Editing Files

Question 1

How do I load a file in Vim for editing?

Answer 1

:e
1. The simplest is to use the “:e” (:edit) command:
:e

2. :n or :args also work.

Question 2

How do I save the current file in another name (save as) and edit a new file?

Answer 2

:saveas

To save the current file in another name:

:saveas 

Alternatively, you can also use the following commands:

:w 
:edit #

You can also use the “:file” command, followed by “:w” command:

:file 
:w

Question 3

How do I change the current directory to the directory of the current file?

Answer 3

:cd %:p:h

Question 4

To automatically change the current directory to the directory of the
current file, simply set the option

Answer 4

:set autochdir

Question 5

How do I edit a file whose name is under the cursor?

Answer 5

gf

Question 6

Open a new tab page that contains the

file name under the cursor.

Answer 6

CTRL-W gf

Question 7

How do I reload/re-edit the current file?

Answer 7

:edit
You can use the “:edit” command, without specifying a file name, to reload
the current file. If you have made modifications to the file, you can use
“:edit!” to force the reload of the current file (you will lose your
modifications, but depending on your ‘undoreload’ settings, those
changes might be saved into the undo history).

Question 8

How do I open a file in read-only mode?

Answer 8

:view filename

Question 9

How do I open multiple files at once from within Vim?

Answer 9

:next f1.txt f2.txt
:next *.c

After loading the files, you can use the “:next” and “:prev” command to switch between the files.

Question 10

Difference between args, buffers, tabs and windows

Answer 10

Make a difference between args, buffers, tabs and windows. They are all
different things in VIM.

args is a list of arguments. Buffers are place to edit text, almost
always attached to a file but not necessarily. Window is a place for a
buffer and tab is set of windows, better name would be ‘layout’.

Question 11

Open several files in Vim, with each file in a separate

window/tab.

Answer 11

$ vim -o3 f1.txt f2.txt f3.txt

Will open the files f1.txt, f2.txt and f3.txt in three separate horizontally split Vim windows.

$ vim -p f1.txt f2.txt f3.txt

Will open the files f1.txt, f2.txt and f3.txt in three separate tab windows.

Question 12

How do I browse/explore directories from within Vim?

Answer 12

Start the file explorer using one of the following commands:

:Explore

From the file explorer, you can browse through directories, rename, delete and edit files.

Question 13

How do I configure Vim to auto-save a modified buffer when switching to another buffer?

Answer 13

:set autowrite

Question 14

Ways other than :Explore for browsing/exploring directories from within Vim

Answer 14

\:e 
    :Explore
    :Sexplore
    :Vexplore
    :Texplore

From the file explorer, you can browse through directories, rename, delete
and edit files.

Question 15

8.3. How do I replace the buffer in the current window with a blank buffer?

Answer 15

:enew

Question 16

8.5. How do I open all the current buffers in separate windows?

Answer 16

:tab :sball

You can use the “:ball” or “:sball” commands to open all the buffers
in the buffer list:

:ball

If you want all buffers to be opened in new tabs, simply prefix the :tab command:

:tab :sball

Question 17

How do I close (delete) a buffer without exiting Vim?

Answer 17

:bdelete file1

You can use any of “:bdelete”, “:bwipeout” or “:bunload” commands to delete a buffer without exiting Vim. For example:

Question 18

Open the next buffer

Answer 18

:bn

Short for :bnext (next buffer)

Question 19

9.1. What is the difference between a Vim window and a buffer? *** IMPORTANT

Answer 19

A Vim buffer is a file loaded into memory for editing. The original file remains unchanged until you write the buffer to the file.
A Vim window is a viewport onto a buffer. You can use multiple windows on one buffer or several windows on different buffers.

Question 20

Close all the windows except the current

window

Answer 20

:on

Short for: “:only”