Practical Vim (5)

This blog written with Vim实用技巧（第2版）.

Created at 2023/04/05

Updated at 2023/04/10

5 Command Line Mode

5.1 Learn about command line mode

When press :, Vim will be switched into the command line mode, which is simliar to the command line in shell. We can enter a command and then execute it with <CR>. At any time, we can switch back into the normal mode with <Esc>.

The command executed in the command line mode is also be called Ex command for the history. When we press \ for finding or <C-r>= to access the rigister, command line mode will be activated as well.

Here is some Ex commands, such as, :edit, :write, :tabnew, :prev, :next, :bprev, :bnext. (:h ex-cmd-index)

There is a table of the frequently used Ex command to operate the buffer.

Command	Usage
:[range]delete [x]	delete the lines in the range [to reg X]
:[range]yank [x]	delete the lines in the range [to reg X]
:[line]put [x]	paste the content in reg X after the specific line
:[range]copy [address]	copy the lines in the range behind the address
:[range]move [address]	move the lines in the range behind the address
:[range]join	join the line in the range
:[range]normal [commands]	execute the normal mode command over each line in the range
:[range]substitute/{pattern}/{string}/[flags]	substitute {pattern} with {string} in the range
:[range]global/{pattern}/[cmd]	for each pos matched with {pattern} execute Ex command {cmd}

5.2 Execute command ove one or multi-continuous lines

The abbreviation of :print is :p. We can use address to specify a range, for instance, 2,5p which indicates that print line 2 to line 5.

:{start},{end}

. can be used to represent the address of the current line, for instance, .,$ indicates from the current line to the bottom. % can be used to represent the whole file, for instance, %p indicates print the whole file.

Use the highlight area to specify the range

'< denotes the first line of the highlight area and '> indicates the last line of the highlight area. (2G in normal mode indicates that cursor goes to line 2)

Use mode to specify the range

Vim can also accept pattern as the address/range of a Ex command, for instance, /<html>/,/<\/html>/p.

Use offset to modify the range

:{address}+n // for instance, /<html>/+1,/<\/html>/-1p

Conclusion

Symbol	Address
1	line 1
$	the last line
0	virtual line, above line 1
.	current line
‘m	the line include postion mark m
’<	the first line of highlight area
’>	the last line of highlight area
%	all lines

5.3 Use `:t` and `:m` command to copy and move lines

:t or :co is the abbreviation of :copy;
:m is the abbreviation of :move.

Use `:t` to copy lines

:6copy. // copy line 6 below the current line

Here is some applications.

Command	Usage
`:6.`	copy line 6 behind the current line
`:t6`	copy the current line behind line 6
`:t.`	similar to `yyp` in the normal mode (but `yyp` will wirte reg)
:t$	copy the current line to the tail of the file
:’<,’>t0	copy the highlight area to the head of the file

Use `:m` to move lines

:[range]move {address}

:'<'>m$ // the same as dGp when we select a highlight area and want to move it into the tail of the file

Repeating Ex command is simple by @:.

5.4 Execute normal mode command over the specific range

A;<Esc> // add ; in the tail of the current line

jVG // highlight the next lines
:'<'>normal . // each line add ;

Note that before do the normal mode command over the each line, the cursor will be move to the beginning of each line. Thus, %normal i// can comment the whole file.

5.5 Repeat the last Ex command

Use @:. And if we want to dicard, we can use <C-o> command (appicable for some Ex commands).

5.6 Autofill Ex command

Use <Tab>. Reverse autofill use <S-Tab>.

<C-d> to show the available command list

5.7 Insert the current word into command line

<C-r><C-w> <C-r><C-a>

5.8 Backtrace history command

set history=200 // default is 20

In normal mode, input q: to enter the command line window, :q to exit.

Command	Action
`q/`	open search command history cmd window
`q:`	open Ex command history cmd window
`<C-f>`	switch from cmd line mode into cmd window

5.9 Run shell command

Scope: in terminal Vim

Run the program in Shell

:!ls to list the current dict content.

In cmd line mode for shell command, % is the name of the current file. (:!ruby %)

If we want to run more than one command, we can use :shell to start a interactive session. (use exit to exit)

// an alternative approach
<C-z> // hanging vim
fg // Call back to the foreground

Use the buffer as std in or out

:read !{cmd} // read the output of the command
:write !{cmd} // use the buffer as the std in of the command

write !sh
write ! sh
write! sh // force write a file sh

Use external command to filter buffer

:2,$!sort -t',' -k2

A quick approach to switch into cmd line mode, !{motion}, for instance, !G.

Conclusion for shell command

Command	Usage
:shell	open a shell (exit to go back)
:!{cmd}	run {cmd} in shell
:read !{cmd}	insert {cmd} output below the cursor
:[range]write !{cmd}	[range] as {cmd} input
:[range]!{filter}	Use external program {filter} filter specific [range]

Batch your Ex command

:source batch.vim

// multifile
:argdo source batch.vim