How can I get :Ag results to populate the quickfix list

[trevordmiller]

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• Make sure that you have the latest version of fzf and fzf.vim

• Check if your problem is reproducible with a minimal configuration

I've read in a few places that you can use :Ag and then CTRL-A to populate the quickfix list with the results (like how the native :grep does). But I can't get it to work. I've tried with:

• :Ag => enter > fuzzy search => CTRL-A
• :Ag {search} => enter => CTRL-A
• :Ag {search} => enter => fuzzy search => CTRL-A

How can I get :Ag results to populate the quickfix list?

[jesseleite]

@trevordmiller I literally just figured this out today! Was gonna write a blogpost about it, but haven't got to it yet. You have to customize a bit in your vimrc, but it's pretty simple (see here).

First, you might have to map CTRL-A to select all, because it's actually ALT-A by default. On macs, ALT-A will usually output a å.

Second, you'll need to map and add the CTRL-Q function to populate quickfix from :Ag.

Once these are done, you should be able to CTRL-A CTRL-Q to mark all items and populate quickfix with them. You can also use TAB to mark individual items, then CTRL-Q to populate quickfix with just those items.

Hope it helps!

[trevordmiller]

@jesseleite Thank you! That would be nice if no extra config was required though - not sure why ALT-A was chosen if it doesn't work on macs...

[junegunn]

See #54

[junegunn]

Especially this comment: #54 (comment)

Also, https://stackoverflow.com/questions/18923765/bash-keyboard-shortcuts-in-iterm-like-altd-and-altf

[trevordmiller]

@junegunn Ok so I am using iTerm2 so I enabled Esc+ - now alt-a selects the items...but how do I populate them in the quickfix without custom config? I don't see this documented anywhere in the README or :h fzf-vim.

[trevordmiller]

Ok I finally figured it out - it's:

• :Ag {search}enter
• you can type to filter results down
• enter to go to individual item

Or you can select multiple items:

• alt-a to select items (if using iTerm2 on macOS, you need Esc+ turned on for alt/option keys)
• ald-d to deselect items
• tab or shift-tab can be used to toggle individual selected items
• enter to populate quickfix list with selected items

It would be great if this could be added to the documentation :) Thanks!

[jesseleite]

Oh wait you an populate quickfix without any custom config?

[trevordmiller]

@jesseleite Yep. Select items using tab, alt-a, or alt-d then hit enter :)

[jesseleite]

Wow I feel stupid... how did I miss enter to populate quickfix when multiple items are selected 😅 Gonna drop my CTRL-Q mapping 👌

Also regarding alt outputting å, I'm using Hyper and just found that I can put modifierKeys: { altIsMeta: true } in my config to be able to ALT-A and ALT-D.

So my whole custom config is unnecessary, unless I want CTRL instead of ALT 😂 Not sure how I feel yet. I usually avoid ALT mappings because they feel awkward. Also, CTRL/CMD+A is usually the standard select all mapping in other apps. But I understand what Junegunn is saying about navigating to beginning of line too.

Anyway, thanks for sharing!

[eliasdaler]

@trevordmiller thanks for the tip!

Is is possible to make a script which will do this automatically? E.g. make a search function which will do:

• :Ag some-string
• wait for results
• Alt-A
• Enter

I want to be able to type:

:Ag some-string

and have it populate quickfix list automatically

[gauteh]

@eliasdaler Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of FZF? If you are not filtering manually afterwards? vim-grepper can do that. Though the only thing missing from FZF grepping (compared to vim-grepper for me) now is a way to get operators for grepping for current word or visual selection.. maybe that already exists as well?

[traviswaelbro]

@eliasdaler the only thing missing from FZF grepping is a way to get operators for grepping for current word or visual selection.

You should be able to use Vim's built-in mapping (<Ctrl-R><Ctrl-W>) for pasting current word into any of the FZF commands.

As for pasting visual selection, the best way I've found so far is to yank the visual selection, then paste from the yank register (<Ctrl-R><Ctrl-">).

You should be able to set up either of these into a custom mapping to run whatever FZF command for text under cursor or text in yank (or any other) register.

[javidjamae]

@traviswaelbro For the yank register I use <Ctrl-R>". I tried <Ctrl-R><Ctrl-"> and it doesn't work.

Here is the mapping I use to search for the yank register:

map <leader>" :Ag! "<C-r>"" -Q<CR>

1. I map <leader>", which for me is , then "
2. I use Ag! so it searches but doesn't switch the current buffer to the first result by default
3. I paste the yank register into quotes
4. I use -Q to search for the exact text, not a regular express