*vim_win.txt* For Vim version 4.5. Last modification: 1996 Aug 6 Editing with multiple windows and buffers. The commands which have been added to use multiple windows and buffers are explained here. Additionally, there are explanations for commands that work differently when used in combination with more than one window. A window is a viewport onto a buffer. You can use multiple windows on one buffer, or several windows on different buffers. A buffer is a file loaded into memory for editing. The original file remains unchanged until you write the buffer to the file. A buffer can be in one of three states: *active_buffer* active: The buffer is displayed in a window. If there is a file for this buffer, it has been read into the buffer. The buffer may have been modified. *hidden_buffer* hidden: The buffer is not displayed. If there is a file for this buffer, it has been read into the buffer. The buffer may have been modified. *inactive_buffer* inactive: The buffer is not displayed and does not contain anything. Options for the buffer are remembered if the file was once loaded. In a table: state displayed loaded ":buffers" in window shows active yes yes ' ' hidden no yes 'h' inactive no no '-' Starting Vim ------------ By default, Vim starts with one window, just like Vi. The "-o" argument to Vim can be used to open a window for each file in the argument list: "Vim -o file1 file2 file3" will open three windows. "-oN", where N is a decimal number, opens N windows. If there are more filenames than windows, only N windows are opened and some files do not get a window. If there are more windows than filenames, the last few windows will be editing empty buffers. If there are many filenames, the windows will become very small. You might want to set the 'winheight' option to create a workable situation. Buf/Win Enter/Leave autocommands are not executed when opening the new windows and reading the files, that's only done when they are really entered. *status_line* A status line will be used to separate windows. The 'laststatus' option tells when the last window also has a status line: 'laststatus' = 0 never a status line 'laststatus' = 1 status line if there is more than one window 'laststatus' = 2 always a status line Normally, inversion is used to display the status line. This can be changed with the 's' character in the 'highlight' option. For example, "sb" sets it to bold characters. If no highlighting is used for the status line ("sn"), the '=' character is used. If the mouse is supported and enabled with the 'mouse' option, a status line can be dragged to resize windows. Note: If you expect your status line to be in reverse video and it isn't, check if the 'highlight' option contains "si". In version 3.0, this meant to invert the status line. Now it should be "sr", reverse the status line, as "si" now stands for italic! If italic is not available on your terminal, the status line is inverted anyway; you will only see this problem on terminals that have termcap codes for italics. Opening a new window -------------------- CTRL-W s *CTRL-W_s* CTRL-W S *CTRL-W_S* CTRL-W CTRL-S *CTRL-W_CTRL-S* :[N]sp[lit] *:sp* *:split* Split current window in two. The result is two viewports on the same file. Make new window N high (default is to use half the height of the current window). Reduces the current window height to create room (and others, if the 'equalalways' option is set). (Note: CTRL-S does not work on all terminals). CTRL-W n *CTRL-W_n* CTRL-W CTRL_N *CTRL-W_CTRL-N* :[N]new *:new* Create a new window and start editing an empty file in it. Make new window N high (default is to use half the existing height). Reduces the current window height to create room (and others, if the 'equalalways' option is set). :[N]new [+command] {file} :[N]split [+command] {file} *:split_f* Create a new window and start editing file {file} in it. If [+command] is given, execute the command when the file has been loaded. Make new window N high (default is to use half the existing height). Reduces the current window height to create room (and others, if the 'equalalways' option is set). :[N]sv[iew] [+command] {file} *:sv* *:sview* Same as ":split", but set 'readonly' option for this buffer. CTRL-W CTRL-^ *CTRL-W_CTRL-^* *CTRL-W_^* CTRL-W ^ Does ":split #", split window in two and edit alternate file. When a count is given, it becomes ":split #N", split window and edit buffer N. Closing a window ---------------- CTRL-W q *CTRL-W_q* CTRL-W CTRL-Q *CTRL-W_CTRL-Q* :quit Quit current window, unless the buffer was changed and there are no other windows for this buffer. When quitting the last window (not counting help windows), exit Vim. (Note: CTRL-Q does not work on all terminals) :quit! Quit current window. If this was the last window for a buffer, any changes to that buffer are lost. When quitting the last window (not counting help windows), exit Vim. CTRL-W CTRL-C *CTRL-W_CTRL-C* CTRL-W c *CTRL-W_c* *:clo* *:close* :clo[se] Quit current window, unless it is the last window on the screen. The buffer becomes hidden (unless there is another window editing it). (Note: CTRL-W CTRL-C does not work). CTRL-W o *CTRL-W_o* CTRL-W CTRL-O *CTRL-W_CTRL-O* *:on* *:only* :on[ly] Make the current window the only one on the screen. All other windows are closed. All buffers in the other windows become hidden. Moving the cursor to other windows ---------------------------------- CTRL-W *CTRL-W_* CTRL-W CTRL-J *CTRL-W_CTRL-J* *CTRL-W_j* CTRL-W j move cursor to Nth window below current one. CTRL-W *CTRL-W_* CTRL-W CTRL-K *CTRL-W_CTRL-K* *CTRL-W_k* CTRL-W k move cursor to Nth window above current one. CTRL-W w *CTRL-W_w* *CTRL-W_CTRL-W* CTRL-W CTRL-W Without count: move cursor to window below current one. If there is no window below, go to top window. With count: go to Nth window. *CTRL-W_W* CTRL-W W Without count: move cursor to window above current one. If there is no window above, go to bottom window. With count: go to Nth window. CTRL-W t *CTRL-W_t* *CTRL-W_CTRL-T* CTRL-W CTRL-T move cursor to top window. CTRL-W b *CTRL-W_b* *CTRL-W_CTRL-B* CTRL-W CTRL-B move cursor to bottom window. CTRL-W p *CTRL-W_p* *CTRL-W_CTRL-P* CTRL-W CTRL-P go to previous (last accessed) window. If Visual mode is active and the new window is not for the same buffer, the Visual mode is ended. Moving windows around --------------------- CTRL-W r *CTRL-W_r* *CTRL-W_CTRL-R* CTRL-W CTRL-R Rotate windows downwards. The first window becomes the second one, the second one becomes the third one, etc. The last window becomes the first window. The cursor remains in the same window. *CTRL-W_R* CTRL-W R Rotate windows upwards. The second window becomes the first one, the third one becomes the second one, etc. The first window becomes the last window. The cursor remains in the same window. CTRL-W x *CTRL-W_x* *CTRL-W_CTRL-X* CTRL-W CTRL-X Without count: Exchange current window with next one. If there is no next window, exchange with previous window. With count: Exchange current window with Nth window (first window is 1). The cursor is put in the other window. Window resizing --------------- *CTRL-W_=* CTRL-W = make all windows (almost) equally high. :res[ize] -N *:res* *:resize* *CTRL-W_-* CTRL-W - decrease current window height by N :resize +N *CTRL-W_+* CTRL-W + increase current window height by N :resize [N] CTRL-W CTRL-_ *CTRL-W_CTRL-_* *CTRL-W__* CTRL-W _ set current window height to N (default: highest possible) z set current window height to nr You can also resize the window by dragging a status line up or down with the mouse. This only works if the version of Vim that is being used supports the mouse and the 'mouse' option has been set to enable it. The option 'winheight' ('wh') is used to set the minimal window height of the current window. This option is used each time another window becomes the current window. If the option is '0', it is disabled. Set 'winheight' to a very large value, e.g., '9999', to make the current window always fill all available space. Set it to a reasonable value, e.g., '10', to make editing in the current window comfortable. When the option 'equalalways' ('ea') is set, all the windows are automatically made the same size after splitting or closing a window. If you don't set this option, splitting a window will reduce the size of the current window and leave the other windows the same. When closing a window, the extra lines are given to the window above it. The option 'commandheight' ('ch') is used to set the height of the command line. If you are annoyed by the "Hit RETURN to continue" questions for long messages, set this option to 2 or 3. If there is only one window, resizing that window will also change the command line height. If there are several windows, resizing the current window will also change the height of the window below it (and sometimes the window above it). Exiting Vim with multiple windows or buffers -------------------------------------------- *:qa* *:qall* :qa[ll] Exit Vim, unless there are some buffers which have been changed. (Use ":bmod" to go to the next modified buffer). :qall! Exit Vim. Any changes to buffers are lost. :wqa[ll] *:wqa* *:wqall* *:xa* *:xall* :xa[ll] Write all changed buffers and exit Vim. If there are buffers without a file name, which are readonly or which cannot be written for another reason, Vim is not quit. :wqall! :xall! Write all changed buffers, even the ones that are readonly, and exit Vim. If there are buffers without a file name or which cannot be written for another reason, Vim is not quit. Writing with multiple buffers ----------------------------- *:wa* *:wall* :wa[ll] Write all changed buffers. Buffers without a file name or which are readonly are not written. :wa[ll]! Write all changed buffers, even the ones that are readonly. Buffers without a file name are not written. Overview of argument and buffer list commands --------------------------------------------- args list buffer list meaning 1. :[N]argument [N] 11. :[N]buffer [N] to arg/buf N 2. :[N]next [file ..] 12. :[N]bnext [N] to Nth next arg/buf 3. :[N]Next [N] 13. :[N]bNext [N] to Nth previous arg/buf 4. :[N]previous [N] 14. :[N]bprevious [N] to Nth previous arg/buf 5. :rewind 15. :brewind to first arg/buf 6. :last 16. :blast to last arg/buf 7. :all 17. :ball edit all args/buffers 18. :unhide edit all loaded buffers 19. :[N]bmod [N] to Nth modified buf split & args list split & buffer list meaning 21. :[N]sargument [N] 31. :[N]sbuffer [N] split + to arg/buf N 22. :[N]snext [file ..] 32. :[N]sbnext [N] split + to Nth next arg/buf 23. :[N]sNext [N] 33. :[N]sbNext [N] split + to Nth previous arg/buf 24. :[N]sprevious [N] 34. :[N]sbprevious [N] split + to Nth previous arg/buf 25. :srewind 35. :sbrewind split + to first arg/buf 26. :slast 36. :sblast split + to last arg/buf 27. :sall 37: :sball edit all args/buffers 38. :sunhide edit all loaded buffers 39. :[N]sbmod [N] split + to Nth modified buf 40. :args list of arguments 41. :buffers list of buffers The meaning of [N] depends on the command: [N] is number of buffers to go forward/backward on ?2, ?3, and ?4 [N] is an argument number, defaulting to current argument, for 1 and 21 [N] is a buffer number, defaulting to current buffer, for 11 and 31 [N] is a count for 19 and 39 Note: ":next" is an exception, because it must accept a list of file names for compatibility with Vi. The argument list and multiple windows -------------------------------------- The current position in the argument list can be different for each window. Remember that when doing ":e file", the position in the argument list stays the same, but you are not editing the file at that position. To indicate this, the file message (and the title, if you have one) shows "(file (N) of M)", where "(N)" is the current position in the file list, and "M" the number of files in the file list. All the entries in the argument list are added to the buffer list. Thus, you can also get to them with the buffer list commands, like ":bnext". :[N]al[l] [N] *:al* *:all* *:sal* *:sall* :[N]sal[l] [N] Rearrange the screen to open one window for each argument. All other windows are closed (buffers become hidden). When a count is given, this is the maximum number of windows to open. Buf/Win Enter/Leave autocommands are not executed for the new windows here, that's only done when they are really entered. :[N]sa[rgument][!] [N] *:sa* *:sargument* Short for ":split | argument [N]": split window and go to Nth argument. But when there is no such argument, the window is not split. :[N]sn[ext][!] [file ..] *:sn* *:snext* Short for ":split | [N]next": split window and go to Nth next argument. But when there is no next file, the window is not split. :[N]spr[evious][!] [N] *:spr* *:sprevious* :[N]sN[ext][!] [N] *:sN* *:sNext* Short for ":split | [N]Next": split window and go to Nth previous argument. But when there is no previous file, the window is not split. *:sr* *:srewind* :sr[ewind][!] Short for ":split | rewind": split window and go to first argument. But when there is no argument list, the window is not split. *:sla* *:slast* :sla[st][!] Short for ":split | last": split window and go to last argument. But when there is no argument list, the window is not split. Tag or file name under the cursor --------------------------------- *:sta* *:stag* :sta[g][!] [tagname] Does ":tag[!] [tagname]" and splits the window for the found tag. See also |:tag|. CTRL-W ] *CTRL-W_]* *CTRL-W_CTRL-]* CTRL-W CTRL-] split current window in two. Use identifier under cursor as a tag and jump to it in the new upper window. Make new window N high. CTRL-W f *CTRL-W_f* *CTRL-W_CTRL-F* CTRL-W CTRL-F split current window in two. Edit file name under cursor. Like ":split ]f", but window isn't split if the file does not exist. Uses the 'path' variable as a list of directory names where to look for the file. Also the path for current file is used to search for the file name. If the name is a hypertext link that looks like "type://machine/path", only "/path" is used. Using hidden buffers -------------------- A hidden buffer is not displayed in a window, but is still loaded into memory. This makes it possible to jump from file to file, without the need to read or write the file every time and having to keep the file in a window. If the option 'hidden' ('hid') is set, abandoned buffers are kept for all commands that start editing another file: ":edit", ":next", ":tag", etc. The commands that move through the buffer list make the current buffer hidden although the 'hidden' option is not set (see below). You can make a hidden buffer not hidden by starting to edit it with any command. Or by deleting it with the ":bdelete" command. *hidden_quit* When you try to quit Vim while there is a hidden, modified buffer, you will get an error message and Vim will make that buffer the current buffer. You can then decide to write this buffer (":wq") or quit without writing (":q!"). Be careful: there may be more hidden, modified buffers! :files *:files* :buffers *:buffers* *:ls* :ls Show all buffers. Example: 1 #h "/test/text" line 1 2 - "asdf" line 0 3 % + "version.c" line 1 Each buffer has a unique number. That number will not change, so you can always go to a specific buffer with ":buffer N" or "N CTRL-^", where N is the buffer number. '-' indicates a buffer that is not loaded. 'h' indicates a hidden buffer: It is loaded, but currently not displayed in a window. '%' indicates the buffer in the current window. '#' indicates the alternate buffer for ":e #" or CTRL-^. '+' indicates a modified buffer. :[N]bd[elete] *:bd* *:bdelete* :bd[elete] [N] Unload buffer [N] (default: current buffer) and delete it from the buffer list. If the buffer was changed, this fails. The file remains unaffected. Any windows for this buffer are closed. If buffer [N] is the current buffer, the next buffer (displayed in a window) becomes the current buffer. :[N]bdelete! :bdelete! [N] Unload buffer [N] (default: current buffer) and delete it from the buffer list. If the buffer was changed the changes are lost. The file remains unaffected. Any windows for this buffer are closed. If buffer [N] is the current buffer, the next buffer (displayed in a window) becomes the current buffer. :bdelete[!] {bufname} Like ":bdelete[!] [N]", but buffer given by name. Note that a buffer whose name is a number cannot be referenced by that name; use the buffer number instead. Insert a backslash before a space in a buffer name. :N,Mbdelete[!] do ":bdelete[!]" for all buffers in the range N to M (inclusive). :bdelete[!] N1 N2 ... do ":bdelete[!]" for buffer N1, N2, etc. The arguments can be buffer numbers or buffer names (but not buffer names that are a number). Insert a backslash before a space in a buffer name. :[N]bun[load] *:bun* *:bunload* :bun[load] [N] Unload buffer [N] (default: current buffer). The memory allocated for this buffer will be freed. The buffer remains in the buffer list. If the buffer was changed, this fails. Any windows for this buffer are closed. If buffer [N] is the current buffer, the next buffer (displayed in a window) becomes the current buffer. :[N]bunload! :bunload! [N] Unload buffer [N] (default: current buffer). The memory allocated for this buffer will be freed. The buffer remains in the buffer list. If the buffer was changed, the changes are lost. Any windows for this buffer are closed. If buffer [N] is the current buffer, the next buffer (displayed in a window) becomes the current buffer. :bunload[!] {bufname} Like ":bunload[!] [N]", but buffer given by name. Note that a buffer whose name is a number cannot be referenced by that name; use the buffer number instead. Insert a backslash before a space in a buffer name. :N,Mbunload[!] do ":bunload[!]" for all buffers in the range N to M (inclusive). :bunload[!] N1 N2 ... do ":bunload[!]" for buffer N1, N2, etc. The arguments can be buffer numbers or buffer names (but not buffer names that are a number). Insert a backslash before a space in a buffer name. :[N]b[uffer] [N] *:b* *:buffer* Edit buffer [N] from the buffer list. If [N] is not given, the current buffer remains being edited. :[N]b[uffer] {filename} Edit buffer for {filename} from the buffer list. :[N]sb[uffer] [N] *:sb* *:sbuffer* Split window and edit buffer [N] from the buffer list. If [N] is not given, the current buffer is edited. :[N]sb[uffer] {filename} Split window and edit buffer for {filename} from the buffer list. *:bn* *:bnext* :[N]bn[ext] [N] Go to [N]th next buffer in buffer list. [N] defaults to one. Wraps around the end of the buffer list. *:sbn* *:sbnext* :[N]sbn[ext] [N] Split window and go to [N]th next buffer in buffer list. Wraps around the end of the buffer list. :[N]bN[ext] [N] *:bN* *:bNext* *:bp* *:bprevious* :[N]bp[revious] [N] Go to [N]th previous buffer in buffer list. [N] defaults to one. Wraps around the start of the buffer list. :[N]sbN[ext] [N] *:sbN* *:sbNext* *:sbp* *:sbprevious* :[N]sbp[revious] [N] Split window and go to [N]th previous buffer in buffer list. Wraps around the start of the buffer list. *:br* *:brewind* :br[ewind] Go to first buffer in buffer list. *:sbr* *:sbrewind* :sbr[ewind] Split window and go to first buffer in buffer list *:bl* *:blast* :bl[ast] Go to last buffer in buffer list. *:sbl* *:sblast* :sbl[ast] Split window and go to last buffer in buffer list. :[N]bm[odified] [N] *:bm* *:bmodified* Go to [N]th next modified buffer in buffer list. :[N]sbm[odified] [N] *:sbm* *:sbmodified* Split window and go to [N]th next modified buffer in buffer list. :[N]unh[ide] [N] *:unh* *:unhide* *:sun* *:sunhide* :[N]sun[hide] [N] Rearrange the screen to open one window for each loaded buffer in the buffer list. When a count is given, this is the maximum number of windows to open. :[N]ba[ll] [N] *:ba* *:ball* *:sba* *:sball* :[N]sba[ll] [N] Rearrange the screen to open one window for each buffer in the buffer list. When a count is given, this is the maximum number of windows to open. Buf/Win Enter/Leave autocommands are not executed for the new windows here, that's only done when they are really entered. Memory usage limits ------------------- The option 'maxmem' ('mm') is used to set the maximum memory used for one buffer (in kilobytes). 'maxmemtot' is used to set the maximum memory used for all buffers (in kilobytes). The defaults depend on the system used. For the Amiga and MS-DOS, 'maxmemtot' is set depending on the amount of memory available. If you don't like Vim to swap to a file, set 'maxmem' and 'maxmemtot' to a very large value. The swapfile will then only be used for recovery. If you don't want a swapfile at all, set 'updatecount' to 0, or use the "-n" argument when starting Vim. Note that the 'maxmem' option is only used when a buffer is created. Changing this option does not affect buffers that have already been loaded. Thus you can set it to different values for different files. 'maxmemtot' works always. vim:ts=8:sw=8:js:tw=78:fo=tcq2:isk=!-~,^*,^\|,^\":