How do I view a file as it existed at a previous Git commit in Vim?
:Gedit HEAD~3:%
The vim-fugitive plugin lets you open any version of any file from your Git history directly in a Vim buffer using the :Gedit command.
Search: :split
254 results for ":split"
How do I replace a character or pattern with a newline in a substitute command?
:%s/,/\r/g
In Vim's substitute command, \r in the replacement string inserts a newline.
How do I open a file by name without knowing its full path?
:find
The :find command searches for a file by name across all directories listed in Vim's path option, so you can open files without typing full paths.
How do I close a preview window from any other window without having to jump to it first?
<C-w>z
Pressing z closes the preview window from any window in the current tab page.
How do I populate a window-local location list from the current file and open it immediately?
:lgrep /pattern/ % | lopen
Quickfix is global, but sometimes you want a narrower search workspace tied to one window.
How do I create a temporary scratch buffer for quick notes without saving a file?
:enew | setlocal buftype=nofile bufhidden=wipe noswapfile
A scratch buffer is a temporary, unnamed buffer that exists only in memory — it won't prompt you to save when you close it and leaves no trace on disk.
buffers-windows #buffers #editing #ex-commands #productivity #workflow
How do I keep project search results window-local with a location list?
:lvimgrep /TODO/j **/* | lopen
When you are working in split-heavy sessions, global quickfix results can become noisy because every window shares the same list.
How do I open any file in a project by partial name without a fuzzy finder plugin in Vim?
:find **/*.py
Vim's built-in :find command supports recursive glob patterns, making it possible to locate and open files anywhere in a project without installing a fuzzy find
How do I diff two files that are already open in Vim splits?
:diffthis
You often have two files open side by side and want to compare them without leaving Vim or launching vimdiff.
How do I stage and unstage Git files without leaving Vim?
:Git
The vim-fugitive plugin by Tim Pope provides an interactive Git status window that lets you stage, unstage, diff, and commit files entirely from within Vim.
How do I make Vim spell check CamelCase and mixedCase identifiers as individual words?
:set spelloptions=camel
By default, Vim treats camelCase as a single word and flags it as a spelling error even when both camel and case are correctly spelled.
How do I open netrw in a left sidebar rooted at the current file's directory?
:Lexplore %:p:h
When you are editing deep in a project, opening netrw from the working directory often puts you in the wrong place.
How do I read man pages inside Neovim with syntax highlighting and tag navigation?
:Man {name}
Neovim ships with a built-in :Man command (the man.
command-line #neovim #navigation #documentation #command-line
How do I execute Ctrl-W window commands from a Vimscript mapping or function without using :normal?
:wincmd {key}
:wincmd is the Ex command equivalent of any keystroke.
How do I find a file by name in Vim's path and open it in a new tab?
:tabfind {name}
:tabfind is the tab-aware counterpart to :find.
How do I open any file in a project by partial name without a fuzzy-finder plugin?
set path+=**
By adding to Vim's path option, you enable recursive directory search — which makes :find with tab completion a lightweight project-wide fuzzy finder, no plug
How do I make Vim's built-in file explorer display files as a tree rather than a flat list?
:let g:netrw_liststyle=3
Vim ships with a built-in file browser called netrw, opened with :Explore (or :Ex).
How do I open a related file with a different extension using the current filename?
:e %:r.html
In Vim's command line, % expands to the current buffer's filename.
command-line #ex-commands #command-line #buffers #navigation
How do I search across files with lvimgrep and keep results in a window-local location list?
:lvimgrep /pattern/j **/* | lopen
Quickfix is great, but it is global.
How do I compare two files side by side using Vim's built-in diff mode?
:vertical diffsplit {file}
Vim has a built-in diff mode that highlights added, removed, and changed lines between two (or more) buffers.