How do I search across files using the location list instead of quickfix?
:lvimgrep /pattern/ %
While :vimgrep populates the global quickfix list, :lvimgrep uses the window-local location list instead.
Search: :cdo
49 results for ":cdo"
How do I add another project-wide pattern search without replacing my current quickfix results?
:vimgrepadd /pattern/j **/*<CR>
When you are investigating code, you often need to collect several related patterns before deciding what to edit.
How do I change the case of captured text in a :substitute replacement?
\u / \l / \U / \L (in :s replacement)
Vim's :substitute replacement string supports case-conversion modifiers that let you uppercase or lowercase matched text without writing a separate command.
How do I execute a macro while ignoring custom mappings that could change behavior?
:normal! @q
Recorded macros can become fragile when your config defines mappings that shadow built-in keys.
How do I fill quickfix from ripgrep output without leaving Vim?
:cexpr system('rg --vimgrep "TODO"')
When you already know you want an external search tool, :cexpr lets you import results directly into quickfix without opening a terminal buffer or shelling out
How do I recursively search files and load matches into quickfix in one command?
:vimgrep /\<TODO\>/gj **/*.lua | copen
When you want a project-wide TODO pass without leaving Vim, :vimgrep plus quickfix is a strong built-in workflow.
search #search #quickfix #command-line #project-navigation #ex-commands
How do I search a project without overwriting the global quickfix list?
:lvimgrep /pattern/gj **/*.js | lopen
When you already rely on the global quickfix list for compiler errors or another search, running :vimgrep can wipe that context.
How do I navigate between errors and results in the quickfix list?
:cnext
The quickfix list is Vim's built-in way to collect a list of positions — typically compiler errors, grep results, or linter warnings — and jump between them
How do I search for a pattern in the current file and navigate results with the quickfix list?
:vimgrep /pattern/ %
When you need to find all occurrences of a pattern in the current file and jump between them systematically, :vimgrep with % is more powerful than basic / searc
How do I run a recorded macro across multiple files at once?
:argdo norm @a | update
Combining :argdo with :norm @a lets you apply a recorded macro to every file in Vim's argument list — a powerful pattern for bulk refactoring across a project
How do I run a literal project-wide vimgrep for the word under my cursor?
:vimgrep /\V<C-r><C-w>/gj **/*
When you need a project-wide search for the exact word under your cursor, this pattern avoids regex surprises and immediately populates quickfix.
How do I search many files with :vimgrep but avoid opening each hit while building quickfix?
:vimgrep /{pattern}/j **/*
For project-wide searches, :vimgrep is powerful but can feel disruptive if it jumps into files while populating quickfix.
How do I run a replacement only over the current window's location-list matches?
:ldo s/foo/bar/ge | update\<CR>
:ldo is one of the most effective ways to perform targeted, multi-file edits without touching unrelated text.
How do I save a file only if it has unsaved changes, without touching the file timestamp if nothing changed?
:update
The :update command (abbreviated :up) writes the buffer to disk only if it has been modified since the last save.
How do I apply a macro across multiple files at once?
:argdo normal @q | update
The :argdo command runs a command in every file in the argument list.
macros #macros #batch-editing #multi-file #ex-commands #workflow
How do I search across files and populate the quickfix list without jumping to the first match?
:vimgrep /pattern/j **/*
By default, :vimgrep jumps your cursor to the first match it finds, which can be disorienting when you just want to collect results and browse them on your own
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 search for the word under my cursor across all project files using Telescope?
require('telescope.builtin').grep_string()
Telescope's grepstring() function performs a project-wide search for the exact word currently under the cursor, displaying live-previewed results in an interact
How do I search across multiple files and navigate results without leaving Vim?
:vimgrep /pattern/g **/*.ext
The :vimgrep command searches for a pattern across multiple files and loads the results into the quickfix list.
How do I apply my last normal-mode change to every line in a visual selection?
:'<,'>normal! .
When you already made one correct edit, replaying it is usually safer than retyping it by hand.