README_os2.txt for version 7.4a of Vim: Vi IMproved. This file explains the installation of Vim on OS/2 systems. See "README.txt" for general information about Vim. NOTE: You will need two archives: vim74rt.zip contains the runtime files (same as for the PC version) vim74os2.zip contains the OS/2 executables 1. Go to the directory where you want to put the Vim files. Examples: cd C:\ cd D:\editors 2. Unpack the zip archives. This will create a new directory "vim/vim74", in which all the distributed Vim files are placed. Since the directory name includes the version number, it is unlikely that you overwrite existing files. Examples: pkunzip -d vim74os2.zip unzip vim74os2.zip After you unpacked the files, you can still move the whole directory tree to another location. 3. Add the directory where vim.exe is to your path. The simplest is to add a line to your autoexec.bat. Examples: set path=%path%;C:\vim\vim74 set path=%path%;D:\editors\vim\vim74 That's it! Extra remarks: - To avoid confusion between distributed files of different versions and your own modified vim scripts, it is recommended to use this directory layout: ("C:\vim" is used here as the root, replace with the path you use) Your own files: C:\vim\_vimrc Your personal vimrc. C:\vim\_viminfo Dynamic info for 'viminfo'. C:\vim\... Other files you made. Distributed files: C:\vim\vim74\vim.exe The Vim version 7.4 executable. C:\vim\vim74\doc\*.txt The version 7.4 documentation files. C:\vim\vim74\bugreport.vim A Vim version 7.4 script. C:\vim\vim74\... Other version 7.4 distributed files. In this case the $VIM environment variable would be set like this: set VIM=C:\vim - You can put your Vim executable anywhere else. If the executable is not with the other distributed Vim files, you should set $VIM. The simplest is to add a line to your autoexec.bat. Examples: set VIM=c:\vim set VIM=d:\editors\vim For further information, type this inside Vim: :help os2