eval.txt For Vim version 8.2. Last change: 2021 Apr 24 VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar Expression evaluation expression expr E15 eval Using expressions is introduced in chapter 41 of the user manual usr_41.txt. Note: Expression evaluation can be disabled at compile time. If this has been done, the features in this document are not available. See +eval and no-eval-feature. This file is about the backwards compatible Vim script. For Vim9 script, which executes much faster, supports type checking and much more, see vim9.txt. 1. Variables variables 1.1 Variable types 1.2 Function references Funcref 1.3 Lists Lists 1.4 Dictionaries Dictionaries 1.5 Blobs Blobs 1.6 More about variables more-variables 2. Expression syntax expression-syntax 3. Internal variable internal-variables 4. Builtin Functions functions 5. Defining functions user-functions 6. Curly braces names curly-braces-names 7. Commands expression-commands 8. Exception handling exception-handling 9. Examples eval-examples 10. Vim script version vimscript-version 11. No +eval feature no-eval-feature 12. The sandbox eval-sandbox 13. Textlock textlock Testing support is documented in testing.txt. Profiling is documented at profiling. ============================================================================== 1. Variables variables 1.1 Variable types E712 E896 E897 E899 There are ten types of variables: Number Integer Number A 32 or 64 bit signed number. expr-number The number of bits is available in v:numbersize. Examples: -123 0x10 0177 0o177 0b1011 Float A floating point number. floating-point-format Float {only when compiled with the |+float| feature} Examples: 123.456 1.15e-6 -1.1e3 E928 String A NUL terminated string of 8-bit unsigned characters (bytes). expr-string Examples: "ab\txx\"--" 'x-z''a,c' List An ordered sequence of items, see List for details. Example: [1, 2, ['a', 'b']] Dictionary An associative, unordered array: Each entry has a key and a value. Dictionary Examples: {'blue': "#0000ff", 'red': "#ff0000"} #{blue: "#0000ff", red: "#ff0000"} Funcref A reference to a function Funcref. Example: function("strlen") It can be bound to a dictionary and arguments, it then works like a Partial. Example: function("Callback", [arg], myDict) Special v:false, v:true, v:none and v:null. Special Job Used for a job, see job_start(). Job Jobs Channel Used for a channel, see ch_open(). Channel Channels Blob Binary Large Object. Stores any sequence of bytes. See Blob for details Example: 0zFF00ED015DAF 0z is an empty Blob. The Number and String types are converted automatically, depending on how they are used. Conversion from a Number to a String is by making the ASCII representation of the Number. Examples: Number 123 --> String "123" Number 0 --> String "0" Number -1 --> String "-1" octal Conversion from a String to a Number only happens in legacy Vim script, not in Vim9 script. It is done by converting the first digits to a number. Hexadecimal "0xf9", Octal "017" or "0o17", and Binary "0b10" numbers are recognized NOTE: when using scriptversion-4 octal with a leading "0" is not recognized. The 0o notation requires patch 8.2.0886. If the String doesn't start with digits, the result is zero. Examples: String "456" --> Number 456 String "6bar" --> Number 6 String "foo" --> Number 0 String "0xf1" --> Number 241 String "0100" --> Number 64 String "0o100" --> Number 64 String "0b101" --> Number 5 String "-8" --> Number -8 String "+8" --> Number 0 To force conversion from String to Number, add zero to it: :echo "0100" + 0 64 To avoid a leading zero to cause octal conversion, or for using a different base, use str2nr(). TRUE FALSE Boolean For boolean operators Numbers are used. Zero is FALSE, non-zero is TRUE. You can also use v:false and v:true. In Vim9 script false and true. When TRUE is returned from a function it is the Number one, FALSE is the number zero. Note that in the command: :if "foo" :" NOT executed "foo" is converted to 0, which means FALSE. If the string starts with a non-zero number it means TRUE: :if "8foo" :" executed To test for a non-empty string, use empty(): :if !empty("foo") falsy truthy An expression can be used as a condition, ignoring the type and only using whether the value is "sort of true" or "sort of false". Falsy is: the number zero empty string, blob, list or dictionary Other values are truthy. Examples: 0 falsy 1 truthy -1 truthy 0.0 falsy 0.1 truthy '' falsy 'x' truthy [] falsy [0] truthy {} falsy #{x: 1} truthy 0z falsy 0z00 truthy non-zero-arg Function arguments often behave slightly different from TRUE: If the argument is present and it evaluates to a non-zero Number, v:true or a non-empty String, then the value is considered to be TRUE. Note that " " and "0" are also non-empty strings, thus considered to be TRUE. A List, Dictionary or Float is not a Number or String, thus evaluate to FALSE. E745 E728 E703 E729 E730 E731 E908 E910 E913 E974 E975 E976 List, Dictionary, Funcref, Job, Channel and Blob types are not automatically converted. E805 E806 E808 When mixing Number and Float the Number is converted to Float. Otherwise there is no automatic conversion of Float. You can use str2float() for String to Float, printf() for Float to String and float2nr() for Float to Number. E891 E892 E893 E894 E907 E911 E914 When expecting a Float a Number can also be used, but nothing else. no-type-checking You will not get an error if you try to change the type of a variable. 1.2 Function references Funcref E695 E718 A Funcref variable is obtained with the function() function, the funcref() function or created with the lambda expression expr-lambda. It can be used in an expression in the place of a function name, before the parenthesis around the arguments, to invoke the function it refers to. Example: :let Fn = function("MyFunc") :echo Fn() E704 E705 E707 A Funcref variable must start with a capital, "s:", "w:", "t:" or "b:". You can use "g:" but the following name must still start with a capital. You cannot have both a Funcref variable and a function with the same name. A special case is defining a function and directly assigning its Funcref to a Dictionary entry. Example: :function dict.init() dict : let self.val = 0 :endfunction The key of the Dictionary can start with a lower case letter. The actual function name is not used here. Also see numbered-function. A Funcref can also be used with the :call command: :call Fn() :call dict.init() The name of the referenced function can be obtained with string(). :let func = string(Fn) You can use call() to invoke a Funcref and use a list variable for the arguments: :let r = call(Fn, mylist) Partial A Funcref optionally binds a Dictionary and/or arguments. This is also called a Partial. This is created by passing the Dictionary and/or arguments to function() or funcref(). When calling the function the Dictionary and/or arguments will be passed to the function. Example: let Cb = function('Callback', ['foo'], myDict) call Cb('bar') This will invoke the function as if using: call myDict.Callback('foo', 'bar') This is very useful when passing a function around, e.g. in the arguments of ch_open(). Note that binding a function to a Dictionary also happens when the function is a member of the Dictionary: let myDict.myFunction = MyFunction call myDict.myFunction() Here MyFunction() will get myDict passed as "self". This happens when the "myFunction" member is accessed. When making assigning "myFunction" to otherDict and calling it, it will be bound to otherDict: let otherDict.myFunction = myDict.myFunction call otherDict.myFunction() Now "self" will be "otherDict". But when the dictionary was bound explicitly this won't happen: let myDict.myFunction = function(MyFunction, myDict) let otherDict.myFunction = myDict.myFunction call otherDict.myFunction() Here "self" will be "myDict", because it was bound explicitly. 1.3 Lists list List Lists E686 A List is an ordered sequence of items. An item can be of any type. Items can be accessed by their index number. Items can be added and removed at any position in the sequence. List creation E696 E697 A List is created with a comma separated list of items in square brackets. Examples: :let mylist = [1, two, 3, "four"] :let emptylist = [] An item can be any expression. Using a List for an item creates a List of Lists: :let nestlist = [[11, 12], [21, 22], [31, 32]] An extra comma after the last item is ignored. List index list-index E684 An item in the List can be accessed by putting the index in square brackets after the List. Indexes are zero-based, thus the first item has index zero. :let item = mylist[0] " get the first item: 1 :let item = mylist[2] " get the third item: 3 When the resulting item is a list this can be repeated: :let item = nestlist[0][1] " get the first list, second item: 12 A negative index is counted from the end. Index -1 refers to the last item in the List, -2 to the last but one item, etc. :let last = mylist[-1] " get the last item: "four" To avoid an error for an invalid index use the get() function. When an item is not available it returns zero or the default value you specify: :echo get(mylist, idx) :echo get(mylist, idx, "NONE") List concatenation list-concatenation Two lists can be concatenated with the "+" operator: :let longlist = mylist + [5, 6] :let mylist += [7, 8] To prepend or append an item, turn the item into a list by putting [] around it. To change a list in-place, refer to list-modification below. Sublist sublist A part of the List can be obtained by specifying the first and last index, separated by a colon in square brackets: :let shortlist = mylist[2:-1] " get List [3, "four"] Omitting the first index is similar to zero. Omitting the last index is similar to -1. :let endlist = mylist[2:] " from item 2 to the end: [3, "four"] :let shortlist = mylist[2:2] " List with one item: [3] :let otherlist = mylist[:] " make a copy of the List Notice that the last index is inclusive. If you prefer using an exclusive index use the slice() method. If the first index is beyond the last item of the List or the second item is before the first item, the result is an empty list. There is no error message. If the second index is equal to or greater than the length of the list the length minus one is used: :let mylist = [0, 1, 2, 3] :echo mylist[2:8] " result: [2, 3] NOTE: mylist[s:e] means using the variable "s:e" as index. Watch out for using a single letter variable before the ":". Insert a space when needed: mylist[s : e]. List identity list-identity When variable "aa" is a list and you assign it to another variable "bb", both variables refer to the same list. Thus changing the list "aa" will also change "bb": :let aa = [1, 2, 3] :let bb = aa :call add(aa, 4) :echo bb [1, 2, 3, 4] Making a copy of a list is done with the copy() function. Using [:] also works, as explained above. This creates a shallow copy of the list: Changing a list item in the list will also change the item in the copied list: :let aa = [[1, 'a'], 2, 3] :let bb = copy(aa) :call add(aa, 4) :let aa[0][1] = 'aaa' :echo aa [[1, aaa], 2, 3, 4] :echo bb [[1, aaa], 2, 3] To make a completely independent list use deepcopy(). This also makes a copy of the values in the list, recursively. Up to a hundred levels deep. The operator "is" can be used to check if two variables refer to the same List. "isnot" does the opposite. In contrast "==" compares if two lists have the same value. :let alist = [1, 2, 3] :let blist = [1, 2, 3] :echo alist is blist 0 :echo alist == blist 1 Note about comparing lists: Two lists are considered equal if they have the same length and all items compare equal, as with using "==". There is one exception: When comparing a number with a string they are considered different. There is no automatic type conversion, as with using "==" on variables. Example: echo 4 == "4" 1 echo [4] == ["4"] 0 Thus comparing Lists is more strict than comparing numbers and strings. You can compare simple values this way too by putting them in a list: :let a = 5 :let b = "5" :echo a == b 1 :echo [a] == [b] 0 List unpack To unpack the items in a list to individual variables, put the variables in square brackets, like list items: :let [var1, var2] = mylist When the number of variables does not match the number of items in the list this produces an error. To handle any extra items from the list append ";" and a variable name: :let [var1, var2; rest] = mylist This works like: :let var1 = mylist[0] :let var2 = mylist[1] :let rest = mylist[2:] Except that there is no error if there are only two items. "rest" will be an empty list then. List modification list-modification To change a specific item of a list use :let this way: :let list[4] = "four" :let listlist[0][3] = item To change part of a list you can specify the first and last item to be modified. The value must at least have the number of items in the range: :let list[3:5] = [3, 4, 5] Adding and removing items from a list is done with functions. Here are a few examples: :call insert(list, 'a') " prepend item 'a' :call insert(list, 'a', 3) " insert item 'a' before list[3] :call add(list, "new") " append String item :call add(list, [1, 2]) " append a List as one new item :call extend(list, [1, 2]) " extend the list with two more items :let i = remove(list, 3) " remove item 3 :unlet list[3] " idem :let l = remove(list, 3, -1) " remove items 3 to last item :unlet list[3 : ] " idem :call filter(list, 'v:val !~ "x"') " remove items with an 'x' Changing the order of items in a list: :call sort(list) " sort a list alphabetically :call reverse(list) " reverse the order of items :call uniq(sort(list)) " sort and remove duplicates For loop The :for loop executes commands for each item in a List, String or Blob. A variable is set to each item in sequence. Example with a List: :for item in mylist : call Doit(item) :endfor This works like: :let index = 0 :while index < len(mylist) : let item = mylist[index] : :call Doit(item) : let index = index + 1 :endwhile If all you want to do is modify each item in the list then the map() function will be a simpler method than a for loop. Just like the :let command, :for also accepts a list of variables. This requires the argument to be a List of Lists. :for [lnum, col] in [[1, 3], [2, 8], [3, 0]] : call Doit(lnum, col) :endfor This works like a :let command is done for each list item. Again, the types must remain the same to avoid an error. It is also possible to put remaining items in a List variable: :for [i, j; rest] in listlist : call Doit(i, j) : if !empty(rest) : echo "remainder: " . string(rest) : endif :endfor For a Blob one byte at a time is used. For a String one character, including any composing characters, is used as a String. Example: for c in text echo 'This character is ' .. c endfor List functions E714 Functions that are useful with a List: :let r = call(funcname, list) " call a function with an argument list :if empty(list) " check if list is empty :let l = len(list) " number of items in list :let big = max(list) " maximum value in list :let small = min(list) " minimum value in list :let xs = count(list, 'x') " count nr of times 'x' appears in list :let i = index(list, 'x') " index of first 'x' in list :let lines = getline(1, 10) " get ten text lines from buffer :call append('$', lines) " append text lines in buffer :let list = split("a b c") " create list from items in a string :let string = join(list, ', ') " create string from list items :let s = string(list) " String representation of list :call map(list, '">> " . v:val') " prepend ">> " to each item Don't forget that a combination of features can make things simple. For example, to add up all the numbers in a list: :exe 'let sum = ' . join(nrlist, '+') 1.4 Dictionaries dict Dict Dictionaries Dictionary A Dictionary is an associative array: Each entry has a key and a value. The entry can be located with the key. The entries are stored without a specific ordering. Dictionary creation E720 E721 E722 E723 A Dictionary is created with a comma separated list of entries in curly braces. Each entry has a key and a value, separated by a colon. Each key can only appear once. Examples: :let mydict = {1: 'one', 2: 'two', 3: 'three'} :let emptydict = {} E713 E716 E717 A key is always a String. You can use a Number, it will be converted to a String automatically. Thus the String '4' and the number 4 will find the same entry. Note that the String '04' and the Number 04 are different, since the Number will be converted to the String '4'. The empty string can also be used as a key. literal-Dict #{} To avoid having to put quotes around every key the #{} form can be used. This does require the key to consist only of ASCII letters, digits, '-' and '_'. Example: :let mydict = #{zero: 0, one_key: 1, two-key: 2, 333: 3} Note that 333 here is the string "333". Empty keys are not possible with #{}. A value can be any expression. Using a Dictionary for a value creates a nested Dictionary: :let nestdict = {1: {11: 'a', 12: 'b'}, 2: {21: 'c'}} An extra comma after the last entry is ignored. Accessing entries The normal way to access an entry is by putting the key in square brackets: :let val = mydict["one"] :let mydict["four"] = 4 You can add new entries to an existing Dictionary this way, unlike Lists. For keys that consist entirely of letters, digits and underscore the following form can be used expr-entry: :let val = mydict.one :let mydict.four = 4 Since an entry can be any type, also a List and a Dictionary, the indexing and key lookup can be repeated: :echo dict.key[idx].key Dictionary to List conversion You may want to loop over the entries in a dictionary. For this you need to turn the Dictionary into a List and pass it to :for. Most often you want to loop over the keys, using the keys() function: :for key in keys(mydict) : echo key . ': ' . mydict[key] :endfor The List of keys is unsorted. You may want to sort them first: :for key in sort(keys(mydict)) To loop over the values use the values() function: :for v in values(mydict) : echo "value: " . v :endfor If you want both the key and the value use the items() function. It returns a List in which each item is a List with two items, the key and the value: :for [key, value] in items(mydict) : echo key . ': ' . value :endfor Dictionary identity dict-identity Just like Lists you need to use copy() and deepcopy() to make a copy of a Dictionary. Otherwise, assignment results in referring to the same Dictionary: :let onedict = {'a': 1, 'b': 2} :let adict = onedict :let adict['a'] = 11 :echo onedict['a'] 11 Two Dictionaries compare equal if all the key-value pairs compare equal. For more info see list-identity. Dictionary modification dict-modification To change an already existing entry of a Dictionary, or to add a new entry, use :let this way: :let dict[4] = "four" :let dict['one'] = item Removing an entry from a Dictionary is done with remove() or :unlet. Three ways to remove the entry with key "aaa" from dict: :let i = remove(dict, 'aaa') :unlet dict.aaa :unlet dict['aaa'] Merging a Dictionary with another is done with extend(): :call extend(adict, bdict) This extends adict with all entries from bdict. Duplicate keys cause entries in adict to be overwritten. An optional third argument can change this. Note that the order of entries in a Dictionary is irrelevant, thus don't expect ":echo adict" to show the items from bdict after the older entries in adict. Weeding out entries from a Dictionary can be done with filter(): :call filter(dict, 'v:val =~ "x"') This removes all entries from "dict" with a value not matching 'x'. This can also be used to remove all entries: call filter(dict, 0) Dictionary function Dictionary-function self E725 E862 When a function is defined with the "dict" attribute it can be used in a special way with a dictionary. Example: :function Mylen() dict : return len(self.data) :endfunction :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3], 'len': function("Mylen")} :echo mydict.len() This is like a method in object oriented programming. The entry in the Dictionary is a Funcref. The local variable "self" refers to the dictionary the function was invoked from. It is also possible to add a function without the "dict" attribute as a Funcref to a Dictionary, but the "self" variable is not available then. numbered-function anonymous-function To avoid the extra name for the function it can be defined and directly assigned to a Dictionary in this way: :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3]} :function mydict.len() : return len(self.data) :endfunction :echo mydict.len() The function will then get a number and the value of dict.len is a Funcref that references this function. The function can only be used through a Funcref. It will automatically be deleted when there is no Funcref remaining that refers to it. It is not necessary to use the "dict" attribute for a numbered function. If you get an error for a numbered function, you can find out what it is with a trick. Assuming the function is 42, the command is: :function {42} Functions for Dictionaries E715 Functions that can be used with a Dictionary: :if has_key(dict, 'foo') " TRUE if dict has entry with key "foo" :if empty(dict) " TRUE if dict is empty :let l = len(dict) " number of items in dict :let big = max(dict) " maximum value in dict :let small = min(dict) " minimum value in dict :let xs = count(dict, 'x') " count nr of times 'x' appears in dict :let s = string(dict) " String representation of dict :call map(dict, '">> " . v:val') " prepend ">> " to each item 1.5 Blobs blob Blob Blobs E978 A Blob is a binary object. It can be used to read an image from a file and send it over a channel, for example. A Blob mostly behaves like a List of numbers, where each number has the value of an 8-bit byte, from 0 to 255. Blob creation A Blob can be created with a blob-literal: :let b = 0zFF00ED015DAF Dots can be inserted between bytes (pair of hex characters) for readability, they don't change the value: :let b = 0zFF00.ED01.5DAF A blob can be read from a file with readfile() passing the {type} argument set to "B", for example: :let b = readfile('image.png', 'B') A blob can be read from a channel with the ch_readblob() function. Blob index blob-index E979 A byte in the Blob can be accessed by putting the index in square brackets after the Blob. Indexes are zero-based, thus the first byte has index zero. :let myblob = 0z00112233 :let byte = myblob[0] " get the first byte: 0x00 :let byte = myblob[2] " get the third byte: 0x22 A negative index is counted from the end. Index -1 refers to the last byte in the Blob, -2 to the last but one byte, etc. :let last = myblob[-1] " get the last byte: 0x33 To avoid an error for an invalid index use the get() function. When an item is not available it returns -1 or the default value you specify: :echo get(myblob, idx) :echo get(myblob, idx, 999) Blob iteration The :for loop executes commands for each byte of a Blob. The loop variable is set to each byte in the Blob. Example: :for byte in 0z112233 : call Doit(byte) :endfor This calls Doit() with 0x11, 0x22 and 0x33. Blob concatenation Two blobs can be concatenated with the "+" operator: :let longblob = myblob + 0z4455 :let myblob += 0z6677 To change a blob in-place see blob-modification below. Part of a blob A part of the Blob can be obtained by specifying the first and last index, separated by a colon in square brackets: :let myblob = 0z00112233 :let shortblob = myblob[1:2] " get 0z1122 :let shortblob = myblob[2:-1] " get 0z2233 Omitting the first index is similar to zero. Omitting the last index is similar to -1. :let endblob = myblob[2:] " from item 2 to the end: 0z2233 :let shortblob = myblob[2:2] " Blob with one byte: 0z22 :let otherblob = myblob[:] " make a copy of the Blob If the first index is beyond the last byte of the Blob or the second index is before the first index, the result is an empty Blob. There is no error message. If the second index is equal to or greater than the length of the list the length minus one is used: :echo myblob[2:8] " result: 0z2233 Blob modification blob-modification To change a specific byte of a blob use :let this way: :let blob[4] = 0x44 When the index is just one beyond the end of the Blob, it is appended. Any higher index is an error. To change a sequence of bytes the [:] notation can be used: let blob[1:3] = 0z445566 The length of the replaced bytes must be exactly the same as the value provided. E972 To change part of a blob you can specify the first and last byte to be modified. The value must have the same number of bytes in the range: :let blob[3:5] = 0z334455 You can also use the functions add(), remove() and insert(). Blob identity Blobs can be compared for equality: if blob == 0z001122 And for equal identity: if blob is otherblob blob-identity E977 When variable "aa" is a Blob and you assign it to another variable "bb", both variables refer to the same Blob. Then the "is" operator returns true. When making a copy using [:] or copy() the values are the same, but the identity is different: :let blob = 0z112233 :let blob2 = blob :echo blob == blob2 1 :echo blob is blob2 1 :let blob3 = blob[:] :echo blob == blob3 1 :echo blob is blob3 0 Making a copy of a Blob is done with the copy() function. Using [:] also works, as explained above. 1.6 More about variables more-variables If you need to know the type of a variable or expression, use the type() function. When the '!' flag is included in the 'viminfo' option, global variables that start with an uppercase letter, and don't contain a lowercase letter, are stored in the viminfo file viminfo-file. When the 'sessionoptions' option contains "global", global variables that start with an uppercase letter and contain at least one lowercase letter are stored in the session file session-file. variable name can be stored where my_var_6 not My_Var_6 session file MY_VAR_6 viminfo file It's possible to form a variable name with curly braces, see curly-braces-names. ============================================================================== 2. Expression syntax expression-syntax Expression syntax summary, from least to most significant: expr1 expr2 expr2 ? expr1 : expr1 if-then-else expr2 expr3 expr3 || expr3 ... logical OR expr3 expr4 expr4 && expr4 ... logical AND expr4 expr5 expr5 == expr5 equal expr5 != expr5 not equal expr5 > expr5 greater than expr5 >= expr5 greater than or equal expr5 < expr5 smaller than expr5 <= expr5 smaller than or equal expr5 =~ expr5 regexp matches expr5 !~ expr5 regexp doesn't match expr5 ==? expr5 equal, ignoring case expr5 ==# expr5 equal, match case etc. As above, append ? for ignoring case, # for matching case expr5 is expr5 same List, Dictionary or Blob instance expr5 isnot expr5 different List, Dictionary or Blob instance expr5 expr6 expr6 + expr6 ... number addition, list or blob concatenation expr6 - expr6 ... number subtraction expr6 . expr6 ... string concatenation expr6 .. expr6 ... string concatenation expr6 expr7 expr7 * expr7 ... number multiplication expr7 / expr7 ... number division expr7 % expr7 ... number modulo expr7 expr8 ! expr7 logical NOT - expr7 unary minus + expr7 unary plus expr8 expr9 expr8[expr1] byte of a String or item of a List expr8[expr1 : expr1] substring of a String or sublist of a List expr8.name entry in a Dictionary expr8(expr1, ...) function call with Funcref variable expr8->name(expr1, ...) method call expr9 number number constant "string" string constant, backslash is special 'string' string constant, ' is doubled [expr1, ...] List {expr1: expr1, ...} Dictionary #{key: expr1, ...} Dictionary &option option value (expr1) nested expression variable internal variable va{ria}ble internal variable with curly braces $VAR environment variable @r contents of register 'r' function(expr1, ...) function call func{ti}on(expr1, ...) function call with curly braces {args -> expr1} lambda expression "..." indicates that the operations in this level can be concatenated. Example: &nu || &list && &shell == "csh" All expressions within one level are parsed from left to right. expr1 expr1 trinary falsy-operator ?? E109 ----- The trinary operator: expr2 ? expr1 : expr1 The falsy operator: expr2 ?? expr1 Trinary operator The expression before the '?' is evaluated to a number. If it evaluates to TRUE, the result is the value of the expression between the '?' and ':', otherwise the result is the value of the expression after the ':'. Example: :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum Since the first expression is an "expr2", it cannot contain another ?:. The other two expressions can, thus allow for recursive use of ?:. Example: :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum == 1000 ? "last" : lnum To keep this readable, using line-continuation is suggested: :echo lnum == 1 :\ ? "top" :\ : lnum == 1000 :\ ? "last" :\ : lnum You should always put a space before the ':', otherwise it can be mistaken for use in a variable such as "a:1". Falsy operator This is also known as the "null coalescing operator", but that's too complicated, thus we just call it the falsy operator. The expression before the '??' is evaluated. If it evaluates to truthy, this is used as the result. Otherwise the expression after the '??' is evaluated and used as the result. This is most useful to have a default value for an expression that may result in zero or empty: echo theList ?? 'list is empty' echo GetName() ?? 'unknown' These are similar, but not equal: expr2 ?? expr1 expr2 ? expr2 : expr1 In the second line "expr2" is evaluated twice. expr2 and expr3 expr2 expr3 --------------- expr3 || expr3 .. logical OR expr-barbar expr4 && expr4 .. logical AND expr-&& The "||" and "&&" operators take one argument on each side. The arguments are (converted to) Numbers. The result is: input output n1 n2 n1 || n2 n1 && n2 FALSE FALSE FALSE FALSE FALSE TRUE TRUE FALSE TRUE FALSE TRUE FALSE TRUE TRUE TRUE TRUE The operators can be concatenated, for example: &nu || &list && &shell == "csh" Note that "&&" takes precedence over "||", so this has the meaning of: &nu || (&list && &shell == "csh") Once the result is known, the expression "short-circuits", that is, further arguments are not evaluated. This is like what happens in C. For example: let a = 1 echo a || b This is valid even if there is no variable called "b" because "a" is TRUE, so the result must be TRUE. Similarly below: echo exists("b") && b == "yes" This is valid whether "b" has been defined or not. The second clause will only be evaluated if "b" has been defined. expr4 expr4 ----- expr5 {cmp} expr5 Compare two expr5 expressions, resulting in a 0 if it evaluates to false, or 1 if it evaluates to true. expr-== expr-!= expr-> expr->= expr-< expr-<= expr-=~ expr-!~ expr-==# expr-!=# expr-># expr->=# expr-<# expr-<=# expr-=~# expr-!~# expr-==? expr-!=? expr->? expr->=? expr-<? expr-<=? expr-=~? expr-!~? expr-is expr-isnot expr-is# expr-isnot# expr-is? expr-isnot? use 'ignorecase' match case ignore case equal == ==# ==? not equal != !=# !=? greater than > ># >? greater than or equal >= >=# >=? smaller than < <# <? smaller than or equal <= <=# <=? regexp matches =~ =~# =~? regexp doesn't match !~ !~# !~? same instance is is# is? different instance isnot isnot# isnot? Examples: "abc" ==# "Abc" evaluates to 0 "abc" ==? "Abc" evaluates to 1 "abc" == "Abc" evaluates to 1 if 'ignorecase' is set, 0 otherwise E691 E692 A List can only be compared with a List and only "equal", "not equal", "is" and "isnot" can be used. This compares the values of the list, recursively. Ignoring case means case is ignored when comparing item values. E735 E736 A Dictionary can only be compared with a Dictionary and only "equal", "not equal", "is" and "isnot" can be used. This compares the key/values of the Dictionary recursively. Ignoring case means case is ignored when comparing item values. E694 A Funcref can only be compared with a Funcref and only "equal", "not equal", "is" and "isnot" can be used. Case is never ignored. Whether arguments or a Dictionary are bound (with a partial) matters. The Dictionaries must also be equal (or the same, in case of "is") and the arguments must be equal (or the same). To compare Funcrefs to see if they refer to the same function, ignoring bound Dictionary and arguments, use get() to get the function name: if get(Part1, 'name') == get(Part2, 'name') " Part1 and Part2 refer to the same function Using "is" or "isnot" with a List, Dictionary or Blob checks whether the expressions are referring to the same List, Dictionary or Blob instance. A copy of a List is different from the original List. When using "is" without a List, Dictionary or Blob, it is equivalent to using "equal", using "isnot" equivalent to using "not equal". Except that a different type means the values are different: echo 4 == '4' 1 echo 4 is '4' 0 echo 0 is [] 0 "is#"/"isnot#" and "is?"/"isnot?" can be used to match and ignore case. When comparing a String with a Number, the String is converted to a Number, and the comparison is done on Numbers. This means that: echo 0 == 'x' 1 because 'x' converted to a Number is zero. However: echo [0] == ['x'] 0 Inside a List or Dictionary this conversion is not used. When comparing two Strings, this is done with strcmp() or stricmp(). This results in the mathematical difference (comparing byte values), not necessarily the alphabetical difference in the local language. When using the operators with a trailing '#', or the short version and 'ignorecase' is off, the comparing is done with strcmp(): case matters. When using the operators with a trailing '?', or the short version and 'ignorecase' is set, the comparing is done with stricmp(): case is ignored. 'smartcase' is not used. The "=~" and "!~" operators match the lefthand argument with the righthand argument, which is used as a pattern. See pattern for what a pattern is. This matching is always done like 'magic' was set and 'cpoptions' is empty, no matter what the actual value of 'magic' or 'cpoptions' is. This makes scripts portable. To avoid backslashes in the regexp pattern to be doubled, use a single-quote string, see literal-string. Since a string is considered to be a single line, a multi-line pattern (containing \n, backslash-n) will not match. However, a literal NL character can be matched like an ordinary character. Examples: "foo\nbar" =~ "\n" evaluates to 1 "foo\nbar" =~ "\\n" evaluates to 0 expr5 and expr6 expr5 expr6 --------------- expr6 + expr6 Number addition, List or Blob concatenation expr-+ expr6 - expr6 Number subtraction expr-- expr6 . expr6 String concatenation expr-. expr6 .. expr6 String concatenation expr-.. For Lists only "+" is possible and then both expr6 must be a list. The result is a new list with the two lists Concatenated. For String concatenation ".." is preferred, since "." is ambiguous, it is also used for Dict member access and floating point numbers. When vimscript-version is 2 or higher, using "." is not allowed. expr7 * expr7 Number multiplication expr-star expr7 / expr7 Number division expr-/ expr7 % expr7 Number modulo expr-% For all, except "." and "..", Strings are converted to Numbers. For bitwise operators see and(), or() and xor(). Note the difference between "+" and ".": "123" + "456" = 579 "123" . "456" = "123456" Since '.' has the same precedence as '+' and '-', you need to read: 1 . 90 + 90.0 As: (1 . 90) + 90.0 That works, since the String "190" is automatically converted to the Number 190, which can be added to the Float 90.0. However: 1 . 90 * 90.0 Should be read as: 1 . (90 * 90.0) Since '.' has lower precedence than '*'. This does NOT work, since this attempts to concatenate a Float and a String. When dividing a Number by zero the result depends on the value: 0 / 0 = -0x80000000 (like NaN for Float) >0 / 0 = 0x7fffffff (like positive infinity) <0 / 0 = -0x7fffffff (like negative infinity) (before Vim 7.2 it was always 0x7fffffff) When 64-bit Number support is enabled: 0 / 0 = -0x8000000000000000 (like NaN for Float) >0 / 0 = 0x7fffffffffffffff (like positive infinity) <0 / 0 = -0x7fffffffffffffff (like negative infinity) When the righthand side of '%' is zero, the result is 0. None of these work for Funcrefs. . and % do not work for Float. E804 expr7 expr7 ----- ! expr7 logical NOT expr-! - expr7 unary minus expr-unary-- + expr7 unary plus expr-unary-+ For '!' TRUE becomes FALSE, FALSE becomes TRUE (one). For '-' the sign of the number is changed. For '+' the number is unchanged. Note: "++" has no effect. A String will be converted to a Number first. These three can be repeated and mixed. Examples: !-1 == 0 !!8 == 1 --9 == 9 expr8 expr8 ----- This expression is either expr9 or a sequence of the alternatives below, in any order. E.g., these are all possible: expr8[expr1].name expr8.name[expr1] expr8(expr1, ...)[expr1].name expr8->(expr1, ...)[expr1] Evaluation is always from left to right. expr8[expr1] item of String or List expr-[] E111 E909 subscript In legacy Vim script: If expr8 is a Number or String this results in a String that contains the expr1'th single byte from expr8. expr8 is used as a String (a number is automatically converted to a String), expr1 as a Number. This doesn't recognize multibyte encodings, see byteidx() for an alternative, or use split() to turn the string into a list of characters. Example, to get the byte under the cursor: :let c = getline(".")[col(".") - 1] In Vim9 script: If expr8 is a String this results in a String that contains the expr1'th single character (including any composing characters) from expr8. To use byte indexes use strpart(). Index zero gives the first byte or character. Careful: text column numbers start with one! If the length of the String is less than the index, the result is an empty String. A negative index always results in an empty string (reason: backward compatibility). Use [-1:] to get the last byte or character. In Vim9 script a negative index is used like with a list: count from the end. If expr8 is a List then it results the item at index expr1. See list-index for possible index values. If the index is out of range this results in an error. Example: :let item = mylist[-1] " get last item Generally, if a List index is equal to or higher than the length of the List, or more negative than the length of the List, this results in an error. expr8[expr1a : expr1b] substring or sublist expr-[:] If expr8 is a String this results in the substring with the bytes or characters from expr1a to and including expr1b. expr8 is used as a String, expr1a and expr1b are used as a Number. In legacy Vim script the indexes are byte indexes. This doesn't recognize multibyte encodings, see byteidx() for computing the indexes. If expr8 is a Number it is first converted to a String. In Vim9 script the indexes are character indexes and include composing characters. To use byte indexes use strpart(). To use character indexes without including composing characters use strcharpart(). The item at index expr1b is included, it is inclusive. For an exclusive index use the slice() function. If expr1a is omitted zero is used. If expr1b is omitted the length of the string minus one is used. A negative number can be used to measure from the end of the string. -1 is the last character, -2 the last but one, etc. If an index goes out of range for the string characters are omitted. If expr1b is smaller than expr1a the result is an empty string. Examples: :let c = name[-1:] " last byte of a string :let c = name[0:-1] " the whole string :let c = name[-2:-2] " last but one byte of a string :let s = line(".")[4:] " from the fifth byte to the end :let s = s[:-3] " remove last two bytes slice If expr8 is a List this results in a new List with the items indicated by the indexes expr1a and expr1b. This works like with a String, as explained just above. Also see sublist below. Examples: :let l = mylist[:3] " first four items :let l = mylist[4:4] " List with one item :let l = mylist[:] " shallow copy of a List If expr8 is a Blob this results in a new Blob with the bytes in the indexes expr1a and expr1b, inclusive. Examples: :let b = 0zDEADBEEF :let bs = b[1:2] " 0zADBE :let bs = b[:] " copy of 0zDEADBEEF Using expr8[expr1] or expr8[expr1a : expr1b] on a Funcref results in an error. Watch out for confusion between a namespace and a variable followed by a colon for a sublist: mylist[n:] " uses variable n mylist[s:] " uses namespace s:, error! expr8.name entry in a Dictionary expr-entry If expr8 is a Dictionary and it is followed by a dot, then the following name will be used as a key in the Dictionary. This is just like: expr8[name]. The name must consist of alphanumeric characters, just like a variable name, but it may start with a number. Curly braces cannot be used. There must not be white space before or after the dot. Examples: :let dict = {"one": 1, 2: "two"} :echo dict.one " shows "1" :echo dict.2 " shows "two" :echo dict .2 " error because of space before the dot Note that the dot is also used for String concatenation. To avoid confusion always put spaces around the dot for String concatenation. expr8(expr1, ...) Funcref function call When expr8 is a Funcref type variable, invoke the function it refers to. expr8->name([args]) method call method -> expr8->{lambda}([args]) E276 For methods that are also available as global functions this is the same as: name(expr8 [, args]) There can also be methods specifically for the type of "expr8". This allows for chaining, passing the value that one method returns to the next method: mylist->filter(filterexpr)->map(mapexpr)->sort()->join() Example of using a lambda: GetPercentage()->{x -> x * 100}()->printf('%d%%') When using -> the expr7 operators will be applied first, thus: -1.234->string() Is equivalent to: (-1.234)->string() And NOT: -(1.234->string()) E274 "->name(" must not contain white space. There can be white space before the "->" and after the "(", thus you can split the lines like this: mylist \ ->filter(filterexpr) \ ->map(mapexpr) \ ->sort() \ ->join() When using the lambda form there must be no white space between the } and the (. expr9 number ------ number number constant expr-number 0x hex-number 0o octal-number binary-number Decimal, Hexadecimal (starting with 0x or 0X), Binary (starting with 0b or 0B) and Octal (starting with 0, 0o or 0O). floating-point-format Floating point numbers can be written in two forms: [-+]{N}.{M} [-+]{N}.{M}[eE][-+]{exp} {N} and {M} are numbers. Both {N} and {M} must be present and can only contain digits. [-+] means there is an optional plus or minus sign. {exp} is the exponent, power of 10. Only a decimal point is accepted, not a comma. No matter what the current locale is. {only when compiled with the |+float| feature} Examples: 123.456 +0.0001 55.0 -0.123 1.234e03 1.0E-6 -3.1416e+88 These are INVALID: 3. empty {M} 1e40 missing .{M} Rationale: Before floating point was introduced, the text "123.456" was interpreted as the two numbers "123" and "456", both converted to a string and concatenated, resulting in the string "123456". Since this was considered pointless, and we could not find it intentionally being used in Vim scripts, this backwards incompatibility was accepted in favor of being able to use the normal notation for floating point numbers. float-pi float-e A few useful values to copy&paste: :let pi = 3.14159265359 :let e = 2.71828182846 Or, if you don't want to write them in as floating-point literals, you can also use functions, like the following: :let pi = acos(-1.0) :let e = exp(1.0) floating-point-precision The precision and range of floating points numbers depends on what "double" means in the library Vim was compiled with. There is no way to change this at runtime. The default for displaying a Float is to use 6 decimal places, like using printf("%g", f). You can select something else when using the printf() function. Example: :echo printf('%.15e', atan(1)) 7.853981633974483e-01 string string String expr-string E114 ------ "string" string constant expr-quote Note that double quotes are used. A string constant accepts these special characters: \... three-digit octal number (e.g., "\316") \.. two-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit) \. one-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit) \x.. byte specified with two hex numbers (e.g., "\x1f") \x. byte specified with one hex number (must be followed by non-hex char) \X.. same as \x.. \X. same as \x. \u.... character specified with up to 4 hex numbers, stored according to the current value of 'encoding' (e.g., "\u02a4") \U.... same as \u but allows up to 8 hex numbers. \b backspace <BS> \e escape <Esc> \f formfeed <FF> \n newline <NL> \r return <CR> \t tab <Tab> \\ backslash \" double quote \<xxx> Special key named "xxx". e.g. "\<C-W>" for CTRL-W. This is for use in mappings, the 0x80 byte is escaped. To use the double quote character it must be escaped: "<M-\">". Don't use <Char-xxxx> to get a utf-8 character, use \uxxxx as mentioned above. \<*xxx> Like \<xxx> but prepends a modifier instead of including it in the character. E.g. "\<C-w>" is one character 0x17 while "\<*C-w>" is four bytes: 3 for the CTRL modifier and then character "W". Note that "\xff" is stored as the byte 255, which may be invalid in some encodings. Use "\u00ff" to store character 255 according to the current value of 'encoding'. Note that "\000" and "\x00" force the end of the string. blob-literal blob-literal E973 ------------ Hexadecimal starting with 0z or 0Z, with an arbitrary number of bytes. The sequence must be an even number of hex characters. Example: :let b = 0zFF00ED015DAF literal-string literal-string E115 --------------- 'string' string constant expr-' Note that single quotes are used. This string is taken as it is. No backslashes are removed or have a special meaning. The only exception is that two quotes stand for one quote. Single quoted strings are useful for patterns, so that backslashes do not need to be doubled. These two commands are equivalent: if a =~ "\\s*" if a =~ '\s*' option expr-option E112 E113 ------ &option option value, local value if possible &g:option global option value &l:option local option value Examples: echo "tabstop is " . &tabstop if &insertmode Any option name can be used here. See options. When using the local value and there is no buffer-local or window-local value, the global value is used anyway. register expr-register @r -------- @r contents of register 'r' The result is the contents of the named register, as a single string. Newlines are inserted where required. To get the contents of the unnamed register use @" or @@. See registers for an explanation of the available registers. When using the '=' register you get the expression itself, not what it evaluates to. Use eval() to evaluate it. nesting expr-nesting E110 ------- (expr1) nested expression environment variable expr-env -------------------- $VAR environment variable The String value of any environment variable. When it is not defined, the result is an empty string. The functions getenv() and setenv() can also be used and work for environment variables with non-alphanumeric names. The function environ() can be used to get a Dict with all environment variables. expr-env-expand Note that there is a difference between using $VAR directly and using expand("$VAR"). Using it directly will only expand environment variables that are known inside the current Vim session. Using expand() will first try using the environment variables known inside the current Vim session. If that fails, a shell will be used to expand the variable. This can be slow, but it does expand all variables that the shell knows about. Example: :echo $shell :echo expand("$shell") The first one probably doesn't echo anything, the second echoes the $shell variable (if your shell supports it). internal variable expr-variable ----------------- variable internal variable See below internal-variables. function call expr-function E116 E118 E119 E120 ------------- function(expr1, ...) function call See below functions. lambda expression expr-lambda lambda ----------------- {args -> expr1} lambda expression A lambda expression creates a new unnamed function which returns the result of evaluating expr1. Lambda expressions differ from user-functions in the following ways: 1. The body of the lambda expression is an expr1 and not a sequence of Ex commands. 2. The prefix "a:" should not be used for arguments. E.g.: :let F = {arg1, arg2 -> arg1 - arg2} :echo F(5, 2) 3 The arguments are optional. Example: :let F = {-> 'error function'} :echo F('ignored') error function Note that in Vim9 script another kind of lambda can be used: vim9-lambda. closure Lambda expressions can access outer scope variables and arguments. This is often called a closure. Example where "i" and "a:arg" are used in a lambda while they already exist in the function scope. They remain valid even after the function returns: :function Foo(arg) : let i = 3 : return {x -> x + i - a:arg} :endfunction :let Bar = Foo(4) :echo Bar(6) 5 Note that the variables must exist in the outer scope before the lambda is defined for this to work. See also :func-closure. Lambda and closure support can be checked with: if has('lambda') Examples for using a lambda expression with sort(), map() and filter(): :echo map([1, 2, 3], {idx, val -> val + 1}) [2, 3, 4] :echo sort([3,7,2,1,4], {a, b -> a - b}) [1, 2, 3, 4, 7] The lambda expression is also useful for Channel, Job and timer: :let timer = timer_start(500, \ {-> execute("echo 'Handler called'", "")}, \ {'repeat': 3}) Handler called Handler called Handler called Note how execute() is used to execute an Ex command. That's ugly though. In Vim9 script you can use a command block, see inline-function. Lambda expressions have internal names like '<lambda>42'. If you get an error for a lambda expression, you can find what it is with the following command: :function <lambda>42 See also: numbered-function ============================================================================== 3. Internal variable internal-variables E461 An internal variable name can be made up of letters, digits and '_'. But it cannot start with a digit. It's also possible to use curly braces, see curly-braces-names. An internal variable is created with the ":let" command :let. An internal variable is explicitly destroyed with the ":unlet" command :unlet. Using a name that is not an internal variable or refers to a variable that has been destroyed results in an error. variable-scope There are several name spaces for variables. Which one is to be used is specified by what is prepended: (nothing) In a function: local to a function; otherwise: global buffer-variable b: Local to the current buffer. window-variable w: Local to the current window. tabpage-variable t: Local to the current tab page. global-variable g: Global. local-variable l: Local to a function. script-variable s: Local to a :source'ed Vim script. function-argument a: Function argument (only inside a function). vim-variable v: Global, predefined by Vim. The scope name by itself can be used as a Dictionary. For example, to delete all script-local variables: :for k in keys(s:) : unlet s:[k] :endfor Note: in Vim9 script this is different, see vim9-scopes. buffer-variable b:var b: A variable name that is preceded with "b:" is local to the current buffer. Thus you can have several "b:foo" variables, one for each buffer. This kind of variable is deleted when the buffer is wiped out or deleted with :bdelete. One local buffer variable is predefined: b:changedtick changetick b:changedtick The total number of changes to the current buffer. It is incremented for each change. An undo command is also a change in this case. Resetting 'modified' when writing the buffer is also counted. This can be used to perform an action only when the buffer has changed. Example: :if my_changedtick != b:changedtick : let my_changedtick = b:changedtick : call My_Update() :endif You cannot change or delete the b:changedtick variable. window-variable w:var w: A variable name that is preceded with "w:" is local to the current window. It is deleted when the window is closed. tabpage-variable t:var t: A variable name that is preceded with "t:" is local to the current tab page, It is deleted when the tab page is closed. {not available when compiled without the +windows feature} global-variable g:var g: Inside functions global variables are accessed with "g:". Omitting this will access a variable local to a function. But "g:" can also be used in any other place if you like. local-variable l:var l: Inside functions local variables are accessed without prepending anything. But you can also prepend "l:" if you like. However, without prepending "l:" you may run into reserved variable names. For example "count". By itself it refers to "v:count". Using "l:count" you can have a local variable with the same name. script-variable s:var In a Vim script variables starting with "s:" can be used. They cannot be accessed from outside of the scripts, thus are local to the script. They can be used in: - commands executed while the script is sourced - functions defined in the script - autocommands defined in the script - functions and autocommands defined in functions and autocommands which were defined in the script (recursively) - user defined commands defined in the script Thus not in: - other scripts sourced from this one - mappings - menus - etc. Script variables can be used to avoid conflicts with global variable names. Take this example: let s:counter = 0 function MyCounter() let s:counter = s:counter + 1 echo s:counter endfunction command Tick call MyCounter() You can now invoke "Tick" from any script, and the "s:counter" variable in that script will not be changed, only the "s:counter" in the script where "Tick" was defined is used. Another example that does the same: let s:counter = 0 command Tick let s:counter = s:counter + 1 | echo s:counter When calling a function and invoking a user-defined command, the context for script variables is set to the script where the function or command was defined. The script variables are also available when a function is defined inside a function that is defined in a script. Example: let s:counter = 0 function StartCounting(incr) if a:incr function MyCounter() let s:counter = s:counter + 1 endfunction else function MyCounter() let s:counter = s:counter - 1 endfunction endif endfunction This defines the MyCounter() function either for counting up or counting down when calling StartCounting(). It doesn't matter from where StartCounting() is called, the s:counter variable will be accessible in MyCounter(). When the same script is sourced again it will use the same script variables. They will remain valid as long as Vim is running. This can be used to maintain a counter: if !exists("s:counter") let s:counter = 1 echo "script executed for the first time" else let s:counter = s:counter + 1 echo "script executed " . s:counter . " times now" endif Note that this means that filetype plugins don't get a different set of script variables for each buffer. Use local buffer variables instead b:var. PREDEFINED VIM VARIABLES vim-variable v:var v: E963 Some variables can be set by the user, but the type cannot be changed. v:argv argv-variable v:argv The command line arguments Vim was invoked with. This is a list of strings. The first item is the Vim command. v:beval_col beval_col-variable v:beval_col The number of the column, over which the mouse pointer is. This is the byte index in the v:beval_lnum line. Only valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option. v:beval_bufnr beval_bufnr-variable v:beval_bufnr The number of the buffer, over which the mouse pointer is. Only valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option. v:beval_lnum beval_lnum-variable v:beval_lnum The number of the line, over which the mouse pointer is. Only valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option. v:beval_text beval_text-variable v:beval_text The text under or after the mouse pointer. Usually a word as it is useful for debugging a C program. 'iskeyword' applies, but a dot and "->" before the position is included. When on a ']' the text before it is used, including the matching '[' and word before it. When on a Visual area within one line the highlighted text is used. Also see <cexpr>. Only valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option. v:beval_winnr beval_winnr-variable v:beval_winnr The number of the window, over which the mouse pointer is. Only valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option. The first window has number zero (unlike most other places where a window gets a number). v:beval_winid beval_winid-variable v:beval_winid The window-ID of the window, over which the mouse pointer is. Otherwise like v:beval_winnr. v:char char-variable v:char Argument for evaluating 'formatexpr' and used for the typed character when using <expr> in an abbreviation :map-<expr>. It is also used by the InsertCharPre and InsertEnter events. v:charconvert_from charconvert_from-variable v:charconvert_from The name of the character encoding of a file to be converted. Only valid while evaluating the 'charconvert' option. v:charconvert_to charconvert_to-variable v:charconvert_to The name of the character encoding of a file after conversion. Only valid while evaluating the 'charconvert' option. v:cmdarg cmdarg-variable v:cmdarg This variable is used for two purposes: 1. The extra arguments given to a file read/write command. Currently these are "++enc=" and "++ff=". This variable is set before an autocommand event for a file read/write command is triggered. There is a leading space to make it possible to append this variable directly after the read/write command. Note: The "+cmd" argument isn't included here, because it will be executed anyway. 2. When printing a PostScript file with ":hardcopy" this is the argument for the ":hardcopy" command. This can be used in 'printexpr'. v:cmdbang cmdbang-variable v:cmdbang Set like v:cmdarg for a file read/write command. When a "!" was used the value is 1, otherwise it is 0. Note that this can only be used in autocommands. For user commands <bang> can be used. v:collate collate-variable v:collate The current locale setting for collation order of the runtime environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the current locale encoding. Technical: it's the value of LC_COLLATE. When not using a locale the value is "C". This variable can not be set directly, use the :language command. See multi-lang. v:completed_item completed_item-variable v:completed_item Dictionary containing the complete-items for the most recently completed word after CompleteDone. The Dictionary is empty if the completion failed. v:count count-variable v:count The count given for the last Normal mode command. Can be used to get the count before a mapping. Read-only. Example: :map _x :<C-U>echo "the count is " . v:count<CR> Note: The <C-U> is required to remove the line range that you get when typing ':' after a count. When there are two counts, as in "3d2w", they are multiplied, just like what happens in the command, "d6w" for the example. Also used for evaluating the 'formatexpr' option. "count" also works, for backwards compatibility, unless scriptversion is 3 or higher. v:count1 count1-variable v:count1 Just like "v:count", but defaults to one when no count is used. v:ctype ctype-variable v:ctype The current locale setting for characters of the runtime environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the current locale encoding. Technical: it's the value of LC_CTYPE. When not using a locale the value is "C". This variable can not be set directly, use the :language command. See multi-lang. v:dying dying-variable v:dying Normally zero. When a deadly signal is caught it's set to one. When multiple signals are caught the number increases. Can be used in an autocommand to check if Vim didn't terminate normally. {only works on Unix} Example: :au VimLeave * if v:dying | echo "\nAAAAaaaarrrggghhhh!!!\n" | endif Note: if another deadly signal is caught when v:dying is one, VimLeave autocommands will not be executed. v:exiting exiting-variable v:exiting Vim exit code. Normally zero, non-zero when something went wrong. The value is v:null before invoking the VimLeavePre and VimLeave autocmds. See :q, :x and :cquit. Example: :au VimLeave * echo "Exit value is " .. v:exiting v:echospace echospace-variable v:echospace Number of screen cells that can be used for an :echo message in the last screen line before causing the hit-enter-prompt. Depends on 'showcmd', 'ruler' and 'columns'. You need to check 'cmdheight' for whether there are full-width lines available above the last line. v:errmsg errmsg-variable v:errmsg Last given error message. It's allowed to set this variable. Example: :let v:errmsg = "" :silent! next :if v:errmsg != "" : ... handle error "errmsg" also works, for backwards compatibility, unless scriptversion is 3 or higher. v:errors errors-variable assert-return v:errors Errors found by assert functions, such as assert_true(). This is a list of strings. The assert functions append an item when an assert fails. The return value indicates this: a one is returned if an item was added to v:errors, otherwise zero is returned. To remove old results make it empty: :let v:errors = [] If v:errors is set to anything but a list it is made an empty list by the assert function. v:event event-variable v:event Dictionary containing information about the current autocommand. See the specific event for what it puts in this dictionary. The dictionary is emptied when the autocommand finishes, please refer to dict-identity for how to get an independent copy of it. Use deepcopy() if you want to keep the information after the event triggers. Example: au TextYankPost * let g:foo = deepcopy(v:event) v:exception exception-variable v:exception The value of the exception most recently caught and not finished. See also v:throwpoint and throw-variables. Example: :try : throw "oops" :catch /.*/ : echo "caught " .. v:exception :endtry Output: "caught oops". v:false false-variable v:false A Number with value zero. Used to put "false" in JSON. See json_encode(). When used as a string this evaluates to "v:false". echo v:false v:false That is so that eval() can parse the string back to the same value. Read-only. v:fcs_reason fcs_reason-variable v:fcs_reason The reason why the FileChangedShell event was triggered. Can be used in an autocommand to decide what to do and/or what to set v:fcs_choice to. Possible values: deleted file no longer exists conflict file contents, mode or timestamp was changed and buffer is modified changed file contents has changed mode mode of file changed time only file timestamp changed v:fcs_choice fcs_choice-variable v:fcs_choice What should happen after a FileChangedShell event was triggered. Can be used in an autocommand to tell Vim what to do with the affected buffer: reload Reload the buffer (does not work if the file was deleted). ask Ask the user what to do, as if there was no autocommand. Except that when only the timestamp changed nothing will happen. <empty> Nothing, the autocommand should do everything that needs to be done. The default is empty. If another (invalid) value is used then Vim behaves like it is empty, there is no warning message. v:fname fname-variable v:fname The file name set by 'includeexpr'. Empty otherwise. v:fname_in fname_in-variable v:fname_in The name of the input file. Valid while evaluating: option used for 'charconvert' file to be converted 'diffexpr' original file 'patchexpr' original file 'printexpr' file to be printed And set to the swap file name for SwapExists. v:fname_out fname_out-variable v:fname_out The name of the output file. Only valid while evaluating: option used for 'charconvert' resulting converted file (*) 'diffexpr' output of diff 'patchexpr' resulting patched file (*) When doing conversion for a write command (e.g., ":w file") it will be equal to v:fname_in. When doing conversion for a read command (e.g., ":e file") it will be a temporary file and different from v:fname_in. v:fname_new fname_new-variable v:fname_new The name of the new version of the file. Only valid while evaluating 'diffexpr'. v:fname_diff fname_diff-variable v:fname_diff The name of the diff (patch) file. Only valid while evaluating 'patchexpr'. v:folddashes folddashes-variable v:folddashes Used for 'foldtext': dashes representing foldlevel of a closed fold. Read-only in the sandbox. fold-foldtext v:foldlevel foldlevel-variable v:foldlevel Used for 'foldtext': foldlevel of closed fold. Read-only in the sandbox. fold-foldtext v:foldend foldend-variable v:foldend Used for 'foldtext': last line of closed fold. Read-only in the sandbox. fold-foldtext v:foldstart foldstart-variable v:foldstart Used for 'foldtext': first line of closed fold. Read-only in the sandbox. fold-foldtext v:hlsearch hlsearch-variable v:hlsearch Variable that indicates whether search highlighting is on. Setting it makes sense only if 'hlsearch' is enabled which requires +extra_search. Setting this variable to zero acts like the :nohlsearch command, setting it to one acts like let &hlsearch = &hlsearch Note that the value is restored when returning from a function. function-search-undo. v:insertmode insertmode-variable v:insertmode Used for the InsertEnter and InsertChange autocommand events. Values: i Insert mode r Replace mode v Virtual Replace mode v:key key-variable v:key Key of the current item of a Dictionary. Only valid while evaluating the expression used with map() and filter(). Read-only. v:lang lang-variable v:lang The current locale setting for messages of the runtime environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the current language. Technical: it's the value of LC_MESSAGES. The value is system dependent. This variable can not be set directly, use the :language command. It can be different from v:ctype when messages are desired in a different language than what is used for character encoding. See multi-lang. v:lc_time lc_time-variable v:lc_time The current locale setting for time messages of the runtime environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the current language. Technical: it's the value of LC_TIME. This variable can not be set directly, use the :language command. See multi-lang. v:lnum lnum-variable v:lnum Line number for the 'foldexpr' fold-expr, 'formatexpr' and 'indentexpr' expressions, tab page number for 'guitablabel' and 'guitabtooltip'. Only valid while one of these expressions is being evaluated. Read-only when in the sandbox. v:mouse_win mouse_win-variable v:mouse_win Window number for a mouse click obtained with getchar(). First window has number 1, like with winnr(). The value is zero when there was no mouse button click. v:mouse_winid mouse_winid-variable v:mouse_winid Window ID for a mouse click obtained with getchar(). The value is zero when there was no mouse button click. v:mouse_lnum mouse_lnum-variable v:mouse_lnum Line number for a mouse click obtained with getchar(). This is the text line number, not the screen line number. The value is zero when there was no mouse button click. v:mouse_col mouse_col-variable v:mouse_col Column number for a mouse click obtained with getchar(). This is the screen column number, like with virtcol(). The value is zero when there was no mouse button click. v:none none-variable None v:none An empty String. Used to put an empty item in JSON. See json_encode(). This can also be used as a function argument to use the default value, see none-function_argument. When used as a number this evaluates to zero. When used as a string this evaluates to "v:none". echo v:none v:none That is so that eval() can parse the string back to the same value. Read-only. v:null null-variable v:null An empty String. Used to put "null" in JSON. See json_encode(). When used as a number this evaluates to zero. When used as a string this evaluates to "v:null". echo v:null v:null That is so that eval() can parse the string back to the same value. Read-only. v:numbermax numbermax-variable v:numbermax Maximum value of a number. v:numbermin numbermin-variable v:numbermin Minimum value of a number (negative) v:numbersize numbersize-variable v:numbersize Number of bits in a Number. This is normally 64, but on some systems it may be 32. v:oldfiles oldfiles-variable v:oldfiles List of file names that is loaded from the viminfo file on startup. These are the files that Vim remembers marks for. The length of the List is limited by the ' argument of the 'viminfo' option (default is 100). When the viminfo file is not used the List is empty. Also see :oldfiles and c_#<. The List can be modified, but this has no effect on what is stored in the viminfo file later. If you use values other than String this will cause trouble. {only when compiled with the |+viminfo| feature} v:option_new v:option_new New value of the option. Valid while executing an OptionSet autocommand. v:option_old v:option_old Old value of the option. Valid while executing an OptionSet autocommand. Depending on the command used for setting and the kind of option this is either the local old value or the global old value. v:option_oldlocal v:option_oldlocal Old local value of the option. Valid while executing an OptionSet autocommand. v:option_oldglobal v:option_oldglobal Old global value of the option. Valid while executing an OptionSet autocommand. v:option_type v:option_type Scope of the set command. Valid while executing an OptionSet autocommand. Can be either "global" or "local" v:option_command v:option_command Command used to set the option. Valid while executing an OptionSet autocommand. value option was set via "setlocal" :setlocal or ":let l:xxx" "setglobal" :setglobal or ":let g:xxx" "set" :set or :let "modeline" modeline v:operator operator-variable v:operator The last operator given in Normal mode. This is a single character except for commands starting with <g> or <z>, in which case it is two characters. Best used alongside v:prevcount and v:register. Useful if you want to cancel Operator-pending mode and then use the operator, e.g.: :omap O <Esc>:call MyMotion(v:operator)<CR> The value remains set until another operator is entered, thus don't expect it to be empty. v:operator is not set for :delete, :yank or other Ex commands. Read-only. v:prevcount prevcount-variable v:prevcount The count given for the last but one Normal mode command. This is the v:count value of the previous command. Useful if you want to cancel Visual or Operator-pending mode and then use the count, e.g.: :vmap % <Esc>:call MyFilter(v:prevcount)<CR> Read-only. v:profiling profiling-variable v:profiling Normally zero. Set to one after using ":profile start". See profiling. v:progname progname-variable v:progname Contains the name (with path removed) with which Vim was invoked. Allows you to do special initialisations for view, evim etc., or any other name you might symlink to Vim. Read-only. v:progpath progpath-variable v:progpath Contains the command with which Vim was invoked, in a form that when passed to the shell will run the same Vim executable as the current one (if $PATH remains unchanged). Useful if you want to message a Vim server using a --remote-expr. To get the full path use: echo exepath(v:progpath) If the command has a relative path it will be expanded to the full path, so that it still works after :cd. Thus starting "./vim" results in "/home/user/path/to/vim/src/vim". On Linux and other systems it will always be the full path. On Mac it may just be "vim" and using exepath() as mentioned above should be used to get the full path. On MS-Windows the executable may be called "vim.exe", but the ".exe" is not added to v:progpath. Read-only. v:register register-variable v:register The name of the register in effect for the current normal mode command (regardless of whether that command actually used a register). Or for the currently executing normal mode mapping (use this in custom commands that take a register). If none is supplied it is the default register '"', unless 'clipboard' contains "unnamed" or "unnamedplus", then it is '*' or '+'. Also see getreg() and setreg() v:scrollstart scrollstart-variable v:scrollstart String describing the script or function that caused the screen to scroll up. It's only set when it is empty, thus the first reason is remembered. It is set to "Unknown" for a typed command. This can be used to find out why your script causes the hit-enter prompt. v:servername servername-variable v:servername The resulting registered client-server-name if any. Read-only. v:searchforward v:searchforward searchforward-variable Search direction: 1 after a forward search, 0 after a backward search. It is reset to forward when directly setting the last search pattern, see quote/. Note that the value is restored when returning from a function. function-search-undo. Read-write. v:shell_error shell_error-variable v:shell_error Result of the last shell command. When non-zero, the last shell command had an error. When zero, there was no problem. This only works when the shell returns the error code to Vim. The value -1 is often used when the command could not be executed. Read-only. Example: :!mv foo bar :if v:shell_error : echo 'could not rename "foo" to "bar"!' :endif "shell_error" also works, for backwards compatibility, unless scriptversion is 3 or higher. v:statusmsg statusmsg-variable v:statusmsg Last given status message. It's allowed to set this variable. v:swapname swapname-variable v:swapname Only valid when executing SwapExists autocommands: Name of the swap file found. Read-only. v:swapchoice swapchoice-variable v:swapchoice SwapExists autocommands can set this to the selected choice for handling an existing swap file: 'o' Open read-only 'e' Edit anyway 'r' Recover 'd' Delete swapfile 'q' Quit 'a' Abort The value should be a single-character string. An empty value results in the user being asked, as would happen when there is no SwapExists autocommand. The default is empty. v:swapcommand swapcommand-variable v:swapcommand Normal mode command to be executed after a file has been opened. Can be used for a SwapExists autocommand to have another Vim open the file and jump to the right place. For example, when jumping to a tag the value is ":tag tagname\r". For ":edit +cmd file" the value is ":cmd\r". v:t_TYPE v:t_bool t_bool-variable v:t_bool Value of Boolean type. Read-only. See: type() v:t_channel t_channel-variable v:t_channel Value of Channel type. Read-only. See: type() v:t_dict t_dict-variable v:t_dict Value of Dictionary type. Read-only. See: type() v:t_float t_float-variable v:t_float Value of Float type. Read-only. See: type() v:t_func t_func-variable v:t_func Value of Funcref type. Read-only. See: type() v:t_job t_job-variable v:t_job Value of Job type. Read-only. See: type() v:t_list t_list-variable v:t_list Value of List type. Read-only. See: type() v:t_none t_none-variable v:t_none Value of None type. Read-only. See: type() v:t_number t_number-variable v:t_number Value of Number type. Read-only. See: type() v:t_string t_string-variable v:t_string Value of String type. Read-only. See: type() v:t_blob t_blob-variable v:t_blob Value of Blob type. Read-only. See: type() v:termresponse termresponse-variable v:termresponse The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the t_RV termcap entry. It is set when Vim receives an escape sequence that starts with ESC [ or CSI, then '>' or '?' and ends in a 'c', with only digits and ';' in between. When this option is set, the TermResponse autocommand event is fired, so that you can react to the response from the terminal. You can use terminalprops() to see what Vim figured out about the terminal. The response from a new xterm is: "<Esc>[> Pp ; Pv ; Pc c". Pp is the terminal type: 0 for vt100 and 1 for vt220. Pv is the patch level (since this was introduced in patch 95, it's always 95 or bigger). Pc is always zero. {only when compiled with |+termresponse| feature} v:termblinkresp v:termblinkresp The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the t_RC termcap entry. This is used to find out whether the terminal cursor is blinking. This is used by term_getcursor(). v:termstyleresp v:termstyleresp The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the t_RS termcap entry. This is used to find out what the shape of the cursor is. This is used by term_getcursor(). v:termrbgresp v:termrbgresp The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the t_RB termcap entry. This is used to find out what the terminal background color is, see 'background'. v:termrfgresp v:termrfgresp The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the t_RF termcap entry. This is used to find out what the terminal foreground color is. v:termu7resp v:termu7resp The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the t_u7 termcap entry. This is used to find out what the terminal does with ambiguous width characters, see 'ambiwidth'. v:testing testing-variable v:testing Must be set before using test_garbagecollect_now(). Also, when set certain error messages won't be shown for 2 seconds. (e.g. "'dictionary' option is empty") v:this_session this_session-variable v:this_session Full filename of the last loaded or saved session file. See :mksession. It is allowed to set this variable. When no session file has been saved, this variable is empty. "this_session" also works, for backwards compatibility, unless scriptversion is 3 or higher v:throwpoint throwpoint-variable v:throwpoint The point where the exception most recently caught and not finished was thrown. Not set when commands are typed. See also v:exception and throw-variables. Example: :try : throw "oops" :catch /.*/ : echo "Exception from" v:throwpoint :endtry Output: "Exception from test.vim, line 2" v:true true-variable v:true A Number with value one. Used to put "true" in JSON. See json_encode(). When used as a string this evaluates to "v:true". echo v:true v:true That is so that eval() can parse the string back to the same value. Read-only. v:val val-variable v:val Value of the current item of a List or Dictionary. Only valid while evaluating the expression used with map() and filter(). Read-only. v:version version-variable v:version Version number of Vim: Major version number times 100 plus minor version number. Version 5.0 is 500. Version 5.1 is 501. Read-only. "version" also works, for backwards compatibility, unless scriptversion is 3 or higher. Use has() to check if a certain patch was included, e.g.: if has("patch-7.4.123") Note that patch numbers are specific to the version, thus both version 5.0 and 5.1 may have a patch 123, but these are completely different. v:versionlong versionlong-variable v:versionlong Like v:version, but also including the patchlevel in the last four digits. Version 8.1 with patch 123 has value 8010123. This can be used like this: if v:versionlong >= 8010123 However, if there are gaps in the list of patches included this will not work well. This can happen if a recent patch was included into an older version, e.g. for a security fix. Use the has() function to make sure the patch is actually included. v:vim_did_enter vim_did_enter-variable v:vim_did_enter Zero until most of startup is done. It is set to one just before VimEnter autocommands are triggered. v:warningmsg warningmsg-variable v:warningmsg Last given warning message. It's allowed to set this variable. v:windowid windowid-variable v:windowid When any X11 based GUI is running or when running in a terminal and Vim connects to the X server (-X) this will be set to the window ID. When an MS-Windows GUI is running this will be set to the window handle. Otherwise the value is zero. Note: for windows inside Vim use winnr() or win_getid(), see window-ID. ============================================================================== 4. Builtin Functions functions See function-list for a list grouped by what the function is used for. (Use CTRL-] on the function name to jump to the full explanation.) USAGE RESULT DESCRIPTION abs({expr}) Float or Number absolute value of {expr} acos({expr}) Float arc cosine of {expr} add({object}, {item}) List/Blob append {item} to {object} and({expr}, {expr}) Number bitwise AND append({lnum}, {text}) Number append {text} below line {lnum} appendbufline({expr}, {lnum}, {text}) Number append {text} below line {lnum} in buffer {expr} argc([{winid}]) Number number of files in the argument list argidx() Number current index in the argument list arglistid([{winnr} [, {tabnr}]]) Number argument list id argv({nr} [, {winid}]) String {nr} entry of the argument list argv([-1, {winid}]) List the argument list asin({expr}) Float arc sine of {expr} assert_beeps({cmd}) Number assert {cmd} causes a beep assert_equal({exp}, {act} [, {msg}]) Number assert {exp} is equal to {act} assert_equalfile({fname-one}, {fname-two} [, {msg}]) Number assert file contents are equal assert_exception({error} [, {msg}]) Number assert {error} is in v:exception assert_fails({cmd} [, {error} [, {msg} [, {lnum} [, {context}]]]]) Number assert {cmd} fails assert_false({actual} [, {msg}]) Number assert {actual} is false assert_inrange({lower}, {upper}, {actual} [, {msg}]) Number assert {actual} is inside the range assert_match({pat}, {text} [, {msg}]) Number assert {pat} matches {text} assert_nobeep({cmd}) Number assert {cmd} does not cause a beep assert_notequal({exp}, {act} [, {msg}]) Number assert {exp} is not equal {act} assert_notmatch({pat}, {text} [, {msg}]) Number assert {pat} not matches {text} assert_report({msg}) Number report a test failure assert_true({actual} [, {msg}]) Number assert {actual} is true atan({expr}) Float arc tangent of {expr} atan2({expr1}, {expr2}) Float arc tangent of {expr1} / {expr2} balloon_gettext() String current text in the balloon balloon_show({expr}) none show {expr} inside the balloon balloon_split({msg}) List split {msg} as used for a balloon browse({save}, {title}, {initdir}, {default}) String put up a file requester browsedir({title}, {initdir}) String put up a directory requester bufadd({name}) Number add a buffer to the buffer list bufexists({expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} exists buflisted({expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} is listed bufload({expr}) Number load buffer {expr} if not loaded yet bufloaded({expr}) Number TRUE if buffer {expr} is loaded bufname([{expr}]) String Name of the buffer {expr} bufnr([{expr} [, {create}]]) Number Number of the buffer {expr} bufwinid({expr}) Number window ID of buffer {expr} bufwinnr({expr}) Number window number of buffer {expr} byte2line({byte}) Number line number at byte count {byte} byteidx({expr}, {nr}) Number byte index of {nr}'th char in {expr} byteidxcomp({expr}, {nr}) Number byte index of {nr}'th char in {expr} call({func}, {arglist} [, {dict}]) any call {func} with arguments {arglist} ceil({expr}) Float round {expr} up ch_canread({handle}) Number check if there is something to read ch_close({handle}) none close {handle} ch_close_in({handle}) none close in part of {handle} ch_evalexpr({handle}, {expr} [, {options}]) any evaluate {expr} on JSON {handle} ch_evalraw({handle}, {string} [, {options}]) any evaluate {string} on raw {handle} ch_getbufnr({handle}, {what}) Number get buffer number for {handle}/{what} ch_getjob({channel}) Job get the Job of {channel} ch_info({handle}) String info about channel {handle} ch_log({msg} [, {handle}]) none write {msg} in the channel log file ch_logfile({fname} [, {mode}]) none start logging channel activity ch_open({address} [, {options}]) Channel open a channel to {address} ch_read({handle} [, {options}]) String read from {handle} ch_readblob({handle} [, {options}]) Blob read Blob from {handle} ch_readraw({handle} [, {options}]) String read raw from {handle} ch_sendexpr({handle}, {expr} [, {options}]) any send {expr} over JSON {handle} ch_sendraw({handle}, {expr} [, {options}]) any send {expr} over raw {handle} ch_setoptions({handle}, {options}) none set options for {handle} ch_status({handle} [, {options}]) String status of channel {handle} changenr() Number current change number char2nr({expr} [, {utf8}]) Number ASCII/UTF8 value of first char in {expr} charclass({string}) Number character class of {string} charcol({expr}) Number column number of cursor or mark charidx({string}, {idx} [, {countcc}]) Number char index of byte {idx} in {string} chdir({dir}) String change current working directory cindent({lnum}) Number C indent for line {lnum} clearmatches([{win}]) none clear all matches col({expr}) Number column byte index of cursor or mark complete({startcol}, {matches}) none set Insert mode completion complete_add({expr}) Number add completion match complete_check() Number check for key typed during completion complete_info([{what}]) Dict get current completion information confirm({msg} [, {choices} [, {default} [, {type}]]]) Number number of choice picked by user copy({expr}) any make a shallow copy of {expr} cos({expr}) Float cosine of {expr} cosh({expr}) Float hyperbolic cosine of {expr} count({comp}, {expr} [, {ic} [, {start}]]) Number count how many {expr} are in {comp} cscope_connection([{num}, {dbpath} [, {prepend}]]) Number checks existence of cscope connection cursor({lnum}, {col} [, {off}]) Number move cursor to {lnum}, {col}, {off} cursor({list}) Number move cursor to position in {list} debugbreak({pid}) Number interrupt process being debugged deepcopy({expr} [, {noref}]) any make a full copy of {expr} delete({fname} [, {flags}]) Number delete the file or directory {fname} deletebufline({expr}, {first} [, {last}]) Number delete lines from buffer {expr} did_filetype() Number TRUE if FileType autocmd event used diff_filler({lnum}) Number diff filler lines about {lnum} diff_hlID({lnum}, {col}) Number diff highlighting at {lnum}/{col} echoraw({expr}) none output {expr} as-is empty({expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} is empty environ() Dict return environment variables escape({string}, {chars}) String escape {chars} in {string} with '\' eval({string}) any evaluate {string} into its value eventhandler() Number TRUE if inside an event handler executable({expr}) Number 1 if executable {expr} exists execute({command}) String execute {command} and get the output exepath({expr}) String full path of the command {expr} exists({expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} exists exp({expr}) Float exponential of {expr} expand({expr} [, {nosuf} [, {list}]]) any expand special keywords in {expr} expandcmd({expr}) String expand {expr} like with :edit extend({expr1}, {expr2} [, {expr3}]) List/Dict insert items of {expr2} into {expr1} extendnew({expr1}, {expr2} [, {expr3}]) List/Dict like extend() but creates a new List or Dictionary feedkeys({string} [, {mode}]) Number add key sequence to typeahead buffer filereadable({file}) Number TRUE if {file} is a readable file filewritable({file}) Number TRUE if {file} is a writable file filter({expr1}, {expr2}) List/Dict remove items from {expr1} where {expr2} is 0 finddir({name} [, {path} [, {count}]]) String find directory {name} in {path} findfile({name} [, {path} [, {count}]]) String find file {name} in {path} flatten({list} [, {maxdepth}]) List flatten {list} up to {maxdepth} levels flattennew({list} [, {maxdepth}]) List flatten a copy of {list} float2nr({expr}) Number convert Float {expr} to a Number floor({expr}) Float round {expr} down fmod({expr1}, {expr2}) Float remainder of {expr1} / {expr2} fnameescape({fname}) String escape special characters in {fname} fnamemodify({fname}, {mods}) String modify file name foldclosed({lnum}) Number first line of fold at {lnum} if closed foldclosedend({lnum}) Number last line of fold at {lnum} if closed foldlevel({lnum}) Number fold level at {lnum} foldtext() String line displayed for closed fold foldtextresult({lnum}) String text for closed fold at {lnum} foreground() Number bring the Vim window to the foreground fullcommand({name}) String get full command from {name} funcref({name} [, {arglist}] [, {dict}]) Funcref reference to function {name} function({name} [, {arglist}] [, {dict}]) Funcref named reference to function {name} garbagecollect([{atexit}]) none free memory, breaking cyclic references get({list}, {idx} [, {def}]) any get item {idx} from {list} or {def} get({dict}, {key} [, {def}]) any get item {key} from {dict} or {def} get({func}, {what}) any get property of funcref/partial {func} getbufinfo([{expr}]) List information about buffers getbufline({expr}, {lnum} [, {end}]) List lines {lnum} to {end} of buffer {expr} getbufvar({expr}, {varname} [, {def}]) any variable {varname} in buffer {expr} getchangelist([{expr}]) List list of change list items getchar([expr]) Number get one character from the user getcharmod() Number modifiers for the last typed character getcharpos({expr}) List position of cursor, mark, etc. getcharsearch() Dict last character search getcmdline() String return the current command-line getcmdpos() Number return cursor position in command-line getcmdtype() String return current command-line type getcmdwintype() String return current command-line window type getcompletion({pat}, {type} [, {filtered}]) List list of cmdline completion matches getcurpos([{winnr}]) List position of the cursor getcursorcharpos([{winnr}]) List character position of the cursor getcwd([{winnr} [, {tabnr}]]) String get the current working directory getenv({name}) String return environment variable getfontname([{name}]) String name of font being used getfperm({fname}) String file permissions of file {fname} getfsize({fname}) Number size in bytes of file {fname} getftime({fname}) Number last modification time of file getftype({fname}) String description of type of file {fname} getimstatus() Number TRUE if the IME status is active getjumplist([{winnr} [, {tabnr}]]) List list of jump list items getline({lnum}) String line {lnum} of current buffer getline({lnum}, {end}) List lines {lnum} to {end} of current buffer getloclist({nr}) List list of location list items getloclist({nr}, {what}) Dict get specific location list properties getmarklist([{expr}]) List list of global/local marks getmatches([{win}]) List list of current matches getmousepos() Dict last known mouse position getpid() Number process ID of Vim getpos({expr}) List position of cursor, mark, etc. getqflist() List list of quickfix items getqflist({what}) Dict get specific quickfix list properties getreg([{regname} [, 1 [, {list}]]]) String or List contents of a register getreginfo([{regname}]) Dict information about a register getregtype([{regname}]) String type of a register gettabinfo([{expr}]) List list of tab pages gettabvar({nr}, {varname} [, {def}]) any variable {varname} in tab {nr} or {def} gettabwinvar({tabnr}, {winnr}, {name} [, {def}]) any {name} in {winnr} in tab page {tabnr} gettagstack([{nr}]) Dict get the tag stack of window {nr} gettext({text}) String lookup translation of {text} getwininfo([{winid}]) List list of info about each window getwinpos([{timeout}]) List X and Y coord in pixels of the Vim window getwinposx() Number X coord in pixels of the Vim window getwinposy() Number Y coord in pixels of the Vim window getwinvar({nr}, {varname} [, {def}]) any variable {varname} in window {nr} glob({expr} [, {nosuf} [, {list} [, {alllinks}]]]) any expand file wildcards in {expr} glob2regpat({expr}) String convert a glob pat into a search pat globpath({path}, {expr} [, {nosuf} [, {list} [, {alllinks}]]]) String do glob({expr}) for all dirs in {path} has({feature} [, {check}]) Number TRUE if feature {feature} supported has_key({dict}, {key}) Number TRUE if {dict} has entry {key} haslocaldir([{winnr} [, {tabnr}]]) Number TRUE if the window executed :lcd or :tcd hasmapto({what} [, {mode} [, {abbr}]]) Number TRUE if mapping to {what} exists histadd({history}, {item}) Number add an item to a history histdel({history} [, {item}]) Number remove an item from a history histget({history} [, {index}]) String get the item {index} from a history histnr({history}) Number highest index of a history hlID({name}) Number syntax ID of highlight group {name} hlexists({name}) Number TRUE if highlight group {name} exists hostname() String name of the machine Vim is running on iconv({expr}, {from}, {to}) String convert encoding of {expr} indent({lnum}) Number indent of line {lnum} index({object}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]]) Number index in {object} where {expr} appears input({prompt} [, {text} [, {completion}]]) String get input from the user inputdialog({prompt} [, {text} [, {completion}]]) String like input() but in a GUI dialog inputlist({textlist}) Number let the user pick from a choice list inputrestore() Number restore typeahead inputsave() Number save and clear typeahead inputsecret({prompt} [, {text}]) String like input() but hiding the text insert({object}, {item} [, {idx}]) List insert {item} in {object} [before {idx}] interrupt() none interrupt script execution invert({expr}) Number bitwise invert isdirectory({directory}) Number TRUE if {directory} is a directory isinf({expr}) Number determine if {expr} is infinity value (positive or negative) islocked({expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} is locked isnan({expr}) Number TRUE if {expr} is NaN items({dict}) List key-value pairs in {dict} job_getchannel({job}) Channel get the channel handle for {job} job_info([{job}]) Dict get information about {job} job_setoptions({job}, {options}) none set options for {job} job_start({command} [, {options}]) Job start a job job_status({job}) String get the status of {job} job_stop({job} [, {how}]) Number stop {job} join({list} [, {sep}]) String join {list} items into one String js_decode({string}) any decode JS style JSON js_encode({expr}) String encode JS style JSON json_decode({string}) any decode JSON json_encode({expr}) String encode JSON keys({dict}) List keys in {dict} len({expr}) Number the length of {expr} libcall({lib}, {func}, {arg}) String call {func} in library {lib} with {arg} libcallnr({lib}, {func}, {arg}) Number idem, but return a Number line({expr} [, {winid}]) Number line nr of cursor, last line or mark line2byte({lnum}) Number byte count of line {lnum} lispindent({lnum}) Number Lisp indent for line {lnum} list2str({list} [, {utf8}]) String turn numbers in {list} into a String listener_add({callback} [, {buf}]) Number add a callback to listen to changes listener_flush([{buf}]) none invoke listener callbacks listener_remove({id}) none remove a listener callback localtime() Number current time log({expr}) Float natural logarithm (base e) of {expr} log10({expr}) Float logarithm of Float {expr} to base 10 luaeval({expr} [, {expr}]) any evaluate Lua expression map({expr1}, {expr2}) List/Dict change each item in {expr1} to {expr} maparg({name} [, {mode} [, {abbr} [, {dict}]]]) String or Dict rhs of mapping {name} in mode {mode} mapcheck({name} [, {mode} [, {abbr}]]) String check for mappings matching {name} mapnew({expr1}, {expr2}) List/Dict like map() but creates a new List or Dictionary mapset({mode}, {abbr}, {dict}) none restore mapping from maparg() result match({expr}, {pat} [, {start} [, {count}]]) Number position where {pat} matches in {expr} matchadd({group}, {pattern} [, {priority} [, {id} [, {dict}]]]) Number highlight {pattern} with {group} matchaddpos({group}, {pos} [, {priority} [, {id} [, {dict}]]]) Number highlight positions with {group} matcharg({nr}) List arguments of :match matchdelete({id} [, {win}]) Number delete match identified by {id} matchend({expr}, {pat} [, {start} [, {count}]]) Number position where {pat} ends in {expr} matchfuzzy({list}, {str} [, {dict}]) List fuzzy match {str} in {list} matchfuzzypos({list}, {str} [, {dict}]) List fuzzy match {str} in {list} matchlist({expr}, {pat} [, {start} [, {count}]]) List match and submatches of {pat} in {expr} matchstr({expr}, {pat} [, {start} [, {count}]]) String {count}'th match of {pat} in {expr} matchstrpos({expr}, {pat} [, {start} [, {count}]]) List {count}'th match of {pat} in {expr} max({expr}) Number maximum value of items in {expr} menu_info({name} [, {mode}]) Dict get menu item information min({expr}) Number minimum value of items in {expr} mkdir({name} [, {path} [, {prot}]]) Number create directory {name} mode([expr]) String current editing mode mzeval({expr}) any evaluate MzScheme expression nextnonblank({lnum}) Number line nr of non-blank line >= {lnum} nr2char({expr} [, {utf8}]) String single char with ASCII/UTF8 value {expr} or({expr}, {expr}) Number bitwise OR pathshorten({expr} [, {len}]) String shorten directory names in a path perleval({expr}) any evaluate Perl expression popup_atcursor({what}, {options}) Number create popup window near the cursor popup_beval({what}, {options}) Number create popup window for 'ballooneval' popup_clear() none close all popup windows popup_close({id} [, {result}]) none close popup window {id} popup_create({what}, {options}) Number create a popup window popup_dialog({what}, {options}) Number create a popup window used as a dialog popup_filter_menu({id}, {key}) Number filter for a menu popup window popup_filter_yesno({id}, {key}) Number filter for a dialog popup window popup_findinfo() Number get window ID of info popup window popup_findpreview() Number get window ID of preview popup window popup_getoptions({id}) Dict get options of popup window {id} popup_getpos({id}) Dict get position of popup window {id} popup_hide({id}) none hide popup menu {id} popup_list() List get a list of window IDs of all popups popup_locate({row}, {col}) Number get window ID of popup at position popup_menu({what}, {options}) Number create a popup window used as a menu popup_move({id}, {options}) none set position of popup window {id} popup_notification({what}, {options}) Number create a notification popup window popup_setoptions({id}, {options}) none set options for popup window {id} popup_settext({id}, {text}) none set the text of popup window {id} popup_show({id}) none unhide popup window {id} pow({x}, {y}) Float {x} to the power of {y} prevnonblank({lnum}) Number line nr of non-blank line <= {lnum} printf({fmt}, {expr1}...) String format text prompt_getprompt({buf}) String get prompt text prompt_setcallback({buf}, {expr}) none set prompt callback function prompt_setinterrupt({buf}, {text}) none set prompt interrupt function prompt_setprompt({buf}, {text}) none set prompt text prop_add({lnum}, {col}, {props}) none add a text property prop_clear({lnum} [, {lnum-end} [, {props}]]) none remove all text properties prop_find({props} [, {direction}]) Dict search for a text property prop_list({lnum} [, {props}]) List text properties in {lnum} prop_remove({props} [, {lnum} [, {lnum-end}]]) Number remove a text property prop_type_add({name}, {props}) none define a new property type prop_type_change({name}, {props}) none change an existing property type prop_type_delete({name} [, {props}]) none delete a property type prop_type_get({name} [, {props}]) Dict get property type values prop_type_list([{props}]) List get list of property types pum_getpos() Dict position and size of pum if visible pumvisible() Number whether popup menu is visible py3eval({expr}) any evaluate python3 expression pyeval({expr}) any evaluate Python expression pyxeval({expr}) any evaluate python_x expression rand([{expr}]) Number get pseudo-random number range({expr} [, {max} [, {stride}]]) List items from {expr} to {max} readblob({fname}) Blob read a Blob from {fname} readdir({dir} [, {expr} [, {dict}]]) List file names in {dir} selected by {expr} readdirex({dir} [, {expr} [, {dict}]]) List file info in {dir} selected by {expr} readfile({fname} [, {type} [, {max}]]) List get list of lines from file {fname} reduce({object}, {func} [, {initial}]) any reduce {object} using {func} reg_executing() String get the executing register name reg_recording() String get the recording register name reltime([{start} [, {end}]]) List get time value reltimefloat({time}) Float turn the time value into a Float reltimestr({time}) String turn time value into a String remote_expr({server}, {string} [, {idvar} [, {timeout}]]) String send expression remote_foreground({server}) Number bring Vim server to the foreground remote_peek({serverid} [, {retvar}]) Number check for reply string remote_read({serverid} [, {timeout}]) String read reply string remote_send({server}, {string} [, {idvar}]) String send key sequence remote_startserver({name}) none become server {name} remove({list}, {idx} [, {end}]) any/List remove items {idx}-{end} from {list} remove({blob}, {idx} [, {end}]) Number/Blob remove bytes {idx}-{end} from {blob} remove({dict}, {key}) any remove entry {key} from {dict} rename({from}, {to}) Number rename (move) file from {from} to {to} repeat({expr}, {count}) String repeat {expr} {count} times resolve({filename}) String get filename a shortcut points to reverse({list}) List reverse {list} in-place round({expr}) Float round off {expr} rubyeval({expr}) any evaluate Ruby expression screenattr({row}, {col}) Number attribute at screen position screenchar({row}, {col}) Number character at screen position screenchars({row}, {col}) List List of characters at screen position screencol() Number current cursor column screenpos({winid}, {lnum}, {col}) Dict screen row and col of a text character screenrow() Number current cursor row screenstring({row}, {col}) String characters at screen position search({pattern} [, {flags} [, {stopline} [, {timeout} [, {skip}]]]]) Number search for {pattern} searchcount([{options}]) Dict get or update search stats searchdecl({name} [, {global} [, {thisblock}]]) Number search for variable declaration searchpair({start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip} [...]]]) Number search for other end of start/end pair searchpairpos({start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip} [...]]]) List search for other end of start/end pair searchpos({pattern} [, {flags} [, {stopline} [, {timeout} [, {skip}]]]]) List search for {pattern} server2client({clientid}, {string}) Number send reply string serverlist() String get a list of available servers setbufline({expr}, {lnum}, {text}) Number set line {lnum} to {text} in buffer {expr} setbufvar({expr}, {varname}, {val}) none set {varname} in buffer {expr} to {val} setcellwidths({list}) none set character cell width overrides setcharpos({expr}, {list}) Number set the {expr} position to {list} setcharsearch({dict}) Dict set character search from {dict} setcmdpos({pos}) Number set cursor position in command-line setcursorcharpos({list}) Number move cursor to position in {list} setenv({name}, {val}) none set environment variable setfperm({fname}, {mode}) Number set {fname} file permissions to {mode} setline({lnum}, {line}) Number set line {lnum} to {line} setloclist({nr}, {list} [, {action}]) Number modify location list using {list} setloclist({nr}, {list}, {action}, {what}) Number modify specific location list props setmatches({list} [, {win}]) Number restore a list of matches setpos({expr}, {list}) Number set the {expr} position to {list} setqflist({list} [, {action}]) Number modify quickfix list using {list} setqflist({list}, {action}, {what}) Number modify specific quickfix list props setreg({n}, {v} [, {opt}]) Number set register to value and type settabvar({nr}, {varname}, {val}) none set {varname} in tab page {nr} to {val} settabwinvar({tabnr}, {winnr}, {varname}, {val}) none set {varname} in window {winnr} in tab page {tabnr} to {val} settagstack({nr}, {dict} [, {action}]) Number modify tag stack using {dict} setwinvar({nr}, {varname}, {val}) none set {varname} in window {nr} to {val} sha256({string}) String SHA256 checksum of {string} shellescape({string} [, {special}]) String escape {string} for use as shell command argument shiftwidth([{col}]) Number effective value of 'shiftwidth' sign_define({name} [, {dict}]) Number define or update a sign sign_define({list}) List define or update a list of signs sign_getdefined([{name}]) List get a list of defined signs sign_getplaced([{expr} [, {dict}]]) List get a list of placed signs sign_jump({id}, {group}, {expr}) Number jump to a sign sign_place({id}, {group}, {name}, {expr} [, {dict}]) Number place a sign sign_placelist({list}) List place a list of signs sign_undefine([{name}]) Number undefine a sign sign_undefine({list}) List undefine a list of signs sign_unplace({group} [, {dict}]) Number unplace a sign sign_unplacelist({list}) List unplace a list of signs simplify({filename}) String simplify filename as much as possible sin({expr}) Float sine of {expr} sinh({expr}) Float hyperbolic sine of {expr} slice({expr}, {start} [, {end}]) String, List or Blob slice of a String, List or Blob sort({list} [, {func} [, {dict}]]) List sort {list}, using {func} to compare sound_clear() none stop playing all sounds sound_playevent({name} [, {callback}]) Number play an event sound sound_playfile({path} [, {callback}]) Number play sound file {path} sound_stop({id}) none stop playing sound {id} soundfold({word}) String sound-fold {word} spellbadword() String badly spelled word at cursor spellsuggest({word} [, {max} [, {capital}]]) List spelling suggestions split({expr} [, {pat} [, {keepempty}]]) List make List from {pat} separated {expr} sqrt({expr}) Float square root of {expr} srand([{expr}]) List get seed for rand() state([{what}]) String current state of Vim str2float({expr}) Float convert String to Float str2list({expr} [, {utf8}]) List convert each character of {expr} to ASCII/UTF8 value str2nr({expr} [, {base} [, {quoted}]]) Number convert String to Number strcharlen({expr}) Number character length of the String {expr} strcharpart({str}, {start} [, {len} [, {skipcc}]]) String {len} characters of {str} at character {start} strchars({expr} [, {skipcc}]) Number character count of the String {expr} strdisplaywidth({expr} [, {col}]) Number display length of the String {expr} strftime({format} [, {time}]) String format time with a specified format strgetchar({str}, {index}) Number get char {index} from {str} stridx({haystack}, {needle} [, {start}]) Number index of {needle} in {haystack} string({expr}) String String representation of {expr} value strlen({expr}) Number length of the String {expr} strpart({str}, {start} [, {len} [, {chars}]]) String {len} bytes/chars of {str} at byte {start} strptime({format}, {timestring}) Number Convert {timestring} to unix timestamp strridx({haystack}, {needle} [, {start}]) Number last index of {needle} in {haystack} strtrans({expr}) String translate string to make it printable strwidth({expr}) Number display cell length of the String {expr} submatch({nr} [, {list}]) String or List specific match in ":s" or substitute() substitute({expr}, {pat}, {sub}, {flags}) String all {pat} in {expr} replaced with {sub} swapinfo({fname}) Dict information about swap file {fname} swapname({expr}) String swap file of buffer {expr} synID({lnum}, {col}, {trans}) Number syntax ID at {lnum} and {col} synIDattr({synID}, {what} [, {mode}]) String attribute {what} of syntax ID {synID} synIDtrans({synID}) Number translated syntax ID of {synID} synconcealed({lnum}, {col}) List info about concealing synstack({lnum}, {col}) List stack of syntax IDs at {lnum} and {col} system({expr} [, {input}]) String output of shell command/filter {expr} systemlist({expr} [, {input}]) List output of shell command/filter {expr} tabpagebuflist([{arg}]) List list of buffer numbers in tab page tabpagenr([{arg}]) Number number of current or last tab page tabpagewinnr({tabarg} [, {arg}]) Number number of current window in tab page tagfiles() List tags files used taglist({expr} [, {filename}]) List list of tags matching {expr} tan({expr}) Float tangent of {expr} tanh({expr}) Float hyperbolic tangent of {expr} tempname() String name for a temporary file term_dumpdiff({filename}, {filename} [, {options}]) Number display difference between two dumps term_dumpload({filename} [, {options}]) Number displaying a screen dump term_dumpwrite({buf}, {filename} [, {options}]) none dump terminal window contents term_getaltscreen({buf}) Number get the alternate screen flag term_getansicolors({buf}) List get ANSI palette in GUI color mode term_getattr({attr}, {what}) Number get the value of attribute {what} term_getcursor({buf}) List get the cursor position of a terminal term_getjob({buf}) Job get the job associated with a terminal term_getline({buf}, {row}) String get a line of text from a terminal term_getscrolled({buf}) Number get the scroll count of a terminal term_getsize({buf}) List get the size of a terminal term_getstatus({buf}) String get the status of a terminal term_gettitle({buf}) String get the title of a terminal term_gettty({buf}, [{input}]) String get the tty name of a terminal term_list() List get the list of terminal buffers term_scrape({buf}, {row}) List get row of a terminal screen term_sendkeys({buf}, {keys}) none send keystrokes to a terminal term_setansicolors({buf}, {colors}) none set ANSI palette in GUI color mode term_setapi({buf}, {expr}) none set terminal-api function name prefix term_setkill({buf}, {how}) none set signal to stop job in terminal term_setrestore({buf}, {command}) none set command to restore terminal term_setsize({buf}, {rows}, {cols}) none set the size of a terminal term_start({cmd} [, {options}]) Number open a terminal window and run a job term_wait({buf} [, {time}]) Number wait for screen to be updated terminalprops() Dict properties of the terminal test_alloc_fail({id}, {countdown}, {repeat}) none make memory allocation fail test_autochdir() none enable 'autochdir' during startup test_feedinput({string}) none add key sequence to input buffer test_garbagecollect_now() none free memory right now for testing test_garbagecollect_soon() none free memory soon for testing test_getvalue({string}) any get value of an internal variable test_ignore_error({expr}) none ignore a specific error test_null_blob() Blob null value for testing test_null_channel() Channel null value for testing test_null_dict() Dict null value for testing test_null_function() Funcref null value for testing test_null_job() Job null value for testing test_null_list() List null value for testing test_null_partial() Funcref null value for testing test_null_string() String null value for testing test_option_not_set({name}) none reset flag indicating option was set test_override({expr}, {val}) none test with Vim internal overrides test_refcount({expr}) Number get the reference count of {expr} test_scrollbar({which}, {value}, {dragging}) none scroll in the GUI for testing test_setmouse({row}, {col}) none set the mouse position for testing test_settime({expr}) none set current time for testing test_srand_seed([seed]) none set seed for testing srand() test_unknown() any unknown value for testing test_void() any void value for testing timer_info([{id}]) List information about timers timer_pause({id}, {pause}) none pause or unpause a timer timer_start({time}, {callback} [, {options}]) Number create a timer timer_stop({timer}) none stop a timer timer_stopall() none stop all timers tolower({expr}) String the String {expr} switched to lowercase toupper({expr}) String the String {expr} switched to uppercase tr({src}, {fromstr}, {tostr}) String translate chars of {src} in {fromstr} to chars in {tostr} trim({text} [, {mask} [, {dir}]]) String trim characters in {mask} from {text} trunc({expr}) Float truncate Float {expr} type({expr}) Number type of value {expr} typename({expr}) String representation of the type of {expr} undofile({name}) String undo file name for {name} undotree() List undo file tree uniq({list} [, {func} [, {dict}]]) List remove adjacent duplicates from a list values({dict}) List values in {dict} virtcol({expr}) Number screen column of cursor or mark visualmode([expr]) String last visual mode used wildmenumode() Number whether 'wildmenu' mode is active win_execute({id}, {command} [, {silent}]) String execute {command} in window {id} win_findbuf({bufnr}) List find windows containing {bufnr} win_getid([{win} [, {tab}]]) Number get window ID for {win} in {tab} win_gettype([{nr}]) String type of window {nr} win_gotoid({expr}) Number go to window with ID {expr} win_id2tabwin({expr}) List get tab and window nr from window ID win_id2win({expr}) Number get window nr from window ID win_screenpos({nr}) List get screen position of window {nr} win_splitmove({nr}, {target} [, {options}]) Number move window {nr} to split of {target} winbufnr({nr}) Number buffer number of window {nr} wincol() Number window column of the cursor windowsversion() String MS-Windows OS version winheight({nr}) Number height of window {nr} winlayout([{tabnr}]) List layout of windows in tab {tabnr} winline() Number window line of the cursor winnr([{expr}]) Number number of current window winrestcmd() String returns command to restore window sizes winrestview({dict}) none restore view of current window winsaveview() Dict save view of current window winwidth({nr}) Number width of window {nr} wordcount() Dict get byte/char/word statistics writefile({object}, {fname} [, {flags}]) Number write Blob or List of lines to file xor({expr}, {expr}) Number bitwise XOR abs({expr}) abs() Return the absolute value of {expr}. When {expr} evaluates to a Float abs() returns a Float. When {expr} can be converted to a Number abs() returns a Number. Otherwise abs() gives an error message and returns -1. Examples: echo abs(1.456) 1.456 echo abs(-5.456) 5.456 echo abs(-4) 4 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->abs() {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} acos({expr}) acos() Return the arc cosine of {expr} measured in radians, as a Float in the range of [0, pi]. {expr} must evaluate to a Float or a Number in the range [-1, 1]. Examples: :echo acos(0) 1.570796 :echo acos(-0.5) 2.094395 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->acos() {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} add({object}, {expr}) add() Append the item {expr} to List or Blob {object}. Returns the resulting List or Blob. Examples: :let alist = add([1, 2, 3], item) :call add(mylist, "woodstock") Note that when {expr} is a List it is appended as a single item. Use extend() to concatenate Lists. When {object} is a Blob then {expr} must be a number. Use insert() to add an item at another position. Can also be used as a method: mylist->add(val1)->add(val2) and({expr}, {expr}) and() Bitwise AND on the two arguments. The arguments are converted to a number. A List, Dict or Float argument causes an error. Example: :let flag = and(bits, 0x80) Can also be used as a method: :let flag = bits->and(0x80) append({lnum}, {text}) append() When {text} is a List: Append each item of the List as a text line below line {lnum} in the current buffer. Otherwise append {text} as one text line below line {lnum} in the current buffer. Any type of item is accepted and converted to a String. {lnum} can be zero to insert a line before the first one. Returns 1 for failure ({lnum} out of range or out of memory), 0 for success. Example: :let failed = append(line('$'), "# THE END") :let failed = append(0, ["Chapter 1", "the beginning"]) Can also be used as a method after a List, the base is passed as the second argument: mylist->append(lnum) appendbufline({expr}, {lnum}, {text}) appendbufline() Like append() but append the text in buffer {expr}. This function works only for loaded buffers. First call bufload() if needed. For the use of {expr}, see bufname(). {lnum} is used like with append(). Note that using line() would use the current buffer, not the one appending to. Use "$" to append at the end of the buffer. On success 0 is returned, on failure 1 is returned. If {expr} is not a valid buffer or {lnum} is not valid, an error message is given. Example: :let failed = appendbufline(13, 0, "# THE START") Can also be used as a method after a List, the base is passed as the second argument: mylist->appendbufline(buf, lnum) argc([{winid}]) argc() The result is the number of files in the argument list. See arglist. If {winid} is not supplied, the argument list of the current window is used. If {winid} is -1, the global argument list is used. Otherwise {winid} specifies the window of which the argument list is used: either the window number or the window ID. Returns -1 if the {winid} argument is invalid. argidx() argidx() The result is the current index in the argument list. 0 is the first file. argc() - 1 is the last one. See arglist. arglistid() arglistid([{winnr} [, {tabnr}]]) Return the argument list ID. This is a number which identifies the argument list being used. Zero is used for the global argument list. See arglist. Returns -1 if the arguments are invalid. Without arguments use the current window. With {winnr} only use this window in the current tab page. With {winnr} and {tabnr} use the window in the specified tab page. {winnr} can be the window number or the window-ID. argv() argv([{nr} [, {winid}]]) The result is the {nr}th file in the argument list. See arglist. "argv(0)" is the first one. Example: :let i = 0 :while i < argc() : let f = escape(fnameescape(argv(i)), '.') : exe 'amenu Arg.' . f . ' :e ' . f . '<CR>' : let i = i + 1 :endwhile Without the {nr} argument, or when {nr} is -1, a List with the whole arglist is returned. The {winid} argument specifies the window ID, see argc(). For the Vim command line arguments see v:argv. asin({expr}) asin() Return the arc sine of {expr} measured in radians, as a Float in the range of [-pi/2, pi/2]. {expr} must evaluate to a Float or a Number in the range [-1, 1]. Examples: :echo asin(0.8) 0.927295 :echo asin(-0.5) -0.523599 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->asin() {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} assert_ functions are documented here: assert-functions-details atan({expr}) atan() Return the principal value of the arc tangent of {expr}, in the range [-pi/2, +pi/2] radians, as a Float. {expr} must evaluate to a Float or a Number. Examples: :echo atan(100) 1.560797 :echo atan(-4.01) -1.326405 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->atan() {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} atan2({expr1}, {expr2}) atan2() Return the arc tangent of {expr1} / {expr2}, measured in radians, as a Float in the range [-pi, pi]. {expr1} and {expr2} must evaluate to a Float or a Number. Examples: :echo atan2(-1, 1) -0.785398 :echo atan2(1, -1) 2.356194 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->atan(1) {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} balloon_gettext() balloon_gettext() Return the current text in the balloon. Only for the string, not used for the List. balloon_show({expr}) balloon_show() Show {expr} inside the balloon. For the GUI {expr} is used as a string. For a terminal {expr} can be a list, which contains the lines of the balloon. If {expr} is not a list it will be split with balloon_split(). If {expr} is an empty string any existing balloon is removed. Example: func GetBalloonContent() " ... initiate getting the content return '' endfunc set balloonexpr=GetBalloonContent() func BalloonCallback(result) call balloon_show(a:result) endfunc Can also be used as a method: GetText()->balloon_show() The intended use is that fetching the content of the balloon is initiated from 'balloonexpr'. It will invoke an asynchronous method, in which a callback invokes balloon_show(). The 'balloonexpr' itself can return an empty string or a placeholder. When showing a balloon is not possible nothing happens, no error message. {only available when compiled with the +balloon_eval or +balloon_eval_term feature} balloon_split({msg}) balloon_split() Split {msg} into lines to be displayed in a balloon. The splits are made for the current window size and optimize to show debugger output. Returns a List with the split lines. Can also be used as a method: GetText()->balloon_split()->balloon_show() {only available when compiled with the +balloon_eval_term feature} browse() browse({save}, {title}, {initdir}, {default}) Put up a file requester. This only works when "has("browse")" returns TRUE (only in some GUI versions). The input fields are: {save} when TRUE, select file to write {title} title for the requester {initdir} directory to start browsing in {default} default file name An empty string is returned when the "Cancel" button is hit, something went wrong, or browsing is not possible. browsedir() browsedir({title}, {initdir}) Put up a directory requester. This only works when "has("browse")" returns TRUE (only in some GUI versions). On systems where a directory browser is not supported a file browser is used. In that case: select a file in the directory to be used. The input fields are: {title} title for the requester {initdir} directory to start browsing in When the "Cancel" button is hit, something went wrong, or browsing is not possible, an empty string is returned. bufadd({name}) bufadd() Add a buffer to the buffer list with {name}. If a buffer for file {name} already exists, return that buffer number. Otherwise return the buffer number of the newly created buffer. When {name} is an empty string then a new buffer is always created. The buffer will not have 'buflisted' set and not be loaded yet. To add some text to the buffer use this: let bufnr = bufadd('someName') call bufload(bufnr) call setbufline(bufnr, 1, ['some', 'text']) Can also be used as a method: let bufnr = 'somename'->bufadd() bufexists({expr}) bufexists() The result is a Number, which is TRUE if a buffer called {expr} exists. If the {expr} argument is a number, buffer numbers are used. Number zero is the alternate buffer for the current window. If the {expr} argument is a string it must match a buffer name exactly. The name can be: - Relative to the current directory. - A full path. - The name of a buffer with 'buftype' set to "nofile". - A URL name. Unlisted buffers will be found. Note that help files are listed by their short name in the output of :buffers, but bufexists() requires using their long name to be able to find them. bufexists() may report a buffer exists, but to use the name with a :buffer command you may need to use expand(). Esp for MS-Windows 8.3 names in the form "c:\DOCUME~1" Use "bufexists(0)" to test for the existence of an alternate file name. Can also be used as a method: let exists = 'somename'->bufexists() Obsolete name: buffer_exists(). buffer_exists() buflisted({expr}) buflisted() The result is a Number, which is TRUE if a buffer called {expr} exists and is listed (has the 'buflisted' option set). The {expr} argument is used like with bufexists(). Can also be used as a method: let listed = 'somename'->buflisted() bufload({expr}) bufload() Ensure the buffer {expr} is loaded. When the buffer name refers to an existing file then the file is read. Otherwise the buffer will be empty. If the buffer was already loaded then there is no change. If there is an existing swap file for the file of the buffer, there will be no dialog, the buffer will be loaded anyway. The {expr} argument is used like with bufexists(). Can also be used as a method: eval 'somename'->bufload() bufloaded({expr}) bufloaded() The result is a Number, which is TRUE if a buffer called {expr} exists and is loaded (shown in a window or hidden). The {expr} argument is used like with bufexists(). Can also be used as a method: let loaded = 'somename'->bufloaded() bufname([{expr}]) bufname() The result is the name of a buffer, as it is displayed by the ":ls" command. If {expr} is omitted the current buffer is used. If {expr} is a Number, that buffer number's name is given. Number zero is the alternate buffer for the current window. If {expr} is a String, it is used as a file-pattern to match with the buffer names. This is always done like 'magic' is set and 'cpoptions' is empty. When there is more than one match an empty string is returned. "" or "%" can be used for the current buffer, "#" for the alternate buffer. A full match is preferred, otherwise a match at the start, end or middle of the buffer name is accepted. If you only want a full match then put "^" at the start and "$" at the end of the pattern. Listed buffers are found first. If there is a single match with a listed buffer, that one is returned. Next unlisted buffers are searched for. If the {expr} is a String, but you want to use it as a buffer number, force it to be a Number by adding zero to it: :echo bufname("3" + 0) Can also be used as a method: echo bufnr->bufname() If the buffer doesn't exist, or doesn't have a name, an empty string is returned. bufname("#") alternate buffer name bufname(3) name of buffer 3 bufname("%") name of current buffer bufname("file2") name of buffer where "file2" matches. buffer_name() Obsolete name: buffer_name(). bufnr() bufnr([{expr} [, {create}]]) The result is the number of a buffer, as it is displayed by the ":ls" command. For the use of {expr}, see bufname() above. If the buffer doesn't exist, -1 is returned. Or, if the {create} argument is present and TRUE, a new, unlisted, buffer is created and its number is returned. Example: let newbuf = bufnr('Scratch001', 1) Using an empty name uses the current buffer. To create a new buffer with an empty name use bufadd(). bufnr("$") is the last buffer: :let last_buffer = bufnr("$") The result is a Number, which is the highest buffer number of existing buffers. Note that not all buffers with a smaller number necessarily exist, because ":bwipeout" may have removed them. Use bufexists() to test for the existence of a buffer. Can also be used as a method: echo bufref->bufnr() Obsolete name: buffer_number(). buffer_number() last_buffer_nr() Obsolete name for bufnr("$"): last_buffer_nr(). bufwinid({expr}) bufwinid() The result is a Number, which is the window-ID of the first window associated with buffer {expr}. For the use of {expr}, see bufname() above. If buffer {expr} doesn't exist or there is no such window, -1 is returned. Example: echo "A window containing buffer 1 is " . (bufwinid(1)) Only deals with the current tab page. Can also be used as a method: FindBuffer()->bufwinid() bufwinnr({expr}) bufwinnr() Like bufwinid() but return the window number instead of the window-ID. If buffer {expr} doesn't exist or there is no such window, -1 is returned. Example: echo "A window containing buffer 1 is " . (bufwinnr(1)) The number can be used with CTRL-W_w and ":wincmd w" :wincmd. Can also be used as a method: FindBuffer()->bufwinnr() byte2line({byte}) byte2line() Return the line number that contains the character at byte count {byte} in the current buffer. This includes the end-of-line character, depending on the 'fileformat' option for the current buffer. The first character has byte count one. Also see line2byte(), go and :goto. Can also be used as a method: GetOffset()->byte2line() {not available when compiled without the +byte_offset feature} byteidx({expr}, {nr}) byteidx() Return byte index of the {nr}'th character in the string {expr}. Use zero for the first character, it then returns zero. If there are no multibyte characters the returned value is equal to {nr}. Composing characters are not counted separately, their byte length is added to the preceding base character. See byteidxcomp() below for counting composing characters separately. Example : echo matchstr(str, ".", byteidx(str, 3)) will display the fourth character. Another way to do the same: let s = strpart(str, byteidx(str, 3)) echo strpart(s, 0, byteidx(s, 1)) Also see strgetchar() and strcharpart(). If there are less than {nr} characters -1 is returned. If there are exactly {nr} characters the length of the string in bytes is returned. Can also be used as a method: GetName()->byteidx(idx) byteidxcomp({expr}, {nr}) byteidxcomp() Like byteidx(), except that a composing character is counted as a separate character. Example: let s = 'e' . nr2char(0x301) echo byteidx(s, 1) echo byteidxcomp(s, 1) echo byteidxcomp(s, 2) The first and third echo result in 3 ('e' plus composing character is 3 bytes), the second echo results in 1 ('e' is one byte). Only works differently from byteidx() when 'encoding' is set to a Unicode encoding. Can also be used as a method: GetName()->byteidxcomp(idx) call({func}, {arglist} [, {dict}]) call() E699 Call function {func} with the items in List {arglist} as arguments. {func} can either be a Funcref or the name of a function. a:firstline and a:lastline are set to the cursor line. Returns the return value of the called function. {dict} is for functions with the "dict" attribute. It will be used to set the local variable "self". Dictionary-function Can also be used as a method: GetFunc()->call([arg, arg], dict) ceil({expr}) ceil() Return the smallest integral value greater than or equal to {expr} as a Float (round up). {expr} must evaluate to a Float or a Number. Examples: echo ceil(1.456) 2.0 echo ceil(-5.456) -5.0 echo ceil(4.0) 4.0 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->ceil() {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} ch_ functions are documented here: channel-functions-details changenr() changenr() Return the number of the most recent change. This is the same number as what is displayed with :undolist and can be used with the :undo command. When a change was made it is the number of that change. After redo it is the number of the redone change. After undo it is one less than the number of the undone change. char2nr({expr} [, {utf8}]) char2nr() Return number value of the first char in {expr}. Examples: char2nr(" ") returns 32 char2nr("ABC") returns 65 When {utf8} is omitted or zero, the current 'encoding' is used. Example for "utf-8": char2nr("á") returns 225 char2nr("á"[0]) returns 195 With {utf8} set to TRUE, always treat as utf-8 characters. A combining character is a separate character. nr2char() does the opposite. To turn a string into a list of character numbers: let str = "ABC" let list = map(split(str, '\zs'), {_, val -> char2nr(val)}) Result: [65, 66, 67] Can also be used as a method: GetChar()->char2nr() charclass({string}) charclass() Return the character class of the first character in {string}. The character class is one of: 0 blank 1 punctuation 2 word character 3 emoji other specific Unicode class The class is used in patterns and word motions. charcol() charcol({expr}) Same as col() but returns the character index of the column position given with {expr} instead of the byte position. Example: With the cursor on '세' in line 5 with text "여보세요": charcol('.') returns 3 col('.') returns 7 Can also be used as a method: GetPos()->col() charidx() charidx({string}, {idx} [, {countcc}]) Return the character index of the byte at {idx} in {string}. The index of the first character is zero. If there are no multibyte characters the returned value is equal to {idx}. When {countcc} is omitted or zero, then composing characters are not counted separately, their byte length is added to the preceding base character. When {countcc} is set to 1, then composing characters are counted as separate characters. Returns -1 if the arguments are invalid or if {idx} is greater than the index of the last byte in {string}. An error is given if the first argument is not a string, the second argument is not a number or when the third argument is present and is not zero or one. See byteidx() and byteidxcomp() for getting the byte index from the character index. Examples: echo charidx('áb́ć', 3) returns 1 echo charidx('áb́ć', 6, 1) returns 4 echo charidx('áb́ć', 16) returns -1 Can also be used as a method: GetName()->charidx(idx) chdir({dir}) chdir() Change the current working directory to {dir}. The scope of the directory change depends on the directory of the current window: - If the current window has a window-local directory (:lcd), then changes the window local directory. - Otherwise, if the current tabpage has a local directory (:tcd) then changes the tabpage local directory. - Otherwise, changes the global directory. {dir} must be a String. If successful, returns the previous working directory. Pass this to another chdir() to restore the directory. On failure, returns an empty string. Example: let save_dir = chdir(newdir) if save_dir != "" " ... do some work call chdir(save_dir) endif Can also be used as a method: GetDir()->chdir() cindent({lnum}) cindent() Get the amount of indent for line {lnum} according the C indenting rules, as with 'cindent'. The indent is counted in spaces, the value of 'tabstop' is relevant. {lnum} is used just like in getline(). When {lnum} is invalid or Vim was not compiled the +cindent feature, -1 is returned. See C-indenting. Can also be used as a method: GetLnum()->cindent() clearmatches([{win}]) clearmatches() Clears all matches previously defined for the current window by matchadd() and the :match commands. If {win} is specified, use the window with this number or window ID instead of the current window. Can also be used as a method: GetWin()->clearmatches() col() col({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the byte index of the column position given with {expr}. The accepted positions are: . the cursor position $ the end of the cursor line (the result is the number of bytes in the cursor line plus one) 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is returned) v In Visual mode: the start of the Visual area (the cursor is the end). When not in Visual mode returns the cursor position. Differs from '< in that it's updated right away. Additionally {expr} can be [lnum, col]: a List with the line and column number. Most useful when the column is "$", to get the last column of a specific line. When "lnum" or "col" is out of range then col() returns zero. To get the line number use line(). To get both use getpos(). For the screen column position use virtcol(). For the character position use charcol(). Note that only marks in the current file can be used. Examples: col(".") column of cursor col("$") length of cursor line plus one col("'t") column of mark t col("'" . markname) column of mark markname The first column is 1. 0 is returned for an error. For an uppercase mark the column may actually be in another buffer. For the cursor position, when 'virtualedit' is active, the column is one higher if the cursor is after the end of the line. This can be used to obtain the column in Insert mode: :imap <F2> <C-O>:let save_ve = &ve<CR> \<C-O>:set ve=all<CR> \<C-O>:echo col(".") . "\n" <Bar> \let &ve = save_ve<CR> Can also be used as a method: GetPos()->col() complete({startcol}, {matches}) complete() E785 Set the matches for Insert mode completion. Can only be used in Insert mode. You need to use a mapping with CTRL-R = (see i_CTRL-R). It does not work after CTRL-O or with an expression mapping. {startcol} is the byte offset in the line where the completed text start. The text up to the cursor is the original text that will be replaced by the matches. Use col('.') for an empty string. "col('.') - 1" will replace one character by a match. {matches} must be a List. Each List item is one match. See complete-items for the kind of items that are possible. Note that the after calling this function you need to avoid inserting anything that would cause completion to stop. The match can be selected with CTRL-N and CTRL-P as usual with Insert mode completion. The popup menu will appear if specified, see ins-completion-menu. Example: inoremap <F5> <C-R>=ListMonths()<CR> func! ListMonths() call complete(col('.'), ['January', 'February', 'March', \ 'April', 'May', 'June', 'July', 'August', 'September', \ 'October', 'November', 'December']) return '' endfunc This isn't very useful, but it shows how it works. Note that an empty string is returned to avoid a zero being inserted. Can also be used as a method, the base is passed as the second argument: GetMatches()->complete(col('.')) complete_add({expr}) complete_add() Add {expr} to the list of matches. Only to be used by the function specified with the 'completefunc' option. Returns 0 for failure (empty string or out of memory), 1 when the match was added, 2 when the match was already in the list. See complete-functions for an explanation of {expr}. It is the same as one item in the list that 'omnifunc' would return. Can also be used as a method: GetMoreMatches()->complete_add() complete_check() complete_check() Check for a key typed while looking for completion matches. This is to be used when looking for matches takes some time. Returns TRUE when searching for matches is to be aborted, zero otherwise. Only to be used by the function specified with the 'completefunc' option. complete_info() complete_info([{what}]) Returns a Dictionary with information about Insert mode completion. See ins-completion. The items are: mode Current completion mode name string. See complete_info_mode for the values. pum_visible TRUE if popup menu is visible. See pumvisible(). items List of completion matches. Each item is a dictionary containing the entries "word", "abbr", "menu", "kind", "info" and "user_data". See complete-items. selected Selected item index. First index is zero. Index is -1 if no item is selected (showing typed text only) inserted Inserted string. [NOT IMPLEMENT YET] complete_info_mode mode values are: "" Not in completion mode "keyword" Keyword completion i_CTRL-X_CTRL-N "ctrl_x" Just pressed CTRL-X i_CTRL-X "whole_line" Whole lines i_CTRL-X_CTRL-L "files" File names i_CTRL-X_CTRL-F "tags" Tags i_CTRL-X_CTRL-] "path_defines" Definition completion i_CTRL-X_CTRL-D "path_patterns" Include completion i_CTRL-X_CTRL-I "dictionary" Dictionary i_CTRL-X_CTRL-K "thesaurus" Thesaurus i_CTRL-X_CTRL-T "cmdline" Vim Command line i_CTRL-X_CTRL-V "function" User defined completion i_CTRL-X_CTRL-U "omni" Omni completion i_CTRL-X_CTRL-O "spell" Spelling suggestions i_CTRL-X_s "eval" complete() completion "unknown" Other internal modes If the optional {what} list argument is supplied, then only the items listed in {what} are returned. Unsupported items in {what} are silently ignored. To get the position and size of the popup menu, see pum_getpos(). It's also available in v:event during the CompleteChanged event. Examples: " Get all items call complete_info() " Get only 'mode' call complete_info(['mode']) " Get only 'mode' and 'pum_visible' call complete_info(['mode', 'pum_visible']) Can also be used as a method: GetItems()->complete_info() confirm() confirm({msg} [, {choices} [, {default} [, {type}]]]) confirm() offers the user a dialog, from which a choice can be made. It returns the number of the choice. For the first choice this is 1. Note: confirm() is only supported when compiled with dialog support, see +dialog_con and +dialog_gui. {msg} is displayed in a dialog with {choices} as the alternatives. When {choices} is missing or empty, "&OK" is used (and translated). {msg} is a String, use '\n' to include a newline. Only on some systems the string is wrapped when it doesn't fit. {choices} is a String, with the individual choices separated by '\n', e.g. confirm("Save changes?", "&Yes\n&No\n&Cancel") The letter after the '&' is the shortcut key for that choice. Thus you can type 'c' to select "Cancel". The shortcut does not need to be the first letter: confirm("file has been modified", "&Save\nSave &All") For the console, the first letter of each choice is used as the default shortcut key. Case is ignored. The optional {default} argument is the number of the choice that is made if the user hits <CR>. Use 1 to make the first choice the default one. Use 0 to not set a default. If {default} is omitted, 1 is used. The optional {type} argument gives the type of dialog. This is only used for the icon of the GTK, Mac, Motif and Win32 GUI. It can be one of these values: "Error", "Question", "Info", "Warning" or "Generic". Only the first character is relevant. When {type} is omitted, "Generic" is used. If the user aborts the dialog by pressing <Esc>, CTRL-C, or another valid interrupt key, confirm() returns 0. An example: :let choice = confirm("What do you want?", "&Apples\n&Oranges\n&Bananas", 2) :if choice == 0 : echo "make up your mind!" :elseif choice == 3 : echo "tasteful" :else : echo "I prefer bananas myself." :endif In a GUI dialog, buttons are used. The layout of the buttons depends on the 'v' flag in 'guioptions'. If it is included, the buttons are always put vertically. Otherwise, confirm() tries to put the buttons in one horizontal line. If they don't fit, a vertical layout is used anyway. For some systems the horizontal layout is always used. Can also be used as a methodin: BuildMessage()->confirm("&Yes\n&No") copy() copy({expr}) Make a copy of {expr}. For Numbers and Strings this isn't different from using {expr} directly. When {expr} is a List a shallow copy is created. This means that the original List can be changed without changing the copy, and vice versa. But the items are identical, thus changing an item changes the contents of both Lists. A Dictionary is copied in a similar way as a List. Also see deepcopy(). Can also be used as a method: mylist->copy() cos({expr}) cos() Return the cosine of {expr}, measured in radians, as a Float. {expr} must evaluate to a Float or a Number. Examples: :echo cos(100) 0.862319 :echo cos(-4.01) -0.646043 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->cos() {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} cosh({expr}) cosh() Return the hyperbolic cosine of {expr} as a Float in the range [1, inf]. {expr} must evaluate to a Float or a Number. Examples: :echo cosh(0.5) 1.127626 :echo cosh(-0.5) -1.127626 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->cosh() {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} count({comp}, {expr} [, {ic} [, {start}]]) count() Return the number of times an item with value {expr} appears in String, List or Dictionary {comp}. If {start} is given then start with the item with this index. {start} can only be used with a List. When {ic} is given and it's TRUE then case is ignored. When {comp} is a string then the number of not overlapping occurrences of {expr} is returned. Zero is returned when {expr} is an empty string. Can also be used as a method: mylist->count(val) cscope_connection() cscope_connection([{num} , {dbpath} [, {prepend}]]) Checks for the existence of a cscope connection. If no parameters are specified, then the function returns: 0, if cscope was not available (not compiled in), or if there are no cscope connections; 1, if there is at least one cscope connection. If parameters are specified, then the value of {num} determines how existence of a cscope connection is checked: {num} Description of existence check ----- ------------------------------ 0 Same as no parameters (e.g., "cscope_connection()"). 1 Ignore {prepend}, and use partial string matches for {dbpath}. 2 Ignore {prepend}, and use exact string matches for {dbpath}. 3 Use {prepend}, use partial string matches for both {dbpath} and {prepend}. 4 Use {prepend}, use exact string matches for both {dbpath} and {prepend}. Note: All string comparisons are case sensitive! Examples. Suppose we had the following (from ":cs show"): # pid database name prepend path 0 27664 cscope.out /usr/local Invocation Return Val ---------- ---------- cscope_connection() 1 cscope_connection(1, "out") 1 cscope_connection(2, "out") 0 cscope_connection(3, "out") 0 cscope_connection(3, "out", "local") 1 cscope_connection(4, "out") 0 cscope_connection(4, "out", "local") 0 cscope_connection(4, "cscope.out", "/usr/local") 1 cursor({lnum}, {col} [, {off}]) cursor() cursor({list}) Positions the cursor at the column (byte count) {col} in the line {lnum}. The first column is one. When there is one argument {list} this is used as a List with two, three or four item: [{lnum}, {col}] [{lnum}, {col}, {off}] [{lnum}, {col}, {off}, {curswant}] This is like the return value of getpos() or getcurpos(), but without the first item. To position the cursor using the character count, use setcursorcharpos(). Does not change the jumplist. If {lnum} is greater than the number of lines in the buffer, the cursor will be positioned at the last line in the buffer. If {lnum} is zero, the cursor will stay in the current line. If {col} is greater than the number of bytes in the line, the cursor will be positioned at the last character in the line. If {col} is zero, the cursor will stay in the current column. If {curswant} is given it is used to set the preferred column for vertical movement. Otherwise {col} is used. When 'virtualedit' is used {off} specifies the offset in screen columns from the start of the character. E.g., a position within a <Tab> or after the last character. Returns 0 when the position could be set, -1 otherwise. Can also be used as a method: GetCursorPos()->cursor() debugbreak({pid}) debugbreak() Specifically used to interrupt a program being debugged. It will cause process {pid} to get a SIGTRAP. Behavior for other processes is undefined. See terminal-debugger. {only available on MS-Windows} Can also be used as a method: GetPid()->debugbreak() deepcopy({expr} [, {noref}]) deepcopy() E698 Make a copy of {expr}. For Numbers and Strings this isn't different from using {expr} directly. When {expr} is a List a full copy is created. This means that the original List can be changed without changing the copy, and vice versa. When an item is a List or Dictionary, a copy for it is made, recursively. Thus changing an item in the copy does not change the contents of the original List. A Dictionary is copied in a similar way as a List. When {noref} is omitted or zero a contained List or Dictionary is only copied once. All references point to this single copy. With {noref} set to 1 every occurrence of a List or Dictionary results in a new copy. This also means that a cyclic reference causes deepcopy() to fail. E724 Nesting is possible up to 100 levels. When there is an item that refers back to a higher level making a deep copy with {noref} set to 1 will fail. Also see copy(). Can also be used as a method: GetObject()->deepcopy() delete({fname} [, {flags}]) delete() Without {flags} or with {flags} empty: Deletes the file by the name {fname}. This also works when {fname} is a symbolic link. When {flags} is "d": Deletes the directory by the name {fname}. This fails when directory {fname} is not empty. When {flags} is "rf": Deletes the directory by the name {fname} and everything in it, recursively. BE CAREFUL! Note: on MS-Windows it is not possible to delete a directory that is being used. A symbolic link itself is deleted, not what it points to. The result is a Number, which is 0/false if the delete operation was successful and -1/true when the deletion failed or partly failed. Use remove() to delete an item from a List. To delete a line from the buffer use :delete or deletebufline(). Can also be used as a method: GetName()->delete() deletebufline({expr}, {first} [, {last}]) deletebufline() Delete lines {first} to {last} (inclusive) from buffer {expr}. If {last} is omitted then delete line {first} only. On success 0 is returned, on failure 1 is returned. This function works only for loaded buffers. First call bufload() if needed. For the use of {expr}, see bufname() above. {first} and {last} are used like with getline(). Note that when using line() this refers to the current buffer. Use "$" to refer to the last line in buffer {expr}. Can also be used as a method: GetBuffer()->deletebufline(1) did_filetype() did_filetype() Returns TRUE when autocommands are being executed and the FileType event has been triggered at least once. Can be used to avoid triggering the FileType event again in the scripts that detect the file type. FileType Returns FALSE when `:setf FALLBACK` was used. When editing another file, the counter is reset, thus this really checks if the FileType event has been triggered for the current buffer. This allows an autocommand that starts editing another buffer to set 'filetype' and load a syntax file. diff_filler({lnum}) diff_filler() Returns the number of filler lines above line {lnum}. These are the lines that were inserted at this point in another diff'ed window. These filler lines are shown in the display but don't exist in the buffer. {lnum} is used like with getline(). Thus "." is the current line, "'m" mark m, etc. Returns 0 if the current window is not in diff mode. Can also be used as a method: GetLnum()->diff_filler() diff_hlID({lnum}, {col}) diff_hlID() Returns the highlight ID for diff mode at line {lnum} column {col} (byte index). When the current line does not have a diff change zero is returned. {lnum} is used like with getline(). Thus "." is the current line, "'m" mark m, etc. {col} is 1 for the leftmost column, {lnum} is 1 for the first line. The highlight ID can be used with synIDattr() to obtain syntax information about the highlighting. Can also be used as a method: GetLnum()->diff_hlID(col) echoraw({expr}) echoraw() Output {expr} as-is, including unprintable characters. This can be used to output a terminal code. For example, to disable modifyOtherKeys: call echoraw(&t_TE) and to enable it again: call echoraw(&t_TI) Use with care, you can mess up the terminal this way. empty({expr}) empty() Return the Number 1 if {expr} is empty, zero otherwise. - A List or Dictionary is empty when it does not have any items. - A String is empty when its length is zero. - A Number and Float are empty when their value is zero. - v:false, v:none and v:null are empty, v:true is not. - A Job is empty when it failed to start. - A Channel is empty when it is closed. - A Blob is empty when its length is zero. For a long List this is much faster than comparing the length with zero. Can also be used as a method: mylist->empty() environ() environ() Return all of environment variables as dictionary. You can check if an environment variable exists like this: :echo has_key(environ(), 'HOME') Note that the variable name may be CamelCase; to ignore case use this: :echo index(keys(environ()), 'HOME', 0, 1) != -1 escape({string}, {chars}) escape() Escape the characters in {chars} that occur in {string} with a backslash. Example: :echo escape('c:\program files\vim', ' \') results in: c:\\program\ files\\vim Also see shellescape() and fnameescape(). Can also be used as a method: GetText()->escape(' \') eval() eval({string}) Evaluate {string} and return the result. Especially useful to turn the result of string() back into the original value. This works for Numbers, Floats, Strings, Blobs and composites of them. Also works for Funcrefs that refer to existing functions. Can also be used as a method: argv->join()->eval() eventhandler() eventhandler() Returns 1 when inside an event handler. That is that Vim got interrupted while waiting for the user to type a character, e.g., when dropping a file on Vim. This means interactive commands cannot be used. Otherwise zero is returned. executable({expr}) executable() This function checks if an executable with the name {expr} exists. {expr} must be the name of the program without any arguments. executable() uses the value of $PATH and/or the normal searchpath for programs. PATHEXT On MS-Windows the ".exe", ".bat", etc. can optionally be included. Then the extensions in $PATHEXT are tried. Thus if "foo.exe" does not exist, "foo.exe.bat" can be found. If $PATHEXT is not set then ".com;.exe;.bat;.cmd" is used. A dot by itself can be used in $PATHEXT to try using the name without an extension. When 'shell' looks like a Unix shell, then the name is also tried without adding an extension. On MS-Windows it only checks if the file exists and is not a directory, not if it's really executable. On MS-Windows an executable in the same directory as Vim is always found. Since this directory is added to $PATH it should also work to execute it win32-PATH. The result is a Number: 1 exists 0 does not exist -1 not implemented on this system exepath() can be used to get the full path of an executable. Can also be used as a method: GetCommand()->executable() execute({command} [, {silent}]) execute() Execute an Ex command or commands and return the output as a string. {command} can be a string or a List. In case of a List the lines are executed one by one. This is equivalent to: redir => var {command} redir END The optional {silent} argument can have these values: "" no :silent used "silent" :silent used "silent!" :silent! used The default is "silent". Note that with "silent!", unlike :redir, error messages are dropped. When using an external command the screen may be messed up, use system() instead. E930 It is not possible to use :redir anywhere in {command}. To get a list of lines use split() on the result: split(execute('args'), "\n") To execute a command in another window than the current one use win_execute(). When used recursively the output of the recursive call is not included in the output of the higher level call. Can also be used as a method: GetCommand()->execute() exepath({expr}) exepath() If {expr} is an executable and is either an absolute path, a relative path or found in $PATH, return the full path. Note that the current directory is used when {expr} starts with "./", which may be a problem for Vim: echo exepath(v:progpath) If {expr} cannot be found in $PATH or is not executable then an empty string is returned. Can also be used as a method: GetCommand()->exepath() exists() exists({expr}) The result is a Number, which is TRUE if {expr} is defined, zero otherwise. For checking for a supported feature use has(). For checking if a file exists use filereadable(). The {expr} argument is a string, which contains one of these: &option-name Vim option (only checks if it exists, not if it really works) +option-name Vim option that works. $ENVNAME environment variable (could also be done by comparing with an empty string) *funcname built-in function (see functions) or user defined function (see user-functions) that is implemented. Also works for a variable that is a Funcref. ?funcname built-in function that could be implemented; to be used to check if "funcname" is valid varname internal variable (see internal-variables). Also works for curly-braces-names, Dictionary entries, List items, etc. Beware that evaluating an index may cause an error message for an invalid expression. E.g.: :let l = [1, 2, 3] :echo exists("l[5]") 0 :echo exists("l[xx]") E121: Undefined variable: xx 0 :cmdname Ex command: built-in command, user command or command modifier :command. Returns: 1 for match with start of a command 2 full match with a command 3 matches several user commands To check for a supported command always check the return value to be 2. :2match The :2match command. :3match The :3match command. #event autocommand defined for this event #event#pattern autocommand defined for this event and pattern (the pattern is taken literally and compared to the autocommand patterns character by character) #group autocommand group exists #group#event autocommand defined for this group and event. #group#event#pattern autocommand defined for this group, event and pattern. ##event autocommand for this event is supported. Examples: exists("&shortname") exists("$HOSTNAME") exists("*strftime") exists("*s:MyFunc") exists("bufcount") exists(":Make") exists("#CursorHold") exists("#BufReadPre#*.gz") exists("#filetypeindent") exists("#filetypeindent#FileType") exists("#filetypeindent#FileType#*") exists("##ColorScheme") There must be no space between the symbol (&/$/*/#) and the name. There must be no extra characters after the name, although in a few cases this is ignored. That may become more strict in the future, thus don't count on it! Working example: exists(":make") NOT working example: exists(":make install") Note that the argument must be a string, not the name of the variable itself. For example: exists(bufcount) This doesn't check for existence of the "bufcount" variable, but gets the value of "bufcount", and checks if that exists. Can also be used as a method: Varname()->exists() exp({expr}) exp() Return the exponential of {expr} as a Float in the range [0, inf]. {expr} must evaluate to a Float or a Number. Examples: :echo exp(2) 7.389056 :echo exp(-1) 0.367879 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->exp() {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} expand({expr} [, {nosuf} [, {list}]]) expand() Expand wildcards and the following special keywords in {expr}. 'wildignorecase' applies. If {list} is given and it is TRUE, a List will be returned. Otherwise the result is a String and when there are several matches, they are separated by <NL> characters. [Note: in version 5.0 a space was used, which caused problems when a file name contains a space] If the expansion fails, the result is an empty string. A name for a non-existing file is not included, unless {expr} does not start with '%', '#' or '<', see below. When {expr} starts with '%', '#' or '<', the expansion is done like for the cmdline-special variables with their associated modifiers. Here is a short overview: % current file name # alternate file name #n alternate file name n <cfile> file name under the cursor <afile> autocmd file name <abuf> autocmd buffer number (as a String!) <amatch> autocmd matched name <cexpr> C expression under the cursor <sfile> sourced script file or function name <slnum> sourced script line number or function line number <sflnum> script file line number, also when in a function <SID> "<SNR>123_" where "123" is the current script ID <SID> <stack> call stack <cword> word under the cursor <cWORD> WORD under the cursor <client> the {clientid} of the last received message server2client() Modifiers: :p expand to full path :h head (last path component removed) :t tail (last path component only) :r root (one extension removed) :e extension only Example: :let &tags = expand("%:p:h") . "/tags" Note that when expanding a string that starts with '%', '#' or '<', any following text is ignored. This does NOT work: :let doesntwork = expand("%:h.bak") Use this: :let doeswork = expand("%:h") . ".bak" Also note that expanding "<cfile>" and others only returns the referenced file name without further expansion. If "<cfile>" is "~/.cshrc", you need to do another expand() to have the "~/" expanded into the path of the home directory: :echo expand(expand("<cfile>")) There cannot be white space between the variables and the following modifier. The fnamemodify() function can be used to modify normal file names. When using '%' or '#', and the current or alternate file name is not defined, an empty string is used. Using "%:p" in a buffer with no name, results in the current directory, with a '/' added. When {expr} does not start with '%', '#' or '<', it is expanded like a file name is expanded on the command line. 'suffixes' and 'wildignore' are used, unless the optional {nosuf} argument is given and it is TRUE. Names for non-existing files are included. The "**" item can be used to search in a directory tree. For example, to find all "README" files in the current directory and below: :echo expand("**/README") expand() can also be used to expand variables and environment variables that are only known in a shell. But this can be slow, because a shell may be used to do the expansion. See expr-env-expand. The expanded variable is still handled like a list of file names. When an environment variable cannot be expanded, it is left unchanged. Thus ":echo expand('$FOOBAR')" results in "$FOOBAR". See glob() for finding existing files. See system() for getting the raw output of an external command. Can also be used as a method: Getpattern()->expand() expandcmd({expr}) expandcmd() Expand special items in {expr} like what is done for an Ex command such as :edit. This expands special keywords, like with expand(), and environment variables, anywhere in {expr}. "~user" and "~/path" are only expanded at the start. Returns the expanded string. Example: :echo expandcmd('make %<.o') Can also be used as a method: GetCommand()->expandcmd() extend({expr1}, {expr2} [, {expr3}]) extend() {expr1} and {expr2} must be both Lists or both Dictionaries. If they are Lists: Append {expr2} to {expr1}. If {expr3} is given insert the items of {expr2} before the item with index {expr3} in {expr1}. When {expr3} is zero insert before the first item. When {expr3} is equal to len({expr1}) then {expr2} is appended. Examples: :echo sort(extend(mylist, [7, 5])) :call extend(mylist, [2, 3], 1) When {expr1} is the same List as {expr2} then the number of items copied is equal to the original length of the List. E.g., when {expr3} is 1 you get N new copies of the first item (where N is the original length of the List). Use add() to concatenate one item to a list. To concatenate two lists into a new list use the + operator: :let newlist = [1, 2, 3] + [4, 5] If they are Dictionaries: Add all entries from {expr2} to {expr1}. If a key exists in both {expr1} and {expr2} then {expr3} is used to decide what to do: {expr3} = "keep": keep the value of {expr1} {expr3} = "force": use the value of {expr2} {expr3} = "error": give an error message E737 When {expr3} is omitted then "force" is assumed. {expr1} is changed when {expr2} is not empty. If necessary make a copy of {expr1} first. {expr2} remains unchanged. When {expr1} is locked and {expr2} is not empty the operation fails. Returns {expr1}. Can also be used as a method: mylist->extend(otherlist) extendnew({expr1}, {expr2} [, {expr3}]) extendnew() Like extend() but instead of adding items to {expr1} a new List or Dictionary is created and returned. {expr1} remains unchanged. Items can still be changed by {expr2}, if you don't want that use deepcopy() first. feedkeys({string} [, {mode}]) feedkeys() Characters in {string} are queued for processing as if they come from a mapping or were typed by the user. By default the string is added to the end of the typeahead buffer, thus if a mapping is still being executed the characters come after them. Use the 'i' flag to insert before other characters, they will be executed next, before any characters from a mapping. The function does not wait for processing of keys contained in {string}. To include special keys into {string}, use double-quotes and "\..." notation expr-quote. For example, feedkeys("\<CR>") simulates pressing of the <Enter> key. But feedkeys('\<CR>') pushes 5 characters. A special code that might be useful is <Ignore>, it exits the wait for a character without doing anything. <Ignore> {mode} is a String, which can contain these character flags: 'm' Remap keys. This is default. If {mode} is absent, keys are remapped. 'n' Do not remap keys. 't' Handle keys as if typed; otherwise they are handled as if coming from a mapping. This matters for undo, opening folds, etc. 'L' Lowlevel input. Only works for Unix or when using the GUI. Keys are used as if they were coming from the terminal. Other flags are not used. E980 When a CTRL-C interrupts and 't' is included it sets the internal "got_int" flag. 'i' Insert the string instead of appending (see above). 'x' Execute commands until typeahead is empty. This is similar to using ":normal!". You can call feedkeys() several times without 'x' and then one time with 'x' (possibly with an empty {string}) to execute all the typeahead. Note that when Vim ends in Insert mode it will behave as if <Esc> is typed, to avoid getting stuck, waiting for a character to be typed before the script continues. Note that if you manage to call feedkeys() while executing commands, thus calling it recursively, then all typeahead will be consumed by the last call. '!' When used with 'x' will not end Insert mode. Can be used in a test when a timer is set to exit Insert mode a little later. Useful for testing CursorHoldI. Return value is always 0. Can also be used as a method: GetInput()->feedkeys() filereadable({file}) filereadable() The result is a Number, which is TRUE when a file with the name {file} exists, and can be read. If {file} doesn't exist, or is a directory, the result is FALSE. {file} is any expression, which is used as a String. If you don't care about the file being readable you can use glob(). {file} is used as-is, you may want to expand wildcards first: echo filereadable('~/.vimrc') 0 echo filereadable(expand('~/.vimrc')) 1 Can also be used as a method: GetName()->filereadable() file_readable() Obsolete name: file_readable(). filewritable({file}) filewritable() The result is a Number, which is 1 when a file with the name {file} exists, and can be written. If {file} doesn't exist, or is not writable, the result is 0. If {file} is a directory, and we can write to it, the result is 2. Can also be used as a method: GetName()->filewritable() filter({expr1}, {expr2}) filter() {expr1} must be a List or a Dictionary. For each item in {expr1} evaluate {expr2} and when the result is zero remove the item from the List or Dictionary. {expr2} must be a string or Funcref. If {expr2} is a string, inside {expr2} v:val has the value of the current item. For a Dictionary v:key has the key of the current item and for a List v:key has the index of the current item. Examples: call filter(mylist, 'v:val !~ "OLD"') Removes the items where "OLD" appears. call filter(mydict, 'v:key >= 8') Removes the items with a key below 8. call filter(var, 0) Removes all the items, thus clears the List or Dictionary. Note that {expr2} is the result of expression and is then used as an expression again. Often it is good to use a literal-string to avoid having to double backslashes. If {expr2} is a Funcref it must take two arguments: 1. the key or the index of the current item. 2. the value of the current item. The function must return TRUE if the item should be kept. Example that keeps the odd items of a list: func Odd(idx, val) return a:idx % 2 == 1 endfunc call filter(mylist, function('Odd')) It is shorter when using a lambda: call filter(myList, {idx, val -> idx * val <= 42}) If you do not use "val" you can leave it out: call filter(myList, {idx -> idx % 2 == 1}) The operation is done in-place. If you want a List or Dictionary to remain unmodified make a copy first: :let l = filter(copy(mylist), 'v:val =~ "KEEP"') Returns {expr1}, the List or Dictionary that was filtered. When an error is encountered while evaluating {expr2} no further items in {expr1} are processed. When {expr2} is a Funcref errors inside a function are ignored, unless it was defined with the "abort" flag. Can also be used as a method: mylist->filter(expr2) finddir({name} [, {path} [, {count}]]) finddir() Find directory {name} in {path}. Supports both downwards and upwards recursive directory searches. See file-searching for the syntax of {path}. Returns the path of the first found match. When the found directory is below the current directory a relative path is returned. Otherwise a full path is returned. If {path} is omitted or empty then 'path' is used. If the optional {count} is given, find {count}'s occurrence of {name} in {path} instead of the first one. When {count} is negative return all the matches in a List. This is quite similar to the ex-command :find. {only available when compiled with the +file_in_path feature} Can also be used as a method: GetName()->finddir() findfile({name} [, {path} [, {count}]]) findfile() Just like finddir(), but find a file instead of a directory. Uses 'suffixesadd'. Example: :echo findfile("tags.vim", ".;") Searches from the directory of the current file upwards until it finds the file "tags.vim". Can also be used as a method: GetName()->findfile() flatten({list} [, {maxdepth}]) flatten() Flatten {list} up to {maxdepth} levels. Without {maxdepth} the result is a List without nesting, as if {maxdepth} is a very large number. The {list} is changed in place, use flattennew() if you do not want that. In Vim9 script flatten() cannot be used, you must always use flattennew(). E900 {maxdepth} means how deep in nested lists changes are made. {list} is not modified when {maxdepth} is 0. {maxdepth} must be positive number. If there is an error the number zero is returned. Example: :echo flatten([1, [2, [3, 4]], 5]) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] :echo flatten([1, [2, [3, 4]], 5], 1) [1, 2, [3, 4], 5] flattennew({list} [, {maxdepth}]) flattennew() Like flatten() but first make a copy of {list}. float2nr({expr}) float2nr() Convert {expr} to a Number by omitting the part after the decimal point. {expr} must evaluate to a Float or a Number. When the value of {expr} is out of range for a Number the result is truncated to 0x7fffffff or -0x7fffffff (or when 64-bit Number support is enabled, 0x7fffffffffffffff or -0x7fffffffffffffff). NaN results in -0x80000000 (or when 64-bit Number support is enabled, -0x8000000000000000). Examples: echo float2nr(3.95) 3 echo float2nr(-23.45) -23 echo float2nr(1.0e100) 2147483647 (or 9223372036854775807) echo float2nr(-1.0e150) -2147483647 (or -9223372036854775807) echo float2nr(1.0e-100) 0 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->float2nr() {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} floor({expr}) floor() Return the largest integral value less than or equal to {expr} as a Float (round down). {expr} must evaluate to a Float or a Number. Examples: echo floor(1.856) 1.0 echo floor(-5.456) -6.0 echo floor(4.0) 4.0 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->floor() {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} fmod({expr1}, {expr2}) fmod() Return the remainder of {expr1} / {expr2}, even if the division is not representable. Returns {expr1} - i * {expr2} for some integer i such that if {expr2} is non-zero, the result has the same sign as {expr1} and magnitude less than the magnitude of {expr2}. If {expr2} is zero, the value returned is zero. The value returned is a Float. {expr1} and {expr2} must evaluate to a Float or a Number. Examples: :echo fmod(12.33, 1.22) 0.13 :echo fmod(-12.33, 1.22) -0.13 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->fmod(1.22) {only available when compiled with |+float| feature} fnameescape({string}) fnameescape() Escape {string} for use as file name command argument. All characters that have a special meaning, such as '%' and '|' are escaped with a backslash. For most systems the characters escaped are " \t\n*?[{`$\\%#'\"|!<". For systems where a backslash appears in a filename, it depends on the value of 'isfname'. A leading '+' and '>' is also escaped (special after :edit and :write). And a "-" by itself (special after :cd). Example: :let fname = '+some str%nge|name' :exe "edit " . fnameescape(fname) results in executing: edit \+some\ str\%nge\|name Can also be used as a method: GetName()->fnameescape() fnamemodify({fname}, {mods}) fnamemodify() Modify file name {fname} according to {mods}. {mods} is a string of characters like it is used for file names on the command line. See filename-modifiers. Example: :echo fnamemodify("main.c", ":p:h") results in: /home/mool/vim/vim/src If {mods} is empty then {fname} is returned. Note: Environment variables don't work in {fname}, use expand() first then. Can also be used as a method: GetName()->fnamemodify(':p:h') foldclosed({lnum}) foldclosed() The result is a Number. If the line {lnum} is in a closed fold, the result is the number of the first line in that fold. If the line {lnum} is not in a closed fold, -1 is returned. Can also be used as a method: GetLnum()->foldclosed() foldclosedend({lnum}) foldclosedend() The result is a Number. If the line {lnum} is in a closed fold, the result is the number of the last line in that fold. If the line {lnum} is not in a closed fold, -1 is returned. Can also be used as a method: GetLnum()->foldclosedend() foldlevel({lnum}) foldlevel() The result is a Number, which is the foldlevel of line {lnum} in the current buffer. For nested folds the deepest level is returned. If there is no fold at line {lnum}, zero is returned. It doesn't matter if the folds are open or closed. When used while updating folds (from 'foldexpr') -1 is returned for lines where folds are still to be updated and the foldlevel is unknown. As a special case the level of the previous line is usually available. Can also be used as a method: GetLnum()->foldlevel() foldtext() foldtext() Returns a String, to be displayed for a closed fold. This is the default function used for the 'foldtext' option and should only be called from evaluating 'foldtext'. It uses the v:foldstart, v:foldend and v:folddashes variables. The returned string looks like this: +-- 45 lines: abcdef The number of leading dashes depends on the foldlevel. The "45" is the number of lines in the fold. "abcdef" is the text in the first non-blank line of the fold. Leading white space, "//" or "/*" and the text from the 'foldmarker' and 'commentstring' options is removed. When used to draw the actual foldtext, the rest of the line will be filled with the fold char from the 'fillchars' setting. {not available when compiled without the |+folding| feature} foldtextresult({lnum}) foldtextresult() Returns the text that is displayed for the closed fold at line {lnum}. Evaluates 'foldtext' in the appropriate context. When there is no closed fold at {lnum} an empty string is returned. {lnum} is used like with getline(). Thus "." is the current line, "'m" mark m, etc. Useful when exporting folded text, e.g., to HTML. {not available when compiled without the |+folding| feature} Can also be used as a method: GetLnum()->foldtextresult() foreground() foreground() Move the Vim window to the foreground. Useful when sent from a client to a Vim server. remote_send() On Win32 systems this might not work, the OS does not always allow a window to bring itself to the foreground. Use remote_foreground() instead. {only in the Win32, Athena, Motif and GTK GUI versions and the Win32 console version} fullcommand({name}) fullcommand() Get the full command name from a short abbreviated command name; see 20.2 for details on command abbreviations. {name} may start with a : and can include a [range], these are skipped and not returned. Returns an empty string if a command doesn't exist or if it's ambiguous (for user-defined functions). For example fullcommand('s'), fullcommand('sub'), fullcommand(':%substitute') all return "substitute". Can also be used as a method: GetName()->fullcommand() funcref() funcref({name} [, {arglist}] [, {dict}]) Just like function(), but the returned Funcref will lookup the function by reference, not by name. This matters when the function {name} is redefined later. Unlike function(), {name} must be an existing user function. Also for autoloaded functions. {name} cannot be a builtin function. Can also be used as a method: GetFuncname()->funcref([arg]) function() E700 E922 E923 function({name} [, {arglist}] [, {dict}]) Return a Funcref variable that refers to function {name}. {name} can be the name of a user defined function or an internal function. {name} can also be a Funcref or a partial. When it is a partial the dict stored in it will be used and the {dict} argument is not allowed. E.g.: let FuncWithArg = function(dict.Func, [arg]) let Broken = function(dict.Func, [arg], dict) When using the Funcref the function will be found by {name}, also when it was redefined later. Use funcref() to keep the same function. When {arglist} or {dict} is present this creates a partial. That means the argument list and/or the dictionary is stored in the Funcref and will be used when the Funcref is called. The arguments are passed to the function in front of other arguments, but after any argument from method. Example: func Callback(arg1, arg2, name) ... let Partial = function('Callback', ['one', 'two']) ... call Partial('name') Invokes the function as with: call Callback('one', 'two', 'name') With a method: func Callback(one, two, three) ... let Partial = function('Callback', ['two']) ... eval 'one'->Partial('three') Invokes the function as with: call Callback('one', 'two', 'three') The function() call can be nested to add more arguments to the Funcref. The extra arguments are appended to the list of arguments. Example: func Callback(arg1, arg2, name) ... let Func = function('Callback', ['one']) let Func2 = function(Func, ['two']) ... call Func2('name') Invokes the function as with: call Callback('one', 'two', 'name') The Dictionary is only useful when calling a "dict" function. In that case the {dict} is passed in as "self". Example: function Callback() dict echo "called for " . self.name endfunction ... let context = {"name": "example"} let Func = function('Callback', context) ... call Func() " will echo: called for example The use of function() is not needed when there are no extra arguments, these two are equivalent: let Func = function('Callback', context) let Func = context.Callback The argument list and the Dictionary can be combined: function Callback(arg1, count) dict ... let context = {"name": "example"} let Func = function('Callback', ['one'], context) ... call Func(500) Invokes the function as with: call context.Callback('one', 500) Can also be used as a method: GetFuncname()->function([arg]) garbagecollect([{atexit}]) garbagecollect() Cleanup unused Lists, Dictionaries, Channels and Jobs that have circular references. There is hardly ever a need to invoke this function, as it is automatically done when Vim runs out of memory or is waiting for the user to press a key after 'updatetime'. Items without circular references are always freed when they become unused. This is useful if you have deleted a very big List and/or Dictionary with circular references in a script that runs for a long time. When the optional {atexit} argument is one, garbage collection will also be done when exiting Vim, if it wasn't done before. This is useful when checking for memory leaks. The garbage collection is not done immediately but only when it's safe to perform. This is when waiting for the user to type a character. To force garbage collection immediately use test_garbagecollect_now(). get({list}, {idx} [, {default}]) get() Get item {idx} from List {list}. When this item is not available return {default}. Return zero when {default} is omitted. Preferably used as a method: mylist->get(idx) get({blob}, {idx} [, {default}]) Get byte {idx} from Blob {blob}. When this byte is not available return {default}. Return -1 when {default} is omitted. Preferably used as a method: myblob->get(idx) get({dict}, {key} [, {default}]) Get item with key {key} from Dictionary {dict}. When this item is not available return {default}. Return zero when {default} is omitted. Useful example: let val = get(g:, 'var_name', 'default') This gets the value of g:var_name if it exists, and uses 'default' when it does not exist. Preferably used as a method: mydict->get(key) get({func}, {what}) Get an item with from Funcref {func}. Possible values for {what} are: "name" The function name "func" The function "dict" The dictionary "args" The list with arguments Preferably used as a method: myfunc->get(what) getbufinfo() getbufinfo([{expr}]) getbufinfo([{dict}]) Get information about buffers as a List of Dictionaries. Without an argument information about all the buffers is returned. When the argument is a Dictionary only the buffers matching the specified criteria are returned. The following keys can be specified in {dict}: buflisted include only listed buffers. bufloaded include only loaded buffers. bufmodified include only modified buffers. Otherwise, {expr} specifies a particular buffer to return information for. For the use of {expr}, see bufname() above. If the buffer is found the returned List has one item. Otherwise the result is an empty list. Each returned List item is a dictionary with the following entries: bufnr Buffer number. changed TRUE if the buffer is modified. changedtick Number of changes made to the buffer. hidden TRUE if the buffer is hidden. lastused Timestamp in seconds, like localtime(), when the buffer was last used. {only with the |+viminfo| feature} listed TRUE if the buffer is listed. lnum Line number used for the buffer when opened in the current window. Only valid if the buffer has been displayed in the window in the past. If you want the line number of the last known cursor position in a given window, use line(): :echo line('.', {winid}) linecount Number of lines in the buffer (only valid when loaded) loaded TRUE if the buffer is loaded. name Full path to the file in the buffer. signs List of signs placed in the buffer. Each list item is a dictionary with the following fields: id sign identifier lnum line number name sign name variables A reference to the dictionary with buffer-local variables. windows List of window-IDs that display this buffer popups List of popup window-IDs that display this buffer Examples: for buf in getbufinfo() echo buf.name endfor for buf in getbufinfo({'buflisted':1}) if buf.changed .... endif endfor To get buffer-local options use: getbufvar({bufnr}, '&option_name') Can also be used as a method: GetBufnr()->getbufinfo() getbufline() getbufline({expr}, {lnum} [, {end}]) Return a List with the lines starting from {lnum} to {end} (inclusive) in the buffer {expr}. If {end} is omitted, a List with only the line {lnum} is returned. For the use of {expr}, see bufname() above. For {lnum} and {end} "$" can be used for the last line of the buffer. Otherwise a number must be used. When {lnum} is smaller than 1 or bigger than the number of lines in the buffer, an empty List is returned. When {end} is greater than the number of lines in the buffer, it is treated as {end} is set to the number of lines in the buffer. When {end} is before {lnum} an empty List is returned. This function works only for loaded buffers. For unloaded and non-existing buffers, an empty List is returned. Example: :let lines = getbufline(bufnr("myfile"), 1, "$") Can also be used as a method: GetBufnr()->getbufline(lnum) getbufvar({expr}, {varname} [, {def}]) getbufvar() The result is the value of option or local buffer variable {varname} in buffer {expr}. Note that the name without "b:" must be used. When {varname} is empty returns a Dictionary with all the buffer-local variables. When {varname} is equal to "&" returns a Dictionary with all the buffer-local options. Otherwise, when {varname} starts with "&" returns the value of a buffer-local option. This also works for a global or buffer-local option, but it doesn't work for a global variable, window-local variable or window-local option. For the use of {expr}, see bufname() above. When the buffer or variable doesn't exist {def} or an empty string is returned, there is no error message. Examples: :let bufmodified = getbufvar(1, "&mod") :echo "todo myvar = " . getbufvar("todo", "myvar") Can also be used as a method: GetBufnr()->getbufvar(varname) getchangelist([{expr}]) getchangelist() Returns the changelist for the buffer {expr}. For the use of {expr}, see bufname() above. If buffer {expr} doesn't exist, an empty list is returned. The returned list contains two entries: a list with the change locations and the current position in the list. Each entry in the change list is a dictionary with the following entries: col column number coladd column offset for 'virtualedit' lnum line number If buffer {expr} is the current buffer, then the current position refers to the position in the list. For other buffers, it is set to the length of the list. Can also be used as a method: GetBufnr()->getchangelist() getchar([expr]) getchar() Get a single character from the user or input stream. If [expr] is omitted, wait until a character is available. If [expr] is 0, only get a character when one is available. Return zero otherwise. If [expr] is 1, only check if a character is available, it is not consumed. Return zero if no character available. Without [expr] and when [expr] is 0 a whole character or special key is returned. If it is a single character, the result is a number. Use nr2char() to convert it to a String. Otherwise a String is returned with the encoded character. For a special key it's a String with a sequence of bytes starting with 0x80 (decimal: 128). This is the same value as the String "\<Key>", e.g., "\<Left>". The returned value is also a String when a modifier (shift, control, alt) was used that is not included in the character. When [expr] is 0 and Esc is typed, there will be a short delay while Vim waits to see if this is the start of an escape sequence. When [expr] is 1 only the first byte is returned. For a one-byte character it is the character itself as a number. Use nr2char() to convert it to a String. Use getcharmod() to obtain any additional modifiers. When the user clicks a mouse button, the mouse event will be returned. The position can then be found in v:mouse_col, v:mouse_lnum, v:mouse_winid and v:mouse_win. getmousepos() can also be used. Mouse move events will be ignored. This example positions the mouse as it would normally happen: let c = getchar() if c == "\<LeftMouse>" && v:mouse_win > 0 exe v:mouse_win . "wincmd w" exe v:mouse_lnum exe "normal " . v:mouse_col . "|" endif When using bracketed paste only the first character is returned, the rest of the pasted text is dropped. xterm-bracketed-paste. There is no prompt, you will somehow have to make clear to the user that a character has to be typed. The screen is not redrawn, e.g. when resizing the window. When using a popup window it should work better with a popup-filter. There is no mapping for the character. Key codes are replaced, thus when the user presses the <Del> key you get the code for the <Del> key, not the raw character sequence. Examples: getchar() == "\<Del>" getchar() == "\<S-Left>" This example redefines "f" to ignore case: :nmap f :call FindChar()<CR> :function FindChar() : let c = nr2char(getchar()) : while col('.') < col('$') - 1 : normal l : if getline('.')[col('.') - 1] ==? c : break : endif : endwhile :endfunction You may also receive synthetic characters, such as <CursorHold>. Often you will want to ignore this and get another character: :function GetKey() : let c = getchar() : while c == "\<CursorHold>" : let c = getchar() : endwhile : return c :endfunction getcharmod() getcharmod() The result is a Number which is the state of the modifiers for the last obtained character with getchar() or in another way. These values are added together: 2 shift 4 control 8 alt (meta) 16 meta (when it's different from ALT) 32 mouse double click 64 mouse triple click 96 mouse quadruple click (== 32 + 64) 128 command (Macintosh only) Only the modifiers that have not been included in the character itself are obtained. Thus Shift-a results in "A" without a modifier. getcharpos() getcharpos({expr}) Get the position for {expr}. Same as getpos() but the column number in the returned List is a character index instead of a byte index. If getpos() returns a very large column number, such as 2147483647, then getcharpos() will return the character index of the last character. Example: With the cursor on '세' in line 5 with text "여보세요": getcharpos('.') returns [0, 5, 3, 0] getpos('.') returns [0, 5, 7, 0] Can also be used as a method: GetMark()->getcharpos() getcharsearch() getcharsearch() Return the current character search information as a {dict} with the following entries: char character previously used for a character search (t, f, T, or F); empty string if no character search has been performed forward direction of character search; 1 for forward, 0 for backward until type of character search; 1 for a t or T character search, 0 for an f or F character search This can be useful to always have ; and , search forward/backward regardless of the direction of the previous character search: :nnoremap <expr> ; getcharsearch().forward ? ';' : ',' :nnoremap <expr> , getcharsearch().forward ? ',' : ';' Also see setcharsearch(). getcmdline() getcmdline() Return the current command-line. Only works when the command line is being edited, thus requires use of c_CTRL-\_e or c_CTRL-R_=. Example: :cmap <F7> <C-\>eescape(getcmdline(), ' \')<CR> Also see getcmdtype(), getcmdpos() and setcmdpos(). Returns an empty string when entering a password or using inputsecret(). getcmdpos() getcmdpos() Return the position of the cursor in the command line as a byte count. The first column is 1. Only works when editing the command line, thus requires use of c_CTRL-\_e or c_CTRL-R_= or an expression mapping. Returns 0 otherwise. Also see getcmdtype(), setcmdpos() and getcmdline(). getcmdtype() getcmdtype() Return the current command-line type. Possible return values are: : normal Ex command > debug mode command debug-mode / forward search command ? backward search command @ input() command - :insert or :append command = i_CTRL-R_= Only works when editing the command line, thus requires use of c_CTRL-\_e or c_CTRL-R_= or an expression mapping. Returns an empty string otherwise. Also see getcmdpos(), setcmdpos() and getcmdline(). getcmdwintype() getcmdwintype() Return the current command-line-window type. Possible return values are the same as getcmdtype(). Returns an empty string when not in the command-line window. getcompletion({pat}, {type} [, {filtered}]) getcompletion() Return a list of command-line completion matches. {type} specifies what for. The following completion types are supported: arglist file names in argument list augroup autocmd groups buffer buffer names behave :behave suboptions color color schemes command Ex command (and arguments) cmdline cmdline-completion result compiler compilers cscope :cscope suboptions diff_buffer :diffget and :diffput completion dir directory names environment environment variable names event autocommand events expression Vim expression file file and directory names file_in_path file and directory names in 'path' filetype filetype names 'filetype' function function name help help subjects highlight highlight groups history :history suboptions locale locale names (as output of locale -a) mapclear buffer argument mapping mapping name menu menus messages :messages suboptions option options packadd optional package pack-add names shellcmd Shell command sign :sign suboptions syntax syntax file names 'syntax' syntime :syntime suboptions tag tags tag_listfiles tags, file names user user names var user variables If {pat} is an empty string, then all the matches are returned. Otherwise only items matching {pat} are returned. See wildcards for the use of special characters in {pat}. If the optional {filtered} flag is set to 1, then 'wildignore' is applied to filter the results. Otherwise all the matches are returned. The 'wildignorecase' option always applies. If {type} is "cmdline", then the cmdline-completion result is returned. For example, to complete the possible values after a ":call" command: echo getcompletion('call ', 'cmdline') If there are no matches, an empty list is returned. An invalid value for {type} produces an error. Can also be used as a method: GetPattern()->getcompletion('color') getcurpos() getcurpos([{winid}]) Get the position of the cursor. This is like getpos('.'), but includes an extra "curswant" item in the list: [0, lnum, col, off, curswant] The "curswant" number is the preferred column when moving the cursor vertically. Also see getcursorcharpos() and getpos(). The first "bufnum" item is always zero. The byte position of the cursor is returned in 'col'. To get the character position, use getcursorcharpos(). The optional {winid} argument can specify the window. It can be the window number or the window-ID. The last known cursor position is returned, this may be invalid for the current value of the buffer if it is not the current window. If {winid} is invalid a list with zeroes is returned. This can be used to save and restore the cursor position: let save_cursor = getcurpos() MoveTheCursorAround call setpos('.', save_cursor) Note that this only works within the window. See winrestview() for restoring more state. Can also be used as a method: GetWinid()->getcurpos() getcursorcharpos() getcursorcharpos([{winid}]) Same as getcurpos() but the column number in the returned List is a character index instead of a byte index. Example: With the cursor on '보' in line 3 with text "여보세요": getcursorcharpos() returns [0, 3, 2, 0, 3] getcurpos() returns [0, 3, 4, 0, 3] Can also be used as a method: GetWinid()->getcursorcharpos() getcwd() getcwd([{winnr} [, {tabnr}]]) The result is a String, which is the name of the current working directory. With {winnr} return the local current directory of this window in the current tab page. {winnr} can be the window number or the window-ID. If {winnr} is -1 return the name of the global working directory. See also haslocaldir(). With {winnr} and {tabnr} return the local current directory of the window in the specified tab page. If {winnr} is -1 return the working directory of the tabpage. If {winnr} is zero use the current window, if {tabnr} is zero use the current tabpage. Without any arguments, return the working directory of the current window. Return an empty string if the arguments are invalid. Examples: " Get the working directory of the current window :echo getcwd() :echo getcwd(0) :echo getcwd(0, 0) " Get the working directory of window 3 in tabpage 2 :echo getcwd(3, 2) " Get the global working directory :echo getcwd(-1) " Get the working directory of tabpage 3 :echo getcwd(-1, 3) " Get the working directory of current tabpage :echo getcwd(-1, 0) Can also be used as a method: GetWinnr()->getcwd() getenv({name}) getenv() Return the value of environment variable {name}. When the variable does not exist v:null is returned. That is different from a variable set to an empty string, although some systems interpret the empty value as the variable being deleted. See also expr-env. Can also be used as a method: GetVarname()->getenv() getfontname([{name}]) getfontname() Without an argument returns the name of the normal font being used. Like what is used for the Normal highlight group hl-Normal. With an argument a check is done whether {name} is a valid font name. If not then an empty string is returned. Otherwise the actual font name is returned, or {name} if the GUI does not support obtaining the real name. Only works when the GUI is running, thus not in your vimrc or gvimrc file. Use the GUIEnter autocommand to use this function just after the GUI has started. Note that the GTK GUI accepts any font name, thus checking for a valid name does not work. getfperm({fname}) getfperm() The result is a String, which is the read, write, and execute permissions of the given file {fname}. If {fname} does not exist or its directory cannot be read, an empty string is returned. The result is of the form "rwxrwxrwx", where each group of "rwx" flags represent, in turn, the permissions of the owner of the file, the group the file belongs to, and other users. If a user does not have a given permission the flag for this is replaced with the string "-". Examples: :echo getfperm("/etc/passwd") :echo getfperm(expand("~/.vimrc")) This will hopefully (from a security point of view) display the string "rw-r--r--" or even "rw-------". Can also be used as a method: GetFilename()->getfperm() For setting permissions use setfperm(). getfsize({fname}) getfsize() The result is a Number, which is the size in bytes of the given file {fname}. If {fname} is a directory, 0 is returned. If the file {fname} can't be found, -1 is returned. If the size of {fname} is too big to fit in a Number then -2 is returned. Can also be used as a method: GetFilename()->getfsize() getftime({fname}) getftime() The result is a Number, which is the last modification time of the given file {fname}. The value is measured as seconds since 1st Jan 1970, and may be passed to strftime(). See also localtime() and strftime(). If the file {fname} can't be found -1 is returned. Can also be used as a method: GetFilename()->getftime() getftype({fname}) getftype() The result is a String, which is a description of the kind of file of the given file {fname}. If {fname} does not exist an empty string is returned. Here is a table over different kinds of files and their results: Normal file "file" Directory "dir" Symbolic link "link" Block device "bdev" Character device "cdev" Socket "socket" FIFO "fifo" All other "other" Example: getftype("/home") Note that a type such as "link" will only be returned on systems that support it. On some systems only "dir" and "file" are returned. On MS-Windows a symbolic link to a directory returns "dir" instead of "link". Can also be used as a method: GetFilename()->getftype() getimstatus() getimstatus() The result is a Number, which is TRUE when the IME status is active. See 'imstatusfunc'. getjumplist([{winnr} [, {tabnr}]]) getjumplist() Returns the jumplist for the specified window. Without arguments use the current window. With {winnr} only use this window in the current tab page. {winnr} can also be a window-ID. With {winnr} and {tabnr} use the window in the specified tab page. The returned list contains two entries: a list with the jump locations and the last used jump position number in the list. Each entry in the jump location list is a dictionary with the following entries: bufnr buffer number col column number coladd column offset for 'virtualedit' filename filename if available lnum line number Can also be used as a method: GetWinnr()->getjumplist() getline() getline({lnum} [, {end}]) Without {end} the result is a String, which is line {lnum} from the current buffer. Example: getline(1) When {lnum} is a String that doesn't start with a digit, line() is called to translate the String into a Number. To get the line under the cursor: getline(".") When {lnum} is smaller than 1 or bigger than the number of lines in the buffer, an empty string is returned. When {end} is given the result is a List where each item is a line from the current buffer in the range {lnum} to {end}, including line {end}. {end} is used in the same way as {lnum}. Non-existing lines are silently omitted. When {end} is before {lnum} an empty List is returned. Example: :let start = line('.') :let end = search("^$") - 1 :let lines = getline(start, end) Can also be used as a method: ComputeLnum()->getline() To get lines from another buffer see getbufline() getloclist({nr} [, {what}]) getloclist() Returns a List with all the entries in the location list for window {nr}. {nr} can be the window number or the window-ID. When {nr} is zero the current window is used. For a location list window, the displayed location list is returned. For an invalid window number {nr}, an empty list is returned. Otherwise, same as getqflist(). If the optional {what} dictionary argument is supplied, then returns the items listed in {what} as a dictionary. Refer to getqflist() for the supported items in {what}. In addition to the items supported by getqflist() in {what}, the following item is supported by getloclist(): filewinid id of the window used to display files from the location list. This field is applicable only when called from a location list window. See location-list-file-window for more details. Returns a Dictionary with default values if there is no location list for the window {nr}. Returns an empty Dictionary if window {nr} does not exist. Examples (See also getqflist-examples): :echo getloclist(3, {'all': 0}) :echo getloclist(5, {'filewinid': 0}) getmarklist([{expr}]) getmarklist() Without the {expr} argument returns a List with information about all the global marks. mark If the optional {expr} argument is specified, returns the local marks defined in buffer {expr}. For the use of {expr}, see bufname(). Each item in the returned List is a Dict with the following: name - name of the mark prefixed by "'" pos - a List with the position of the mark: [bufnum, lnum, col, off] Refer to getpos() for more information. file - file name Refer to getpos() for getting information about a specific mark. Can also be used as a method: GetBufnr()->getmarklist() getmatches([{win}]) getmatches() Returns a List with all matches previously defined for the current window by matchadd() and the :match commands. getmatches() is useful in combination with setmatches(), as setmatches() can restore a list of matches saved by getmatches(). Example: :echo getmatches() [{'group': 'MyGroup1', 'pattern': 'TODO', 'priority': 10, 'id': 1}, {'group': 'MyGroup2', 'pattern': 'FIXME', 'priority': 10, 'id': 2}] :let m = getmatches() :call clearmatches() :echo getmatches() [] :call setmatches(m) :echo getmatches() [{'group': 'MyGroup1', 'pattern': 'TODO', 'priority': 10, 'id': 1}, {'group': 'MyGroup2', 'pattern': 'FIXME', 'priority': 10, 'id': 2}] :unlet m getmousepos() getmousepos() Returns a Dictionary with the last known position of the mouse. This can be used in a mapping for a mouse click or in a filter of a popup window. The items are: screenrow screen row screencol screen column winid Window ID of the click winrow row inside "winid" wincol column inside "winid" line text line inside "winid" column text column inside "winid" All numbers are 1-based. If not over a window, e.g. when in the command line, then only "screenrow" and "screencol" are valid, the others are zero. When on the status line below a window or the vertical separator right of a window, the "line" and "column" values are zero. When the position is after the text then "column" is the length of the text in bytes. If the mouse is over a popup window then that window is used. When using getchar() the Vim variables v:mouse_lnum, v:mouse_col and v:mouse_winid also provide these values. getpid() getpid() Return a Number which is the process ID of the Vim process. On Unix and MS-Windows this is a unique number, until Vim exits. getpos() getpos({expr}) Get the position for {expr}. For possible values of {expr} see line(). For getting the cursor position see getcurpos(). The result is a List with four numbers: [bufnum, lnum, col, off] "bufnum" is zero, unless a mark like '0 or 'A is used, then it is the buffer number of the mark. "lnum" and "col" are the position in the buffer. The first column is 1. The "off" number is zero, unless 'virtualedit' is used. Then it is the offset in screen columns from the start of the character. E.g., a position within a <Tab> or after the last character. Note that for '< and '> Visual mode matters: when it is "V" (visual line mode) the column of '< is zero and the column of '> is a large number. The column number in the returned List is the byte position within the line. To get the character position in the line, use getcharpos() The column number can be very large, e.g. 2147483647, in which case it means "after the end of the line". This can be used to save and restore the position of a mark: let save_a_mark = getpos("'a") ... call setpos("'a", save_a_mark) Also see getcharpos(), getcurpos() and setpos(). Can also be used as a method: GetMark()->getpos() getqflist([{what}]) getqflist() Returns a List with all the current quickfix errors. Each list item is a dictionary with these entries: bufnr number of buffer that has the file name, use bufname() to get the name module module name lnum line number in the buffer (first line is 1) col column number (first column is 1) vcol TRUE: "col" is visual column FALSE: "col" is byte index nr error number pattern search pattern used to locate the error text description of the error type type of the error, 'E', '1', etc. valid TRUE: recognized error message When there is no error list or it's empty, an empty list is returned. Quickfix list entries with non-existing buffer number are returned with "bufnr" set to zero. Useful application: Find pattern matches in multiple files and do something with them: :vimgrep /theword/jg *.c :for d in getqflist() : echo bufname(d.bufnr) ':' d.lnum '=' d.text :endfor If the optional {what} dictionary argument is supplied, then returns only the items listed in {what} as a dictionary. The following string items are supported in {what}: changedtick get the total number of changes made to the list quickfix-changedtick context get the quickfix-context efm errorformat to use when parsing "lines". If not present, then the 'errorformat' option value is used. id get information for the quickfix list with quickfix-ID; zero means the id for the current list or the list specified by "nr" idx get information for the quickfix entry at this index in the list specified by 'id' or 'nr'. If set to zero, then uses the current entry. See quickfix-index items quickfix list entries lines parse a list of lines using 'efm' and return the resulting entries. Only a List type is accepted. The current quickfix list is not modified. See quickfix-parse. nr get information for this quickfix list; zero means the current quickfix list and "$" means the last quickfix list qfbufnr number of the buffer displayed in the quickfix window. Returns 0 if the quickfix buffer is not present. See quickfix-buffer. size number of entries in the quickfix list title get the list title quickfix-title winid get the quickfix window-ID all all of the above quickfix properties Non-string items in {what} are ignored. To get the value of a particular item, set it to zero. If "nr" is not present then the current quickfix list is used. If both "nr" and a non-zero "id" are specified, then the list specified by "id" is used. To get the number of lists in the quickfix stack, set "nr" to "$" in {what}. The "nr" value in the returned dictionary contains the quickfix stack size. When "lines" is specified, all the other items except "efm" are ignored. The returned dictionary contains the entry "items" with the list of entries. The returned dictionary contains the following entries: changedtick total number of changes made to the list quickfix-changedtick context quickfix list context. See quickfix-context If not present, set to "". id quickfix list ID quickfix-ID. If not present, set to 0. idx index of the quickfix entry in the list. If not present, set to 0. items quickfix list entries. If not present, set to an empty list. nr quickfix list number. If not present, set to 0 qfbufnr number of the buffer displayed in the quickfix window. If not present, set to 0. size number of entries in the quickfix list. If not present, set to 0. title quickfix list title text. If not present, set to "". winid quickfix window-ID. If not present, set to 0 Examples (See also getqflist-examples): :echo getqflist({'all': 1}) :echo getqflist({'nr': 2, 'title': 1}) :echo getqflist({'lines' : ["F1:10:L10"]}) getreg([{regname} [, 1 [, {list}]]]) getreg() The result is a String, which is the contents of register {regname}. Example: :let cliptext = getreg('*') When {regname} was not set the result is an empty string. getreg('=') returns the last evaluated value of the expression register. (For use in maps.) getreg('=', 1) returns the expression itself, so that it can be restored with setreg(). For other registers the extra argument is ignored, thus you can always give it. If {list} is present and TRUE, the result type is changed to List. Each list item is one text line. Use it if you care about zero bytes possibly present inside register: without third argument both NLs and zero bytes are represented as NLs (see NL-used-for-Nul). When the register was not set an empty list is returned. If {regname} is not specified, v:register is used. In Vim9-script {regname} must be one character. Can also be used as a method: GetRegname()->getreg() getreginfo([{regname}]) getreginfo() Returns detailed information about register {regname} as a Dictionary with the following entries: regcontents List of lines contained in register {regname}, like getreg({regname}, 1, 1). regtype the type of register {regname}, as in getregtype(). isunnamed Boolean flag, v:true if this register is currently pointed to by the unnamed register. points_to for the unnamed register, gives the single letter name of the register currently pointed to (see quotequote). For example, after deleting a line with dd, this field will be "1", which is the register that got the deleted text. If {regname} is invalid or not set, an empty Dictionary will be returned. If {regname} is not specified, v:register is used. The returned Dictionary can be passed to setreg(). In Vim9-script {regname} must be one character. Can also be used as a method: GetRegname()->getreginfo() getregtype([{regname}]) getregtype() The result is a String, which is type of register {regname}. The value will be one of: "v" for characterwise text "V" for linewise text "<CTRL-V>{width}" for blockwise-visual text "" for an empty or unknown register <CTRL-V> is one character with value 0x16. If {regname} is not specified, v:register is used. In Vim9-script {regname} must be one character. Can also be used as a method: GetRegname()->getregtype() gettabinfo([{arg}]) gettabinfo() If {arg} is not specified, then information about all the tab pages is returned as a List. Each List item is a Dictionary. Otherwise, {arg} specifies the tab page number and information about that one is returned. If the tab page does not exist an empty List is returned. Each List item is a Dictionary with the following entries: tabnr tab page number. variables a reference to the dictionary with tabpage-local variables windows List of window-IDs in the tab page. Can also be used as a method: GetTabnr()->gettabinfo() gettabvar({tabnr}, {varname} [, {def}]) gettabvar() Get the value of a tab-local variable {varname} in tab page {tabnr}. t:var Tabs are numbered starting with one. When {varname} is empty a dictionary with all tab-local variables is returned. Note that the name without "t:" must be used. When the tab or variable doesn't exist {def} or an empty string is returned, there is no error message. Can also be used as a method: GetTabnr()->gettabvar(varname) gettabwinvar({tabnr}, {winnr}, {varname} [, {def}]) gettabwinvar() Get the value of window-local variable {varname} in window {winnr} in tab page {tabnr}. When {varname} is empty a dictionary with all window-local variables is returned. When {varname} is equal to "&" get the values of all window-local options in a Dictionary. Otherwise, when {varname} starts with "&" get the value of a window-local option. Note that {varname} must be the name without "w:". Tabs are numbered starting with one. For the current tabpage use getwinvar(). {winnr} can be the window number or the window-ID. When {winnr} is zero the current window is used. This also works for a global option, buffer-local option and window-local option, but it doesn't work for a global variable or buffer-local variable. When the tab, window or variable doesn't exist {def} or an empty string is returned, there is no error message. Examples: :let list_is_on = gettabwinvar(1, 2, '&list') :echo "myvar = " . gettabwinvar(3, 1, 'myvar') To obtain all window-local variables use: gettabwinvar({tabnr}, {winnr}, '&') Can also be used as a method: GetTabnr()->gettabwinvar(winnr, varname) gettagstack([{nr}]) gettagstack() The result is a Dict, which is the tag stack of window {nr}. {nr} can be the window number or the window-ID. When {nr} is not specified, the current window is used. When window {nr} doesn't exist, an empty Dict is returned. The returned dictionary contains the following entries: curidx Current index in the stack. When at top of the stack, set to (length + 1). Index of bottom of the stack is 1. items List of items in the stack. Each item is a dictionary containing the entries described below. length Number of entries in the stack. Each item in the stack is a dictionary with the following entries: bufnr buffer number of the current jump from cursor position before the tag jump. See getpos() for the format of the returned list. matchnr current matching tag number. Used when multiple matching tags are found for a name. tagname name of the tag See tagstack for more information about the tag stack. Can also be used as a method: GetWinnr()->gettagstack() gettext({text}) gettext() Translate {text} if possible. This is mainly for use in the distributed Vim scripts. When generating message translations the {text} is extracted by xgettext, the translator can add the translated message in the .po file and Vim will lookup the translation when gettext() is called. For {text} double quoted strings are preferred, because xgettext does not understand escaping in single quoted strings. getwininfo([{winid}]) getwininfo() Returns information about windows as a List with Dictionaries. If {winid} is given Information about the window with that ID is returned, as a List with one item. If the window does not exist the result is an empty list. Without {winid} information about all the windows in all the tab pages is returned. Each List item is a Dictionary with the following entries: botline last complete displayed buffer line bufnr number of buffer in the window height window height (excluding winbar) loclist 1 if showing a location list {only with the +quickfix feature} quickfix 1 if quickfix or location list window {only with the +quickfix feature} terminal 1 if a terminal window {only with the +terminal feature} tabnr tab page number topline first displayed buffer line variables a reference to the dictionary with window-local variables width window width winbar 1 if the window has a toolbar, 0 otherwise wincol leftmost screen column of the window; "col" from win_screenpos() winid window-ID winnr window number winrow topmost screen line of the window; "row" from win_screenpos() Can also be used as a method: GetWinnr()->getwininfo() getwinpos([{timeout}]) getwinpos() The result is a List with two numbers, the result of getwinposx() and getwinposy() combined: [x-pos, y-pos] {timeout} can be used to specify how long to wait in msec for a response from the terminal. When omitted 100 msec is used. Use a longer time for a remote terminal. When using a value less than 10 and no response is received within that time, a previously reported position is returned, if available. This can be used to poll for the position and do some work in the meantime: while 1 let res = getwinpos(1) if res[0] >= 0 break endif " Do some work here endwhile Can also be used as a method: GetTimeout()->getwinpos() getwinposx() getwinposx() The result is a Number, which is the X coordinate in pixels of the left hand side of the GUI Vim window. Also works for an xterm (uses a timeout of 100 msec). The result will be -1 if the information is not available. The value can be used with :winpos. getwinposy() getwinposy() The result is a Number, which is the Y coordinate in pixels of the top of the GUI Vim window. Also works for an xterm (uses a timeout of 100 msec). The result will be -1 if the information is not available. The value can be used with :winpos. getwinvar({winnr}, {varname} [, {def}]) getwinvar() Like gettabwinvar() for the current tabpage. Examples: :let list_is_on = getwinvar(2, '&list') :echo "myvar = " . getwinvar(1, 'myvar') Can also be used as a method: GetWinnr()->getwinvar(varname) glob({expr} [, {nosuf} [, {list} [, {alllinks}]]]) glob() Expand the file wildcards in {expr}. See wildcards for the use of special characters. Unless the optional {nosuf} argument is given and is TRUE, the 'suffixes' and 'wildignore' options apply: Names matching one of the patterns in 'wildignore' will be skipped and 'suffixes' affect the ordering of matches. 'wildignorecase' always applies. When {list} is present and it is TRUE the result is a List with all matching files. The advantage of using a List is, you also get filenames containing newlines correctly. Otherwise the result is a String and when there are several matches, they are separated by <NL> characters. If the expansion fails, the result is an empty String or List. You can also use readdir() if you need to do complicated things, such as limiting the number of matches. A name for a non-existing file is not included. A symbolic link is only included if it points to an existing file. However, when the {alllinks} argument is present and it is TRUE then all symbolic links are included. For most systems backticks can be used to get files names from any external command. Example: :let tagfiles = glob("`find . -name tags -print`") :let &tags = substitute(tagfiles, "\n", ",", "g") The result of the program inside the backticks should be one item per line. Spaces inside an item are allowed. See expand() for expanding special Vim variables. See system() for getting the raw output of an external command. Can also be used as a method: GetExpr()->glob() glob2regpat({expr}) glob2regpat() Convert a file pattern, as used by glob(), into a search pattern. The result can be used to match with a string that is a file name. E.g. if filename =~ glob2regpat('Make*.mak') This is equivalent to: if filename =~ '^Make.*\.mak$' When {expr} is an empty string the result is "^$", match an empty string. Note that the result depends on the system. On MS-Windows a backslash usually means a path separator. Can also be used as a method: GetExpr()->glob2regpat() globpath() globpath({path}, {expr} [, {nosuf} [, {list} [, {alllinks}]]]) Perform glob() for {expr} on all directories in {path} and concatenate the results. Example: :echo globpath(&rtp, "syntax/c.vim") {path} is a comma-separated list of directory names. Each directory name is prepended to {expr} and expanded like with glob(). A path separator is inserted when needed. To add a comma inside a directory name escape it with a backslash. Note that on MS-Windows a directory may have a trailing backslash, remove it if you put a comma after it. If the expansion fails for one of the directories, there is no error message. Unless the optional {nosuf} argument is given and is TRUE, the 'suffixes' and 'wildignore' options apply: Names matching one of the patterns in 'wildignore' will be skipped and 'suffixes' affect the ordering of matches. When {list} is present and it is TRUE the result is a List with all matching files. The advantage of using a List is, you also get filenames containing newlines correctly. Otherwise the result is a String and when there are several matches, they are separated by <NL> characters. Example: :echo globpath(&rtp, "syntax/c.vim", 0, 1) {alllinks} is used as with glob(). The "**" item can be used to search in a directory tree. For example, to find all "README.txt" files in the directories in 'runtimepath' and below: :echo globpath(&rtp, "**/README.txt") Upwards search and limiting the depth of "**" is not supported, thus using 'path' will not always work properly. Can also be used as a method, the base is passed as the second argument: GetExpr()->globpath(&rtp) has() has({feature} [, {check}]) When {check} is omitted or is zero: The result is a Number, which is 1 if the feature {feature} is supported, zero otherwise. The {feature} argument is a string, case is ignored. See feature-list below. When {check} is present and not zero: The result is a Number, which is 1 if the feature {feature} could ever be supported, zero otherwise. This is useful to check for a typo in {feature} and to detect dead code. Keep in mind that an older Vim version will not know about a feature added later and features that have been abandoned will not be known by the current Vim version. Also see exists(). Note that to skip code that has a syntax error when the feature is not available, Vim may skip the rest of the line and miss a following endif. Therefore put the endif on a separate line: if has('feature') let x = this->breaks->without->the->feature endif If the endif would be moved to the second line as "| endif" it would not be found. has_key({dict}, {key}) has_key() The result is a Number, which is TRUE if Dictionary {dict} has an entry with key {key}. FALSE otherwise. Can also be used as a method: mydict->has_key(key) haslocaldir([{winnr} [, {tabnr}]]) haslocaldir() The result is a Number: 1 when the window has set a local directory via :lcd 2 when the tab-page has set a local directory via :tcd 0 otherwise. Without arguments use the current window. With {winnr} use this window in the current tab page. With {winnr} and {tabnr} use the window in the specified tab page. {winnr} can be the window number or the window-ID. If {winnr} is -1 it is ignored and only the tabpage is used. Return 0 if the arguments are invalid. Examples: if haslocaldir() == 1 " window local directory case elseif haslocaldir() == 2 " tab-local directory case else " global directory case endif " current window :echo haslocaldir() :echo haslocaldir(0) :echo haslocaldir(0, 0) " window n in current tab page :echo haslocaldir(n) :echo haslocaldir(n, 0) " window n in tab page m :echo haslocaldir(n, m) " tab page m :echo haslocaldir(-1, m) Can also be used as a method: GetWinnr()->haslocaldir() hasmapto({what} [, {mode} [, {abbr}]]) hasmapto() The result is a Number, which is TRUE if there is a mapping that contains {what} in somewhere in the rhs (what it is mapped to) and this mapping exists in one of the modes indicated by {mode}. When {abbr} is there and it is TRUE use abbreviations instead of mappings. Don't forget to specify Insert and/or Command-line mode. Both the global mappings and the mappings local to the current buffer are checked for a match. If no matching mapping is found FALSE is returned. The following characters are recognized in {mode}: n Normal mode v Visual and Select mode x Visual mode s Select mode o Operator-pending mode i Insert mode l Language-Argument ("r", "f", "t", etc.) c Command-line mode When {mode} is omitted, "nvo" is used. This function is useful to check if a mapping already exists to a function in a Vim script. Example: :if !hasmapto('\ABCdoit') : map <Leader>d \ABCdoit :endif This installs the mapping to "\ABCdoit" only if there isn't already a mapping to "\ABCdoit". Can also be used as a method: GetRHS()->hasmapto() histadd({history}, {item}) histadd() Add the String {item} to the history {history} which can be one of: hist-names "cmd" or ":" command line history "search" or "/" search pattern history "expr" or "=" typed expression history "input" or "@" input line history "debug" or ">" debug command history empty the current or last used history The {history} string does not need to be the whole name, one character is sufficient. If {item} does already exist in the history, it will be shifted to become the newest entry. The result is a Number: TRUE if the operation was successful, otherwise FALSE is returned. Example: :call histadd("input", strftime("%Y %b %d")) :let date=input("Enter date: ") This function is not available in the sandbox. Can also be used as a method, the base is passed as the second argument: GetHistory()->histadd('search') histdel({history} [, {item}]) histdel() Clear {history}, i.e. delete all its entries. See hist-names for the possible values of {history}. If the parameter {item} evaluates to a String, it is used as a regular expression. All entries matching that expression will be removed from the history (if there are any). Upper/lowercase must match, unless "\c" is used /\c. If {item} evaluates to a Number, it will be interpreted as an index, see :history-indexing. The respective entry will be removed if it exists. The result is TRUE for a successful operation, otherwise FALSE is returned. Examples: Clear expression register history: :call histdel("expr") Remove all entries starting with "*" from the search history: :call histdel("/", '^\*') The following three are equivalent: :call histdel("search", histnr("search")) :call histdel("search", -1) :call histdel("search", '^'.histget("search", -1).'$') To delete the last search pattern and use the last-but-one for the "n" command and 'hlsearch': :call histdel("search", -1) :let @/ = histget("search", -1) Can also be used as a method: GetHistory()->histdel() histget({history} [, {index}]) histget() The result is a String, the entry with Number {index} from {history}. See hist-names for the possible values of {history}, and :history-indexing for {index}. If there is no such entry, an empty String is returned. When {index} is omitted, the most recent item from the history is used. Examples: Redo the second last search from history. :execute '/' . histget("search", -2) Define an Ex command ":H {num}" that supports re-execution of the {num}th entry from the output of :history. :command -nargs=1 H execute histget("cmd", 0+<args>) Can also be used as a method: GetHistory()->histget() histnr({history}) histnr() The result is the Number of the current entry in {history}. See hist-names for the possible values of {history}. If an error occurred, -1 is returned. Example: :let inp_index = histnr("expr") Can also be used as a method: GetHistory()->histnr() hlexists({name}) hlexists() The result is a Number, which is TRUE if a highlight group called {name} exists. This is when the group has been defined in some way. Not necessarily when highlighting has been defined for it, it may also have been used for a syntax item. highlight_exists() Obsolete name: highlight_exists(). Can also be used as a method: GetName()->hlexists() hlID() hlID({name}) The result is a Number, which is the ID of the highlight group with name {name}. When the highlight group doesn't exist, zero is returned. This can be used to retrieve information about the highlight group. For example, to get the background color of the "Comment" group: :echo synIDattr(synIDtrans(hlID("Comment")), "bg") highlightID() Obsolete name: highlightID(). Can also be used as a method: GetName()->hlID() hostname() hostname() The result is a String, which is the name of the machine on which Vim is currently running. Machine names greater than 256 characters long are truncated. iconv({expr}, {from}, {to}) iconv() The result is a String, which is the text {expr} converted from encoding {from} to encoding {to}. When the conversion completely fails an empty string is returned. When some characters could not be converted they are replaced with "?". The encoding names are whatever the iconv() library function can accept, see ":!man 3 iconv". Most conversions require Vim to be compiled with the +iconv feature. Otherwise only UTF-8 to latin1 conversion and back can be done. This can be used to display messages with special characters, no matter what 'encoding' is set to. Write the message in UTF-8 and use: echo iconv(utf8_str, "utf-8", &enc) Note that Vim uses UTF-8 for all Unicode encodings, conversion from/to UCS-2 is automatically changed to use UTF-8. You cannot use UCS-2 in a string anyway, because of the NUL bytes. Can also be used as a method: GetText()->iconv('latin1', 'utf-8') indent() indent({lnum}) The result is a Number, which is indent of line {lnum} in the current buffer. The indent is counted in spaces, the value of 'tabstop' is relevant. {lnum} is used just like in getline(). When {lnum} is invalid -1 is returned. Can also be used as a method: GetLnum()->indent() index({object}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]]) index() If {object} is a List return the lowest index where the item has a value equal to {expr}. There is no automatic conversion, so the String "4" is different from the Number 4. And the number 4 is different from the Float 4.0. The value of 'ignorecase' is not used here, case always matters. If {object} is Blob return the lowest index where the byte value is equal to {expr}. If {start} is given then start looking at the item with index {start} (may be negative for an item relative to the end). When {ic} is given and it is TRUE, ignore case. Otherwise case must match. -1 is returned when {expr} is not found in {object}. Example: :let idx = index(words, "the") :if index(numbers, 123) >= 0 Can also be used as a method: GetObject()->index(what) input({prompt} [, {text} [, {completion}]]) input() The result is a String, which is whatever the user typed on the command-line. The {prompt} argument is either a prompt string, or a blank string (for no prompt). A '\n' can be used in the prompt to start a new line. The highlighting set with :echohl is used for the prompt. The input is entered just like a command-line, with the same editing commands and mappings. There is a separate history for lines typed for input(). Example: :if input("Coffee or beer? ") == "beer" : echo "Cheers!" :endif If the optional {text} argument is present and not empty, this is used for the default reply, as if the user typed this. Example: :let color = input("Color? ", "white") The optional {completion} argument specifies the type of completion supported for the input. Without it completion is not performed. The supported completion types are the same as that can be supplied to a user-defined command using the "-complete=" argument. Refer to :command-completion for more information. Example: let fname = input("File: ", "", "file") NOTE: This function must not be used in a startup file, for the versions that only run in GUI mode (e.g., the Win32 GUI). Note: When input() is called from within a mapping it will consume remaining characters from that mapping, because a mapping is handled like the characters were typed. Use inputsave() before input() and inputrestore() after input() to avoid that. Another solution is to avoid that further characters follow in the mapping, e.g., by using :execute or :normal. Example with a mapping: :nmap \x :call GetFoo()<CR>:exe "/" . Foo<CR> :function GetFoo() : call inputsave() : let g:Foo = input("enter search pattern: ") : call inputrestore() :endfunction Can also be used as a method: GetPrompt()->input() inputdialog({prompt} [, {text} [, {cancelreturn}]]) inputdialog() Like input(), but when the GUI is running and text dialogs are supported, a dialog window pops up to input the text. Example: :let n = inputdialog("value for shiftwidth", shiftwidth()) :if n != "" : let &sw = n :endif When the dialog is cancelled {cancelreturn} is returned. When omitted an empty string is returned. Hitting <Enter> works like pressing the OK button. Hitting <Esc> works like pressing the Cancel button. NOTE: Command-line completion is not supported. Can also be used as a method: GetPrompt()->inputdialog() inputlist({textlist}) inputlist() {textlist} must be a List of strings. This List is displayed, one string per line. The user will be prompted to enter a number, which is returned. The user can also select an item by clicking on it with the mouse, if the mouse is enabled in the command line ('mouse' is "a" or includes "c"). For the first string 0 is returned. When clicking above the first item a negative number is returned. When clicking on the prompt one more than the length of {textlist} is returned. Make sure {textlist} has less than 'lines' entries, otherwise it won't work. It's a good idea to put the entry number at the start of the string. And put a prompt in the first item. Example: let color = inputlist(['Select color:', '1. red', \ '2. green', '3. blue']) Can also be used as a method: GetChoices()->inputlist() inputrestore() inputrestore() Restore typeahead that was saved with a previous inputsave(). Should be called the same number of times inputsave() is called. Calling it more often is harmless though. Returns TRUE when there is nothing to restore, FALSE otherwise. inputsave() inputsave() Preserve typeahead (also from mappings) and clear it, so that a following prompt gets input from the user. Should be followed by a matching inputrestore() after the prompt. Can be used several times, in which case there must be just as many inputrestore() calls. Returns TRUE when out of memory, FALSE otherwise. inputsecret({prompt} [, {text}]) inputsecret() This function acts much like the input() function with but two exceptions: a) the user's response will be displayed as a sequence of asterisks ("*") thereby keeping the entry secret, and b) the user's response will not be recorded on the input history stack. The result is a String, which is whatever the user actually typed on the command-line in response to the issued prompt. NOTE: Command-line completion is not supported. Can also be used as a method: GetPrompt()->inputsecret() insert({object}, {item} [, {idx}]) insert() When {object} is a List or a Blob insert {item} at the start of it. If {idx} is specified insert {item} before the item with index {idx}. If {idx} is zero it goes before the first item, just like omitting {idx}. A negative {idx} is also possible, see list-index. -1 inserts just before the last item. Returns the resulting List or Blob. Examples: :let mylist = insert([2, 3, 5], 1) :call insert(mylist, 4, -1) :call insert(mylist, 6, len(mylist)) The last example can be done simpler with add(). Note that when {item} is a List it is inserted as a single item. Use extend() to concatenate Lists. Can also be used as a method: mylist->insert(item) interrupt() interrupt() Interrupt script execution. It works more or less like the user typing CTRL-C, most commands won't execute and control returns to the user. This is useful to abort execution from lower down, e.g. in an autocommand. Example: :function s:check_typoname(file) : if fnamemodify(a:file, ':t') == '[' : echomsg 'Maybe typo' : call interrupt() : endif :endfunction :au BufWritePre * call s:check_typoname(expand('<amatch>')) invert({expr}) invert() Bitwise invert. The argument is converted to a number. A List, Dict or Float argument causes an error. Example: :let bits = invert(bits) Can also be used as a method: :let bits = bits->invert() isdirectory({directory}) isdirectory() The result is a Number, which is TRUE when a directory with the name {directory} exists. If {directory} doesn't exist, or isn't a directory, the result is FALSE. {directory} is any expression, which is used as a String. Can also be used as a method: GetName()->isdirectory() isinf({expr}) isinf() Return 1 if {expr} is a positive infinity, or -1 a negative infinity, otherwise 0. :echo isinf(1.0 / 0.0) 1 :echo isinf(-1.0 / 0.0) -1 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->isinf() {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} islocked({expr}) islocked() E786 The result is a Number, which is TRUE when {expr} is the name of a locked variable. {expr} must be the name of a variable, List item or Dictionary entry, not the variable itself! Example: :let alist = [0, ['a', 'b'], 2, 3] :lockvar 1 alist :echo islocked('alist') " 1 :echo islocked('alist[1]') " 0 When {expr} is a variable that does not exist you get an error message. Use exists() to check for existence. In Vim9 script it does not work for local variables. Can also be used as a method: GetName()->islocked() isnan({expr}) isnan() Return TRUE if {expr} is a float with value NaN. echo isnan(0.0 / 0.0) 1 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->isnan() {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} items({dict}) items() Return a List with all the key-value pairs of {dict}. Each List item is a list with two items: the key of a {dict} entry and the value of this entry. The List is in arbitrary order. Also see keys() and values(). Example: for [key, value] in items(mydict) echo key . ': ' . value endfor Can also be used as a method: mydict->items() job_ functions are documented here: job-functions-details join({list} [, {sep}]) join() Join the items in {list} together into one String. When {sep} is specified it is put in between the items. If {sep} is omitted a single space is used. Note that {sep} is not added at the end. You might want to add it there too: let lines = join(mylist, "\n") . "\n" String items are used as-is. Lists and Dictionaries are converted into a string like with string(). The opposite function is split(). Can also be used as a method: mylist->join() js_decode({string}) js_decode() This is similar to json_decode() with these differences: - Object key names do not have to be in quotes. - Strings can be in single quotes. - Empty items in an array (between two commas) are allowed and result in v:none items. Can also be used as a method: ReadObject()->js_decode() js_encode({expr}) js_encode() This is similar to json_encode() with these differences: - Object key names are not in quotes. - v:none items in an array result in an empty item between commas. For example, the Vim object: [1,v:none,{"one":1},v:none] Will be encoded as: [1,,{one:1},,] While json_encode() would produce: [1,null,{"one":1},null] This encoding is valid for JavaScript. It is more efficient than JSON, especially when using an array with optional items. Can also be used as a method: GetObject()->js_encode() json_decode({string}) json_decode() This parses a JSON formatted string and returns the equivalent in Vim values. See json_encode() for the relation between JSON and Vim values. The decoding is permissive: - A trailing comma in an array and object is ignored, e.g. "[1, 2, ]" is the same as "[1, 2]". - Integer keys are accepted in objects, e.g. {1:2} is the same as {"1":2}. - More floating point numbers are recognized, e.g. "1." for "1.0", or "001.2" for "1.2". Special floating point values "Infinity", "-Infinity" and "NaN" (capitalization ignored) are accepted. - Leading zeroes in integer numbers are ignored, e.g. "012" for "12" or "-012" for "-12". - Capitalization is ignored in literal names null, true or false, e.g. "NULL" for "null", "True" for "true". - Control characters U+0000 through U+001F which are not escaped in strings are accepted, e.g. " " (tab character in string) for "\t". - An empty JSON expression or made of only spaces is accepted and results in v:none. - Backslash in an invalid 2-character sequence escape is ignored, e.g. "\a" is decoded as "a". - A correct surrogate pair in JSON strings should normally be a 12 character sequence such as "\uD834\uDD1E", but json_decode() silently accepts truncated surrogate pairs such as "\uD834" or "\uD834\u" E938 A duplicate key in an object, valid in rfc7159, is not accepted by json_decode() as the result must be a valid Vim type, e.g. this fails: {"a":"b", "a":"c"} Can also be used as a method: ReadObject()->json_decode() json_encode({expr}) json_encode() Encode {expr} as JSON and return this as a string. The encoding is specified in: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7159.html Vim values are converted as follows: Number decimal number Float floating point number Float nan "NaN" Float inf "Infinity" Float -inf "-Infinity" String in double quotes (possibly null) Funcref not possible, error List as an array (possibly null); when used recursively: [] Dict as an object (possibly null); when used recursively: {} Blob as an array of the individual bytes v:false "false" v:true "true" v:none "null" v:null "null" Note that NaN and Infinity are passed on as values. This is missing in the JSON standard, but several implementations do allow it. If not then you will get an error. Can also be used as a method: GetObject()->json_encode() keys({dict}) keys() Return a List with all the keys of {dict}. The List is in arbitrary order. Also see items() and values(). Can also be used as a method: mydict->keys() len() E701 len({expr}) The result is a Number, which is the length of the argument. When {expr} is a String or a Number the length in bytes is used, as with strlen(). When {expr} is a List the number of items in the List is returned. When {expr} is a Blob the number of bytes is returned. When {expr} is a Dictionary the number of entries in the Dictionary is returned. Otherwise an error is given. Can also be used as a method: mylist->len() libcall() E364 E368 libcall({libname}, {funcname}, {argument}) Call function {funcname} in the run-time library {libname} with single argument {argument}. This is useful to call functions in a library that you especially made to be used with Vim. Since only one argument is possible, calling standard library functions is rather limited. The result is the String returned by the function. If the function returns NULL, this will appear as an empty string "" to Vim. If the function returns a number, use libcallnr()! If {argument} is a number, it is passed to the function as an int; if {argument} is a string, it is passed as a null-terminated string. This function will fail in restricted-mode. libcall() allows you to write your own 'plug-in' extensions to Vim without having to recompile the program. It is NOT a means to call system functions! If you try to do so Vim will very probably crash. For Win32, the functions you write must be placed in a DLL and use the normal C calling convention (NOT Pascal which is used in Windows System DLLs). The function must take exactly one parameter, either a character pointer or a long integer, and must return a character pointer or NULL. The character pointer returned must point to memory that will remain valid after the function has returned (e.g. in static data in the DLL). If it points to allocated memory, that memory will leak away. Using a static buffer in the function should work, it's then freed when the DLL is unloaded. WARNING: If the function returns a non-valid pointer, Vim may crash! This also happens if the function returns a number, because Vim thinks it's a pointer. For Win32 systems, {libname} should be the filename of the DLL without the ".DLL" suffix. A full path is only required if the DLL is not in the usual places. For Unix: When compiling your own plugins, remember that the object code must be compiled as position-independent ('PIC'). {only in Win32 and some Unix versions, when the +libcall feature is present} Examples: :echo libcall("libc.so", "getenv", "HOME") Can also be used as a method, the base is passed as the third argument: GetValue()->libcall("libc.so", "getenv") libcallnr() libcallnr({libname}, {funcname}, {argument}) Just like libcall(), but used for a function that returns an int instead of a string. {only in Win32 on some Unix versions, when the +libcall feature is present} Examples: :echo libcallnr("/usr/lib/libc.so", "getpid", "") :call libcallnr("libc.so", "printf", "Hello World!\n") :call libcallnr("libc.so", "sleep", 10) Can also be used as a method, the base is passed as the third argument: GetValue()->libcallnr("libc.so", "printf") line({expr} [, {winid}]) line() The result is a Number, which is the line number of the file position given with {expr}. The accepted positions are: . the cursor position $ the last line in the current buffer 'x position of mark x (if the mark is not set, 0 is returned) w0 first line visible in current window (one if the display isn't updated, e.g. in silent Ex mode) w$ last line visible in current window (this is one less than "w0" if no lines are visible) v In Visual mode: the start of the Visual area (the cursor is the end). When not in Visual mode returns the cursor position. Differs from '< in that it's updated right away. Note that a mark in another file can be used. The line number then applies to another buffer. To get the column number use col(). To get both use getpos(). With the optional {winid} argument the values are obtained for that window instead of the current window. Examples: line(".") line number of the cursor line(".", winid) idem, in window "winid" line("'t") line number of mark t line("'" . marker) line number of mark marker To jump to the last known position when opening a file see last-position-jump. Can also be used as a method: GetValue()->line() line2byte({lnum}) line2byte() Return the byte count from the start of the buffer for line {lnum}. This includes the end-of-line character, depending on the 'fileformat' option for the current buffer. The first line returns 1. 'encoding' matters, 'fileencoding' is ignored. This can also be used to get the byte count for the line just below the last line: line2byte(line("$") + 1) This is the buffer size plus one. If 'fileencoding' is empty it is the file size plus one. When {lnum} is invalid, or the +byte_offset feature has been disabled at compile time, -1 is returned. Also see byte2line(), go and :goto. Can also be used as a method: GetLnum()->line2byte() lispindent({lnum}) lispindent() Get the amount of indent for line {lnum} according the lisp indenting rules, as with 'lisp'. The indent is counted in spaces, the value of 'tabstop' is relevant. {lnum} is used just like in getline(). When {lnum} is invalid or Vim was not compiled the +lispindent feature, -1 is returned. Can also be used as a method: GetLnum()->lispindent() list2str({list} [, {utf8}]) list2str() Convert each number in {list} to a character string can concatenate them all. Examples: list2str([32]) returns " " list2str([65, 66, 67]) returns "ABC" The same can be done (slowly) with: join(map(list, {nr, val -> nr2char(val)}), '') str2list() does the opposite. When {utf8} is omitted or zero, the current 'encoding' is used. With {utf8} is 1, always return utf-8 characters. With utf-8 composing characters work as expected: list2str([97, 769]) returns "á" Can also be used as a method: GetList()->list2str() listener_add({callback} [, {buf}]) listener_add() Add a callback function that will be invoked when changes have been made to buffer {buf}. {buf} refers to a buffer name or number. For the accepted values, see bufname(). When {buf} is omitted the current buffer is used. Returns a unique ID that can be passed to listener_remove(). The {callback} is invoked with five arguments: a:bufnr the buffer that was changed a:start first changed line number a:end first line number below the change a:added number of lines added, negative if lines were deleted a:changes a List of items with details about the changes Example: func Listener(bufnr, start, end, added, changes) echo 'lines ' .. a:start .. ' until ' .. a:end .. ' changed' endfunc call listener_add('Listener', bufnr) The List cannot be changed. Each item in a:changes is a dictionary with these entries: lnum the first line number of the change end the first line below the change added number of lines added; negative if lines were deleted col first column in "lnum" that was affected by the change; one if unknown or the whole line was affected; this is a byte index, first character has a value of one. When lines are inserted the values are: lnum line above which the new line is added end equal to "lnum" added number of lines inserted col 1 When lines are deleted the values are: lnum the first deleted line end the line below the first deleted line, before the deletion was done added negative, number of lines deleted col 1 When lines are changed: lnum the first changed line end the line below the last changed line added 0 col first column with a change or 1 The entries are in the order the changes were made, thus the most recent change is at the end. The line numbers are valid when the callback is invoked, but later changes may make them invalid, thus keeping a copy for later might not work. The {callback} is invoked just before the screen is updated, when listener_flush() is called or when a change is being made that changes the line count in a way it causes a line number in the list of changes to become invalid. The {callback} is invoked with the text locked, see textlock. If you do need to make changes to the buffer, use a timer to do this later timer_start(). The {callback} is not invoked when the buffer is first loaded. Use the BufReadPost autocmd event to handle the initial text of a buffer. The {callback} is also not invoked when the buffer is unloaded, use the BufUnload autocmd event for that. Can also be used as a method, the base is passed as the second argument: GetBuffer()->listener_add(callback) listener_flush([{buf}]) listener_flush() Invoke listener callbacks for buffer {buf}. If there are no pending changes then no callbacks are invoked. {buf} refers to a buffer name or number. For the accepted values, see bufname(). When {buf} is omitted the current buffer is used. Can also be used as a method: GetBuffer()->listener_flush() listener_remove({id}) listener_remove() Remove a listener previously added with listener_add(). Returns FALSE when {id} could not be found, TRUE when {id} was removed. Can also be used as a method: GetListenerId()->listener_remove() localtime() localtime() Return the current time, measured as seconds since 1st Jan 1970. See also strftime(), strptime() and getftime(). log({expr}) log() Return the natural logarithm (base e) of {expr} as a Float. {expr} must evaluate to a Float or a Number in the range (0, inf]. Examples: :echo log(10) 2.302585 :echo log(exp(5)) 5.0 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->log() {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} log10({expr}) log10() Return the logarithm of Float {expr} to base 10 as a Float. {expr} must evaluate to a Float or a Number. Examples: :echo log10(1000) 3.0 :echo log10(0.01) -2.0 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->log10() {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} luaeval({expr} [, {expr}]) luaeval() Evaluate Lua expression {expr} and return its result converted to Vim data structures. Second {expr} may hold additional argument accessible as _A inside first {expr}. Strings are returned as they are. Boolean objects are converted to numbers. Numbers are converted to Float values if vim was compiled with +float and to numbers otherwise. Dictionaries and lists obtained by vim.eval() are returned as-is. Other objects are returned as zero without any errors. See lua-luaeval for more details. Can also be used as a method: GetExpr()->luaeval() {only available when compiled with the |+lua| feature} map({expr1}, {expr2}) map() {expr1} must be a List, Blob or Dictionary. Replace each item in {expr1} with the result of evaluating {expr2}. For a Blob each byte is replaced. If the item type changes you may want to use mapnew() to create a new List or Dictionary. This is required when using Vim9 script. {expr2} must be a string or Funcref. If {expr2} is a string, inside {expr2} v:val has the value of the current item. For a Dictionary v:key has the key of the current item and for a List v:key has the index of the current item. Example: :call map(mylist, '"> " . v:val . " <"') This puts "> " before and " <" after each item in "mylist". Note that {expr2} is the result of an expression and is then used as an expression again. Often it is good to use a literal-string to avoid having to double backslashes. You still have to double ' quotes If {expr2} is a Funcref it is called with two arguments: 1. The key or the index of the current item. 2. the value of the current item. The function must return the new value of the item. Example that changes each value by "key-value": func KeyValue(key, val) return a:key . '-' . a:val endfunc call map(myDict, function('KeyValue')) It is shorter when using a lambda: call map(myDict, {key, val -> key . '-' . val}) If you do not use "val" you can leave it out: call map(myDict, {key -> 'item: ' . key}) If you do not use "key" you can use a short name: call map(myDict, {_, val -> 'item: ' . val}) The operation is done in-place. If you want a List or Dictionary to remain unmodified make a copy first: :let tlist = map(copy(mylist), ' v:val . "\t"') Returns {expr1}, the List, Blob or Dictionary that was filtered. When an error is encountered while evaluating {expr2} no further items in {expr1} are processed. When {expr2} is a Funcref errors inside a function are ignored, unless it was defined with the "abort" flag. Can also be used as a method: mylist->map(expr2) maparg({name} [, {mode} [, {abbr} [, {dict}]]]) maparg() When {dict} is omitted or zero: Return the rhs of mapping {name} in mode {mode}. The returned String has special characters translated like in the output of the ":map" command listing. When there is no mapping for {name}, an empty String is returned. When the mapping for {name} is empty, then "<Nop>" is returned. The {name} can have special key names, like in the ":map" command. {mode} can be one of these strings: "n" Normal "v" Visual (including Select) "o" Operator-pending "i" Insert "c" Cmd-line "s" Select "x" Visual "l" langmap language-mapping "t" Terminal-Job "" Normal, Visual and Operator-pending When {mode} is omitted, the modes for "" are used. When {abbr} is there and it is TRUE use abbreviations instead of mappings. When {dict} is there and it is TRUE return a dictionary containing all the information of the mapping with the following items: "lhs" The {lhs} of the mapping as it would be typed "lhsraw" The {lhs} of the mapping as raw bytes "lhsrawalt" The {lhs} of the mapping as raw bytes, alternate form, only present when it differs from "lhsraw" "rhs" The {rhs} of the mapping as typed. "silent" 1 for a :map-silent mapping, else 0. "noremap" 1 if the {rhs} of the mapping is not remappable. "script" 1 if mapping was defined with <script>. "expr" 1 for an expression mapping (:map-<expr>). "buffer" 1 for a buffer local mapping (:map-local). "mode" Modes for which the mapping is defined. In addition to the modes mentioned above, these characters will be used: " " Normal, Visual and Operator-pending "!" Insert and Commandline mode (mapmode-ic) "sid" The script local ID, used for <sid> mappings (<SID>). "lnum" The line number in "sid", zero if unknown. "nowait" Do not wait for other, longer mappings. (:map-<nowait>). The dictionary can be used to restore a mapping with mapset(). The mappings local to the current buffer are checked first, then the global mappings. This function can be used to map a key even when it's already mapped, and have it do the original mapping too. Sketch: exe 'nnoremap <Tab> ==' . maparg('<Tab>', 'n') Can also be used as a method: GetKey()->maparg('n') mapcheck({name} [, {mode} [, {abbr}]]) mapcheck() Check if there is a mapping that matches with {name} in mode {mode}. See maparg() for {mode} and special names in {name}. When {abbr} is there and it is TRUE use abbreviations instead of mappings. A match happens with a mapping that starts with {name} and with a mapping which is equal to the start of {name}. matches mapping "a" "ab" "abc" mapcheck("a") yes yes yes mapcheck("abc") yes yes yes mapcheck("ax") yes no no mapcheck("b") no no no The difference with maparg() is that mapcheck() finds a mapping that matches with {name}, while maparg() only finds a mapping for {name} exactly. When there is no mapping that starts with {name}, an empty String is returned. If there is one, the RHS of that mapping is returned. If there are several mappings that start with {name}, the RHS of one of them is returned. This will be "<Nop>" if the RHS is empty. The mappings local to the current buffer are checked first, then the global mappings. This function can be used to check if a mapping can be added without being ambiguous. Example: :if mapcheck("_vv") == "" : map _vv :set guifont=7x13<CR> :endif This avoids adding the "_vv" mapping when there already is a mapping for "_v" or for "_vvv". Can also be used as a method: GetKey()->mapcheck('n') mapnew({expr1}, {expr2}) mapnew() Like map() but instead of replacing items in {expr1} a new List or Dictionary is created and returned. {expr1} remains unchanged. Items can still be changed by {expr2}, if you don't want that use deepcopy() first. mapset({mode}, {abbr}, {dict}) mapset() Restore a mapping from a dictionary returned by maparg(). {mode} and {abbr} should be the same as for the call to maparg(). E460 {mode} is used to define the mode in which the mapping is set, not the "mode" entry in {dict}. Example for saving and restoring a mapping: let save_map = maparg('K', 'n', 0, 1) nnoremap K somethingelse ... call mapset('n', 0, save_map) Note that if you are going to replace a map in several modes, e.g. with :map!, you need to save the mapping for all of them, since they can differ. match({expr}, {pat} [, {start} [, {count}]]) match() When {expr} is a List then this returns the index of the first item where {pat} matches. Each item is used as a String, Lists and Dictionaries are used as echoed. Otherwise, {expr} is used as a String. The result is a Number, which gives the index (byte offset) in {expr} where {pat} matches. A match at the first character or List item returns zero. If there is no match -1 is returned. For getting submatches see matchlist(). Example: :echo match("testing", "ing") " results in 4 :echo match([1, 'x'], '\a') " results in 1 See string-match for how {pat} is used. strpbrk() Vim doesn't have a strpbrk() function. But you can do: :let sepidx = match(line, '[.,;: \t]') strcasestr() Vim doesn't have a strcasestr() function. But you can add "\c" to the pattern to ignore case: :let idx = match(haystack, '\cneedle') If {start} is given, the search starts from byte index {start} in a String or item {start} in a List. The result, however, is still the index counted from the first character/item. Example: :echo match("testing", "ing", 2) result is again "4". :echo match("testing", "ing", 4) result is again "4". :echo match("testing", "t", 2) result is "3". For a String, if {start} > 0 then it is like the string starts {start} bytes later, thus "^" will match at {start}. Except when {count} is given, then it's like matches before the {start} byte are ignored (this is a bit complicated to keep it backwards compatible). For a String, if {start} < 0, it will be set to 0. For a list the index is counted from the end. If {start} is out of range ({start} > strlen({expr}) for a String or {start} > len({expr}) for a List) -1 is returned. When {count} is given use the {count}'th match. When a match is found in a String the search for the next one starts one character further. Thus this example results in 1: echo match("testing", "..", 0, 2) In a List the search continues in the next item. Note that when {count} is added the way {start} works changes, see above. See pattern for the patterns that are accepted. The 'ignorecase' option is used to set the ignore-caseness of the pattern. 'smartcase' is NOT used. The matching is always done like 'magic' is set and 'cpoptions' is empty. Note that a match at the start is preferred, thus when the pattern is using "*" (any number of matches) it tends to find zero matches at the start instead of a number of matches further down in the text. Can also be used as a method: GetList()->match('word') matchadd() E798 E799 E801 E957 matchadd({group}, {pattern} [, {priority} [, {id} [, {dict}]]]) Defines a pattern to be highlighted in the current window (a "match"). It will be highlighted with {group}. Returns an identification number (ID), which can be used to delete the match using matchdelete(). The ID is bound to the window. Matching is case sensitive and magic, unless case sensitivity or magicness are explicitly overridden in {pattern}. The 'magic', 'smartcase' and 'ignorecase' options are not used. The "Conceal" value is special, it causes the match to be concealed. The optional {priority} argument assigns a priority to the match. A match with a high priority will have its highlighting overrule that of a match with a lower priority. A priority is specified as an integer (negative numbers are no exception). If the {priority} argument is not specified, the default priority is 10. The priority of 'hlsearch' is zero, hence all matches with a priority greater than zero will overrule it. Syntax highlighting (see 'syntax') is a separate mechanism, and regardless of the chosen priority a match will always overrule syntax highlighting. The optional {id} argument allows the request for a specific match ID. If a specified ID is already taken, an error message will appear and the match will not be added. An ID is specified as a positive integer (zero excluded). IDs 1, 2 and 3 are reserved for :match, :2match and :3match, respectively. If the {id} argument is not specified or -1, matchadd() automatically chooses a free ID. The optional {dict} argument allows for further custom values. Currently this is used to specify a match specific conceal character that will be shown for hl-Conceal highlighted matches. The dict can have the following members: conceal Special character to show instead of the match (only for hl-Conceal highlighted matches, see :syn-cchar) window Instead of the current window use the window with this number or window ID. The number of matches is not limited, as it is the case with the :match commands. Example: :highlight MyGroup ctermbg=green guibg=green :let m = matchadd("MyGroup", "TODO") Deletion of the pattern: :call matchdelete(m) A list of matches defined by matchadd() and :match are available from getmatches(). All matches can be deleted in one operation by clearmatches(). Can also be used as a method: GetGroup()->matchadd('TODO') matchaddpos() matchaddpos({group}, {pos} [, {priority} [, {id} [, {dict}]]]) Same as matchadd(), but requires a list of positions {pos} instead of a pattern. This command is faster than matchadd() because it does not require to handle regular expressions and sets buffer line boundaries to redraw screen. It is supposed to be used when fast match additions and deletions are required, for example to highlight matching parentheses. {pos} is a list of positions. Each position can be one of these: - A number. This whole line will be highlighted. The first line has number 1. - A list with one number, e.g., [23]. The whole line with this number will be highlighted. - A list with two numbers, e.g., [23, 11]. The first number is the line number, the second one is the column number (first column is 1, the value must correspond to the byte index as col() would return). The character at this position will be highlighted. - A list with three numbers, e.g., [23, 11, 3]. As above, but the third number gives the length of the highlight in bytes. The maximum number of positions in {pos} is 8. Example: :highlight MyGroup ctermbg=green guibg=green :let m = matchaddpos("MyGroup", [[23, 24], 34]) Deletion of the pattern: :call matchdelete(m) Matches added by matchaddpos() are returned by getmatches(). Can also be used as a method: GetGroup()->matchaddpos([23, 11]) matcharg({nr}) matcharg() Selects the {nr} match item, as set with a :match, :2match or :3match command. Return a List with two elements: The name of the highlight group used The pattern used. When {nr} is not 1, 2 or 3 returns an empty List. When there is no match item set returns ['', '']. This is useful to save and restore a :match. Highlighting matches using the :match commands are limited to three matches. matchadd() does not have this limitation. Can also be used as a method: GetMatch()->matcharg() matchdelete({id} [, {win}) matchdelete() E802 E803 Deletes a match with ID {id} previously defined by matchadd() or one of the :match commands. Returns 0 if successful, otherwise -1. See example for matchadd(). All matches can be deleted in one operation by clearmatches(). If {win} is specified, use the window with this number or window ID instead of the current window. Can also be used as a method: GetMatch()->matchdelete() matchend({expr}, {pat} [, {start} [, {count}]]) matchend() Same as match(), but return the index of first character after the match. Example: :echo matchend("testing", "ing") results in "7". strspn() strcspn() Vim doesn't have a strspn() or strcspn() function, but you can do it with matchend(): :let span = matchend(line, '[a-zA-Z]') :let span = matchend(line, '[^a-zA-Z]') Except that -1 is returned when there are no matches. The {start}, if given, has the same meaning as for match(). :echo matchend("testing", "ing", 2) results in "7". :echo matchend("testing", "ing", 5) result is "-1". When {expr} is a List the result is equal to match(). Can also be used as a method: GetText()->matchend('word') matchfuzzy({list}, {str} [, {dict}]) matchfuzzy() If {list} is a list of strings, then returns a List with all the strings in {list} that fuzzy match {str}. The strings in the returned list are sorted based on the matching score. The optional {dict} argument always supports the following items: matchseq When this item is present and {str} contains multiple words separated by white space, then returns only matches that contain the words in the given sequence. If {list} is a list of dictionaries, then the optional {dict} argument supports the following additional items: key key of the item which is fuzzy matched against {str}. The value of this item should be a string. text_cb Funcref that will be called for every item in {list} to get the text for fuzzy matching. This should accept a dictionary item as the argument and return the text for that item to use for fuzzy matching. {str} is treated as a literal string and regular expression matching is NOT supported. The maximum supported {str} length is 256. When {str} has multiple words each separated by white space, then the list of strings that have all the words is returned. If there are no matching strings or there is an error, then an empty list is returned. If length of {str} is greater than 256, then returns an empty list. Example: :echo matchfuzzy(["clay", "crow"], "cay") results in ["clay"]. :echo getbufinfo()->map({_, v -> v.name})->matchfuzzy("ndl") results in a list of buffer names fuzzy matching "ndl". :echo getbufinfo()->matchfuzzy("ndl", {'key' : 'name'}) results in a list of buffer information dicts with buffer names fuzzy matching "ndl". :echo getbufinfo()->matchfuzzy("spl", \ {'text_cb' : {v -> v.name}}) results in a list of buffer information dicts with buffer names fuzzy matching "spl". :echo v:oldfiles->matchfuzzy("test") results in a list of file names fuzzy matching "test". :let l = readfile("buffer.c")->matchfuzzy("str") results in a list of lines in "buffer.c" fuzzy matching "str". :echo ['one two', 'two one']->matchfuzzy('two one') results in ['two one', 'one two']. :echo ['one two', 'two one']->matchfuzzy('two one', \ {'matchseq': 1}) results in ['two one']. matchfuzzypos({list}, {str} [, {dict}]) matchfuzzypos() Same as matchfuzzy(), but returns the list of matched strings, the list of character positions where characters in {str} matches and a list of matching scores. You can use byteidx()to convert a character position to a byte position. If {str} matches multiple times in a string, then only the positions for the best match is returned. If there are no matching strings or there is an error, then a list with three empty list items is returned. Example: :echo matchfuzzypos(['testing'], 'tsg') results in [['testing'], [[0, 2, 6]], [99]] :echo matchfuzzypos(['clay', 'lacy'], 'la') results in [['lacy', 'clay'], [[0, 1], [1, 2]], [153, 133]] :echo [{'text': 'hello', 'id' : 10}]->matchfuzzypos('ll', {'key' : 'text'}) results in [[{'id': 10, 'text': 'hello'}], [[2, 3]], [127]] matchlist({expr}, {pat} [, {start} [, {count}]]) matchlist() Same as match(), but return a List. The first item in the list is the matched string, same as what matchstr() would return. Following items are submatches, like "\1", "\2", etc. in :substitute. When an optional submatch didn't match an empty string is used. Example: echo matchlist('acd', '\(a\)\?\(b\)\?\(c\)\?\(.*\)') Results in: ['acd', 'a', '', 'c', 'd', '', '', '', '', ''] When there is no match an empty list is returned. Can also be used as a method: GetList()->matchlist('word') matchstr({expr}, {pat} [, {start} [, {count}]]) matchstr() Same as match(), but return the matched string. Example: :echo matchstr("testing", "ing") results in "ing". When there is no match "" is returned. The {start}, if given, has the same meaning as for match(). :echo matchstr("testing", "ing", 2) results in "ing". :echo matchstr("testing", "ing", 5) result is "". When {expr} is a List then the matching item is returned. The type isn't changed, it's not necessarily a String. Can also be used as a method: GetText()->matchstr('word') matchstrpos({expr}, {pat} [, {start} [, {count}]]) matchstrpos() Same as matchstr(), but return the matched string, the start position and the end position of the match. Example: :echo matchstrpos("testing", "ing") results in ["ing", 4, 7]. When there is no match ["", -1, -1] is returned. The {start}, if given, has the same meaning as for match(). :echo matchstrpos("testing", "ing", 2) results in ["ing", 4, 7]. :echo matchstrpos("testing", "ing", 5) result is ["", -1, -1]. When {expr} is a List then the matching item, the index of first item where {pat} matches, the start position and the end position of the match are returned. :echo matchstrpos([1, '__x'], '\a') result is ["x", 1, 2, 3]. The type isn't changed, it's not necessarily a String. Can also be used as a method: GetText()->matchstrpos('word') max() max({expr}) Return the maximum value of all items in {expr}. Example: echo max([apples, pears, oranges]) {expr} can be a List or a Dictionary. For a Dictionary, it returns the maximum of all values in the Dictionary. If {expr} is neither a List nor a Dictionary, or one of the items in {expr} cannot be used as a Number this results in an error. An empty List or Dictionary results in zero. Can also be used as a method: mylist->max() menu_info({name} [, {mode}]) menu_info() Return information about the specified menu {name} in mode {mode}. The menu name should be specified without the shortcut character ('&'). {mode} can be one of these strings: "n" Normal "v" Visual (including Select) "o" Operator-pending "i" Insert "c" Cmd-line "s" Select "x" Visual "t" Terminal-Job "" Normal, Visual and Operator-pending "!" Insert and Cmd-line When {mode} is omitted, the modes for "" are used. Returns a Dictionary containing the following items: accel menu item accelerator text menu-text display display name (name without '&') enabled v:true if this menu item is enabled Refer to :menu-enable icon name of the icon file (for toolbar) toolbar-icon iconidx index of a built-in icon modes modes for which the menu is defined. In addition to the modes mentioned above, these characters will be used: " " Normal, Visual and Operator-pending name menu item name. noremenu v:true if the {rhs} of the menu item is not remappable else v:false. priority menu order priority menu-priority rhs right-hand-side of the menu item. The returned string has special characters translated like in the output of the ":menu" command listing. When the {rhs} of a menu item is empty, then "<Nop>" is returned. script v:true if script-local remapping of {rhs} is allowed else v:false. See :menu-script. shortcut shortcut key (character after '&' in the menu name) menu-shortcut silent v:true if the menu item is created with <silent> argument :menu-silent submenus List containing the names of all the submenus. Present only if the menu item has submenus. Returns an empty dictionary if the menu item is not found. Examples: :echo menu_info('Edit.Cut') :echo menu_info('File.Save', 'n') Can also be used as a method: GetMenuName()->menu_info('v') min() min({expr}) Return the minimum value of all items in {expr}. Example: echo min([apples, pears, oranges]) {expr} can be a List or a Dictionary. For a Dictionary, it returns the minimum of all values in the Dictionary. If {expr} is neither a List nor a Dictionary, or one of the items in {expr} cannot be used as a Number this results in an error. An empty List or Dictionary results in zero. Can also be used as a method: mylist->min() mkdir() E739 mkdir({name} [, {path} [, {prot}]]) Create directory {name}. If {path} is "p" then intermediate directories are created as necessary. Otherwise it must be "". If {prot} is given it is used to set the protection bits of the new directory. The default is 0o755 (rwxr-xr-x: r/w for the user, readable for others). Use 0o700 to make it unreadable for others. This is only used for the last part of {name}. Thus if you create /tmp/foo/bar then /tmp/foo will be created with 0o755. Example: :call mkdir($HOME . "/tmp/foo/bar", "p", 0o700) This function is not available in the sandbox. There is no error if the directory already exists and the "p" flag is passed (since patch 8.0.1708). However, without the "p" option the call will fail. The function result is a Number, which is TRUE if the call was successful or FALSE if the directory creation failed or partly failed. Not available on all systems. To check use: :if exists("*mkdir") Can also be used as a method: GetName()->mkdir() mode() mode([expr]) Return a string that indicates the current mode. If [expr] is supplied and it evaluates to a non-zero Number or a non-empty String (non-zero-arg), then the full mode is returned, otherwise only the first letter is returned. Also see state(). n Normal, Terminal-Normal no Operator-pending nov Operator-pending (forced characterwise o_v) noV Operator-pending (forced linewise o_V) noCTRL-V Operator-pending (forced blockwise o_CTRL-V); CTRL-V is one character niI Normal using i_CTRL-O in Insert-mode niR Normal using i_CTRL-O in Replace-mode niV Normal using i_CTRL-O in Virtual-Replace-mode v Visual by character V Visual by line CTRL-V Visual blockwise s Select by character S Select by line CTRL-S Select blockwise i Insert ic Insert mode completion compl-generic ix Insert mode i_CTRL-X completion R Replace R Rc Replace mode completion compl-generic Rv Virtual Replace gR Rx Replace mode i_CTRL-X completion c Command-line editing cv Vim Ex mode gQ ce Normal Ex mode Q r Hit-enter prompt rm The -- more -- prompt r? A :confirm query of some sort ! Shell or external command is executing t Terminal-Job mode: keys go to the job This is useful in the 'statusline' option or when used with remote_expr() In most other places it always returns "c" or "n". Note that in the future more modes and more specific modes may be added. It's better not to compare the whole string but only the leading character(s). Also see visualmode(). Can also be used as a method: DoFull()->mode() mzeval({expr}) mzeval() Evaluate MzScheme expression {expr} and return its result converted to Vim data structures. Numbers and strings are returned as they are. Pairs (including lists and improper lists) and vectors are returned as Vim Lists. Hash tables are represented as Vim Dictionary type with keys converted to strings. All other types are converted to string with display function. Examples: :mz (define l (list 1 2 3)) :mz (define h (make-hash)) (hash-set! h "list" l) :echo mzeval("l") :echo mzeval("h") Can also be used as a method: GetExpr()->mzeval() {only available when compiled with the |+mzscheme| feature} nextnonblank({lnum}) nextnonblank() Return the line number of the first line at or below {lnum} that is not blank. Example: if getline(nextnonblank(1)) =~ "Java" When {lnum} is invalid or there is no non-blank line at or below it, zero is returned. See also prevnonblank(). Can also be used as a method: GetLnum()->nextnonblank() nr2char({expr} [, {utf8}]) nr2char() Return a string with a single character, which has the number value {expr}. Examples: nr2char(64) returns "@" nr2char(32) returns " " When {utf8} is omitted or zero, the current 'encoding' is used. Example for "utf-8": nr2char(300) returns I with bow character With {utf8} set to 1, always return utf-8 characters. Note that a NUL character in the file is specified with nr2char(10), because NULs are represented with newline characters. nr2char(0) is a real NUL and terminates the string, thus results in an empty string. To turn a list of character numbers into a string: let list = [65, 66, 67] let str = join(map(list, {_, val -> nr2char(val)}), '') Result: "ABC" Can also be used as a method: GetNumber()->nr2char() or({expr}, {expr}) or() Bitwise OR on the two arguments. The arguments are converted to a number. A List, Dict or Float argument causes an error. Example: :let bits = or(bits, 0x80) Can also be used as a method: :let bits = bits->or(0x80) pathshorten({expr} [, {len}]) pathshorten() Shorten directory names in the path {expr} and return the result. The tail, the file name, is kept as-is. The other components in the path are reduced to {len} letters in length. If {len} is omitted or smaller than 1 then 1 is used (single letters). Leading '~' and '.' characters are kept. Examples: :echo pathshorten('~/.vim/autoload/myfile.vim') ~/.v/a/myfile.vim :echo pathshorten('~/.vim/autoload/myfile.vim', 2) ~/.vi/au/myfile.vim It doesn't matter if the path exists or not. Can also be used as a method: GetDirectories()->pathshorten() perleval({expr}) perleval() Evaluate Perl expression {expr} in scalar context and return its result converted to Vim data structures. If value can't be converted, it is returned as a string Perl representation. Note: If you want an array or hash, {expr} must return a reference to it. Example: :echo perleval('[1 .. 4]') [1, 2, 3, 4] Can also be used as a method: GetExpr()->perleval() {only available when compiled with the |+perl| feature} popup_ functions are documented here: popup-functions pow({x}, {y}) pow() Return the power of {x} to the exponent {y} as a Float. {x} and {y} must evaluate to a Float or a Number. Examples: :echo pow(3, 3) 27.0 :echo pow(2, 16) 65536.0 :echo pow(32, 0.20) 2.0 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->pow(3) {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} prevnonblank({lnum}) prevnonblank() Return the line number of the first line at or above {lnum} that is not blank. Example: let ind = indent(prevnonblank(v:lnum - 1)) When {lnum} is invalid or there is no non-blank line at or above it, zero is returned. Also see nextnonblank(). Can also be used as a method: GetLnum()->prevnonblank() printf({fmt}, {expr1} ...) printf() Return a String with {fmt}, where "%" items are replaced by the formatted form of their respective arguments. Example: printf("%4d: E%d %.30s", lnum, errno, msg) May result in: " 99: E42 asdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfas" When used as a method the base is passed as the second argument: Compute()->printf("result: %d") Often used items are: %s string %6S string right-aligned in 6 display cells %6s string right-aligned in 6 bytes %.9s string truncated to 9 bytes %c single byte %d decimal number %5d decimal number padded with spaces to 5 characters %x hex number %04x hex number padded with zeros to at least 4 characters %X hex number using upper case letters %o octal number %08b binary number padded with zeros to at least 8 chars %f floating point number as 12.23, inf, -inf or nan %F floating point number as 12.23, INF, -INF or NAN %e floating point number as 1.23e3, inf, -inf or nan %E floating point number as 1.23E3, INF, -INF or NAN %g floating point number, as %f or %e depending on value %G floating point number, as %F or %E depending on value %% the % character itself Conversion specifications start with '%' and end with the conversion type. All other characters are copied unchanged to the result. The "%" starts a conversion specification. The following arguments appear in sequence: % [flags] [field-width] [.precision] type flags Zero or more of the following flags: # The value should be converted to an "alternate form". For c, d, and s conversions, this option has no effect. For o conversions, the precision of the number is increased to force the first character of the output string to a zero (except if a zero value is printed with an explicit precision of zero). For b and B conversions, a non-zero result has the string "0b" (or "0B" for B conversions) prepended to it. For x and X conversions, a non-zero result has the string "0x" (or "0X" for X conversions) prepended to it. 0 (zero) Zero padding. For all conversions the converted value is padded on the left with zeros rather than blanks. If a precision is given with a numeric conversion (d, b, B, o, x, and X), the 0 flag is ignored. - A negative field width flag; the converted value is to be left adjusted on the field boundary. The converted value is padded on the right with blanks, rather than on the left with blanks or zeros. A - overrides a 0 if both are given. ' ' (space) A blank should be left before a positive number produced by a signed conversion (d). + A sign must always be placed before a number produced by a signed conversion. A + overrides a space if both are used. field-width An optional decimal digit string specifying a minimum field width. If the converted value has fewer bytes than the field width, it will be padded with spaces on the left (or right, if the left-adjustment flag has been given) to fill out the field width. .precision An optional precision, in the form of a period '.' followed by an optional digit string. If the digit string is omitted, the precision is taken as zero. This gives the minimum number of digits to appear for d, o, x, and X conversions, or the maximum number of bytes to be printed from a string for s conversions. For floating point it is the number of digits after the decimal point. type A character that specifies the type of conversion to be applied, see below. A field width or precision, or both, may be indicated by an asterisk '*' instead of a digit string. In this case, a Number argument supplies the field width or precision. A negative field width is treated as a left adjustment flag followed by a positive field width; a negative precision is treated as though it were missing. Example: :echo printf("%d: %.*s", nr, width, line) This limits the length of the text used from "line" to "width" bytes. The conversion specifiers and their meanings are: printf-d printf-b printf-B printf-o printf-x printf-X dbBoxX The Number argument is converted to signed decimal (d), unsigned binary (b and B), unsigned octal (o), or unsigned hexadecimal (x and X) notation. The letters "abcdef" are used for x conversions; the letters "ABCDEF" are used for X conversions. The precision, if any, gives the minimum number of digits that must appear; if the converted value requires fewer digits, it is padded on the left with zeros. In no case does a non-existent or small field width cause truncation of a numeric field; if the result of a conversion is wider than the field width, the field is expanded to contain the conversion result. The 'h' modifier indicates the argument is 16 bits. The 'l' modifier indicates the argument is 32 bits. The 'L' modifier indicates the argument is 64 bits. Generally, these modifiers are not useful. They are ignored when type is known from the argument. i alias for d D alias for ld U alias for lu O alias for lo printf-c c The Number argument is converted to a byte, and the resulting character is written. printf-s s The text of the String argument is used. If a precision is specified, no more bytes than the number specified are used. If the argument is not a String type, it is automatically converted to text with the same format as ":echo". printf-S S The text of the String argument is used. If a precision is specified, no more display cells than the number specified are used. printf-f E807 f F The Float argument is converted into a string of the form 123.456. The precision specifies the number of digits after the decimal point. When the precision is zero the decimal point is omitted. When the precision is not specified 6 is used. A really big number (out of range or dividing by zero) results in "inf" or "-inf" with %f (INF or -INF with %F). "0.0 / 0.0" results in "nan" with %f (NAN with %F). Example: echo printf("%.2f", 12.115) 12.12 Note that roundoff depends on the system libraries. Use round() when in doubt. printf-e printf-E e E The Float argument is converted into a string of the form 1.234e+03 or 1.234E+03 when using 'E'. The precision specifies the number of digits after the decimal point, like with 'f'. printf-g printf-G g G The Float argument is converted like with 'f' if the value is between 0.001 (inclusive) and 10000000.0 (exclusive). Otherwise 'e' is used for 'g' and 'E' for 'G'. When no precision is specified superfluous zeroes and '+' signs are removed, except for the zero immediately after the decimal point. Thus 10000000.0 results in 1.0e7. printf-% % A '%' is written. No argument is converted. The complete conversion specification is "%%". When a Number argument is expected a String argument is also accepted and automatically converted. When a Float or String argument is expected a Number argument is also accepted and automatically converted. Any other argument type results in an error message. E766 E767 The number of {exprN} arguments must exactly match the number of "%" items. If there are not sufficient or too many arguments an error is given. Up to 18 arguments can be used. prompt_getprompt({buf}) prompt_getprompt() Returns the effective prompt text for buffer {buf}. {buf} can be a buffer name or number. See prompt-buffer. If the buffer doesn't exist or isn't a prompt buffer, an empty string is returned. Can also be used as a method: GetBuffer()->prompt_getprompt() prompt_setcallback({buf}, {expr}) prompt_setcallback() Set prompt callback for buffer {buf} to {expr}. When {expr} is an empty string the callback is removed. This has only effect if {buf} has 'buftype' set to "prompt". The callback is invoked when pressing Enter. The current buffer will always be the prompt buffer. A new line for a prompt is added before invoking the callback, thus the prompt for which the callback was invoked will be in the last but one line. If the callback wants to add text to the buffer, it must insert it above the last line, since that is where the current prompt is. This can also be done asynchronously. The callback is invoked with one argument, which is the text that was entered at the prompt. This can be an empty string if the user only typed Enter. Example: call prompt_setcallback(bufnr(), function('s:TextEntered')) func s:TextEntered(text) if a:text == 'exit' || a:text == 'quit' stopinsert close else call append(line('$') - 1, 'Entered: "' . a:text . '"') " Reset 'modified' to allow the buffer to be closed. set nomodified endif endfunc Can also be used as a method: GetBuffer()->prompt_setcallback(callback) prompt_setinterrupt({buf}, {expr}) prompt_setinterrupt() Set a callback for buffer {buf} to {expr}. When {expr} is an empty string the callback is removed. This has only effect if {buf} has 'buftype' set to "prompt". This callback will be invoked when pressing CTRL-C in Insert mode. Without setting a callback Vim will exit Insert mode, as in any buffer. Can also be used as a method: GetBuffer()->prompt_setinterrupt(callback) prompt_setprompt({buf}, {text}) prompt_setprompt() Set prompt for buffer {buf} to {text}. You most likely want {text} to end in a space. The result is only visible if {buf} has 'buftype' set to "prompt". Example: call prompt_setprompt(bufnr(), 'command: ') Can also be used as a method: GetBuffer()->prompt_setprompt('command: ') prop_ functions are documented here: text-prop-functions pum_getpos() pum_getpos() If the popup menu (see ins-completion-menu) is not visible, returns an empty Dictionary, otherwise, returns a Dictionary with the following keys: height nr of items visible width screen cells row top screen row (0 first row) col leftmost screen column (0 first col) size total nr of items scrollbar TRUE if scrollbar is visible The values are the same as in v:event during CompleteChanged. pumvisible() pumvisible() Returns non-zero when the popup menu is visible, zero otherwise. See ins-completion-menu. This can be used to avoid some things that would remove the popup menu. py3eval({expr}) py3eval() Evaluate Python expression {expr} and return its result converted to Vim data structures. Numbers and strings are returned as they are (strings are copied though, Unicode strings are additionally converted to 'encoding'). Lists are represented as Vim List type. Dictionaries are represented as Vim Dictionary type with keys converted to strings. Can also be used as a method: GetExpr()->py3eval() {only available when compiled with the |+python3| feature} E858 E859 pyeval({expr}) pyeval() Evaluate Python expression {expr} and return its result converted to Vim data structures. Numbers and strings are returned as they are (strings are copied though). Lists are represented as Vim List type. Dictionaries are represented as Vim Dictionary type, non-string keys result in error. Can also be used as a method: GetExpr()->pyeval() {only available when compiled with the |+python| feature} pyxeval({expr}) pyxeval() Evaluate Python expression {expr} and return its result converted to Vim data structures. Uses Python 2 or 3, see python_x and 'pyxversion'. See also: pyeval(), py3eval() Can also be used as a method: GetExpr()->pyxeval() {only available when compiled with the +python or the +python3 feature} E726 E727 range({expr} [, {max} [, {stride}]]) range() Returns a List with Numbers: - If only {expr} is specified: [0, 1, ..., {expr} - 1] - If {max} is specified: [{expr}, {expr} + 1, ..., {max}] - If {stride} is specified: [{expr}, {expr} + {stride}, ..., {max}] (increasing {expr} with {stride} each time, not producing a value past {max}). When the maximum is one before the start the result is an empty list. When the maximum is more than one before the start this is an error. Examples: range(4) " [0, 1, 2, 3] range(2, 4) " [2, 3, 4] range(2, 9, 3) " [2, 5, 8] range(2, -2, -1) " [2, 1, 0, -1, -2] range(0) " [] range(2, 0) " error! Can also be used as a method: GetExpr()->range() rand([{expr}]) rand() random Return a pseudo-random Number generated with an xoshiro128** algorithm using seed {expr}. The returned number is 32 bits, also on 64 bits systems, for consistency. {expr} can be initialized by srand() and will be updated by rand(). If {expr} is omitted, an internal seed value is used and updated. Examples: :echo rand() :let seed = srand() :echo rand(seed) :echo rand(seed) % 16 " random number 0 - 15 readblob({fname}) readblob() Read file {fname} in binary mode and return a Blob. When the file can't be opened an error message is given and the result is an empty Blob. Also see readfile() and writefile(). readdir({directory} [, {expr} [, {dict}]]) readdir() Return a list with file and directory names in {directory}. You can also use glob() if you don't need to do complicated things, such as limiting the number of matches. The list will be sorted (case sensitive), see the {dict} argument below for changing the sort order. When {expr} is omitted all entries are included. When {expr} is given, it is evaluated to check what to do: If {expr} results in -1 then no further entries will be handled. If {expr} results in 0 then this entry will not be added to the list. If {expr} results in 1 then this entry will be added to the list. The entries "." and ".." are always excluded. Each time {expr} is evaluated v:val is set to the entry name. When {expr} is a function the name is passed as the argument. For example, to get a list of files ending in ".txt": readdir(dirname, {n -> n =~ '.txt$'}) To skip hidden and backup files: readdir(dirname, {n -> n !~ '^\.\|\~$'}) The optional {dict} argument allows for further custom values. Currently this is used to specify if and how sorting should be performed. The dict can have the following members: sort How to sort the result returned from the system. Valid values are: "none" do not sort (fastest method) "case" sort case sensitive (byte value of each character, technically, using strcmp()) (default) "icase" sort case insensitive (technically using strcasecmp()) "collate" sort using the collation order of the "POSIX" or "C" locale (technically using strcoll()) Other values are silently ignored. For example, to get a list of all files in the current directory without sorting the individual entries: readdir('.', '1', #{sort: 'none'}) If you want to get a directory tree: function! s:tree(dir) return {a:dir : map(readdir(a:dir), \ {_, x -> isdirectory(x) ? \ {x : s:tree(a:dir . '/' . x)} : x})} endfunction echo s:tree(".") Can also be used as a method: GetDirName()->readdir() readdirex({directory} [, {expr} [, {dict}]]) readdirex() Extended version of readdir(). Return a list of Dictionaries with file and directory information in {directory}. This is useful if you want to get the attributes of file and directory at the same time as getting a list of a directory. This is much faster than calling readdir() then calling getfperm(), getfsize(), getftime() and getftype() for each file and directory especially on MS-Windows. The list will by default be sorted by name (case sensitive), the sorting can be changed by using the optional {dict} argument, see readdir(). The Dictionary for file and directory information has the following items: group Group name of the entry. (Only on Unix) name Name of the entry. perm Permissions of the entry. See getfperm(). size Size of the entry. See getfsize(). time Timestamp of the entry. See getftime(). type Type of the entry. On Unix, almost same as getftype() except: Symlink to a dir "linkd" Other symlink "link" On MS-Windows: Normal file "file" Directory "dir" Junction "junction" Symlink to a dir "linkd" Other symlink "link" Other reparse point "reparse" user User name of the entry's owner. (Only on Unix) On Unix, if the entry is a symlink, the Dictionary includes the information of the target (except the "type" item). On MS-Windows, it includes the information of the symlink itself because of performance reasons. When {expr} is omitted all entries are included. When {expr} is given, it is evaluated to check what to do: If {expr} results in -1 then no further entries will be handled. If {expr} results in 0 then this entry will not be added to the list. If {expr} results in 1 then this entry will be added to the list. The entries "." and ".." are always excluded. Each time {expr} is evaluated v:val is set to a Dictionary of the entry. When {expr} is a function the entry is passed as the argument. For example, to get a list of files ending in ".txt": readdirex(dirname, {e -> e.name =~ '.txt$'}) For example, to get a list of all files in the current directory without sorting the individual entries: readdirex(dirname, '1', #{sort: 'none'}) Can also be used as a method: GetDirName()->readdirex() readfile() readfile({fname} [, {type} [, {max}]]) Read file {fname} and return a List, each line of the file as an item. Lines are broken at NL characters. Macintosh files separated with CR will result in a single long line (unless a NL appears somewhere). All NUL characters are replaced with a NL character. When {type} contains "b" binary mode is used: - When the last line ends in a NL an extra empty list item is added. - No CR characters are removed. Otherwise: - CR characters that appear before a NL are removed. - Whether the last line ends in a NL or not does not matter. - When 'encoding' is Unicode any UTF-8 byte order mark is removed from the text. When {max} is given this specifies the maximum number of lines to be read. Useful if you only want to check the first ten lines of a file: :for line in readfile(fname, '', 10) : if line =~ 'Date' | echo line | endif :endfor When {max} is negative -{max} lines from the end of the file are returned, or as many as there are. When {max} is zero the result is an empty list. Note that without {max} the whole file is read into memory. Also note that there is no recognition of encoding. Read a file into a buffer if you need to. Deprecated (use readblob() instead): When {type} contains "B" a Blob is returned with the binary data of the file unmodified. When the file can't be opened an error message is given and the result is an empty list. Also see writefile(). Can also be used as a method: GetFileName()->readfile() reduce({object}, {func} [, {initial}]) reduce() E998 {func} is called for every item in {object}, which can be a List or a Blob. {func} is called with two arguments: the result so far and current item. After processing all items the result is returned. {initial} is the initial result. When omitted, the first item in {object} is used and {func} is first called for the second item. If {initial} is not given and {object} is empty no result can be computed, an E998 error is given. Examples: echo reduce([1, 3, 5], { acc, val -> acc + val }) echo reduce(['x', 'y'], { acc, val -> acc .. val }, 'a') echo reduce(0z1122, { acc, val -> 2 * acc + val }) Can also be used as a method: echo mylist->reduce({ acc, val -> acc + val }, 0) reg_executing() reg_executing() Returns the single letter name of the register being executed. Returns an empty string when no register is being executed. See @. reg_recording() reg_recording() Returns the single letter name of the register being recorded. Returns an empty string when not recording. See q. reltime([{start} [, {end}]]) reltime() Return an item that represents a time value. The item is a list with items that depend on the system. In Vim 9 script list<any> can be used. The item can be passed to reltimestr() to convert it to a string or reltimefloat() to convert to a Float. Without an argument reltime() returns the current time. With one argument is returns the time passed since the time specified in the argument. With two arguments it returns the time passed between {start} and {end}. The {start} and {end} arguments must be values returned by reltime(). Can also be used as a method: GetStart()->reltime() {only available when compiled with the |+reltime| feature} reltimefloat({time}) reltimefloat() Return a Float that represents the time value of {time}. Example: let start = reltime() call MyFunction() let seconds = reltimefloat(reltime(start)) See the note of reltimestr() about overhead. Also see profiling. Can also be used as a method: reltime(start)->reltimefloat() {only available when compiled with the |+reltime| feature} reltimestr({time}) reltimestr() Return a String that represents the time value of {time}. This is the number of seconds, a dot and the number of microseconds. Example: let start = reltime() call MyFunction() echo reltimestr(reltime(start)) Note that overhead for the commands will be added to the time. The accuracy depends on the system. Leading spaces are used to make the string align nicely. You can use split() to remove it. echo split(reltimestr(reltime(start)))[0] Also see profiling. Can also be used as a method: reltime(start)->reltimestr() {only available when compiled with the |+reltime| feature} remote_expr() E449 remote_expr({server}, {string} [, {idvar} [, {timeout}]]) Send the {string} to {server}. The string is sent as an expression and the result is returned after evaluation. The result must be a String or a List. A List is turned into a String by joining the items with a line break in between (not at the end), like with join(expr, "\n"). If {idvar} is present and not empty, it is taken as the name of a variable and a {serverid} for later use with remote_read() is stored there. If {timeout} is given the read times out after this many seconds. Otherwise a timeout of 600 seconds is used. See also clientserver RemoteReply. This function is not available in the sandbox. {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature} Note: Any errors will cause a local error message to be issued and the result will be the empty string. Variables will be evaluated in the global namespace, independent of a function currently being active. Except when in debug mode, then local function variables and arguments can be evaluated. Examples: :echo remote_expr("gvim", "2+2") :echo remote_expr("gvim1", "b:current_syntax") Can also be used as a method: ServerName()->remote_expr(expr) remote_foreground({server}) remote_foreground() Move the Vim server with the name {server} to the foreground. This works like: remote_expr({server}, "foreground()") Except that on Win32 systems the client does the work, to work around the problem that the OS doesn't always allow the server to bring itself to the foreground. Note: This does not restore the window if it was minimized, like foreground() does. This function is not available in the sandbox. Can also be used as a method: ServerName()->remote_foreground() {only in the Win32, Athena, Motif and GTK GUI versions and the Win32 console version} remote_peek({serverid} [, {retvar}]) remote_peek() Returns a positive number if there are available strings from {serverid}. Copies any reply string into the variable {retvar} if specified. {retvar} must be a string with the name of a variable. Returns zero if none are available. Returns -1 if something is wrong. See also clientserver. This function is not available in the sandbox. {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature} Examples: :let repl = "" :echo "PEEK: ".remote_peek(id, "repl").": ".repl Can also be used as a method: ServerId()->remote_peek() remote_read({serverid}, [{timeout}]) remote_read() Return the oldest available reply from {serverid} and consume it. Unless a {timeout} in seconds is given, it blocks until a reply is available. See also clientserver. This function is not available in the sandbox. {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature} Example: :echo remote_read(id) Can also be used as a method: ServerId()->remote_read() remote_send() E241 remote_send({server}, {string} [, {idvar}]) Send the {string} to {server}. The string is sent as input keys and the function returns immediately. At the Vim server the keys are not mapped :map. If {idvar} is present, it is taken as the name of a variable and a {serverid} for later use with remote_read() is stored there. See also clientserver RemoteReply. This function is not available in the sandbox. {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature} Note: Any errors will be reported in the server and may mess up the display. Examples: :echo remote_send("gvim", ":DropAndReply ".file, "serverid"). \ remote_read(serverid) :autocmd NONE RemoteReply * \ echo remote_read(expand("<amatch>")) :echo remote_send("gvim", ":sleep 10 | echo ". \ 'server2client(expand("<client>"), "HELLO")<CR>') Can also be used as a method: ServerName()->remote_send(keys) remote_startserver() E941 E942 remote_startserver({name}) Become the server {name}. This fails if already running as a server, when v:servername is not empty. Can also be used as a method: ServerName()->remote_startserver() {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature} remove({list}, {idx} [, {end}]) remove() Without {end}: Remove the item at {idx} from List {list} and return the item. With {end}: Remove items from {idx} to {end} (inclusive) and return a List with these items. When {idx} points to the same item as {end} a list with one item is returned. When {end} points to an item before {idx} this is an error. See list-index for possible values of {idx} and {end}. Example: :echo "last item: " . remove(mylist, -1) :call remove(mylist, 0, 9) Use delete() to remove a file. Can also be used as a method: mylist->remove(idx) remove({blob}, {idx} [, {end}]) Without {end}: Remove the byte at {idx} from Blob {blob} and return the byte. With {end}: Remove bytes from {idx} to {end} (inclusive) and return a Blob with these bytes. When {idx} points to the same byte as {end} a Blob with one byte is returned. When {end} points to a byte before {idx} this is an error. Example: :echo "last byte: " . remove(myblob, -1) :call remove(mylist, 0, 9) remove({dict}, {key}) Remove the entry from {dict} with key {key} and return it. Example: :echo "removed " . remove(dict, "one") If there is no {key} in {dict} this is an error. rename({from}, {to}) rename() Rename the file by the name {from} to the name {to}. This should also work to move files across file systems. The result is a Number, which is 0 if the file was renamed successfully, and non-zero when the renaming failed. NOTE: If {to} exists it is overwritten without warning. This function is not available in the sandbox. Can also be used as a method: GetOldName()->rename(newname) repeat({expr}, {count}) repeat() Repeat {expr} {count} times and return the concatenated result. Example: :let separator = repeat('-', 80) When {count} is zero or negative the result is empty. When {expr} is a List the result is {expr} concatenated {count} times. Example: :let longlist = repeat(['a', 'b'], 3) Results in ['a', 'b', 'a', 'b', 'a', 'b']. Can also be used as a method: mylist->repeat(count) resolve({filename}) resolve() E655 On MS-Windows, when {filename} is a shortcut (a .lnk file), returns the path the shortcut points to in a simplified form. When {filename} is a symbolic link or junction point, return the full path to the target. If the target of junction is removed, return {filename}. On Unix, repeat resolving symbolic links in all path components of {filename} and return the simplified result. To cope with link cycles, resolving of symbolic links is stopped after 100 iterations. On other systems, return the simplified {filename}. The simplification step is done as by simplify(). resolve() keeps a leading path component specifying the current directory (provided the result is still a relative path name) and also keeps a trailing path separator. Can also be used as a method: GetName()->resolve() reverse({object}) reverse() Reverse the order of items in {object} in-place. {object} can be a List or a Blob. Returns {object}. If you want an object to remain unmodified make a copy first: :let revlist = reverse(copy(mylist)) Can also be used as a method: mylist->reverse() round({expr}) round() Round off {expr} to the nearest integral value and return it as a Float. If {expr} lies halfway between two integral values, then use the larger one (away from zero). {expr} must evaluate to a Float or a Number. Examples: echo round(0.456) 0.0 echo round(4.5) 5.0 echo round(-4.5) -5.0 Can also be used as a method: Compute()->round() {only available when compiled with the |+float| feature} rubyeval({expr}) rubyeval() Evaluate Ruby expression {expr} and return its result converted to Vim data structures. Numbers, floats and strings are returned as they are (strings are copied though). Arrays are represented as Vim List type. Hashes are represented as Vim Dictionary type. Other objects are represented as strings resulted from their "Object#to_s" method. Can also be used as a method: GetRubyExpr()->rubyeval() {only available when compiled with the |+ruby| feature} screenattr({row}, {col}) screenattr() Like screenchar(), but return the attribute. This is a rather arbitrary number that can only be used to compare to the attribute at other positions. Can also be used as a method: GetRow()->screenattr(col) screenchar({row}, {col}) screenchar() The result is a Number, which is the character at position [row, col] on the screen. This works for every possible screen position, also status lines, window separators and the command line. The top left position is row one, column one The character excludes composing characters. For double-byte encodings it may only be the first byte. This is mainly to be used for testing. Returns -1 when row or col is out of range. Can also be used as a method: GetRow()->screenchar(col) screenchars({row}, {col}) screenchars() The result is a List of Numbers. The first number is the same as what screenchar() returns. Further numbers are composing characters on top of the base character. This is mainly to be used for testing. Returns an empty List when row or col is out of range. Can also be used as a method: GetRow()->screenchars(col) screencol() screencol() The result is a Number, which is the current screen column of the cursor. The leftmost column has number 1. This function is mainly used for testing. Note: Always returns the current screen column, thus if used in a command (e.g. ":echo screencol()") it will return the column inside the command line, which is 1 when the command is executed. To get the cursor position in the file use one of the following mappings: nnoremap <expr> GG ":echom ".screencol()."\n" nnoremap <silent> GG :echom screencol()<CR> nnoremap GG <Cmd>echom screencol()<CR> screenpos({winid}, {lnum}, {col}) screenpos() The result is a Dict with the screen position of the text character in window {winid} at buffer line {lnum} and column {col}. {col} is a one-based byte index. The Dict has these members: row screen row col first screen column endcol last screen column curscol cursor screen column If the specified position is not visible, all values are zero. The "endcol" value differs from "col" when the character occupies more than one screen cell. E.g. for a Tab "col" can be 1 and "endcol" can be 8. The "curscol" value is where the cursor would be placed. For a Tab it would be the same as "endcol", while for a double width character it would be the same as "col". Can also be used as a method: GetWinid()->screenpos(lnum, col) screenrow() screenrow() The result is a Number, which is the current screen row of the cursor. The top line has number one. This function is mainly used for testing. Alternatively you can use winline(). Note: Same restrictions as with screencol(). screenstring({row}, {col}) screenstring() The result is a String that contains the base character and any composing characters at position [row, col] on the screen. This is like screenchars() but returning a String with the characters. This is mainly to be used for testing. Returns an empty String when row or col is out of range. Can also be used as a method: GetRow()->screenstring(col) search() search({pattern} [, {flags} [, {stopline} [, {timeout} [, {skip}]]]]) Search for regexp pattern {pattern}. The search starts at the cursor position (you can use cursor() to set it). When a match has been found its line number is returned. If there is no match a 0 is returned and the cursor doesn't move. No error message is given. {flags} is a String, which can contain these character flags: 'b' search Backward instead of forward 'c' accept a match at the Cursor position 'e' move to the End of the match 'n' do Not move the cursor 'p' return number of matching sub-Pattern (see below) 's' Set the ' mark at the previous location of the cursor 'w' Wrap around the end of the file 'W' don't Wrap around the end of the file 'z' start searching at the cursor column instead of zero If neither 'w' or 'W' is given, the 'wrapscan' option applies. If the 's' flag is supplied, the ' mark is set, only if the cursor is moved. The 's' flag cannot be combined with the 'n' flag. 'ignorecase', 'smartcase' and 'magic' are used. When the 'z' flag is not given, forward searching always starts in column zero and then matches before the cursor are skipped. When the 'c' flag is present in 'cpo' the next search starts after the match. Without the 'c' flag the next search starts one column further. This matters for overlapping matches. When searching backwards and the 'z' flag is given then the search starts in column zero, thus no match in the current line will be found (unless wrapping around the end of the file). When the {stopline} argument is given then the search stops after searching this line. This is useful to restrict the search to a range of lines. Examples: let match = search('(', 'b', line("w0")) let end = search('END', '', line("w$")) When {stopline} is used and it is not zero this also implies that the search does not wrap around the end of the file. A zero value is equal to not giving the argument. When the {timeout} argument is given the search stops when more than this many milliseconds have passed. Thus when {timeout} is 500 the search stops after half a second. The value must not be negative. A zero value is like not giving the argument. {only available when compiled with the |+reltime| feature} If the {skip} expression is given it is evaluated with the cursor positioned on the start of a match. If it evaluates to non-zero this match is skipped. This can be used, for example, to skip a match in a comment or a string. {skip} can be a string, which is evaluated as an expression, a function reference or a lambda. When {skip} is omitted or empty, every match is accepted. When evaluating {skip} causes an error the search is aborted and -1 returned. search()-sub-match With the 'p' flag the returned value is one more than the first sub-match in \(\). One if none of them matched but the whole pattern did match. To get the column number too use searchpos(). The cursor will be positioned at the match, unless the 'n' flag is used. Example (goes over all files in the argument list): :let n = 1 :while n <= argc() " loop over all files in arglist : exe "argument " . n : " start at the last char in the file and wrap for the : " first search to find match at start of file : normal G$ : let flags = "w" : while search("foo", flags) > 0 : s/foo/bar/g : let flags = "W" : endwhile : update " write the file if modified : let n = n + 1 :endwhile Example for using some flags: :echo search('\<if\|\(else\)\|\(endif\)', 'ncpe') This will search for the keywords "if", "else", and "endif" under or after the cursor. Because of the 'p' flag, it returns 1, 2, or 3 depending on which keyword is found, or 0 if the search fails. With the cursor on the first word of the line: if (foo == 0) | let foo = foo + 1 | endif the function returns 1. Without the 'c' flag, the function finds the "endif" and returns 3. The same thing happens without the 'e' flag if the cursor is on the "f" of "if". The 'n' flag tells the function not to move the cursor. Can also be used as a method: GetPattern()->search() searchcount([{options}]) searchcount() Get or update the last search count, like what is displayed without the "S" flag in 'shortmess'. This works even if 'shortmess' does contain the "S" flag. This returns a Dictionary. The dictionary is empty if the previous pattern was not set and "pattern" was not specified. key type meaning current Number current position of match; 0 if the cursor position is before the first match exact_match Boolean 1 if "current" is matched on "pos", otherwise 0 total Number total count of matches found incomplete Number 0: search was fully completed 1: recomputing was timed out 2: max count exceeded For {options} see further down. To get the last search count when n or N was pressed, call this function with `recompute: 0` . This sometimes returns wrong information because n and N's maximum count is 99. If it exceeded 99 the result must be max count + 1 (100). If you want to get correct information, specify `recompute: 1`: " result == maxcount + 1 (100) when many matches let result = searchcount(#{recompute: 0}) " Below returns correct result (recompute defaults " to 1) let result = searchcount() The function is useful to add the count to statusline: function! LastSearchCount() abort let result = searchcount(#{recompute: 0}) if empty(result) return '' endif if result.incomplete ==# 1 " timed out return printf(' /%s [?/??]', @/) elseif result.incomplete ==# 2 " max count exceeded if result.total > result.maxcount && \ result.current > result.maxcount return printf(' /%s [>%d/>%d]', @/, \ result.current, result.total) elseif result.total > result.maxcount return printf(' /%s [%d/>%d]', @/, \ result.current, result.total) endif endif return printf(' /%s [%d/%d]', @/, \ result.current, result.total) endfunction let &statusline .= '%{LastSearchCount()}' " Or if you want to show the count only when " 'hlsearch' was on " let &statusline .= " \ '%{v:hlsearch ? LastSearchCount() : ""}' You can also update the search count, which can be useful in a CursorMoved or CursorMovedI autocommand: autocmd CursorMoved,CursorMovedI * \ let s:searchcount_timer = timer_start( \ 200, function('s:update_searchcount')) function! s:update_searchcount(timer) abort if a:timer ==# s:searchcount_timer call searchcount(#{ \ recompute: 1, maxcount: 0, timeout: 100}) redrawstatus endif endfunction This can also be used to count matched texts with specified pattern in the current buffer using "pattern": " Count '\<foo\>' in this buffer " (Note that it also updates search count) let result = searchcount(#{pattern: '\<foo\>'}) " To restore old search count by old pattern, " search again call searchcount() {options} must be a Dictionary. It can contain: key type meaning recompute Boolean if TRUE, recompute the count like n or N was executed. otherwise returns the last computed result (when n or N was used when "S" is not in 'shortmess', or this function was called). (default: TRUE) pattern String recompute if this was given and different with @/. this works as same as the below command is executed before calling this function let @/ = pattern (default: @/) timeout Number 0 or negative number is no timeout. timeout milliseconds for recomputing the result (default: 0) maxcount Number 0 or negative number is no limit. max count of matched text while recomputing the result. if search exceeded total count, "total" value becomes `maxcount + 1` (default: 99) pos List `[lnum, col, off]` value when recomputing the result. this changes "current" result value. see cursor(), getpos() (default: cursor's position) searchdecl({name} [, {global} [, {thisblock}]]) searchdecl() Search for the declaration of {name}. With a non-zero {global} argument it works like gD, find first match in the file. Otherwise it works like gd, find first match in the function. With a non-zero {thisblock} argument matches in a {} block that ends before the cursor position are ignored. Avoids finding variable declarations only valid in another scope. Moves the cursor to the found match. Returns zero for success, non-zero for failure. Example: if searchdecl('myvar') == 0 echo getline('.') endif Can also be used as a method: GetName()->searchdecl() searchpair() searchpair({start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip} [, {stopline} [, {timeout}]]]]) Search for the match of a nested start-end pair. This can be used to find the "endif" that matches an "if", while other if/endif pairs in between are ignored. The search starts at the cursor. The default is to search forward, include 'b' in {flags} to search backward. If a match is found, the cursor is positioned at it and the line number is returned. If no match is found 0 or -1 is returned and the cursor doesn't move. No error message is given. {start}, {middle} and {end} are patterns, see pattern. They must not contain \( \) pairs. Use of \%( \) is allowed. When {middle} is not empty, it is found when searching from either direction, but only when not in a nested start-end pair. A typical use is: searchpair('\<if\>', '\<else\>', '\<endif\>') By leaving {middle} empty the "else" is skipped. {flags} 'b', 'c', 'n', 's', 'w' and 'W' are used like with search(). Additionally: 'r' Repeat until no more matches found; will find the outer pair. Implies the 'W' flag. 'm' Return number of matches instead of line number with the match; will be > 1 when 'r' is used. Note: it's nearly always a good idea to use the 'W' flag, to avoid wrapping around the end of the file. When a match for {start}, {middle} or {end} is found, the {skip} expression is evaluated with the cursor positioned on the start of the match. It should return non-zero if this match is to be skipped. E.g., because it is inside a comment or a string. When {skip} is omitted or empty, every match is accepted. When evaluating {skip} causes an error the search is aborted and -1 returned. {skip} can be a string, a lambda, a funcref or a partial. Anything else makes the function fail. For {stopline} and {timeout} see search(). The value of 'ignorecase' is used. 'magic' is ignored, the patterns are used like it's on. The search starts exactly at the cursor. A match with {start}, {middle} or {end} at the next character, in the direction of searching, is the first one found. Example: if 1 if 2 endif 2 endif 1 When starting at the "if 2", with the cursor on the "i", and searching forwards, the "endif 2" is found. When starting on the character just before the "if 2", the "endif 1" will be found. That's because the "if 2" will be found first, and then this is considered to be a nested if/endif from "if 2" to "endif 2". When searching backwards and {end} is more than one character, it may be useful to put "\zs" at the end of the pattern, so that when the cursor is inside a match with the end it finds the matching start. Example, to find the "endif" command in a Vim script: :echo searchpair('\<if\>', '\<el\%[seif]\>', '\<en\%[dif]\>', 'W', \ 'getline(".") =~ "^\\s*\""') The cursor must be at or after the "if" for which a match is to be found. Note that single-quote strings are used to avoid having to double the backslashes. The skip expression only catches comments at the start of a line, not after a command. Also, a word "en" or "if" halfway a line is considered a match. Another example, to search for the matching "{" of a "}": :echo searchpair('{', '', '}', 'bW') This works when the cursor is at or before the "}" for which a match is to be found. To reject matches that syntax highlighting recognized as strings: :echo searchpair('{', '', '}', 'bW', \ 'synIDattr(synID(line("."), col("."), 0), "name") =~? "string"') searchpairpos() searchpairpos({start}, {middle}, {end} [, {flags} [, {skip} [, {stopline} [, {timeout}]]]]) Same as searchpair(), but returns a List with the line and column position of the match. The first element of the List is the line number and the second element is the byte index of the column position of the match. If no match is found, returns [0, 0]. :let [lnum,col] = searchpairpos('{', '', '}', 'n') See match-parens for a bigger and more useful example. searchpos() searchpos({pattern} [, {flags} [, {stopline} [, {timeout} [, {skip}]]]]) Same as search(), but returns a List with the line and column position of the match. The first element of the List is the line number and the second element is the byte index of the column position of the match. If no match is found, returns [0, 0]. Example: :let [lnum, col] = searchpos('mypattern', 'n') When the 'p' flag is given then there is an extra item with the sub-pattern match number search()-sub-match. Example: :let [lnum, col, submatch] = searchpos('\(\l\)\|\(\u\)', 'np') In this example "submatch" is 2 when a lowercase letter is found /\l, 3 when an uppercase letter is found /\u. Can also be used as a method: GetPattern()->searchpos() server2client({clientid}, {string}) server2client() Send a reply string to {clientid}. The most recent {clientid} that sent a string can be retrieved with expand("<client>"). {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature} Returns zero for success, -1 for failure. Note: This id has to be stored before the next command can be received. I.e. before returning from the received command and before calling any commands that waits for input. See also clientserver. Example: :echo server2client(expand("<client>"), "HELLO") Can also be used as a method: GetClientId()->server2client(string) serverlist() serverlist() Return a list of available server names, one per line. When there are no servers or the information is not available an empty string is returned. See also clientserver. {only available when compiled with the |+clientserver| feature} Example: :echo serverlist() setbufline({expr}, {lnum}, {text}) setbufline() Set line {lnum} to {text} in buffer {expr}. This works like setline() for the specified buffer. This function works only for loaded buffers. First call bufload() if needed. To insert lines use appendbufline(). Any text properties in {lnum} are cleared. {text} can be a string to set one line, or a list of strings to set multiple lines. If the list extends below the last line then those lines are added. For the use of {expr}, see bufname() above. {lnum} is used like with setline(). When {lnum} is just below the last line the {text} will be added below the last line. When {expr} is not a valid buffer, the buffer is not loaded or {lnum} is not valid then 1 is returned. On success 0 is returned. Can also be used as a method, the base is passed as the third argument: GetText()->setbufline(buf, lnum) setbufvar({expr}, {varname}, {val}) setbufvar() Set option or local variable {varname} in buffer {expr} to {val}. This also works for a global or local window option, but it doesn't work for a global or local window variable. For a local window option the global value is unchanged. For the use of {expr}, see bufname() above. Note that the variable name without "b:" must be used. Examples: :call setbufvar(1, "&mod", 1) :call setbufvar("todo", "myvar", "foobar") This function is not available in the sandbox. Can also be used as a method, the base is passed as the third argument: GetValue()->setbufvar(buf, varname) setcellwidths({list}) setcellwidths() Specify overrides for cell widths of character ranges. This tells Vim how wide characters are, counted in screen cells. This overrides 'ambiwidth'. Example: setcellwidths([[0xad, 0xad, 1], \ [0x2194, 0x2199, 2]]) E1109 E1110 E1111 E1112 E1113 The {list} argument is a list of lists with each three numbers. These three numbers are [low, high, width]. "low" and "high" can be the same, in which case this refers to one character. Otherwise it is the range of characters from "low" to "high" (inclusive). "width" is either 1 or 2, indicating the character width in screen cells. An error is given if the argument is invalid, also when a range overlaps with another. Only characters with value 0x100 and higher can be used. To clear the overrides pass an empty list: setcellwidths([]); You can use the script $VIMRUNTIME/tools/emoji_list.vim to see the effect for known emoji characters. setcharpos({expr}, {list}) setcharpos() Same as setpos() but uses the specified column number as the character index instead of the byte index in the line. Example: With the text "여보세요" in line 8: call setcharpos('.', [0, 8, 4, 0]) positions the cursor on the fourth character '요'. call setpos('.', [0, 8, 4, 0]) positions the cursor on the second character '보'. Can also be used as a method: GetPosition()->setcharpos('.') setcharsearch({dict}) setcharsearch() Set the current character search information to {dict}, which contains one or more of the following entries: char character which will be used for a subsequent , or ; command; an empty string clears the character search forward direction of character search; 1 for forward, 0 for backward until type of character search; 1 for a t or T character search, 0 for an f or F character search This can be useful to save/restore a user's character search from a script: :let prevsearch = getcharsearch() :" Perform a command which clobbers user's search :call setcharsearch(prevsearch) Also see getcharsearch(). Can also be used as a method: SavedSearch()->setcharsearch() setcmdpos({pos}) setcmdpos() Set the cursor position in the command line to byte position {pos}. The first position is 1. Use getcmdpos() to obtain the current position. Only works while editing the command line, thus you must use c_CTRL-\_e, c_CTRL-R_= or c_CTRL-R_CTRL-R with '='. For c_CTRL-\_e and c_CTRL-R_CTRL-R with '=' the position is set after the command line is set to the expression. For c_CTRL-R_= it is set after evaluating the expression but before inserting the resulting text. When the number is too big the cursor is put at the end of the line. A number smaller than one has undefined results. Returns FALSE when successful, TRUE when not editing the command line. Can also be used as a method: GetPos()->setcmdpos() setcursorcharpos({lnum}, {col} [, {off}]) setcursorcharpos() setcursorcharpos({list}) Same as cursor() but uses the specified column number as the character index instead of the byte index in the line. Example: With the text "여보세요" in line 4: call setcursorcharpos(4, 3) positions the cursor on the third character '세'. call cursor(4, 3) positions the cursor on the first character '여'. Can also be used as a method: GetCursorPos()->setcursorcharpos() setenv({name}, {val}) setenv() Set environment variable {name} to {val}. When {val} is v:null the environment variable is deleted. See also expr-env. Can also be used as a method, the base is passed as the second argument: GetPath()->setenv('PATH') setfperm({fname}, {mode}) setfperm() chmod Set the file permissions for {fname} to {mode}. {mode} must be a string with 9 characters. It is of the form "rwxrwxrwx", where each group of "rwx" flags represent, in turn, the permissions of the owner of the file, the group the file belongs to, and other users. A '-' character means the permission is off, any other character means on. Multi-byte characters are not supported. For example "rw-r-----" means read-write for the user, readable by the group, not accessible by others. "xx-x-----" would do the same thing. Returns non-zero for success, zero for failure. Can also be used as a method: GetFilename()->setfperm(mode) To read permissions see getfperm(). setline({lnum}, {text}) setline() Set line {lnum} of the current buffer to {text}. To insert lines use append(). To set lines in another buffer use setbufline(). Any text properties in {lnum} are cleared. {lnum} is used like with getline(). When {lnum} is just below the last line the {text} will be added below the last line. {text} can be any type or a List of any type, each item is converted to a String. If this succeeds, FALSE is returned. If this fails (most likely because {lnum} is invalid) TRUE is returned. Example: :call setline(5, strftime("%c")) When {text} is a List then line {lnum} and following lines will be set to the items in the list. Example: :call setline(5, ['aaa', 'bbb', 'ccc']) This is equivalent to: :for [n, l] in [[5, 'aaa'], [6, 'bbb'], [7, 'ccc']] : call setline(n, l) :endfor Note: The '[ and '] marks are not set. Can also be used as a method, the base is passed as the second argument: GetText()->setline(lnum) setloclist({nr}, {list} [, {action} [, {what}]]) setloclist() Create or replace or add to the location list for window {nr}. {nr} can be the window number or the window-ID. When {nr} is zero the current window is used. For a location list window, the displayed location list is modified. For an invalid window number {nr}, -1 is returned. Otherwise, same as setqflist(). Also see location-list. For {action} see setqflist-action. If the optional {what} dictionary argument is supplied, then only the items listed in {what} are set. Refer to setqflist() for the list of supported keys in {what}. Can also be used as a method, the base is passed as the second argument: GetLoclist()->setloclist(winnr) setmatches({list} [, {win}]) setmatches() Restores a list of matches saved by getmatches() for the current window. Returns 0 if successful, otherwise -1. All current matches are cleared before the list is restored. See example for getmatches(). If {win} is specified, use the window with this number or window ID instead of the current window. Can also be used as a method: GetMatches()->setmatches() setpos() setpos({expr}, {list}) Set the position for {expr}. Possible values: . the cursor 'x mark x {list} must be a List with four or five numbers: [bufnum, lnum, col, off] [bufnum, lnum, col, off, curswant] "bufnum" is the buffer number. Zero can be used for the current buffer. When setting an uppercase mark "bufnum" is used for the mark position. For other marks it specifies the buffer to set the mark in. You can use the bufnr() function to turn a file name into a buffer number. For setting the cursor and the ' mark "bufnum" is ignored, since these are associated with a window, not a buffer. Does not change the jumplist. "lnum" and "col" are the position in the buffer. The first column is 1. Use a zero "lnum" to delete a mark. If "col" is smaller than 1 then 1 is used. To use the character count instead of the byte count, use setcharpos(). The "off" number is only used when 'virtualedit' is set. Then it is the offset in screen columns from the start of the character. E.g., a position within a <Tab> or after the last character. The "curswant" number is only used when setting the cursor position. It sets the preferred column for when moving the cursor vertically. When the "curswant" number is missing the preferred column is not set. When it is present and setting a mark position it is not used. Note that for '< and '> changing the line number may result in the marks to be effectively be swapped, so that '< is always before '>. Returns 0 when the position could be set, -1 otherwise. An error message is given if {expr} is invalid. Also see setcharpos(), getpos() and getcurpos(). This does not restore the preferred column for moving vertically; if you set the cursor position with this, j and k motions will jump to previous columns! Use cursor