How do I reload my vimrc or source a Vimscript file?
:source %
The :source command reads and executes a Vimscript file.
Tag: command-line
How do I capture command output into a register?
:redir @a | command | redir END
The :redir command redirects Vim's command output to a register, file, or variable.
How do I build and execute a command dynamically?
:execute "command"
The :execute command evaluates a string expression and runs it as an Ex command.
How do I edit a command in a full Vim buffer before executing it?
<C-f> from : prompt
Pressing while on the : command line opens the command-line window, where you can edit your command using full Vim editing capabilities.
How do I run commands automatically when certain events occur?
:autocmd Event pattern command
Autocommands let you execute commands automatically in response to events like opening a file, saving, or changing buffers.
How do I create shortcuts for long Ex commands I type frequently?
:cabbrev
:cabbrev (command-line abbreviation) lets you define short aliases for longer Ex commands.
How do I find out which script or plugin defined a specific mapping or setting?
:verbose map <key> or :verbose set option?
The :verbose prefix shows where a mapping, setting, command, or function was defined — which file and line number.
command-line #command-line #debugging #config #mappings #workflow
How do I execute Vimscript code from the current buffer?
:source % or :'<,'>source
The :source command executes Vimscript from a file.
command-line #command-line #vimscript #workflow #development
How do I pass a range of lines through a shell command and replace them?
:{range}!command
The :{range}!command syntax pipes the specified lines through an external shell command and replaces them with the output.
command-line #command-line #shell #filtering #unix #ex-commands
How do I edit a complex Ex command in a full editing window?
q: or <C-f> from : prompt
The command-line window (q:) opens a full Vim buffer containing your Ex command history.
How do I chain multiple commands on lines matching a pattern with :g?
:g/pattern/cmd1 | cmd2
The :g (global) command can execute multiple Ex commands per matching line by chaining them with .
command-line #command-line #global #ex-commands #batch-editing #advanced
How do I send commands from a Vim buffer to an embedded terminal?
:term then <C-w>N for normal mode
Vim 8+ and Neovim have a built-in terminal emulator that runs inside a buffer.
command-line #command-line #terminal #workflow #productivity
How do I paste or reuse my last search pattern?
<C-r>/
Vim stores your last search pattern in the / register.
How do I sort lines and remove duplicates in Vim?
:%sort u
The :sort u command sorts all lines in the file and removes duplicate lines in one operation.
command-line #command-line #ex-commands #editing #text-manipulation #sort
How do I pretty-print or format JSON directly in Vim?
:%!python3 -m json.tool
The :%! command pipes the entire buffer through an external command and replaces it with the output.
command-line #command-line #shell #formatting #json #workflow
How do I run a command on every file in the quickfix list?
:cdo s/old/new/g | update
The :cdo command executes a given command on every entry in the quickfix list.
command-line #command-line #quickfix #batch-editing #search #multi-file
How do I quit Vim with a non-zero exit code?
:cq
The :cq command quits Vim and returns a non-zero exit code to the calling process.
How do I run a build command and jump to errors directly from Vim?
:make
The :make command runs your build tool and parses its output into the quickfix list, letting you jump directly to each error location.
command-line #command-line #quickfix #build #workflow #programming
How do I use marks to define a range for Ex commands?
:'a,'b s/old/new/g
Marks can be used as range specifiers in any Ex command.
command-line #marks #command-line #ex-commands #ranges #editing
How do I collect all lines matching a pattern into a register?
:g/pattern/y A
The :g/pattern/y A command yanks every line matching the pattern and appends it to register a.
command-line #command-line #registers #global #ex-commands #filtering