How do I create a macro that runs continuously until it hits an error?
@q
A recursive macro is a macro that calls itself as its last step, causing it to loop automatically until an operation fails (such as reaching the end of the file
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How do I paste the result of a calculation or expression in normal mode?
"=expression<CR>p
The expression register ("=) lets you evaluate any Vimscript expression and paste the result directly into your buffer from normal mode.
registers #registers #editing #normal-mode #productivity #math
How do I write a non-greedy (lazy) quantifier in Vim's search regex?
\{-}
In Vim's regex engine, \{-} is the non-greedy (lazy) quantifier — it matches as few characters as possible, unlike .
How do I choose between multiple tag definitions when jumping to a symbol in Vim?
g<C-]>
When a symbol (function, class, variable) is defined in multiple places, CTRL-] blindly jumps to the first match.
How do I change the case of a specific column of text using visual block mode?
<C-v>jjlU
Visual block mode lets you select rectangular regions of text, which means you can target a specific column and apply case changes only to that area.
How do I get just the filename without its path or extension to use in a command?
%:t:r
Vim's % special character expands to the current filename and accepts a chain of colon-delimited modifiers.
command-line #command-line #ex-commands #editing #navigation
How do I toggle the case of a character in Vim?
~
The ~ command toggles the case of the character under the cursor — uppercase becomes lowercase and vice versa — then advances the cursor one position to the
How do I match a pattern only when preceded or followed by another pattern using zero-width assertions?
\@= and \@<=
Vim's regex engine supports zero-width lookahead and lookbehind assertions — \@= and \@<= — which let you match text based on surrounding context without in
How do I edit a recorded macro by treating it as plain text?
"qp {edit} 0"qy$ dd
When you record a macro and realize it has a mistake, the easiest fix is to paste the macro's keystrokes as text, edit them, and yank the corrected version back
How do I create a custom Vim operator that works with any motion or text object?
:set opfunc and g@
Vim's operatorfunc option lets you define your own operators — just like the built-in d, y, or c — that accept any motion or text object.
How do I save and restore the cursor position and scroll state in a Vimscript function?
winsaveview() and winrestview()
When writing Vimscript functions or complex mappings that move the cursor, it is essential to restore the original view afterward so the user does not notice an
How do I get a brief visual flash to confirm what text was just yanked in Neovim?
vim.highlight.on_yank()
After yanking text in Vim it can be hard to tell exactly what was captured, especially with larger motions or text objects.
How do I configure Vim's command-line completion to first expand to the longest match, then show a list?
set wildmode=longest:list,full
Setting wildmode=longest:list,full gives Vim a completion behavior similar to shells like bash and zsh.
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.
How do I sort lines in Vim without caring about upper or lower case?
:sort i
By default, :sort uses byte-value ordering, which places all uppercase letters before lowercase.
How do I make Ctrl-O and Ctrl-I behave like browser back and forward in Vim?
:set jumpoptions+=stack
By default, Vim's jumplist can feel surprising: if you jump backward and then make a new jump, the old forward path is not always discarded like a browser histo
How do I move the cursor to the other end of a visual selection without restarting it?
o (visual mode)
In visual mode, pressing o swaps the cursor between the two ends of the selection (the anchor and the free end).
How do I change text from the cursor up to a specific character?
ct{char}
The ct{char} command deletes everything from the cursor up to (but not including) the specified character and drops you into insert mode.
editing #editing #motions #normal-mode #text-objects #productivity
How do I search or substitute only within specific columns of text in Vim?
\%>20c
The \%Nc, \%>Nc, and \%20c — match only after column 20 (i.
How do I rearrange window splits by moving a window to a different side of the screen?
<C-w>H / <C-w>J / <C-w>K / <C-w>L
The H, J, K, and L commands move the current window to the far left, bottom, top, or right of the screen respectively, rearranging your entire split layout.
buffers-windows #windows #buffers #navigation #splits #layout