How do I paste the name of the alternate (previously edited) file into the buffer?
"#p
The # register holds the name of the alternate file — the file you were editing just before the current one.
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Searching...How do I jump to a specific percentage through a file, like the middle or three-quarters of the way?
50%
Prefixing the % command with a count jumps the cursor to that percentage through the file.
How do I force a case-sensitive search in Vim even when ignorecase is enabled?
/pattern\C
Appending \C anywhere in a search pattern forces the entire search to be case-sensitive, regardless of whether ignorecase or smartcase is set.
search #search #case-sensitive #ignorecase #smartcase #normal-mode
How do I configure Vim's :grep command to use a faster external search tool like ripgrep or ag?
:set grepprg={cmd} grepformat={fmt}
Vim's :grep command delegates to an external tool defined by grepprg, then parses the output according to grepformat to populate the quickfix list.
How do I apply the last spelling correction to all other identical misspellings in the file?
:spellrepall
After correcting a misspelled word with z= (or 1z= for the first suggestion), run :spellrepall to apply that same correction to every other occurrence of the id
How do I control which actions automatically open folds in Vim?
:set foldopen
The foldopen option lets you specify exactly which cursor movements and commands will automatically open a closed fold.
How do I delete everything typed on the current line without leaving insert mode?
<C-u> in insert mode
Pressing while in insert mode deletes all characters entered since you last entered insert mode on the current line.
How do I match a pattern only when preceded or followed by another pattern using zero-width assertions?
\@= and \@<=
Vim's regex engine supports zero-width lookahead and lookbehind assertions — \@= and \@<= — which let you match text based on surrounding context without in
How do I safely use a filename containing special characters in a Vim Ex command?
fnameescape(filename)
When building Vim Ex commands dynamically, filenames with spaces, , %, #, [, or other special characters will be misinterpreted — the space looks like an argu
How do I find all files matching a pattern across all directories in Vim's runtimepath?
globpath(&rtp, 'pattern')
globpath() is a Vimscript function that searches all directories in a given path list for files matching a glob pattern.
How do I display a colored highlighted message using a highlight group in Vim?
:echohl WarningMsg | echo "message" | echohl None
:echohl sets the highlight group applied to subsequent :echo and :echom output.
How do I extract just the parent directory name (not the full path) of the current file in Vim?
expand('%:p:h:t')
Vim's filename modifiers can be chained to transform paths step by step.
How do I reformat a paragraph or motion to fit within the text width without moving my cursor?
gw
The gw operator reformats text to fit within textwidth, just like gq — but with one key difference: gw leaves the cursor in its original position after format
How do I make Vim show the beginning of long lines that don't fit on screen instead of just showing @@@ placeholders?
:set display=lastline
By default, when the last visible line of a window is too long to fit on screen, Vim shows @@@ in its place — hiding the content entirely.
How do I register an autocommand that automatically removes itself after firing once?
autocmd ++once
The ++once flag, added in Vim 8.
How do I run a normal mode command on multiple lines at once?
:'<,'>norm! A;
The :normal Ex command lets you execute any Normal mode keystrokes on a range of lines simultaneously, turning a single-line operation into a multi-line batch e
editing #editing #normal-mode #ex-commands #visual-mode #text-manipulation
How do I open the command-line window while in the middle of typing a command?
<C-f>
While typing in Vim's command line (after pressing :), pressing opens the command-line window with your current, unfinished command already filled in.
How do I jump to a tag in a new split window showing all matching tags?
<C-w>g]
g] splits the window and then runs :tselect for the identifier under the cursor, displaying a numbered list of all matching tags so you can pick the exact defin
How do I detect which register was specified before executing a custom mapping in Vim?
v:register
When writing custom mappings or operator functions, v:register gives you the register name that the user prefixed the mapping with.
How do I use an external formatter with the gq operator in Vim?
:set formatprg={program}
Vim's gq operator normally reflows text to fit textwidth, but by setting formatprg you can delegate formatting to any external tool — a language formatter, a