7 tips for using VIM as a PRO

I came (a contraction of Vi IMprov, in Portuguese "Vi Melhor") a clone of the text editor program saw to Bill Joy's Unix. J o saw, was written by Bram Moolenaar. O I came It is intended for use from either a command line interface or an isolated application on a graphical user interface.

It is free and open source software launched under a license that includes some charitable clauses, encouraging users who join the software to consider giving to Ugandan children.

Among the many features of Vim, we can mention some highlights.

• Support for regular expressions in searches, with several standard length regular expression syntax;
• Syntax highlighting (supporting over 500 languages);
• Spell checker (version 7.0+);
• Various colorschemes;
• And hundreds of very peculiar features.

Among facilities and features, let's see 7 tips for using VIM as a PRO.

1 – Opening multiple files

If you want to work on one file and at the same time view the contents of other files, then you can open them simultaneously with single view.

You can open both vertically using the parameter -O (tiny) using the command:

vim -o file1.c file2.sh fileN.nnn

The output will be similar to the content of the image below:

Or if you wish, you can also open multiple files horizontally using -O (MORE)

Not to mention that you can open them later using the command:

split filename

2 – Getting the morning with Gvim

If you want to adapt quickly to Vim, you might want to start using Gvim, for example. Gvim is Vim with graphical interface, that is, it works all commands equally, including the settings, however it has some features of its own, similar to conventional editors. Between them:

• Document conversion;
• Various themes and colors;
• Easy setup of font family, font size and more;

In addition each menu has the possibility to execute it via command, informing you the command. That is, you learn by using.

Below are some screens that show the Gvim menu content.

3 – Replace string words

Many text and IDE editors support Regular ExpressionsHowever, each has a limitation. But Vim has a custom support, friend, everything can be customized. There are even the customization of "hands on the wheel", to find and replace them there are several ways, however, I will give you the simplest tip. Suppose we want to change all the words 'vi' to 'Vim', easier and faster than you think, just press ESC and write the command below, the g at the end for all occurrences, if you wanted a single change, just insert it:

The space after the saw was purposeful not to change also came

 :% s/vi /Vim/g
 

4 – Key Mapping

You need to know that all keys are mappable in Vim, but as a basic tip, let's assume you're tired of typing : ggVG to select everything then you just have to map the key F12 , just give ESC and enter the command below:

 :map  ggVG? 
 

From now on every time you are in NORMAL mode, just press F12 and you will select everything!

5 – Fast Navigation

This special for those who work with Software Development. Often the compiler / interpreter tells us the line number of the software execution or compilation error, and generally scrolling the mouse cursor to keep looking for the line, a real waste of time, in Vim you can easily browse the file. For example, the compiler told you that errors were found in the lines: 1370, 846 and in line 3 so you just type: ESC : 1370 you go straight to this line and back to the other lines, resolving the bugs, ops, sorry, word now faster and less stressfully Feature .