How do I split a single-line code statement into multiple lines or join them back in Vim?
gS / gJ
The splitjoin.
plugins #plugins #splitjoin #editing #refactoring #formatting
Search: @a
2277 results for "@a"
How do I add custom filetype detection for a new file extension without modifying Vim's built-in filetypes?
ftdetect/{filetype}.vim
Vim automatically sources every file in ftdetect/ directories on the runtimepath when filetype detection runs.
How do I create a custom undo checkpoint while in Insert mode so I can undo in smaller steps?
<C-g>u
By default, Vim treats an entire Insert mode session (from entering Insert mode to pressing ) as a single undo unit.
How do I set a different working directory for each split window in Vim?
:lcd {dir}
:lcd (local cd) sets the working directory for the current window only, leaving other windows at their previous directory.
buffers-windows #buffers-windows #navigation #ex-commands #config
How do I run a :g or :s command without overwriting my current search pattern?
:keeppatterns {cmd}
Whenever Vim runs a command that involves searching — :g, :s, :v, or even moving the cursor with / — it overwrites the last search register (@/).
How do I use zero-width lookbehind assertions in Vim search patterns to match text only when preceded (or not preceded) by a pattern?
\@<= and \@<!
Vim's \@<= and \@<! atoms let you write zero-width lookbehind assertions — they check what comes before the match position without consuming characters.
How do I create a Visual selection for the previous search match instead of the next one?
gN
Most users know gn for selecting the next search match, but its counterpart gN is the real power move when you need to work backward through matches.
visual-mode #visual-mode #search #motions #editing #normal-mode
How do I see where a normal-mode mapping was last defined in Vim?
:verbose nmap <lhs>
When key behavior is inconsistent, the root cause is usually mapping precedence.
command-line #command-line #mappings #debugging #config #normal-mode
How do I replace the next word with a yanked word without clobbering the unnamed register?
yiww"_ciw\<C-r>0\<Esc>
When you are doing repetitive refactors, cw is fast but it overwrites the unnamed register with the replaced text.
How do I append more commands to an existing macro without re-recording it from scratch?
qQ
Recording a macro with an uppercase register letter appends to the existing macro in the corresponding lowercase register instead of overwriting it.
How do I use capture groups to rearrange text in a Vim substitute command?
:%s/\(pattern1\)\(pattern2\)/\2\1/g
Vim's substitute command supports capture groups that let you match parts of text, remember them, and rearrange or reuse them in the replacement.
How do I transform matched text to uppercase or lowercase directly inside a substitute replacement?
:s/pattern/\U&/g
Vim's :substitute command supports case-transformation escape sequences in the replacement string.
search #search #substitute #ex-commands #editing #text-objects
How do I sort lines by the text that matches a regex pattern rather than the text after it?
:sort r /pattern/
The :sort r /pattern/ command sorts lines using the matched portion of the regex as the sort key.
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 run a command without moving the cursor or changing the scroll position?
:let view=winsaveview() | {cmd} | call winrestview(view)
When writing Vimscript functions or mappings, commands like :substitute, gg, or :%normal will move the cursor and change the scroll position.
How do I load yanked text into search as a literal pattern without regex escaping headaches?
:let @/='\V'.escape(@", '\\')
When you yank text that contains regex characters like .
How do I run a shell command from inside Vim?
:!command
The :!command syntax lets you execute any shell command directly from within Vim without leaving the editor.
How do I make substitutions replace every match on a line by default without typing the g flag?
:set gdefault
By default, :s/old/new/ only replaces the first occurrence of a pattern on each line.
How do I automatically remove trailing whitespace every time I save a file?
autocmd BufWritePre * :%s/\s\+$//e
By adding an autocmd for the BufWritePre event, you can make Vim automatically strip trailing whitespace from every line each time you save.