*map.txt* For Vim version 7.2b. Last change: 2008 Jul 09
VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar
Key mapping, abbreviations and user-defined commands.
This subject is introduced in sections |05.3|, |24.7| and |40.1| of the user
manual.
1. Key mapping |key-mapping|
1.1 MAP COMMANDS |:map-commands|
1.2 Special arguments |:map-arguments|
1.3 Mapping and modes |:map-modes|
1.4 Listing mappings |map-listing|
1.5 Mapping special keys |:map-special-keys|
1.6 Special characters |:map-special-chars|
1.7 What keys to map |map-which-keys|
1.8 Examples |map-examples|
1.9 Using mappings |map-typing|
1.10 Mapping alt-keys |:map-alt-keys|
1.11 Mapping an operator |:map-operator|
2. Abbreviations |abbreviations|
3. Local mappings and functions |script-local|
4. User-defined commands |user-commands|
==============================================================================
1. Key mapping *key-mapping* *mapping* *macro*
Key mapping is used to change the meaning of typed keys. The most common use
is to define a sequence commands for a function key. Example: >
:map <F2> a<C-R>=strftime("%c")<CR><Esc>
This appends the current date and time after the cursor (in <> notation |<>|).
1.1 MAP COMMANDS *:map-commands*
There are commands to enter new mappings, remove mappings and list mappings.
See |map-overview| for the various forms of "map" and their relationships with
modes.
{lhs} means left-hand-side *{lhs}*
{rhs} means right-hand-side *{rhs}*
:map {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:map*
:nm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-n| *:nm* *:nmap*
:vm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-v| *:vm* *:vmap*
:xm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-x| *:xm* *:xmap*
:smap {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-s| *:smap*
:om[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-o| *:om* *:omap*
:map! {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-ic| *:map!*
:im[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-i| *:im* *:imap*
:lm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-l| *:lm* *:lmap*
:cm[ap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-c| *:cm* *:cmap*
Map the key sequence {lhs} to {rhs} for the modes
where the map command applies. The result, including
{rhs}, is then further scanned for mappings. This
allows for nested and recursive use of mappings.
:no[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:no* *:noremap*
:nn[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-n| *:nn* *:nnoremap*
:vn[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-v| *:vn* *:vnoremap*
:xn[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-x| *:xn* *:xnoremap*
:snor[emap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-s| *:snor* *:snoremap*
:ono[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-o| *:ono* *:onoremap*
:no[remap]! {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-ic| *:no!* *:noremap!*
:ino[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-i| *:ino* *:inoremap*
:ln[oremap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-l| *:ln* *:lnoremap*
:cno[remap] {lhs} {rhs} |mapmode-c| *:cno* *:cnoremap*
Map the key sequence {lhs} to {rhs} for the modes
where the map command applies. Disallow mapping of
{rhs}, to avoid nested and recursive mappings. Often
used to redefine a command. {not in Vi}
:unm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:unm* *:unmap*
:nun[map] {lhs} |mapmode-n| *:nun* *:nunmap*
:vu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-v| *:vu* *:vunmap*
:xu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-x| *:xu* *:xunmap*
:sunm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-s| *:sunm* *:sunmap*
:ou[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-o| *:ou* *:ounmap*
:unm[ap]! {lhs} |mapmode-ic| *:unm!* *:unmap!*
:iu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-i| *:iu* *:iunmap*
:lu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-l| *:lu* *:lunmap*
:cu[nmap] {lhs} |mapmode-c| *:cu* *:cunmap*
Remove the mapping of {lhs} for the modes where the
map command applies. The mapping may remain defined
for other modes where it applies.
Note: Trailing spaces are included in the {lhs}. This
unmap does NOT work: >
:map @@ foo
:unmap @@ | print
:mapc[lear] |mapmode-nvo| *:mapc* *:mapclear*
:nmapc[lear] |mapmode-n| *:nmapc* *:nmapclear*
:vmapc[lear] |mapmode-v| *:vmapc* *:vmapclear*
:xmapc[lear] |mapmode-x| *:xmapc* *:xmapclear*
:smapc[lear] |mapmode-s| *:smapc* *:smapclear*
:omapc[lear] |mapmode-o| *:omapc* *:omapclear*
:mapc[lear]! |mapmode-ic| *:mapc!* *:mapclear!*
:imapc[lear] |mapmode-i| *:imapc* *:imapclear*
:lmapc[lear] |mapmode-l| *:lmapc* *:lmapclear*
:cmapc[lear] |mapmode-c| *:cmapc* *:cmapclear*
Remove ALL mappings for the modes where the map
command applies. {not in Vi}
Warning: This also removes the default mappings.
:map |mapmode-nvo|
:nm[ap] |mapmode-n|
:vm[ap] |mapmode-v|
:xm[ap] |mapmode-x|
:sm[ap] |mapmode-s|
:om[ap] |mapmode-o|
:map! |mapmode-ic|
:im[ap] |mapmode-i|
:lm[ap] |mapmode-l|
:cm[ap] |mapmode-c|
List all key mappings for the modes where the map
command applies. Note that ":map" and ":map!" are
used most often, because they include the other modes.
:map {lhs} |mapmode-nvo| *:map_l*
:nm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-n| *:nmap_l*
:vm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-v| *:vmap_l*
:xm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-x| *:xmap_l*
:sm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-s| *:smap_l*
:om[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-o| *:omap_l*
:map! {lhs} |mapmode-ic| *:map_l!*
:im[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-i| *:imap_l*
:lm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-l| *:lmap_l*
:cm[ap] {lhs} |mapmode-c| *:cmap_l*
List the key mappings for the key sequences starting
with {lhs} in the modes where the map command applies.
{not in Vi}
These commands are used to map a key or key sequence to a string of
characters. You can use this to put command sequences under function keys,
translate one key into another, etc. See |:mkexrc| for how to save and
restore the current mappings.
*map-ambiguous*
When two mappings start with the same sequence of characters, they are
ambiguous. Example: >
:imap aa foo
:imap aaa bar
When Vim has read "aa", it will need to get another character to be able to
decide if "aa" or "aaa" should be mapped. This means that after typing "aa"
that mapping won't get expanded yet, Vim is waiting for another character.
If you type a space, then "foo" will get inserted, plus the space. If you
type "a", then "bar" will get inserted.
{Vi does not allow ambiguous mappings}
1.2 SPECIAL ARGUMENTS *:map-arguments*
"<buffer>", "<silent>", "<special>", "<script>", "<expr>" and "<unique>" can
be used in any order. They must appear right after the command, before any
other arguments.
*:map-local* *:map-<buffer>* *E224* *E225*
If the first argument to one of these commands is "<buffer>" the mapping will
be effective in the current buffer only. Example: >
:map <buffer> ,w /[.,;]<CR>
Then you can map ",w" to something else in another buffer: >
:map <buffer> ,w /[#&!]<CR>
The local buffer mappings are used before the global ones.
The "<buffer>" argument can also be used to clear mappings: >
:unmap <buffer> ,w
:mapclear <buffer>
Local mappings are also cleared when a buffer is deleted, but not when it is
unloaded. Just like local option values.
*:map-<silent>* *:map-silent*
To define a mapping which will not be echoed on the command line, add
"<silent>" as the first argument. Example: >
:map <silent> ,h /Header<CR>
The search string will not be echoed when using this mapping. Messages from
the executed command are still given though. To shut them up too, add a
":silent" in the executed command: >
:map <silent> ,h :exe ":silent normal /Header\r"<CR>
Prompts will still be given, e.g., for inputdialog().
Using "<silent>" for