How do I create abbreviations for the Vim command line to fix typos like W and Q?
:cnoreabbrev {lhs} {rhs}
:cnoreabbrev defines a non-recursive command-line abbreviation — like noremap but for Ex commands.
Tag: ex-commands
How do I use lambda functions in Vimscript to filter or transform lists?
{args -> expr}
Vim 8.
How do I re-open a file in Vim with a specific encoding without restarting?
:e ++enc={encoding}
When Vim auto-detects the wrong character encoding — mojibake where é shows as é is a classic symptom — you can reload the current buffer with a specifi
How do I create a dynamic abbreviation that inserts live content like the current date?
:iabbrev <expr> {trigger} {expression}
The flag on :iabbrev turns the right-hand side into a Vimscript expression that is evaluated at expansion time rather than stored as a literal string.
How do I get just the filename without its path or extension to use in a command?
%:t:r
Vim's % special character expands to the current filename and accepts a chain of colon-delimited modifiers.
command-line #command-line #ex-commands #editing #navigation
How do I run an external shell command from Vim without the press-enter prompt afterward?
:silent !{cmd}
Running :!cmd in Vim shows the command's output and then pauses with a "Press ENTER or type command to continue" prompt.
How do I set up a local leader key for file-type-specific mappings that don't conflict with global mappings?
:let maplocalleader = ','
Vim provides two separate leader keys: (global) and (local to the current buffer).
How do I save and automatically restore a buffer's fold state and cursor position across Vim sessions?
:mkview / :loadview
:mkview saves a snapshot of the current window — its fold states, cursor position, and local option values — to a view file on disk.
buffers-windows #folding #buffers-windows #config #ex-commands
How do I force-convert all indentation including tabs in the middle of lines throughout an entire file?
:%retab!
The :retab command converts leading whitespace according to the current tabstop and expandtab settings, but it only touches indentation at the start of lines.
How do I create a normal mode mapping that correctly captures and passes a count prefix to a function?
nnoremap <key> :<C-u>call MyFunc(v:count)<CR>
When writing custom mappings that call Vimscript functions, a common pitfall is that any count you type before the key (e.
How do I restrict a substitution to the range between two named marks?
:'a,'bs/old/new/g
Named marks can serve as range endpoints for any Ex command, including :substitute.
How do I quickly delete all lines in the current buffer?
:%d
The % range address in Ex commands stands for the entire file — it is shorthand for 1,$ (first line to last line).
How do I quickly configure Vim to parse compiler errors for a specific language using a built-in compiler plugin?
:compiler
Vim ships with built-in compiler plugins for many languages and tools — including gcc, python, cargo, eslint, tsc, and more.
command-line #ex-commands #config #buffers-windows #command-line
How do I step through the files in my argument list one at a time?
:next
When Vim is opened with multiple files (e.
command-line #buffers-windows #ex-commands #navigation #editing
How do I run a substitute or filter command without Vim automatically repositioning my marks?
:keepmarks
When Vim executes commands that move or reorder lines — such as :sort, :%!sort, or :s/// across ranges — it automatically adjusts named marks to follow the
How do I instantly erase everything I have typed on the command line and start the command over?
<C-u> (command line)
When you are typing a long Ex command on the : prompt and realise you've made a mistake, pressing erases everything from the cursor back to the beginning of the
command-line #command-line #ex-commands #editing #insert-mode
How do I jump directly to the first or last entry in the quickfix list?
:cfirst and :clast
:cfirst and :clast jump directly to the first or last entry in the quickfix list, skipping all intermediate results.
How do I reference just the filename without its extension in a Vim command?
%:r
The %:r expression expands to the current filename with its extension removed (the "root" of the filename).
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 run Lua code in the context of a specific buffer without switching to it in Neovim?
vim.api.nvim_buf_call()
vim.