How do I edit a macro without re-recording it?
:let @q = substitute(@q, 'old', 'new', '')
Vim macros are stored as plain text in named registers, which means you can inspect and modify them directly using :let and :echo.
Search: i( a(
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How do I add line numbers to the beginning of every line using a substitute expression?
:%s/^/\=line('.').' '/
Vim's substitute command supports expressions in the replacement string using \=.
How do I edit a file on a remote server directly from Vim?
:e scp://user@host//path/to/file
Vim's built-in netrw plugin supports editing files over the network using protocols like SCP, SFTP, and HTTP.
How do I center-align a block of selected lines at a specific column width in Vim?
:'<,'>center
After making a visual selection, typing : automatically inserts ' to scope the command to the selection.
visual-mode #visual-mode #formatting #ex-commands #indentation
How do I record a macro that performs a search and replace on each line?
qa:s/old/new/g<CR>jq
How it works You can combine Ex commands like :s (substitute) with macro recording to create powerful repeatable find-and-replace operations that go beyond what
How do I run a macro on every line in the entire file?
:%normal @q
To apply a macro to every line in the file, use :%normal @q.
How do I run a shell command on a range of lines in normal mode and replace them with the output?
!{motion}{cmd}<CR>
In normal mode, !{motion} sends the lines covered by the motion to a shell command's stdin and replaces them with stdout.
How do I use a count with a text object to operate on multiple words, sentences, or paragraphs at once?
d3aw
Most Vim users know you can put a count before an operator (3dw) or use a text object once (daw).
editing #text-objects #editing #delete #normal-mode #motions
How do I use the filename under the cursor as a value in a Vim mapping or command?
expand('<cfile>')
The expand('') function returns the filename that Vim sees under the cursor — the same file that gf would open.
command-line #command-line #ex-commands #navigation #editing #motions
How do I make netrw display files in a tree-style directory listing?
:let g:netrw_liststyle = 3
By default, netrw shows files in a flat listing.
plugins #netrw #file-browser #plugins #configuration #built-in
How do I undo all changes made since the last time I saved the file in a single step?
:earlier 1f
The :earlier {count}f command navigates Vim's undo tree to the state of the buffer at the time of the last (or Nth) file write.
How do I move a tab to a different position in the tab bar?
:tabmove {n}
:tabmove {n} repositions the current tab page to index n in the tab bar (0-indexed from the left).
How do I quit Vim with a non-zero exit code?
:cq
The :cq command quits Vim and returns a non-zero exit code to the calling process.
How do I reopen the current file with a different character encoding in Vim?
:e ++enc=utf-8
When Vim opens a file with the wrong encoding — producing garbled text or incorrect characters — you can reload it with a specific encoding using :e ++enc={
How do I sort lines by a field in the middle or end of each line using a pattern?
:sort r /\w\+$/
The :sort r /{pattern}/ command sorts lines using the text that matches the pattern as the sort key.
How do I load a set of files matching a glob pattern into Vim's argument list for bulk editing?
:args **/*.py
Vim's argument list (arglist) is a named list of files that you can operate on as a group.
How do I debug a Vim macro one command at a time?
:debug normal @q
Recorded macros are powerful, but when one keystroke goes wrong they can fail fast and leave confusing state behind.
How do I uppercase a word in Vim?
gUiw
The gUiw command converts the entire word under the cursor to uppercase.
How do I run a macro a specific number of times at once?
{count}@{register}
Prefix any macro execution with a count to repeat it that many times in a single command.
How do I pipe the entire buffer through an external shell command like sort, jq, or a formatter?
:%!command
:%!{command} replaces the entire buffer contents with the output of piping them through a shell command.