a list use |:let| this way: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000287 :let list[4] = "four"
288 :let listlist[0][3] = item
289
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000290To change part of a list you can specify the first and last item to be
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000291modified. The value must at least have the number of items in the range: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000292 :let list[3:5] = [3, 4, 5]
293
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000294Adding and removing items from a list is done with functions. Here are a few
295examples: >
296 :call insert(list, 'a') " prepend item 'a'
297 :call insert(list, 'a', 3) " insert item 'a' before list[3]
298 :call add(list, "new") " append String item
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000299 :call add(list, [1, 2]) " append a List as one new item
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000300 :call extend(list, [1, 2]) " extend the list with two more items
301 :let i = remove(list, 3) " remove item 3
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000302 :unlet list[3] " idem
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000303 :let l = remove(list, 3, -1) " remove items 3 to last item
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000304 :unlet list[3 : ] " idem
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000305 :call filter(list, 'v:val !~ "x"') " remove items with an 'x'
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000306
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000307Changing the order of items in a list: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000308 :call sort(list) " sort a list alphabetically
309 :call reverse(list) " reverse the order of items
310
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000311
312For loop ~
313
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000314The |:for| loop executes commands for each item in a list. A variable is set
315to each item in the list in sequence. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000316 :for item in mylist
317 : call Doit(item)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000318 :endfor
319
320This works like: >
321 :let index = 0
322 :while index < len(mylist)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000323 : let item = mylist[index]
324 : :call Doit(item)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000325 : let index = index + 1
326 :endwhile
327
328Note that all items in the list should be of the same type, otherwise this
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000329results in error |E706|. To avoid this |:unlet| the variable at the end of
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000330the loop.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000331
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000332If all you want to do is modify each item in the list then the |map()|
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000333function will be a simpler method than a for loop.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000334
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000335Just like the |:let| command, |:for| also accepts a list of variables. This
336requires the argument to be a list of lists. >
337 :for [lnum, col] in [[1, 3], [2, 8], [3, 0]]
338 : call Doit(lnum, col)
339 :endfor
340
341This works like a |:let| command is done for each list item. Again, the types
342must remain the same to avoid an error.
343
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000344It is also possible to put remaining items in a List variable: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000345 :for [i, j; rest] in listlist
346 : call Doit(i, j)
347 : if !empty(rest)
348 : echo "remainder: " . string(rest)
349 : endif
350 :endfor
351
352
353List functions ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000354 *E714*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000355Functions that are useful with a List: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000356 :let r = call(funcname, list) " call a function with an argument list
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000357 :if empty(list) " check if list is empty
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000358 :let l = len(list) " number of items in list
359 :let big = max(list) " maximum value in list
360 :let small = min(list) " minimum value in list
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000361 :let xs = count(list, 'x') " count nr of times 'x' appears in list
362 :let i = index(list, 'x') " index of first 'x' in list
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000363 :let lines = getline(1, 10) " get ten text lines from buffer
364 :call append('$', lines) " append text lines in buffer
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000365 :let list = split("a b c") " create list from items in a string
366 :let string = join(list, ', ') " create string from list items
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000367 :let s = string(list) " String representation of list
368 :call map(list, '">> " . v:val') " prepend ">> " to each item
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000369
Bram Moolenaar0cb032e2005-04-23 20:52:00 +0000370Don't forget that a combination of features can make things simple. For
371example, to add up all the numbers in a list: >
372 :exe 'let sum = ' . join(nrlist, '+')
373
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000374
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003751.4 Dictionaries ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000376 *Dictionaries* *Dictionary*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000377A Dictionary is an associative array: Each entry has a key and a value. The
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000378entry can be located with the key. The entries are stored without a specific
379ordering.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000380
381
382Dictionary creation ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000383 *E720* *E721* *E722* *E723*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000384A Dictionary is created with a comma separated list of entries in curly
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000385braces. Each entry has a key and a value, separated by a colon. Each key can
386only appear once. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000387 :let mydict = {1: 'one', 2: 'two', 3: 'three'}
388 :let emptydict = {}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000389< *E713* *E716* *E717*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000390A key is always a String. You can use a Number, it will be converted to a
391String automatically. Thus the String '4' and the number 4 will find the same
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000392entry. Note that the String '04' and the Number 04 are different, since the
393Number will be converted to the String '4'.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000394
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000395A value can be any expression. Using a Dictionary for a value creates a
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000396nested Dictionary: >
397 :let nestdict = {1: {11: 'a', 12: 'b'}, 2: {21: 'c'}}
398
399An extra comma after the last entry is ignored.
400
401
402Accessing entries ~
403
404The normal way to access an entry is by putting the key in square brackets: >
405 :let val = mydict["one"]
406 :let mydict["four"] = 4
407
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000408You can add new entries to an existing Dictionary this way, unlike Lists.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000409
410For keys that consist entirely of letters, digits and underscore the following
411form can be used |expr-entry|: >
412 :let val = mydict.one
413 :let mydict.four = 4
414
415Since an entry can be any type, also a List and a Dictionary, the indexing and
416key lookup can be repeated: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000417 :echo dict.key[idx].key
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000418
419
420Dictionary to List conversion ~
421
422You may want to loop over the entries in a dictionary. For this you need to
423turn the Dictionary into a List and pass it to |:for|.
424
425Most often you want to loop over the keys, using the |keys()| function: >
426 :for key in keys(mydict)
427 : echo key . ': ' . mydict[key]
428 :endfor
429
430The List of keys is unsorted. You may want to sort them first: >
431 :for key in sort(keys(mydict))
432
433To loop over the values use the |values()| function: >
434 :for v in values(mydict)
435 : echo "value: " . v
436 :endfor
437
438If you want both the key and the value use the |items()| function. It returns
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000439a List in which each item is a List with two items, the key and the value: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000440 :for entry in items(mydict)
441 : echo entry[0] . ': ' . entry[1]
442 :endfor
443
444
445Dictionary identity ~
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +0000446 *dict-identity*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000447Just like Lists you need to use |copy()| and |deepcopy()| to make a copy of a
448Dictionary. Otherwise, assignment results in referring to the same
449Dictionary: >
450 :let onedict = {'a': 1, 'b': 2}
451 :let adict = onedict
452 :let adict['a'] = 11
453 :echo onedict['a']
454 11
455
Bram Moolenaarf3bd51a2005-06-14 22:11:18 +0000456Two Dictionaries compare equal if all the key-value pairs compare equal. For
457more info see |list-identity|.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000458
459
460Dictionary modification ~
461 *dict-modification*
462To change an already existing entry of a Dictionary, or to add a new entry,
463use |:let| this way: >
464 :let dict[4] = "four"
465 :let dict['one'] = item
466
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000467Removing an entry from a Dictionary is done with |remove()| or |:unlet|.
468Three ways to remove the entry with key "aaa" from dict: >
469 :let i = remove(dict, 'aaa')
470 :unlet dict.aaa
471 :unlet dict['aaa']
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000472
473Merging a Dictionary with another is done with |extend()|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000474 :call extend(adict, bdict)
475This extends adict with all entries from bdict. Duplicate keys cause entries
476in adict to be overwritten. An optional third argument can change this.
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000477Note that the order of entries in a Dictionary is irrelevant, thus don't
478expect ":echo adict" to show the items from bdict after the older entries in
479adict.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000480
481Weeding out entries from a Dictionary can be done with |filter()|: >
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +0000482 :call filter(dict 'v:val =~ "x"')
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000483This removes all entries from "dict" with a value not matching 'x'.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000484
485
486Dictionary function ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000487 *Dictionary-function* *self* *E725*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000488When a function is defined with the "dict" attribute it can be used in a
489special way with a dictionary. Example: >
490 :function Mylen() dict
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000491 : return len(self.data)
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000492 :endfunction
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000493 :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3], 'len': function("Mylen")}
494 :echo mydict.len()
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000495
496This is like a method in object oriented programming. The entry in the
497Dictionary is a |Funcref|. The local variable "self" refers to the dictionary
498the function was invoked from.
499
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000500It is also possible to add a function without the "dict" attribute as a
501Funcref to a Dictionary, but the "self" variable is not available then.
502
503 *numbered-function*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000504To avoid the extra name for the function it can be defined and directly
505assigned to a Dictionary in this way: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000506 :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3]}
507 :function mydict.len() dict
508 : return len(self.data)
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000509 :endfunction
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000510 :echo mydict.len()
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000511
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000512The function will then get a number and the value of dict.len is a |Funcref|
513that references this function. The function can only be used through a
514|Funcref|. It will automatically be deleted when there is no |Funcref|
515remaining that refers to it.
516
517It is not necessary to use the "dict" attribute for a numbered function.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000518
519
520Functions for Dictionaries ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000521 *E715*
522Functions that can be used with a Dictionary: >
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000523 :if has_key(dict, 'foo') " TRUE if dict has entry with key "foo"
524 :if empty(dict) " TRUE if dict is empty
525 :let l = len(dict) " number of items in dict
526 :let big = max(dict) " maximum value in dict
527 :let small = min(dict) " minimum value in dict
528 :let xs = count(dict, 'x') " count nr of times 'x' appears in dict
529 :let s = string(dict) " String representation of dict
530 :call map(dict, '">> " . v:val') " prepend ">> " to each item
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000531
532
5331.5 More about variables ~
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000534 *more-variables*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000535If you need to know the type of a variable or expression, use the |type()|
536function.
537
538When the '!' flag is included in the 'viminfo' option, global variables that
539start with an uppercase letter, and don't contain a lowercase letter, are
540stored in the viminfo file |viminfo-file|.
541
542When the 'sessionoptions' option contains "global", global variables that
543start with an uppercase letter and contain at least one lowercase letter are
544stored in the session file |session-file|.
545
546variable name can be stored where ~
547my_var_6 not
548My_Var_6 session file
549MY_VAR_6 viminfo file
550
551
552It's possible to form a variable name with curly braces, see
553|curly-braces-names|.
554
555==============================================================================
5562. Expression syntax *expression-syntax*
557
558Expression syntax summary, from least to most significant:
559
560|expr1| expr2 ? expr1 : expr1 if-then-else
561
562|expr2| expr3 || expr3 .. logical OR
563
564|expr3| expr4 && expr4 .. logical AND
565
566|expr4| expr5 == expr5 equal
567 expr5 != expr5 not equal
568 expr5 > expr5 greater than
569 expr5 >= expr5 greater than or equal
570 expr5 < expr5 smaller than
571 expr5 <= expr5 smaller than or equal
572 expr5 =~ expr5 regexp matches
573 expr5 !~ expr5 regexp doesn't match
574
575 expr5 ==? expr5 equal, ignoring case
576 expr5 ==# expr5 equal, match case
577 etc. As above, append ? for ignoring case, # for
578 matching case
579
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000580 expr5 is expr5 same |List| instance
581 expr5 isnot expr5 different |List| instance
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000582
583|expr5| expr6 + expr6 .. number addition or list concatenation
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000584 expr6 - expr6 .. number subtraction
585 expr6 . expr6 .. string concatenation
586
587|expr6| expr7 * expr7 .. number multiplication
588 expr7 / expr7 .. number division
589 expr7 % expr7 .. number modulo
590
591|expr7| ! expr7 logical NOT
592 - expr7 unary minus
593 + expr7 unary plus
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000594
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000595
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000596|expr8| expr8[expr1] byte of a String or item of a |List|
597 expr8[expr1 : expr1] substring of a String or sublist of a |List|
598 expr8.name entry in a |Dictionary|
599 expr8(expr1, ...) function call with |Funcref| variable
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000600
601|expr9| number number constant
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000602 "string" string constant, backslash is special
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000603 'string' string constant, ' is doubled
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000604 [expr1, ...] |List|
605 {expr1: expr1, ...} |Dictionary|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000606 &option option value
607 (expr1) nested expression
608 variable internal variable
609 va{ria}ble internal variable with curly braces
610 $VAR environment variable
611 @r contents of register 'r'
612 function(expr1, ...) function call
613 func{ti}on(expr1, ...) function call with curly braces
614
615
616".." indicates that the operations in this level can be concatenated.
617Example: >
618 &nu || &list && &shell == "csh"
619
620All expressions within one level are parsed from left to right.
621
622
623expr1 *expr1* *E109*
624-----
625
626expr2 ? expr1 : expr1
627
628The expression before the '?' is evaluated to a number. If it evaluates to
629non-zero, the result is the value of the expression between the '?' and ':',
630otherwise the result is the value of the expression after the ':'.
631Example: >
632 :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum
633
634Since the first expression is an "expr2", it cannot contain another ?:. The
635other two expressions can, thus allow for recursive use of ?:.
636Example: >
637 :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum == 1000 ? "last" : lnum
638
639To keep this readable, using |line-continuation| is suggested: >
640 :echo lnum == 1
641 :\ ? "top"
642 :\ : lnum == 1000
643 :\ ? "last"
644 :\ : lnum
645
646
647expr2 and expr3 *expr2* *expr3*
648---------------
649
650 *expr-barbar* *expr-&&*
651The "||" and "&&" operators take one argument on each side. The arguments
652are (converted to) Numbers. The result is:
653
654 input output ~
655n1 n2 n1 || n2 n1 && n2 ~
656zero zero zero zero
657zero non-zero non-zero zero
658non-zero zero non-zero zero
659non-zero non-zero non-zero non-zero
660
661The operators can be concatenated, for example: >
662
663 &nu || &list && &shell == "csh"
664
665Note that "&&" takes precedence over "||", so this has the meaning of: >
666
667 &nu || (&list && &shell == "csh")
668
669Once the result is known, the expression "short-circuits", that is, further
670arguments are not evaluated. This is like what happens in C. For example: >
671
672 let a = 1
673 echo a || b
674
675This is valid even if there is no variable called "b" because "a" is non-zero,
676so the result must be non-zero. Similarly below: >
677
678 echo exists("b") && b == "yes"
679
680This is valid whether "b" has been defined or not. The second clause will
681only be evaluated if "b" has been defined.
682
683
684expr4 *expr4*
685-----
686
687expr5 {cmp} expr5
688
689Compare two expr5 expressions, resulting in a 0 if it evaluates to false, or 1
690if it evaluates to true.
691
692 *expr-==* *expr-!=* *expr->* *expr->=*
693 *expr-<* *expr-<=* *expr-=~* *expr-!~*
694 *expr-==#* *expr-!=#* *expr->#* *expr->=#*
695 *expr-<#* *expr-<=#* *expr-=~#* *expr-!~#*
696 *expr-==?* *expr-!=?* *expr->?* *expr->=?*
697 *expr-<?* *expr-<=?* *expr-=~?* *expr-!~?*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000698 *expr-is*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000699 use 'ignorecase' match case ignore case ~
700equal == ==# ==?
701not equal != !=# !=?
702greater than > ># >?
703greater than or equal >= >=# >=?
704smaller than < <# <?
705smaller than or equal <= <=# <=?
706regexp matches =~ =~# =~?
707regexp doesn't match !~ !~# !~?
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000708same instance is
709different instance isnot
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000710
711Examples:
712"abc" ==# "Abc" evaluates to 0
713"abc" ==? "Abc" evaluates to 1
714"abc" == "Abc" evaluates to 1 if 'ignorecase' is set, 0 otherwise
715
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000716 *E691* *E692*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000717A |List| can only be compared with a |List| and only "equal", "not equal" and
718"is" can be used. This compares the values of the list, recursively.
719Ignoring case means case is ignored when comparing item values.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000720
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000721 *E735* *E736*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000722A |Dictionary| can only be compared with a |Dictionary| and only "equal", "not
723equal" and "is" can be used. This compares the key/values of the |Dictionary|
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000724recursively. Ignoring case means case is ignored when comparing item values.
725
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000726 *E693* *E694*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000727A |Funcref| can only be compared with a |Funcref| and only "equal" and "not
728equal" can be used. Case is never ignored.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000729
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000730When using "is" or "isnot" with a |List| this checks if the expressions are
731referring to the same |List| instance. A copy of a |List| is different from
732the original |List|. When using "is" without a |List| it is equivalent to
733using "equal", using "isnot" equivalent to using "not equal". Except that a
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000734different type means the values are different. "4 == '4'" is true, "4 is '4'"
735is false.
736
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000737When comparing a String with a Number, the String is converted to a Number,
738and the comparison is done on Numbers. This means that "0 == 'x'" is TRUE,
739because 'x' converted to a Number is zero.
740
741When comparing two Strings, this is done with strcmp() or stricmp(). This
742results in the mathematical difference (comparing byte values), not
743necessarily the alphabetical difference in the local language.
744
745When using the operators with a trailing '#", or the short version and
746'ignorecase' is off, the comparing is done with strcmp().
747
748When using the operators with a trailing '?', or the short version and
749'ignorecase' is set, the comparing is done with stricmp().
750
751The "=~" and "!~" operators match the lefthand argument with the righthand
752argument, which is used as a pattern. See |pattern| for what a pattern is.
753This matching is always done like 'magic' was set and 'cpoptions' is empty, no
754matter what the actual value of 'magic' or 'cpoptions' is. This makes scripts
755portable. To avoid backslashes in the regexp pattern to be doubled, use a
756single-quote string, see |literal-string|.
757Since a string is considered to be a single line, a multi-line pattern
758(containing \n, backslash-n) will not match. However, a literal NL character
759can be matched like an ordinary character. Examples:
760 "foo\nbar" =~ "\n" evaluates to 1
761 "foo\nbar" =~ "\\n" evaluates to 0
762
763
764expr5 and expr6 *expr5* *expr6*
765---------------
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000766expr6 + expr6 .. Number addition or |List| concatenation *expr-+*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000767expr6 - expr6 .. Number subtraction *expr--*
768expr6 . expr6 .. String concatenation *expr-.*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000769
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +0000770For |Lists| only "+" is possible and then both expr6 must be a list. The
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000771result is a new list with the two lists Concatenated.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000772
773expr7 * expr7 .. number multiplication *expr-star*
774expr7 / expr7 .. number division *expr-/*
775expr7 % expr7 .. number modulo *expr-%*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000776
777For all, except ".", Strings are converted to Numbers.
778
779Note the difference between "+" and ".":
780 "123" + "456" = 579
781 "123" . "456" = "123456"
782
783When the righthand side of '/' is zero, the result is 0x7fffffff.
784When the righthand side of '%' is zero, the result is 0.
785
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000786None of these work for |Funcref|s.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000787
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000788
789expr7 *expr7*
790-----
791! expr7 logical NOT *expr-!*
792- expr7 unary minus *expr-unary--*
793+ expr7 unary plus *expr-unary-+*
794
795For '!' non-zero becomes zero, zero becomes one.
796For '-' the sign of the number is changed.
797For '+' the number is unchanged.
798
799A String will be converted to a Number first.
800
801These three can be repeated and mixed. Examples:
802 !-1 == 0
803 !!8 == 1
804 --9 == 9
805
806
807expr8 *expr8*
808-----
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000809expr8[expr1] item of String or |List| *expr-[]* *E111*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000810
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000811If expr8 is a Number or String this results in a String that contains the
812expr1'th single byte from expr8. expr8 is used as a String, expr1 as a
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000813Number. Note that this doesn't recognize multi-byte encodings.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000814
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000815Index zero gives the first character. This is like it works in C. Careful:
816text column numbers start with one! Example, to get the character under the
817cursor: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000818 :let c = getline(line("."))[col(".") - 1]
819
820If the length of the String is less than the index, the result is an empty
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000821String. A negative index always results in an empty string (reason: backwards
822compatibility). Use [-1:] to get the last byte.
823
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000824If expr8 is a |List| then it results the item at index expr1. See |list-index|
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000825for possible index values. If the index is out of range this results in an
826error. Example: >
827 :let item = mylist[-1] " get last item
828
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000829Generally, if a |List| index is equal to or higher than the length of the
830|List|, or more negative than the length of the |List|, this results in an
831error.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000832
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000833
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000834expr8[expr1a : expr1b] substring or sublist *expr-[:]*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000835
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000836If expr8 is a Number or String this results in the substring with the bytes
837from expr1a to and including expr1b. expr8 is used as a String, expr1a and
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000838expr1b are used as a Number. Note that this doesn't recognize multi-byte
839encodings.
840
841If expr1a is omitted zero is used. If expr1b is omitted the length of the
842string minus one is used.
843
844A negative number can be used to measure from the end of the string. -1 is
845the last character, -2 the last but one, etc.
846
847If an index goes out of range for the string characters are omitted. If
848expr1b is smaller than expr1a the result is an empty string.
849
850Examples: >
851 :let c = name[-1:] " last byte of a string
852 :let c = name[-2:-2] " last but one byte of a string
853 :let s = line(".")[4:] " from the fifth byte to the end
854 :let s = s[:-3] " remove last two bytes
855
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000856If expr8 is a |List| this results in a new |List| with the items indicated by
857the indexes expr1a and expr1b. This works like with a String, as explained
858just above, except that indexes out of range cause an error. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000859 :let l = mylist[:3] " first four items
860 :let l = mylist[4:4] " List with one item
861 :let l = mylist[:] " shallow copy of a List
862
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000863Using expr8[expr1] or expr8[expr1a : expr1b] on a |Funcref| results in an
864error.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000865
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000866
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000867expr8.name entry in a |Dictionary| *expr-entry*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000868
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000869If expr8 is a |Dictionary| and it is followed by a dot, then the following
870name will be used as a key in the |Dictionary|. This is just like:
871expr8[name].
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000872
873The name must consist of alphanumeric characters, just like a variable name,
874but it may start with a number. Curly braces cannot be used.
875
876There must not be white space before or after the dot.
877
878Examples: >
879 :let dict = {"one": 1, 2: "two"}
880 :echo dict.one
881 :echo dict .2
882
883Note that the dot is also used for String concatenation. To avoid confusion
884always put spaces around the dot for String concatenation.
885
886
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000887expr8(expr1, ...) |Funcref| function call
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000888
889When expr8 is a |Funcref| type variable, invoke the function it refers to.
890
891
892
893 *expr9*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000894number
895------
896number number constant *expr-number*
897
898Decimal, Hexadecimal (starting with 0x or 0X), or Octal (starting with 0).
899
900
901string *expr-string* *E114*
902------
903"string" string constant *expr-quote*
904
905Note that double quotes are used.
906
907A string constant accepts these special characters:
908\... three-digit octal number (e.g., "\316")
909\.. two-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit)
910\. one-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit)
911\x.. byte specified with two hex numbers (e.g., "\x1f")
912\x. byte specified with one hex number (must be followed by non-hex char)
913\X.. same as \x..
914\X. same as \x.
915\u.... character specified with up to 4 hex numbers, stored according to the
916 current value of 'encoding' (e.g., "\u02a4")
917\U.... same as \u....
918\b backspace <BS>
919\e escape <Esc>
920\f formfeed <FF>
921\n newline <NL>
922\r return <CR>
923\t tab <Tab>
924\\ backslash
925\" double quote
926\<xxx> Special key named "xxx". e.g. "\<C-W>" for CTRL-W.
927
928Note that "\000" and "\x00" force the end of the string.
929
930
931literal-string *literal-string* *E115*
932---------------
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000933'string' string constant *expr-'*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000934
935Note that single quotes are used.
936
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000937This string is taken as it is. No backslashes are removed or have a special
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000938meaning. The only exception is that two quotes stand for one quote.
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000939
940Single quoted strings are useful for patterns, so that backslashes do not need
941to be doubled. These two commands are equivalent: >
942 if a =~ "\\s*"
943 if a =~ '\s*'
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000944
945
946option *expr-option* *E112* *E113*
947------
948&option option value, local value if possible
949&g:option global option value
950&l:option local option value
951
952Examples: >
953 echo "tabstop is " . &tabstop
954 if &insertmode
955
956Any option name can be used here. See |options|. When using the local value
957and there is no buffer-local or window-local value, the global value is used
958anyway.
959
960
961register *expr-register*
962--------
963@r contents of register 'r'
964
965The result is the contents of the named register, as a single string.
966Newlines are inserted where required. To get the contents of the unnamed
Bram Moolenaare7566042005-06-17 22:00:15 +0000967register use @" or @@. See |registers| for an explanation of the available
968registers.
969
970When using the '=' register you get the expression itself, not what it
971evaluates to. Use |eval()| to evaluate it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000972
973
974nesting *expr-nesting* *E110*
975-------
976(expr1) nested expression
977
978
979environment variable *expr-env*
980--------------------
981$VAR environment variable
982
983The String value of any environment variable. When it is not defined, the
984result is an empty string.
985 *expr-env-expand*
986Note that there is a difference between using $VAR directly and using
987expand("$VAR"). Using it directly will only expand environment variables that
988are known inside the current Vim session. Using expand() will first try using
989the environment variables known inside the current Vim session. If that
990fails, a shell will be used to expand the variable. This can be slow, but it
991does expand all variables that the shell knows about. Example: >
992 :echo $version
993 :echo expand("$version")
994The first one probably doesn't echo anything, the second echoes the $version
995variable (if your shell supports it).
996
997
998internal variable *expr-variable*
999-----------------
1000variable internal variable
1001See below |internal-variables|.
1002
1003
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00001004function call *expr-function* *E116* *E118* *E119* *E120*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001005-------------
1006function(expr1, ...) function call
1007See below |functions|.
1008
1009
1010==============================================================================
10113. Internal variable *internal-variables* *E121*
1012 *E461*
1013An internal variable name can be made up of letters, digits and '_'. But it
1014cannot start with a digit. It's also possible to use curly braces, see
1015|curly-braces-names|.
1016
1017An internal variable is created with the ":let" command |:let|.
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001018An internal variable is explicitly destroyed with the ":unlet" command
1019|:unlet|.
1020Using a name that is not an internal variable or refers to a variable that has
1021been destroyed results in an error.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001022
1023There are several name spaces for variables. Which one is to be used is
1024specified by what is prepended:
1025
1026 (nothing) In a function: local to a function; otherwise: global
1027|buffer-variable| b: Local to the current buffer.
1028|window-variable| w: Local to the current window.
1029|global-variable| g: Global.
1030|local-variable| l: Local to a function.
1031|script-variable| s: Local to a |:source|'ed Vim script.
1032|function-argument| a: Function argument (only inside a function).
1033|vim-variable| v: Global, predefined by Vim.
1034
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001035The scope name by itself can be used as a |Dictionary|. For example, to
1036delete all script-local variables: >
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00001037 :for k in keys(s:)
1038 : unlet s:[k]
1039 :endfor
1040<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001041 *buffer-variable* *b:var*
1042A variable name that is preceded with "b:" is local to the current buffer.
1043Thus you can have several "b:foo" variables, one for each buffer.
1044This kind of variable is deleted when the buffer is wiped out or deleted with
1045|:bdelete|.
1046
1047One local buffer variable is predefined:
1048 *b:changedtick-variable* *changetick*
1049b:changedtick The total number of changes to the current buffer. It is
1050 incremented for each change. An undo command is also a change
1051 in this case. This can be used to perform an action only when
1052 the buffer has changed. Example: >
1053 :if my_changedtick != b:changedtick
1054 : let my_changedtick = b:changedtick
1055 : call My_Update()
1056 :endif
1057<
1058 *window-variable* *w:var*
1059A variable name that is preceded with "w:" is local to the current window. It
1060is deleted when the window is closed.
1061
1062 *global-variable* *g:var*
1063Inside functions global variables are accessed with "g:". Omitting this will
1064access a variable local to a function. But "g:" can also be used in any other
1065place if you like.
1066
1067 *local-variable* *l:var*
1068Inside functions local variables are accessed without prepending anything.
1069But you can also prepend "l:" if you like.
1070
1071 *script-variable* *s:var*
1072In a Vim script variables starting with "s:" can be used. They cannot be
1073accessed from outside of the scripts, thus are local to the script.
1074
1075They can be used in:
1076- commands executed while the script is sourced
1077- functions defined in the script
1078- autocommands defined in the script
1079- functions and autocommands defined in functions and autocommands which were
1080 defined in the script (recursively)
1081- user defined commands defined in the script
1082Thus not in:
1083- other scripts sourced from this one
1084- mappings
1085- etc.
1086
1087script variables can be used to avoid conflicts with global variable names.
1088Take this example:
1089
1090 let s:counter = 0
1091 function MyCounter()
1092 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1093 echo s:counter
1094 endfunction
1095 command Tick call MyCounter()
1096
1097You can now invoke "Tick" from any script, and the "s:counter" variable in
1098that script will not be changed, only the "s:counter" in the script where
1099"Tick" was defined is used.
1100
1101Another example that does the same: >
1102
1103 let s:counter = 0
1104 command Tick let s:counter = s:counter + 1 | echo s:counter
1105
1106When calling a function and invoking a user-defined command, the context for
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001107script variables is set to the script where the function or command was
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001108defined.
1109
1110The script variables are also available when a function is defined inside a
1111function that is defined in a script. Example: >
1112
1113 let s:counter = 0
1114 function StartCounting(incr)
1115 if a:incr
1116 function MyCounter()
1117 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1118 endfunction
1119 else
1120 function MyCounter()
1121 let s:counter = s:counter - 1
1122 endfunction
1123 endif
1124 endfunction
1125
1126This defines the MyCounter() function either for counting up or counting down
1127when calling StartCounting(). It doesn't matter from where StartCounting() is
1128called, the s:counter variable will be accessible in MyCounter().
1129
1130When the same script is sourced again it will use the same script variables.
1131They will remain valid as long as Vim is running. This can be used to
1132maintain a counter: >
1133
1134 if !exists("s:counter")
1135 let s:counter = 1
1136 echo "script executed for the first time"
1137 else
1138 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1139 echo "script executed " . s:counter . " times now"
1140 endif
1141
1142Note that this means that filetype plugins don't get a different set of script
1143variables for each buffer. Use local buffer variables instead |b:var|.
1144
1145
1146Predefined Vim variables: *vim-variable* *v:var*
1147
Bram Moolenaare4efc3b2005-03-07 23:16:51 +00001148 *v:beval_col* *beval_col-variable*
1149v:beval_col The number of the column, over which the mouse pointer is.
1150 This is the byte index in the |v:beval_lnum| line.
1151 Only valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1152
1153 *v:beval_bufnr* *beval_bufnr-variable*
1154v:beval_bufnr The number of the buffer, over which the mouse pointer is. Only
1155 valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1156
1157 *v:beval_lnum* *beval_lnum-variable*
1158v:beval_lnum The number of the line, over which the mouse pointer is. Only
1159 valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1160
1161 *v:beval_text* *beval_text-variable*
Bram Moolenaar24bbcfe2005-06-28 23:32:02 +00001162v:beval_text The text under or after the mouse pointer. Usually a word as
1163 it is useful for debugging a C program. 'iskeyword' applies,
1164 but a dot and "->" before the position is included. When on a
1165 ']' the text before it is used, including the matching '[' and
Bram Moolenaare4efc3b2005-03-07 23:16:51 +00001166 word before it. When on a Visual area within one line the
1167 highlighted text is used.
1168 Only valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1169
1170 *v:beval_winnr* *beval_winnr-variable*
1171v:beval_winnr The number of the window, over which the mouse pointer is. Only
1172 valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1173
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001174 *v:charconvert_from* *charconvert_from-variable*
1175v:charconvert_from
1176 The name of the character encoding of a file to be converted.
1177 Only valid while evaluating the 'charconvert' option.
1178
1179 *v:charconvert_to* *charconvert_to-variable*
1180v:charconvert_to
1181 The name of the character encoding of a file after conversion.
1182 Only valid while evaluating the 'charconvert' option.
1183
1184 *v:cmdarg* *cmdarg-variable*
1185v:cmdarg This variable is used for two purposes:
1186 1. The extra arguments given to a file read/write command.
1187 Currently these are "++enc=" and "++ff=". This variable is
1188 set before an autocommand event for a file read/write
1189 command is triggered. There is a leading space to make it
1190 possible to append this variable directly after the
1191 read/write command. Note: The "+cmd" argument isn't
1192 included here, because it will be executed anyway.
1193 2. When printing a PostScript file with ":hardcopy" this is
1194 the argument for the ":hardcopy" command. This can be used
1195 in 'printexpr'.
1196
1197 *v:cmdbang* *cmdbang-variable*
1198v:cmdbang Set like v:cmdarg for a file read/write command. When a "!"
1199 was used the value is 1, otherwise it is 0. Note that this
1200 can only be used in autocommands. For user commands |<bang>|
1201 can be used.
1202
1203 *v:count* *count-variable*
1204v:count The count given for the last Normal mode command. Can be used
1205 to get the count before a mapping. Read-only. Example: >
1206 :map _x :<C-U>echo "the count is " . v:count<CR>
1207< Note: The <C-U> is required to remove the line range that you
1208 get when typing ':' after a count.
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00001209 Also used for evaluating the 'formatexpr' option.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001210 "count" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1211
1212 *v:count1* *count1-variable*
1213v:count1 Just like "v:count", but defaults to one when no count is
1214 used.
1215
1216 *v:ctype* *ctype-variable*
1217v:ctype The current locale setting for characters of the runtime
1218 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1219 current locale encoding. Technical: it's the value of
1220 LC_CTYPE. When not using a locale the value is "C".
1221 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1222 command.
1223 See |multi-lang|.
1224
1225 *v:dying* *dying-variable*
1226v:dying Normally zero. When a deadly signal is caught it's set to
1227 one. When multiple signals are caught the number increases.
1228 Can be used in an autocommand to check if Vim didn't
1229 terminate normally. {only works on Unix}
1230 Example: >
1231 :au VimLeave * if v:dying | echo "\nAAAAaaaarrrggghhhh!!!\n" | endif
1232<
1233 *v:errmsg* *errmsg-variable*
1234v:errmsg Last given error message. It's allowed to set this variable.
1235 Example: >
1236 :let v:errmsg = ""
1237 :silent! next
1238 :if v:errmsg != ""
1239 : ... handle error
1240< "errmsg" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1241
1242 *v:exception* *exception-variable*
1243v:exception The value of the exception most recently caught and not
1244 finished. See also |v:throwpoint| and |throw-variables|.
1245 Example: >
1246 :try
1247 : throw "oops"
1248 :catch /.*/
1249 : echo "caught" v:exception
1250 :endtry
1251< Output: "caught oops".
1252
Bram Moolenaar19a09a12005-03-04 23:39:37 +00001253 *v:fcs_reason* *fcs_reason-variable*
1254v:fcs_reason The reason why the |FileChangedShell| event was triggered.
1255 Can be used in an autocommand to decide what to do and/or what
1256 to set v:fcs_choice to. Possible values:
1257 deleted file no longer exists
1258 conflict file contents, mode or timestamp was
1259 changed and buffer is modified
1260 changed file contents has changed
1261 mode mode of file changed
1262 time only file timestamp changed
1263
1264 *v:fcs_choice* *fcs_choice-variable*
1265v:fcs_choice What should happen after a |FileChangedShell| event was
1266 triggered. Can be used in an autocommand to tell Vim what to
1267 do with the affected buffer:
1268 reload Reload the buffer (does not work if
1269 the file was deleted).
1270 ask Ask the user what to do, as if there
1271 was no autocommand. Except that when
1272 only the timestamp changed nothing
1273 will happen.
1274 <empty> Nothing, the autocommand should do
1275 everything that needs to be done.
1276 The default is empty. If another (invalid) value is used then
1277 Vim behaves like it is empty, there is no warning message.
1278
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001279 *v:fname_in* *fname_in-variable*
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001280v:fname_in The name of the input file. Valid while evaluating:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001281 option used for ~
1282 'charconvert' file to be converted
1283 'diffexpr' original file
1284 'patchexpr' original file
1285 'printexpr' file to be printed
Bram Moolenaar2c7a29c2005-12-12 22:02:31 +00001286 And set to the swap file name for |SwapExists|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001287
1288 *v:fname_out* *fname_out-variable*
1289v:fname_out The name of the output file. Only valid while
1290 evaluating:
1291 option used for ~
1292 'charconvert' resulting converted file (*)
1293 'diffexpr' output of diff
1294 'patchexpr' resulting patched file
1295 (*) When doing conversion for a write command (e.g., ":w
1296 file") it will be equal to v:fname_in. When doing conversion
1297 for a read command (e.g., ":e file") it will be a temporary
1298 file and different from v:fname_in.
1299
1300 *v:fname_new* *fname_new-variable*
1301v:fname_new The name of the new version of the file. Only valid while
1302 evaluating 'diffexpr'.
1303
1304 *v:fname_diff* *fname_diff-variable*
1305v:fname_diff The name of the diff (patch) file. Only valid while
1306 evaluating 'patchexpr'.
1307
1308 *v:folddashes* *folddashes-variable*
1309v:folddashes Used for 'foldtext': dashes representing foldlevel of a closed
1310 fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001311 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001312
1313 *v:foldlevel* *foldlevel-variable*
1314v:foldlevel Used for 'foldtext': foldlevel of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001315 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001316
1317 *v:foldend* *foldend-variable*
1318v:foldend Used for 'foldtext': last line of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001319 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001320
1321 *v:foldstart* *foldstart-variable*
1322v:foldstart Used for 'foldtext': first line of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001323 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001324
Bram Moolenaar843ee412004-06-30 16:16:41 +00001325 *v:insertmode* *insertmode-variable*
1326v:insertmode Used for the |InsertEnter| and |InsertChange| autocommand
1327 events. Values:
1328 i Insert mode
1329 r Replace mode
1330 v Virtual Replace mode
1331
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001332 *v:key* *key-variable*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001333v:key Key of the current item of a |Dictionary|. Only valid while
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001334 evaluating the expression used with |map()| and |filter()|.
1335 Read-only.
1336
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001337 *v:lang* *lang-variable*
1338v:lang The current locale setting for messages of the runtime
1339 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1340 current language. Technical: it's the value of LC_MESSAGES.
1341 The value is system dependent.
1342 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1343 command.
1344 It can be different from |v:ctype| when messages are desired
1345 in a different language than what is used for character
1346 encoding. See |multi-lang|.
1347
1348 *v:lc_time* *lc_time-variable*
1349v:lc_time The current locale setting for time messages of the runtime
1350 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1351 current language. Technical: it's the value of LC_TIME.
1352 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1353 command. See |multi-lang|.
1354
1355 *v:lnum* *lnum-variable*
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001356v:lnum Line number for the 'foldexpr' |fold-expr| and 'indentexpr'
Bram Moolenaar5c8837f2006-02-25 21:52:33 +00001357 expressions, tab page number for 'guitablabel'. Only valid
1358 while one of these expressions is being evaluated. Read-only
1359 when in the |sandbox|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001360
1361 *v:prevcount* *prevcount-variable*
1362v:prevcount The count given for the last but one Normal mode command.
1363 This is the v:count value of the previous command. Useful if
1364 you want to cancel Visual mode and then use the count. >
1365 :vmap % <Esc>:call MyFilter(v:prevcount)<CR>
1366< Read-only.
1367
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00001368 *v:profiling* *profiling-variable*
1369v:profiling Normally zero. Set to one after using ":profile start".
1370 See |profiling|.
1371
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001372 *v:progname* *progname-variable*
1373v:progname Contains the name (with path removed) with which Vim was
1374 invoked. Allows you to do special initialisations for "view",
1375 "evim" etc., or any other name you might symlink to Vim.
1376 Read-only.
1377
1378 *v:register* *register-variable*
1379v:register The name of the register supplied to the last normal mode
1380 command. Empty if none were supplied. |getreg()| |setreg()|
1381
Bram Moolenaar1c7715d2005-10-03 22:02:18 +00001382 *v:scrollstart* *scrollstart-variable*
1383v:scrollstart String describing the script or function that caused the
1384 screen to scroll up. It's only set when it is empty, thus the
1385 first reason is remembered. It is set to "Unknown" for a
1386 typed command.
1387 This can be used to find out why your script causes the
1388 hit-enter prompt.
1389
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001390 *v:servername* *servername-variable*
1391v:servername The resulting registered |x11-clientserver| name if any.
1392 Read-only.
1393
1394 *v:shell_error* *shell_error-variable*
1395v:shell_error Result of the last shell command. When non-zero, the last
1396 shell command had an error. When zero, there was no problem.
1397 This only works when the shell returns the error code to Vim.
1398 The value -1 is often used when the command could not be
1399 executed. Read-only.
1400 Example: >
1401 :!mv foo bar
1402 :if v:shell_error
1403 : echo 'could not rename "foo" to "bar"!'
1404 :endif
1405< "shell_error" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1406
1407 *v:statusmsg* *statusmsg-variable*
1408v:statusmsg Last given status message. It's allowed to set this variable.
1409
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00001410 *v:swapname* *swapname-variable*
1411v:swapname Only valid when executing |SwapExists| autocommands: Name of
1412 the swap file found. Read-only.
1413
1414 *v:swapchoice* *swapchoice-variable*
1415v:swapchoice |SwapExists| autocommands can set this to the selected choice
1416 for handling an existing swap file:
1417 'o' Open read-only
1418 'e' Edit anyway
1419 'r' Recover
1420 'd' Delete swapfile
1421 'q' Quit
1422 'a' Abort
1423 The value should be a single-character string. An empty value
1424 results in the user being asked, as would happen when there is
1425 no SwapExists autocommand. The default is empty.
1426
Bram Moolenaarb3480382005-12-11 21:33:32 +00001427 *v:swapcommand* *swapcommand-variable*
Bram Moolenaar4770d092006-01-12 23:22:24 +00001428v:swapcommand Normal mode command to be executed after a file has been
Bram Moolenaarb3480382005-12-11 21:33:32 +00001429 opened. Can be used for a |SwapExists| autocommand to have
1430 another Vim open the file and jump to the right place. For
1431 example, when jumping to a tag the value is ":tag tagname\r".
Bram Moolenaar1f35bf92006-03-07 22:38:47 +00001432 For ":edit +cmd file" the value is ":cmd\r".
Bram Moolenaarb3480382005-12-11 21:33:32 +00001433
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001434 *v:termresponse* *termresponse-variable*
1435v:termresponse The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the |t_RV|
1436 termcap entry. It is set when Vim receives an escape sequence
1437 that starts with ESC [ or CSI and ends in a 'c', with only
1438 digits, ';' and '.' in between.
1439 When this option is set, the TermResponse autocommand event is
1440 fired, so that you can react to the response from the
1441 terminal.
1442 The response from a new xterm is: "<Esc>[ Pp ; Pv ; Pc c". Pp
1443 is the terminal type: 0 for vt100 and 1 for vt220. Pv is the
1444 patch level (since this was introduced in patch 95, it's
1445 always 95 or bigger). Pc is always zero.
1446 {only when compiled with |+termresponse| feature}
1447
1448 *v:this_session* *this_session-variable*
1449v:this_session Full filename of the last loaded or saved session file. See
1450 |:mksession|. It is allowed to set this variable. When no
1451 session file has been saved, this variable is empty.
1452 "this_session" also works, for backwards compatibility.
1453
1454 *v:throwpoint* *throwpoint-variable*
1455v:throwpoint The point where the exception most recently caught and not
1456 finished was thrown. Not set when commands are typed. See
1457 also |v:exception| and |throw-variables|.
1458 Example: >
1459 :try
1460 : throw "oops"
1461 :catch /.*/
1462 : echo "Exception from" v:throwpoint
1463 :endtry
1464< Output: "Exception from test.vim, line 2"
1465
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001466 *v:val* *val-variable*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001467v:val Value of the current item of a |List| or |Dictionary|. Only
1468 valid while evaluating the expression used with |map()| and
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001469 |filter()|. Read-only.
1470
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001471 *v:version* *version-variable*
1472v:version Version number of Vim: Major version number times 100 plus
1473 minor version number. Version 5.0 is 500. Version 5.1 (5.01)
1474 is 501. Read-only. "version" also works, for backwards
1475 compatibility.
1476 Use |has()| to check if a certain patch was included, e.g.: >
1477 if has("patch123")
1478< Note that patch numbers are specific to the version, thus both
1479 version 5.0 and 5.1 may have a patch 123, but these are
1480 completely different.
1481
1482 *v:warningmsg* *warningmsg-variable*
1483v:warningmsg Last given warning message. It's allowed to set this variable.
1484
1485==============================================================================
14864. Builtin Functions *functions*
1487
1488See |function-list| for a list grouped by what the function is used for.
1489
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001490(Use CTRL-] on the function name to jump to the full explanation.)
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001491
1492USAGE RESULT DESCRIPTION ~
1493
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001494add( {list}, {item}) List append {item} to |List| {list}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001495append( {lnum}, {string}) Number append {string} below line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00001496append( {lnum}, {list}) Number append lines {list} below line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001497argc() Number number of files in the argument list
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001498argidx() Number current index in the argument list
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001499argv( {nr}) String {nr} entry of the argument list
1500browse( {save}, {title}, {initdir}, {default})
1501 String put up a file requester
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001502browsedir( {title}, {initdir}) String put up a directory requester
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001503bufexists( {expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} exists
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001504buflisted( {expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} is listed
1505bufloaded( {expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} is loaded
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001506bufname( {expr}) String Name of the buffer {expr}
1507bufnr( {expr}) Number Number of the buffer {expr}
1508bufwinnr( {expr}) Number window number of buffer {expr}
1509byte2line( {byte}) Number line number at byte count {byte}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001510byteidx( {expr}, {nr}) Number byte index of {nr}'th char in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001511call( {func}, {arglist} [, {dict}])
1512 any call {func} with arguments {arglist}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001513char2nr( {expr}) Number ASCII value of first char in {expr}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001514cindent( {lnum}) Number C indent for line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001515col( {expr}) Number column nr of cursor or mark
Bram Moolenaar572cb562005-08-05 21:35:02 +00001516complete_add( {expr}) Number add completion match
1517complete_check() Number check for key typed during completion
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001518confirm( {msg} [, {choices} [, {default} [, {type}]]])
1519 Number number of choice picked by user
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001520copy( {expr}) any make a shallow copy of {expr}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001521count( {list}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]])
1522 Number count how many {expr} are in {list}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001523cscope_connection( [{num} , {dbpath} [, {prepend}]])
1524 Number checks existence of cscope connection
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00001525cursor( {lnum}, {col} [, {coladd}])
1526 Number move cursor to {lnum}, {col}, {coladd}
1527cursor( {list}) Number move cursor to position in {list}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001528deepcopy( {expr}) any make a full copy of {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001529delete( {fname}) Number delete file {fname}
1530did_filetype() Number TRUE if FileType autocommand event used
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001531diff_filler( {lnum}) Number diff filler lines about {lnum}
1532diff_hlID( {lnum}, {col}) Number diff highlighting at {lnum}/{col}
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001533empty( {expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} is empty
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001534escape( {string}, {chars}) String escape {chars} in {string} with '\'
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00001535eval( {string}) any evaluate {string} into its value
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001536eventhandler( ) Number TRUE if inside an event handler
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001537executable( {expr}) Number 1 if executable {expr} exists
1538exists( {expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} exists
1539expand( {expr}) String expand special keywords in {expr}
1540filereadable( {file}) Number TRUE if {file} is a readable file
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001541filter( {expr}, {string}) List/Dict remove items from {expr} where
1542 {string} is 0
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001543finddir( {name}[, {path}[, {count}]])
1544 String Find directory {name} in {path}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001545findfile( {name}[, {path}[, {count}]])
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001546 String Find file {name} in {path}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001547filewritable( {file}) Number TRUE if {file} is a writable file
1548fnamemodify( {fname}, {mods}) String modify file name
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001549foldclosed( {lnum}) Number first line of fold at {lnum} if closed
1550foldclosedend( {lnum}) Number last line of fold at {lnum} if closed
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001551foldlevel( {lnum}) Number fold level at {lnum}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001552foldtext( ) String line displayed for closed fold
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001553foreground( ) Number bring the Vim window to the foreground
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001554function( {name}) Funcref reference to function {name}
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001555get( {list}, {idx} [, {def}]) any get item {idx} from {list} or {def}
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001556get( {dict}, {key} [, {def}]) any get item {key} from {dict} or {def}
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00001557getbufline( {expr}, {lnum} [, {end}])
1558 List lines {lnum} to {end} of buffer {expr}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001559getchar( [expr]) Number get one character from the user
1560getcharmod( ) Number modifiers for the last typed character
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001561getbufvar( {expr}, {varname}) variable {varname} in buffer {expr}
1562getcmdline() String return the current command-line
1563getcmdpos() Number return cursor position in command-line
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00001564getcmdtype() String return the current command-line type
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001565getcwd() String the current working directory
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00001566getfperm( {fname}) String file permissions of file {fname}
1567getfsize( {fname}) Number size in bytes of file {fname}
Bram Moolenaard8b0cf12004-12-12 11:33:30 +00001568getfontname( [{name}]) String name of font being used
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001569getftime( {fname}) Number last modification time of file
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00001570getftype( {fname}) String description of type of file {fname}
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00001571getline( {lnum}) String line {lnum} of current buffer
1572getline( {lnum}, {end}) List lines {lnum} to {end} of current buffer
Bram Moolenaar17c7c012006-01-26 22:25:15 +00001573getloclist({nr}) List list of location list items
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00001574getpos( {expr}) List position of cursor, mark, etc.
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00001575getqflist() List list of quickfix items
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00001576getreg( [{regname} [, 1]]) String contents of register
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001577getregtype( [{regname}]) String type of register
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001578getwinposx() Number X coord in pixels of GUI Vim window
1579getwinposy() Number Y coord in pixels of GUI Vim window
1580getwinvar( {nr}, {varname}) variable {varname} in window {nr}
1581glob( {expr}) String expand file wildcards in {expr}
1582globpath( {path}, {expr}) String do glob({expr}) for all dirs in {path}
1583has( {feature}) Number TRUE if feature {feature} supported
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001584has_key( {dict}, {key}) Number TRUE if {dict} has entry {key}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001585hasmapto( {what} [, {mode}]) Number TRUE if mapping to {what} exists
1586histadd( {history},{item}) String add an item to a history
1587histdel( {history} [, {item}]) String remove an item from a history
1588histget( {history} [, {index}]) String get the item {index} from a history
1589histnr( {history}) Number highest index of a history
1590hlexists( {name}) Number TRUE if highlight group {name} exists
1591hlID( {name}) Number syntax ID of highlight group {name}
1592hostname() String name of the machine Vim is running on
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001593iconv( {expr}, {from}, {to}) String convert encoding of {expr}
1594indent( {lnum}) Number indent of line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001595index( {list}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]])
1596 Number index in {list} where {expr} appears
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00001597input( {prompt} [, {text} [, {completion}]])
1598 String get input from the user
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001599inputdialog( {p} [, {t} [, {c}]]) String like input() but in a GUI dialog
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001600inputrestore() Number restore typeahead
1601inputsave() Number save and clear typeahead
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001602inputsecret( {prompt} [, {text}]) String like input() but hiding the text
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001603insert( {list}, {item} [, {idx}]) List insert {item} in {list} [before {idx}]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001604isdirectory( {directory}) Number TRUE if {directory} is a directory
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00001605islocked( {expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} is locked
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001606items( {dict}) List key-value pairs in {dict}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001607join( {list} [, {sep}]) String join {list} items into one String
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001608keys( {dict}) List keys in {dict}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001609len( {expr}) Number the length of {expr}
1610libcall( {lib}, {func}, {arg}) String call {func} in library {lib} with {arg}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001611libcallnr( {lib}, {func}, {arg}) Number idem, but return a Number
1612line( {expr}) Number line nr of cursor, last line or mark
1613line2byte( {lnum}) Number byte count of line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001614lispindent( {lnum}) Number Lisp indent for line {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001615localtime() Number current time
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001616map( {expr}, {string}) List/Dict change each item in {expr} to {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001617maparg( {name}[, {mode}]) String rhs of mapping {name} in mode {mode}
1618mapcheck( {name}[, {mode}]) String check for mappings matching {name}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001619match( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001620 Number position where {pat} matches in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001621matchend( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001622 Number position where {pat} ends in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00001623matchlist( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
1624 List match and submatches of {pat} in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00001625matchstr( {expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]])
1626 String {count}'th match of {pat} in {expr}
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001627max({list}) Number maximum value of items in {list}
1628min({list}) Number minumum value of items in {list}
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00001629mkdir({name} [, {path} [, {prot}]])
1630 Number create directory {name}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001631mode() String current editing mode
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001632nextnonblank( {lnum}) Number line nr of non-blank line >= {lnum}
1633nr2char( {expr}) String single char with ASCII value {expr}
1634prevnonblank( {lnum}) Number line nr of non-blank line <= {lnum}
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00001635printf( {fmt}, {expr1}...) String format text
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00001636pumvisible() Number whether popup menu is visible
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001637range( {expr} [, {max} [, {stride}]])
1638 List items from {expr} to {max}
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00001639readfile({fname} [, {binary} [, {max}]])
1640 List get list of lines from file {fname}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001641remote_expr( {server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
1642 String send expression
1643remote_foreground( {server}) Number bring Vim server to the foreground
1644remote_peek( {serverid} [, {retvar}])
1645 Number check for reply string
1646remote_read( {serverid}) String read reply string
1647remote_send( {server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
1648 String send key sequence
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001649remove( {list}, {idx} [, {end}]) any remove items {idx}-{end} from {list}
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001650remove( {dict}, {key}) any remove entry {key} from {dict}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001651rename( {from}, {to}) Number rename (move) file from {from} to {to}
1652repeat( {expr}, {count}) String repeat {expr} {count} times
1653resolve( {filename}) String get filename a shortcut points to
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001654reverse( {list}) List reverse {list} in-place
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001655search( {pattern} [, {flags}]) Number search for {pattern}
Bram Moolenaarf75a9632005-09-13 21:20:47 +00001656searchdecl({name} [, {global} [, {thisblock}]])
1657 Number search for variable declaration
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00001658searchpair( {start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip} [, {stopline}]]])
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001659 Number search for other end of start/end pair
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00001660searchpairpos( {start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip} [, {stopline}]]])
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00001661 List search for other end of start/end pair
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00001662searchpos( {pattern} [, {flags} [, {stopline}]])
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00001663 List search for {pattern}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001664server2client( {clientid}, {string})
1665 Number send reply string
1666serverlist() String get a list of available servers
1667setbufvar( {expr}, {varname}, {val}) set {varname} in buffer {expr} to {val}
1668setcmdpos( {pos}) Number set cursor position in command-line
1669setline( {lnum}, {line}) Number set line {lnum} to {line}
Bram Moolenaar17c7c012006-01-26 22:25:15 +00001670setloclist( {nr}, {list}[, {action}])
1671 Number modify location list using {list}
1672setqflist( {list}[, {action}]) Number modify quickfix list using {list}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001673setreg( {n}, {v}[, {opt}]) Number set register to value and type
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001674setwinvar( {nr}, {varname}, {val}) set {varname} in window {nr} to {val}
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001675simplify( {filename}) String simplify filename as much as possible
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001676sort( {list} [, {func}]) List sort {list}, using {func} to compare
Bram Moolenaar24bbcfe2005-06-28 23:32:02 +00001677soundfold( {word}) String sound-fold {word}
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00001678spellbadword() String badly spelled word at cursor
Bram Moolenaarc54b8a72005-09-30 21:20:29 +00001679spellsuggest( {word} [, {max} [, {capital}]])
1680 List spelling suggestions
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00001681split( {expr} [, {pat} [, {keepempty}]])
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001682 List make |List| from {pat} separated {expr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001683strftime( {format}[, {time}]) String time in specified format
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00001684stridx( {haystack}, {needle}[, {start}])
1685 Number index of {needle} in {haystack}
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00001686string( {expr}) String String representation of {expr} value
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001687strlen( {expr}) Number length of the String {expr}
1688strpart( {src}, {start}[, {len}])
1689 String {len} characters of {src} at {start}
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00001690strridx( {haystack}, {needle} [, {start}])
1691 Number last index of {needle} in {haystack}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001692strtrans( {expr}) String translate string to make it printable
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001693submatch( {nr}) String specific match in ":substitute"
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001694substitute( {expr}, {pat}, {sub}, {flags})
1695 String all {pat} in {expr} replaced with {sub}
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00001696synID( {lnum}, {col}, {trans}) Number syntax ID at {lnum} and {col}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001697synIDattr( {synID}, {what} [, {mode}])
1698 String attribute {what} of syntax ID {synID}
1699synIDtrans( {synID}) Number translated syntax ID of {synID}
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00001700system( {expr} [, {input}]) String output of shell command/filter {expr}
Bram Moolenaarfaa959a2006-02-20 21:37:40 +00001701tabpagebuflist( [{arg}]) List list of buffer numbers in tab page
1702tabpagenr( [{arg}]) Number number of current or last tab page
1703tabpagewinnr( {tabarg}[, {arg}])
1704 Number number of current window in tab page
1705taglist( {expr}) List list of tags matching {expr}
Bram Moolenaare7eb9df2005-09-09 19:49:30 +00001706tagfiles() List tags files used
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001707tempname() String name for a temporary file
1708tolower( {expr}) String the String {expr} switched to lowercase
1709toupper( {expr}) String the String {expr} switched to uppercase
Bram Moolenaar8299df92004-07-10 09:47:34 +00001710tr( {src}, {fromstr}, {tostr}) String translate chars of {src} in {fromstr}
1711 to chars in {tostr}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001712type( {name}) Number type of variable {name}
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001713values( {dict}) List values in {dict}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001714virtcol( {expr}) Number screen column of cursor or mark
1715visualmode( [expr]) String last visual mode used
1716winbufnr( {nr}) Number buffer number of window {nr}
1717wincol() Number window column of the cursor
1718winheight( {nr}) Number height of window {nr}
1719winline() Number window line of the cursor
Bram Moolenaar7e8fd632006-02-18 22:14:51 +00001720winnr( [{expr}]) Number number of current window
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001721winrestcmd() String returns command to restore window sizes
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00001722winrestview({dict}) None restore view of current window
1723winsaveview() Dict save view of current window
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001724winwidth( {nr}) Number width of window {nr}
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00001725writefile({list}, {fname} [, {binary}])
1726 Number write list of lines to file {fname}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001727
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001728add({list}, {expr}) *add()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001729 Append the item {expr} to |List| {list}. Returns the
1730 resulting |List|. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001731 :let alist = add([1, 2, 3], item)
1732 :call add(mylist, "woodstock")
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001733< Note that when {expr} is a |List| it is appended as a single
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00001734 item. Use |extend()| to concatenate |Lists|.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001735 Use |insert()| to add an item at another position.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001736
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001737
1738append({lnum}, {expr}) *append()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001739 When {expr} is a |List|: Append each item of the |List| as a
1740 text line below line {lnum} in the current buffer.
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00001741 Otherwise append {expr} as one text line below line {lnum} in
1742 the current buffer.
1743 {lnum} can be zero to insert a line before the first one.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001744 Returns 1 for failure ({lnum} out of range or out of memory),
1745 0 for success. Example: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001746 :let failed = append(line('$'), "# THE END")
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00001747 :let failed = append(0, ["Chapter 1", "the beginning"])
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001748<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001749 *argc()*
1750argc() The result is the number of files in the argument list of the
1751 current window. See |arglist|.
1752
1753 *argidx()*
1754argidx() The result is the current index in the argument list. 0 is
1755 the first file. argc() - 1 is the last one. See |arglist|.
1756
1757 *argv()*
1758argv({nr}) The result is the {nr}th file in the argument list of the
1759 current window. See |arglist|. "argv(0)" is the first one.
1760 Example: >
1761 :let i = 0
1762 :while i < argc()
1763 : let f = escape(argv(i), '. ')
1764 : exe 'amenu Arg.' . f . ' :e ' . f . '<CR>'
1765 : let i = i + 1
1766 :endwhile
1767<
1768 *browse()*
1769browse({save}, {title}, {initdir}, {default})
1770 Put up a file requester. This only works when "has("browse")"
1771 returns non-zero (only in some GUI versions).
1772 The input fields are:
1773 {save} when non-zero, select file to write
1774 {title} title for the requester
1775 {initdir} directory to start browsing in
1776 {default} default file name
1777 When the "Cancel" button is hit, something went wrong, or
1778 browsing is not possible, an empty string is returned.
1779
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00001780 *browsedir()*
1781browsedir({title}, {initdir})
1782 Put up a directory requester. This only works when
1783 "has("browse")" returns non-zero (only in some GUI versions).
1784 On systems where a directory browser is not supported a file
1785 browser is used. In that case: select a file in the directory
1786 to be used.
1787 The input fields are:
1788 {title} title for the requester
1789 {initdir} directory to start browsing in
1790 When the "Cancel" button is hit, something went wrong, or
1791 browsing is not possible, an empty string is returned.
1792
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001793bufexists({expr}) *bufexists()*
1794 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a buffer called
1795 {expr} exists.
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001796 If the {expr} argument is a number, buffer numbers are used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001797 If the {expr} argument is a string it must match a buffer name
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001798 exactly. The name can be:
1799 - Relative to the current directory.
1800 - A full path.
1801 - The name of a buffer with 'filetype' set to "nofile".
1802 - A URL name.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001803 Unlisted buffers will be found.
1804 Note that help files are listed by their short name in the
1805 output of |:buffers|, but bufexists() requires using their
1806 long name to be able to find them.
1807 Use "bufexists(0)" to test for the existence of an alternate
1808 file name.
1809 *buffer_exists()*
1810 Obsolete name: buffer_exists().
1811
1812buflisted({expr}) *buflisted()*
1813 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a buffer called
1814 {expr} exists and is listed (has the 'buflisted' option set).
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001815 The {expr} argument is used like with |bufexists()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001816
1817bufloaded({expr}) *bufloaded()*
1818 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a buffer called
1819 {expr} exists and is loaded (shown in a window or hidden).
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001820 The {expr} argument is used like with |bufexists()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001821
1822bufname({expr}) *bufname()*
1823 The result is the name of a buffer, as it is displayed by the
1824 ":ls" command.
1825 If {expr} is a Number, that buffer number's name is given.
1826 Number zero is the alternate buffer for the current window.
1827 If {expr} is a String, it is used as a |file-pattern| to match
1828 with the buffer names. This is always done like 'magic' is
1829 set and 'cpoptions' is empty. When there is more than one
1830 match an empty string is returned.
1831 "" or "%" can be used for the current buffer, "#" for the
1832 alternate buffer.
1833 A full match is preferred, otherwise a match at the start, end
1834 or middle of the buffer name is accepted.
1835 Listed buffers are found first. If there is a single match
1836 with a listed buffer, that one is returned. Next unlisted
1837 buffers are searched for.
1838 If the {expr} is a String, but you want to use it as a buffer
1839 number, force it to be a Number by adding zero to it: >
1840 :echo bufname("3" + 0)
1841< If the buffer doesn't exist, or doesn't have a name, an empty
1842 string is returned. >
1843 bufname("#") alternate buffer name
1844 bufname(3) name of buffer 3
1845 bufname("%") name of current buffer
1846 bufname("file2") name of buffer where "file2" matches.
1847< *buffer_name()*
1848 Obsolete name: buffer_name().
1849
1850 *bufnr()*
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00001851bufnr({expr} [, {create}])
1852 The result is the number of a buffer, as it is displayed by
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001853 the ":ls" command. For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()|
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00001854 above.
1855 If the buffer doesn't exist, -1 is returned. Or, if the
1856 {create} argument is present and not zero, a new, unlisted,
1857 buffer is created and its number is returned.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001858 bufnr("$") is the last buffer: >
1859 :let last_buffer = bufnr("$")
1860< The result is a Number, which is the highest buffer number
1861 of existing buffers. Note that not all buffers with a smaller
1862 number necessarily exist, because ":bwipeout" may have removed
1863 them. Use bufexists() to test for the existence of a buffer.
1864 *buffer_number()*
1865 Obsolete name: buffer_number().
1866 *last_buffer_nr()*
1867 Obsolete name for bufnr("$"): last_buffer_nr().
1868
1869bufwinnr({expr}) *bufwinnr()*
1870 The result is a Number, which is the number of the first
1871 window associated with buffer {expr}. For the use of {expr},
1872 see |bufname()| above. If buffer {expr} doesn't exist or
1873 there is no such window, -1 is returned. Example: >
1874
1875 echo "A window containing buffer 1 is " . (bufwinnr(1))
1876
1877< The number can be used with |CTRL-W_w| and ":wincmd w"
1878 |:wincmd|.
1879
1880
1881byte2line({byte}) *byte2line()*
1882 Return the line number that contains the character at byte
1883 count {byte} in the current buffer. This includes the
1884 end-of-line character, depending on the 'fileformat' option
1885 for the current buffer. The first character has byte count
1886 one.
1887 Also see |line2byte()|, |go| and |:goto|.
1888 {not available when compiled without the |+byte_offset|
1889 feature}
1890
Bram Moolenaarab79bcb2004-07-18 21:34:53 +00001891byteidx({expr}, {nr}) *byteidx()*
1892 Return byte index of the {nr}'th character in the string
1893 {expr}. Use zero for the first character, it returns zero.
1894 This function is only useful when there are multibyte
1895 characters, otherwise the returned value is equal to {nr}.
1896 Composing characters are counted as a separate character.
1897 Example : >
1898 echo matchstr(str, ".", byteidx(str, 3))
1899< will display the fourth character. Another way to do the
1900 same: >
1901 let s = strpart(str, byteidx(str, 3))
1902 echo strpart(s, 0, byteidx(s, 1))
1903< If there are less than {nr} characters -1 is returned.
1904 If there are exactly {nr} characters the length of the string
1905 is returned.
1906
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001907call({func}, {arglist} [, {dict}]) *call()* *E699*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001908 Call function {func} with the items in |List| {arglist} as
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001909 arguments.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001910 {func} can either be a |Funcref| or the name of a function.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001911 a:firstline and a:lastline are set to the cursor line.
1912 Returns the return value of the called function.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001913 {dict} is for functions with the "dict" attribute. It will be
1914 used to set the local variable "self". |Dictionary-function|
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001915
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001916char2nr({expr}) *char2nr()*
1917 Return number value of the first char in {expr}. Examples: >
1918 char2nr(" ") returns 32
1919 char2nr("ABC") returns 65
1920< The current 'encoding' is used. Example for "utf-8": >
Bram Moolenaar98692072006-02-04 00:57:42 +00001921 char2nr("?") returns 225
1922 char2nr("?"[0]) returns 195
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00001923< nr2char() does the opposite.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001924
1925cindent({lnum}) *cindent()*
1926 Get the amount of indent for line {lnum} according the C
1927 indenting rules, as with 'cindent'.
1928 The indent is counted in spaces, the value of 'tabstop' is
1929 relevant. {lnum} is used just like in |getline()|.
1930 When {lnum} is invalid or Vim was not compiled the |+cindent|
1931 feature, -1 is returned.
Bram Moolenaard5cdbeb2005-10-10 20:59:28 +00001932 See |C-indenting|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001933
1934 *col()*
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00001935col({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the byte index of the column
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001936 position given with {expr}. The accepted positions are:
1937 . the cursor position
1938 $ the end of the cursor line (the result is the
1939 number of characters in the cursor line plus one)
1940 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is
1941 returned)
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00001942 To get the line number use |col()|. To get both use
1943 |getpos()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001944 For the screen column position use |virtcol()|.
1945 Note that only marks in the current file can be used.
1946 Examples: >
1947 col(".") column of cursor
1948 col("$") length of cursor line plus one
1949 col("'t") column of mark t
1950 col("'" . markname) column of mark markname
1951< The first column is 1. 0 is returned for an error.
1952 For the cursor position, when 'virtualedit' is active, the
1953 column is one higher if the cursor is after the end of the
1954 line. This can be used to obtain the column in Insert mode: >
1955 :imap <F2> <C-O>:let save_ve = &ve<CR>
1956 \<C-O>:set ve=all<CR>
1957 \<C-O>:echo col(".") . "\n" <Bar>
1958 \let &ve = save_ve<CR>
1959<
Bram Moolenaar572cb562005-08-05 21:35:02 +00001960
1961complete_add({expr}) *complete_add()*
1962 Add {expr} to the list of matches. Only to be used by the
1963 function specified with the 'completefunc' option.
1964 Returns 0 for failure (empty string or out of memory),
1965 1 when the match was added, 2 when the match was already in
1966 the list.
1967
1968complete_check() *complete_check()*
1969 Check for a key typed while looking for completion matches.
1970 This is to be used when looking for matches takes some time.
1971 Returns non-zero when searching for matches is to be aborted,
1972 zero otherwise.
1973 Only to be used by the function specified with the
1974 'completefunc' option.
1975
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001976 *confirm()*
1977confirm({msg} [, {choices} [, {default} [, {type}]]])
1978 Confirm() offers the user a dialog, from which a choice can be
1979 made. It returns the number of the choice. For the first
1980 choice this is 1.
1981 Note: confirm() is only supported when compiled with dialog
1982 support, see |+dialog_con| and |+dialog_gui|.
1983 {msg} is displayed in a |dialog| with {choices} as the
1984 alternatives. When {choices} is missing or empty, "&OK" is
1985 used (and translated).
1986 {msg} is a String, use '\n' to include a newline. Only on
1987 some systems the string is wrapped when it doesn't fit.
1988 {choices} is a String, with the individual choices separated
1989 by '\n', e.g. >
1990 confirm("Save changes?", "&Yes\n&No\n&Cancel")
1991< The letter after the '&' is the shortcut key for that choice.
1992 Thus you can type 'c' to select "Cancel". The shortcut does
1993 not need to be the first letter: >
1994 confirm("file has been modified", "&Save\nSave &All")
1995< For the console, the first letter of each choice is used as
1996 the default shortcut key.
1997 The optional {default} argument is the number of the choice
1998 that is made if the user hits <CR>. Use 1 to make the first
1999 choice the default one. Use 0 to not set a default. If
2000 {default} is omitted, 1 is used.
2001 The optional {type} argument gives the type of dialog. This
2002 is only used for the icon of the Win32 GUI. It can be one of
2003 these values: "Error", "Question", "Info", "Warning" or
2004 "Generic". Only the first character is relevant. When {type}
2005 is omitted, "Generic" is used.
2006 If the user aborts the dialog by pressing <Esc>, CTRL-C,
2007 or another valid interrupt key, confirm() returns 0.
2008
2009 An example: >
2010 :let choice = confirm("What do you want?", "&Apples\n&Oranges\n&Bananas", 2)
2011 :if choice == 0
2012 : echo "make up your mind!"
2013 :elseif choice == 3
2014 : echo "tasteful"
2015 :else
2016 : echo "I prefer bananas myself."
2017 :endif
2018< In a GUI dialog, buttons are used. The layout of the buttons
2019 depends on the 'v' flag in 'guioptions'. If it is included,
2020 the buttons are always put vertically. Otherwise, confirm()
2021 tries to put the buttons in one horizontal line. If they
2022 don't fit, a vertical layout is used anyway. For some systems
2023 the horizontal layout is always used.
2024
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002025 *copy()*
2026copy({expr}) Make a copy of {expr}. For Numbers and Strings this isn't
2027 different from using {expr} directly.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002028 When {expr} is a |List| a shallow copy is created. This means
2029 that the original |List| can be changed without changing the
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002030 copy, and vise versa. But the items are identical, thus
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00002031 changing an item changes the contents of both |Lists|. Also
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002032 see |deepcopy()|.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002033
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002034count({comp}, {expr} [, {ic} [, {start}]]) *count()*
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002035 Return the number of times an item with value {expr} appears
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002036 in |List| or |Dictionary| {comp}.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002037 If {start} is given then start with the item with this index.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002038 {start} can only be used with a |List|.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002039 When {ic} is given and it's non-zero then case is ignored.
2040
2041
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002042 *cscope_connection()*
2043cscope_connection([{num} , {dbpath} [, {prepend}]])
2044 Checks for the existence of a |cscope| connection. If no
2045 parameters are specified, then the function returns:
2046 0, if cscope was not available (not compiled in), or
2047 if there are no cscope connections;
2048 1, if there is at least one cscope connection.
2049
2050 If parameters are specified, then the value of {num}
2051 determines how existence of a cscope connection is checked:
2052
2053 {num} Description of existence check
2054 ----- ------------------------------
2055 0 Same as no parameters (e.g., "cscope_connection()").
2056 1 Ignore {prepend}, and use partial string matches for
2057 {dbpath}.
2058 2 Ignore {prepend}, and use exact string matches for
2059 {dbpath}.
2060 3 Use {prepend}, use partial string matches for both
2061 {dbpath} and {prepend}.
2062 4 Use {prepend}, use exact string matches for both
2063 {dbpath} and {prepend}.
2064
2065 Note: All string comparisons are case sensitive!
2066
2067 Examples. Suppose we had the following (from ":cs show"): >
2068
2069 # pid database name prepend path
2070 0 27664 cscope.out /usr/local
2071<
2072 Invocation Return Val ~
2073 ---------- ---------- >
2074 cscope_connection() 1
2075 cscope_connection(1, "out") 1
2076 cscope_connection(2, "out") 0
2077 cscope_connection(3, "out") 0
2078 cscope_connection(3, "out", "local") 1
2079 cscope_connection(4, "out") 0
2080 cscope_connection(4, "out", "local") 0
2081 cscope_connection(4, "cscope.out", "/usr/local") 1
2082<
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00002083cursor({lnum}, {col} [, {off}]) *cursor()*
2084cursor({list})
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002085 Positions the cursor at the column {col} in the line {lnum}.
Bram Moolenaar6f16eb82005-08-23 21:02:42 +00002086 The first column is one.
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00002087 When there is one argument {list} this is used as a |List|
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00002088 with two or three items {lnum}, {col} and {off}. This is like
2089 the return value of |getpos()|, but without the first item.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002090 Does not change the jumplist.
2091 If {lnum} is greater than the number of lines in the buffer,
2092 the cursor will be positioned at the last line in the buffer.
2093 If {lnum} is zero, the cursor will stay in the current line.
Bram Moolenaar6f16eb82005-08-23 21:02:42 +00002094 If {col} is greater than the number of bytes in the line,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002095 the cursor will be positioned at the last character in the
2096 line.
2097 If {col} is zero, the cursor will stay in the current column.
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00002098 When 'virtualedit' is used {off} specifies the offset in
2099 screen columns from the start of the character. E.g., a
2100 position within a Tab or after the last character.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002101
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002102
Bram Moolenaar4399ef42005-02-12 14:29:27 +00002103deepcopy({expr}[, {noref}]) *deepcopy()* *E698*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002104 Make a copy of {expr}. For Numbers and Strings this isn't
2105 different from using {expr} directly.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002106 When {expr} is a |List| a full copy is created. This means
2107 that the original |List| can be changed without changing the
2108 copy, and vise versa. When an item is a |List|, a copy for it
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002109 is made, recursively. Thus changing an item in the copy does
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002110 not change the contents of the original |List|.
2111 When {noref} is omitted or zero a contained |List| or
2112 |Dictionary| is only copied once. All references point to
2113 this single copy. With {noref} set to 1 every occurrence of a
2114 |List| or |Dictionary| results in a new copy. This also means
2115 that a cyclic reference causes deepcopy() to fail.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00002116 *E724*
2117 Nesting is possible up to 100 levels. When there is an item
Bram Moolenaar4399ef42005-02-12 14:29:27 +00002118 that refers back to a higher level making a deep copy with
2119 {noref} set to 1 will fail.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002120 Also see |copy()|.
2121
2122delete({fname}) *delete()*
2123 Deletes the file by the name {fname}. The result is a Number,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002124 which is 0 if the file was deleted successfully, and non-zero
2125 when the deletion failed.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002126 Use |remove()| to delete an item from a |List|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002127
2128 *did_filetype()*
2129did_filetype() Returns non-zero when autocommands are being executed and the
2130 FileType event has been triggered at least once. Can be used
2131 to avoid triggering the FileType event again in the scripts
2132 that detect the file type. |FileType|
2133 When editing another file, the counter is reset, thus this
2134 really checks if the FileType event has been triggered for the
2135 current buffer. This allows an autocommand that starts
2136 editing another buffer to set 'filetype' and load a syntax
2137 file.
2138
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00002139diff_filler({lnum}) *diff_filler()*
2140 Returns the number of filler lines above line {lnum}.
2141 These are the lines that were inserted at this point in
2142 another diff'ed window. These filler lines are shown in the
2143 display but don't exist in the buffer.
2144 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|. Thus "." is the current
2145 line, "'m" mark m, etc.
2146 Returns 0 if the current window is not in diff mode.
2147
2148diff_hlID({lnum}, {col}) *diff_hlID()*
2149 Returns the highlight ID for diff mode at line {lnum} column
2150 {col} (byte index). When the current line does not have a
2151 diff change zero is returned.
2152 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|. Thus "." is the current
2153 line, "'m" mark m, etc.
2154 {col} is 1 for the leftmost column, {lnum} is 1 for the first
2155 line.
2156 The highlight ID can be used with |synIDattr()| to obtain
2157 syntax information about the highlighting.
2158
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00002159empty({expr}) *empty()*
2160 Return the Number 1 if {expr} is empty, zero otherwise.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002161 A |List| or |Dictionary| is empty when it does not have any
2162 items. A Number is empty when its value is zero.
2163 For a long |List| this is much faster then comparing the
2164 length with zero.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00002165
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002166escape({string}, {chars}) *escape()*
2167 Escape the characters in {chars} that occur in {string} with a
2168 backslash. Example: >
2169 :echo escape('c:\program files\vim', ' \')
2170< results in: >
2171 c:\\program\ files\\vim
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002172
2173< *eval()*
2174eval({string}) Evaluate {string} and return the result. Especially useful to
2175 turn the result of |string()| back into the original value.
2176 This works for Numbers, Strings and composites of them.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002177 Also works for |Funcref|s that refer to existing functions.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002178
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002179eventhandler() *eventhandler()*
2180 Returns 1 when inside an event handler. That is that Vim got
2181 interrupted while waiting for the user to type a character,
2182 e.g., when dropping a file on Vim. This means interactive
2183 commands cannot be used. Otherwise zero is returned.
2184
2185executable({expr}) *executable()*
2186 This function checks if an executable with the name {expr}
2187 exists. {expr} must be the name of the program without any
Bram Moolenaarf4b8e572004-06-24 15:53:16 +00002188 arguments.
2189 executable() uses the value of $PATH and/or the normal
2190 searchpath for programs. *PATHEXT*
2191 On MS-DOS and MS-Windows the ".exe", ".bat", etc. can
2192 optionally be included. Then the extensions in $PATHEXT are
2193 tried. Thus if "foo.exe" does not exist, "foo.exe.bat" can be
2194 found. If $PATHEXT is not set then ".exe;.com;.bat;.cmd" is
2195 used. A dot by itself can be used in $PATHEXT to try using
2196 the name without an extension. When 'shell' looks like a
2197 Unix shell, then the name is also tried without adding an
2198 extension.
2199 On MS-DOS and MS-Windows it only checks if the file exists and
2200 is not a directory, not if it's really executable.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002201 The result is a Number:
2202 1 exists
2203 0 does not exist
2204 -1 not implemented on this system
2205
2206 *exists()*
2207exists({expr}) The result is a Number, which is non-zero if {expr} is
2208 defined, zero otherwise. The {expr} argument is a string,
2209 which contains one of these:
2210 &option-name Vim option (only checks if it exists,
2211 not if it really works)
2212 +option-name Vim option that works.
2213 $ENVNAME environment variable (could also be
2214 done by comparing with an empty
2215 string)
2216 *funcname built-in function (see |functions|)
2217 or user defined function (see
2218 |user-functions|).
2219 varname internal variable (see
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00002220 |internal-variables|). Also works
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002221 for |curly-braces-names|, |Dictionary|
2222 entries, |List| items, etc. Beware
2223 that this may cause functions to be
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00002224 invoked cause an error message for an
2225 invalid expression.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002226 :cmdname Ex command: built-in command, user
2227 command or command modifier |:command|.
2228 Returns:
2229 1 for match with start of a command
2230 2 full match with a command
2231 3 matches several user commands
2232 To check for a supported command
2233 always check the return value to be 2.
2234 #event autocommand defined for this event
2235 #event#pattern autocommand defined for this event and
2236 pattern (the pattern is taken
2237 literally and compared to the
2238 autocommand patterns character by
2239 character)
Bram Moolenaara9b1e742005-12-19 22:14:58 +00002240 #group autocommand group exists
2241 #group#event autocommand defined for this group and
2242 event.
2243 #group#event#pattern
2244 autocommand defined for this group,
2245 event and pattern.
Bram Moolenaarf4cd3e82005-12-22 22:47:02 +00002246 ##event autocommand for this event is
2247 supported.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002248 For checking for a supported feature use |has()|.
2249
2250 Examples: >
2251 exists("&shortname")
2252 exists("$HOSTNAME")
2253 exists("*strftime")
2254 exists("*s:MyFunc")
2255 exists("bufcount")
2256 exists(":Make")
Bram Moolenaara9b1e742005-12-19 22:14:58 +00002257 exists("#CursorHold")
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002258 exists("#BufReadPre#*.gz")
Bram Moolenaara9b1e742005-12-19 22:14:58 +00002259 exists("#filetypeindent")
2260 exists("#filetypeindent#FileType")
2261 exists("#filetypeindent#FileType#*")
Bram Moolenaarf4cd3e82005-12-22 22:47:02 +00002262 exists("##ColorScheme")
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002263< There must be no space between the symbol (&/$/*/#) and the
2264 name.
2265 Note that the argument must be a string, not the name of the
2266 variable itself! For example: >
2267 exists(bufcount)
2268< This doesn't check for existence of the "bufcount" variable,
2269 but gets the contents of "bufcount", and checks if that
2270 exists.
2271
2272expand({expr} [, {flag}]) *expand()*
2273 Expand wildcards and the following special keywords in {expr}.
2274 The result is a String.
2275
2276 When there are several matches, they are separated by <NL>
2277 characters. [Note: in version 5.0 a space was used, which
2278 caused problems when a file name contains a space]
2279
2280 If the expansion fails, the result is an empty string. A name
2281 for a non-existing file is not included.
2282
2283 When {expr} starts with '%', '#' or '<', the expansion is done
2284 like for the |cmdline-special| variables with their associated
2285 modifiers. Here is a short overview:
2286
2287 % current file name
2288 # alternate file name
2289 #n alternate file name n
2290 <cfile> file name under the cursor
2291 <afile> autocmd file name
2292 <abuf> autocmd buffer number (as a String!)
2293 <amatch> autocmd matched name
2294 <sfile> sourced script file name
2295 <cword> word under the cursor
2296 <cWORD> WORD under the cursor
2297 <client> the {clientid} of the last received
2298 message |server2client()|
2299 Modifiers:
2300 :p expand to full path
2301 :h head (last path component removed)
2302 :t tail (last path component only)
2303 :r root (one extension removed)
2304 :e extension only
2305
2306 Example: >
2307 :let &tags = expand("%:p:h") . "/tags"
2308< Note that when expanding a string that starts with '%', '#' or
2309 '<', any following text is ignored. This does NOT work: >
2310 :let doesntwork = expand("%:h.bak")
2311< Use this: >
2312 :let doeswork = expand("%:h") . ".bak"
2313< Also note that expanding "<cfile>" and others only returns the
2314 referenced file name without further expansion. If "<cfile>"
2315 is "~/.cshrc", you need to do another expand() to have the
2316 "~/" expanded into the path of the home directory: >
2317 :echo expand(expand("<cfile>"))
2318<
2319 There cannot be white space between the variables and the
2320 following modifier. The |fnamemodify()| function can be used
2321 to modify normal file names.
2322
2323 When using '%' or '#', and the current or alternate file name
2324 is not defined, an empty string is used. Using "%:p" in a
2325 buffer with no name, results in the current directory, with a
2326 '/' added.
2327
2328 When {expr} does not start with '%', '#' or '<', it is
2329 expanded like a file name is expanded on the command line.
2330 'suffixes' and 'wildignore' are used, unless the optional
2331 {flag} argument is given and it is non-zero. Names for
Bram Moolenaar02743632005-07-25 20:42:36 +00002332 non-existing files are included. The "**" item can be used to
2333 search in a directory tree. For example, to find all "README"
2334 files in the current directory and below: >
2335 :echo expand("**/README")
2336<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002337 Expand() can also be used to expand variables and environment
2338 variables that are only known in a shell. But this can be
2339 slow, because a shell must be started. See |expr-env-expand|.
2340 The expanded variable is still handled like a list of file
2341 names. When an environment variable cannot be expanded, it is
2342 left unchanged. Thus ":echo expand('$FOOBAR')" results in
2343 "$FOOBAR".
2344
2345 See |glob()| for finding existing files. See |system()| for
2346 getting the raw output of an external command.
2347
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002348extend({expr1}, {expr2} [, {expr3}]) *extend()*
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00002349 {expr1} and {expr2} must be both |Lists| or both
2350 |Dictionaries|.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002351
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00002352 If they are |Lists|: Append {expr2} to {expr1}.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002353 If {expr3} is given insert the items of {expr2} before item
2354 {expr3} in {expr1}. When {expr3} is zero insert before the
2355 first item. When {expr3} is equal to len({expr1}) then
2356 {expr2} is appended.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002357 Examples: >
2358 :echo sort(extend(mylist, [7, 5]))
2359 :call extend(mylist, [2, 3], 1)
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002360< Use |add()| to concatenate one item to a list. To concatenate
2361 two lists into a new list use the + operator: >
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002362 :let newlist = [1, 2, 3] + [4, 5]
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002363<
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00002364 If they are |Dictionaries|:
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002365 Add all entries from {expr2} to {expr1}.
2366 If a key exists in both {expr1} and {expr2} then {expr3} is
2367 used to decide what to do:
2368 {expr3} = "keep": keep the value of {expr1}
2369 {expr3} = "force": use the value of {expr2}
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00002370 {expr3} = "error": give an error message *E737*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002371 When {expr3} is omitted then "force" is assumed.
2372
2373 {expr1} is changed when {expr2} is not empty. If necessary
2374 make a copy of {expr1} first.
2375 {expr2} remains unchanged.
2376 Returns {expr1}.
2377
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00002378
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002379filereadable({file}) *filereadable()*
2380 The result is a Number, which is TRUE when a file with the
2381 name {file} exists, and can be read. If {file} doesn't exist,
2382 or is a directory, the result is FALSE. {file} is any
2383 expression, which is used as a String.
2384 *file_readable()*
2385 Obsolete name: file_readable().
2386
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002387
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002388filter({expr}, {string}) *filter()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002389 {expr} must be a |List| or a |Dictionary|.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002390 For each item in {expr} evaluate {string} and when the result
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002391 is zero remove the item from the |List| or |Dictionary|.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002392 Inside {string} |v:val| has the value of the current item.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002393 For a |Dictionary| |v:key| has the key of the current item.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002394 Examples: >
2395 :call filter(mylist, 'v:val !~ "OLD"')
2396< Removes the items where "OLD" appears. >
2397 :call filter(mydict, 'v:key >= 8')
2398< Removes the items with a key below 8. >
2399 :call filter(var, 0)
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002400< Removes all the items, thus clears the |List| or |Dictionary|.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00002401
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002402 Note that {string} is the result of expression and is then
2403 used as an expression again. Often it is good to use a
2404 |literal-string| to avoid having to double backslashes.
2405
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002406 The operation is done in-place. If you want a |List| or
2407 |Dictionary| to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
Bram Moolenaarafeb4fa2006-02-01 21:51:12 +00002408 :let l = filter(copy(mylist), 'v:val =~ "KEEP"')
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002409
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002410< Returns {expr}, the |List| or |Dictionary| that was filtered.
Bram Moolenaar280f1262006-01-30 00:14:18 +00002411 When an error is encountered while evaluating {string} no
2412 further items in {expr} are processed.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002413
2414
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00002415finddir({name}[, {path}[, {count}]]) *finddir()*
2416 Find directory {name} in {path}.
2417 If {path} is omitted or empty then 'path' is used.
2418 If the optional {count} is given, find {count}'s occurrence of
2419 {name} in {path}.
2420 This is quite similar to the ex-command |:find|.
2421 When the found directory is below the current directory a
2422 relative path is returned. Otherwise a full path is returned.
2423 Example: >
2424 :echo findfile("tags.vim", ".;")
2425< Searches from the current directory upwards until it finds
2426 the file "tags.vim".
2427 {only available when compiled with the +file_in_path feature}
2428
2429findfile({name}[, {path}[, {count}]]) *findfile()*
2430 Just like |finddir()|, but find a file instead of a directory.
2431
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002432filewritable({file}) *filewritable()*
2433 The result is a Number, which is 1 when a file with the
2434 name {file} exists, and can be written. If {file} doesn't
2435 exist, or is not writable, the result is 0. If (file) is a
2436 directory, and we can write to it, the result is 2.
2437
2438fnamemodify({fname}, {mods}) *fnamemodify()*
2439 Modify file name {fname} according to {mods}. {mods} is a
2440 string of characters like it is used for file names on the
2441 command line. See |filename-modifiers|.
2442 Example: >
2443 :echo fnamemodify("main.c", ":p:h")
2444< results in: >
2445 /home/mool/vim/vim/src
2446< Note: Environment variables and "~" don't work in {fname}, use
2447 |expand()| first then.
2448
2449foldclosed({lnum}) *foldclosed()*
2450 The result is a Number. If the line {lnum} is in a closed
2451 fold, the result is the number of the first line in that fold.
2452 If the line {lnum} is not in a closed fold, -1 is returned.
2453
2454foldclosedend({lnum}) *foldclosedend()*
2455 The result is a Number. If the line {lnum} is in a closed
2456 fold, the result is the number of the last line in that fold.
2457 If the line {lnum} is not in a closed fold, -1 is returned.
2458
2459foldlevel({lnum}) *foldlevel()*
2460 The result is a Number, which is the foldlevel of line {lnum}
2461 in the current buffer. For nested folds the deepest level is
2462 returned. If there is no fold at line {lnum}, zero is
2463 returned. It doesn't matter if the folds are open or closed.
2464 When used while updating folds (from 'foldexpr') -1 is
2465 returned for lines where folds are still to be updated and the
2466 foldlevel is unknown. As a special case the level of the
2467 previous line is usually available.
2468
2469 *foldtext()*
2470foldtext() Returns a String, to be displayed for a closed fold. This is
2471 the default function used for the 'foldtext' option and should
2472 only be called from evaluating 'foldtext'. It uses the
2473 |v:foldstart|, |v:foldend| and |v:folddashes| variables.
2474 The returned string looks like this: >
2475 +-- 45 lines: abcdef
2476< The number of dashes depends on the foldlevel. The "45" is
2477 the number of lines in the fold. "abcdef" is the text in the
2478 first non-blank line of the fold. Leading white space, "//"
2479 or "/*" and the text from the 'foldmarker' and 'commentstring'
2480 options is removed.
2481 {not available when compiled without the |+folding| feature}
2482
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00002483foldtextresult({lnum}) *foldtextresult()*
2484 Returns the text that is displayed for the closed fold at line
2485 {lnum}. Evaluates 'foldtext' in the appropriate context.
2486 When there is no closed fold at {lnum} an empty string is
2487 returned.
2488 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|. Thus "." is the current
2489 line, "'m" mark m, etc.
2490 Useful when exporting folded text, e.g., to HTML.
2491 {not available when compiled without the |+folding| feature}
2492
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002493 *foreground()*
2494foreground() Move the Vim window to the foreground. Useful when sent from
2495 a client to a Vim server. |remote_send()|
2496 On Win32 systems this might not work, the OS does not always
2497 allow a window to bring itself to the foreground. Use
2498 |remote_foreground()| instead.
2499 {only in the Win32, Athena, Motif and GTK GUI versions and the
2500 Win32 console version}
2501
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002502
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00002503function({name}) *function()* *E700*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002504 Return a |Funcref| variable that refers to function {name}.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00002505 {name} can be a user defined function or an internal function.
2506
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002507
Bram Moolenaar39a58ca2005-06-27 22:42:44 +00002508garbagecollect() *garbagecollect()*
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00002509 Cleanup unused |Lists| and |Dictionaries| that have circular
Bram Moolenaar39a58ca2005-06-27 22:42:44 +00002510 references. There is hardly ever a need to invoke this
2511 function, as it is automatically done when Vim runs out of
2512 memory or is waiting for the user to press a key after
2513 'updatetime'. Items without circular references are always
2514 freed when they become unused.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002515 This is useful if you have deleted a very big |List| and/or
2516 |Dictionary| with circular references in a script that runs
2517 for a long time.
Bram Moolenaar39a58ca2005-06-27 22:42:44 +00002518
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00002519get({list}, {idx} [, {default}]) *get()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002520 Get item {idx} from |List| {list}. When this item is not
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002521 available return {default}. Return zero when {default} is
2522 omitted.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002523get({dict}, {key} [, {default}])
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002524 Get item with key {key} from |Dictionary| {dict}. When this
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002525 item is not available return {default}. Return zero when
2526 {default} is omitted.
2527
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00002528 *getbufline()*
2529getbufline({expr}, {lnum} [, {end}])
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002530 Return a |List| with the lines starting from {lnum} to {end}
2531 (inclusive) in the buffer {expr}. If {end} is omitted, a
2532 |List| with only the line {lnum} is returned.
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00002533
2534 For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()| above.
2535
Bram Moolenaar661b1822005-07-28 22:36:45 +00002536 For {lnum} and {end} "$" can be used for the last line of the
2537 buffer. Otherwise a number must be used.
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00002538
2539 When {lnum} is smaller than 1 or bigger than the number of
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002540 lines in the buffer, an empty |List| is returned.
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00002541
2542 When {end} is greater than the number of lines in the buffer,
2543 it is treated as {end} is set to the number of lines in the
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002544 buffer. When {end} is before {lnum} an empty |List| is
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00002545 returned.
2546
Bram Moolenaar661b1822005-07-28 22:36:45 +00002547 This function works only for loaded buffers. For unloaded and
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002548 non-existing buffers, an empty |List| is returned.
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00002549
2550 Example: >
2551 :let lines = getbufline(bufnr("myfile"), 1, "$")
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002552
2553getbufvar({expr}, {varname}) *getbufvar()*
2554 The result is the value of option or local buffer variable
2555 {varname} in buffer {expr}. Note that the name without "b:"
2556 must be used.
Bram Moolenaar4317d9b2005-03-18 20:25:31 +00002557 This also works for a global or buffer-local option, but it
2558 doesn't work for a global variable, window-local variable or
2559 window-local option.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002560 For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()| above.
2561 When the buffer or variable doesn't exist an empty string is
2562 returned, there is no error message.
2563 Examples: >
2564 :let bufmodified = getbufvar(1, "&mod")
2565 :echo "todo myvar = " . getbufvar("todo", "myvar")
2566<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002567getchar([expr]) *getchar()*
2568 Get a single character from the user. If it is an 8-bit
2569 character, the result is a number. Otherwise a String is
2570 returned with the encoded character. For a special key it's a
2571 sequence of bytes starting with 0x80 (decimal: 128).
2572 If [expr] is omitted, wait until a character is available.
2573 If [expr] is 0, only get a character when one is available.
2574 If [expr] is 1, only check if a character is available, it is
2575 not consumed. If a normal character is
2576 available, it is returned, otherwise a
2577 non-zero value is returned.
2578 If a normal character available, it is returned as a Number.
2579 Use nr2char() to convert it to a String.
2580 The returned value is zero if no character is available.
2581 The returned value is a string of characters for special keys
2582 and when a modifier (shift, control, alt) was used.
2583 There is no prompt, you will somehow have to make clear to the
2584 user that a character has to be typed.
2585 There is no mapping for the character.
2586 Key codes are replaced, thus when the user presses the <Del>
2587 key you get the code for the <Del> key, not the raw character
2588 sequence. Examples: >
2589 getchar() == "\<Del>"
2590 getchar() == "\<S-Left>"
2591< This example redefines "f" to ignore case: >
2592 :nmap f :call FindChar()<CR>
2593 :function FindChar()
2594 : let c = nr2char(getchar())
2595 : while col('.') < col('$') - 1
2596 : normal l
2597 : if getline('.')[col('.') - 1] ==? c
2598 : break
2599 : endif
2600 : endwhile
2601 :endfunction
2602
2603getcharmod() *getcharmod()*
2604 The result is a Number which is the state of the modifiers for
2605 the last obtained character with getchar() or in another way.
2606 These values are added together:
2607 2 shift
2608 4 control
2609 8 alt (meta)
2610 16 mouse double click
2611 32 mouse triple click
2612 64 mouse quadruple click
2613 128 Macintosh only: command
2614 Only the modifiers that have not been included in the
2615 character itself are obtained. Thus Shift-a results in "A"
2616 with no modifier.
2617
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002618getcmdline() *getcmdline()*
2619 Return the current command-line. Only works when the command
2620 line is being edited, thus requires use of |c_CTRL-\_e| or
2621 |c_CTRL-R_=|.
2622 Example: >
2623 :cmap <F7> <C-\>eescape(getcmdline(), ' \')<CR>
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00002624< Also see |getcmdtype()|, |getcmdpos()| and |setcmdpos()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002625
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00002626getcmdpos() *getcmdpos()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002627 Return the position of the cursor in the command line as a
2628 byte count. The first column is 1.
2629 Only works when editing the command line, thus requires use of
2630 |c_CTRL-\_e| or |c_CTRL-R_=|. Returns 0 otherwise.
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00002631 Also see |getcmdtype()|, |setcmdpos()| and |getcmdline()|.
2632
2633getcmdtype() *getcmdtype()*
2634 Return the current command-line type. Possible return values
2635 are:
Bram Moolenaar1e015462005-09-25 22:16:38 +00002636 : normal Ex command
2637 > debug mode command |debug-mode|
2638 / forward search command
2639 ? backward search command
2640 @ |input()| command
2641 - |:insert| or |:append| command
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00002642 Only works when editing the command line, thus requires use of
2643 |c_CTRL-\_e| or |c_CTRL-R_=|. Returns an empty string
2644 otherwise.
2645 Also see |getcmdpos()|, |setcmdpos()| and |getcmdline()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002646
2647 *getcwd()*
2648getcwd() The result is a String, which is the name of the current
2649 working directory.
2650
2651getfsize({fname}) *getfsize()*
2652 The result is a Number, which is the size in bytes of the
2653 given file {fname}.
2654 If {fname} is a directory, 0 is returned.
2655 If the file {fname} can't be found, -1 is returned.
2656
Bram Moolenaard8b0cf12004-12-12 11:33:30 +00002657getfontname([{name}]) *getfontname()*
2658 Without an argument returns the name of the normal font being
2659 used. Like what is used for the Normal highlight group
2660 |hl-Normal|.
2661 With an argument a check is done whether {name} is a valid
2662 font name. If not then an empty string is returned.
2663 Otherwise the actual font name is returned, or {name} if the
2664 GUI does not support obtaining the real name.
2665 Only works when the GUI is running, thus not you your vimrc or
2666 Note that the GTK 2 GUI accepts any font name, thus checking
2667 for a valid name does not work.
2668 gvimrc file. Use the |GUIEnter| autocommand to use this
2669 function just after the GUI has started.
2670
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00002671getfperm({fname}) *getfperm()*
2672 The result is a String, which is the read, write, and execute
2673 permissions of the given file {fname}.
2674 If {fname} does not exist or its directory cannot be read, an
2675 empty string is returned.
2676 The result is of the form "rwxrwxrwx", where each group of
2677 "rwx" flags represent, in turn, the permissions of the owner
2678 of the file, the group the file belongs to, and other users.
2679 If a user does not have a given permission the flag for this
2680 is replaced with the string "-". Example: >
2681 :echo getfperm("/etc/passwd")
2682< This will hopefully (from a security point of view) display
2683 the string "rw-r--r--" or even "rw-------".
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00002684
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002685getftime({fname}) *getftime()*
2686 The result is a Number, which is the last modification time of
2687 the given file {fname}. The value is measured as seconds
2688 since 1st Jan 1970, and may be passed to strftime(). See also
2689 |localtime()| and |strftime()|.
2690 If the file {fname} can't be found -1 is returned.
2691
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00002692getftype({fname}) *getftype()*
2693 The result is a String, which is a description of the kind of
2694 file of the given file {fname}.
2695 If {fname} does not exist an empty string is returned.
2696 Here is a table over different kinds of files and their
2697 results:
2698 Normal file "file"
2699 Directory "dir"
2700 Symbolic link "link"
2701 Block device "bdev"
2702 Character device "cdev"
2703 Socket "socket"
2704 FIFO "fifo"
2705 All other "other"
2706 Example: >
2707 getftype("/home")
2708< Note that a type such as "link" will only be returned on
2709 systems that support it. On some systems only "dir" and
2710 "file" are returned.
2711
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002712 *getline()*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002713getline({lnum} [, {end}])
2714 Without {end} the result is a String, which is line {lnum}
2715 from the current buffer. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002716 getline(1)
2717< When {lnum} is a String that doesn't start with a
2718 digit, line() is called to translate the String into a Number.
2719 To get the line under the cursor: >
2720 getline(".")
2721< When {lnum} is smaller than 1 or bigger than the number of
2722 lines in the buffer, an empty string is returned.
2723
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002724 When {end} is given the result is a |List| where each item is
2725 a line from the current buffer in the range {lnum} to {end},
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002726 including line {end}.
2727 {end} is used in the same way as {lnum}.
2728 Non-existing lines are silently omitted.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002729 When {end} is before {lnum} an empty |List| is returned.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002730 Example: >
2731 :let start = line('.')
2732 :let end = search("^$") - 1
2733 :let lines = getline(start, end)
2734
Bram Moolenaar17c7c012006-01-26 22:25:15 +00002735getloclist({nr}) *getloclist()*
2736 Returns a list with all the entries in the location list for
2737 window {nr}. When {nr} is zero the current window is used.
2738 For a location list window, the displayed location list is
Bram Moolenaar280f1262006-01-30 00:14:18 +00002739 returned. For an invalid window number {nr}, an empty list is
2740 returned. Otherwise, same as getqflist().
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002741
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00002742getqflist() *getqflist()*
2743 Returns a list with all the current quickfix errors. Each
2744 list item is a dictionary with these entries:
2745 bufnr number of buffer that has the file name, use
2746 bufname() to get the name
2747 lnum line number in the buffer (first line is 1)
2748 col column number (first column is 1)
Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00002749 vcol non-zero: "col" is visual column
2750 zero: "col" is byte index
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00002751 nr error number
2752 text description of the error
2753 type type of the error, 'E', '1', etc.
2754 valid non-zero: recognized error message
2755
Bram Moolenaare7eb9df2005-09-09 19:49:30 +00002756 When there is no error list or it's empty an empty list is
2757 returned.
2758
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00002759 Useful application: Find pattern matches in multiple files and
2760 do something with them: >
2761 :vimgrep /theword/jg *.c
2762 :for d in getqflist()
2763 : echo bufname(d.bufnr) ':' d.lnum '=' d.text
2764 :endfor
2765
2766
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00002767getreg([{regname} [, 1]]) *getreg()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002768 The result is a String, which is the contents of register
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00002769 {regname}. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002770 :let cliptext = getreg('*')
2771< getreg('=') returns the last evaluated value of the expression
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00002772 register. (For use in maps.)
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00002773 getreg('=', 1) returns the expression itself, so that it can
2774 be restored with |setreg()|. For other registers the extra
2775 argument is ignored, thus you can always give it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002776 If {regname} is not specified, |v:register| is used.
2777
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00002778
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002779getregtype([{regname}]) *getregtype()*
2780 The result is a String, which is type of register {regname}.
2781 The value will be one of:
2782 "v" for |characterwise| text
2783 "V" for |linewise| text
2784 "<CTRL-V>{width}" for |blockwise-visual| text
2785 0 for an empty or unknown register
2786 <CTRL-V> is one character with value 0x16.
2787 If {regname} is not specified, |v:register| is used.
2788
2789 *getwinposx()*
2790getwinposx() The result is a Number, which is the X coordinate in pixels of
2791 the left hand side of the GUI Vim window. The result will be
2792 -1 if the information is not available.
2793
2794 *getwinposy()*
2795getwinposy() The result is a Number, which is the Y coordinate in pixels of
2796 the top of the GUI Vim window. The result will be -1 if the
2797 information is not available.
2798
2799getwinvar({nr}, {varname}) *getwinvar()*
2800 The result is the value of option or local window variable
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +00002801 {varname} in window {nr}. When {nr} is zero the current
2802 window is used.
Bram Moolenaar4317d9b2005-03-18 20:25:31 +00002803 This also works for a global option, buffer-local option and
2804 window-local option, but it doesn't work for a global variable
2805 or buffer-local variable.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002806 Note that the name without "w:" must be used.
2807 Examples: >
2808 :let list_is_on = getwinvar(2, '&list')
2809 :echo "myvar = " . getwinvar(1, 'myvar')
2810<
2811 *glob()*
2812glob({expr}) Expand the file wildcards in {expr}. The result is a String.
2813 When there are several matches, they are separated by <NL>
2814 characters.
2815 If the expansion fails, the result is an empty string.
2816 A name for a non-existing file is not included.
2817
2818 For most systems backticks can be used to get files names from
2819 any external command. Example: >
2820 :let tagfiles = glob("`find . -name tags -print`")
2821 :let &tags = substitute(tagfiles, "\n", ",", "g")
2822< The result of the program inside the backticks should be one
2823 item per line. Spaces inside an item are allowed.
2824
2825 See |expand()| for expanding special Vim variables. See
2826 |system()| for getting the raw output of an external command.
2827
2828globpath({path}, {expr}) *globpath()*
2829 Perform glob() on all directories in {path} and concatenate
2830 the results. Example: >
2831 :echo globpath(&rtp, "syntax/c.vim")
2832< {path} is a comma-separated list of directory names. Each
2833 directory name is prepended to {expr} and expanded like with
2834 glob(). A path separator is inserted when needed.
2835 To add a comma inside a directory name escape it with a
2836 backslash. Note that on MS-Windows a directory may have a
2837 trailing backslash, remove it if you put a comma after it.
2838 If the expansion fails for one of the directories, there is no
2839 error message.
2840 The 'wildignore' option applies: Names matching one of the
2841 patterns in 'wildignore' will be skipped.
2842
Bram Moolenaar02743632005-07-25 20:42:36 +00002843 The "**" item can be used to search in a directory tree.
2844 For example, to find all "README.txt" files in the directories
2845 in 'runtimepath' and below: >
2846 :echo globpath(&rtp, "**/README.txt")
2847<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002848 *has()*
2849has({feature}) The result is a Number, which is 1 if the feature {feature} is
2850 supported, zero otherwise. The {feature} argument is a
2851 string. See |feature-list| below.
2852 Also see |exists()|.
2853
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002854
2855has_key({dict}, {key}) *has_key()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002856 The result is a Number, which is 1 if |Dictionary| {dict} has
2857 an entry with key {key}. Zero otherwise.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002858
2859
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002860hasmapto({what} [, {mode}]) *hasmapto()*
2861 The result is a Number, which is 1 if there is a mapping that
2862 contains {what} in somewhere in the rhs (what it is mapped to)
2863 and this mapping exists in one of the modes indicated by
2864 {mode}.
2865 Both the global mappings and the mappings local to the current
2866 buffer are checked for a match.
2867 If no matching mapping is found 0 is returned.
2868 The following characters are recognized in {mode}:
2869 n Normal mode
2870 v Visual mode
2871 o Operator-pending mode
2872 i Insert mode
2873 l Language-Argument ("r", "f", "t", etc.)
2874 c Command-line mode
2875 When {mode} is omitted, "nvo" is used.
2876
2877 This function is useful to check if a mapping already exists
2878 to a function in a Vim script. Example: >
2879 :if !hasmapto('\ABCdoit')
2880 : map <Leader>d \ABCdoit
2881 :endif
2882< This installs the mapping to "\ABCdoit" only if there isn't
2883 already a mapping to "\ABCdoit".
2884
2885histadd({history}, {item}) *histadd()*
2886 Add the String {item} to the history {history} which can be
2887 one of: *hist-names*
2888 "cmd" or ":" command line history
2889 "search" or "/" search pattern history
2890 "expr" or "=" typed expression history
2891 "input" or "@" input line history
2892 If {item} does already exist in the history, it will be
2893 shifted to become the newest entry.
2894 The result is a Number: 1 if the operation was successful,
2895 otherwise 0 is returned.
2896
2897 Example: >
2898 :call histadd("input", strftime("%Y %b %d"))
2899 :let date=input("Enter date: ")
2900< This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
2901
2902histdel({history} [, {item}]) *histdel()*
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00002903 Clear {history}, i.e. delete all its entries. See |hist-names|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002904 for the possible values of {history}.
2905
2906 If the parameter {item} is given as String, this is seen
2907 as regular expression. All entries matching that expression
2908 will be removed from the history (if there are any).
2909 Upper/lowercase must match, unless "\c" is used |/\c|.
2910 If {item} is a Number, it will be interpreted as index, see
2911 |:history-indexing|. The respective entry will be removed
2912 if it exists.
2913
2914 The result is a Number: 1 for a successful operation,
2915 otherwise 0 is returned.
2916
2917 Examples:
2918 Clear expression register history: >
2919 :call histdel("expr")
2920<
2921 Remove all entries starting with "*" from the search history: >
2922 :call histdel("/", '^\*')
2923<
2924 The following three are equivalent: >
2925 :call histdel("search", histnr("search"))
2926 :call histdel("search", -1)
2927 :call histdel("search", '^'.histget("search", -1).'$')
2928<
2929 To delete the last search pattern and use the last-but-one for
2930 the "n" command and 'hlsearch': >
2931 :call histdel("search", -1)
2932 :let @/ = histget("search", -1)
2933
2934histget({history} [, {index}]) *histget()*
2935 The result is a String, the entry with Number {index} from
2936 {history}. See |hist-names| for the possible values of
2937 {history}, and |:history-indexing| for {index}. If there is
2938 no such entry, an empty String is returned. When {index} is
2939 omitted, the most recent item from the history is used.
2940
2941 Examples:
2942 Redo the second last search from history. >
2943 :execute '/' . histget("search", -2)
2944
2945< Define an Ex command ":H {num}" that supports re-execution of
2946 the {num}th entry from the output of |:history|. >
2947 :command -nargs=1 H execute histget("cmd", 0+<args>)
2948<
2949histnr({history}) *histnr()*
2950 The result is the Number of the current entry in {history}.
2951 See |hist-names| for the possible values of {history}.
2952 If an error occurred, -1 is returned.
2953
2954 Example: >
2955 :let inp_index = histnr("expr")
2956<
2957hlexists({name}) *hlexists()*
2958 The result is a Number, which is non-zero if a highlight group
2959 called {name} exists. This is when the group has been
2960 defined in some way. Not necessarily when highlighting has
2961 been defined for it, it may also have been used for a syntax
2962 item.
2963 *highlight_exists()*
2964 Obsolete name: highlight_exists().
2965
2966 *hlID()*
2967hlID({name}) The result is a Number, which is the ID of the highlight group
2968 with name {name}. When the highlight group doesn't exist,
2969 zero is returned.
2970 This can be used to retrieve information about the highlight
2971 group. For example, to get the background color of the
2972 "Comment" group: >
2973 :echo synIDattr(synIDtrans(hlID("Comment")), "bg")
2974< *highlightID()*
2975 Obsolete name: highlightID().
2976
2977hostname() *hostname()*
2978 The result is a String, which is the name of the machine on
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00002979 which Vim is currently running. Machine names greater than
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002980 256 characters long are truncated.
2981
2982iconv({expr}, {from}, {to}) *iconv()*
2983 The result is a String, which is the text {expr} converted
2984 from encoding {from} to encoding {to}.
2985 When the conversion fails an empty string is returned.
2986 The encoding names are whatever the iconv() library function
2987 can accept, see ":!man 3 iconv".
2988 Most conversions require Vim to be compiled with the |+iconv|
2989 feature. Otherwise only UTF-8 to latin1 conversion and back
2990 can be done.
2991 This can be used to display messages with special characters,
2992 no matter what 'encoding' is set to. Write the message in
2993 UTF-8 and use: >
2994 echo iconv(utf8_str, "utf-8", &enc)
2995< Note that Vim uses UTF-8 for all Unicode encodings, conversion
2996 from/to UCS-2 is automatically changed to use UTF-8. You
2997 cannot use UCS-2 in a string anyway, because of the NUL bytes.
2998 {only available when compiled with the +multi_byte feature}
2999
3000 *indent()*
3001indent({lnum}) The result is a Number, which is indent of line {lnum} in the
3002 current buffer. The indent is counted in spaces, the value
3003 of 'tabstop' is relevant. {lnum} is used just like in
3004 |getline()|.
3005 When {lnum} is invalid -1 is returned.
3006
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003007
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003008index({list}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]]) *index()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003009 Return the lowest index in |List| {list} where the item has a
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003010 value equal to {expr}.
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00003011 If {start} is given then start looking at the item with index
3012 {start} (may be negative for an item relative to the end).
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003013 When {ic} is given and it is non-zero, ignore case. Otherwise
3014 case must match.
3015 -1 is returned when {expr} is not found in {list}.
3016 Example: >
3017 :let idx = index(words, "the")
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003018 :if index(numbers, 123) >= 0
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003019
3020
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00003021input({prompt} [, {text} [, {completion}]]) *input()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003022 The result is a String, which is whatever the user typed on
3023 the command-line. The parameter is either a prompt string, or
3024 a blank string (for no prompt). A '\n' can be used in the
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00003025 prompt to start a new line.
3026 The highlighting set with |:echohl| is used for the prompt.
3027 The input is entered just like a command-line, with the same
3028 editing commands and mappings. There is a separate history
3029 for lines typed for input().
3030 Example: >
3031 :if input("Coffee or beer? ") == "beer"
3032 : echo "Cheers!"
3033 :endif
3034<
Bram Moolenaar1e015462005-09-25 22:16:38 +00003035 If the optional {text} is present and not empty, this is used
3036 for the default reply, as if the user typed this. Example: >
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00003037 :let color = input("Color? ", "white")
3038
3039< The optional {completion} argument specifies the type of
3040 completion supported for the input. Without it completion is
3041 not performed. The supported completion types are the same as
3042 that can be supplied to a user-defined command using the
3043 "-complete=" argument. Refer to |:command-completion| for
3044 more information. Example: >
3045 let fname = input("File: ", "", "file")
3046<
3047 NOTE: This function must not be used in a startup file, for
3048 the versions that only run in GUI mode (e.g., the Win32 GUI).
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003049 Note: When input() is called from within a mapping it will
3050 consume remaining characters from that mapping, because a
3051 mapping is handled like the characters were typed.
3052 Use |inputsave()| before input() and |inputrestore()|
3053 after input() to avoid that. Another solution is to avoid
3054 that further characters follow in the mapping, e.g., by using
3055 |:execute| or |:normal|.
3056
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00003057 Example with a mapping: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003058 :nmap \x :call GetFoo()<CR>:exe "/" . Foo<CR>
3059 :function GetFoo()
3060 : call inputsave()
3061 : let g:Foo = input("enter search pattern: ")
3062 : call inputrestore()
3063 :endfunction
3064
3065inputdialog({prompt} [, {text} [, {cancelreturn}]]) *inputdialog()*
3066 Like input(), but when the GUI is running and text dialogs are
3067 supported, a dialog window pops up to input the text.
3068 Example: >
3069 :let n = inputdialog("value for shiftwidth", &sw)
3070 :if n != ""
3071 : let &sw = n
3072 :endif
3073< When the dialog is cancelled {cancelreturn} is returned. When
3074 omitted an empty string is returned.
3075 Hitting <Enter> works like pressing the OK button. Hitting
3076 <Esc> works like pressing the Cancel button.
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00003077 NOTE: Command-line completion is not supported.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003078
Bram Moolenaar578b49e2005-09-10 19:22:57 +00003079inputlist({textlist}) *inputlist()*
3080 {textlist} must be a list of strings. This list is displayed,
3081 one string per line. The user will be prompted to enter a
3082 number, which is returned.
3083 The user can also select an item by clicking on it with the
3084 mouse. For the first string 0 is returned. When clicking
3085 above the first item a negative number is returned. When
3086 clicking on the prompt one more than the length of {textlist}
3087 is returned.
3088 Make sure {textlist} has less then 'lines' entries, otherwise
3089 it won't work. It's a good idea to put the entry number at
3090 the start of the string. Example: >
3091 let color = inputlist(['Select color:', '1. red',
3092 \ '2. green', '3. blue'])
3093
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003094inputrestore() *inputrestore()*
3095 Restore typeahead that was saved with a previous inputsave().
3096 Should be called the same number of times inputsave() is
3097 called. Calling it more often is harmless though.
3098 Returns 1 when there is nothing to restore, 0 otherwise.
3099
3100inputsave() *inputsave()*
3101 Preserve typeahead (also from mappings) and clear it, so that
3102 a following prompt gets input from the user. Should be
3103 followed by a matching inputrestore() after the prompt. Can
3104 be used several times, in which case there must be just as
3105 many inputrestore() calls.
3106 Returns 1 when out of memory, 0 otherwise.
3107
3108inputsecret({prompt} [, {text}]) *inputsecret()*
3109 This function acts much like the |input()| function with but
3110 two exceptions:
3111 a) the user's response will be displayed as a sequence of
3112 asterisks ("*") thereby keeping the entry secret, and
3113 b) the user's response will not be recorded on the input
3114 |history| stack.
3115 The result is a String, which is whatever the user actually
3116 typed on the command-line in response to the issued prompt.
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00003117 NOTE: Command-line completion is not supported.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003118
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003119insert({list}, {item} [, {idx}]) *insert()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003120 Insert {item} at the start of |List| {list}.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003121 If {idx} is specified insert {item} before the item with index
3122 {idx}. If {idx} is zero it goes before the first item, just
3123 like omitting {idx}. A negative {idx} is also possible, see
3124 |list-index|. -1 inserts just before the last item.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003125 Returns the resulting |List|. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003126 :let mylist = insert([2, 3, 5], 1)
3127 :call insert(mylist, 4, -1)
3128 :call insert(mylist, 6, len(mylist))
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003129< The last example can be done simpler with |add()|.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003130 Note that when {item} is a |List| it is inserted as a single
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003131 item. Use |extend()| to concatenate |Lists|.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003132
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003133isdirectory({directory}) *isdirectory()*
3134 The result is a Number, which is non-zero when a directory
3135 with the name {directory} exists. If {directory} doesn't
3136 exist, or isn't a directory, the result is FALSE. {directory}
3137 is any expression, which is used as a String.
3138
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00003139islocked({expr}) *islocked()*
3140 The result is a Number, which is non-zero when {expr} is the
3141 name of a locked variable.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003142 {expr} must be the name of a variable, |List| item or
3143 |Dictionary| entry, not the variable itself! Example: >
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00003144 :let alist = [0, ['a', 'b'], 2, 3]
3145 :lockvar 1 alist
3146 :echo islocked('alist') " 1
3147 :echo islocked('alist[1]') " 0
3148
3149< When {expr} is a variable that does not exist you get an error
3150 message. Use |exists()| to check for existance.
3151
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00003152items({dict}) *items()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003153 Return a |List| with all the key-value pairs of {dict}. Each
3154 |List| item is a list with two items: the key of a {dict}
3155 entry and the value of this entry. The |List| is in arbitrary
3156 order.
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00003157
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003158
3159join({list} [, {sep}]) *join()*
3160 Join the items in {list} together into one String.
3161 When {sep} is specified it is put in between the items. If
3162 {sep} is omitted a single space is used.
3163 Note that {sep} is not added at the end. You might want to
3164 add it there too: >
3165 let lines = join(mylist, "\n") . "\n"
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003166< String items are used as-is. |Lists| and |Dictionaries| are
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003167 converted into a string like with |string()|.
3168 The opposite function is |split()|.
3169
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003170keys({dict}) *keys()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003171 Return a |List| with all the keys of {dict}. The |List| is in
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003172 arbitrary order.
3173
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00003174 *len()* *E701*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003175len({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the length of the argument.
3176 When {expr} is a String or a Number the length in bytes is
3177 used, as with |strlen()|.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003178 When {expr} is a |List| the number of items in the |List| is
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003179 returned.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003180 When {expr} is a |Dictionary| the number of entries in the
3181 |Dictionary| is returned.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003182 Otherwise an error is given.
3183
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003184 *libcall()* *E364* *E368*
3185libcall({libname}, {funcname}, {argument})
3186 Call function {funcname} in the run-time library {libname}
3187 with single argument {argument}.
3188 This is useful to call functions in a library that you
3189 especially made to be used with Vim. Since only one argument
3190 is possible, calling standard library functions is rather
3191 limited.
3192 The result is the String returned by the function. If the
3193 function returns NULL, this will appear as an empty string ""
3194 to Vim.
3195 If the function returns a number, use libcallnr()!
3196 If {argument} is a number, it is passed to the function as an
3197 int; if {argument} is a string, it is passed as a
3198 null-terminated string.
3199 This function will fail in |restricted-mode|.
3200
3201 libcall() allows you to write your own 'plug-in' extensions to
3202 Vim without having to recompile the program. It is NOT a
3203 means to call system functions! If you try to do so Vim will
3204 very probably crash.
3205
3206 For Win32, the functions you write must be placed in a DLL
3207 and use the normal C calling convention (NOT Pascal which is
3208 used in Windows System DLLs). The function must take exactly
3209 one parameter, either a character pointer or a long integer,
3210 and must return a character pointer or NULL. The character
3211 pointer returned must point to memory that will remain valid
3212 after the function has returned (e.g. in static data in the
3213 DLL). If it points to allocated memory, that memory will
3214 leak away. Using a static buffer in the function should work,
3215 it's then freed when the DLL is unloaded.
3216
3217 WARNING: If the function returns a non-valid pointer, Vim may
3218 crash! This also happens if the function returns a number,
3219 because Vim thinks it's a pointer.
3220 For Win32 systems, {libname} should be the filename of the DLL
3221 without the ".DLL" suffix. A full path is only required if
3222 the DLL is not in the usual places.
3223 For Unix: When compiling your own plugins, remember that the
3224 object code must be compiled as position-independent ('PIC').
3225 {only in Win32 on some Unix versions, when the |+libcall|
3226 feature is present}
3227 Examples: >
3228 :echo libcall("libc.so", "getenv", "HOME")
3229 :echo libcallnr("/usr/lib/libc.so", "getpid", "")
3230<
3231 *libcallnr()*
3232libcallnr({libname}, {funcname}, {argument})
3233 Just like libcall(), but used for a function that returns an
3234 int instead of a string.
3235 {only in Win32 on some Unix versions, when the |+libcall|
3236 feature is present}
3237 Example (not very useful...): >
3238 :call libcallnr("libc.so", "printf", "Hello World!\n")
3239 :call libcallnr("libc.so", "sleep", 10)
3240<
3241 *line()*
3242line({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the line number of the file
3243 position given with {expr}. The accepted positions are:
3244 . the cursor position
3245 $ the last line in the current buffer
3246 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is
3247 returned)
Bram Moolenaarc7453f52006-02-10 23:20:28 +00003248 w0 first line visible in current window
3249 w$ last line visible in current window
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00003250 Note that a mark in another file can be used.
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00003251 To get the column number use |col()|. To get both use
3252 |getpos()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003253 Examples: >
3254 line(".") line number of the cursor
3255 line("'t") line number of mark t
3256 line("'" . marker) line number of mark marker
3257< *last-position-jump*
3258 This autocommand jumps to the last known position in a file
3259 just after opening it, if the '" mark is set: >
3260 :au BufReadPost * if line("'\"") > 0 && line("'\"") <= line("$") | exe "normal g'\"" | endif
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00003261
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003262line2byte({lnum}) *line2byte()*
3263 Return the byte count from the start of the buffer for line
3264 {lnum}. This includes the end-of-line character, depending on
3265 the 'fileformat' option for the current buffer. The first
3266 line returns 1.
3267 This can also be used to get the byte count for the line just
3268 below the last line: >
3269 line2byte(line("$") + 1)
3270< This is the file size plus one.
3271 When {lnum} is invalid, or the |+byte_offset| feature has been
3272 disabled at compile time, -1 is returned.
3273 Also see |byte2line()|, |go| and |:goto|.
3274
3275lispindent({lnum}) *lispindent()*
3276 Get the amount of indent for line {lnum} according the lisp
3277 indenting rules, as with 'lisp'.
3278 The indent is counted in spaces, the value of 'tabstop' is
3279 relevant. {lnum} is used just like in |getline()|.
3280 When {lnum} is invalid or Vim was not compiled the
3281 |+lispindent| feature, -1 is returned.
3282
3283localtime() *localtime()*
3284 Return the current time, measured as seconds since 1st Jan
3285 1970. See also |strftime()| and |getftime()|.
3286
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003287
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003288map({expr}, {string}) *map()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003289 {expr} must be a |List| or a |Dictionary|.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003290 Replace each item in {expr} with the result of evaluating
3291 {string}.
3292 Inside {string} |v:val| has the value of the current item.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003293 For a |Dictionary| |v:key| has the key of the current item.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003294 Example: >
3295 :call map(mylist, '"> " . v:val . " <"')
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003296< This puts "> " before and " <" after each item in "mylist".
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003297
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003298 Note that {string} is the result of an expression and is then
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003299 used as an expression again. Often it is good to use a
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003300 |literal-string| to avoid having to double backslashes. You
3301 still have to double ' quotes
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003302
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003303 The operation is done in-place. If you want a |List| or
3304 |Dictionary| to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003305 :let tlist = map(copy(mylist), ' & . "\t"')
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00003306
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003307< Returns {expr}, the |List| or |Dictionary| that was filtered.
Bram Moolenaar280f1262006-01-30 00:14:18 +00003308 When an error is encountered while evaluating {string} no
3309 further items in {expr} are processed.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003310
3311
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003312maparg({name}[, {mode}]) *maparg()*
3313 Return the rhs of mapping {name} in mode {mode}. When there
3314 is no mapping for {name}, an empty String is returned.
Bram Moolenaard12f5c12006-01-25 22:10:52 +00003315 {mode} can be one of these strings:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003316 "n" Normal
3317 "v" Visual
3318 "o" Operator-pending
3319 "i" Insert
3320 "c" Cmd-line
3321 "l" langmap |language-mapping|
3322 "" Normal, Visual and Operator-pending
Bram Moolenaard12f5c12006-01-25 22:10:52 +00003323 When {mode} is omitted, the modes for "" are used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003324 The {name} can have special key names, like in the ":map"
3325 command. The returned String has special characters
3326 translated like in the output of the ":map" command listing.
3327 The mappings local to the current buffer are checked first,
3328 then the global mappings.
Bram Moolenaara40ceaf2006-01-13 22:35:40 +00003329 This function can be used to map a key even when it's already
3330 mapped, and have it do the original mapping too. Sketch: >
3331 exe 'nnoremap <Tab> ==' . maparg('<Tab>', 'n')
3332
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003333
3334mapcheck({name}[, {mode}]) *mapcheck()*
3335 Check if there is a mapping that matches with {name} in mode
3336 {mode}. See |maparg()| for {mode} and special names in
3337 {name}.
3338 A match happens with a mapping that starts with {name} and
3339 with a mapping which is equal to the start of {name}.
3340
3341 matches mapping "a" "ab" "abc" ~
3342 mapcheck("a") yes yes yes
3343 mapcheck("abc") yes yes yes
3344 mapcheck("ax") yes no no
3345 mapcheck("b") no no no
3346
3347 The difference with maparg() is that mapcheck() finds a
3348 mapping that matches with {name}, while maparg() only finds a
3349 mapping for {name} exactly.
3350 When there is no mapping that starts with {name}, an empty
3351 String is returned. If there is one, the rhs of that mapping
3352 is returned. If there are several mappings that start with
3353 {name}, the rhs of one of them is returned.
3354 The mappings local to the current buffer are checked first,
3355 then the global mappings.
3356 This function can be used to check if a mapping can be added
3357 without being ambiguous. Example: >
3358 :if mapcheck("_vv") == ""
3359 : map _vv :set guifont=7x13<CR>
3360 :endif
3361< This avoids adding the "_vv" mapping when there already is a
3362 mapping for "_v" or for "_vvv".
3363
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003364match({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *match()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003365 When {expr} is a |List| then this returns the index of the
3366 first item where {pat} matches. Each item is used as a
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003367 String, |Lists| and |Dictionaries| are used as echoed.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003368 Otherwise, {expr} is used as a String. The result is a
3369 Number, which gives the index (byte offset) in {expr} where
3370 {pat} matches.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003371 A match at the first character or |List| item returns zero.
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003372 If there is no match -1 is returned.
3373 Example: >
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003374 :echo match("testing", "ing") " results in 4
Bram Moolenaar362e1a32006-03-06 23:29:24 +00003375 :echo match([1, 'x'], '\a') " results in 1
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003376< See |string-match| for how {pat} is used.
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00003377 *strpbrk()*
3378 Vim doesn't have a strpbrk() function. But you can do: >
3379 :let sepidx = match(line, '[.,;: \t]')
3380< *strcasestr()*
3381 Vim doesn't have a strcasestr() function. But you can add
3382 "\c" to the pattern to ignore case: >
3383 :let idx = match(haystack, '\cneedle')
3384<
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003385 If {start} is given, the search starts from byte index
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003386 {start} in a String or item {start} in a |List|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003387 The result, however, is still the index counted from the
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00003388 first character/item. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003389 :echo match("testing", "ing", 2)
3390< result is again "4". >
3391 :echo match("testing", "ing", 4)
3392< result is again "4". >
3393 :echo match("testing", "t", 2)
3394< result is "3".
Bram Moolenaar5e3cb7e2006-02-27 23:58:35 +00003395 For a String, if {start} > 0 then it is like the string starts
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00003396 {start} bytes later, thus "^" will match at {start}. Except
3397 when {count} is given, then it's like matches before the
3398 {start} byte are ignored (this is a bit complicated to keep it
3399 backwards compatible).
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003400 For a String, if {start} < 0, it will be set to 0. For a list
3401 the index is counted from the end.
Bram Moolenaare224ffa2006-03-01 00:01:28 +00003402 If {start} is out of range ({start} > strlen({expr}) for a
3403 String or {start} > len({expr}) for a |List|) -1 is returned.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003404
Bram Moolenaar5e3cb7e2006-02-27 23:58:35 +00003405 When {count} is given use the {count}'th match. When a match
Bram Moolenaare224ffa2006-03-01 00:01:28 +00003406 is found in a String the search for the next one starts one
Bram Moolenaar5e3cb7e2006-02-27 23:58:35 +00003407 character further. Thus this example results in 1: >
3408 echo match("testing", "..", 0, 2)
3409< In a |List| the search continues in the next item.
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00003410 Note that when {count} is added the way {start} works changes,
3411 see above.
Bram Moolenaar5e3cb7e2006-02-27 23:58:35 +00003412
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003413 See |pattern| for the patterns that are accepted.
3414 The 'ignorecase' option is used to set the ignore-caseness of
3415 the pattern. 'smartcase' is NOT used. The matching is always
3416 done like 'magic' is set and 'cpoptions' is empty.
3417
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003418matchend({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *matchend()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003419 Same as match(), but return the index of first character after
3420 the match. Example: >
3421 :echo matchend("testing", "ing")
3422< results in "7".
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00003423 *strspn()* *strcspn()*
3424 Vim doesn't have a strspn() or strcspn() function, but you can
3425 do it with matchend(): >
3426 :let span = matchend(line, '[a-zA-Z]')
3427 :let span = matchend(line, '[^a-zA-Z]')
3428< Except that -1 is returned when there are no matches.
3429
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003430 The {start}, if given, has the same meaning as for match(). >
3431 :echo matchend("testing", "ing", 2)
3432< results in "7". >
3433 :echo matchend("testing", "ing", 5)
3434< result is "-1".
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003435 When {expr} is a |List| the result is equal to match().
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003436
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003437matchlist({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *matchlist()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003438 Same as match(), but return a |List|. The first item in the
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003439 list is the matched string, same as what matchstr() would
3440 return. Following items are submatches, like "\1", "\2", etc.
3441 in |:substitute|.
3442 When there is no match an empty list is returned.
3443
Bram Moolenaar89cb5e02004-07-19 20:55:54 +00003444matchstr({expr}, {pat}[, {start}[, {count}]]) *matchstr()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003445 Same as match(), but return the matched string. Example: >
3446 :echo matchstr("testing", "ing")
3447< results in "ing".
3448 When there is no match "" is returned.
3449 The {start}, if given, has the same meaning as for match(). >
3450 :echo matchstr("testing", "ing", 2)
3451< results in "ing". >
3452 :echo matchstr("testing", "ing", 5)
3453< result is "".
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003454 When {expr} is a |List| then the matching item is returned.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00003455 The type isn't changed, it's not necessarily a String.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003456
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003457 *max()*
3458max({list}) Return the maximum value of all items in {list}.
3459 If {list} is not a list or one of the items in {list} cannot
3460 be used as a Number this results in an error.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003461 An empty |List| results in zero.
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003462
3463 *min()*
3464min({list}) Return the minumum value of all items in {list}.
3465 If {list} is not a list or one of the items in {list} cannot
3466 be used as a Number this results in an error.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003467 An empty |List| results in zero.
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003468
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003469 *mkdir()* *E749*
3470mkdir({name} [, {path} [, {prot}]])
3471 Create directory {name}.
3472 If {path} is "p" then intermediate directories are created as
3473 necessary. Otherwise it must be "".
3474 If {prot} is given it is used to set the protection bits of
3475 the new directory. The default is 0755 (rwxr-xr-x: r/w for
3476 the user readable for others). Use 0700 to make it unreadable
3477 for others.
3478 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3479 Not available on all systems. To check use: >
3480 :if exists("*mkdir")
3481<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003482 *mode()*
3483mode() Return a string that indicates the current mode:
3484 n Normal
3485 v Visual by character
3486 V Visual by line
3487 CTRL-V Visual blockwise
3488 s Select by character
3489 S Select by line
3490 CTRL-S Select blockwise
3491 i Insert
3492 R Replace
3493 c Command-line
3494 r Hit-enter prompt
3495 This is useful in the 'statusline' option. In most other
3496 places it always returns "c" or "n".
3497
3498nextnonblank({lnum}) *nextnonblank()*
3499 Return the line number of the first line at or below {lnum}
3500 that is not blank. Example: >
3501 if getline(nextnonblank(1)) =~ "Java"
3502< When {lnum} is invalid or there is no non-blank line at or
3503 below it, zero is returned.
3504 See also |prevnonblank()|.
3505
3506nr2char({expr}) *nr2char()*
3507 Return a string with a single character, which has the number
3508 value {expr}. Examples: >
3509 nr2char(64) returns "@"
3510 nr2char(32) returns " "
3511< The current 'encoding' is used. Example for "utf-8": >
3512 nr2char(300) returns I with bow character
3513< Note that a NUL character in the file is specified with
3514 nr2char(10), because NULs are represented with newline
3515 characters. nr2char(0) is a real NUL and terminates the
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00003516 string, thus results in an empty string.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003517
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00003518 *getpos()*
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00003519getpos({expr}) Get the position for {expr}. For possible values of {expr}
3520 see |line()|.
3521 The result is a |List| with four numbers:
3522 [bufnum, lnum, col, off]
3523 "bufnum" is zero, unless a mark like '0 or 'A is used, then it
3524 is the buffer number of the mark.
3525 "lnum" and "col" are the position in the buffer. The first
3526 column is 1.
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00003527 The "off" number is zero, unless 'virtualedit' is used. Then
3528 it is the offset in screen columns from the start of the
3529 character. E.g., a position within a Tab or after the last
3530 character.
3531 This can be used to save and restore the cursor position: >
3532 let save_cursor = getpos(".")
3533 MoveTheCursorAround
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00003534 call setpos(save_cursor)
3535< Also see |setpos()|.
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00003536
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00003537prevnonblank({lnum}) *prevnonblank()*
3538 Return the line number of the first line at or above {lnum}
3539 that is not blank. Example: >
3540 let ind = indent(prevnonblank(v:lnum - 1))
3541< When {lnum} is invalid or there is no non-blank line at or
3542 above it, zero is returned.
3543 Also see |nextnonblank()|.
3544
3545
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003546printf({fmt}, {expr1} ...) *printf()*
3547 Return a String with {fmt}, where "%" items are replaced by
3548 the formatted form of their respective arguments. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003549 printf("%4d: E%d %.30s", lnum, errno, msg)
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003550< May result in:
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003551 " 99: E42 asdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfas" ~
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003552
3553 Often used items are:
3554 %s string
Bram Moolenaar98692072006-02-04 00:57:42 +00003555 %6s string right-aligned in 6 bytes
3556 %.9s string truncated to 9 bytes
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003557 %c single byte
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003558 %d decimal number
3559 %5d decimal number padded with spaces to 5 characters
3560 %x hex number
3561 %04x hex number padded with zeros to at least 4 characters
3562 %X hex number using upper case letters
3563 %o octal number
Bram Moolenaar98692072006-02-04 00:57:42 +00003564 %% the % character itself
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003565
3566 Conversion specifications start with '%' and end with the
3567 conversion type. All other characters are copied unchanged to
3568 the result.
3569
3570 The "%" starts a conversion specification. The following
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003571 arguments appear in sequence:
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003572
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003573 % [flags] [field-width] [.precision] type
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003574
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003575 flags
3576 Zero or more of the following flags:
3577
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003578 # The value should be converted to an "alternate
3579 form". For c, d, and s conversions, this option
3580 has no effect. For o conversions, the precision
3581 of the number is increased to force the first
3582 character of the output string to a zero (except
3583 if a zero value is printed with an explicit
3584 precision of zero).
3585 For x and X conversions, a non-zero result has
3586 the string "0x" (or "0X" for X conversions)
3587 prepended to it.
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003588
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003589 0 (zero) Zero padding. For all conversions the converted
3590 value is padded on the left with zeros rather
3591 than blanks. If a precision is given with a
3592 numeric conversion (d, o, x, and X), the 0 flag
3593 is ignored.
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003594
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003595 - A negative field width flag; the converted value
3596 is to be left adjusted on the field boundary.
3597 The converted value is padded on the right with
3598 blanks, rather than on the left with blanks or
3599 zeros. A - overrides a 0 if both are given.
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003600
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003601 ' ' (space) A blank should be left before a positive
3602 number produced by a signed conversion (d).
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003603
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003604 + A sign must always be placed before a number
3605 produced by a signed conversion. A + overrides
3606 a space if both are used.
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003607
3608 field-width
3609 An optional decimal digit string specifying a minimum
Bram Moolenaar98692072006-02-04 00:57:42 +00003610 field width. If the converted value has fewer bytes
3611 than the field width, it will be padded with spaces on
3612 the left (or right, if the left-adjustment flag has
3613 been given) to fill out the field width.
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003614
3615 .precision
3616 An optional precision, in the form of a period '.'
3617 followed by an optional digit string. If the digit
3618 string is omitted, the precision is taken as zero.
3619 This gives the minimum number of digits to appear for
3620 d, o, x, and X conversions, or the maximum number of
Bram Moolenaar98692072006-02-04 00:57:42 +00003621 bytes to be printed from a string for s conversions.
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003622
3623 type
3624 A character that specifies the type of conversion to
3625 be applied, see below.
3626
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003627 A field width or precision, or both, may be indicated by an
3628 asterisk '*' instead of a digit string. In this case, a
3629 Number argument supplies the field width or precision. A
3630 negative field width is treated as a left adjustment flag
3631 followed by a positive field width; a negative precision is
3632 treated as though it were missing. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003633 :echo printf("%d: %.*s", nr, width, line)
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003634< This limits the length of the text used from "line" to
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003635 "width" bytes.
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003636
3637 The conversion specifiers and their meanings are:
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003638
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003639 doxX The Number argument is converted to signed decimal
3640 (d), unsigned octal (o), or unsigned hexadecimal (x
3641 and X) notation. The letters "abcdef" are used for
3642 x conversions; the letters "ABCDEF" are used for X
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003643 conversions.
3644 The precision, if any, gives the minimum number of
3645 digits that must appear; if the converted value
3646 requires fewer digits, it is padded on the left with
3647 zeros.
3648 In no case does a non-existent or small field width
3649 cause truncation of a numeric field; if the result of
3650 a conversion is wider than the field width, the field
3651 is expanded to contain the conversion result.
3652
3653 c The Number argument is converted to a byte, and the
3654 resulting character is written.
3655
3656 s The text of the String argument is used. If a
3657 precision is specified, no more bytes than the number
3658 specified are used.
3659
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003660 % A '%' is written. No argument is converted. The
3661 complete conversion specification is "%%".
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003662
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003663 Each argument can be Number or String and is converted
3664 automatically to fit the conversion specifier. Any other
3665 argument type results in an error message.
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003666
Bram Moolenaar83bab712005-08-01 21:58:57 +00003667 *E766* *E767*
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003668 The number of {exprN} arguments must exactly match the number
3669 of "%" items. If there are not sufficient or too many
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00003670 arguments an error is given. Up to 18 arguments can be used.
Bram Moolenaar4be06f92005-07-29 22:36:03 +00003671
3672
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00003673pumvisible() *pumvisible()*
3674 Returns non-zero when the popup menu is visible, zero
3675 otherwise. See |ins-completion-menu|.
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00003676 This can be used to avoid some things that would remove the
3677 popup menu.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003678
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003679 *E726* *E727*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003680range({expr} [, {max} [, {stride}]]) *range()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003681 Returns a |List| with Numbers:
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003682 - If only {expr} is specified: [0, 1, ..., {expr} - 1]
3683 - If {max} is specified: [{expr}, {expr} + 1, ..., {max}]
3684 - If {stride} is specified: [{expr}, {expr} + {stride}, ...,
3685 {max}] (increasing {expr} with {stride} each time, not
3686 producing a value past {max}).
Bram Moolenaare7566042005-06-17 22:00:15 +00003687 When the maximum is one before the start the result is an
3688 empty list. When the maximum is more than one before the
3689 start this is an error.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003690 Examples: >
3691 range(4) " [0, 1, 2, 3]
3692 range(2, 4) " [2, 3, 4]
3693 range(2, 9, 3) " [2, 5, 8]
3694 range(2, -2, -1) " [2, 1, 0, -1, -2]
Bram Moolenaare7566042005-06-17 22:00:15 +00003695 range(0) " []
3696 range(2, 0) " error!
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003697<
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003698 *readfile()*
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003699readfile({fname} [, {binary} [, {max}]])
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003700 Read file {fname} and return a |List|, each line of the file
3701 as an item. Lines broken at NL characters. Macintosh files
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003702 separated with CR will result in a single long line (unless a
3703 NL appears somewhere).
3704 When {binary} is equal to "b" binary mode is used:
3705 - When the last line ends in a NL an extra empty list item is
3706 added.
3707 - No CR characters are removed.
3708 Otherwise:
3709 - CR characters that appear before a NL are removed.
3710 - Whether the last line ends in a NL or not does not matter.
3711 All NUL characters are replaced with a NL character.
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003712 When {max} is given this specifies the maximum number of lines
3713 to be read. Useful if you only want to check the first ten
3714 lines of a file: >
3715 :for line in readfile(fname, '', 10)
3716 : if line =~ 'Date' | echo line | endif
3717 :endfor
Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00003718< When {max} is negative -{max} lines from the end of the file
3719 are returned, or as many as there are.
3720 When {max} is zero the result is an empty list.
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003721 Note that without {max} the whole file is read into memory.
3722 Also note that there is no recognition of encoding. Read a
3723 file into a buffer if you need to.
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00003724 When the file can't be opened an error message is given and
3725 the result is an empty list.
3726 Also see |writefile()|.
3727
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003728 *remote_expr()* *E449*
3729remote_expr({server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
3730 Send the {string} to {server}. The string is sent as an
3731 expression and the result is returned after evaluation.
Bram Moolenaar362e1a32006-03-06 23:29:24 +00003732 The result must be a String or a |List|. A |List| is turned
3733 into a String by joining the items with a line break in
3734 between (not at the end), like with join(expr, "\n").
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003735 If {idvar} is present, it is taken as the name of a
3736 variable and a {serverid} for later use with
3737 remote_read() is stored there.
3738 See also |clientserver| |RemoteReply|.
3739 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3740 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3741 Note: Any errors will cause a local error message to be issued
3742 and the result will be the empty string.
3743 Examples: >
3744 :echo remote_expr("gvim", "2+2")
3745 :echo remote_expr("gvim1", "b:current_syntax")
3746<
3747
3748remote_foreground({server}) *remote_foreground()*
3749 Move the Vim server with the name {server} to the foreground.
3750 This works like: >
3751 remote_expr({server}, "foreground()")
3752< Except that on Win32 systems the client does the work, to work
3753 around the problem that the OS doesn't always allow the server
3754 to bring itself to the foreground.
Bram Moolenaar9372a112005-12-06 19:59:18 +00003755 Note: This does not restore the window if it was minimized,
3756 like foreground() does.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003757 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3758 {only in the Win32, Athena, Motif and GTK GUI versions and the
3759 Win32 console version}
3760
3761
3762remote_peek({serverid} [, {retvar}]) *remote_peek()*
3763 Returns a positive number if there are available strings
3764 from {serverid}. Copies any reply string into the variable
3765 {retvar} if specified. {retvar} must be a string with the
3766 name of a variable.
3767 Returns zero if none are available.
3768 Returns -1 if something is wrong.
3769 See also |clientserver|.
3770 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3771 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3772 Examples: >
3773 :let repl = ""
3774 :echo "PEEK: ".remote_peek(id, "repl").": ".repl
3775
3776remote_read({serverid}) *remote_read()*
3777 Return the oldest available reply from {serverid} and consume
3778 it. It blocks until a reply is available.
3779 See also |clientserver|.
3780 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3781 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3782 Example: >
3783 :echo remote_read(id)
3784<
3785 *remote_send()* *E241*
3786remote_send({server}, {string} [, {idvar}])
Bram Moolenaard4755bb2004-09-02 19:12:26 +00003787 Send the {string} to {server}. The string is sent as input
3788 keys and the function returns immediately. At the Vim server
3789 the keys are not mapped |:map|.
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00003790 If {idvar} is present, it is taken as the name of a variable
3791 and a {serverid} for later use with remote_read() is stored
3792 there.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003793 See also |clientserver| |RemoteReply|.
3794 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3795 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
3796 Note: Any errors will be reported in the server and may mess
3797 up the display.
3798 Examples: >
3799 :echo remote_send("gvim", ":DropAndReply ".file, "serverid").
3800 \ remote_read(serverid)
3801
3802 :autocmd NONE RemoteReply *
3803 \ echo remote_read(expand("<amatch>"))
3804 :echo remote_send("gvim", ":sleep 10 | echo ".
3805 \ 'server2client(expand("<client>"), "HELLO")<CR>')
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003806<
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003807remove({list}, {idx} [, {end}]) *remove()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003808 Without {end}: Remove the item at {idx} from |List| {list} and
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003809 return it.
3810 With {end}: Remove items from {idx} to {end} (inclusive) and
3811 return a list with these items. When {idx} points to the same
3812 item as {end} a list with one item is returned. When {end}
3813 points to an item before {idx} this is an error.
3814 See |list-index| for possible values of {idx} and {end}.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003815 Example: >
3816 :echo "last item: " . remove(mylist, -1)
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003817 :call remove(mylist, 0, 9)
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00003818remove({dict}, {key})
3819 Remove the entry from {dict} with key {key}. Example: >
3820 :echo "removed " . remove(dict, "one")
3821< If there is no {key} in {dict} this is an error.
3822
3823 Use |delete()| to remove a file.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003824
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003825rename({from}, {to}) *rename()*
3826 Rename the file by the name {from} to the name {to}. This
3827 should also work to move files across file systems. The
3828 result is a Number, which is 0 if the file was renamed
3829 successfully, and non-zero when the renaming failed.
3830 This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
3831
Bram Moolenaarab79bcb2004-07-18 21:34:53 +00003832repeat({expr}, {count}) *repeat()*
3833 Repeat {expr} {count} times and return the concatenated
3834 result. Example: >
3835 :let seperator = repeat('-', 80)
3836< When {count} is zero or negative the result is empty.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003837 When {expr} is a |List| the result is {expr} concatenated
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00003838 {count} times. Example: >
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003839 :let longlist = repeat(['a', 'b'], 3)
3840< Results in ['a', 'b', 'a', 'b', 'a', 'b'].
Bram Moolenaarab79bcb2004-07-18 21:34:53 +00003841
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003842
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003843resolve({filename}) *resolve()* *E655*
3844 On MS-Windows, when {filename} is a shortcut (a .lnk file),
3845 returns the path the shortcut points to in a simplified form.
3846 On Unix, repeat resolving symbolic links in all path
3847 components of {filename} and return the simplified result.
3848 To cope with link cycles, resolving of symbolic links is
3849 stopped after 100 iterations.
3850 On other systems, return the simplified {filename}.
3851 The simplification step is done as by |simplify()|.
3852 resolve() keeps a leading path component specifying the
3853 current directory (provided the result is still a relative
3854 path name) and also keeps a trailing path separator.
3855
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00003856 *reverse()*
3857reverse({list}) Reverse the order of items in {list} in-place. Returns
3858 {list}.
3859 If you want a list to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
3860 :let revlist = reverse(copy(mylist))
3861
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003862search({pattern} [, {flags} [, {stopline}]]) *search()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003863 Search for regexp pattern {pattern}. The search starts at the
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +00003864 cursor position (you can use |cursor()| to set it).
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00003865
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003866 {flags} is a String, which can contain these character flags:
3867 'b' search backward instead of forward
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00003868 'c' accept a match at the cursor position
3869 'e' move to the End of the match
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00003870 'n' do Not move the cursor
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00003871 'p' return number of matching sub-pattern (see below)
3872 's' set the ' mark at the previous location of the cursor
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003873 'w' wrap around the end of the file
3874 'W' don't wrap around the end of the file
3875 If neither 'w' or 'W' is given, the 'wrapscan' option applies.
3876
Bram Moolenaar02743632005-07-25 20:42:36 +00003877 If the 's' flag is supplied, the ' mark is set, only if the
3878 cursor is moved. The 's' flag cannot be combined with the 'n'
3879 flag.
3880
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003881 When the {stopline} argument is given then the search stops
3882 after searching this line. This is useful to restrict the
3883 search to a range of lines. Examples: >
3884 let match = search('(', 'b', line("w0"))
3885 let end = search('END', '', line("w$"))
3886< When {stopline} is used and it is not zero this also implies
3887 that the search does not wrap around the end of the file.
3888
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00003889 If there is no match a 0 is returned and the cursor doesn't
3890 move. No error message is given.
Bram Moolenaar362e1a32006-03-06 23:29:24 +00003891 When a match has been found its line number is returned.
3892 *search()-sub-match*
3893 With the 'p' flag the returned value is one more than the
3894 first sub-match in \(\). One if none of them matched but the
3895 whole pattern did match.
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003896 To get the column number too use |searchpos()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003897
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00003898 The cursor will be positioned at the match, unless the 'n'
3899 flag is used.
3900
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003901 Example (goes over all files in the argument list): >
3902 :let n = 1
3903 :while n <= argc() " loop over all files in arglist
3904 : exe "argument " . n
3905 : " start at the last char in the file and wrap for the
3906 : " first search to find match at start of file
3907 : normal G$
3908 : let flags = "w"
3909 : while search("foo", flags) > 0
3910 : s/foo/bar/g
3911 : let flags = "W"
3912 : endwhile
3913 : update " write the file if modified
3914 : let n = n + 1
3915 :endwhile
3916<
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00003917 Example for using some flags: >
3918 :echo search('\<if\|\(else\)\|\(endif\)', 'ncpe')
3919< This will search for the keywords "if", "else", and "endif"
3920 under or after the cursor. Because of the 'p' flag, it
3921 returns 1, 2, or 3 depending on which keyword is found, or 0
3922 if the search fails. With the cursor on the first word of the
3923 line:
3924 if (foo == 0) | let foo = foo + 1 | endif ~
3925 the function returns 1. Without the 'c' flag, the function
3926 finds the "endif" and returns 3. The same thing happens
3927 without the 'e' flag if the cursor is on the "f" of "if".
3928 The 'n' flag tells the function not to move the cursor.
3929
Bram Moolenaar92d640f2005-09-05 22:11:52 +00003930
Bram Moolenaarf75a9632005-09-13 21:20:47 +00003931searchdecl({name} [, {global} [, {thisblock}]]) *searchdecl()*
3932 Search for the declaration of {name}.
3933
3934 With a non-zero {global} argument it works like |gD|, find
3935 first match in the file. Otherwise it works like |gd|, find
3936 first match in the function.
3937
3938 With a non-zero {thisblock} argument matches in a {} block
3939 that ends before the cursor position are ignored. Avoids
3940 finding variable declarations only valid in another scope.
3941
Bram Moolenaar92d640f2005-09-05 22:11:52 +00003942 Moves the cursor to the found match.
3943 Returns zero for success, non-zero for failure.
3944 Example: >
3945 if searchdecl('myvar') == 0
3946 echo getline('.')
3947 endif
3948<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003949 *searchpair()*
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003950searchpair({start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip} [, {stopline}]]])
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003951 Search for the match of a nested start-end pair. This can be
3952 used to find the "endif" that matches an "if", while other
3953 if/endif pairs in between are ignored.
Bram Moolenaarfaa959a2006-02-20 21:37:40 +00003954 The search starts at the cursor. The default is to search
3955 forward, include 'b' in {flags} to search backward.
3956 If a match is found, the cursor is positioned at it and the
3957 line number is returned. If no match is found 0 or -1 is
3958 returned and the cursor doesn't move. No error message is
3959 given.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003960
3961 {start}, {middle} and {end} are patterns, see |pattern|. They
3962 must not contain \( \) pairs. Use of \%( \) is allowed. When
3963 {middle} is not empty, it is found when searching from either
3964 direction, but only when not in a nested start-end pair. A
3965 typical use is: >
3966 searchpair('\<if\>', '\<else\>', '\<endif\>')
3967< By leaving {middle} empty the "else" is skipped.
3968
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00003969 {flags} 'b', 'c', 'n', 's', 'w' and 'W' are used like with
3970 |search()|. Additionally:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003971 'r' Repeat until no more matches found; will find the
3972 outer pair
3973 'm' return number of Matches instead of line number with
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00003974 the match; will be > 1 when 'r' is used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003975
3976 When a match for {start}, {middle} or {end} is found, the
3977 {skip} expression is evaluated with the cursor positioned on
3978 the start of the match. It should return non-zero if this
3979 match is to be skipped. E.g., because it is inside a comment
3980 or a string.
3981 When {skip} is omitted or empty, every match is accepted.
3982 When evaluating {skip} causes an error the search is aborted
3983 and -1 returned.
3984
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00003985 For {stopline} see |search()|.
3986
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003987 The value of 'ignorecase' is used. 'magic' is ignored, the
3988 patterns are used like it's on.
3989
3990 The search starts exactly at the cursor. A match with
3991 {start}, {middle} or {end} at the next character, in the
3992 direction of searching, is the first one found. Example: >
3993 if 1
3994 if 2
3995 endif 2
3996 endif 1
3997< When starting at the "if 2", with the cursor on the "i", and
3998 searching forwards, the "endif 2" is found. When starting on
3999 the character just before the "if 2", the "endif 1" will be
4000 found. That's because the "if 2" will be found first, and
4001 then this is considered to be a nested if/endif from "if 2" to
4002 "endif 2".
4003 When searching backwards and {end} is more than one character,
4004 it may be useful to put "\zs" at the end of the pattern, so
4005 that when the cursor is inside a match with the end it finds
4006 the matching start.
4007
4008 Example, to find the "endif" command in a Vim script: >
4009
4010 :echo searchpair('\<if\>', '\<el\%[seif]\>', '\<en\%[dif]\>', 'W',
4011 \ 'getline(".") =~ "^\\s*\""')
4012
4013< The cursor must be at or after the "if" for which a match is
4014 to be found. Note that single-quote strings are used to avoid
4015 having to double the backslashes. The skip expression only
4016 catches comments at the start of a line, not after a command.
4017 Also, a word "en" or "if" halfway a line is considered a
4018 match.
4019 Another example, to search for the matching "{" of a "}": >
4020
4021 :echo searchpair('{', '', '}', 'bW')
4022
4023< This works when the cursor is at or before the "}" for which a
4024 match is to be found. To reject matches that syntax
4025 highlighting recognized as strings: >
4026
4027 :echo searchpair('{', '', '}', 'bW',
4028 \ 'synIDattr(synID(line("."), col("."), 0), "name") =~? "string"')
4029<
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00004030 *searchpairpos()*
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00004031searchpairpos({start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip} [, {stopline}]]])
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004032 Same as searchpair(), but returns a |List| with the line and
4033 column position of the match. The first element of the |List|
4034 is the line number and the second element is the byte index of
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00004035 the column position of the match. If no match is found,
4036 returns [0, 0].
4037>
4038 :let [lnum,col] = searchpairpos('{', '', '}', 'n')
4039<
4040 See |match-parens| for a bigger and more useful example.
4041
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00004042searchpos({pattern} [, {flags} [, {stopline}]]) *searchpos()*
4043 Same as |search()|, but returns a |List| with the line and
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004044 column position of the match. The first element of the |List|
4045 is the line number and the second element is the byte index of
4046 the column position of the match. If no match is found,
4047 returns [0, 0].
Bram Moolenaar362e1a32006-03-06 23:29:24 +00004048 Example: >
4049 :let [lnum, col] = searchpos('mypattern', 'n')
4050
4051< When the 'p' flag is given then there is an extra item with
4052 the sub-pattern match number |search()-sub-match|. Example: >
4053 :let [lnum, col, submatch] = searchpos('\(\l\)\|\(\u\)', 'np')
4054< In this example "submatch" is 2 when a lowercase letter is
4055 found |/\l|, 3 when an uppercase letter is found |/\u|.
4056
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004057server2client( {clientid}, {string}) *server2client()*
4058 Send a reply string to {clientid}. The most recent {clientid}
4059 that sent a string can be retrieved with expand("<client>").
4060 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
4061 Note:
4062 This id has to be stored before the next command can be
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00004063 received. I.e. before returning from the received command and
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004064 before calling any commands that waits for input.
4065 See also |clientserver|.
4066 Example: >
4067 :echo server2client(expand("<client>"), "HELLO")
4068<
4069serverlist() *serverlist()*
4070 Return a list of available server names, one per line.
4071 When there are no servers or the information is not available
4072 an empty string is returned. See also |clientserver|.
4073 {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature}
4074 Example: >
4075 :echo serverlist()
4076<
4077setbufvar({expr}, {varname}, {val}) *setbufvar()*
4078 Set option or local variable {varname} in buffer {expr} to
4079 {val}.
4080 This also works for a global or local window option, but it
4081 doesn't work for a global or local window variable.
4082 For a local window option the global value is unchanged.
4083 For the use of {expr}, see |bufname()| above.
4084 Note that the variable name without "b:" must be used.
4085 Examples: >
4086 :call setbufvar(1, "&mod", 1)
4087 :call setbufvar("todo", "myvar", "foobar")
4088< This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
4089
4090setcmdpos({pos}) *setcmdpos()*
4091 Set the cursor position in the command line to byte position
4092 {pos}. The first position is 1.
4093 Use |getcmdpos()| to obtain the current position.
4094 Only works while editing the command line, thus you must use
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00004095 |c_CTRL-\_e|, |c_CTRL-R_=| or |c_CTRL-R_CTRL-R| with '='. For
4096 |c_CTRL-\_e| and |c_CTRL-R_CTRL-R| with '=' the position is
4097 set after the command line is set to the expression. For
4098 |c_CTRL-R_=| it is set after evaluating the expression but
4099 before inserting the resulting text.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004100 When the number is too big the cursor is put at the end of the
4101 line. A number smaller than one has undefined results.
4102 Returns 0 when successful, 1 when not editing the command
4103 line.
4104
4105setline({lnum}, {line}) *setline()*
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00004106 Set line {lnum} of the current buffer to {line}.
4107 {lnum} is used like with |getline()|.
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004108 When {lnum} is just below the last line the {line} will be
4109 added as a new line.
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00004110 If this succeeds, 0 is returned. If this fails (most likely
4111 because {lnum} is invalid) 1 is returned. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004112 :call setline(5, strftime("%c"))
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004113< When {line} is a |List| then line {lnum} and following lines
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004114 will be set to the items in the list. Example: >
4115 :call setline(5, ['aaa', 'bbb', 'ccc'])
4116< This is equivalent to: >
4117 :for [n, l] in [[5, 6, 7], ['aaa', 'bbb', 'ccc']]
4118 : call setline(n, l)
4119 :endfor
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004120< Note: The '[ and '] marks are not set.
4121
Bram Moolenaar17c7c012006-01-26 22:25:15 +00004122setloclist({nr}, {list} [, {action}]) *setloclist()*
4123 Create or replace or add to the location list for window {nr}.
4124 When {nr} is zero the current window is used. For a location
Bram Moolenaar280f1262006-01-30 00:14:18 +00004125 list window, the displayed location list is modified. For an
4126 invalid window number {nr}, -1 is returned.
Bram Moolenaar17c7c012006-01-26 22:25:15 +00004127 Otherwise, same as setqflist().
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00004128
Bram Moolenaar65c923a2006-03-03 22:56:30 +00004129 *setpos()*
4130setpos({expr}, {list})
4131 Set the position for {expr}. Possible values:
4132 . the cursor
4133 'x mark x
4134
4135 {list} must be a |List| with four numbers:
4136 [bufnum, lnum, col, off]
4137
4138 "bufnum" is the buffer number. Zero can be used for the
4139 current buffer. Setting the cursor is only possible for
4140 the current buffer. To set a mark in another buffer you can
4141 use the |bufnr()| function to turn a file name into a buffer
4142 number.
4143
4144 "lnum" and "col" are the position in the buffer. The first
4145 column is 1. Use a zero "lnum" to delete a mark.
4146
4147 The "off" number is only used when 'virtualedit' is set. Then
4148 it is the offset in screen columns from the start of the
4149 character. E.g., a position within a Tab or after the last
4150 character.
4151
4152 Also see |getpos()|
4153
4154
Bram Moolenaar35c54e52005-05-20 21:25:31 +00004155setqflist({list} [, {action}]) *setqflist()*
Bram Moolenaar17c7c012006-01-26 22:25:15 +00004156 Create or replace or add to the quickfix list using the items
4157 in {list}. Each item in {list} is a dictionary.
4158 Non-dictionary items in {list} are ignored. Each dictionary
4159 item can contain the following entries:
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00004160
4161 filename name of a file
4162 lnum line number in the file
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00004163 pattern search pattern used to locate the error
Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00004164 col column number
4165 vcol when non-zero: "col" is visual column
4166 when zero: "col" is byte index
4167 nr error number
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00004168 text description of the error
Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00004169 type single-character error type, 'E', 'W', etc.
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00004170
Bram Moolenaar582fd852005-03-28 20:58:01 +00004171 The "col", "vcol", "nr", "type" and "text" entries are
4172 optional. Either "lnum" or "pattern" entry can be used to
4173 locate a matching error line.
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00004174 If the "filename" entry is not present or neither the "lnum"
4175 or "pattern" entries are present, then the item will not be
4176 handled as an error line.
4177 If both "pattern" and "lnum" are present then "pattern" will
4178 be used.
4179
Bram Moolenaar35c54e52005-05-20 21:25:31 +00004180 If {action} is set to 'a', then the items from {list} are
4181 added to the existing quickfix list. If there is no existing
4182 list, then a new list is created. If {action} is set to 'r',
4183 then the items from the current quickfix list are replaced
4184 with the items from {list}. If {action} is not present or is
4185 set to ' ', then a new list is created.
4186
Bram Moolenaar68b76a62005-03-25 21:53:48 +00004187 Returns zero for success, -1 for failure.
4188
4189 This function can be used to create a quickfix list
4190 independent of the 'errorformat' setting. Use a command like
4191 ":cc 1" to jump to the first position.
4192
4193
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004194 *setreg()*
4195setreg({regname}, {value} [,{options}])
4196 Set the register {regname} to {value}.
4197 If {options} contains "a" or {regname} is upper case,
4198 then the value is appended.
4199 {options} can also contains a register type specification:
4200 "c" or "v" |characterwise| mode
4201 "l" or "V" |linewise| mode
4202 "b" or "<CTRL-V>" |blockwise-visual| mode
4203 If a number immediately follows "b" or "<CTRL-V>" then this is
4204 used as the width of the selection - if it is not specified
4205 then the width of the block is set to the number of characters
4206 in the longest line (counting a <TAB> as 1 character).
4207
4208 If {options} contains no register settings, then the default
4209 is to use character mode unless {value} ends in a <NL>.
4210 Setting the '=' register is not possible.
4211 Returns zero for success, non-zero for failure.
4212
4213 Examples: >
4214 :call setreg(v:register, @*)
4215 :call setreg('*', @%, 'ac')
4216 :call setreg('a', "1\n2\n3", 'b5')
4217
4218< This example shows using the functions to save and restore a
4219 register. >
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004220 :let var_a = getreg('a', 1)
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004221 :let var_amode = getregtype('a')
4222 ....
4223 :call setreg('a', var_a, var_amode)
4224
4225< You can also change the type of a register by appending
4226 nothing: >
4227 :call setreg('a', '', 'al')
4228
4229setwinvar({nr}, {varname}, {val}) *setwinvar()*
4230 Set option or local variable {varname} in window {nr} to
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +00004231 {val}. When {nr} is zero the current window is used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004232 This also works for a global or local buffer option, but it
4233 doesn't work for a global or local buffer variable.
4234 For a local buffer option the global value is unchanged.
4235 Note that the variable name without "w:" must be used.
4236 Examples: >
4237 :call setwinvar(1, "&list", 0)
4238 :call setwinvar(2, "myvar", "foobar")
4239< This function is not available in the |sandbox|.
4240
4241simplify({filename}) *simplify()*
4242 Simplify the file name as much as possible without changing
4243 the meaning. Shortcuts (on MS-Windows) or symbolic links (on
4244 Unix) are not resolved. If the first path component in
4245 {filename} designates the current directory, this will be
4246 valid for the result as well. A trailing path separator is
4247 not removed either.
4248 Example: >
4249 simplify("./dir/.././/file/") == "./file/"
4250< Note: The combination "dir/.." is only removed if "dir" is
4251 a searchable directory or does not exist. On Unix, it is also
4252 removed when "dir" is a symbolic link within the same
4253 directory. In order to resolve all the involved symbolic
4254 links before simplifying the path name, use |resolve()|.
4255
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004256
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00004257sort({list} [, {func}]) *sort()* *E702*
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004258 Sort the items in {list} in-place. Returns {list}. If you
4259 want a list to remain unmodified make a copy first: >
4260 :let sortedlist = sort(copy(mylist))
4261< Uses the string representation of each item to sort on.
Bram Moolenaara23ccb82006-02-27 00:08:02 +00004262 Numbers sort after Strings, |Lists| after Numbers.
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004263 For sorting text in the current buffer use |:sort|.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004264 When {func} is given and it is one then case is ignored.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004265 When {func} is a |Funcref| or a function name, this function
4266 is called to compare items. The function is invoked with two
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004267 items as argument and must return zero if they are equal, 1 if
4268 the first one sorts after the second one, -1 if the first one
4269 sorts before the second one. Example: >
4270 func MyCompare(i1, i2)
4271 return a:i1 == a:i2 ? 0 : a:i1 > a:i2 ? 1 : -1
4272 endfunc
4273 let sortedlist = sort(mylist, "MyCompare")
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00004274<
4275
Bram Moolenaar24bbcfe2005-06-28 23:32:02 +00004276 *soundfold()*
4277soundfold({word})
4278 Return the sound-folded equivalent of {word}. Uses the first
4279 language in 'spellang' for the current window that supports
Bram Moolenaar42eeac32005-06-29 22:40:58 +00004280 soundfolding. 'spell' must be set. When no sound folding is
4281 possible the {word} is returned unmodified.
Bram Moolenaar24bbcfe2005-06-28 23:32:02 +00004282 This can be used for making spelling suggestions. Note that
4283 the method can be quite slow.
4284
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00004285 *spellbadword()*
Bram Moolenaar1e015462005-09-25 22:16:38 +00004286spellbadword([{sentence}])
4287 Without argument: The result is the badly spelled word under
4288 or after the cursor. The cursor is moved to the start of the
4289 bad word. When no bad word is found in the cursor line the
4290 result is an empty string and the cursor doesn't move.
4291
4292 With argument: The result is the first word in {sentence} that
4293 is badly spelled. If there are no spelling mistakes the
4294 result is an empty string.
4295
4296 The return value is a list with two items:
4297 - The badly spelled word or an empty string.
4298 - The type of the spelling error:
4299 "bad" spelling mistake
4300 "rare" rare word
4301 "local" word only valid in another region
4302 "caps" word should start with Capital
4303 Example: >
4304 echo spellbadword("the quik brown fox")
4305< ['quik', 'bad'] ~
4306
4307 The spelling information for the current window is used. The
4308 'spell' option must be set and the value of 'spelllang' is
4309 used.
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00004310
4311 *spellsuggest()*
Bram Moolenaarc54b8a72005-09-30 21:20:29 +00004312spellsuggest({word} [, {max} [, {capital}]])
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004313 Return a |List| with spelling suggestions to replace {word}.
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00004314 When {max} is given up to this number of suggestions are
4315 returned. Otherwise up to 25 suggestions are returned.
4316
Bram Moolenaarc54b8a72005-09-30 21:20:29 +00004317 When the {capital} argument is given and it's non-zero only
4318 suggestions with a leading capital will be given. Use this
4319 after a match with 'spellcapcheck'.
4320
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00004321 {word} can be a badly spelled word followed by other text.
4322 This allows for joining two words that were split. The
Bram Moolenaarf461c8e2005-06-25 23:04:51 +00004323 suggestions also include the following text, thus you can
4324 replace a line.
4325
4326 {word} may also be a good word. Similar words will then be
Bram Moolenaarc54b8a72005-09-30 21:20:29 +00004327 returned. {word} itself is not included in the suggestions,
4328 although it may appear capitalized.
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00004329
4330 The spelling information for the current window is used. The
Bram Moolenaar42eeac32005-06-29 22:40:58 +00004331 'spell' option must be set and the values of 'spelllang' and
4332 'spellsuggest' are used.
Bram Moolenaard857f0e2005-06-21 22:37:39 +00004333
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004334
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004335split({expr} [, {pattern} [, {keepempty}]]) *split()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004336 Make a |List| out of {expr}. When {pattern} is omitted or
4337 empty each white-separated sequence of characters becomes an
4338 item.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004339 Otherwise the string is split where {pattern} matches,
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004340 removing the matched characters.
4341 When the first or last item is empty it is omitted, unless the
4342 {keepempty} argument is given and it's non-zero.
Bram Moolenaar5c06f8b2005-05-31 22:14:58 +00004343 Other empty items are kept when {pattern} matches at least one
4344 character or when {keepempty} is non-zero.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004345 Example: >
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00004346 :let words = split(getline('.'), '\W\+')
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004347< To split a string in individual characters: >
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00004348 :for c in split(mystring, '\zs')
Bram Moolenaar0cb032e2005-04-23 20:52:00 +00004349< If you want to keep the separator you can also use '\zs': >
4350 :echo split('abc:def:ghi', ':\zs')
4351< ['abc:', 'def:', 'ghi'] ~
Bram Moolenaar2389c3c2005-05-22 22:07:59 +00004352 Splitting a table where the first element can be empty: >
4353 :let items = split(line, ':', 1)
4354< The opposite function is |join()|.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004355
4356
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004357strftime({format} [, {time}]) *strftime()*
4358 The result is a String, which is a formatted date and time, as
4359 specified by the {format} string. The given {time} is used,
4360 or the current time if no time is given. The accepted
4361 {format} depends on your system, thus this is not portable!
4362 See the manual page of the C function strftime() for the
4363 format. The maximum length of the result is 80 characters.
4364 See also |localtime()| and |getftime()|.
4365 The language can be changed with the |:language| command.
4366 Examples: >
4367 :echo strftime("%c") Sun Apr 27 11:49:23 1997
4368 :echo strftime("%Y %b %d %X") 1997 Apr 27 11:53:25
4369 :echo strftime("%y%m%d %T") 970427 11:53:55
4370 :echo strftime("%H:%M") 11:55
4371 :echo strftime("%c", getftime("file.c"))
4372 Show mod time of file.c.
Bram Moolenaara14de3d2005-01-07 21:48:26 +00004373< Not available on all systems. To check use: >
4374 :if exists("*strftime")
4375
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00004376stridx({haystack}, {needle} [, {start}]) *stridx()*
4377 The result is a Number, which gives the byte index in
4378 {haystack} of the first occurrence of the String {needle}.
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004379 If {start} is specified, the search starts at index {start}.
4380 This can be used to find a second match: >
4381 :let comma1 = stridx(line, ",")
4382 :let comma2 = stridx(line, ",", comma1 + 1)
4383< The search is done case-sensitive.
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004384 For pattern searches use |match()|.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00004385 -1 is returned if the {needle} does not occur in {haystack}.
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004386 See also |strridx()|.
4387 Examples: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004388 :echo stridx("An Example", "Example") 3
4389 :echo stridx("Starting point", "Start") 0
4390 :echo stridx("Starting point", "start") -1
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00004391< *strstr()* *strchr()*
4392 stridx() works similar to the C function strstr(). When used
4393 with a single character it works similar to strchr().
4394
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00004395 *string()*
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00004396string({expr}) Return {expr} converted to a String. If {expr} is a Number,
4397 String or a composition of them, then the result can be parsed
4398 back with |eval()|.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00004399 {expr} type result ~
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00004400 String 'string'
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00004401 Number 123
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00004402 Funcref function('name')
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +00004403 List [item, item]
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +00004404 Dictionary {key: value, key: value}
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00004405 Note that in String values the ' character is doubled.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00004406
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004407 *strlen()*
4408strlen({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the length of the String
Bram Moolenaare344bea2005-09-01 20:46:49 +00004409 {expr} in bytes.
4410 If you want to count the number of multi-byte characters (not
4411 counting composing characters) use something like this: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004412
4413 :let len = strlen(substitute(str, ".", "x", "g"))
Bram Moolenaare344bea2005-09-01 20:46:49 +00004414<
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00004415 If the argument is a Number it is first converted to a String.
4416 For other types an error is given.
4417 Also see |len()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004418
4419strpart({src}, {start}[, {len}]) *strpart()*
4420 The result is a String, which is part of {src}, starting from
Bram Moolenaar9372a112005-12-06 19:59:18 +00004421 byte {start}, with the byte length {len}.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004422 When non-existing bytes are included, this doesn't result in
4423 an error, the bytes are simply omitted.
4424 If {len} is missing, the copy continues from {start} till the
4425 end of the {src}. >
4426 strpart("abcdefg", 3, 2) == "de"
4427 strpart("abcdefg", -2, 4) == "ab"
4428 strpart("abcdefg", 5, 4) == "fg"
4429 strpart("abcdefg", 3) == "defg"
4430< Note: To get the first character, {start} must be 0. For
4431 example, to get three bytes under and after the cursor: >
4432 strpart(getline(line(".")), col(".") - 1, 3)
4433<
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004434strridx({haystack}, {needle} [, {start}]) *strridx()*
4435 The result is a Number, which gives the byte index in
4436 {haystack} of the last occurrence of the String {needle}.
4437 When {start} is specified, matches beyond this index are
4438 ignored. This can be used to find a match before a previous
4439 match: >
4440 :let lastcomma = strridx(line, ",")
4441 :let comma2 = strridx(line, ",", lastcomma - 1)
4442< The search is done case-sensitive.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00004443 For pattern searches use |match()|.
4444 -1 is returned if the {needle} does not occur in {haystack}.
Bram Moolenaard4755bb2004-09-02 19:12:26 +00004445 If the {needle} is empty the length of {haystack} is returned.
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00004446 See also |stridx()|. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004447 :echo strridx("an angry armadillo", "an") 3
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00004448< *strrchr()*
4449 When used with a single character it works similar to the C
4450 function strrchr().
4451
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004452strtrans({expr}) *strtrans()*
4453 The result is a String, which is {expr} with all unprintable
4454 characters translated into printable characters |'isprint'|.
4455 Like they are shown in a window. Example: >
4456 echo strtrans(@a)
4457< This displays a newline in register a as "^@" instead of
4458 starting a new line.
4459
4460submatch({nr}) *submatch()*
4461 Only for an expression in a |:substitute| command. Returns
4462 the {nr}'th submatch of the matched text. When {nr} is 0
4463 the whole matched text is returned.
4464 Example: >
4465 :s/\d\+/\=submatch(0) + 1/
4466< This finds the first number in the line and adds one to it.
4467 A line break is included as a newline character.
4468
4469substitute({expr}, {pat}, {sub}, {flags}) *substitute()*
4470 The result is a String, which is a copy of {expr}, in which
4471 the first match of {pat} is replaced with {sub}. This works
4472 like the ":substitute" command (without any flags). But the
4473 matching with {pat} is always done like the 'magic' option is
4474 set and 'cpoptions' is empty (to make scripts portable).
4475 See |string-match| for how {pat} is used.
4476 And a "~" in {sub} is not replaced with the previous {sub}.
4477 Note that some codes in {sub} have a special meaning
4478 |sub-replace-special|. For example, to replace something with
4479 "\n" (two characters), use "\\\\n" or '\\n'.
4480 When {pat} does not match in {expr}, {expr} is returned
4481 unmodified.
4482 When {flags} is "g", all matches of {pat} in {expr} are
4483 replaced. Otherwise {flags} should be "".
4484 Example: >
4485 :let &path = substitute(&path, ",\\=[^,]*$", "", "")
4486< This removes the last component of the 'path' option. >
4487 :echo substitute("testing", ".*", "\\U\\0", "")
4488< results in "TESTING".
4489
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00004490synID({lnum}, {col}, {trans}) *synID()*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004491 The result is a Number, which is the syntax ID at the position
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00004492 {lnum} and {col} in the current window.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004493 The syntax ID can be used with |synIDattr()| and
4494 |synIDtrans()| to obtain syntax information about text.
Bram Moolenaarce0842a2005-07-18 21:58:11 +00004495
Bram Moolenaar47136d72004-10-12 20:02:24 +00004496 {col} is 1 for the leftmost column, {lnum} is 1 for the first
Bram Moolenaarce0842a2005-07-18 21:58:11 +00004497 line. 'synmaxcol' applies, in a longer line zero is returned.
4498
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004499 When {trans} is non-zero, transparent items are reduced to the
4500 item that they reveal. This is useful when wanting to know
4501 the effective color. When {trans} is zero, the transparent
4502 item is returned. This is useful when wanting to know which
4503 syntax item is effective (e.g. inside parens).
4504 Warning: This function can be very slow. Best speed is
4505 obtained by going through the file in forward direction.
4506
4507 Example (echoes the name of the syntax item under the cursor): >
4508 :echo synIDattr(synID(line("."), col("."), 1), "name")
4509<
4510synIDattr({synID}, {what} [, {mode}]) *synIDattr()*
4511 The result is a String, which is the {what} attribute of
4512 syntax ID {synID}. This can be used to obtain information
4513 about a syntax item.
4514 {mode} can be "gui", "cterm" or "term", to get the attributes
4515 for that mode. When {mode} is omitted, or an invalid value is
4516 used, the attributes for the currently active highlighting are
4517 used (GUI, cterm or term).
4518 Use synIDtrans() to follow linked highlight groups.
4519 {what} result
4520 "name" the name of the syntax item
4521 "fg" foreground color (GUI: color name used to set
4522 the color, cterm: color number as a string,
4523 term: empty string)
4524 "bg" background color (like "fg")
4525 "fg#" like "fg", but for the GUI and the GUI is
4526 running the name in "#RRGGBB" form
4527 "bg#" like "fg#" for "bg"
4528 "bold" "1" if bold
4529 "italic" "1" if italic
4530 "reverse" "1" if reverse
4531 "inverse" "1" if inverse (= reverse)
4532 "underline" "1" if underlined
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004533 "undercurl" "1" if undercurled
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004534
4535 Example (echoes the color of the syntax item under the
4536 cursor): >
4537 :echo synIDattr(synIDtrans(synID(line("."), col("."), 1)), "fg")
4538<
4539synIDtrans({synID}) *synIDtrans()*
4540 The result is a Number, which is the translated syntax ID of
4541 {synID}. This is the syntax group ID of what is being used to
4542 highlight the character. Highlight links given with
4543 ":highlight link" are followed.
4544
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00004545system({expr} [, {input}]) *system()* *E677*
4546 Get the output of the shell command {expr}.
4547 When {input} is given, this string is written to a file and
4548 passed as stdin to the command. The string is written as-is,
4549 you need to take care of using the correct line separators
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00004550 yourself. Pipes are not used.
Bram Moolenaarc0197e22004-09-13 20:26:32 +00004551 Note: newlines in {expr} may cause the command to fail. The
4552 characters in 'shellquote' and 'shellxquote' may also cause
4553 trouble.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004554 This is not to be used for interactive commands.
4555 The result is a String. Example: >
4556
4557 :let files = system("ls")
4558
4559< To make the result more system-independent, the shell output
4560 is filtered to replace <CR> with <NL> for Macintosh, and
4561 <CR><NL> with <NL> for DOS-like systems.
4562 The command executed is constructed using several options:
4563 'shell' 'shellcmdflag' 'shellxquote' {expr} 'shellredir' {tmp} 'shellxquote'
4564 ({tmp} is an automatically generated file name).
4565 For Unix and OS/2 braces are put around {expr} to allow for
4566 concatenated commands.
4567
4568 The resulting error code can be found in |v:shell_error|.
4569 This function will fail in |restricted-mode|.
Bram Moolenaar4770d092006-01-12 23:22:24 +00004570
4571 Note that any wrong value in the options mentioned above may
4572 make the function fail. It has also been reported to fail
4573 when using a security agent application.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004574 Unlike ":!cmd" there is no automatic check for changed files.
4575 Use |:checktime| to force a check.
4576
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004577
Bram Moolenaarfaa959a2006-02-20 21:37:40 +00004578tabpagebuflist([{arg}]) *tabpagebuflist()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004579 The result is a |List|, where each item is the number of the
Bram Moolenaarfaa959a2006-02-20 21:37:40 +00004580 buffer associated with each window in the current tab page.
4581 {arg} specifies the number of tab page to be used. When
4582 omitted the current tab page is used.
4583 When {arg} is invalid the number zero is returned.
4584 To get a list of all buffers in all tabs use this: >
4585 tablist = []
4586 for i in range(tabpagenr('$'))
4587 call extend(tablist, tabpagebuflist(i + 1))
4588 endfor
4589< Note that a buffer may appear in more than one window.
4590
4591
4592tabpagenr([{arg}]) *tabpagenr()*
Bram Moolenaar7e8fd632006-02-18 22:14:51 +00004593 The result is a Number, which is the number of the current
4594 tab page. The first tab page has number 1.
4595 When the optional argument is "$", the number of the last tab
4596 page is returned (the tab page count).
4597 The number can be used with the |:tab| command.
4598
4599
Bram Moolenaarfaa959a2006-02-20 21:37:40 +00004600tabpagewinnr({tabarg}, [{arg}]) *tabpagewinnr()*
4601 Like |winnr()| but for tab page {arg}.
4602 {tabarg} specifies the number of tab page to be used.
4603 {arg} is used like with |winnr()|:
4604 - When omitted the current window number is returned. This is
4605 the window which will be used when going to this tab page.
4606 - When "$" the number of windows is returned.
4607 - When "#" the previous window nr is returned.
4608 Useful examples: >
4609 tabpagewinnr(1) " current window of tab page 1
4610 tabpagewinnr(4, '$') " number of windows in tab page 4
4611< When {tabarg} is invalid zero is returned.
4612
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004613taglist({expr}) *taglist()*
4614 Returns a list of tags matching the regular expression {expr}.
Bram Moolenaard8c00872005-07-22 21:52:15 +00004615 Each list item is a dictionary with at least the following
4616 entries:
Bram Moolenaar280f1262006-01-30 00:14:18 +00004617 name Name of the tag.
4618 filename Name of the file where the tag is
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004619 defined.
4620 cmd Ex command used to locate the tag in
4621 the file.
Bram Moolenaar280f1262006-01-30 00:14:18 +00004622 kind Type of the tag. The value for this
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004623 entry depends on the language specific
4624 kind values generated by the ctags
4625 tool.
Bram Moolenaar280f1262006-01-30 00:14:18 +00004626 static A file specific tag. Refer to
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004627 |static-tag| for more information.
Bram Moolenaar4317d9b2005-03-18 20:25:31 +00004628 The "kind" entry is only available when using Exuberant ctags
4629 generated tags file. More entries may be present, depending
4630 on the content of the tags file: access, implementation,
4631 inherits and signature. Refer to the ctags documentation for
4632 information about these fields. For C code the fields
4633 "struct", "class" and "enum" may appear, they give the name of
4634 the entity the tag is contained in.
Bram Moolenaar5a8684e2005-07-30 22:43:24 +00004635
Bram Moolenaar4317d9b2005-03-18 20:25:31 +00004636 The ex-command 'cmd' can be either an ex search pattern, a
4637 line number or a line number followed by a byte number.
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004638
4639 If there are no matching tags, then an empty list is returned.
4640
4641 To get an exact tag match, the anchors '^' and '$' should be
4642 used in {expr}. Refer to |tag-regexp| for more information
4643 about the tag search regular expression pattern.
4644
4645 Refer to |'tags'| for information about how the tags file is
4646 located by Vim. Refer to |tags-file-format| for the format of
4647 the tags file generated by the different ctags tools.
4648
Bram Moolenaar578b49e2005-09-10 19:22:57 +00004649 *tagfiles()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004650tagfiles() Returns a |List| with the file names used to search for tags
4651 for the current buffer. This is the 'tags' option expanded.
Bram Moolenaare7eb9df2005-09-09 19:49:30 +00004652
Bram Moolenaare2cc9702005-03-15 22:43:58 +00004653
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004654tempname() *tempname()* *temp-file-name*
4655 The result is a String, which is the name of a file that
4656 doesn't exist. It can be used for a temporary file. The name
4657 is different for at least 26 consecutive calls. Example: >
4658 :let tmpfile = tempname()
4659 :exe "redir > " . tmpfile
4660< For Unix, the file will be in a private directory (only
4661 accessible by the current user) to avoid security problems
4662 (e.g., a symlink attack or other people reading your file).
4663 When Vim exits the directory and all files in it are deleted.
4664 For MS-Windows forward slashes are used when the 'shellslash'
4665 option is set or when 'shellcmdflag' starts with '-'.
4666
4667tolower({expr}) *tolower()*
4668 The result is a copy of the String given, with all uppercase
4669 characters turned into lowercase (just like applying |gu| to
4670 the string).
4671
4672toupper({expr}) *toupper()*
4673 The result is a copy of the String given, with all lowercase
4674 characters turned into uppercase (just like applying |gU| to
4675 the string).
4676
Bram Moolenaar8299df92004-07-10 09:47:34 +00004677tr({src}, {fromstr}, {tostr}) *tr()*
4678 The result is a copy of the {src} string with all characters
4679 which appear in {fromstr} replaced by the character in that
4680 position in the {tostr} string. Thus the first character in
4681 {fromstr} is translated into the first character in {tostr}
4682 and so on. Exactly like the unix "tr" command.
4683 This code also deals with multibyte characters properly.
4684
4685 Examples: >
4686 echo tr("hello there", "ht", "HT")
4687< returns "Hello THere" >
4688 echo tr("<blob>", "<>", "{}")
4689< returns "{blob}"
4690
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00004691 *type()*
4692type({expr}) The result is a Number, depending on the type of {expr}:
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00004693 Number: 0
4694 String: 1
4695 Funcref: 2
4696 List: 3
4697 Dictionary: 4
4698 To avoid the magic numbers it should be used this way: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00004699 :if type(myvar) == type(0)
4700 :if type(myvar) == type("")
4701 :if type(myvar) == type(function("tr"))
4702 :if type(myvar) == type([])
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00004703 :if type(myvar) == type({})
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004704
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004705values({dict}) *values()*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004706 Return a |List| with all the values of {dict}. The |List| is
4707 in arbitrary order.
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00004708
4709
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004710virtcol({expr}) *virtcol()*
4711 The result is a Number, which is the screen column of the file
4712 position given with {expr}. That is, the last screen position
4713 occupied by the character at that position, when the screen
4714 would be of unlimited width. When there is a <Tab> at the
4715 position, the returned Number will be the column at the end of
4716 the <Tab>. For example, for a <Tab> in column 1, with 'ts'
4717 set to 8, it returns 8.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004718 For the use of {expr} see |col()|. Additionally you can use
Bram Moolenaar5c8837f2006-02-25 21:52:33 +00004719 [lnum, col]: a |List| with the line and column number. When
4720 "lnum" or "col" is out of range then virtcol() returns zero.
Bram Moolenaar0b238792006-03-02 22:49:12 +00004721 When 'virtualedit' is used it can be [lnum, col, off], where
4722 "off" is the offset in screen columns from the start of the
4723 character. E.g., a position within a Tab or after the last
4724 character.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004725 For the byte position use |col()|.
4726 When Virtual editing is active in the current mode, a position
4727 beyond the end of the line can be returned. |'virtualedit'|
4728 The accepted positions are:
4729 . the cursor position
4730 $ the end of the cursor line (the result is the
4731 number of displayed characters in the cursor line
4732 plus one)
4733 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is
4734 returned)
4735 Note that only marks in the current file can be used.
4736 Examples: >
4737 virtcol(".") with text "foo^Lbar", with cursor on the "^L", returns 5
4738 virtcol("$") with text "foo^Lbar", returns 9
4739 virtcol("'t") with text " there", with 't at 'h', returns 6
4740< The first column is 1. 0 is returned for an error.
4741
4742visualmode([expr]) *visualmode()*
4743 The result is a String, which describes the last Visual mode
4744 used. Initially it returns an empty string, but once Visual
4745 mode has been used, it returns "v", "V", or "<CTRL-V>" (a
4746 single CTRL-V character) for character-wise, line-wise, or
4747 block-wise Visual mode respectively.
4748 Example: >
4749 :exe "normal " . visualmode()
4750< This enters the same Visual mode as before. It is also useful
4751 in scripts if you wish to act differently depending on the
4752 Visual mode that was used.
4753
4754 If an expression is supplied that results in a non-zero number
4755 or a non-empty string, then the Visual mode will be cleared
4756 and the old value is returned. Note that " " and "0" are also
4757 non-empty strings, thus cause the mode to be cleared.
4758
4759 *winbufnr()*
4760winbufnr({nr}) The result is a Number, which is the number of the buffer
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00004761 associated with window {nr}. When {nr} is zero, the number of
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004762 the buffer in the current window is returned. When window
4763 {nr} doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
4764 Example: >
4765 :echo "The file in the current window is " . bufname(winbufnr(0))
4766<
4767 *wincol()*
4768wincol() The result is a Number, which is the virtual column of the
4769 cursor in the window. This is counting screen cells from the
4770 left side of the window. The leftmost column is one.
4771
4772winheight({nr}) *winheight()*
4773 The result is a Number, which is the height of window {nr}.
4774 When {nr} is zero, the height of the current window is
4775 returned. When window {nr} doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
4776 An existing window always has a height of zero or more.
4777 Examples: >
4778 :echo "The current window has " . winheight(0) . " lines."
4779<
4780 *winline()*
4781winline() The result is a Number, which is the screen line of the cursor
4782 in the window. This is counting screen lines from the top of
4783 the window. The first line is one.
Bram Moolenaarbfd8fc02005-09-20 23:22:24 +00004784 If the cursor was moved the view on the file will be updated
4785 first, this may cause a scroll.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004786
4787 *winnr()*
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00004788winnr([{arg}]) The result is a Number, which is the number of the current
4789 window. The top window has number 1.
4790 When the optional argument is "$", the number of the
Bram Moolenaar7e8fd632006-02-18 22:14:51 +00004791 last window is returned (the window count).
Bram Moolenaar5eb86f92004-07-26 12:53:41 +00004792 When the optional argument is "#", the number of the last
4793 accessed window is returned (where |CTRL-W_p| goes to).
4794 If there is no previous window 0 is returned.
4795 The number can be used with |CTRL-W_w| and ":wincmd w"
4796 |:wincmd|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004797
4798 *winrestcmd()*
4799winrestcmd() Returns a sequence of |:resize| commands that should restore
4800 the current window sizes. Only works properly when no windows
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00004801 are opened or closed and the current window and tab page is
4802 unchanged.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004803 Example: >
4804 :let cmd = winrestcmd()
4805 :call MessWithWindowSizes()
4806 :exe cmd
Bram Moolenaar87b5ca52006-03-04 21:55:31 +00004807<
4808 *winrestview()*
4809winrestview({dict})
4810 Uses the |Dictionary| returned by |winsaveview()| to restore
4811 the view of the current window.
4812 If you have changed the values the result is unpredictable.
4813 If the window size changed the result won't be the same.
4814
4815 *winsaveview()*
4816winsaveview() Returns a |Dictionary| that contains information to restore
4817 the view of the current window. Use |winrestview()| to
4818 restore the view.
4819 This is useful if you have a mapping that jumps around in the
4820 buffer and you want to go back to the original view.
4821 This does not save fold information. Use the 'foldenable'
4822 option to temporarily switch of folding, so that folds are not
4823 opened when moving around.
4824 The return value includes:
4825 lnum cursor line number
4826 col cursor column
4827 coladd cursor column offset for 'virtualedit'
4828 curswant column for vertical movement
4829 topline first line in the window
4830 topfill filler lines, only in diff mode
4831 leftcol first column displayed
4832 skipcol columns skipped
4833 Note that no option values are saved.
4834
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004835
4836winwidth({nr}) *winwidth()*
4837 The result is a Number, which is the width of window {nr}.
4838 When {nr} is zero, the width of the current window is
4839 returned. When window {nr} doesn't exist, -1 is returned.
4840 An existing window always has a width of zero or more.
4841 Examples: >
4842 :echo "The current window has " . winwidth(0) . " columns."
4843 :if winwidth(0) <= 50
4844 : exe "normal 50\<C-W>|"
4845 :endif
4846<
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00004847 *writefile()*
4848writefile({list}, {fname} [, {binary}])
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00004849 Write |List| {list} to file {fname}. Each list item is
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00004850 separated with a NL. Each list item must be a String or
4851 Number.
4852 When {binary} is equal to "b" binary mode is used: There will
4853 not be a NL after the last list item. An empty item at the
4854 end does cause the last line in the file to end in a NL.
4855 All NL characters are replaced with a NUL character.
4856 Inserting CR characters needs to be done before passing {list}
4857 to writefile().
4858 An existing file is overwritten, if possible.
4859 When the write fails -1 is returned, otherwise 0. There is an
4860 error message if the file can't be created or when writing
4861 fails.
4862 Also see |readfile()|.
4863 To copy a file byte for byte: >
4864 :let fl = readfile("foo", "b")
4865 :call writefile(fl, "foocopy", "b")
4866<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004867
4868 *feature-list*
4869There are three types of features:
48701. Features that are only supported when they have been enabled when Vim
4871 was compiled |+feature-list|. Example: >
4872 :if has("cindent")
48732. Features that are only supported when certain conditions have been met.
4874 Example: >
4875 :if has("gui_running")
4876< *has-patch*
48773. Included patches. First check |v:version| for the version of Vim.
4878 Then the "patch123" feature means that patch 123 has been included for
4879 this version. Example (checking version 6.2.148 or later): >
4880 :if v:version > 602 || v:version == 602 && has("patch148")
4881
4882all_builtin_terms Compiled with all builtin terminals enabled.
4883amiga Amiga version of Vim.
4884arabic Compiled with Arabic support |Arabic|.
4885arp Compiled with ARP support (Amiga).
Bram Moolenaara9b1e742005-12-19 22:14:58 +00004886autocmd Compiled with autocommand support. |autocommand|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004887balloon_eval Compiled with |balloon-eval| support.
Bram Moolenaar45360022005-07-21 21:08:21 +00004888balloon_multiline GUI supports multiline balloons.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004889beos BeOS version of Vim.
4890browse Compiled with |:browse| support, and browse() will
4891 work.
4892builtin_terms Compiled with some builtin terminals.
4893byte_offset Compiled with support for 'o' in 'statusline'
4894cindent Compiled with 'cindent' support.
4895clientserver Compiled with remote invocation support |clientserver|.
4896clipboard Compiled with 'clipboard' support.
4897cmdline_compl Compiled with |cmdline-completion| support.
4898cmdline_hist Compiled with |cmdline-history| support.
4899cmdline_info Compiled with 'showcmd' and 'ruler' support.
4900comments Compiled with |'comments'| support.
4901cryptv Compiled with encryption support |encryption|.
4902cscope Compiled with |cscope| support.
4903compatible Compiled to be very Vi compatible.
4904debug Compiled with "DEBUG" defined.
4905dialog_con Compiled with console dialog support.
4906dialog_gui Compiled with GUI dialog support.
4907diff Compiled with |vimdiff| and 'diff' support.
4908digraphs Compiled with support for digraphs.
4909dnd Compiled with support for the "~ register |quote_~|.
4910dos32 32 bits DOS (DJGPP) version of Vim.
4911dos16 16 bits DOS version of Vim.
4912ebcdic Compiled on a machine with ebcdic character set.
4913emacs_tags Compiled with support for Emacs tags.
4914eval Compiled with expression evaluation support. Always
4915 true, of course!
4916ex_extra Compiled with extra Ex commands |+ex_extra|.
4917extra_search Compiled with support for |'incsearch'| and
4918 |'hlsearch'|
4919farsi Compiled with Farsi support |farsi|.
4920file_in_path Compiled with support for |gf| and |<cfile>|
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00004921filterpipe When 'shelltemp' is off pipes are used for shell
4922 read/write/filter commands
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004923find_in_path Compiled with support for include file searches
4924 |+find_in_path|.
4925fname_case Case in file names matters (for Amiga, MS-DOS, and
4926 Windows this is not present).
4927folding Compiled with |folding| support.
4928footer Compiled with GUI footer support. |gui-footer|
4929fork Compiled to use fork()/exec() instead of system().
4930gettext Compiled with message translation |multi-lang|
4931gui Compiled with GUI enabled.
4932gui_athena Compiled with Athena GUI.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004933gui_gtk Compiled with GTK+ GUI (any version).
4934gui_gtk2 Compiled with GTK+ 2 GUI (gui_gtk is also defined).
Bram Moolenaar843ee412004-06-30 16:16:41 +00004935gui_kde Compiled with KDE GUI |KVim|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004936gui_mac Compiled with Macintosh GUI.
4937gui_motif Compiled with Motif GUI.
4938gui_photon Compiled with Photon GUI.
4939gui_win32 Compiled with MS Windows Win32 GUI.
4940gui_win32s idem, and Win32s system being used (Windows 3.1)
4941gui_running Vim is running in the GUI, or it will start soon.
4942hangul_input Compiled with Hangul input support. |hangul|
4943iconv Can use iconv() for conversion.
4944insert_expand Compiled with support for CTRL-X expansion commands in
4945 Insert mode.
4946jumplist Compiled with |jumplist| support.
4947keymap Compiled with 'keymap' support.
4948langmap Compiled with 'langmap' support.
4949libcall Compiled with |libcall()| support.
4950linebreak Compiled with 'linebreak', 'breakat' and 'showbreak'
4951 support.
4952lispindent Compiled with support for lisp indenting.
4953listcmds Compiled with commands for the buffer list |:files|
4954 and the argument list |arglist|.
4955localmap Compiled with local mappings and abbr. |:map-local|
4956mac Macintosh version of Vim.
4957macunix Macintosh version of Vim, using Unix files (OS-X).
4958menu Compiled with support for |:menu|.
4959mksession Compiled with support for |:mksession|.
4960modify_fname Compiled with file name modifiers. |filename-modifiers|
4961mouse Compiled with support mouse.
4962mouseshape Compiled with support for 'mouseshape'.
4963mouse_dec Compiled with support for Dec terminal mouse.
4964mouse_gpm Compiled with support for gpm (Linux console mouse)
4965mouse_netterm Compiled with support for netterm mouse.
4966mouse_pterm Compiled with support for qnx pterm mouse.
4967mouse_xterm Compiled with support for xterm mouse.
4968multi_byte Compiled with support for editing Korean et al.
4969multi_byte_ime Compiled with support for IME input method.
4970multi_lang Compiled with support for multiple languages.
Bram Moolenaar325b7a22004-07-05 15:58:32 +00004971mzscheme Compiled with MzScheme interface |mzscheme|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004972netbeans_intg Compiled with support for |netbeans|.
Bram Moolenaar009b2592004-10-24 19:18:58 +00004973netbeans_enabled Compiled with support for |netbeans| and it's used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004974ole Compiled with OLE automation support for Win32.
4975os2 OS/2 version of Vim.
4976osfiletype Compiled with support for osfiletypes |+osfiletype|
4977path_extra Compiled with up/downwards search in 'path' and 'tags'
4978perl Compiled with Perl interface.
4979postscript Compiled with PostScript file printing.
4980printer Compiled with |:hardcopy| support.
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00004981profile Compiled with |:profile| support.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004982python Compiled with Python interface.
4983qnx QNX version of Vim.
4984quickfix Compiled with |quickfix| support.
4985rightleft Compiled with 'rightleft' support.
4986ruby Compiled with Ruby interface |ruby|.
4987scrollbind Compiled with 'scrollbind' support.
4988showcmd Compiled with 'showcmd' support.
4989signs Compiled with |:sign| support.
4990smartindent Compiled with 'smartindent' support.
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00004991sniff Compiled with SNiFF interface support.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004992statusline Compiled with support for 'statusline', 'rulerformat'
4993 and special formats of 'titlestring' and 'iconstring'.
4994sun_workshop Compiled with support for Sun |workshop|.
Bram Moolenaar82cf9b62005-06-07 21:09:25 +00004995spell Compiled with spell checking support |spell|.
4996syntax Compiled with syntax highlighting support |syntax|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004997syntax_items There are active syntax highlighting items for the
4998 current buffer.
4999system Compiled to use system() instead of fork()/exec().
5000tag_binary Compiled with binary searching in tags files
5001 |tag-binary-search|.
5002tag_old_static Compiled with support for old static tags
5003 |tag-old-static|.
5004tag_any_white Compiled with support for any white characters in tags
5005 files |tag-any-white|.
5006tcl Compiled with Tcl interface.
5007terminfo Compiled with terminfo instead of termcap.
5008termresponse Compiled with support for |t_RV| and |v:termresponse|.
5009textobjects Compiled with support for |text-objects|.
5010tgetent Compiled with tgetent support, able to use a termcap
5011 or terminfo file.
5012title Compiled with window title support |'title'|.
5013toolbar Compiled with support for |gui-toolbar|.
5014unix Unix version of Vim.
5015user_commands User-defined commands.
5016viminfo Compiled with viminfo support.
5017vim_starting True while initial source'ing takes place.
5018vertsplit Compiled with vertically split windows |:vsplit|.
5019virtualedit Compiled with 'virtualedit' option.
5020visual Compiled with Visual mode.
5021visualextra Compiled with extra Visual mode commands.
5022 |blockwise-operators|.
5023vms VMS version of Vim.
5024vreplace Compiled with |gR| and |gr| commands.
5025wildignore Compiled with 'wildignore' option.
5026wildmenu Compiled with 'wildmenu' option.
5027windows Compiled with support for more than one window.
5028winaltkeys Compiled with 'winaltkeys' option.
5029win16 Win16 version of Vim (MS-Windows 3.1).
5030win32 Win32 version of Vim (MS-Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP).
5031win64 Win64 version of Vim (MS-Windows 64 bit).
5032win32unix Win32 version of Vim, using Unix files (Cygwin)
5033win95 Win32 version for MS-Windows 95/98/ME.
5034writebackup Compiled with 'writebackup' default on.
5035xfontset Compiled with X fontset support |xfontset|.
5036xim Compiled with X input method support |xim|.
5037xsmp Compiled with X session management support.
5038xsmp_interact Compiled with interactive X session management support.
5039xterm_clipboard Compiled with support for xterm clipboard.
5040xterm_save Compiled with support for saving and restoring the
5041 xterm screen.
5042x11 Compiled with X11 support.
5043
5044 *string-match*
5045Matching a pattern in a String
5046
5047A regexp pattern as explained at |pattern| is normally used to find a match in
5048the buffer lines. When a pattern is used to find a match in a String, almost
5049everything works in the same way. The difference is that a String is handled
5050like it is one line. When it contains a "\n" character, this is not seen as a
5051line break for the pattern. It can be matched with a "\n" in the pattern, or
5052with ".". Example: >
5053 :let a = "aaaa\nxxxx"
5054 :echo matchstr(a, "..\n..")
5055 aa
5056 xx
5057 :echo matchstr(a, "a.x")
5058 a
5059 x
5060
5061Don't forget that "^" will only match at the first character of the String and
5062"$" at the last character of the string. They don't match after or before a
5063"\n".
5064
5065==============================================================================
50665. Defining functions *user-functions*
5067
5068New functions can be defined. These can be called just like builtin
5069functions. The function executes a sequence of Ex commands. Normal mode
5070commands can be executed with the |:normal| command.
5071
5072The function name must start with an uppercase letter, to avoid confusion with
5073builtin functions. To prevent from using the same name in different scripts
5074avoid obvious, short names. A good habit is to start the function name with
5075the name of the script, e.g., "HTMLcolor()".
5076
Bram Moolenaar92d640f2005-09-05 22:11:52 +00005077It's also possible to use curly braces, see |curly-braces-names|. And the
5078|autoload| facility is useful to define a function only when it's called.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005079
5080 *local-function*
5081A function local to a script must start with "s:". A local script function
5082can only be called from within the script and from functions, user commands
5083and autocommands defined in the script. It is also possible to call the
5084function from a mappings defined in the script, but then |<SID>| must be used
5085instead of "s:" when the mapping is expanded outside of the script.
5086
5087 *:fu* *:function* *E128* *E129* *E123*
5088:fu[nction] List all functions and their arguments.
5089
5090:fu[nction] {name} List function {name}.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005091 {name} can also be a |Dictionary| entry that is a
5092 |Funcref|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005093 :function dict.init
Bram Moolenaar92d640f2005-09-05 22:11:52 +00005094
5095:fu[nction] /{pattern} List functions with a name matching {pattern}.
5096 Example that lists all functions ending with "File": >
5097 :function /File$
Bram Moolenaar5b8d8fd2005-08-16 23:01:50 +00005098<
5099 *:function-verbose*
5100When 'verbose' is non-zero, listing a function will also display where it was
5101last defined. Example: >
5102
5103 :verbose function SetFileTypeSH
5104 function SetFileTypeSH(name)
5105 Last set from /usr/share/vim/vim-7.0/filetype.vim
5106<
Bram Moolenaar8aff23a2005-08-19 20:40:30 +00005107See |:verbose-cmd| for more information.
Bram Moolenaar5b8d8fd2005-08-16 23:01:50 +00005108
5109 *E124* *E125*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00005110:fu[nction][!] {name}([arguments]) [range] [abort] [dict]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005111 Define a new function by the name {name}. The name
5112 must be made of alphanumeric characters and '_', and
5113 must start with a capital or "s:" (see above).
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005114
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005115 {name} can also be a |Dictionary| entry that is a
5116 |Funcref|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005117 :function dict.init(arg)
5118< "dict" must be an existing dictionary. The entry
5119 "init" is added if it didn't exist yet. Otherwise [!]
5120 is required to overwrite an existing function. The
5121 result is a |Funcref| to a numbered function. The
5122 function can only be used with a |Funcref| and will be
5123 deleted if there are no more references to it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005124 *E127* *E122*
5125 When a function by this name already exists and [!] is
5126 not used an error message is given. When [!] is used,
5127 an existing function is silently replaced. Unless it
5128 is currently being executed, that is an error.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00005129
5130 For the {arguments} see |function-argument|.
5131
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005132 *a:firstline* *a:lastline*
5133 When the [range] argument is added, the function is
5134 expected to take care of a range itself. The range is
5135 passed as "a:firstline" and "a:lastline". If [range]
5136 is excluded, ":{range}call" will call the function for
5137 each line in the range, with the cursor on the start
5138 of each line. See |function-range-example|.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005139
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005140 When the [abort] argument is added, the function will
5141 abort as soon as an error is detected.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005142
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00005143 When the [dict] argument is added, the function must
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005144 be invoked through an entry in a |Dictionary|. The
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00005145 local variable "self" will then be set to the
5146 dictionary. See |Dictionary-function|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005147
Bram Moolenaar98692072006-02-04 00:57:42 +00005148 The last used search pattern and the redo command "."
5149 will not be changed by the function.
5150
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005151 *:endf* *:endfunction* *E126* *E193*
5152:endf[unction] The end of a function definition. Must be on a line
5153 by its own, without other commands.
5154
5155 *:delf* *:delfunction* *E130* *E131*
5156:delf[unction] {name} Delete function {name}.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005157 {name} can also be a |Dictionary| entry that is a
5158 |Funcref|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005159 :delfunc dict.init
5160< This will remove the "init" entry from "dict". The
5161 function is deleted if there are no more references to
5162 it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005163 *:retu* *:return* *E133*
5164:retu[rn] [expr] Return from a function. When "[expr]" is given, it is
5165 evaluated and returned as the result of the function.
5166 If "[expr]" is not given, the number 0 is returned.
5167 When a function ends without an explicit ":return",
5168 the number 0 is returned.
5169 Note that there is no check for unreachable lines,
5170 thus there is no warning if commands follow ":return".
5171
5172 If the ":return" is used after a |:try| but before the
5173 matching |:finally| (if present), the commands
5174 following the ":finally" up to the matching |:endtry|
5175 are executed first. This process applies to all
5176 nested ":try"s inside the function. The function
5177 returns at the outermost ":endtry".
5178
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00005179 *function-argument* *a:var*
5180An argument can be defined by giving its name. In the function this can then
5181be used as "a:name" ("a:" for argument).
5182 *a:0* *a:1* *a:000* *E740*
5183Up to 20 arguments can be given, separated by commas. After the named
5184arguments an argument "..." can be specified, which means that more arguments
5185may optionally be following. In the function the extra arguments can be used
5186as "a:1", "a:2", etc. "a:0" is set to the number of extra arguments (which
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005187can be 0). "a:000" is set to a |List| that contains these arguments. Note
5188that "a:1" is the same as "a:000[0]".
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00005189 *E742*
5190The a: scope and the variables in it cannot be changed, they are fixed.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005191However, if a |List| or |Dictionary| is used, you can changes their contents.
5192Thus you can pass a |List| to a function and have the function add an item to
5193it. If you want to make sure the function cannot change a |List| or
5194|Dictionary| use |:lockvar|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005195
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00005196When not using "...", the number of arguments in a function call must be equal
5197to the number of named arguments. When using "...", the number of arguments
5198may be larger.
5199
5200It is also possible to define a function without any arguments. You must
5201still supply the () then. The body of the function follows in the next lines,
5202until the matching |:endfunction|. It is allowed to define another function
5203inside a function body.
5204
5205 *local-variables*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005206Inside a function variables can be used. These are local variables, which
5207will disappear when the function returns. Global variables need to be
5208accessed with "g:".
5209
5210Example: >
5211 :function Table(title, ...)
5212 : echohl Title
5213 : echo a:title
5214 : echohl None
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00005215 : echo a:0 . " items:"
5216 : for s in a:000
5217 : echon ' ' . s
5218 : endfor
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005219 :endfunction
5220
5221This function can then be called with: >
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00005222 call Table("Table", "line1", "line2")
5223 call Table("Empty Table")
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005224
5225To return more than one value, pass the name of a global variable: >
5226 :function Compute(n1, n2, divname)
5227 : if a:n2 == 0
5228 : return "fail"
5229 : endif
5230 : let g:{a:divname} = a:n1 / a:n2
5231 : return "ok"
5232 :endfunction
5233
5234This function can then be called with: >
5235 :let success = Compute(13, 1324, "div")
5236 :if success == "ok"
5237 : echo div
5238 :endif
5239
5240An alternative is to return a command that can be executed. This also works
5241with local variables in a calling function. Example: >
5242 :function Foo()
5243 : execute Bar()
5244 : echo "line " . lnum . " column " . col
5245 :endfunction
5246
5247 :function Bar()
5248 : return "let lnum = " . line(".") . " | let col = " . col(".")
5249 :endfunction
5250
5251The names "lnum" and "col" could also be passed as argument to Bar(), to allow
5252the caller to set the names.
5253
5254 *:cal* *:call* *E107*
5255:[range]cal[l] {name}([arguments])
5256 Call a function. The name of the function and its arguments
5257 are as specified with |:function|. Up to 20 arguments can be
5258 used.
5259 Without a range and for functions that accept a range, the
5260 function is called once. When a range is given the cursor is
5261 positioned at the start of the first line before executing the
5262 function.
5263 When a range is given and the function doesn't handle it
5264 itself, the function is executed for each line in the range,
5265 with the cursor in the first column of that line. The cursor
5266 is left at the last line (possibly moved by the last function
5267 call). The arguments are re-evaluated for each line. Thus
5268 this works:
5269 *function-range-example* >
5270 :function Mynumber(arg)
5271 : echo line(".") . " " . a:arg
5272 :endfunction
5273 :1,5call Mynumber(getline("."))
5274<
5275 The "a:firstline" and "a:lastline" are defined anyway, they
5276 can be used to do something different at the start or end of
5277 the range.
5278
5279 Example of a function that handles the range itself: >
5280
5281 :function Cont() range
5282 : execute (a:firstline + 1) . "," . a:lastline . 's/^/\t\\ '
5283 :endfunction
5284 :4,8call Cont()
5285<
5286 This function inserts the continuation character "\" in front
5287 of all the lines in the range, except the first one.
5288
5289 *E132*
5290The recursiveness of user functions is restricted with the |'maxfuncdepth'|
5291option.
5292
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005293
5294AUTOMATICALLY LOADING FUNCTIONS ~
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005295 *autoload-functions*
5296When using many or large functions, it's possible to automatically define them
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005297only when they are used. There are two methods: with an autocommand and with
5298the "autoload" directory in 'runtimepath'.
5299
5300
5301Using an autocommand ~
5302
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00005303This is introduced in the user manual, section |41.14|.
5304
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005305The autocommand is useful if you have a plugin that is a long Vim script file.
5306You can define the autocommand and quickly quit the script with |:finish|.
5307That makes Vim startup faster. The autocommand should then load the same file
5308again, setting a variable to skip the |:finish| command.
5309
5310Use the FuncUndefined autocommand event with a pattern that matches the
5311function(s) to be defined. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005312
5313 :au FuncUndefined BufNet* source ~/vim/bufnetfuncs.vim
5314
5315The file "~/vim/bufnetfuncs.vim" should then define functions that start with
5316"BufNet". Also see |FuncUndefined|.
5317
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005318
5319Using an autoload script ~
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00005320 *autoload* *E746*
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00005321This is introduced in the user manual, section |41.15|.
5322
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005323Using a script in the "autoload" directory is simpler, but requires using
5324exactly the right file name. A function that can be autoloaded has a name
5325like this: >
5326
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00005327 :call filename#funcname()
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005328
5329When such a function is called, and it is not defined yet, Vim will search the
5330"autoload" directories in 'runtimepath' for a script file called
5331"filename.vim". For example "~/.vim/autoload/filename.vim". That file should
5332then define the function like this: >
5333
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00005334 function filename#funcname()
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005335 echo "Done!"
5336 endfunction
5337
Bram Moolenaar60a795a2005-09-16 21:55:43 +00005338The file name and the name used before the # in the function must match
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005339exactly, and the defined function must have the name exactly as it will be
5340called.
5341
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00005342It is possible to use subdirectories. Every # in the function name works like
5343a path separator. Thus when calling a function: >
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005344
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00005345 :call foo#bar#func()
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005346
5347Vim will look for the file "autoload/foo/bar.vim" in 'runtimepath'.
5348
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00005349This also works when reading a variable that has not been set yet: >
5350
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00005351 :let l = foo#bar#lvar
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00005352
Bram Moolenaara5792f52005-11-23 21:25:05 +00005353However, when the autoload script was already loaded it won't be loaded again
5354for an unknown variable.
5355
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00005356When assigning a value to such a variable nothing special happens. This can
5357be used to pass settings to the autoload script before it's loaded: >
5358
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00005359 :let foo#bar#toggle = 1
5360 :call foo#bar#func()
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00005361
Bram Moolenaar4399ef42005-02-12 14:29:27 +00005362Note that when you make a mistake and call a function that is supposed to be
5363defined in an autoload script, but the script doesn't actually define the
5364function, the script will be sourced every time you try to call the function.
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00005365And you will get an error message every time.
5366
5367Also note that if you have two script files, and one calls a function in the
5368other and vise versa, before the used function is defined, it won't work.
5369Avoid using the autoload functionality at the toplevel.
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00005370
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005371==============================================================================
53726. Curly braces names *curly-braces-names*
5373
5374Wherever you can use a variable, you can use a "curly braces name" variable.
5375This is a regular variable name with one or more expressions wrapped in braces
5376{} like this: >
5377 my_{adjective}_variable
5378
5379When Vim encounters this, it evaluates the expression inside the braces, puts
5380that in place of the expression, and re-interprets the whole as a variable
5381name. So in the above example, if the variable "adjective" was set to
5382"noisy", then the reference would be to "my_noisy_variable", whereas if
5383"adjective" was set to "quiet", then it would be to "my_quiet_variable".
5384
5385One application for this is to create a set of variables governed by an option
5386value. For example, the statement >
5387 echo my_{&background}_message
5388
5389would output the contents of "my_dark_message" or "my_light_message" depending
5390on the current value of 'background'.
5391
5392You can use multiple brace pairs: >
5393 echo my_{adverb}_{adjective}_message
5394..or even nest them: >
5395 echo my_{ad{end_of_word}}_message
5396where "end_of_word" is either "verb" or "jective".
5397
5398However, the expression inside the braces must evaluate to a valid single
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00005399variable name, e.g. this is invalid: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005400 :let foo='a + b'
5401 :echo c{foo}d
5402.. since the result of expansion is "ca + bd", which is not a variable name.
5403
5404 *curly-braces-function-names*
5405You can call and define functions by an evaluated name in a similar way.
5406Example: >
5407 :let func_end='whizz'
5408 :call my_func_{func_end}(parameter)
5409
5410This would call the function "my_func_whizz(parameter)".
5411
5412==============================================================================
54137. Commands *expression-commands*
5414
5415:let {var-name} = {expr1} *:let* *E18*
5416 Set internal variable {var-name} to the result of the
5417 expression {expr1}. The variable will get the type
5418 from the {expr}. If {var-name} didn't exist yet, it
5419 is created.
5420
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00005421:let {var-name}[{idx}] = {expr1} *E689*
5422 Set a list item to the result of the expression
5423 {expr1}. {var-name} must refer to a list and {idx}
5424 must be a valid index in that list. For nested list
5425 the index can be repeated.
5426 This cannot be used to add an item to a list.
5427
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005428 *E711* *E719*
5429:let {var-name}[{idx1}:{idx2}] = {expr1} *E708* *E709* *E710*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005430 Set a sequence of items in a |List| to the result of
5431 the expression {expr1}, which must be a list with the
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00005432 correct number of items.
5433 {idx1} can be omitted, zero is used instead.
5434 {idx2} can be omitted, meaning the end of the list.
5435 When the selected range of items is partly past the
5436 end of the list, items will be added.
5437
Bram Moolenaar748bf032005-02-02 23:04:36 +00005438 *:let+=* *:let-=* *:let.=* *E734*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005439:let {var} += {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} + {expr1}".
5440:let {var} -= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} - {expr1}".
5441:let {var} .= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} . {expr1}".
5442 These fail if {var} was not set yet and when the type
5443 of {var} and {expr1} don't fit the operator.
5444
5445
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005446:let ${env-name} = {expr1} *:let-environment* *:let-$*
5447 Set environment variable {env-name} to the result of
5448 the expression {expr1}. The type is always String.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005449:let ${env-name} .= {expr1}
5450 Append {expr1} to the environment variable {env-name}.
5451 If the environment variable didn't exist yet this
5452 works like "=".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005453
5454:let @{reg-name} = {expr1} *:let-register* *:let-@*
5455 Write the result of the expression {expr1} in register
5456 {reg-name}. {reg-name} must be a single letter, and
5457 must be the name of a writable register (see
5458 |registers|). "@@" can be used for the unnamed
5459 register, "@/" for the search pattern.
5460 If the result of {expr1} ends in a <CR> or <NL>, the
5461 register will be linewise, otherwise it will be set to
5462 characterwise.
5463 This can be used to clear the last search pattern: >
5464 :let @/ = ""
5465< This is different from searching for an empty string,
5466 that would match everywhere.
5467
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005468:let @{reg-name} .= {expr1}
5469 Append {expr1} to register {reg-name}. If the
5470 register was empty it's like setting it to {expr1}.
5471
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005472:let &{option-name} = {expr1} *:let-option* *:let-star*
5473 Set option {option-name} to the result of the
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00005474 expression {expr1}. A String or Number value is
5475 always converted to the type of the option.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005476 For an option local to a window or buffer the effect
5477 is just like using the |:set| command: both the local
Bram Moolenaara5fac542005-10-12 20:58:49 +00005478 value and the global value are changed.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00005479 Example: >
5480 :let &path = &path . ',/usr/local/include'
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005481
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005482:let &{option-name} .= {expr1}
5483 For a string option: Append {expr1} to the value.
5484 Does not insert a comma like |:set+=|.
5485
5486:let &{option-name} += {expr1}
5487:let &{option-name} -= {expr1}
5488 For a number or boolean option: Add or subtract
5489 {expr1}.
5490
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005491:let &l:{option-name} = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005492:let &l:{option-name} .= {expr1}
5493:let &l:{option-name} += {expr1}
5494:let &l:{option-name} -= {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005495 Like above, but only set the local value of an option
5496 (if there is one). Works like |:setlocal|.
5497
5498:let &g:{option-name} = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005499:let &g:{option-name} .= {expr1}
5500:let &g:{option-name} += {expr1}
5501:let &g:{option-name} -= {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005502 Like above, but only set the global value of an option
5503 (if there is one). Works like |:setglobal|.
5504
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00005505:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] = {expr1} *:let-unpack* *E687* *E688*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005506 {expr1} must evaluate to a |List|. The first item in
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00005507 the list is assigned to {name1}, the second item to
5508 {name2}, etc.
5509 The number of names must match the number of items in
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005510 the |List|.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00005511 Each name can be one of the items of the ":let"
5512 command as mentioned above.
5513 Example: >
5514 :let [s, item] = GetItem(s)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005515< Detail: {expr1} is evaluated first, then the
5516 assignments are done in sequence. This matters if
5517 {name2} depends on {name1}. Example: >
5518 :let x = [0, 1]
5519 :let i = 0
5520 :let [i, x[i]] = [1, 2]
5521 :echo x
5522< The result is [0, 2].
5523
5524:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] .= {expr1}
5525:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] += {expr1}
5526:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] -= {expr1}
5527 Like above, but append/add/subtract the value for each
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005528 |List| item.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00005529
5530:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005531 Like |:let-unpack| above, but the |List| may have more
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005532 items than there are names. A list of the remaining
5533 items is assigned to {lastname}. If there are no
5534 remaining items {lastname} is set to an empty list.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00005535 Example: >
5536 :let [a, b; rest] = ["aval", "bval", 3, 4]
5537<
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005538:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] .= {expr1}
5539:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] += {expr1}
5540:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] -= {expr1}
5541 Like above, but append/add/subtract the value for each
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005542 |List| item.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005543 *E106*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005544:let {var-name} .. List the value of variable {var-name}. Multiple
Bram Moolenaardcaf10e2005-01-21 11:55:25 +00005545 variable names may be given. Special names recognized
5546 here: *E738*
5547 g: global variables.
5548 b: local buffer variables.
5549 w: local window variables.
5550 v: Vim variables.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005551
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00005552:let List the values of all variables. The type of the
5553 variable is indicated before the value:
5554 <nothing> String
5555 # Number
5556 * Funcref
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005557
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00005558
5559:unl[et][!] {name} ... *:unlet* *:unl* *E108*
5560 Remove the internal variable {name}. Several variable
5561 names can be given, they are all removed. The name
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005562 may also be a |List| or |Dictionary| item.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005563 With [!] no error message is given for non-existing
5564 variables.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005565 One or more items from a |List| can be removed: >
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +00005566 :unlet list[3] " remove fourth item
5567 :unlet list[3:] " remove fourth item to last
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005568< One item from a |Dictionary| can be removed at a time: >
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +00005569 :unlet dict['two']
5570 :unlet dict.two
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005571
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00005572:lockv[ar][!] [depth] {name} ... *:lockvar* *:lockv*
5573 Lock the internal variable {name}. Locking means that
5574 it can no longer be changed (until it is unlocked).
5575 A locked variable can be deleted: >
5576 :lockvar v
5577 :let v = 'asdf' " fails!
5578 :unlet v
5579< *E741*
5580 If you try to change a locked variable you get an
5581 error message: "E741: Value of {name} is locked"
5582
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005583 [depth] is relevant when locking a |List| or
5584 |Dictionary|. It specifies how deep the locking goes:
5585 1 Lock the |List| or |Dictionary| itself,
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00005586 cannot add or remove items, but can
5587 still change their values.
5588 2 Also lock the values, cannot change
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005589 the items. If an item is a |List| or
5590 |Dictionary|, cannot add or remove
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00005591 items, but can still change the
5592 values.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005593 3 Like 2 but for the |List| /
5594 |Dictionary| in the |List| /
5595 |Dictionary|, one level deeper.
5596 The default [depth] is 2, thus when {name} is a |List|
5597 or |Dictionary| the values cannot be changed.
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00005598 *E743*
5599 For unlimited depth use [!] and omit [depth].
5600 However, there is a maximum depth of 100 to catch
5601 loops.
5602
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00005603 Note that when two variables refer to the same |List|
5604 and you lock one of them, the |List| will also be
5605 locked when used through the other variable. Example:
5606 >
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00005607 :let l = [0, 1, 2, 3]
5608 :let cl = l
5609 :lockvar l
5610 :let cl[1] = 99 " won't work!
5611< You may want to make a copy of a list to avoid this.
5612 See |deepcopy()|.
5613
5614
5615:unlo[ckvar][!] [depth] {name} ... *:unlockvar* *:unlo*
5616 Unlock the internal variable {name}. Does the
5617 opposite of |:lockvar|.
5618
5619
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005620:if {expr1} *:if* *:endif* *:en* *E171* *E579* *E580*
5621:en[dif] Execute the commands until the next matching ":else"
5622 or ":endif" if {expr1} evaluates to non-zero.
5623
5624 From Vim version 4.5 until 5.0, every Ex command in
5625 between the ":if" and ":endif" is ignored. These two
5626 commands were just to allow for future expansions in a
5627 backwards compatible way. Nesting was allowed. Note
5628 that any ":else" or ":elseif" was ignored, the "else"
5629 part was not executed either.
5630
5631 You can use this to remain compatible with older
5632 versions: >
5633 :if version >= 500
5634 : version-5-specific-commands
5635 :endif
5636< The commands still need to be parsed to find the
5637 "endif". Sometimes an older Vim has a problem with a
5638 new command. For example, ":silent" is recognized as
5639 a ":substitute" command. In that case ":execute" can
5640 avoid problems: >
5641 :if version >= 600
5642 : execute "silent 1,$delete"
5643 :endif
5644<
5645 NOTE: The ":append" and ":insert" commands don't work
5646 properly in between ":if" and ":endif".
5647
5648 *:else* *:el* *E581* *E583*
5649:el[se] Execute the commands until the next matching ":else"
5650 or ":endif" if they previously were not being
5651 executed.
5652
5653 *:elseif* *:elsei* *E582* *E584*
5654:elsei[f] {expr1} Short for ":else" ":if", with the addition that there
5655 is no extra ":endif".
5656
5657:wh[ile] {expr1} *:while* *:endwhile* *:wh* *:endw*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005658 *E170* *E585* *E588* *E733*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005659:endw[hile] Repeat the commands between ":while" and ":endwhile",
5660 as long as {expr1} evaluates to non-zero.
5661 When an error is detected from a command inside the
5662 loop, execution continues after the "endwhile".
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005663 Example: >
5664 :let lnum = 1
5665 :while lnum <= line("$")
5666 :call FixLine(lnum)
5667 :let lnum = lnum + 1
5668 :endwhile
5669<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005670 NOTE: The ":append" and ":insert" commands don't work
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00005671 properly inside a ":while" and ":for" loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005672
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00005673:for {var} in {list} *:for* *E690* *E732*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005674:endfo[r] *:endfo* *:endfor*
5675 Repeat the commands between ":for" and ":endfor" for
Bram Moolenaar3a7c85b2005-02-05 21:39:53 +00005676 each item in {list}. Variable {var} is set to the
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00005677 value of each item.
5678 When an error is detected for a command inside the
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005679 loop, execution continues after the "endfor".
Bram Moolenaar572cb562005-08-05 21:35:02 +00005680 Changing {list} inside the loop affects what items are
5681 used. Make a copy if this is unwanted: >
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00005682 :for item in copy(mylist)
5683< When not making a copy, Vim stores a reference to the
5684 next item in the list, before executing the commands
5685 with the current item. Thus the current item can be
5686 removed without effect. Removing any later item means
5687 it will not be found. Thus the following example
5688 works (an inefficient way to make a list empty): >
5689 :for item in mylist
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005690 :call remove(mylist, 0)
5691 :endfor
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00005692< Note that reordering the list (e.g., with sort() or
5693 reverse()) may have unexpected effects.
5694 Note that the type of each list item should be
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005695 identical to avoid errors for the type of {var}
5696 changing. Unlet the variable at the end of the loop
5697 to allow multiple item types.
5698
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005699:for [{var1}, {var2}, ...] in {listlist}
5700:endfo[r]
5701 Like ":for" above, but each item in {listlist} must be
5702 a list, of which each item is assigned to {var1},
5703 {var2}, etc. Example: >
5704 :for [lnum, col] in [[1, 3], [2, 5], [3, 8]]
5705 :echo getline(lnum)[col]
5706 :endfor
5707<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005708 *:continue* *:con* *E586*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005709:con[tinue] When used inside a ":while" or ":for" loop, jumps back
5710 to the start of the loop.
5711 If it is used after a |:try| inside the loop but
5712 before the matching |:finally| (if present), the
5713 commands following the ":finally" up to the matching
5714 |:endtry| are executed first. This process applies to
5715 all nested ":try"s inside the loop. The outermost
5716 ":endtry" then jumps back to the start of the loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005717
5718 *:break* *:brea* *E587*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00005719:brea[k] When used inside a ":while" or ":for" loop, skips to
5720 the command after the matching ":endwhile" or
5721 ":endfor".
5722 If it is used after a |:try| inside the loop but
5723 before the matching |:finally| (if present), the
5724 commands following the ":finally" up to the matching
5725 |:endtry| are executed first. This process applies to
5726 all nested ":try"s inside the loop. The outermost
5727 ":endtry" then jumps to the command after the loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005728
5729:try *:try* *:endt* *:endtry* *E600* *E601* *E602*
5730:endt[ry] Change the error handling for the commands between
5731 ":try" and ":endtry" including everything being
5732 executed across ":source" commands, function calls,
5733 or autocommand invocations.
5734
5735 When an error or interrupt is detected and there is
5736 a |:finally| command following, execution continues
5737 after the ":finally". Otherwise, or when the
5738 ":endtry" is reached thereafter, the next
5739 (dynamically) surrounding ":try" is checked for
5740 a corresponding ":finally" etc. Then the script
5741 processing is terminated. (Whether a function
5742 definition has an "abort" argument does not matter.)
5743 Example: >
5744 :try | edit too much | finally | echo "cleanup" | endtry
5745 :echo "impossible" " not reached, script terminated above
5746<
5747 Moreover, an error or interrupt (dynamically) inside
5748 ":try" and ":endtry" is converted to an exception. It
5749 can be caught as if it were thrown by a |:throw|
5750 command (see |:catch|). In this case, the script
5751 processing is not terminated.
5752
5753 The value "Vim:Interrupt" is used for an interrupt
5754 exception. An error in a Vim command is converted
5755 to a value of the form "Vim({command}):{errmsg}",
5756 other errors are converted to a value of the form
5757 "Vim:{errmsg}". {command} is the full command name,
5758 and {errmsg} is the message that is displayed if the
5759 error exception is not caught, always beginning with
5760 the error number.
5761 Examples: >
5762 :try | sleep 100 | catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/ | endtry
5763 :try | edit | catch /^Vim(edit):E\d\+/ | echo "error" | endtry
5764<
5765 *:cat* *:catch* *E603* *E604* *E605*
5766:cat[ch] /{pattern}/ The following commands until the next ":catch",
5767 |:finally|, or |:endtry| that belongs to the same
5768 |:try| as the ":catch" are executed when an exception
5769 matching {pattern} is being thrown and has not yet
5770 been caught by a previous ":catch". Otherwise, these
5771 commands are skipped.
5772 When {pattern} is omitted all errors are caught.
5773 Examples: >
5774 :catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/ " catch interrupts (CTRL-C)
5775 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E/ " catch all Vim errors
5776 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:/ " catch errors and interrupts
5777 :catch /^Vim(write):/ " catch all errors in :write
5778 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E123/ " catch error E123
5779 :catch /my-exception/ " catch user exception
5780 :catch /.*/ " catch everything
5781 :catch " same as /.*/
5782<
5783 Another character can be used instead of / around the
5784 {pattern}, so long as it does not have a special
5785 meaning (e.g., '|' or '"') and doesn't occur inside
5786 {pattern}.
5787 NOTE: It is not reliable to ":catch" the TEXT of
5788 an error message because it may vary in different
5789 locales.
5790
5791 *:fina* *:finally* *E606* *E607*
5792:fina[lly] The following commands until the matching |:endtry|
5793 are executed whenever the part between the matching
5794 |:try| and the ":finally" is left: either by falling
5795 through to the ":finally" or by a |:continue|,
5796 |:break|, |:finish|, or |:return|, or by an error or
5797 interrupt or exception (see |:throw|).
5798
5799 *:th* *:throw* *E608*
5800:th[row] {expr1} The {expr1} is evaluated and thrown as an exception.
5801 If the ":throw" is used after a |:try| but before the
5802 first corresponding |:catch|, commands are skipped
5803 until the first ":catch" matching {expr1} is reached.
5804 If there is no such ":catch" or if the ":throw" is
5805 used after a ":catch" but before the |:finally|, the
5806 commands following the ":finally" (if present) up to
5807 the matching |:endtry| are executed. If the ":throw"
5808 is after the ":finally", commands up to the ":endtry"
5809 are skipped. At the ":endtry", this process applies
5810 again for the next dynamically surrounding ":try"
5811 (which may be found in a calling function or sourcing
5812 script), until a matching ":catch" has been found.
5813 If the exception is not caught, the command processing
5814 is terminated.
5815 Example: >
5816 :try | throw "oops" | catch /^oo/ | echo "caught" | endtry
5817<
5818
5819 *:ec* *:echo*
5820:ec[ho] {expr1} .. Echoes each {expr1}, with a space in between. The
5821 first {expr1} starts on a new line.
5822 Also see |:comment|.
5823 Use "\n" to start a new line. Use "\r" to move the
5824 cursor to the first column.
5825 Uses the highlighting set by the |:echohl| command.
5826 Cannot be followed by a comment.
5827 Example: >
5828 :echo "the value of 'shell' is" &shell
5829< A later redraw may make the message disappear again.
5830 To avoid that a command from before the ":echo" causes
5831 a redraw afterwards (redraws are often postponed until
5832 you type something), force a redraw with the |:redraw|
5833 command. Example: >
5834 :new | redraw | echo "there is a new window"
5835<
5836 *:echon*
5837:echon {expr1} .. Echoes each {expr1}, without anything added. Also see
5838 |:comment|.
5839 Uses the highlighting set by the |:echohl| command.
5840 Cannot be followed by a comment.
5841 Example: >
5842 :echon "the value of 'shell' is " &shell
5843<
5844 Note the difference between using ":echo", which is a
5845 Vim command, and ":!echo", which is an external shell
5846 command: >
5847 :!echo % --> filename
5848< The arguments of ":!" are expanded, see |:_%|. >
5849 :!echo "%" --> filename or "filename"
5850< Like the previous example. Whether you see the double
5851 quotes or not depends on your 'shell'. >
5852 :echo % --> nothing
5853< The '%' is an illegal character in an expression. >
5854 :echo "%" --> %
5855< This just echoes the '%' character. >
5856 :echo expand("%") --> filename
5857< This calls the expand() function to expand the '%'.
5858
5859 *:echoh* *:echohl*
5860:echoh[l] {name} Use the highlight group {name} for the following
5861 |:echo|, |:echon| and |:echomsg| commands. Also used
5862 for the |input()| prompt. Example: >
5863 :echohl WarningMsg | echo "Don't panic!" | echohl None
5864< Don't forget to set the group back to "None",
5865 otherwise all following echo's will be highlighted.
5866
5867 *:echom* *:echomsg*
5868:echom[sg] {expr1} .. Echo the expression(s) as a true message, saving the
5869 message in the |message-history|.
5870 Spaces are placed between the arguments as with the
5871 |:echo| command. But unprintable characters are
5872 displayed, not interpreted.
5873 Uses the highlighting set by the |:echohl| command.
5874 Example: >
5875 :echomsg "It's a Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz, as you can plainly see."
5876<
5877 *:echoe* *:echoerr*
5878:echoe[rr] {expr1} .. Echo the expression(s) as an error message, saving the
5879 message in the |message-history|. When used in a
5880 script or function the line number will be added.
5881 Spaces are placed between the arguments as with the
5882 :echo command. When used inside a try conditional,
5883 the message is raised as an error exception instead
5884 (see |try-echoerr|).
5885 Example: >
5886 :echoerr "This script just failed!"
5887< If you just want a highlighted message use |:echohl|.
5888 And to get a beep: >
5889 :exe "normal \<Esc>"
5890<
5891 *:exe* *:execute*
5892:exe[cute] {expr1} .. Executes the string that results from the evaluation
5893 of {expr1} as an Ex command. Multiple arguments are
5894 concatenated, with a space in between. {expr1} is
5895 used as the processed command, command line editing
5896 keys are not recognized.
5897 Cannot be followed by a comment.
5898 Examples: >
5899 :execute "buffer " nextbuf
5900 :execute "normal " count . "w"
5901<
5902 ":execute" can be used to append a command to commands
5903 that don't accept a '|'. Example: >
5904 :execute '!ls' | echo "theend"
5905
5906< ":execute" is also a nice way to avoid having to type
5907 control characters in a Vim script for a ":normal"
5908 command: >
5909 :execute "normal ixxx\<Esc>"
5910< This has an <Esc> character, see |expr-string|.
5911
5912 Note: The executed string may be any command-line, but
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00005913 you cannot start or end a "while", "for" or "if"
5914 command. Thus this is illegal: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005915 :execute 'while i > 5'
5916 :execute 'echo "test" | break'
5917<
5918 It is allowed to have a "while" or "if" command
5919 completely in the executed string: >
5920 :execute 'while i < 5 | echo i | let i = i + 1 | endwhile'
5921<
5922
5923 *:comment*
5924 ":execute", ":echo" and ":echon" cannot be followed by
5925 a comment directly, because they see the '"' as the
5926 start of a string. But, you can use '|' followed by a
5927 comment. Example: >
5928 :echo "foo" | "this is a comment
5929
5930==============================================================================
59318. Exception handling *exception-handling*
5932
5933The Vim script language comprises an exception handling feature. This section
5934explains how it can be used in a Vim script.
5935
5936Exceptions may be raised by Vim on an error or on interrupt, see
5937|catch-errors| and |catch-interrupt|. You can also explicitly throw an
5938exception by using the ":throw" command, see |throw-catch|.
5939
5940
5941TRY CONDITIONALS *try-conditionals*
5942
5943Exceptions can be caught or can cause cleanup code to be executed. You can
5944use a try conditional to specify catch clauses (that catch exceptions) and/or
5945a finally clause (to be executed for cleanup).
5946 A try conditional begins with a |:try| command and ends at the matching
5947|:endtry| command. In between, you can use a |:catch| command to start
5948a catch clause, or a |:finally| command to start a finally clause. There may
5949be none or multiple catch clauses, but there is at most one finally clause,
5950which must not be followed by any catch clauses. The lines before the catch
5951clauses and the finally clause is called a try block. >
5952
5953 :try
5954 : ...
5955 : ... TRY BLOCK
5956 : ...
5957 :catch /{pattern}/
5958 : ...
5959 : ... CATCH CLAUSE
5960 : ...
5961 :catch /{pattern}/
5962 : ...
5963 : ... CATCH CLAUSE
5964 : ...
5965 :finally
5966 : ...
5967 : ... FINALLY CLAUSE
5968 : ...
5969 :endtry
5970
5971The try conditional allows to watch code for exceptions and to take the
5972appropriate actions. Exceptions from the try block may be caught. Exceptions
5973from the try block and also the catch clauses may cause cleanup actions.
5974 When no exception is thrown during execution of the try block, the control
5975is transferred to the finally clause, if present. After its execution, the
5976script continues with the line following the ":endtry".
5977 When an exception occurs during execution of the try block, the remaining
5978lines in the try block are skipped. The exception is matched against the
5979patterns specified as arguments to the ":catch" commands. The catch clause
5980after the first matching ":catch" is taken, other catch clauses are not
5981executed. The catch clause ends when the next ":catch", ":finally", or
5982":endtry" command is reached - whatever is first. Then, the finally clause
5983(if present) is executed. When the ":endtry" is reached, the script execution
5984continues in the following line as usual.
5985 When an exception that does not match any of the patterns specified by the
5986":catch" commands is thrown in the try block, the exception is not caught by
5987that try conditional and none of the catch clauses is executed. Only the
5988finally clause, if present, is taken. The exception pends during execution of
5989the finally clause. It is resumed at the ":endtry", so that commands after
5990the ":endtry" are not executed and the exception might be caught elsewhere,
5991see |try-nesting|.
5992 When during execution of a catch clause another exception is thrown, the
5993remaining lines in that catch clause are not executed. The new exception is
5994not matched against the patterns in any of the ":catch" commands of the same
5995try conditional and none of its catch clauses is taken. If there is, however,
5996a finally clause, it is executed, and the exception pends during its
5997execution. The commands following the ":endtry" are not executed. The new
5998exception might, however, be caught elsewhere, see |try-nesting|.
5999 When during execution of the finally clause (if present) an exception is
6000thrown, the remaining lines in the finally clause are skipped. If the finally
6001clause has been taken because of an exception from the try block or one of the
6002catch clauses, the original (pending) exception is discarded. The commands
6003following the ":endtry" are not executed, and the exception from the finally
6004clause is propagated and can be caught elsewhere, see |try-nesting|.
6005
6006The finally clause is also executed, when a ":break" or ":continue" for
6007a ":while" loop enclosing the complete try conditional is executed from the
6008try block or a catch clause. Or when a ":return" or ":finish" is executed
6009from the try block or a catch clause of a try conditional in a function or
6010sourced script, respectively. The ":break", ":continue", ":return", or
6011":finish" pends during execution of the finally clause and is resumed when the
6012":endtry" is reached. It is, however, discarded when an exception is thrown
6013from the finally clause.
6014 When a ":break" or ":continue" for a ":while" loop enclosing the complete
6015try conditional or when a ":return" or ":finish" is encountered in the finally
6016clause, the rest of the finally clause is skipped, and the ":break",
6017":continue", ":return" or ":finish" is executed as usual. If the finally
6018clause has been taken because of an exception or an earlier ":break",
6019":continue", ":return", or ":finish" from the try block or a catch clause,
6020this pending exception or command is discarded.
6021
6022For examples see |throw-catch| and |try-finally|.
6023
6024
6025NESTING OF TRY CONDITIONALS *try-nesting*
6026
6027Try conditionals can be nested arbitrarily. That is, a complete try
6028conditional can be put into the try block, a catch clause, or the finally
6029clause of another try conditional. If the inner try conditional does not
6030catch an exception thrown in its try block or throws a new exception from one
6031of its catch clauses or its finally clause, the outer try conditional is
6032checked according to the rules above. If the inner try conditional is in the
6033try block of the outer try conditional, its catch clauses are checked, but
6034otherwise only the finally clause is executed. It does not matter for
6035nesting, whether the inner try conditional is directly contained in the outer
6036one, or whether the outer one sources a script or calls a function containing
6037the inner try conditional.
6038
6039When none of the active try conditionals catches an exception, just their
6040finally clauses are executed. Thereafter, the script processing terminates.
6041An error message is displayed in case of an uncaught exception explicitly
6042thrown by a ":throw" command. For uncaught error and interrupt exceptions
6043implicitly raised by Vim, the error message(s) or interrupt message are shown
6044as usual.
6045
6046For examples see |throw-catch|.
6047
6048
6049EXAMINING EXCEPTION HANDLING CODE *except-examine*
6050
6051Exception handling code can get tricky. If you are in doubt what happens, set
6052'verbose' to 13 or use the ":13verbose" command modifier when sourcing your
6053script file. Then you see when an exception is thrown, discarded, caught, or
6054finished. When using a verbosity level of at least 14, things pending in
6055a finally clause are also shown. This information is also given in debug mode
6056(see |debug-scripts|).
6057
6058
6059THROWING AND CATCHING EXCEPTIONS *throw-catch*
6060
6061You can throw any number or string as an exception. Use the |:throw| command
6062and pass the value to be thrown as argument: >
6063 :throw 4711
6064 :throw "string"
6065< *throw-expression*
6066You can also specify an expression argument. The expression is then evaluated
6067first, and the result is thrown: >
6068 :throw 4705 + strlen("string")
6069 :throw strpart("strings", 0, 6)
6070
6071An exception might be thrown during evaluation of the argument of the ":throw"
6072command. Unless it is caught there, the expression evaluation is abandoned.
6073The ":throw" command then does not throw a new exception.
6074 Example: >
6075
6076 :function! Foo(arg)
6077 : try
6078 : throw a:arg
6079 : catch /foo/
6080 : endtry
6081 : return 1
6082 :endfunction
6083 :
6084 :function! Bar()
6085 : echo "in Bar"
6086 : return 4710
6087 :endfunction
6088 :
6089 :throw Foo("arrgh") + Bar()
6090
6091This throws "arrgh", and "in Bar" is not displayed since Bar() is not
6092executed. >
6093 :throw Foo("foo") + Bar()
6094however displays "in Bar" and throws 4711.
6095
6096Any other command that takes an expression as argument might also be
6097abandoned by an (uncaught) exception during the expression evaluation. The
6098exception is then propagated to the caller of the command.
6099 Example: >
6100
6101 :if Foo("arrgh")
6102 : echo "then"
6103 :else
6104 : echo "else"
6105 :endif
6106
6107Here neither of "then" or "else" is displayed.
6108
6109 *catch-order*
6110Exceptions can be caught by a try conditional with one or more |:catch|
6111commands, see |try-conditionals|. The values to be caught by each ":catch"
6112command can be specified as a pattern argument. The subsequent catch clause
6113gets executed when a matching exception is caught.
6114 Example: >
6115
6116 :function! Foo(value)
6117 : try
6118 : throw a:value
6119 : catch /^\d\+$/
6120 : echo "Number thrown"
6121 : catch /.*/
6122 : echo "String thrown"
6123 : endtry
6124 :endfunction
6125 :
6126 :call Foo(0x1267)
6127 :call Foo('string')
6128
6129The first call to Foo() displays "Number thrown", the second "String thrown".
6130An exception is matched against the ":catch" commands in the order they are
6131specified. Only the first match counts. So you should place the more
6132specific ":catch" first. The following order does not make sense: >
6133
6134 : catch /.*/
6135 : echo "String thrown"
6136 : catch /^\d\+$/
6137 : echo "Number thrown"
6138
6139The first ":catch" here matches always, so that the second catch clause is
6140never taken.
6141
6142 *throw-variables*
6143If you catch an exception by a general pattern, you may access the exact value
6144in the variable |v:exception|: >
6145
6146 : catch /^\d\+$/
6147 : echo "Number thrown. Value is" v:exception
6148
6149You may also be interested where an exception was thrown. This is stored in
6150|v:throwpoint|. Note that "v:exception" and "v:throwpoint" are valid for the
6151exception most recently caught as long it is not finished.
6152 Example: >
6153
6154 :function! Caught()
6155 : if v:exception != ""
6156 : echo 'Caught "' . v:exception . '" in ' . v:throwpoint
6157 : else
6158 : echo 'Nothing caught'
6159 : endif
6160 :endfunction
6161 :
6162 :function! Foo()
6163 : try
6164 : try
6165 : try
6166 : throw 4711
6167 : finally
6168 : call Caught()
6169 : endtry
6170 : catch /.*/
6171 : call Caught()
6172 : throw "oops"
6173 : endtry
6174 : catch /.*/
6175 : call Caught()
6176 : finally
6177 : call Caught()
6178 : endtry
6179 :endfunction
6180 :
6181 :call Foo()
6182
6183This displays >
6184
6185 Nothing caught
6186 Caught "4711" in function Foo, line 4
6187 Caught "oops" in function Foo, line 10
6188 Nothing caught
6189
6190A practical example: The following command ":LineNumber" displays the line
6191number in the script or function where it has been used: >
6192
6193 :function! LineNumber()
6194 : return substitute(v:throwpoint, '.*\D\(\d\+\).*', '\1', "")
6195 :endfunction
6196 :command! LineNumber try | throw "" | catch | echo LineNumber() | endtry
6197<
6198 *try-nested*
6199An exception that is not caught by a try conditional can be caught by
6200a surrounding try conditional: >
6201
6202 :try
6203 : try
6204 : throw "foo"
6205 : catch /foobar/
6206 : echo "foobar"
6207 : finally
6208 : echo "inner finally"
6209 : endtry
6210 :catch /foo/
6211 : echo "foo"
6212 :endtry
6213
6214The inner try conditional does not catch the exception, just its finally
6215clause is executed. The exception is then caught by the outer try
6216conditional. The example displays "inner finally" and then "foo".
6217
6218 *throw-from-catch*
6219You can catch an exception and throw a new one to be caught elsewhere from the
6220catch clause: >
6221
6222 :function! Foo()
6223 : throw "foo"
6224 :endfunction
6225 :
6226 :function! Bar()
6227 : try
6228 : call Foo()
6229 : catch /foo/
6230 : echo "Caught foo, throw bar"
6231 : throw "bar"
6232 : endtry
6233 :endfunction
6234 :
6235 :try
6236 : call Bar()
6237 :catch /.*/
6238 : echo "Caught" v:exception
6239 :endtry
6240
6241This displays "Caught foo, throw bar" and then "Caught bar".
6242
6243 *rethrow*
6244There is no real rethrow in the Vim script language, but you may throw
6245"v:exception" instead: >
6246
6247 :function! Bar()
6248 : try
6249 : call Foo()
6250 : catch /.*/
6251 : echo "Rethrow" v:exception
6252 : throw v:exception
6253 : endtry
6254 :endfunction
6255< *try-echoerr*
6256Note that this method cannot be used to "rethrow" Vim error or interrupt
6257exceptions, because it is not possible to fake Vim internal exceptions.
6258Trying so causes an error exception. You should throw your own exception
6259denoting the situation. If you want to cause a Vim error exception containing
6260the original error exception value, you can use the |:echoerr| command: >
6261
6262 :try
6263 : try
6264 : asdf
6265 : catch /.*/
6266 : echoerr v:exception
6267 : endtry
6268 :catch /.*/
6269 : echo v:exception
6270 :endtry
6271
6272This code displays
6273
6274 Vim(echoerr):Vim:E492: Not an editor command: asdf ~
6275
6276
6277CLEANUP CODE *try-finally*
6278
6279Scripts often change global settings and restore them at their end. If the
6280user however interrupts the script by pressing CTRL-C, the settings remain in
6281an inconsistent state. The same may happen to you in the development phase of
6282a script when an error occurs or you explicitly throw an exception without
6283catching it. You can solve these problems by using a try conditional with
6284a finally clause for restoring the settings. Its execution is guaranteed on
6285normal control flow, on error, on an explicit ":throw", and on interrupt.
6286(Note that errors and interrupts from inside the try conditional are converted
6287to exceptions. When not caught, they terminate the script after the finally
6288clause has been executed.)
6289Example: >
6290
6291 :try
6292 : let s:saved_ts = &ts
6293 : set ts=17
6294 :
6295 : " Do the hard work here.
6296 :
6297 :finally
6298 : let &ts = s:saved_ts
6299 : unlet s:saved_ts
6300 :endtry
6301
6302This method should be used locally whenever a function or part of a script
6303changes global settings which need to be restored on failure or normal exit of
6304that function or script part.
6305
6306 *break-finally*
6307Cleanup code works also when the try block or a catch clause is left by
6308a ":continue", ":break", ":return", or ":finish".
6309 Example: >
6310
6311 :let first = 1
6312 :while 1
6313 : try
6314 : if first
6315 : echo "first"
6316 : let first = 0
6317 : continue
6318 : else
6319 : throw "second"
6320 : endif
6321 : catch /.*/
6322 : echo v:exception
6323 : break
6324 : finally
6325 : echo "cleanup"
6326 : endtry
6327 : echo "still in while"
6328 :endwhile
6329 :echo "end"
6330
6331This displays "first", "cleanup", "second", "cleanup", and "end". >
6332
6333 :function! Foo()
6334 : try
6335 : return 4711
6336 : finally
6337 : echo "cleanup\n"
6338 : endtry
6339 : echo "Foo still active"
6340 :endfunction
6341 :
6342 :echo Foo() "returned by Foo"
6343
6344This displays "cleanup" and "4711 returned by Foo". You don't need to add an
6345extra ":return" in the finally clause. (Above all, this would override the
6346return value.)
6347
6348 *except-from-finally*
6349Using either of ":continue", ":break", ":return", ":finish", or ":throw" in
6350a finally clause is possible, but not recommended since it abandons the
6351cleanup actions for the try conditional. But, of course, interrupt and error
6352exceptions might get raised from a finally clause.
6353 Example where an error in the finally clause stops an interrupt from
6354working correctly: >
6355
6356 :try
6357 : try
6358 : echo "Press CTRL-C for interrupt"
6359 : while 1
6360 : endwhile
6361 : finally
6362 : unlet novar
6363 : endtry
6364 :catch /novar/
6365 :endtry
6366 :echo "Script still running"
6367 :sleep 1
6368
6369If you need to put commands that could fail into a finally clause, you should
6370think about catching or ignoring the errors in these commands, see
6371|catch-errors| and |ignore-errors|.
6372
6373
6374CATCHING ERRORS *catch-errors*
6375
6376If you want to catch specific errors, you just have to put the code to be
6377watched in a try block and add a catch clause for the error message. The
6378presence of the try conditional causes all errors to be converted to an
6379exception. No message is displayed and |v:errmsg| is not set then. To find
6380the right pattern for the ":catch" command, you have to know how the format of
6381the error exception is.
6382 Error exceptions have the following format: >
6383
6384 Vim({cmdname}):{errmsg}
6385or >
6386 Vim:{errmsg}
6387
6388{cmdname} is the name of the command that failed; the second form is used when
6389the command name is not known. {errmsg} is the error message usually produced
6390when the error occurs outside try conditionals. It always begins with
6391a capital "E", followed by a two or three-digit error number, a colon, and
6392a space.
6393
6394Examples:
6395
6396The command >
6397 :unlet novar
6398normally produces the error message >
6399 E108: No such variable: "novar"
6400which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
6401 Vim(unlet):E108: No such variable: "novar"
6402
6403The command >
6404 :dwim
6405normally produces the error message >
6406 E492: Not an editor command: dwim
6407which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
6408 Vim:E492: Not an editor command: dwim
6409
6410You can catch all ":unlet" errors by a >
6411 :catch /^Vim(unlet):/
6412or all errors for misspelled command names by a >
6413 :catch /^Vim:E492:/
6414
6415Some error messages may be produced by different commands: >
6416 :function nofunc
6417and >
6418 :delfunction nofunc
6419both produce the error message >
6420 E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
6421which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
6422 Vim(function):E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
6423or >
6424 Vim(delfunction):E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
6425respectively. You can catch the error by its number independently on the
6426command that caused it if you use the following pattern: >
6427 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E128:/
6428
6429Some commands like >
6430 :let x = novar
6431produce multiple error messages, here: >
6432 E121: Undefined variable: novar
6433 E15: Invalid expression: novar
6434Only the first is used for the exception value, since it is the most specific
6435one (see |except-several-errors|). So you can catch it by >
6436 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E121:/
6437
6438You can catch all errors related to the name "nofunc" by >
6439 :catch /\<nofunc\>/
6440
6441You can catch all Vim errors in the ":write" and ":read" commands by >
6442 :catch /^Vim(\(write\|read\)):E\d\+:/
6443
6444You can catch all Vim errors by the pattern >
6445 :catch /^Vim\((\a\+)\)\=:E\d\+:/
6446<
6447 *catch-text*
6448NOTE: You should never catch the error message text itself: >
6449 :catch /No such variable/
6450only works in the english locale, but not when the user has selected
6451a different language by the |:language| command. It is however helpful to
6452cite the message text in a comment: >
6453 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E108:/ " No such variable
6454
6455
6456IGNORING ERRORS *ignore-errors*
6457
6458You can ignore errors in a specific Vim command by catching them locally: >
6459
6460 :try
6461 : write
6462 :catch
6463 :endtry
6464
6465But you are strongly recommended NOT to use this simple form, since it could
6466catch more than you want. With the ":write" command, some autocommands could
6467be executed and cause errors not related to writing, for instance: >
6468
6469 :au BufWritePre * unlet novar
6470
6471There could even be such errors you are not responsible for as a script
6472writer: a user of your script might have defined such autocommands. You would
6473then hide the error from the user.
6474 It is much better to use >
6475
6476 :try
6477 : write
6478 :catch /^Vim(write):/
6479 :endtry
6480
6481which only catches real write errors. So catch only what you'd like to ignore
6482intentionally.
6483
6484For a single command that does not cause execution of autocommands, you could
6485even suppress the conversion of errors to exceptions by the ":silent!"
6486command: >
6487 :silent! nunmap k
6488This works also when a try conditional is active.
6489
6490
6491CATCHING INTERRUPTS *catch-interrupt*
6492
6493When there are active try conditionals, an interrupt (CTRL-C) is converted to
6494the exception "Vim:Interrupt". You can catch it like every exception. The
6495script is not terminated, then.
6496 Example: >
6497
6498 :function! TASK1()
6499 : sleep 10
6500 :endfunction
6501
6502 :function! TASK2()
6503 : sleep 20
6504 :endfunction
6505
6506 :while 1
6507 : let command = input("Type a command: ")
6508 : try
6509 : if command == ""
6510 : continue
6511 : elseif command == "END"
6512 : break
6513 : elseif command == "TASK1"
6514 : call TASK1()
6515 : elseif command == "TASK2"
6516 : call TASK2()
6517 : else
6518 : echo "\nIllegal command:" command
6519 : continue
6520 : endif
6521 : catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/
6522 : echo "\nCommand interrupted"
6523 : " Caught the interrupt. Continue with next prompt.
6524 : endtry
6525 :endwhile
6526
6527You can interrupt a task here by pressing CTRL-C; the script then asks for
6528a new command. If you press CTRL-C at the prompt, the script is terminated.
6529
6530For testing what happens when CTRL-C would be pressed on a specific line in
6531your script, use the debug mode and execute the |>quit| or |>interrupt|
6532command on that line. See |debug-scripts|.
6533
6534
6535CATCHING ALL *catch-all*
6536
6537The commands >
6538
6539 :catch /.*/
6540 :catch //
6541 :catch
6542
6543catch everything, error exceptions, interrupt exceptions and exceptions
6544explicitly thrown by the |:throw| command. This is useful at the top level of
6545a script in order to catch unexpected things.
6546 Example: >
6547
6548 :try
6549 :
6550 : " do the hard work here
6551 :
6552 :catch /MyException/
6553 :
6554 : " handle known problem
6555 :
6556 :catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/
6557 : echo "Script interrupted"
6558 :catch /.*/
6559 : echo "Internal error (" . v:exception . ")"
6560 : echo " - occurred at " . v:throwpoint
6561 :endtry
6562 :" end of script
6563
6564Note: Catching all might catch more things than you want. Thus, you are
6565strongly encouraged to catch only for problems that you can really handle by
6566specifying a pattern argument to the ":catch".
6567 Example: Catching all could make it nearly impossible to interrupt a script
6568by pressing CTRL-C: >
6569
6570 :while 1
6571 : try
6572 : sleep 1
6573 : catch
6574 : endtry
6575 :endwhile
6576
6577
6578EXCEPTIONS AND AUTOCOMMANDS *except-autocmd*
6579
6580Exceptions may be used during execution of autocommands. Example: >
6581
6582 :autocmd User x try
6583 :autocmd User x throw "Oops!"
6584 :autocmd User x catch
6585 :autocmd User x echo v:exception
6586 :autocmd User x endtry
6587 :autocmd User x throw "Arrgh!"
6588 :autocmd User x echo "Should not be displayed"
6589 :
6590 :try
6591 : doautocmd User x
6592 :catch
6593 : echo v:exception
6594 :endtry
6595
6596This displays "Oops!" and "Arrgh!".
6597
6598 *except-autocmd-Pre*
6599For some commands, autocommands get executed before the main action of the
6600command takes place. If an exception is thrown and not caught in the sequence
6601of autocommands, the sequence and the command that caused its execution are
6602abandoned and the exception is propagated to the caller of the command.
6603 Example: >
6604
6605 :autocmd BufWritePre * throw "FAIL"
6606 :autocmd BufWritePre * echo "Should not be displayed"
6607 :
6608 :try
6609 : write
6610 :catch
6611 : echo "Caught:" v:exception "from" v:throwpoint
6612 :endtry
6613
6614Here, the ":write" command does not write the file currently being edited (as
6615you can see by checking 'modified'), since the exception from the BufWritePre
6616autocommand abandons the ":write". The exception is then caught and the
6617script displays: >
6618
6619 Caught: FAIL from BufWrite Auto commands for "*"
6620<
6621 *except-autocmd-Post*
6622For some commands, autocommands get executed after the main action of the
6623command has taken place. If this main action fails and the command is inside
6624an active try conditional, the autocommands are skipped and an error exception
6625is thrown that can be caught by the caller of the command.
6626 Example: >
6627
6628 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo "File successfully written!"
6629 :
6630 :try
6631 : write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
6632 :catch
6633 : echo v:exception
6634 :endtry
6635
6636This just displays: >
6637
6638 Vim(write):E212: Can't open file for writing (/i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e)
6639
6640If you really need to execute the autocommands even when the main action
6641fails, trigger the event from the catch clause.
6642 Example: >
6643
6644 :autocmd BufWritePre * set noreadonly
6645 :autocmd BufWritePost * set readonly
6646 :
6647 :try
6648 : write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
6649 :catch
6650 : doautocmd BufWritePost /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
6651 :endtry
6652<
6653You can also use ":silent!": >
6654
6655 :let x = "ok"
6656 :let v:errmsg = ""
6657 :autocmd BufWritePost * if v:errmsg != ""
6658 :autocmd BufWritePost * let x = "after fail"
6659 :autocmd BufWritePost * endif
6660 :try
6661 : silent! write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
6662 :catch
6663 :endtry
6664 :echo x
6665
6666This displays "after fail".
6667
6668If the main action of the command does not fail, exceptions from the
6669autocommands will be catchable by the caller of the command: >
6670
6671 :autocmd BufWritePost * throw ":-("
6672 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo "Should not be displayed"
6673 :
6674 :try
6675 : write
6676 :catch
6677 : echo v:exception
6678 :endtry
6679<
6680 *except-autocmd-Cmd*
6681For some commands, the normal action can be replaced by a sequence of
6682autocommands. Exceptions from that sequence will be catchable by the caller
6683of the command.
6684 Example: For the ":write" command, the caller cannot know whether the file
6685had actually been written when the exception occurred. You need to tell it in
6686some way. >
6687
6688 :if !exists("cnt")
6689 : let cnt = 0
6690 :
6691 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if &modified
6692 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * let cnt = cnt + 1
6693 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if cnt % 3 == 2
6694 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * throw "BufWriteCmdError"
6695 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
6696 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * write | set nomodified
6697 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if cnt % 3 == 0
6698 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * throw "BufWriteCmdError"
6699 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
6700 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * echo "File successfully written!"
6701 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
6702 :endif
6703 :
6704 :try
6705 : write
6706 :catch /^BufWriteCmdError$/
6707 : if &modified
6708 : echo "Error on writing (file contents not changed)"
6709 : else
6710 : echo "Error after writing"
6711 : endif
6712 :catch /^Vim(write):/
6713 : echo "Error on writing"
6714 :endtry
6715
6716When this script is sourced several times after making changes, it displays
6717first >
6718 File successfully written!
6719then >
6720 Error on writing (file contents not changed)
6721then >
6722 Error after writing
6723etc.
6724
6725 *except-autocmd-ill*
6726You cannot spread a try conditional over autocommands for different events.
6727The following code is ill-formed: >
6728
6729 :autocmd BufWritePre * try
6730 :
6731 :autocmd BufWritePost * catch
6732 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo v:exception
6733 :autocmd BufWritePost * endtry
6734 :
6735 :write
6736
6737
6738EXCEPTION HIERARCHIES AND PARAMETERIZED EXCEPTIONS *except-hier-param*
6739
6740Some programming languages allow to use hierarchies of exception classes or to
6741pass additional information with the object of an exception class. You can do
6742similar things in Vim.
6743 In order to throw an exception from a hierarchy, just throw the complete
6744class name with the components separated by a colon, for instance throw the
6745string "EXCEPT:MATHERR:OVERFLOW" for an overflow in a mathematical library.
6746 When you want to pass additional information with your exception class, add
6747it in parentheses, for instance throw the string "EXCEPT:IO:WRITEERR(myfile)"
6748for an error when writing "myfile".
6749 With the appropriate patterns in the ":catch" command, you can catch for
6750base classes or derived classes of your hierarchy. Additional information in
6751parentheses can be cut out from |v:exception| with the ":substitute" command.
6752 Example: >
6753
6754 :function! CheckRange(a, func)
6755 : if a:a < 0
6756 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:RANGE(" . a:func . ")"
6757 : endif
6758 :endfunction
6759 :
6760 :function! Add(a, b)
6761 : call CheckRange(a:a, "Add")
6762 : call CheckRange(a:b, "Add")
6763 : let c = a:a + a:b
6764 : if c < 0
6765 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:OVERFLOW"
6766 : endif
6767 : return c
6768 :endfunction
6769 :
6770 :function! Div(a, b)
6771 : call CheckRange(a:a, "Div")
6772 : call CheckRange(a:b, "Div")
6773 : if (a:b == 0)
6774 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:ZERODIV"
6775 : endif
6776 : return a:a / a:b
6777 :endfunction
6778 :
6779 :function! Write(file)
6780 : try
6781 : execute "write" a:file
6782 : catch /^Vim(write):/
6783 : throw "EXCEPT:IO(" . getcwd() . ", " . a:file . "):WRITEERR"
6784 : endtry
6785 :endfunction
6786 :
6787 :try
6788 :
6789 : " something with arithmetics and I/O
6790 :
6791 :catch /^EXCEPT:MATHERR:RANGE/
6792 : let function = substitute(v:exception, '.*(\(\a\+\)).*', '\1', "")
6793 : echo "Range error in" function
6794 :
6795 :catch /^EXCEPT:MATHERR/ " catches OVERFLOW and ZERODIV
6796 : echo "Math error"
6797 :
6798 :catch /^EXCEPT:IO/
6799 : let dir = substitute(v:exception, '.*(\(.\+\),\s*.\+).*', '\1', "")
6800 : let file = substitute(v:exception, '.*(.\+,\s*\(.\+\)).*', '\1', "")
6801 : if file !~ '^/'
6802 : let file = dir . "/" . file
6803 : endif
6804 : echo 'I/O error for "' . file . '"'
6805 :
6806 :catch /^EXCEPT/
6807 : echo "Unspecified error"
6808 :
6809 :endtry
6810
6811The exceptions raised by Vim itself (on error or when pressing CTRL-C) use
6812a flat hierarchy: they are all in the "Vim" class. You cannot throw yourself
6813exceptions with the "Vim" prefix; they are reserved for Vim.
6814 Vim error exceptions are parameterized with the name of the command that
6815failed, if known. See |catch-errors|.
6816
6817
6818PECULIARITIES
6819 *except-compat*
6820The exception handling concept requires that the command sequence causing the
6821exception is aborted immediately and control is transferred to finally clauses
6822and/or a catch clause.
6823
6824In the Vim script language there are cases where scripts and functions
6825continue after an error: in functions without the "abort" flag or in a command
6826after ":silent!", control flow goes to the following line, and outside
6827functions, control flow goes to the line following the outermost ":endwhile"
6828or ":endif". On the other hand, errors should be catchable as exceptions
6829(thus, requiring the immediate abortion).
6830
6831This problem has been solved by converting errors to exceptions and using
6832immediate abortion (if not suppressed by ":silent!") only when a try
6833conditional is active. This is no restriction since an (error) exception can
6834be caught only from an active try conditional. If you want an immediate
6835termination without catching the error, just use a try conditional without
6836catch clause. (You can cause cleanup code being executed before termination
6837by specifying a finally clause.)
6838
6839When no try conditional is active, the usual abortion and continuation
6840behavior is used instead of immediate abortion. This ensures compatibility of
6841scripts written for Vim 6.1 and earlier.
6842
6843However, when sourcing an existing script that does not use exception handling
6844commands (or when calling one of its functions) from inside an active try
6845conditional of a new script, you might change the control flow of the existing
6846script on error. You get the immediate abortion on error and can catch the
6847error in the new script. If however the sourced script suppresses error
6848messages by using the ":silent!" command (checking for errors by testing
6849|v:errmsg| if appropriate), its execution path is not changed. The error is
6850not converted to an exception. (See |:silent|.) So the only remaining cause
6851where this happens is for scripts that don't care about errors and produce
6852error messages. You probably won't want to use such code from your new
6853scripts.
6854
6855 *except-syntax-err*
6856Syntax errors in the exception handling commands are never caught by any of
6857the ":catch" commands of the try conditional they belong to. Its finally
6858clauses, however, is executed.
6859 Example: >
6860
6861 :try
6862 : try
6863 : throw 4711
6864 : catch /\(/
6865 : echo "in catch with syntax error"
6866 : catch
6867 : echo "inner catch-all"
6868 : finally
6869 : echo "inner finally"
6870 : endtry
6871 :catch
6872 : echo 'outer catch-all caught "' . v:exception . '"'
6873 : finally
6874 : echo "outer finally"
6875 :endtry
6876
6877This displays: >
6878 inner finally
6879 outer catch-all caught "Vim(catch):E54: Unmatched \("
6880 outer finally
6881The original exception is discarded and an error exception is raised, instead.
6882
6883 *except-single-line*
6884The ":try", ":catch", ":finally", and ":endtry" commands can be put on
6885a single line, but then syntax errors may make it difficult to recognize the
6886"catch" line, thus you better avoid this.
6887 Example: >
6888 :try | unlet! foo # | catch | endtry
6889raises an error exception for the trailing characters after the ":unlet!"
6890argument, but does not see the ":catch" and ":endtry" commands, so that the
6891error exception is discarded and the "E488: Trailing characters" message gets
6892displayed.
6893
6894 *except-several-errors*
6895When several errors appear in a single command, the first error message is
6896usually the most specific one and therefor converted to the error exception.
6897 Example: >
6898 echo novar
6899causes >
6900 E121: Undefined variable: novar
6901 E15: Invalid expression: novar
6902The value of the error exception inside try conditionals is: >
6903 Vim(echo):E121: Undefined variable: novar
6904< *except-syntax-error*
6905But when a syntax error is detected after a normal error in the same command,
6906the syntax error is used for the exception being thrown.
6907 Example: >
6908 unlet novar #
6909causes >
6910 E108: No such variable: "novar"
6911 E488: Trailing characters
6912The value of the error exception inside try conditionals is: >
6913 Vim(unlet):E488: Trailing characters
6914This is done because the syntax error might change the execution path in a way
6915not intended by the user. Example: >
6916 try
6917 try | unlet novar # | catch | echo v:exception | endtry
6918 catch /.*/
6919 echo "outer catch:" v:exception
6920 endtry
6921This displays "outer catch: Vim(unlet):E488: Trailing characters", and then
6922a "E600: Missing :endtry" error message is given, see |except-single-line|.
6923
6924==============================================================================
69259. Examples *eval-examples*
6926
6927Printing in Hex ~
6928>
6929 :" The function Nr2Hex() returns the Hex string of a number.
6930 :func Nr2Hex(nr)
6931 : let n = a:nr
6932 : let r = ""
6933 : while n
6934 : let r = '0123456789ABCDEF'[n % 16] . r
6935 : let n = n / 16
6936 : endwhile
6937 : return r
6938 :endfunc
6939
6940 :" The function String2Hex() converts each character in a string to a two
6941 :" character Hex string.
6942 :func String2Hex(str)
6943 : let out = ''
6944 : let ix = 0
6945 : while ix < strlen(a:str)
6946 : let out = out . Nr2Hex(char2nr(a:str[ix]))
6947 : let ix = ix + 1
6948 : endwhile
6949 : return out
6950 :endfunc
6951
6952Example of its use: >
6953 :echo Nr2Hex(32)
6954result: "20" >
6955 :echo String2Hex("32")
6956result: "3332"
6957
6958
6959Sorting lines (by Robert Webb) ~
6960
6961Here is a Vim script to sort lines. Highlight the lines in Vim and type
6962":Sort". This doesn't call any external programs so it'll work on any
6963platform. The function Sort() actually takes the name of a comparison
6964function as its argument, like qsort() does in C. So you could supply it
6965with different comparison functions in order to sort according to date etc.
6966>
6967 :" Function for use with Sort(), to compare two strings.
6968 :func! Strcmp(str1, str2)
6969 : if (a:str1 < a:str2)
6970 : return -1
6971 : elseif (a:str1 > a:str2)
6972 : return 1
6973 : else
6974 : return 0
6975 : endif
6976 :endfunction
6977
6978 :" Sort lines. SortR() is called recursively.
6979 :func! SortR(start, end, cmp)
6980 : if (a:start >= a:end)
6981 : return
6982 : endif
6983 : let partition = a:start - 1
6984 : let middle = partition
6985 : let partStr = getline((a:start + a:end) / 2)
6986 : let i = a:start
6987 : while (i <= a:end)
6988 : let str = getline(i)
6989 : exec "let result = " . a:cmp . "(str, partStr)"
6990 : if (result <= 0)
6991 : " Need to put it before the partition. Swap lines i and partition.
6992 : let partition = partition + 1
6993 : if (result == 0)
6994 : let middle = partition
6995 : endif
6996 : if (i != partition)
6997 : let str2 = getline(partition)
6998 : call setline(i, str2)
6999 : call setline(partition, str)
7000 : endif
7001 : endif
7002 : let i = i + 1
7003 : endwhile
7004
7005 : " Now we have a pointer to the "middle" element, as far as partitioning
7006 : " goes, which could be anywhere before the partition. Make sure it is at
7007 : " the end of the partition.
7008 : if (middle != partition)
7009 : let str = getline(middle)
7010 : let str2 = getline(partition)
7011 : call setline(middle, str2)
7012 : call setline(partition, str)
7013 : endif
7014 : call SortR(a:start, partition - 1, a:cmp)
7015 : call SortR(partition + 1, a:end, a:cmp)
7016 :endfunc
7017
7018 :" To Sort a range of lines, pass the range to Sort() along with the name of a
7019 :" function that will compare two lines.
7020 :func! Sort(cmp) range
7021 : call SortR(a:firstline, a:lastline, a:cmp)
7022 :endfunc
7023
7024 :" :Sort takes a range of lines and sorts them.
7025 :command! -nargs=0 -range Sort <line1>,<line2>call Sort("Strcmp")
7026<
7027 *sscanf*
7028There is no sscanf() function in Vim. If you need to extract parts from a
7029line, you can use matchstr() and substitute() to do it. This example shows
7030how to get the file name, line number and column number out of a line like
7031"foobar.txt, 123, 45". >
7032 :" Set up the match bit
7033 :let mx='\(\f\+\),\s*\(\d\+\),\s*\(\d\+\)'
7034 :"get the part matching the whole expression
7035 :let l = matchstr(line, mx)
7036 :"get each item out of the match
7037 :let file = substitute(l, mx, '\1', '')
7038 :let lnum = substitute(l, mx, '\2', '')
7039 :let col = substitute(l, mx, '\3', '')
7040
7041The input is in the variable "line", the results in the variables "file",
7042"lnum" and "col". (idea from Michael Geddes)
7043
7044==============================================================================
704510. No +eval feature *no-eval-feature*
7046
7047When the |+eval| feature was disabled at compile time, none of the expression
7048evaluation commands are available. To prevent this from causing Vim scripts
7049to generate all kinds of errors, the ":if" and ":endif" commands are still
7050recognized, though the argument of the ":if" and everything between the ":if"
7051and the matching ":endif" is ignored. Nesting of ":if" blocks is allowed, but
7052only if the commands are at the start of the line. The ":else" command is not
7053recognized.
7054
7055Example of how to avoid executing commands when the |+eval| feature is
7056missing: >
7057
7058 :if 1
7059 : echo "Expression evaluation is compiled in"
7060 :else
7061 : echo "You will _never_ see this message"
7062 :endif
7063
7064==============================================================================
706511. The sandbox *eval-sandbox* *sandbox* *E48*
7066
7067The 'foldexpr', 'includeexpr', 'indentexpr', 'statusline' and 'foldtext'
7068options are evaluated in a sandbox. This means that you are protected from
7069these expressions having nasty side effects. This gives some safety for when
7070these options are set from a modeline. It is also used when the command from
Bram Moolenaarebefac62005-12-28 22:39:57 +00007071a tags file is executed and for CTRL-R = in the command line.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00007072The sandbox is also used for the |:sandbox| command.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00007073
7074These items are not allowed in the sandbox:
7075 - changing the buffer text
7076 - defining or changing mapping, autocommands, functions, user commands
7077 - setting certain options (see |option-summary|)
7078 - executing a shell command
7079 - reading or writing a file
7080 - jumping to another buffer or editing a file
Bram Moolenaar4770d092006-01-12 23:22:24 +00007081 - executing Python, Perl, etc. commands
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00007082This is not guaranteed 100% secure, but it should block most attacks.
7083
7084 *:san* *:sandbox*
Bram Moolenaar045e82d2005-07-08 22:25:33 +00007085:san[dbox] {cmd} Execute {cmd} in the sandbox. Useful to evaluate an
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00007086 option that may have been set from a modeline, e.g.
7087 'foldexpr'.
7088
Bram Moolenaarb71eaae2006-01-20 23:10:18 +00007089 *sandbox-option*
7090A few options contain an expression. When this expression is evaluated it may
Bram Moolenaard1f56e62006-02-22 21:25:37 +00007091have to be done in the sandbox to avoid a security risc. But the sandbox is
Bram Moolenaarb71eaae2006-01-20 23:10:18 +00007092restrictive, thus this only happens when the option was set from an insecure
7093location. Insecure in this context are:
7094- sourcing a .vimrc or .exrc in the current directlry
7095- while executing in the sandbox
7096- value coming from a modeline
7097
7098Note that when in the sandbox and saving an option value and restoring it, the
7099option will still be marked as it was set in the sandbox.
7100
7101==============================================================================
710212. Textlock *textlock*
7103
7104In a few situations it is not allowed to change the text in the buffer, jump
7105to another window and some other things that might confuse or break what Vim
7106is currently doing. This mostly applies to things that happen when Vim is
7107actually doing something else. For example, evaluating the 'balloonexpr' may
7108happen any moment the mouse cursor is resting at some position.
7109
7110This is not allowed when the textlock is active:
7111 - changing the buffer text
7112 - jumping to another buffer or window
7113 - editing another file
7114 - closing a window or quitting Vim
7115 - etc.
7116
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00007117
7118 vim:tw=78:ts=8:ft=help:norl: