How do I add custom functions to Vim's statusline for dynamic information?
set statusline=%{MyCustomFunc()}
How it works Vim's statusline supports the %{expr} syntax which evaluates a Vimscript expression and displays the result.
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Searching...How do I yank and paste a vertical block of text using blockwise registers?
<C-v>jj"ay then "ap
How it works Vim registers remember not just the text content but also the type of selection that was used to yank it: characterwise, linewise, or blockwise.
How do I configure Vim's built-in file explorer netrw to look like a sidebar?
let g:netrw_liststyle=3 and let g:netrw_banner=0
How it works Vim ships with a built-in file explorer called netrw that you can access with :Explore (or :Ex).
How do I programmatically manipulate register contents using setreg and getreg?
:call setreg('a', @a . 'text', 'l')
How it works Vim provides two functions for advanced register manipulation: setreg() and getreg().
How do I use a register value as the replacement string in a substitution?
:%s/pattern/\=@a/g
How it works In Vim's substitute command, the replacement string can be a Vimscript expression when prefixed with \=.
How do I make Vim open new splits below and to the right instead of above and left?
:set splitbelow splitright
How it works By default, Vim opens horizontal splits (:split or :sp) above the current window and vertical splits (:vsplit or :vsp) to the left.
How do I execute the contents of a register as an Ex command?
:@a
How it works The command :@a executes the contents of register a as an Ex command.
How do I set a colorscheme with a fallback in case it is not installed?
try | colorscheme gruvbox | catch | colorscheme default | endtry
How it works When you share your vimrc across multiple machines, a colorscheme you have installed on one system may not exist on another.
What is the difference between the star register and the plus register?
"*p vs "+p
How it works Vim has two system clipboard registers that interact with the operating system: " -- the selection register (PRIMARY selection on Linux/X11, clipbo
How do I stop Vim from creating backup and swap files in my project directories?
:set backupdir=~/.vim/backup// directory=~/.vim/swap//
How it works By default, Vim creates backup files (ending in ~) and swap files (ending in .
How do I configure Vim to auto-save files when I switch away?
:set autowriteall and autocmd FocusLost * silent! wa
How it works Vim can be configured to automatically save your files when you switch to another window or application.
How do I search for text I just yanked using the register?
/<C-r>0
How it works After yanking text, you can use it directly as a search pattern by inserting the yank register contents into the search prompt.
How do I enable smart case-sensitive searching in Vim?
:set ignorecase smartcase
How it works By setting both ignorecase and smartcase, Vim uses an intelligent case sensitivity rule for searches: If your search pattern is all lowercase, the
How do I make Vim highlight matching brackets when typing?
:set showmatch
How it works The :set showmatch option makes Vim briefly jump the cursor to the matching opening bracket when you type a closing bracket.
How do I insert register contents into the command line?
:<C-r>a
How it works While typing an Ex command on the command line (after pressing :), you can insert the contents of any register by pressing Ctrl-R followed by the r
How do I paste the contents of a register at a specific line number without moving my cursor?
:{line}put {register}
How it works The :put Ex command pastes the contents of a register after a specified line.
How do I search for a pattern only within specific columns of a line?
/\%>5c\%<20cpattern
How it works Vim's search patterns support column position constraints using the \%c family of atoms.
How do I enable mouse support in Vim?
:set mouse=a
How it works The :set mouse=a command enables mouse support in all Vim modes.
How do I search and replace only whole words and not partial matches in Vim?
:%s/\<word\>/replacement/g
How it works In Vim's regular expressions, \ are word boundary anchors: \ matches the end of a word.
How do I delete text and save it to a specific named register?
"add
How it works When you delete text in Vim with commands like dd, dw, or x, the deleted text goes into the unnamed register and the numbered registers (1-9).