How do I use a macro to align text on a specific character like the equals sign?
qa0f=20i <Esc>20|C= <Esc>lDjq
How it works Aligning text on a delimiter such as = without plugins requires a clever macro technique.
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How do I create a custom key mapping?
:nnoremap key command
The :nnoremap command creates a non-recursive normal mode mapping.
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 decrement a number under the cursor?
<C-x>
The command decrements the number under or after the cursor by 1.
How do I jump back to locations where I previously made edits?
g; and g,
Vim tracks every position where you made a change in the changelist.
How do I create a new empty buffer?
:enew
The :enew command creates a new unnamed empty buffer in the current window.
How do I get a start screen with recent files and sessions?
vim-startify plugin
vim-startify provides a configurable start screen when you open Vim without a file.
How do I record a macro directly into the system clipboard register?
"+q{keys}q
You can record macros into any register, including the system clipboard (+).
How do I select a word under the cursor in visual mode?
viw
How it works The command viw selects the word under the cursor in visual mode.
How do I match a pattern only if it is preceded by specific text?
\@<=pattern
The \@<= atom is a positive lookbehind in Vim regex.
How do I create a macro that converts lines to a numbered list?
qa I1. <Esc>j q
This simple macro inserts a list number prefix at the beginning of each line.
How do I jump to the next unmatched closing parenthesis?
])
The ]) command moves forward to the next unmatched ).
How do I jump to the exact column position of a mark?
`{mark}
The backtick command ` ` followed by a mark name jumps to the exact line and column of that mark, unlike the single-quote ' which only goes to the line.
How do I convert a recorded macro into a permanent mapping?
:nnoremap <leader>x :norm! @a<CR>
Once you've perfected a macro by recording and testing it, you can make it permanent by converting it into a mapping in your vimrc.
How do I open a terminal inside Vim?
:terminal
The :terminal command opens an interactive terminal emulator directly inside a Vim window.
How do I search for text I just yanked using the register?
/<C-r>0
How it works After yanking text, you can use it directly as a search pattern by inserting the yank register contents into the search prompt.
How do I search for a pattern that spans multiple lines?
/pattern\n next-line
Using \n in a Vim search pattern matches a newline character, allowing you to find patterns that cross line boundaries.
How do I save only a range of lines to a file?
:{range}w filename
The :w command with a range and filename saves only the specified lines to a new file.
How do I use a macro to generate a numbered sequence in Vim?
qa Yp <C-a> q
By combining a macro with (increment number), you can quickly generate numbered sequences.
How do I delete all lines that do NOT match a pattern?
:v/pattern/d
The :v command (short for :vglobal) is the inverse of :g — it executes a command on every line that does not match the given pattern.
command-line #editing #ex-commands #search #filtering #productivity