How do I execute Ex commands stored in a register instead of replaying it as normal-mode keys?

Explanation

Most macro workflows focus on @q, which replays register q as normal-mode keystrokes. But Vim also supports :@q, which executes the register contents as Ex commands. This is powerful when your automation is mostly command-line operations such as substitutions, quickfix actions, writes, or command chaining.

Using :@q lets you keep reusable command pipelines in registers and invoke them on demand, without wrapping everything in user commands or functions. It is especially helpful for one-off maintenance jobs where you need script-like behavior but want to stay in an interactive editing session.

How it works

:@q

• : enters Ex command mode
• @q tells Vim to read register q and execute it as Ex commands
• Register q should contain valid Ex command text (often multiple commands separated by newlines)

Example

Suppose register q contains:

%s/\s\+$//e
update

Running :@q will:

1) remove trailing whitespace in the current buffer
2) write the file only if it changed

Tips

• Populate the register with :let @q = "cmd1\ncmd2" for repeatable command scripts
• Use :reg q to inspect what will run before executing it
• Prefer @q (normal macro) when you need cursor-motion editing, and :@q when you need Ex-command orchestration