How do I open all listed buffers as separate tabs at once?
:tab ball
:tab ball (short for :tab sball, "split all buffers in tabs") opens every listed buffer in its own tab page in a single command.
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Searching...How do I run vimgrep across files using my last search pattern without retyping it?
:vimgrep // **/*.txt
Using // (an empty pattern) in :vimgrep tells Vim to reuse the last search pattern.
How do I move the cursor to the other corner of a visual block selection?
o and O
In visual-block mode (), pressing o moves the cursor to the diagonally opposite corner of the selection, and O moves it to the other end of the same row (flippi
How do I scroll the view left and right when lines are wider than the screen?
zl
When nowrap is set and lines extend beyond the screen width, Vim provides dedicated horizontal scroll commands.
How do I use search patterns to define the start and end of an Ex command range?
:/pattern1/,/pattern2/
Ex command ranges in Vim are not limited to line numbers and marks — you can use /pattern/ as a range boundary to select lines between any two matching patter
How do I toggle, uppercase, or lowercase text using motion commands in Vim?
g~~
Vim has three case-change operators that work like any other operator — you can combine them with motions, text objects, or double them to act on the whole li
visual-mode #editing #visual-mode #normal-mode #text-objects
How do I run a substitution across multiple files using Vim's argument list?
:argdo %s/old/new/g | w
:argdo {cmd} executes an Ex command against every file in the argument list—the set of files you opened Vim with or set explicitly with :args.
How do I save a recorded macro permanently so it survives Vim restarts?
let @q = 'keystrokes'
Macros recorded with q{register} are stored in registers and lost when Vim exits.
How do I search for multiple spellings or word endings with a single Vim pattern?
/colour\%[s]
Vim's \%[.
How do I insert the same text at the start of multiple lines using visual block mode?
<C-v>jjI
Visual block mode () lets you select a rectangular region across lines.
How do I recover text from older deletions using Vim's numbered registers?
"1p
Vim automatically stores your deletion history in numbered registers "1 through "9.
How do I open a specific buffer in a new split without navigating away from my current buffer?
:sbuffer {N}
:sbuffer {N} opens buffer number N in a new horizontal split, leaving your current window untouched.
buffers-windows #buffers-windows #buffers #windows #navigation
How do I run a macro a specific number of times without using a recursive macro?
{N}@q
Prefix a macro invocation with a count to execute it up to N times in a single command.
How do I override case sensitivity for a single search pattern without changing my settings?
\c
Vim lets you embed \c or \C directly inside a search pattern to control case sensitivity for that search only, regardless of your 'ignorecase' and 'smartcase' s
How do I jump to a mark without adding my current position to the jumplist?
g'{mark}
Vim's standard mark-jump commands ('a, ` a `) always add the current position to the jumplist before leaping to the mark.
How do I use a Vim expression as the replacement string in a :s substitution?
:s/pattern/\=expr/g
Vim's :s command normally replaces matches with a literal string.
command-line #search #editing #ex-commands #command-line #registers
How do I edit the contents of a macro register without re-recording it?
:let @q = substitute(@q, 'old', 'new', 'g')
When a recorded macro has a typo or needs a small tweak, re-recording the entire thing is error-prone.
How do I navigate quickfix entries, buffers, and conflicts with consistent bracket mappings?
]q
The vim-unimpaired plugin (by Tim Pope) provides a consistent [x / ]x mnemonic for navigating any list-like structure in Vim.
How do I create or edit a Vim macro as a plain string without re-recording it?
:let @q = "dd"
Macros are just strings stored in named registers.
How do I open the alternate file in a new split window without typing its name?
<C-w><C-^>
Press (Ctrl+W followed by Ctrl+6) to open the alternate file in a horizontal split.