path: root/runtime/doc/repeat.txt

*repeat.txt*    For Vim version 8.1.  Last change: 2018 Mar 04


		  VIM REFERENCE MANUAL    by Bram Moolenaar


Repeating commands, Vim scripts and debugging			*repeating*

Chapter 26 of the user manual introduces repeating |usr_26.txt|.

1. Single repeats		|single-repeat|
2. Multiple repeats		|multi-repeat|
3. Complex repeats		|complex-repeat|
4. Using Vim scripts		|using-scripts|
5. Using Vim packages		|packages|
6. Creating Vim packages	|package-create|
7. Debugging scripts		|debug-scripts|
8. Profiling			|profiling|

==============================================================================
1. Single repeats					*single-repeat*

							*.*
.			Repeat last change, with count replaced with [count].
			Also repeat a yank command, when the 'y' flag is
			included in 'cpoptions'.  Does not repeat a
			command-line command.

Simple changes can be repeated with the "." command.  Without a count, the
count of the last change is used.  If you enter a count, it will replace the
last one.  |v:count| and |v:count1| will be set.

If the last change included a specification of a numbered register, the
register number will be incremented.  See |redo-register| for an example how
to use this.

Note that when repeating a command that used a Visual selection, the same SIZE
of area is used, see |visual-repeat|.

							*@:*
@:			Repeat last command-line [count] times.
			{not available when compiled without the
			|+cmdline_hist| feature}


==============================================================================
2. Multiple repeats					*multi-repeat*

						*:g* *:global* *E148*
:[range]g[lobal]/{pattern}/[cmd]
			Execute the Ex command [cmd] (default ":p") on the
			lines within [range] where {pattern} matches.

:[range]g[lobal]!/{pattern}/[cmd]
			Execute the Ex command [cmd] (default ":p") on the
			lines within [range] where {pattern} does NOT match.

							*:v* *:vglobal*
:[range]v[global]/{pattern}/[cmd]
			Same as :g!.

Instead of the '/' which surrounds the {pattern}, you can use any other
single byte character, but not an alphabetic character, '\', '"' or '|'.
This is useful if you want to include a '/' in the search pattern or
replacement string.

For the definition of a pattern, see |pattern|.

NOTE [cmd] may contain a range; see |collapse| and |edit-paragraph-join| for
examples.

The global commands work by first scanning through the [range] lines and
marking each line where a match occurs (for a multi-line pattern, only the
start of the match matters).
In a second scan the [cmd] is executed for each marked line, as if the cursor
was in that line.  For ":v" and ":g!" the command is executed for each not
marked line.  If a line is deleted its mark disappears.
The default for [range] is the whole buffer (1,$).  Use "CTRL-C" to interrupt
the command.  If an error message is given for a line, the command for that
line is aborted and the global command continues with the next marked or
unmarked line.
								*E147* 
When the command is used recursively, it only works on one line.  Giving a
range is then not allowed. This is useful to find all lines that match a
pattern and do not match another pattern: >
	:g/found/v/notfound/{cmd}
This first finds all lines containing "found", but only executes {cmd} when
there is no match for "notfound".

To execute a non-Ex command, you can use the `:normal` command: >
	:g/pat/normal {commands}
Make sure that {commands} ends with a whole command, otherwise Vim will wait
for you to type the rest of the command for each match.  The screen will not
have been updated, so you don't know what you are doing.  See |:normal|.

The undo/redo command will undo/redo the whole global command at once.
The previous context mark will only be set once (with "''" you go back to
where the cursor was before the global command).

The global command sets both the last used search pattern and the last used
substitute pattern (this is vi compatible).  This makes it easy to globally
replace a string:
	:g/pat/s//PAT/g
This replaces all occurrences of "pat" with "PAT".  The same can be done with:
	:%s/pat/PAT/g
Which is two characters shorter!

When using "global" in Ex mode, a special case is using ":visual" as a
command.  This will move to a matching line, go to Normal mode to let you
execute commands there until you use |Q| to return to Ex mode.  This will be
repeated for each matching line.  While doing this you cannot use ":global".
To abort this type CTRL-C twice.

==============================================================================
3. Complex repeats					*complex-repeat*

							*q* *recording*
q{0-9a-zA-Z"}		Record typed characters into register {0-9a-zA-Z"}
			(uppercase to append).  The 'q' command is disabled
			while executing a register, and it doesn't work inside
			a mapping and |:normal|.

			Note: If the register being used for recording is also
			used for |y| and |p| the result is most likely not
			what is expected, because the put will paste the
			recorded macro and the yank will overwrite the
			recorded macro. {Vi: no recording}

q			Stops recording.  (Implementation note: The 'q' that
			stops recording is not stored in the register, unless
			it was the result of a mapping)  {Vi: no recording}

							*@*
@{0-9a-z".=*+}		Execute the contents of register {0-9a-z".=*+} [count]
			times.  Note that register '%' (name of the current
			file) and '#' (name of the alternate file) cannot be
			used.
			The register is executed like a mapping, that means
			that the difference between 'wildchar' and 'wildcharm'
			applies.
			For "@=" you are prompted to enter an expression.  The
			result of the expression is then executed.
			See also |@:|.  {Vi: only named registers}

							*@@* *E748*
@@			Repeat the previous @{0-9a-z":*} [count] times.

:[addr]*{0-9a-z".=+}						*:@* *:star*
:[addr]@{0-9a-z".=*+}	Execute the contents of register {0-9a-z".=*+} as an Ex
			command.  First set cursor at line [addr] (default is
			current line).  When the last line in the register does
			not have a <CR> it will be added automatically when
			the 'e' flag is present in 'cpoptions'.
			Note that the ":*" command is only recognized when the
			'*' flag is present in 'cpoptions'.  This is NOT the
			default when 'nocompatible' is used.
			For ":@=" the last used expression is used.  The
			result of evaluating the expression is executed as an
			Ex command.
			Mappings are not recognized in these commands.
			{Vi: only in some versions} Future: Will execute the
			register for each line in the address range.

							*:@:*
:[addr]@:		Repeat last command-line.  First set cursor at line
			[addr] (default is current line).  {not in Vi}

:[addr]@							*:@@*
:[addr]@@		Repeat the previous :@{0-9a-z"}.  First set cursor at
			line [addr] (default is current line).  {Vi: only in
			some versions}

==============================================================================
4. Using Vim scripts					*using-scripts*

For writing a Vim script, see chapter 41 of the user manual |usr_41.txt|.

					*:so* *:source* *load-vim-script*
:so[urce] {file}	Read Ex commands from {file}.  These are commands that
			start with a ":".
			Triggers the |SourcePre| autocommand.

:so[urce]! {file}	Read Vim commands from {file}.  These are commands
			that are executed from Normal mode, like you type
			them.
			When used after |:global|, |:argdo|, |:windo|,
			|:bufdo|, in a loop or when another command follows
			the display won't be updated while executing the
			commands.
			{not in Vi}

							*:ru* *:runtime*
:ru[ntime][!] [where] {file} ..
			Read Ex commands from {file} in each directory given
			by 'runtimepath' and/or 'packpath'.  There is no error
			for non-existing files.
			
			Example: >
				:runtime syntax/c.vim

<			There can be multiple {file} arguments, separated by
			spaces.  Each {file} is searched for in the first
			directory from 'runtimepath', then in the second
			directory, etc.  Use a backslash to include a space
			inside {file} (although it's better not to use spaces
			in file names, it causes trouble).

			When [!] is included, all found files are sourced.
			When it is not included only the first found file is
			sourced.

			When [where] is omitted only 'runtimepath' is used.
			Other values:
				START	search under "start" in 'packpath'
				OPT 	search under "opt" in 'packpath'
				PACK	search under "start" and "opt" in
					'packpath'
				ALL	first use 'runtimepath', then search
					under "start" and "opt" in 'packpath'

			When {file} contains wildcards it is expanded to all
			matching files.  Example: >
				:runtime! plugin/*.vim
<			This is what Vim uses to load the plugin files when
			starting up.  This similar command: >
				:runtime plugin/*.vim
<			would source the first file only.

			When 'verbose' is one or higher, there is a message
			when no file could be found.
			When 'verbose' is two or higher, there is a message
			about each searched file.
			{not in Vi}

							*:pa* *:packadd* *E919*
:pa[ckadd][!] {name}	Search for an optional plugin directory in 'packpath'
			and source any plugin files found.  The directory must
			match:
				pack/*/opt/{name} ~
			The directory is added to 'runtimepath' if it wasn't
			there yet.
			If the directory pack/*/opt/{name}/after exists it is
			added at the end of 'runtimepath'.

			If loading packages from "pack/*/start" was skipped,
			then this directory is searched first:
				pack/*/start/{name} ~

			Note that {name} is the directory name, not the name
			of the .vim file.  All the files matching the pattern
				pack/*/opt/{name}/plugin/**/*.vim ~
			will be sourced.  This allows for using subdirectories
			below "plugin", just like with plugins in
			'runtimepath'.

			If the filetype detection was not enabled yet (this
			is usually done with a "syntax enable" or "filetype
			on" command in your .vimrc file), this will also look
			for "{name}/ftdetect/*.vim" files.

			When the optional ! is added no plugin files or
			ftdetect scripts are loaded, only the matching
			directories are added to 'runtimepath'.  This is
			useful in your .vimrc.  The plugins will then be
			loaded during initialization, see |load-plugins|.

			Also see |pack-add|.
			{only available when compiled with +eval}

						*:packl* *:packloadall*
:packl[oadall][!]	Load all packages in the "start" directory under each
			entry in 'packpath'.
			
			First all the directories found are added to
			'runtimepath', then the plugins found in the
			directories are sourced.  This allows for a plugin to
			depend on something of another plugin, e.g. an
			"autoload" directory.  See |packload-two-steps| for
			how this can be useful.

			This is normally done automatically during startup,
			after loading your .vimrc file.  With this command it
			can be done earlier.

			Packages will be loaded only once.  After this command
			it won't happen again.  When the optional ! is added
			this command will load packages even when done before.

			An error only causes sourcing the script where it
			happens to be aborted, further plugins will be loaded.
			See |packages|.
			{only available when compiled with +eval}

:scripte[ncoding] [encoding]		*:scripte* *:scriptencoding* *E167*
			Specify the character encoding used in the script.
			The following lines will be converted from [encoding]
			to the value of the 'encoding' option, if they are
			different.  Examples: >
				scriptencoding iso-8859-5
				scriptencoding cp932
<
			When [encoding] is empty, no conversion is done.  This
			can be used to restrict conversion to a sequence of
			lines: >
				scriptencoding euc-jp
				... lines to be converted ...
				scriptencoding
				... not converted ...

<			When conversion isn't supported by the system, there
			is no error message and no conversion is done.  When a
			line can't be converted there is no error and the
			original line is kept.

			Don't use "ucs-2" or "ucs-4", scripts cannot be in
			these encodings (they would contain NUL bytes).
			When a sourced script starts with a BOM (Byte Order
			Mark) in utf-8 format Vim will recognize it, no need
			to use ":scriptencoding utf-8" then.

			If you set the 'encoding' option in your |.vimrc|,
			`:scriptencoding` must be placed after that. E.g.: >
				set encoding=utf-8
				scriptencoding utf-8
<
			When compiled without the |+multi_byte| feature this
			command is ignored.
			{not in Vi}

						*:scr* *:scriptnames*
:scr[iptnames]		List all sourced script names, in the order they were
			first sourced.  The number is used for the script ID
			|<SID>|.
			{not in Vi} {not available when compiled without the
			|+eval| feature}

						*:fini* *:finish* *E168*
:fini[sh]		Stop sourcing a script.  Can only be used in a Vim
			script file.  This is a quick way to skip the rest of
			the file.  If it is used after a |:try| but before the
			matching |:finally| (if present), the commands
			following the ":finally" up to the matching |:endtry|
			are executed first.  This process applies to all
			nested ":try"s in the script.  The outermost ":endtry"
			then stops sourcing the script.  {not in Vi}

All commands and command sequences can be repeated by putting them in a named
register and then executing it.  There are two ways to get the commands in the
register:
- Use the record command "q".  You type the commands once, and while they are
  being executed they are stored in a register.  Easy, because you can see
  what you are doing.  If you make a mistake, "p"ut the register into the
  file, edit the command sequence, and then delete it into the register
  again.  You can continue recording by appending to the register (use an
  uppercase letter).
- Delete or yank the command sequence into the register.

Often used command sequences can be put under a function key with the ':map'
command.

An alternative is to put the commands in a file, and execute them with the
':source!' command.  Useful for long command sequences.  Can be combined with
the ':map' command to put complicated commands under a function key.

The ':source' command reads Ex commands from a file line by line.  You will
have to type any needed keyboard input.  The ':source!' command reads from a
script file character by character, interpreting each character as if you
typed it.

Example: When you give the ":!ls" command you get the |hit-enter| prompt.  If
you ':source' a file with the line "!ls" in it, you will have to type the
<Enter> yourself.  But if you ':source!' a file with the line ":!ls" in it,
the next characters from that file are read until a <CR> is found.  You will
not have to type <CR> yourself, unless ":!ls" was the last line in the file.

It is possible to put ':source[!]' commands in the script file, so you can
make a top-down hierarchy of script files.  The ':source' command can be
nested as deep as the number of files that can be opened at one time (about
15).  The ':source!' command can be nested up to 15 levels deep.

You can use the "<sfile>" string (literally, this is not a special key) inside
of the sourced file, in places where a file name is expected.  It will be
replaced by the file name of the sourced file.  For example, if you have a
"other.vimrc" file in the same directory as your ".vimrc" file, you can source
it from your ".vimrc" file with this command: >
	:source <sfile>:h/other.vimrc

In script files terminal-dependent key codes are represented by
terminal-independent two character codes.  This means that they can be used
in the same way on different kinds of terminals.  The first character of a
key code is 0x80 or 128, shown on the screen as "~@".  The second one can be
found in the list |key-notation|.  Any of these codes can also be entered
with CTRL-V followed by the three digit decimal code.  This does NOT work for
the <t_xx> termcap codes, these can only be used in mappings.

							*:source_crnl* *W15*
MS-DOS, Win32 and OS/2: Files that are read with ":source" normally have
<CR><NL> <EOL>s.  These always work.  If you are using a file with <NL> <EOL>s
(for example, a file made on Unix), this will be recognized if 'fileformats'
is not empty and the first line does not end in a <CR>.  This fails if the
first line has something like ":map <F1> :help^M", where "^M" is a <CR>.  If
the first line ends in a <CR>, but following ones don't, you will get an error
message, because the <CR> from the first lines will be lost.

Mac Classic: Files that are read with ":source" normally have <CR> <EOL>s.
These always work.  If you are using a file with <NL> <EOL>s (for example, a
file made on Unix), this will be recognized if 'fileformats' is not empty and
the first line does not end in a <CR>.  Be careful not to use a file with <NL>
linebreaks which has a <CR> in first line.

On other systems, Vim expects ":source"ed files to end in a <NL>.  These
always work.  If you are using a file with <CR><NL> <EOL>s (for example, a
file made on MS-DOS), all lines will have a trailing <CR>.  This may cause
problems for some commands (e.g., mappings).  There is no automatic <EOL>
detection, because it's common to start with a line that defines a mapping
that ends in a <CR>, which will confuse the automaton.

							*line-continuation*
Long lines in a ":source"d Ex command script file can be split by inserting
a line continuation symbol "\" (backslash) at the start of the next line.
There can be white space before the backslash, which is ignored.

Example: the lines >
	:set comments=sr:/*,mb:*,el:*/,
		     \://,
		     \b:#,
		     \:%,
		     \n:>,
		     \fb:-
are interpreted as if they were given in one line:
	:set comments=sr:/*,mb:*,el:*/,://,b:#,:%,n:>,fb:-

All leading whitespace characters in the line before a backslash are ignored.
Note however that trailing whitespace in the line before it cannot be
inserted freely; it depends on the position where a command is split up
whether additional whitespace is allowed or not.

When a space is required it's best to put it right after the backslash.  A
space at the end of a line is hard to see and may be accidentally deleted. >
	:syn match Comment
		\ "very long regexp"
		\ keepend

There is a problem with the ":append" and ":insert" commands: >
   :1append
   \asdf
   .
The backslash is seen as a line-continuation symbol, thus this results in the
command: >
   :1appendasdf
   .
To avoid this, add the 'C' flag to the 'cpoptions' option: >
   :set cpo+=C
   :1append
   \asdf
   .
   :set cpo-=C

Note that when the commands are inside a function, you need to add the 'C'
flag when defining the function, it is not relevant when executing it. >
   :set cpo+=C
   :function Foo()
   :1append
   \asdf
   .
   :endfunction
   :set cpo-=C

Rationale:
	Most programs work with a trailing backslash to indicate line
	continuation.  Using this in Vim would cause incompatibility with Vi.
	For example for this Vi mapping: >
		:map xx  asdf\
<	Therefore the unusual leading backslash is used.

==============================================================================
5. Using Vim packages					*packages*

A Vim package is a directory that contains one or more plugins.  The
advantages over normal plugins:
- A package can be downloaded as an archive and unpacked in its own directory.
  Thus the files are not mixed with files of other plugins.  That makes it
  easy to update and remove.
- A package can be a git, mercurial, etc. repository.  That makes it really
  easy to update.
- A package can contain multiple plugins that depend on each other.
- A package can contain plugins that are automatically loaded on startup and
  ones that are only loaded when needed with `:packadd`.


Using a package and loading automatically ~

Let's assume your Vim files are in the "~/.vim" directory and you want to add a
package from a zip archive "/tmp/foopack.zip":
	% mkdir -p ~/.vim/pack/foo
	% cd ~/.vim/pack/foo
	% unzip /tmp/foopack.zip

The directory name "foo" is arbitrary, you can pick anything you like.

You would now have these files under ~/.vim:
	pack/foo/README.txt
	pack/foo/start/foobar/plugin/foo.vim
	pack/foo/start/foobar/syntax/some.vim
	pack/foo/opt/foodebug/plugin/debugger.vim

When Vim starts up, after processing your .vimrc, it scans all directories in
'packpath' for plugins under the "pack/*/start" directory.  First all those
directories are added to 'runtimepath'.  Then all the plugins are loaded.
See |packload-two-steps| for how these two steps can be useful.

In the example Vim will find "pack/foo/start/foobar/plugin/foo.vim" and adds 
"~/.vim/pack/foo/start/foobar" to 'runtimepath'.

If the "foobar" plugin kicks in and sets the 'filetype' to "some", Vim will
find the syntax/some.vim file, because its directory is in 'runtimepath'.

Vim will also load ftdetect files, if there are any.

Note that the files under "pack/foo/opt" are not loaded automatically, only the
ones under "pack/foo/start".  See |pack-add| below for how the "opt" directory
is used.

Loading packages automatically will not happen if loading plugins is disabled,
see |load-plugins|.

To load packages earlier, so that 'runtimepath' gets updated: >
	:packload