Vim hacks

[DarkLordoftheMonkeys]

Hack #1: The Vim startup file

The Vim startup file is a script, written in Vimscript, that you put in your home directory (~). The script is executed every time Vim starts. It is usually used to customize Vim by specifying the default settings. The startup file must have the filename _vimrc. Here is the startup script that I use:

" My Vim setup script
set number
set autoindent
set nowrap
set ruler
set noignorecase
set encoding=utf-8
syntax on
" Use :TOhtml
let html_use_css = 1

Hack #2: Incrementing and decrementing numbers

There are two keystrokes for changing the value of the number under the cursor. Typing Ctrl+A increments the number. Typing Ctrl+X decrements the number. When you do this, the entire number is changed, not just the digit under the cursor.


Hack #3: Bookmarking parts of a document

Bookmarking helps you to move around a document more quickly by marking a place to return to later. Marks are given letters that you can type to return to them. Typing m followed by a letter marks the character under the cursor. Here are the keystrokes:

mx - mark the character under the cursor with mark x
'x - return to the line marked by x
`x - return to the character marked by x
'' - return to the line the cursor was on before the last jump
`` - return to the character that was under the cursor before the last jump
<start bracket>' - go back one mark
<end bracket>' - go forward one mark


Hack #4: Creating macros

Macros are sequences of keystrokes that can be mapped to one key. When that key is pressed, all of the keystrokes mapped to that key are executed. It is generally best to use keys that are not used elsewhere for mapping, such as k, K, and =.

:map = sequence - map a sequence to =
:unmap = - remove mapping for =
:map! = sequence or :imap = sequence - map a sequence to = for insert mode
:unmap! = or :iunmap = - remove mapping for = in insert mode
:map - show mappings


Hack #5: Command history

Vim has a command history that you can search to avoid having to type long ex commands multiple times. It even saves commands from previous sessions. The command history can be accessed using the keystroke q: (q followed by a colon). This will bring up a list of commands at the bottom of the screen. You can scroll through and edit commands in the command history just like you would in the document. When you find the command you want, simply hit enter to enter the command.


Hack #6: Syntax highlighting

Vim color codes, or highlights code, making it easier to spot mistakes. Syntax highlighting can be turned on by typing :syntax on, and turned off by typing :syntax off. Vim provides syntax highlighting for several languages, including:

C
C++
HTML
CSS
Javascript
PHP
SQL
BASIC
DOS Batch
Shell scripts
Perl
Ruby
Python
Java
Fortran
Pascal
Ada
Lisp
Vimscript
sed
AWK
Assembly language
Objective-C
XML
DTD
XSLT

And probably many more.


Hack #7: Save syntax highlighting to HTML

The ex command :TOhtml creates an HTML file that contains the highlighted text of a document. The default is to use font tags to color code the text, but you can set it to use CSS instead by typing :let html_use_css = 1 first.


Hack #8: Get the ASCII or Unicode value of a character

There are two ways to get the code value of the character under the cursor. To get the ASCII value, type :ascii at the ex prompt. There is a keystroke you can use to get the Unicode value. When the character is under the cursor, type ga. Make sure that encoding is set to utf-8 first.


Hack #9: Tools for multiwindow editing

The keystroke Ctrl+W is always used for multiwindow editing commands. There are many commands you can use, but here are a few of them:

^Ws - split the window horizontally
^Wv - split the window vertically
^W^W - go to the next window
^W+ - increase the current window's height by the preceding number of lines
^W- - decrease the current window's height by the preceding number of lines
^W> - increase the current window's width by the preceding number of columns
^W< - decrease the current window's width by the preceding number of columns
^W_ - set the current window's height to the preceding number of lines
^W| - set the current window's width to the preceding number of columns
^Wr - rotate windows


Hack #10: Toggle the case of a character

To toggle the case of a character, type ~ when the cursor is over that character. Vim will change the case and then move to the next character. This also allows you to change the case of a group of characters very quickly by holding down the tilde key.


Hack #11: Show marks and buffers

:display - show all character buffers and their contents.

:marks - show all markers and a section of the text surrounding the characters they mark


Hack #12: Explore, Sexplore, and Vexplore

Explore, Sexplore, and Vexplore (standing for Split-explore and Vertical-explore, respectively), are part of a plugin that allows you to explore and manipulate the filesystem from within Vim. Typing :Explore shows the contents of the current directory in the current window. Vexplore and Sexplore split the window and show the filesystem in the new window. From this new window you can navigate through the filesystem and also create and delete files and directories.

[WingedPanther]

Nice tidbits. Currently, gVim is the only editor that I consider replacing jEdit with. I guess I just haven't forced myself to use it enough, yet. +rep