How do I export the current buffer as syntax-highlighted HTML from within Vim?
:%TOhtml
Vim ships with a built-in plugin that converts the current buffer into a standalone HTML file, complete with your exact syntax highlighting colors.
Tag: ex-commands
Why doesn't \n insert a newline in a :s replacement, and what should I use instead?
:%s/,/,\r/g
In Vim substitutions, \n and \r behave differently depending on whether they appear in the search pattern or the replacement string — a common gotcha that sur
How do I pass special keys like Ctrl or arrow keys to :execute normal! in a Vimscript function or mapping?
:execute "normal! \<{key}>"
When building dynamic :execute normal! calls in Vimscript, you must use double-quoted strings with the \ notation so Vim interprets the special key codes.
How do I center, right-align, or left-align lines of text using Ex commands?
:center / :right / :left
Vim has built-in Ex commands to align text: :center, :right, and :left.
How do I apply a recorded macro to a range of lines without re-recording it in Vim?
:[range]normal @a
The :[range]normal @a command runs a recorded macro against every line in a given range.
macros #macros #registers #ex-commands #normal-mode #advanced
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 prepend a value to the beginning of a comma-separated Vim option like path or wildignore?
:set {option}^=value
Vim's :set option^=value operator prepends a value to the front of a list-style option, giving it the highest priority.
How do I right-align visually selected lines to a specific column width?
:'<,'>right {width}
The :right Ex command right-aligns lines within a given column width by padding them with spaces on the left.
visual-mode #visual-mode #formatting #ex-commands #alignment
How do I stop Vim from constantly showing 'Hit ENTER to continue' by giving messages more room?
:set cmdheight=2
The cmdheight option controls how many lines Vim reserves for the command-line area at the bottom of the screen.
How do I run a normal mode command that bypasses all user-defined key mappings?
:norm!
The :normal! command (abbreviated :norm!) executes a sequence of Normal mode keystrokes while completely ignoring user-defined mappings and abbreviations.
How do I read the contents of a Vim register into a variable or expression using Vimscript?
getreg()
The getreg({name}) function returns the content of any register as a string.
How do I run a Vim command and suppress all its output messages and error messages?
:silent!
The :silent! modifier runs an Ex command without displaying any output or error messages.
How do I write a search pattern that requires two conditions to match at the same position in Vim?
\&
Vim's \& operator is the AND combinator in a search pattern.
How do I discard all unsaved changes and reload the file from disk in Vim?
:e!
:e! forces Vim to reload the current file from disk, discarding every unsaved change in the buffer.
buffers-windows #buffers-windows #editing #undo-redo #ex-commands
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 configure Vim to find a tags file by searching up through parent directories automatically?
:set tags+=./tags;,tags
By default, Vim only looks for a tags file in the current directory.
How do I automatically fill a new file with a boilerplate template when creating it in Vim?
autocmd BufNewFile *.py 0r ~/.vim/templates/python.py
When you create a new file in Vim (e.
How do I customize which patterns Vim considers a definition for [d and ]d jump commands?
:set define=^\\s*def
Vim's [d, ]d, [D, and ]D commands search for the "definition" of the keyword under the cursor.
How do I duplicate every line in a buffer so each line appears twice in place?
:g/^/t.
The command :g/^/t.
How do I programmatically exit insert mode from an autocommand or Vimscript function?
:stopinsert
:stopinsert is an Ex command that immediately exits insert (or replace) mode and returns to normal mode.
command-line #insert-mode #ex-commands #autocommands #normal-mode