:set viewoptions=cursor,folds,slash,unix
The viewoptions setting is a comma-separated list that determines exactly what :mkview (and the auto-save view pattern) stores in a view file.
:args **/*.py | argdo %s/old/new/ge | update
Combining :args, :argdo, and :update gives you a powerful in-editor multi-file search and replace without leaving Vim.
:find {filename}
:find searches for a file in all directories listed in the path option and opens it in the current window.
:keepmarks %s/pattern/replacement/g
The :keepmarks modifier prevents Vim from adjusting mark positions when a buffer-modifying command runs.
:set noexpandtab | retab!
When you inherit space-indented code and need to switch to tabs, :retab! (with the bang) converts groups of spaces into tabs throughout the file.
vim.lsp.buf.code_action({ apply = true, filter = function(a) return a.isPreferred end })
When an LSP server marks a code action as isPreferred (e.
vim.keymap.set('n', '{key}', {fn}, { desc = '{description}' })
When defining keymaps with vim.
!{motion}sort
The ! operator in Vim filters a motion's text through an external shell command, replacing it with the output.
:[range]w !{cmd}
The :[range]w !{cmd} command writes a range of lines to the standard input of a shell command, leaving the buffer completely unchanged.
:g/pattern1/g/pattern2/command
Vim's :g command can be nested — the command part of one :g can itself be another :g.
\%[seq]
Vim's \%[seq] atom makes the sequence seq optional in a pattern — matching any prefix of the sequence (including nothing).
:noautocmd e {file}
When you have heavy autocmds registered for BufRead, BufEnter, or FileType events — such as LSP clients, formatters, or syntax processors — opening a large
command-line #command-line #ex-commands #buffers-windows #config
\U, \L, \u, \l, \e in :substitute replacement
Vim's substitute command supports in-replacement case conversion metacharacters that transform the case of matched text without extra scripting.
:match {group} /pattern/
:match, :2match, and :3match give you three independent highlight slots that overlay patterns on the buffer using any highlight group — without touching the s
:wincmd {cmd}
:wincmd {key} is the Ex command equivalent of every {key} window shortcut.
buffers-windows #buffers-windows #windows #ex-commands #normal-mode
:s/\%Vfoo/bar/
The \%V atom in Vim's regex engine matches only within the area of the last visual selection.
search #search #visual-mode #substitute #advanced #ex-commands
:put =''
Using :put ='' with an empty expression lets you insert blank lines in normal mode without ever entering insert mode.
editing #editing #normal-mode #ex-commands #expression-register #blank-line
ftdetect/{filetype}.vim
Vim automatically sources every file in ftdetect/ directories on the runtimepath when filetype detection runs.
:command -range {Name} ...
Custom Ex commands defined with :command -range can be called with a line range (e.
:'<,'>normal {command}
After making a visual selection, :'normal {command} runs any normal-mode command on each selected line individually.
