How do I move a column of text to a different position using visual block mode?
<C-v>jjxp
Visual block mode lets you select, cut, and paste rectangular columns of text.
Search: i" a"
1024 results for "i" a""
How do I search for a pattern only within a specific range of lines in Vim?
:/start/,/end/s/pattern/replacement/g
You can restrict a substitution to a range defined by two patterns.
How do I execute a single normal mode command without leaving insert mode?
<C-o>{cmd}
Pressing in insert mode lets you execute one normal mode command and then automatically returns you to insert mode.
How do I restore a file to its state at a specific time?
:earlier 10m
The :earlier command restores the buffer to its state at a specific time in the past.
How do I create a custom undo checkpoint while in Insert mode so I can undo in smaller steps?
<C-g>u
By default, Vim treats an entire Insert mode session (from entering Insert mode to pressing ) as a single undo unit.
How do I edit multiple locations simultaneously like multiple cursors?
<C-n> to select (vim-visual-multi)
vim-visual-multi provides VS Code-style multiple cursor support for Vim.
How do I close a buffer without closing the window?
:bp | bd #
The :bp bd # command switches to the previous buffer and then deletes the alternate buffer.
How do I run a macro on every line matching a pattern?
:g/pattern/normal @q
The :global command combined with :normal lets you execute a recorded macro on every line that matches a given pattern.
macros #macros #command-line #ex-commands #global #batch-editing
What is the difference between cw and ciw when changing a word?
cw vs ciw
The cw and ciw commands both change a word, but they behave differently depending on cursor position.
editing #editing #text-objects #motions #normal-mode #productivity
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 capture shell command output directly into a Vim register?
:let @a = system('cmd')
You can populate any Vim register with the output of an external shell command using :let @{register} = system('{command}').
How do I run a command without showing its output?
:silent command
The :silent prefix suppresses all output from a command, including messages and prompts.
How do I replace text using a custom Vimscript function in a substitution?
:%s/pattern/\=MyFunc(submatch(0))/g
The \= prefix in Vim's substitute replacement invokes the expression register, which can call any Vimscript function.
How do I repeat the last Ex command I ran?
@:
The @: command re-executes the most recently run Ex command (any command starting with :).
command-line #command-line #ex-commands #repeat #normal-mode #productivity
How do I schedule a command to run after a delay in Vim?
:call timer_start(1000, {-> execute('echo "done"')})
Vim's timerstart() function lets you schedule code to run after a specified delay in milliseconds.
How do I automatically remove trailing whitespace every time I save a file?
autocmd BufWritePre * :%s/\s\+$//e
By adding an autocmd for the BufWritePre event, you can make Vim automatically strip trailing whitespace from every line each time you save.
How do I open the file under the cursor and jump to a specific line?
gF
The gF command opens the file under the cursor and jumps to the line number that appears after the filename.
How do I use capture groups in a Vim search and replace?
:%s/\(group\)/\1/g
Capture groups in Vim substitute let you match parts of a pattern and reuse them in the replacement.
How do I increment or add to all numbers in a file using Vim substitution?
:%s/\d\+/\=submatch(0)+1/g
Vim's expression replacement (\=) in substitutions lets you perform arithmetic on matched text.
How do I target outer nested brackets using counted text objects?
d2i(
Vim text objects accept a count prefix that lets you target outer layers of nested delimiters.