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editing.txt
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*editing.txt* For Vim version 9.1. Last change: 2024 Oct 14
VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar
Editing files *edit-files*
1. Introduction |edit-intro|
2. Editing a file |edit-a-file|
3. The argument list |argument-list|
4. Writing |writing|
5. Writing and quitting |write-quit|
6. Dialogs |edit-dialogs|
7. The current directory |current-directory|
8. Editing binary files |edit-binary|
9. Encryption |encryption|
10. Timestamps |timestamps|
11. File Searching |file-searching|
==============================================================================
1. Introduction *edit-intro*
Editing a file with Vim means:
1. reading the file into a buffer
2. changing the buffer with editor commands
3. writing the buffer into a file
*current-file*
As long as you don't write the buffer, the original file remains unchanged.
If you start editing a file (read a file into the buffer), the file name is
remembered as the "current file name". This is also known as the name of the
current buffer. It can be used with "%" on the command line |:_%|.
*alternate-file*
If there already was a current file name, then that one becomes the alternate
file name. It can be used with "#" on the command line |:_#| and you can use
the |CTRL-^| command to toggle between the current and the alternate file.
However, the alternate file name is not changed when |:keepalt| is used.
An alternate file name is remembered for each window.
*:keepalt* *:keepa*
:keepalt {cmd} Execute {cmd} while keeping the current alternate file
name. Note that commands invoked indirectly (e.g.,
with a function) may still set the alternate file
name.
All file names are remembered in the buffer list. When you enter a file name,
for editing (e.g., with ":e filename") or writing (e.g., with ":w filename"),
the file name is added to the list. You can use the buffer list to remember
which files you edited and to quickly switch from one file to another (e.g.,
to copy text) with the |CTRL-^| command. First type the number of the file
and then hit CTRL-^.
CTRL-G or *CTRL-G* *:f* *:fi* *:file*
:f[ile] Prints the current file name (as typed, unless ":cd"
was used), the cursor position (unless the 'ruler'
option is set), and the file status (readonly,
modified, read errors, new file). See the 'shortmess'
option about how to make this message shorter.
:f[ile]! like |:file|, but don't truncate the name even when
'shortmess' indicates this.
{count}CTRL-G Like CTRL-G, but prints the current file name with
full path. If the count is higher than 1 the current
buffer number is also given.
*g_CTRL-G* *word-count* *byte-count*
g CTRL-G Prints the current position of the cursor in five
ways: Column, Line, Word, Character and Byte. If the
number of Characters and Bytes is the same then the
Character position is omitted.
If there are characters in the line that take more
than one position on the screen (<Tab> or special
character), or characters using more than one byte per
column (characters above 0x7F when 'encoding' is
utf-8), both the byte column and the screen column are
shown, separated by a dash.
Also see the 'ruler' option and the |wordcount()|
function.
*v_g_CTRL-G*
{Visual}g CTRL-G Similar to "g CTRL-G", but Word, Character, Line, and
Byte counts for the visually selected region are
displayed.
In Blockwise mode, Column count is also shown. (For
{Visual} see |Visual-mode|.)
*:file_f*
:f[ile][!] {name} Sets the current file name to {name}. The optional !
avoids truncating the message, as with |:file|.
If the buffer did have a name, that name becomes the
|alternate-file| name. An unlisted buffer is created
to hold the old name.
*:0file*
:0f[ile][!] Remove the name of the current buffer. The optional !
avoids truncating the message, as with |:file|.
:buffers
:files
:ls List all the currently known file names. See
|windows.txt| |:files| |:buffers| |:ls|.
Vim will remember the full path name of a file name that you enter. In most
cases when the file name is displayed only the name you typed is shown, but
the full path name is being used if you used the ":cd" command |:cd|.
*home-replace*
If the environment variable $HOME is set, and the file name starts with that
string, it is often displayed with HOME replaced with "~". This was done to
keep file names short. When reading or writing files the full name is still
used, the "~" is only used when displaying file names. When replacing the
file name would result in just "~", "~/" is used instead (to avoid confusion
between options set to $HOME with 'backupext' set to "~").
When writing the buffer, the default is to use the current file name. Thus
when you give the "ZZ" or ":wq" command, the original file will be
overwritten. If you do not want this, the buffer can be written into another
file by giving a file name argument to the ":write" command. For example: >
vim testfile
[change the buffer with editor commands]
:w newfile
:q
This will create a file "newfile", that is a modified copy of "testfile".
The file "testfile" will remain unchanged. Anyway, if the 'backup' option is
set, Vim renames or copies the original file before it will be overwritten.
You can use this file if you discover that you need the original file. See
also the 'patchmode' option. The name of the backup file is normally the same
as the original file with 'backupext' appended. The default "~" is a bit
strange to avoid accidentally overwriting existing files. If you prefer ".bak"
change the 'backupext' option. Extra dots are replaced with '_' on MS-Windows
machines, when Vim has detected that an MS-DOS-like filesystem is being used
(e.g., messydos or crossdos) or when the 'shortname' option is on. The
backup file can be placed in another directory by setting 'backupdir'.
*auto-shortname*
Technical: On the Amiga you can use 30 characters for a file name. But on an
MS-DOS-compatible filesystem only 8 plus 3 characters are
available. Vim tries to detect the type of filesystem when it is
creating the .swp file. If an MS-DOS-like filesystem is suspected,
a flag is set that has the same effect as setting the 'shortname'
option. This flag will be reset as soon as you start editing a
new file. The flag will be used when making the file name for the
".swp" and ".~" files for the current file. But when you are
editing a file in a normal filesystem and write to an MS-DOS-like
filesystem the flag will not have been set. In that case the
creation of the ".~" file may fail and you will get an error
message. Use the 'shortname' option in this case.
When you started editing without giving a file name, "No File" is displayed in
messages. If the ":write" command is used with a file name argument, the file
name for the current file is set to that file name. This only happens when
the 'F' flag is included in 'cpoptions' (by default it is included) |cpo-F|.
This is useful when entering text in an empty buffer and then writing it to a
file. If 'cpoptions' contains the 'f' flag (by default it is NOT included)
|cpo-f| the file name is set for the ":read file" command. This is useful
when starting Vim without an argument and then doing ":read file" to start
editing a file.
When the file name was set and 'filetype' is empty the filetype detection
autocommands will be triggered.
*not-edited*
Because the file name was set without really starting to edit that file, you
are protected from overwriting that file. This is done by setting the
"notedited" flag. You can see if this flag is set with the CTRL-G or ":file"
command. It will include "[Not edited]" when the "notedited" flag is set.
When writing the buffer to the current file name (with ":w!"), the "notedited"
flag is reset.
*abandon*
Vim remembers whether you have changed the buffer. You are protected from
losing the changes you made. If you try to quit without writing, or want to
start editing another file, Vim will refuse this. In order to overrule this
protection, add a '!' to the command. The changes will then be lost. For
example: ":q" will not work if the buffer was changed, but ":q!" will. To see
whether the buffer was changed use the "CTRL-G" command. The message includes
the string "[Modified]" if the buffer has been changed, or "+" if the 'm' flag
is in 'shortmess'.
If you want to automatically save the changes without asking, switch on the
'autowriteall' option. 'autowrite' is the associated Vi-compatible option
that does not work for all commands.
If you want to keep the changed buffer without saving it, switch on the
'hidden' option. See |hidden-buffer|. Some commands work like this even when
'hidden' is not set, check the help for the command.
==============================================================================
2. Editing a file *edit-a-file*
*:e* *:edit* *reload*
:e[dit] [++opt] [+cmd] Edit the current file. This is useful to re-edit the
current file, when it has been changed outside of Vim.
This fails when changes have been made to the current
buffer and 'autowriteall' isn't set or the file can't
be written.
Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
*:edit!* *discard*
:e[dit]! [++opt] [+cmd]
Edit the current file always. Discard any changes to
the current buffer. This is useful if you want to
start all over again.
Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
*:edit_f*
:e[dit] [++opt] [+cmd] {file}
Edit {file}.
This fails when changes have been made to the current
buffer, unless 'hidden' is set or 'autowriteall' is
set and the file can be written.
Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
*:edit!_f*
:e[dit]! [++opt] [+cmd] {file}
Edit {file} always. Discard any changes to the
current buffer.
Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
*:edit_#* *:e#*
:e[dit] [++opt] [+cmd] #[count]
Edit the [count]th buffer (as shown by |:files|).
This command does the same as [count] CTRL-^. But ":e
#" doesn't work if the alternate buffer doesn't have a
file name, while CTRL-^ still works then.
Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
*:ene* *:enew*
:ene[w] Edit a new, unnamed buffer. This fails when changes
have been made to the current buffer, unless 'hidden'
is set or 'autowriteall' is set and the file can be
written.
If 'fileformats' is not empty, the first format given
will be used for the new buffer. If 'fileformats' is
empty, the 'fileformat' of the current buffer is used.
*:ene!* *:enew!*
:ene[w]! Edit a new, unnamed buffer. Discard any changes to
the current buffer.
Set 'fileformat' like |:enew|.
*:fin* *:find*
:fin[d][!] [++opt] [+cmd] {file}
Find {file} in 'path' and then |:edit| it.
:{count}fin[d][!] [++opt] [+cmd] {file}
Just like ":find", but use the {count} match in
'path'. Thus ":2find file" will find the second
"file" found in 'path'. When there are fewer matches
for the file in 'path' than asked for, you get an
error message.
*:ex*
:ex [++opt] [+cmd] [file]
Same as |:edit|.
*:vi* *:visual*
:vi[sual][!] [++opt] [+cmd] [file]
When used in Ex mode: Leave |Ex-mode|, go back to
Normal mode. Otherwise same as |:edit|.
*:vie* *:view*
:vie[w][!] [++opt] [+cmd] file
When used in Ex mode: Leave |Ex-mode|, go back to
Normal mode. Otherwise same as |:edit|, but set
'readonly' option for this buffer.
*CTRL-^* *CTRL-6*
CTRL-^ Edit the alternate file. Mostly the alternate file is
the previously edited file. This is a quick way to
toggle between two files. It is equivalent to ":e #",
except that it also works when there is no file name.
If the 'autowrite' or 'autowriteall' option is on and
the buffer was changed, write it.
Mostly the ^ character is positioned on the 6 key,
pressing CTRL and 6 then gets you what we call CTRL-^.
But on some non-US keyboards CTRL-^ is produced in
another way.
{count}CTRL-^ Edit [count]th file in the buffer list (equivalent to
":e #[count]"). This is a quick way to switch between
files.
See |CTRL-^| above for further details.
[count]]f *]f* *[f*
[count][f Same as "gf". Deprecated.
*gf* *E446* *E447*
[count]gf Edit the file whose name is under or after the cursor.
Mnemonic: "goto file".
Uses the 'isfname' option to find out which characters
are supposed to be in a file name. Trailing
punctuation characters ".,:;!" are ignored. Escaped
spaces "\ " are reduced to a single space.
Uses the 'path' option as a list of directory names to
look for the file. See the 'path' option for details
about relative directories and wildcards.
Uses the 'suffixesadd' option to check for file names
with a suffix added.
If the file can't be found, 'includeexpr' is used to
modify the name and another attempt is done.
If a [count] is given, the count'th file that is found
in the 'path' is edited.
This command fails if Vim refuses to |abandon| the
current file.
If you want to edit the file in a new window use
|CTRL-W_CTRL-F|.
If you do want to edit a new file, use: >
:e <cfile>
< To make gf always work like that: >
:map gf :e <cfile><CR>
< If the name is a hypertext link, that looks like
"type://machine/path", you need the |netrw| plugin.
For Unix the '~' character is expanded, like in
"~user/file". Environment variables are expanded too
|expand-env|.
*v_gf*
{Visual}[count]gf Same as "gf", but the highlighted text is used as the
name of the file to edit. 'isfname' is ignored.
Leading blanks are skipped, otherwise all blanks and
special characters are included in the file name.
(For {Visual} see |Visual-mode|.)
*gF*
[count]gF Same as "gf", except if a number follows the file
name, then the cursor is positioned on that line in
the file.
The file name and the number must be separated by a
non-filename (see 'isfname') and non-numeric
character. " line " is also recognized, like it is
used in the output of `:verbose command UserCmd`
White space between the filename, the separator and
the number are ignored.
Examples:
eval.c:10 ~
eval.c @ 20 ~
eval.c (30) ~
eval.c 40 ~
*v_gF*
{Visual}[count]gF Same as "v_gf".
These commands are used to start editing a single file. This means that the
file is read into the buffer and the current file name is set. The file that
is opened depends on the current directory, see |:cd|.
See |read-messages| for an explanation of the message that is given after the
file has been read.
You can use the ":e!" command if you messed up the buffer and want to start
all over again. The ":e" command is only useful if you have changed the
current file name.
*:filename* *{file}*
Besides the things mentioned here, more special items for where a filename is
expected are mentioned at |cmdline-special|.
Note for systems other than Unix: When using a command that accepts a single
file name (like ":edit file") spaces in the file name are allowed, but
trailing spaces are ignored. This is useful on systems that regularly embed
spaces in file names (like MS-Windows and the Amiga). Example: The command
":e Long File Name " will edit the file "Long File Name". When using a
command that accepts more than one file name (like ":next file1 file2")
embedded spaces must be escaped with a backslash.
*wildcard* *wildcards*
Wildcards in {file} are expanded, but as with file completion, 'wildignore'
and 'suffixes' apply. Which wildcards are supported depends on the system.
These are the common ones:
? matches one character
* matches anything, including nothing
** matches anything, including nothing, recurses into directories
[abc] match 'a', 'b' or 'c'
To avoid the special meaning of the wildcards prepend a backslash. However,
on MS-Windows the backslash is a path separator and "path\[abc]" is still seen
as a wildcard when "[" is in the 'isfname' option. A simple way to avoid this
is to use "path\[[]abc]", this matches the file "path\[abc]".
*starstar-wildcard*
Expanding "**" is possible on Unix, Win32, macOS and a few other systems (but
it may depend on your 'shell' setting on Unix and macOS. It's known to work
correctly for zsh; for bash this requires at least bash version >= 4.X).
This allows searching a directory tree. This goes up to 100 directories deep.
Note there are some commands where this works slightly differently, see
|file-searching|.
Example: >
:n **/*.txt
Finds files:
aaa.txt ~
subdir/bbb.txt ~
a/b/c/d/ccc.txt ~
When non-wildcard characters are used right before or after "**" these are
only matched in the top directory. They are not used for directories further
down in the tree. For example: >
:n /usr/inc**/types.h
Finds files:
/usr/include/types.h ~
/usr/include/sys/types.h ~
/usr/inc/old/types.h ~
Note that the path with "/sys" is included because it does not need to match
"/inc". Thus it's like matching "/usr/inc*/*/*...", not
"/usr/inc*/inc*/inc*".
*backtick-expansion* *`-expansion*
On Unix and a few other systems you can also use backticks for the file name
argument, for example: >
:next `find . -name ver\\*.c -print`
:view `ls -t *.patch \| head -n1`
Vim will run the command in backticks using the 'shell' and use the standard
output as argument for the given Vim command (error messages from the shell
command will be discarded).
To see what shell command Vim is running, set the 'verbose' option to 4. When
the shell command returns a non-zero exit code, an error message will be
displayed and the Vim command will be aborted. To avoid this make the shell
always return zero like so: >
:next `find . -name ver\\*.c -print \|\| true`
The backslashes before the star are required to prevent the shell from
expanding "ver*.c" prior to execution of the find program. The backslash
before the shell pipe symbol "|" prevents Vim from parsing it as command
termination.
This also works for most other systems, with the restriction that the
backticks must be around the whole item. It is not possible to have text
directly before the first or just after the last backtick.
*`=* *E1083*
You can have the backticks expanded as a Vim expression, instead of as an
external command, by putting an equal sign right after the first backtick,
e.g.: >
:e `=tempname()`
The expression can contain just about anything, thus this can also be used to
avoid the special meaning of '"', '|', '%' and '#'. However, 'wildignore'
does apply like to other wildcards.
Environment variables in the expression are expanded when evaluating the
expression, thus this works: >
:e `=$HOME .. '/.vimrc'`
This uses $HOME inside a string and it will be used literally, most likely not
what you intended: >
:e `='$HOME' .. '/.vimrc'`
If the expression returns a string then names are to be separated with line
breaks. When the result is a |List| then each item is used as a name. Line
breaks also separate names.
Note that such expressions are only supported in places where a filename is
expected as an argument to an Ex-command.
*++opt* *[++opt]*
The [++opt] argument can be used to force the value of 'fileformat',
'fileencoding' or 'binary' to a value for one command, and to specify the
behavior for bad characters. The form is: >
++{optname}
Or: >
++{optname}={value}
Where {optname} is one of: *++ff* *++enc* *++bin* *++nobin* *++edit*
ff or fileformat overrides 'fileformat'
enc or encoding overrides 'fileencoding'
bin or binary sets 'binary'
nobin or nobinary resets 'binary'
bad specifies behavior for bad characters
edit for |:read| only: keep option values as if editing
a file
{value} cannot contain white space. It can be any valid value for these
options. Examples: >
:e ++ff=unix
This edits the same file again with 'fileformat' set to "unix". >
:w ++enc=latin1 newfile
This writes the current buffer to "newfile" in latin1 format.
The message given when writing a file will show "[converted]" when
'fileencoding' or the value specified with ++enc differs from 'encoding'.
There may be several ++opt arguments, separated by white space. They must all
appear before any |+cmd| argument.
*++bad*
The argument of "++bad=" specifies what happens with characters that can't be
converted and illegal bytes. It can be one of three things:
++bad=X A single-byte character that replaces each bad character.
++bad=keep Keep bad characters without conversion. Note that this may
result in illegal bytes in your text!
++bad=drop Remove the bad characters.
The default is like "++bad=?": Replace each bad character with a question
mark. In some places an inverted question mark is used (0xBF).
Note that not all commands use the ++bad argument, even though they do not
give an error when you add it. E.g. |:write|.
Note that when reading, the 'fileformat' and 'fileencoding' options will be
set to the used format. When writing this doesn't happen, thus a next write
will use the old value of the option. Same for the 'binary' option.
*+cmd* *[+cmd]*
The [+cmd] argument can be used to position the cursor in the newly opened
file, or execute any other command:
+ Start at the last line.
+{num} Start at line {num}.
+/{pat} Start at first line containing {pat}.
+{command} Execute {command} after opening the new file.
{command} is any Ex command.
To include a white space in the {pat} or {command}, precede it with a
backslash. Double the number of backslashes. >
:edit +/The\ book file
:edit +/dir\ dirname\\ file
:edit +set\ dir=c:\\\\temp file
Note that in the last example the number of backslashes is halved twice: Once
for the "+cmd" argument and once for the ":set" command.
*file-formats*
The 'fileformat' option sets the <EOL> style for a file:
'fileformat' characters name ~
"dos" <CR><NL> or <NL> DOS format *DOS-format*
"unix" <NL> Unix format *Unix-format*
"mac" <CR> Mac format *Mac-format*
Previously 'textmode' was used. It is obsolete now.
When reading a file, the mentioned characters are interpreted as the <EOL>.
In DOS format (default for Win32), <CR><NL> and <NL> are both interpreted as
the <EOL>. Note that when writing the file in DOS format, <CR> characters
will be added for each single <NL>. Also see |file-read|.
When writing a file, the mentioned characters are used for <EOL>. For DOS
format <CR><NL> is used. Also see |DOS-format-write|.
You can read a file in DOS format and write it in Unix format. This will
replace all <CR><NL> pairs by <NL> (assuming 'fileformats' includes "dos"): >
:e file
:set fileformat=unix
:w
If you read a file in Unix format and write with DOS format, all <NL>
characters will be replaced with <CR><NL> (assuming 'fileformats' includes
"unix"): >
:e file
:set fileformat=dos
:w
If you start editing a new file and the 'fileformats' option is not empty
(which is the default), Vim will try to detect whether the lines in the file
are separated by the specified formats. When set to "unix,dos", Vim will
check for lines with a single <NL> (as used on Unix and Amiga) or by a <CR>
<NL> pair (MS-Windows). Only when ALL lines end in <CR><NL>, 'fileformat' is
set to "dos", otherwise it is set to "unix". When 'fileformats' includes
"mac", and no <NL> characters are found in the file, 'fileformat' is set to
"mac".
If the 'fileformat' option is set to "dos" on non-MS-Windows systems the
message "[dos format]" is shown to remind you that something unusual is
happening. On MS-Windows systems you get the message "[unix format]" if
'fileformat' is set to "unix". On all systems but the Macintosh you get the
message "[mac format]" if 'fileformat' is set to "mac".
If the 'fileformats' option is empty and DOS format is used, but while reading
a file some lines did not end in <CR><NL>, "[CR missing]" will be included in
the file message.
If the 'fileformats' option is empty and Mac format is used, but while reading
a file a <NL> was found, "[NL missing]" will be included in the file message.
If the new file does not exist, the 'fileformat' of the current buffer is used
when 'fileformats' is empty. Otherwise the first format from 'fileformats' is
used for the new file.
Before editing binary, executable or Vim script files you should set the
'binary' option. A simple way to do this is by starting Vim with the "-b"
option. This will avoid the use of 'fileformat'. Without this you risk that
single <NL> characters are unexpectedly replaced with <CR><NL>.
You can encrypt files that are written by setting the 'key' option. This
provides some security against others reading your files. |encryption|
END OF LINE AND END OF FILE *eol-and-eof*
Vim has several options to control the file format:
'fileformat' the <EOL> style: Unix, DOS, Mac
'endofline' whether the last line ends with a <EOL>
'endoffile' whether the file ends with a CTRL-Z
'fixendofline' whether to fix eol and eof
The first three values are normally detected automatically when reading the
file and are used when writing the text to a file. While editing the buffer
it looks like every line has a line ending and the CTRL-Z isn't there (an
exception is when 'binary' is set, it works differently then).
The 'fixendofline' option can be used to choose what to write. You can also
change the option values to write the file differently than how it was read.
Here are some examples how to use them.
If you want files in Unix format (every line NL terminated): >
setl ff=unix fixeol
You should probably do this on any Unix-like system. Also modern MS-Windows
systems tend to work well with this. It is recommended to always use this
format for Vim scripts.
If you want to use an old MS-DOS file in a modern environment, fixing line
endings and dropping CTRL-Z, but keeping the <CR><NL> style <EOL>: >
setl ff=dos fixeol
This is useful for many MS-Windows programs, they regularly expect the
<CR><NL> line endings.
If you want to drop the final <EOL> and add a final CTRL-Z (e.g. for an old
system like CP/M): >
setl ff=dos nofixeol noeol eof
If you want to preserve the fileformat exactly as-is, including any final
<EOL> and final CTRL-Z: >
setl nofixeol
==============================================================================
3. The argument list *argument-list* *arglist*
If you give more than one file name when starting Vim, this list is remembered
as the argument list. You can jump to each file in this list.
Do not confuse this with the buffer list, which you can see with the
|:buffers| command. The argument list was already present in Vi, the buffer
list is new in Vim. Every file name in the argument list will also be present
in the buffer list (unless it was deleted with |:bdel| or |:bwipe|). But it's
common that names in the buffer list are not in the argument list.
This subject is introduced in section |07.2| of the user manual.
There is one global argument list, which is used for all windows by default.
It is possible to create a new argument list local to a window, see
|:arglocal|.
You can use the argument list with the following commands, and with the
expression functions |argc()| and |argv()|. These all work on the argument
list of the current window.
*:ar* *:arg* *:args*
:ar[gs] Print the argument list, with the current file in
square brackets.
:ar[gs] [++opt] [+cmd] {arglist} *:args_f*
Define {arglist} as the new argument list and edit
the first one. This fails when changes have been made
and Vim does not want to |abandon| the current buffer.
Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
:ar[gs]! [++opt] [+cmd] {arglist} *:args_f!*
Define {arglist} as the new argument list and edit
the first one. Discard any changes to the current
buffer.
Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
:[count]arge[dit][!] [++opt] [+cmd] {name} .. *:arge* *:argedit*
Add {name}s to the argument list and edit it.
There is no check for duplicates, it is possible to
add a file to the argument list twice |:argded|.
This is like using |:argadd| and then |:edit| (with
the small exception that |:edit| does not change the
argument list, so the argument list pointer isn't
changed).
Spaces in filenames have to be escaped with "\".
[count] is used like with |:argadd|.
If the current file cannot be |abandon|ed {name}s will
still be added to the argument list, but won't be
edited. No check for duplicates is done.
Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
:[count]arga[dd] {name} .. *:arga* *:argadd* *E479*
:[count]arga[dd] *E1156*
Add the {name}s to the argument list. When {name} is
omitted add the current buffer name to the argument
list.
If [count] is omitted, the {name}s are added just
after the current entry in the argument list.
Otherwise they are added after the [count]'th file.
If the argument list is "a b c", and "b" is the
current argument, then these commands result in:
command new argument list ~
:argadd x a [b] x c
:0argadd x x a [b] c
:1argadd x a x [b] c
:$argadd x a [b] c x
And after the last one:
:+2argadd y a [b] c x y
There is no check for duplicates, it is possible to
add a file to the argument list twice. You can use
|:argdedupe| to fix it afterwards: >
:argadd *.txt | argdedupe
< The currently edited file is not changed.
Note: you can also use this method: >
:args ## x
< This will add the "x" item and sort the new list.
:argded[upe] *:argded* *:argdedupe*
Remove duplicate filenames from the argument list.
If your current file is a duplicate, your current file
will change to the original file index.
:argd[elete] {pattern} .. *:argd* *:argdelete* *E480* *E610*
Delete files from the argument list that match the
{pattern}s. {pattern} is used like a file pattern,
see |file-pattern|. "%" can be used to delete the
current entry.
This command keeps the currently edited file, also
when it's deleted from the argument list.
Example: >
:argdel *.obj
:[range]argd[elete] Delete the [range] files from the argument list.
Example: >
:10,$argdel
< Deletes arguments 10 and further, keeping 1-9. >
:$argd
< Deletes just the last one. >
:argd
:.argd
< Deletes the current argument. >
:%argd
< Removes all the files from the arglist.
When the last number in the range is too high, up to
the last argument is deleted.
*:argu* *:argument*
:[count]argu[ment] [count] [++opt] [+cmd]
Edit file [count] in the argument list. When [count]
is omitted the current entry is used. This fails
when changes have been made and Vim does not want to
|abandon| the current buffer.
Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
:[count]argu[ment]! [count] [++opt] [+cmd]
Edit file [count] in the argument list, discard any
changes to the current buffer. When [count] is
omitted the current entry is used.
Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
:[count]n[ext] [++opt] [+cmd] *:n* *:ne* *:next* *E165* *E163*
Edit [count] next file. This fails when changes have
been made and Vim does not want to |abandon| the
current buffer. Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
:[count]n[ext]! [++opt] [+cmd]
Edit [count] next file, discard any changes to the
buffer. Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
:n[ext] [++opt] [+cmd] {arglist} *:next_f*
Same as |:args_f|.
:n[ext]! [++opt] [+cmd] {arglist}
Same as |:args_f!|.
:[count]N[ext] [count] [++opt] [+cmd] *:Next* *:N* *E164*
Edit [count] previous file in argument list. This
fails when changes have been made and Vim does not
want to |abandon| the current buffer.
Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
:[count]N[ext]! [count] [++opt] [+cmd]
Edit [count] previous file in argument list. Discard
any changes to the buffer. Also see |++opt| and
|+cmd|.
:[count]prev[ious] [count] [++opt] [+cmd] *:prev* *:previous*
Same as :Next. Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
*:rew* *:rewind*
:rew[ind] [++opt] [+cmd]
Start editing the first file in the argument list.
This fails when changes have been made and Vim does
not want to |abandon| the current buffer.
Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
:rew[ind]! [++opt] [+cmd]
Start editing the first file in the argument list.
Discard any changes to the buffer. Also see |++opt|
and |+cmd|.
*:fir* *:first*
:fir[st][!] [++opt] [+cmd]
Other name for ":rewind".
*:la* *:last*
:la[st] [++opt] [+cmd]
Start editing the last file in the argument list.
This fails when changes have been made and Vim does
not want to |abandon| the current buffer.
Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
:la[st]! [++opt] [+cmd]
Start editing the last file in the argument list.
Discard any changes to the buffer. Also see |++opt|
and |+cmd|.
*:wn* *:wnext*
:[count]wn[ext] [++opt]
Write current file and start editing the [count]
next file. Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
:[count]wn[ext] [++opt] {file}
Write current file to {file} and start editing the
[count] next file, unless {file} already exists and
the 'writeany' option is off. Also see |++opt| and
|+cmd|.
:[count]wn[ext]! [++opt] {file}
Write current file to {file} and start editing the
[count] next file. Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
:[count]wN[ext][!] [++opt] [file] *:wN* *:wNext*
:[count]wp[revious][!] [++opt] [file] *:wp* *:wprevious*
Same as :wnext, but go to previous file instead of
next.
The [count] in the commands above defaults to one. For some commands it is
possible to use two counts. The last one (rightmost one) is used.
If no [+cmd] argument is present, the cursor is positioned at the last known
cursor position for the file. If 'startofline' is set, the cursor will be
positioned at the first non-blank in the line, otherwise the last know column
is used. If there is no last known cursor position the cursor will be in the
first line (the last line in Ex mode).
*{arglist}*
The wildcards in the argument list are expanded and the file names are sorted.
Thus you can use the command "vim *.c" to edit all the C files. From within
Vim the command ":n *.c" does the same.
White space is used to separate file names. Put a backslash before a space or
tab to include it in a file name. E.g., to edit the single file "foo bar": >
:next foo\ bar
On Unix and a few other systems you can also use backticks, for example: >
:next `find . -name \\*.c -print`
The backslashes before the star are required to prevent "*.c" to be expanded
by the shell before executing the find program.
*arglist-position*
When there is an argument list you can see which file you are editing in the
title of the window (if there is one and 'title' is on) and with the file
message you get with the "CTRL-G" command. You will see something like
(file 4 of 11)
If 'shortmess' contains 'f' it will be
(4 of 11)
If you are not really editing the file at the current position in the argument
list it will be
(file (4) of 11)
This means that you are position 4 in the argument list, but not editing the
fourth file in the argument list. This happens when you do ":e file".
LOCAL ARGUMENT LIST
*:arglocal*
:argl[ocal] Make a local copy of the global argument list.
Doesn't start editing another file.
:argl[ocal][!] [++opt] [+cmd] {arglist}
Define a new argument list, which is local to the
current window. Works like |:args_f| otherwise.
*:argglobal*
:argg[lobal] Use the global argument list for the current window.
Doesn't start editing another file.
:argg[lobal][!] [++opt] [+cmd] {arglist}
Use the global argument list for the current window.
Define a new global argument list like |:args_f|.
All windows using the global argument list will see
this new list.
There can be several argument lists. They can be shared between windows.
When they are shared, changing the argument list in one window will also
change it in the other window.
When a window is split the new window inherits the argument list from the
current window. The two windows then share this list, until one of them uses
|:arglocal| or |:argglobal| to use another argument list.
USING THE ARGUMENT LIST
*:argdo*
:[range]argdo[!] {cmd} Execute {cmd} for each file in the argument list or
if [range] is specified only for arguments in that
range. It works like doing this: >
:rewind
:{cmd}
:next
:{cmd}
etc.
< When the current file can't be |abandon|ed and the [!]
is not present, the command fails.
When an error is detected on one file, further files
in the argument list will not be visited.
The last file in the argument list (or where an error
occurred) becomes the current file.
{cmd} can contain '|' to concatenate several commands.
{cmd} must not change the argument list.
Note: While this command is executing, the Syntax
autocommand event is disabled by adding it to
'eventignore'. This considerably speeds up editing
each file.
Also see |:windo|, |:tabdo|, |:bufdo|, |:cdo|, |:ldo|,
|:cfdo| and |:lfdo|
Example: >
:args *.c
:argdo set ff=unix | update
This sets the 'fileformat' option to "unix" and writes the file if it is now
changed. This is done for all *.c files.
Example: >
:args *.[ch]
:argdo %s/\<my_foo\>/My_Foo/ge | update
This changes the word "my_foo" to "My_Foo" in all *.c and *.h files. The "e"
flag is used for the ":substitute" command to avoid an error for files where
"my_foo" isn't used. ":update" writes the file only if changes were made.
==============================================================================
4. Writing *writing* *save-file*
Note: When the 'write' option is off, you are not able to write any file.
*:w* *:write*
*E502* *E503* *E504* *E505*
*E512* *E514* *E667* *E949*
:w[rite] [++opt] Write the whole buffer to the current file. This is
the normal way to save changes to a file. It fails
when the 'readonly' option is set or when there is
another reason why the file can't be written.
For ++opt see |++opt|, but only ++bin, ++nobin, ++ff
and ++enc are effective.
:w[rite]! [++opt] Like ":write", but forcefully write when 'readonly' is
set or there is another reason why writing was
refused.
Note: This may change the permission and ownership of
the file and break (symbolic) links. Add the 'W' flag
to 'cpoptions' to avoid this.
:[range]w[rite][!] [++opt]
Write the specified lines to the current file. This
is unusual, because the file will not contain all
lines in the buffer.
*:w_f* *:write_f*
:[range]w[rite] [++opt] {file}
Write the specified lines to {file}, unless it
already exists and the 'writeany' option is off.
*:w!*
:[range]w[rite]! [++opt] {file}
Write the specified lines to {file}. Overwrite an
existing file.
*:w_a* *:write_a* *E494*
:[range]w[rite][!] [++opt] >>
Append the specified lines to the current file.
:[range]w[rite][!] [++opt] >> {file}
Append the specified lines to {file}. '!' forces the
write even if file does not exist.
*:w_c* *:write_c*
:[range]w[rite] [++opt] !{cmd}
Execute {cmd} with [range] lines as standard input
(note the space in front of the '!'). {cmd} is
executed like with ":!{cmd}", any '!' is replaced with
the previous command |:!|.
The default [range] for the ":w" command is the whole buffer (1,$). If you
write the whole buffer, it is no longer considered changed. When you
write it to a different file with ":w somefile" it depends on the "+" flag in
'cpoptions'. When included, the write command will reset the 'modified' flag,
even though the buffer itself may still be different from its file.
If a file name is given with ":w" it becomes the alternate file. This can be
used, for example, when the write fails and you want to try again later with
":w #". This can be switched off by removing the 'A' flag from the
'cpoptions' option.
Note that the 'fsync' option matters here. If it's set it may make writes
slower (but safer).
*:sav* *:saveas*
:sav[eas][!] [++opt] {file}
Save the current buffer under the name {file} and set
the filename of the current buffer to {file}. The
previous name is used for the alternate file name.
The [!] is needed to overwrite an existing file.
When 'filetype' is empty filetype detection is done
with the new name, before the file is written.
When the write was successful 'readonly' is reset.