How do I run a one-off macro without recording by executing keystrokes from an expression register?
@='A;<Esc>'<CR>
Recorded macros are powerful, but sometimes you need a quick ephemeral sequence and do not want to occupy a register.
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How do I add more commands to a macro I already recorded?
qA
If you finish recording a macro and realize you forgot a step, you don't need to re-record the whole thing.
macros #macros #registers #normal-mode #editing #productivity
How do I programmatically load text or a macro into a named register from the command line?
:let @a="text"
:let @{register}=".
How do I replace all characters in a visual block with one character?
<C-v>selection r{char}
In visual block mode, pressing r followed by a character replaces every character in the selected rectangle with that character.
How do I edit a recorded macro?
"ap, edit, "add
Since macros are stored in registers, you can paste the register content into the buffer, edit it, and yank it back.
How do I run a normal mode command on multiple lines at once?
:'<,'>norm! A;
The :normal Ex command lets you execute any Normal mode keystrokes on a range of lines simultaneously, turning a single-line operation into a multi-line batch e
editing #editing #normal-mode #ex-commands #visual-mode #text-manipulation
How do I control what state gets saved when I use :mkview to snapshot a window?
:set viewoptions=cursor,folds,slash,unix
The viewoptions setting is a comma-separated list that determines exactly what :mkview (and the auto-save view pattern) stores in a view file.
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 debug a macro by executing it step by step?
Paste with "ap and execute keys manually
To debug a macro, paste its contents into the buffer, read each keystroke, and execute them one at a time to find where the macro goes wrong.
How do I sort lines by a secondary field while ignoring a common leading prefix?
:[range]sort /regex/
The :[range]sort /regex/ command sorts lines while skipping the portion of each line that matches the regex.
How do I right-align lines of text within a given column width using a built-in Vim command?
:[range]right [width]
Vim's :right command right-aligns text by padding lines with leading spaces up to a given width.
How do I store the current file path in a named Vim register?
:let @a = expand('%:p')
Named registers are not only for yanked text.
registers #registers #command-line #filename-modifiers #editing
How do I create a custom Ex command?
:command Name action
The :command command defines a new user Ex command.
How do I programmatically manipulate register contents using setreg and getreg?
:call setreg('a', @a . 'text', 'l')
How it works Vim provides two functions for advanced register manipulation: setreg() and getreg().
How do I programmatically extend or modify a recorded macro without re-recording it?
:let @a = @a . "\<CR>extra"
Vim stores macros as plain text in registers — the same registers used for yanked text.
How do I prevent a split window from being resized when I open new splits?
:set winfixwidth winfixheight
How it works When you open new split windows in Vim, the existing windows automatically resize to make room.
How do I move the cursor to a specific column on the current line?
{count}|
The command moves the cursor to a specific screen column on the current line.
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 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.
How do I append text to a named register programmatically without re-recording a macro?
:let @a .= "text"
Vim registers are just strings, and you can read and write them directly using the :let command.