How do I navigate between errors and results in the quickfix list?
:cnext
The quickfix list is Vim's built-in way to collect a list of positions — typically compiler errors, grep results, or linter warnings — and jump between them
Search: :q!
272 results for ":q!"
How do I use a macro to generate a numbered list automatically?
qaYp<C-a>q99@a
By recording a macro that duplicates a line and increments its number, you can generate a numbered list of any length with a single replay command.
macros #macros #editing #normal-mode #automation #productivity
How do I toggle common Vim options like spell, wrap, and number with single keystrokes using vim-unimpaired?
yos, yow, yol, yon, yoh
The vim-unimpaired plugin adds a set of paired bracket mappings, including a powerful family of option toggles.
How do I inspect only Ex command history so I can quickly rerun a complex command?
:history :
When you work with long substitution pipelines or multi-part Ex commands, digging through all history (:history) adds noise.
How do I move the current line or a visual selection up or down without cutting and pasting?
[e and ]e
The [e and ]e mappings from Tim Pope's vim-unimpaired plugin exchange the current line (or a visual selection of lines) with the line above or below.
How do I search for a pattern in the current file and navigate results with the quickfix list?
:vimgrep /pattern/ %
When you need to find all occurrences of a pattern in the current file and jump between them systematically, :vimgrep with % is more powerful than basic / searc
How do I run a recorded macro across multiple files at once?
:argdo norm @a | update
Combining :argdo with :norm @a lets you apply a recorded macro to every file in Vim's argument list — a powerful pattern for bulk refactoring across a project
How do I filter the quickfix list to only show entries matching a pattern?
:Cfilter /pattern/
Vim ships with an optional built-in package called cfilter that adds :Cfilter and :Lfilter commands for narrowing down quickfix and location list entries by pat
How do I read a single keystroke from the user inside a Vimscript mapping or function?
getchar()
getchar() blocks and waits for the user to press a key, returning its numeric character code.
How do I use an external formatter with the gq operator in Vim?
:set formatprg={program}
Vim's gq operator normally reflows text to fit textwidth, but by setting formatprg you can delegate formatting to any external tool — a language formatter, a
How do I run a normal mode command on every visually selected line?
:'<,'>normal {command}
After making a visual selection, :'normal {command} runs any normal-mode command on each selected line individually.
How do I search across all of Vim's help documentation for a keyword or phrase?
:helpgrep {pattern}
:helpgrep searches the full text of every Vim help file for a pattern and loads all matches into the quickfix list.
How do I run builds and tests asynchronously without blocking Vim?
:Make / :Dispatch
The vim-dispatch plugin by Tim Pope provides asynchronous build and command execution so you can run compilers, test suites, and other long-running commands wit
How do I diagnose plugin and system issues from within Neovim using the built-in health checker?
:checkhealth
Neovim ships with a built-in health framework that runs diagnostic checks for core components and installed plugins.
How do I search and replace with confirmation for each match?
:%s/old/new/gc
Adding the c flag to a substitute command makes Vim pause at every match and ask you whether to replace it.
How do I configure Vim's :grep command to use ripgrep for faster project-wide searching?
:set grepprg=rg\ --vimgrep\ --smart-case
By default, Vim's :grep command calls the system grep.
How do I open a file in a read-only split window in Vim?
:sview {file}
The :sview command opens a file in a horizontal split window with the buffer set to read-only.
buffers-windows #buffers-windows #windows #navigation #ex-commands
How do I programmatically read and write Vim register contents including their type from Vimscript?
setreg()
The setreg(reg, value, type) and getreg(reg, 1, 1) functions give you full programmatic control over registers, including their type (characterwise, linewise, o
How do I create a mapping that runs an Ex command without switching modes or affecting the current state?
nnoremap <key> <Cmd>command<CR>
The special key (Vim 8.
config #config #macros #ex-commands #normal-mode #insert-mode
How do I edit multiple lines at once using multiple cursors in Vim?
<C-n>
The vim-visual-multi plugin (formerly vim-multiple-cursors) brings VS Code-style multiple cursor editing to Vim.
plugins #plugins #visual-multi #editing #multiple-cursors #refactoring