VIM tricks

May 13, 2013 I am running Vim 7.3. on a linux system. My $VIMRUNTIME is /usr/share/vim/vim73

My cheat sheet

:version - lots of stuff about vim
:let x=0 - set a variable
:echo x - sort of like printf for vim
:so file - source a file
:mkv file - save all current settings for .vimrc
* and # - search for word under the cursor
gf - opens file under the cursor
gg goes to first line of file.
% goes to matching dingus even if not on a dingus
:!ls runs a command
:r !ls runs a command and pulls in its output
tT work like f and F, except stop one character short
zt put the current line at the top of the screen (handy!)
zb put the current line at the bottom of the screen
zz put the current line at the center of the screen

.vimrc

:r $VIMRUNTIME/vimrc_example.vim

Split windows

:split file - edit a new file, splitting the current window
:new - split the current window, producing a new empty window
^W^W jumps among windows

Word and Line completion

I have to tell you right up front that this is flakey as hell and I am still struggling with making it work. It sounds like a nice idea, but needs a smoother implementation. When I am lucky enough to get it to try to complete a word, it offers me a menu of candidates, and I have no clue how to navigate the menu. The usual vi motion commands do not work. Maybe the arrow keys?

The basics of this are Control-P and Control-N which search backward and forwards for words in the file being edited. The Control-X character triggers a special mode (watch the line at the bottom of the screen). When you are offered a list of words, use Control-P and Control-N to move around in the list and select what you want.

Ctrl-P does word completion in insert mode, from previous words
Ctrl-N does word completion in insert mode, from following words
Ctrl-X Ctrl-L does line completion, while in insert mode
Ctrl-X Ctrl-k does word completion from dictionary.
:set dictionary=/usr/share/dict/words - sets dictionary for the above.
Ctrl-X Ctrl-F complete a filename in insert mode
Ctrl-X Ctrl-I does some other completion thing.

Help