vim.md

Make tabs visible

# Make tabs visible
:set list listchars+=tab:\|\-\>

# Show trailing spaces
:set list listchars+=trail:%

# Do not show the end-of-line with a $ character
:set listchars-=eol:\$

# See current settings
:set listchars?

# Edit current settings
:set listchars=<Tab>

# Disable all
:set nolist

Configure indentation

To indent with two spaces

:set ts=2 sw=2 expandtab

To indent with tabs, but make them appear with width 4:

:set ts=4 sw=4 noexpandtab

Manual indentation

You can use >[motion] and <[motion] to indent or de-indent a chunk of code, or >> and << for a single line.

For example: {>} will move to the start of a paragraph (block), and then indent all lines from there to the end of the paragraph (block).

Automatic indentation

You can use =[motion] to automatically indent some lines. For example vip= to select a paragraph and then reindent it.

For automatic indentation, you will need the correct filetype, and there are some options you can tweak. Try experimenting with these:

:setfiletype bash autoindent smartindent nocindent

:setfiletype javascript autoindent cindent

Paste without reindenting

CTRL-R CTRL-O {register}

Registers + and * are used for the system clipboard.

Paste something you had earlier

Look at the registers, then choose which number register you want to paste.

:reg

"4P

Change Vim's working folder to that of the current file

:cd %:p:h

Put a file explorer in the sidebar

See: vim_use_netrw_as_a_file_tree_sidebar.md

The fastest way to quit Vim

Hit ZZ to save your changes, and quit Vim.

Hit ZQ to discard your changes, and quit Vim.