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authorBram Moolenaar <Bram@vim.org>2004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000
committerBram Moolenaar <Bram@vim.org>2004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000
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+*usr_05.txt* For Vim version 7.0aa. Last change: 2004 Mar 12
+
+ VIM USER MANUAL - by Bram Moolenaar
+
+ Set your settings
+
+
+Vim can be tuned to work like you want it to. This chapter shows you how to
+make Vim start with options set to different values. Add plugins to extend
+Vims capabilities. Or define your own macros.
+
+|05.1| The vimrc file
+|05.2| The example vimrc file explained
+|05.3| Simple mappings
+|05.4| Adding a plugin
+|05.5| Adding a help file
+|05.6| The option window
+|05.7| Often used options
+
+ Next chapter: |usr_06.txt| Using syntax highlighting
+ Previous chapter: |usr_04.txt| Making small changes
+Table of contents: |usr_toc.txt|
+
+==============================================================================
+*05.1* The vimrc file *vimrc-intro*
+
+You probably got tired of typing commands that you use very often. To start
+with all your favorite option settings and mappings, you write them in what is
+called the vimrc file. Vim reads this file when it starts up.
+
+If you have trouble finding your vimrc file, use this command: >
+
+ :scriptnames
+
+One of the first files in the list should be called ".vimrc" or "_vimrc" and
+is located in your home directory.
+ If you don't have a vimrc file yet, see |vimrc| to find out where you can
+create a vimrc file. Also, the ":version" command mentions the name of the
+"user vimrc file" Vim looks for.
+
+For Unix this file is always used: >
+
+ ~/.vimrc
+
+For MS-DOS and MS-Windows it is mostly one of these: >
+
+ $HOME/_vimrc
+ $VIM/_vimrc
+
+The vimrc file can contain all the commands that you type after a colon. The
+most simple ones are for setting options. For example, if you want Vim to
+always start with the 'incsearch' option on, add this line you your vimrc
+file: >
+
+ set incsearch
+
+For this new line to take effect you need to exit Vim and start it again.
+Later you will learn how to do this without exiting Vim.
+
+This chapter only explains the most basic items. For more information on how
+to write a Vim script file: |usr_41.txt|.
+
+==============================================================================
+*05.2* The example vimrc file explained *vimrc_example.vim*
+
+In the first chapter was explained how the example vimrc (included in the
+Vim distribution) file can be used to make Vim startup in not-compatible mode
+(see |not-compatible|). The file can be found here:
+
+ $VIMRUNTIME/vimrc_example.vim ~
+
+In this section we will explain the various commands used in this file. This
+will give you hints about how to set up your own preferences. Not everything
+will be explained though. Use the ":help" command to find out more.
+
+>
+ set nocompatible
+
+As mentioned in the first chapter, these manuals explain Vim working in an
+improved way, thus not completely Vi compatible. Setting the 'compatible'
+option off, thus 'nocompatible' takes care of this.
+
+>
+ set backspace=indent,eol,start
+
+This specifies where in Insert mode the <BS> is allowed to delete the
+character in front of the cursor. The three items, separated by commas, tell
+Vim to delete the white space at the start of the line, a line break and the
+character before where Insert mode started.
+>
+
+ set autoindent
+
+This makes Vim use the indent of the previous line for a newly created line.
+Thus there is the same amount of white space before the new line. For example
+when pressing <Enter> in Insert mode, and when using the "o" command to open a
+new line.
+>
+
+ if has("vms")
+ set nobackup
+ else
+ set backup
+ endif
+
+This tells Vim to keep a backup copy of a file when overwriting it. But not
+on the VMS system, since it keeps old versions of files already. The backup
+file will have the same name as the original file with "~" added. See |07.4|
+>
+
+ set history=50
+
+Keep 50 commands and 50 search patterns in the history. Use another number if
+you want to remember fewer or more lines.
+>
+
+ set ruler
+
+Always display the current cursor position in the lower right corner of the
+Vim window.
+
+>
+ set showcmd
+
+Display an incomplete command in the lower right corner of the Vim window,
+left of the ruler. For example, when you type "2f", Vim is waiting for you to
+type the character to find and "2f" is displayed. When you press "w" next,
+the "2fw" command is executed and the displayed "2f" is removed.
+
+ +-------------------------------------------------+
+ |text in the Vim window |
+ |~ |
+ |~ |
+ |-- VISUAL -- 2f 43,8 17% |
+ +-------------------------------------------------+
+ ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^
+ 'showmode' 'showcmd' 'ruler'
+
+>
+ set incsearch
+
+Display the match for a search pattern when halfway typing it.
+
+>
+ map Q gq
+
+This defines a key mapping. More about that in the next section. This
+defines the "Q" command to do formatting with the "gq" operator. This is how
+it worked before Vim 5.0. Otherwise the "Q" command starts Ex mode, but you
+will not need it.
+
+>
+ vnoremap p <Esc>:let current_reg = @"<CR>gvs<C-R>=current_reg<CR><Esc>
+
+This is a complicated mapping. It will not be explained how it works here.
+What it does is to make "p" in Visual mode overwrite the selected text with
+the previously yanked text. You can see that mappings can be used to do quite
+complicated things. Still, it is just a sequence of commands that are
+executed like you typed them.
+
+>
+ if &t_Co > 2 || has("gui_running")
+ syntax on
+ set hlsearch
+ endif
+
+This switches on syntax highlighting, but only if colors are available. And
+the 'hlsearch' option tells Vim to highlight matches with the last used search
+pattern. The "if" command is very useful to set options only when some
+condition is met. More about that in |usr_41.txt|.
+
+ *vimrc-filetype* >
+ filetype plugin indent on
+
+This switches on three very clever mechanisms:
+1. Filetype detection.
+ Whenever you start editing a file, Vim will try to figure out what kind of
+ file this is. When you edit "main.c", Vim will see the ".c" extension and
+ recognize this as a "c" filetype. When you edit a file that starts with
+ "#!/bin/sh", Vim will recognize it as a "sh" filetype.
+ The filetype detection is used for syntax highlighting and the other two
+ items below.
+ See |filetypes|.
+
+2. Using filetype plugin files
+ Many different filetypes are edited with different options. For example,
+ when you edit a "c" file, it's very useful to set the 'cindent' option to
+ automatically indent the lines. These commonly useful option settings are
+ included with Vim in filetype plugins. You can also add your own, see
+ |write-filetype-plugin|.
+
+3. Using indent files
+ When editing programs, the indent of a line can often be computed
+ automatically. Vim comes with these indent rules for a number of
+ filetypes. See |:filetype-indent-on| and 'indentexpr'.
+
+>
+ autocmd FileType text setlocal textwidth=78
+
+This makes Vim break text to avoid lines getting longer than 78 characters.
+But only for files that have been detected to be plain text. There are
+actually two parts here. "autocmd FileType text" is an autocommand. This
+defines that when the file type is set to "text" the following command is
+automatically executed. "setlocal textwidth=78" sets the 'textwidth' option
+to 78, but only locally in one file.
+>
+
+ autocmd BufReadPost *
+ \ if line("'\"") > 0 && line("'\"") <= line("$") |
+ \ exe "normal g`\"" |
+ \ endif
+
+Another autocommand. This time it is used after reading any file. The
+complicated stuff after it checks if the '" mark is defined, and jumps to it
+if so. The backslash at the start of a line is used to continue the command
+from the previous line. That avoids a line getting very long.
+See |line-continuation|. This only works in a Vim script file, not when
+typing commands at the command-line.
+
+==============================================================================
+*05.3* Simple mappings
+
+A mapping enables you to bind a set of Vim commands to a single key. Suppose,
+for example, that you need to surround certain words with curly braces. In
+other words, you need to change a word such as "amount" into "{amount}". With
+the :map command, you can tell Vim that the F5 key does this job. The command
+is as follows: >
+
+ :map <F5> i{<Esc>ea}<Esc>
+<
+ Note:
+ When entering this command, you must enter <F5> by typing four
+ characters. Similarly, <Esc> is not entered by pressing the <Esc>
+ key, but by typing five characters. Watch out for this difference
+ when reading the manual!
+
+Let's break this down:
+ <F5> The F5 function key. This is the trigger key that causes the
+ command to be executed as the key is pressed.
+
+ i{<Esc> Insert the { character. The <Esc> key ends Insert mode.
+
+ e Move to the end of the word.
+
+ a}<Esc> Append the } to the word.
+
+After you execute the ":map" command, all you have to do to put {} around a
+word is to put the cursor on the first character and press F5.
+
+In this example, the trigger is a single key; it can be any string. But when
+you use an existing Vim command, that command will no longer be available.
+You better avoid that.
+ One key that can be used with mappings is the backslash. Since you
+probably want to define more than one mapping, add another character. You
+could map "\p" to add parens around a word, and "\c" to add curly braces, for
+example: >
+
+ :map \p i(<Esc>ea)<Esc>
+ :map \c i{<Esc>ea}<Esc>
+
+You need to type the \ and the p quickly after another, so that Vim knows they
+belong together.
+
+The ":map" command (with no arguments) lists your current mappings. At
+least the ones for Normal mode. More about mappings in section |40.1|.
+
+==============================================================================
+*05.4* Adding a plugin *add-plugin* *plugin*
+
+Vim's functionality can be extended by adding plugins. A plugin is nothing
+more than a Vim script file that is loaded automatically when Vim starts. You
+can add a plugin very easily by dropping it in your plugin directory.
+{not available when Vim was compiled without the |+eval| feature}
+
+There are two types of plugins:
+
+ global plugin: Used for all kinds of files
+ filetype plugin: Only used for a specific type of file
+
+The global plugins will be discussed first, then the filetype ones
+|add-filetype-plugin|.
+
+
+GLOBAL PLUGINS *standard-plugin*
+
+When you start Vim, it will automatically load a number of global plugins.
+You don't have to do anything for this. They add functionality that most
+people will want to use, but which was implemented as a Vim script instead of
+being compiled into Vim. You can find them listed in the help index
+|standard-plugin-list|. Also see |load-plugins|.
+
+ *add-global-plugin*
+You can add a global plugin to add functionality that will always be present
+when you use Vim. There are only two steps for adding a global plugin:
+1. Get a copy of the plugin.
+2. Drop it in the right directory.
+
+
+GETTING A GLOBAL PLUGIN
+
+Where can you find plugins?
+- Some come with Vim. You can find them in the directory $VIMRUNTIME/macros
+ and its sub-directories.
+- Download from the net, check out http://vim.sf.net.
+- They are sometimes posted in a Vim |maillist|.
+- You could write one yourself, see |write-plugin|.
+
+
+USING A GLOBAL PLUGIN
+
+First read the text in the plugin itself to check for any special conditions.
+Then copy the file to your plugin directory:
+
+ system plugin directory ~
+ Unix ~/.vim/plugin/
+ PC and OS/2 $HOME/vimfiles/plugin or $VIM/vimfiles/plugin
+ Amiga s:vimfiles/plugin
+ Macintosh $VIM:vimfiles:plugin
+ Mac OS X ~/.vim/plugin/
+ RISC-OS Choices:vimfiles.plugin
+
+Example for Unix (assuming you didn't have a plugin directory yet): >
+
+ mkdir ~/.vim
+ mkdir ~/.vim/plugin
+ cp /usr/local/share/vim/vim60/macros/justify.vim ~/.vim/plugin
+
+That's all! Now you can use the commands defined in this plugin to justify
+text.
+
+
+FILETYPE PLUGINS *add-filetype-plugin* *ftplugins*
+
+The Vim distribution comes with a set of plugins for different filetypes that
+you can start using with this command: >
+
+ :filetype plugin on
+
+That's all! See |vimrc-filetype|.
+
+If you are missing a plugin for a filetype you are using, or you found a
+better one, you can add it. There are two steps for adding a filetype plugin:
+1. Get a copy of the plugin.
+2. Drop it in the right directory.
+
+
+GETTING A FILETYPE PLUGIN
+
+You can find them in the same places as the global plugins. Watch out if the
+type of file is mentioned, then you know if the plugin is a global or a
+filetype one. The scripts in $VIMRUNTIME/macros are global ones, the filetype
+plugins are in $VIMRUNTIME/ftplugin.
+
+
+USING A FILETYPE PLUGIN *ftplugin-name*
+
+You can add a filetype plugin by dropping it in the right directory. The
+name of this directory is in the same directory mentioned above for global
+plugins, but the last part is "ftplugin". Suppose you have found a plugin for
+the "stuff" filetype, and you are on Unix. Then you can move this file to the
+ftplugin directory: >
+
+ mv thefile ~/.vim/ftplugin/stuff.vim
+
+If that file already exists you already have a plugin for "stuff". You might
+want to check if the existing plugin doesn't conflict with the one you are
+adding. If it's OK, you can give the new one another name: >
+
+ mv thefile ~/.vim/ftplugin/stuff_too.vim
+
+The underscore is used to separate the name of the filetype from the rest,
+which can be anything. If you would use "otherstuff.vim" it wouldn't work, it
+would be loaded for the "otherstuff" filetype.
+
+On MS-DOS you cannot use long filenames. You would run into trouble if you
+add a second plugin and the filetype has more than six characters. You can
+use an extra directory to get around this: >
+
+ mkdir $VIM/vimfiles/ftplugin/fortran
+ copy thefile $VIM/vimfiles/ftplugin/fortran/too.vim
+
+The generic names for the filetype plugins are: >
+
+ ftplugin/<filetype>.vim
+ ftplugin/<filetype>_<name>.vim
+ ftplugin/<filetype>/<name>.vim
+
+Here "<name>" can be any name that you prefer.
+Examples for the "stuff" filetype on Unix: >
+
+ ~/.vim/ftplugin/stuff.vim
+ ~/.vim/ftplugin/stuff_def.vim
+ ~/.vim/ftplugin/stuff/header.vim
+
+The <filetype> part is the name of the filetype the plugin is to be used for.
+Only files of this filetype will use the settings from the plugin. The <name>
+part of the plugin file doesn't matter, you can use it to have several plugins
+for the same filetype. Note that it must end in ".vim".
+
+
+Further reading:
+|filetype-plugins| Documentation for the filetype plugins and information
+ about how to avoid that mappings cause problems.
+|load-plugins| When the global plugins are loaded during startup.
+|ftplugin-overrule| Overruling the settings from a global plugin.
+|write-plugin| How to write a plugin script.
+|plugin-details| For more information about using plugins or when your
+ plugin doesn't work.
+|new-filetype| How to detect a new file type.
+
+==============================================================================
+*05.5* Adding a help file *add-local-help* *matchit-install*
+
+If you are lucky, the plugin you installed also comes with a help file. We
+will explain how to install the help file, so that you can easily find help
+for your new plugin.
+ Let us use the "matchit.vim" plugin as an example (it is included with
+Vim). This plugin makes the "%" command jump to matching HTML tags,
+if/else/endif in Vim scripts, etc. Very useful, although it's not backwards
+compatible (that's why it is not enabled by default).
+ This plugin comes with documentation: "matchit.txt". Let's first copy the
+plugin to the right directory. This time we will do it from inside Vim, so
+that we can use $VIMRUNTIME. (You may skip some of the "mkdir" commands if
+you already have the directory.) >
+
+ :!mkdir ~/.vim
+ :!mkdir ~/.vim/plugin
+ :!cp $VIMRUNTIME/macros/matchit.vim ~/.vim/plugin
+
+Now create a "doc" directory in one of the directories in 'runtimepath'. >
+
+ :!mkdir ~/.vim/doc
+
+Copy the help file to the "doc" directory. >
+
+ :!cp $VIMRUNTIME/macros/matchit.txt ~/.vim/doc
+
+Now comes the trick, which allows you to jump to the subjects in the new help
+file: Generate the local tags file with the |:helptags| command. >
+
+ :helptags ~/.vim/doc
+
+Now you can use the >
+
+ :help g%
+
+command to find help for "g%" in the help file you just added. You can see an
+entry for the local help file when you do: >
+
+ :help local-additions
+
+The title lines from the local help files are automagically added to this
+section. There you can see which local help files have been added and jump to
+them through the tag.
+
+For writing a local help file, see |write-local-help|.
+
+==============================================================================
+*05.6* The option window
+
+If you are looking for an option that does what you want, you can search in
+the help files here: |options|. Another way is by using this command: >
+
+ :options
+
+This opens a new window, with a list of options with a one-line explanation.
+The options are grouped by subject. Move the cursor to a subject and press
+<Enter> to jump there. Press <Enter> again to jump back. Or use CTRL-O.
+
+You can change the value of an option. For example, move to the "displaying
+text" subject. Then move the cursor down to this line:
+
+ set wrap nowrap ~
+
+When you hit <Enter>, the line will change to:
+
+ set nowrap wrap ~
+
+The option has now been switched off.
+
+Just above this line is a short description of the 'wrap' option. Move the
+cursor one line up to place it in this line. Now hit <Enter> and you jump to
+the full help on the 'wrap' option.
+
+For options that take a number or string argument you can edit the value.
+Then press <Enter> to apply the new value. For example, move the cursor a few
+lines up to this line:
+
+ set so=0 ~
+
+Position the cursor on the zero with "$". Change it into a five with "r5".
+Then press <Enter> to apply the new value. When you now move the cursor
+around you will notice that the text starts scrolling before you reach the
+border. This is what the 'scrolloff' option does, it specifies an offset
+from the window border where scrolling starts.
+
+==============================================================================
+*05.7* Often used options
+
+There are an awful lot of options. Most of them you will hardly ever use.
+Some of the more useful ones will be mentioned here. Don't forget you can
+find more help on these options with the ":help" command, with single quotes
+before and after the option name. For example: >
+
+ :help 'wrap'
+
+In case you have messed up an option value, you can set it back to the
+default by putting a ampersand (&) after the option name. Example: >
+
+ :set iskeyword&
+
+
+NOT WRAPPING LINES
+
+Vim normally wraps long lines, so that you can see all of the text. Sometimes
+it's better to let the text continue right of the window. Then you need to
+scroll the text left-right to see all of a long line. Switch wrapping of with
+this command: >
+
+ :set nowrap
+
+Vim will automatically scroll the text when you move to text that is not
+displayed. To see a context of ten characters, do this: >
+
+ :set sidescroll=10
+
+This doesn't change the text in the file, only the way it is displayed.
+
+
+WRAPPING MOVEMENT COMMANDS
+
+Most commands for moving around will stop moving at the start and end of a
+line. You can change that with the 'whichwrap' option. This sets it to the
+default value: >
+
+ :set whichwrap=b,s
+
+This allows the <BS> key, when used in the first position of a line, to move
+the cursor to the end of the previous line. And the <Space> key moves from
+the end of a line to the start of the next one.
+
+To allow the cursor keys <Left> and <Right> to also wrap, use this command: >
+
+ :set whichwrap=b,s,<,>
+
+This is still only for Normal mode. To let <Left> and <Right> do this in
+Insert mode as well: >
+
+ :set whichwrap=b,s,<,>,[,]
+
+There are a few other flags that can be added, see 'whichwrap'.
+
+
+VIEWING TABS
+
+When there are tabs in a file, you cannot see where they are. To make them
+visible: >
+
+ :set list
+
+Now every Tab is displayed as ^I. And a $ is displayed at the end of each
+line, so that you can spot trailing spaces that would otherwise go unnoticed.
+ A disadvantage is that this looks ugly when there are many Tabs in a file.
+If you have a color terminal, or are using the GUI, Vim can show the spaces
+and tabs as highlighted characters. Use the 'listchars' option: >
+
+ :set listchars=tab:>-,trail:-
+
+Now every tab will be displayed as ">---" (with more or less "-") and trailing
+white space as "-". Looks a lot better, doesn't it?
+
+
+KEYWORDS
+
+The 'iskeyword' option specifies which characters can appear in a word: >
+
+ :set iskeyword
+< iskeyword=@,48-57,_,192-255 ~
+
+The "@" stands for all alphabetic letters. "48-57" stands for ASCII
+characters 48 to 57, which are the numbers 0 to 9. "192-255" are the
+printable latin characters.
+ Sometimes you will want to include a dash in keywords, so that commands
+like "w" consider "upper-case" to be one word. You can do it like this: >
+
+ :set iskeyword+=-
+ :set iskeyword
+< iskeyword=@,48-57,_,192-255,- ~
+
+If you look at the new value, you will see that Vim has added a comma for you.
+ To remove a character use "-=". For example, to remove the underscore: >
+
+ :set iskeyword-=_
+ :set iskeyword
+< iskeyword=@,48-57,192-255,- ~
+
+This time a comma is automatically deleted.
+
+
+ROOM FOR MESSAGES
+
+When Vim starts there is one line at the bottom that is used for messages.
+When a message is long, it is either truncated, thus you can only see part of
+it, or the text scrolls and you have to press <Enter> to continue.
+ You can set the 'cmdheight' option to the number of lines used for
+messages. Example: >
+
+ :set cmdheight=3
+
+This does mean there is less room to edit text, thus it's a compromise.
+
+==============================================================================
+
+Next chapter: |usr_06.txt| Using syntax highlighting
+
+Copyright: see |manual-copyright| vim:tw=78:ts=8:ft=help:norl: