How do I create a recursive macro that runs until it encounters an error?
qa...@aq
A recursive macro calls itself at the end of its recording, causing it to repeat until a motion or search fails.
Search: i" a"
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How do I append text with :normal without creating an extra undo step?
:undojoin | normal! A;<CR>
When you automate edits from Ex commands, Vim usually creates a separate undo entry for each change.
How do I sort only a visual selection using a fixed virtual column as the key?
:'<,'>sort /\%20v/
When lines contain aligned columns, plain :sort often gives the wrong order because it compares from column 1.
visual-mode #visual-mode #sorting #text-processing #command-line
How do I launch GDB inside Vim using the built-in termdebug plugin without preloading it?
:packadd termdebug | Termdebug ./a.out
If you only debug occasionally, loading termdebug on demand keeps startup lean while still giving you an in-editor GDB workflow.
How do I re-indent a block of code to match the surrounding indentation?
=i{ or =ap
The = operator performs smart indentation based on Vim's filetype-aware indent rules.
How do I open a file and jump directly to a specific line or pattern?
:e +{line} {file}
The :edit command accepts a +{cmd} prefix that executes an Ex command immediately after the file is loaded.
command-line #buffers #ex-commands #navigation #command-line
How do I run a Lua expression on every line of a buffer in Neovim?
:[range]luado {lua-expr}
Neovim's :luado command runs a Lua expression on each line of a range, allowing you to transform text using the full power of Lua's string library.
How do I make right-click extend a selection instead of opening a popup menu?
:set mousemodel=extend
If you use the mouse occasionally in Vim, mousemodel=extend makes selection behavior much more predictable.
How do I swap two parts of a line using capture groups in a Vim substitution?
:s/\v(pattern1)(pattern2)/\2\1/
Vim's substitute command supports capture groups (also called backreferences), which let you rearrange matched portions of text.
How do I auto-indent a block of code in visual selection without specifying a line range?
vip=
Pressing = in visual mode re-indents all selected lines according to the current filetype's indent rules — the same engine used by == for a single line, but a
visual-mode #visual-mode #indentation #editing #text-objects
How do I copy the contents of one register into another register?
:let @a = @"
Vim's :let command lets you read and write register contents as strings, making it possible to copy, combine, or modify register values without ever leaving the
How do I insert the same text at the start (or end) of multiple lines simultaneously?
<C-v>{motion}I{text}<Esc>
Visual block mode () lets you select a rectangular region across multiple lines.
How do I set a bookmark that persists across different files and Vim sessions?
mA and 'A
Vim has two tiers of marks.
How do I display the contents of only certain registers instead of all of them at once?
:reg a b c
The :reg (alias :registers) command accepts a string of register names as its argument.
How do I combine two recorded macros into one without re-recording them from scratch?
:let @q = @a . @b
Macros in Vim are stored as plain text in named registers.
How do I scope a Vimscript variable to a specific buffer, window, tab, or script to avoid conflicts?
b: w: t: s:
Vimscript variables are prefixed with a one-letter scope identifier followed by a colon.
How do I insert all command-line completion matches at once without pressing Tab repeatedly?
<C-a> (command-line)
Pressing on the command line expands all current completion matches into the command at once, rather than cycling through them one at a time with .
How do I define or edit a macro's content programmatically without re-recording it?
:let @q = 'keystrokes'
You can assign a string directly to any register using :let, turning it into a macro instantly.
How do I search for a character by its ASCII or Unicode code point value in a Vim pattern?
/\%d{decimal}
Vim's regex engine supports special atoms that match characters by their numeric value rather than their glyph.
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.