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*autocmd.txt* For Vim version 6.0. Last change: 2001 Sep 03 VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar Automatic commands *autocommand* For a basic explanation, see section |40.3| in the user manual. 1. Introduction |autocmd-intro| 2. Defining autocommands |autocmd-define| 3. Removing autocommands |autocmd-remove| 4. Listing autocommands |autocmd-list| 5. Events |autocmd-events| 6. Patterns |autocmd-patterns| 7. Groups |autocmd-groups| 8. Executing autocommands |autocmd-execute| 9. Using autocommands |autocmd-use| {Vi does not have any of these commands} ============================================================================== 1. Introduction *autocmd-intro* You can specify commands to be executed automatically for when reading or writing a file, when entering or leaving a buffer or window, and when exiting Vim. For example, you can create an autocommand to set the 'cindent' option for files matching *.c. You can also use autocommands to implement advanced features, such as editing compressed files (see |gzip-example|). The usual place to put autocommands is in your .vimrc or .exrc file. *E203* *E204* *E143* WARNING: Using autocommands is very powerful, and may lead to unexpected side effects. Be careful not to destroy your text. - It's a good idea to do some testing on an expendable copy of a file first. For example: If you use autocommands to decompress a file when starting to edit it, make sure that the autocommands for compressing when writing work correctly. - Be prepared for an error halfway through (e.g., disk full). Vim will mostly be able to undo the changes to the buffer, but you may have to clean up the changes to other files by hand (e.g., compress a file that has been decompressed). - If the BufRead* events allow you to edit a compressed file, the FileRead* events should do the same (this makes recovery possible in some rare cases). It's a good idea to use the same autocommands for the File* and Buf* events when possible. The |+autocmd| feature is only included if it has not been disabled at compile time. ============================================================================== 2. Defining autocommands *autocmd-define* Note: The ":autocmd" command cannot be followed by another command, since any '|' is considered part of the command. *:au* *:autocmd* :au[tocmd] [group] {event} {pat} [nested] {cmd} Add {cmd} to the list of commands that Vim will execute automatically on {event} for a file matching {pat}. Vim always adds the {cmd} after existing autocommands, so that the autocommands execute in the order in which they were given. See |autocmd-nested| for [nested]. Note that special characters (e.g., "%", "<cword>") in the ":autocmd" arguments are not expanded when the autocommand is defined. These will be expanded when the Event is recognized, and the {cmd} is executed. The only exception is that "<sfile>" is expanded when the autocmd is defined. Example: > :au BufNewFile,BufRead *.html so <sfile>:h/html.vim Here Vim expands <sfile> to the name of the file containing this line. When your .vimrc file is sourced twice, the autocommands will appear twice. To avoid this, put this command in your .vimrc file, before defining autocommands: > :autocmd! " Remove ALL autocommands for the current group. If you don't want to remove all autocommands, you can instead use a variable to ensure that Vim includes the autocommands only once: > :if !exists("autocommands_loaded") : let autocommands_loaded = 1 : au ... :endif When the [group] argument is not given, Vim uses the current group (as defined with ":augroup"); otherwise, Vim uses the group defined with [group]. Note that [group] must have been defined before. You cannot define a new group with ":au group ..."; use ":augroup" for that. While testing autocommands, you might find the 'verbose' option to be useful: > :set verbose=9 This setting makes Vim echo the autocommands as it executes them. When defining an autocommand in a script, it will be able to call functions local to the script and use mappings local to the script. When the event is triggered and the command executed, it will run in the context of the script it was defined in. This matters if |<SID>| is used in a command. When executing the commands, the messages from one command overwrites a previous message. This is different from when executing the commands manually. Mostly the screen will not scroll up, thus there is no hit-enter prompt. When one command outputs two messages this can happen anyway. ============================================================================== 3. Removing autocommands *autocmd-remove* :au[tocmd]! [group] {event} {pat} [nested] {cmd} Remove all autocommands associated with {event} and {pat}, and add the command {cmd}. See |autocmd-nested| for [nested]. :au[tocmd]! [group] {event} {pat} Remove all autocommands associated with {event} and {pat}. :au[tocmd]! [group] * {pat} Remove all autocommands associated with {pat} for all events. :au[tocmd]! [group] {event} Remove ALL autocommands for {event}. :au[tocmd]! [group] Remove ALL autocommands. When the [group] argument is not given, Vim uses the current group (as defined with ":augroup"); otherwise, Vim uses the group defined with [group]. ============================================================================== 4. Listing autocommands *autocmd-list* :au[tocmd] [group] {event} {pat} Show the autocommands associated with {event} and {pat}. :au[tocmd] [group] * {pat} Show the autocommands associated with {pat} for all events. :au[tocmd] [group] {event} Show all autocommands for {event}. :au[tocmd] [group] Show all autocommands. If you provide the [group] argument, Vim lists only the autocommands for [group]; otherwise, Vim lists the autocommands for ALL groups. Note that this argument behavior differs from that for defining and removing autocommands. ============================================================================== 5. Events *autocmd-events* *E215* *E216* *autocommand-events* *{event}* Vim recognizes the following events. Vim ignores the case of event names (e.g., you can use "BUFread" or "bufread" instead of "BufRead"). *BufNewFile* BufNewFile When starting to edit a file that doesn't exist. Can be used to read in a skeleton file. *BufReadPre* *E200* *E201* BufReadPre When starting to edit a new buffer, before reading the file into the buffer. Not used if the file doesn't exist. *BufRead* *BufReadPost* BufRead or BufReadPost When starting to edit a new buffer, after reading the file into the buffer, before executing the modelines. This does NOT work for ":r file". Not used when the file doesn't exist. Also used after successfully recovering a file. *BufReadCmd* BufReadCmd Before starting to edit a new buffer. Should read the file into the buffer. |Cmd-event| *BufFilePre* BufFilePre Before changing the name of the current buffer with the ":file" command. *BufFilePost* BufFilePost After changing the name of the current buffer with the ":file" command. *FileReadPre* FileReadPre Before reading a file with a ":read" command. *FileReadPost* FileReadPost After reading a file with a ":read" command. Note that Vim sets the '[ and '] marks to the first and last line of the read. This can be used to operate on the lines just read. *FileReadCmd* FileReadCmd Before reading a file with a ":read" command. Should do the reading of the file. |Cmd-event| *FilterReadPre* *E135* FilterReadPre Before reading a file from a filter command. Vim checks the pattern against the name of the current buffer, not the name of the temporary file that is the output of the filter command. *FilterReadPost* FilterReadPost After reading a file from a filter command. Vim checks the pattern against the name of the current buffer as with FilterReadPre. *FileType* FileType When the 'filetype' option has been set. <afile> can be used for the name of the file where this option was set, and <amatch> for the new value of 'filetype'. See |filetypes|. *Syntax* Syntax When the 'syntax' option has been set. <afile> can be used for the name of the file where this option was set, and <amatch> for the new value of 'syntax'. See |:syn-on|. *StdinReadPre* StdinReadPre Before reading from stdin into the buffer. Only used when the "-" argument was used when Vim was started |--|. *StdinReadPost* StdinReadPost After reading from the stdin into the buffer, before executing the modelines. Only used when the "-" argument was used when Vim was started |--|. *BufWrite* *BufWritePre* BufWrite or BufWritePre Before writing the whole buffer to a file. *BufWritePost* BufWritePost After writing the whole buffer to a file (should undo the commands for BufWritePre). *BufWriteCmd* BufWriteCmd Before writing the whole buffer to a file. Should do the writing of the file and reset 'modified' if successful. The buffer contents should not be changed. |Cmd-event| *FileWritePre* FileWritePre Before writing to a file, when not writing the whole buffer. *FileWritePost* FileWritePost After writing to a file, when not writing the whole buffer. *FileWriteCmd* FileWriteCmd Before writing to a file, when not writing the whole buffer. Should do the writing to the file. Should not change the buffer. |Cmd-event| *FileAppendPre* FileAppendPre Before appending to a file. *FileAppendPost* FileAppendPost After appending to a file. *FileAppendCmd* FileAppendCmd Before appending to a file. Should do the appending to the file. |Cmd-event| *FilterWritePre* FilterWritePre Before writing a file for a filter command or making a diff. Vim checks the pattern against the name of the current buffer, not the name of the temporary file that is the output of the filter command. *FilterWritePost* FilterWritePost After writing a file for a filter command or making a diff. Vim checks the pattern against the name of the current buffer as with FilterWritePre. *FileChangedShell* FileChangedShell When Vim notices that the modification time of a file has changed since editing started. |timestamp| Mostly triggered after executing a shell command, but also with a |:checktime| command or when Vim regains input focus. This autocommand is triggered for each changed file. It is not used when 'autoread' is set and the buffer was not changed. If a FileChangedShell autocommand is present the warning message and prompt is not given. This is useful for reloading related buffers which are affected by a single command. NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the current buffer "%" may be different from the buffer that was changed "<afile>". NOTE: The commands must not change the current buffer, jump to another buffer or delete a buffer. *E246* NOTE: This event never nests, to avoid an endless loop. *FileChangedRO* FileChangedRO Before making the first change to a read-only file. Can be used to check-out the file from a source control system. Not triggered when the change was caused by an autocommand. WARNING: This event is triggered when making a change, just before the change is applied to the text. If the autocommand moves the cursor the effect of the change is undefined. *FocusGained* FocusGained When Vim got input focus. Only for the GUI version and a few console versions where this can be detected. *FocusLost* FocusLost When Vim lost input focus. Only for the GUI version and a few console versions where this can be detected. *FuncUndefined* FuncUndefined When a user function is used but it isn't defined. Useful for defining a function only when it's used. Both <amatch> and <afile> are set to the name of the function. *CursorHold* CursorHold When the user doesn't press a key for the time specified with 'updatetime'. Not re-triggered until the user has pressed a key (i.e. doesn't fire every 'updatetime' ms if you leave Vim to make some coffee. :) See |CursorHold-example| for previewing tags. Note: Interactive commands cannot be used for this event. There is no hit-enter prompt, the screen is updated directly (when needed). Note: In the future there will probably be another option to set the time. Hint: to force an update of the status lines use: > :let &ro = &ro < {only on Amiga, Unix, Win32, MSDOS and all GUI versions} *BufEnter* BufEnter After entering a buffer. Useful for setting options for a file type. Also executed when starting to edit a buffer, after the BufReadPost autocommands. *BufLeave* BufLeave Before leaving to another buffer. Also when leaving or closing the current window and the new current window is not for the same buffer. Not used for ":qa" or ":q" when exiting Vim. *BufWinEnter* BufWinEnter After a buffer is displayed in a window. This can be when the buffer is loaded (after processing the modelines), when a hidden buffer is displayed in a window (and is no longer hidden) or a buffer already visible in a window is also displayed in another window. *BufWinLeave* BufWinLeave Before a buffer is removed from a window. Not when it's still visible in another window. Also triggered when exiting. It's triggered before BufUnload or BufHidden. NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the current buffer "%" may be different from the buffer being unloaded "<afile>". *BufUnload* BufUnload Before unloading a buffer. This is when the text in the buffer is going to be freed. This may be after a BufWritePost and before a BufDelete. Also used for all buffers that are loaded when Vim is going to exit. NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the current buffer "%" may be different from the buffer being unloaded "<afile>". *BufHidden* BufHidden Just after a buffer has become hidden. That is, when there are no longer windows that show the buffer, but the buffer is not unloaded or deleted. Not used for ":qa" or ":q" when exiting Vim. NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the current buffer "%" may be different from the buffer being unloaded "<afile>". *BufNew* BufNew Just after creating a new buffer. Also used just after a buffer has been renamed. When the buffer is added to the buffer list BufAdd will be triggered too. NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the current buffer "%" may be different from the buffer being created "<afile>". *BufCreate* *BufAdd* BufAdd or BufCreate Just after creating a new buffer which is added to the buffer list, or adding a buffer to the buffer list. Also used just after a buffer in the buffer list has been renamed. The BufCreate event is for historic reasons. NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the current buffer "%" may be different from the buffer being created "<afile>". *BufDelete* BufDelete Before deleting a buffer from the buffer list. The BufUnload may be called first (if the buffer was loaded). Also used just before a buffer in the buffer list is renamed. NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the current buffer "%" may be different from the buffer being deleted "<afile>". *BufWipeout* BufWipeout Before completely deleting a buffer. The BufUnload and BufDelete events may be called first (if the buffer was loaded and was in the buffer list). Also used just before a buffer is renamed (also when it's not in the buffer list). NOTE: When this autocommand is executed, the current buffer "%" may be different from the buffer being deleted "<afile>". *WinEnter* WinEnter After entering another window. Not done for the first window, when Vim has just started. Useful for setting the window height. If the window is for another buffer, Vim executes the BufEnter autocommands after the WinEnter autocommands. *WinLeave* WinLeave Before leaving a window. If the window to be entered next is for a different buffer, Vim executes the BufLeave autocommands before the WinLeave autocommands (but not for ":new"). Not used for ":qa" or ":q" when exiting Vim. *CmdwinEnter* CmdwinEnter After entering the command-line window. Useful for setting options specifically for this special type of window. This is triggered _instead_ of BufEnter and WinEnter. <afile> is set to a single character, indicating the type of command-line. |cmdwin-char| *CmdwinLeave* CmdwinLeave Before leaving the command-line window. Useful to clean up any global setting done with CmdwinEnter. This is triggered _instead_ of BufLeave and WinLeave. <afile> is set to a single character, indicating the type of command-line. |cmdwin-char| *GUIEnter* GUIEnter After starting the GUI successfully, and after opening the window. It is triggered before VimEnter when using gvim. Can be used to position the window from a .gvimrc file: > :autocmd GUIEnter * winpos 100 50 < *VimEnter* VimEnter After doing all the startup stuff, including loading .vimrc files, executing the "-c cmd" arguments, creating all windows and loading the buffers in them. *VimLeavePre* VimLeavePre Before exiting Vim, just before writing the .viminfo file. This is executed only once, if there is a match with the name of what happens to be the current buffer when exiting. Mostly useful with a "*" pattern. > :autocmd VimLeavePre * call CleanupStuff() < *VimLeave* VimLeave Before exiting Vim, just after writing the .viminfo file. Executed only once, like VimLeavePre. *EncodingChanged* EncodingChanged Fires off when the 'encoding' option is changed. Useful to set up fonts, for example. *FileEncoding* FileEncoding Obsolete. It still works and is equivalent to |EncodingChanged|. *RemoteReply* RemoteReply When a reply from a Vim that functions as server was received |server2client()|. <amatch> is equal to the {serverid} from which the reply was sent, and <afile> is the actual reply string. Note that even if an auto command is defined, the reply should be read with |remote_read()| to consume it. *TermChanged* TermChanged After the value of 'term' has changed. Useful for re-loading the syntax file to update the colors, fonts and other terminal-dependent settings. Executed for all loaded buffers. *TermResponse* TermResponse After the response to |t_RV| is received from the terminal. The value of |v:termresponse| can be used to do things depending on the terminal version. *UserGettingBored* UserGettingBored When the user hits CTRL-C. Just kidding! :-) *User* User Never executed automatically. To be used for autocommands that are only executed with ":doautocmd". For READING FILES there are three possible pairs of events. Vim uses only one pair at a time: BufNewFile starting to edit a non-existent file BufReadPre BufReadPost starting to edit an existing file FilterReadPre FilterReadPost read the temp file with filter output FileReadPre FileReadPost any other file read Note that the autocommands for the *ReadPre events and all the Filter events are not allowed to change the current buffer (you will get an error message if this happens). This is to prevent the file to be read into the wrong buffer. Note that the 'modified' flag is reset AFTER executing the BufReadPost and BufNewFile autocommands. But when the 'modified' option was set by the autocommands, this doesn't happen. You can use the 'eventignore' option to ignore a number of events or all events. ============================================================================== 6. Patterns *autocmd-patterns* The file pattern {pat} is tested for a match against the file name in one of two ways: 1. When there is no '/' in the pattern, Vim checks for a match against only the tail part of the file name (without its leading directory path). 2. When there is a '/' in the pattern, Vim checks for a match against the both short file name (as you typed it) and the full file name (after expanding it to a full path and resolving symbolic links). Examples: > :autocmd BufRead *.txt set et Set the 'et' option for all text files. > :autocmd BufRead /vim/src/*.c set cindent Set the 'cindent' option for C files in the /vim/src directory. > :autocmd BufRead /tmp/*.c set ts=5 If you have a link from "/tmp/test.c" to "/home/nobody/vim/src/test.c", and you start editing "/tmp/test.c", this autocommand will match. Note: To match part of a path, but not from the root directory, use a '*' as the first character. Example: > :autocmd BufRead */doc/*.txt set tw=78 This autocommand will for example be executed for "/tmp/doc/xx.txt" and "/usr/home/piet/doc/yy.txt". The number of directories does not matter here. The file name that the pattern is matched against is after expanding wildcards. Thus is you issue this command: > :e $ROOTDIR/main.$EXT The argument is first expanded to: > /usr/root/main.py Before it's matched with the pattern of the autocommand. Careful with this when using events like FileReadCmd, the value of <amatch> may not be what you expect. Environment variables can be used in a pattern: > :autocmd BufRead $VIMRUNTIME/doc/*.txt set expandtab And ~ can be used for the home directory (if $HOME is defined): > :autocmd BufWritePost ~/.vimrc so ~/.vimrc :autocmd BufRead ~archive/* set readonly The environment variable is expanded when the autocommand is defined, not when the autocommand is executed. This is different from the command! *file-pattern* The pattern is interpreted like mostly used in file names: * matches any sequence of characters ? matches any single character \? matches a '?' . matches a '.' ~ matches a '~' , separates patterns \, matches a ',' { } like  in a |pattern| , inside { }: like \| in a |pattern| \ special meaning like in a |pattern| [ch] matches 'c' or 'h' Note that for all systems the '/' character is used for path separator (even MS-DOS and OS/2). This was done because the backslash is difficult to use in a pattern and to make the autocommands portable across different systems. Matching with the pattern is done when an event is triggered. Changing the buffer name in one of the autocommands, or even deleting the buffer, does not change which autocommands will be executed. Example: > au BufEnter *.foo bdel au BufEnter *.foo set modified This will delete the current buffer and then set 'modified' in what has become the current buffer instead. Vim doesn't take into account that "*.foo" doesn't match with that buffer name. It matches "*.foo" with the name of the buffer at the moment the event was triggered. ============================================================================== 7. Groups *autocmd-groups* Autocommands can be put together in a group. This is useful for removing or executing a group of autocommands. For example, all the autocommands for syntax highlighting are put in the "highlight" group, to be able to execute ":doautoall highlight BufRead" when the GUI starts. When no specific group is selected, Vim uses the default group. The default group does not have a name. You cannot execute the autocommands from the default group separately; you can execute them only by executing autocommands for all groups. Normally, when executing autocommands automatically, Vim uses the autocommands for all groups. The group only matters when executing autocommands with ":doautocmd" or ":doautoall", or when defining or deleting autocommands. The group name can contain any characters except white space. The group name "end" is reserved (also in uppercase). The group name is case sensitive. *:aug* *:augroup* :aug[roup] {name} Define the autocmd group name for the following ":autocmd" commands. The name "end" or "END" selects the default group. *:augroup-delete* *E367* :aug[roup]! {name} Delete the autocmd group {name}. Don't use this if there is still an autocommand using this group! This is not checked. To enter autocommands for a specific group, use this method: 1. Select the group with ":augroup {name}". 2. Delete any old autocommands with ":au!". 3. Define the autocommands. 4. Go back to the default group with "augroup END". Example: > :augroup uncompress : au! : au BufEnter *.gz %!gunzip :augroup END This prevents having the autocommands defined twice (e.g., after sourcing the .vimrc file again). ============================================================================== 8. Executing autocommands *autocmd-execute* Vim can also execute Autocommands non-automatically. This is useful if you have changed autocommands, or when Vim has executed the wrong autocommands (e.g., the file pattern match was wrong). Note that the 'eventignore' option applies here too. Events listed in this option will not cause any commands to be executed. *:do* *:doautocmd* *E217* :do[autocmd] [group] {event} [fname] Apply the autocommands matching [fname] (default: current file name) for {event} to the current buffer. You can use this when the current file name does not match the right pattern, after changing settings, or to execute autocommands for a certain event. It's possible to use this inside an autocommand too, so you can base the autocommands for one extension on another extension. Example: > :au Bufenter *.cpp so ~/.vimrc_cpp :au Bufenter *.cpp doau BufEnter x.c < Be careful to avoid endless loops. See |autocmd-nested|. When the [group] argument is not given, Vim executes the autocommands for all groups. When the [group] argument is included, Vim executes only the matching autocommands for that group. Note: if you use an undefined group name, Vim gives you an error message. *:doautoa* *:doautoall* :doautoa[ll] [group] {event} [fname] Like ":doautocmd", but apply the autocommands to each loaded buffer. Careful: Don't use this for autocommands that delete a buffer, change to another buffer or change the contents of a buffer; the result is unpredictable. This command is intended for autocommands that set options, change highlighting, and things like that. ============================================================================== 9. Using autocommands *autocmd-use* For WRITING FILES there are four possible sets of events. Vim uses only one of these sets for a write command: BufWriteCmd BufWritePre BufWritePost writing the whole buffer FilterWritePre FilterWritePost writing to filter temp file FileAppendCmd FileAppendPre FileAppendPost appending to a file FileWriteCmd FileWritePre FileWritePost any other file write When there is a matching "*Cmd" autocommand, it is assumed it will do the writing. No further writing is done and the other events are not triggered. |Cmd-event| Note that the *WritePost commands should undo any changes to the buffer that were caused by the *WritePre commands; otherwise, writing the file will have the side effect of changing the buffer. Before executing the autocommands, the buffer from which the lines are to be written temporarily becomes the current buffer. Unless the autocommands change the current buffer or delete the previously current buffer, the previously current buffer is made the current buffer again. The *WritePre and *AppendPre autocommands must not delete the buffer from which the lines are to be written. The '[ and '] marks have a special position: - Before the *ReadPre event the '[ mark is set to the line just above where the new lines will be inserted. - Before the *ReadPost event the '[ mark is set to the first line that was just read, the '] mark to the last line. - Before executing the *WritePre and *AppendPre autocommands the '[ mark is set to the first line that will be written, the '] mark to the last line. Careful: '[ and '] change when using commands that change the buffer. In commands which expect a file name, you can use "<afile>" for the file name that is being read |:<afile>| (you can also use "%" for the current file name). "<abuf>" can be used for the buffer number of the currently effective buffer. This also works for buffers that doesn't have a name. But it doesn't work for files without a buffer (e.g., with ":r file"). *gzip-example* Examples for reading and writing compressed files: > :augroup gzip : autocmd! : autocmd BufReadPre,FileReadPre *.gz set bin : autocmd BufReadPost,FileReadPost *.gz '[,']!gunzip : autocmd BufReadPost,FileReadPost *.gz set nobin : autocmd BufReadPost,FileReadPost *.gz execute ":doautocmd BufReadPost " . expand("%:r") : autocmd BufWritePost,FileWritePost *.gz !mv <afile> <afile>:r : autocmd BufWritePost,FileWritePost *.gz !gzip <afile>:r : autocmd FileAppendPre *.gz !gunzip <afile> : autocmd FileAppendPre *.gz !mv <afile>:r <afile> : autocmd FileAppendPost *.gz !mv <afile> <afile>:r : autocmd FileAppendPost *.gz !gzip <afile>:r :augroup END The "gzip" group is used to be able to delete any existing autocommands with ":autocmd!", for when the file is sourced twice. ("<afile>:r" is the file name without the extension, see |:_%:|) The commands executed for the BufNewFile, BufRead/BufReadPost, BufWritePost, FileAppendPost and VimLeave events do not set or reset the changed flag of the buffer. When you decompress the buffer with the BufReadPost autocommands, you can still exit with ":q". When you use ":undo" in BufWritePost to undo the changes made by BufWritePre commands, you can still do ":q" (this also makes "ZZ" work). If you do want the buffer to be marked as modified, set the 'modified' option. To execute Normal mode commands from an autocommand, use the ":normal" command. Use with care! If the Normal mode command is not finished, the user needs to type characters (e.g., after ":normal m" you need to type a mark name). If you want the buffer to be unmodified after changing it, reset the 'modified' option. This makes it possible to exit the buffer with ":q" instead of ":q!". *autocmd-nested* *E218* By default, autocommands do not nest. If you use ":e" or ":w" in an autocommand, Vim does not execute the BufRead and BufWrite autocommands for those commands. If you do want this, use the "nested" flag for those commands in which you want nesting. For example: > :autocmd FileChangedShell *.c nested e! The nesting is limited to 10 levels to get out of recursive loops. It's possible to use the ":au" command in an autocommand. This can be a self-modifying command! This can be useful for an autocommand that should execute only once. There is currently no way to disable the autocommands. If you want to write a file without executing the autocommands for that type of file, write it under another name and rename it with a shell command. Note: When reading a file (with ":read file" or with a filter command) and the last line in the file does not have an <EOL>, Vim remembers this. At the next write (with ":write file" or with a filter command), if the same line is written again as the last line in a file AND 'binary' is set, Vim does not supply an <EOL>. This makes a filter command on the just read lines write the same file as was read, and makes a write command on just filtered lines write the same file as was read from the filter. For example, another way to write a compressed file: > :autocmd FileWritePre *.gz set bin|'[,']!gzip :autocmd FileWritePost *.gz undo|set nobin < *autocommand-pattern* You can specify multiple patterns, separated by commas. Here are some examples: > :autocmd BufRead * set tw=79 nocin ic infercase fo=2croq :autocmd BufRead .letter set tw=72 fo=2tcrq :autocmd BufEnter .letter set dict=/usr/lib/dict/words :autocmd BufLeave .letter set dict= :autocmd BufRead,BufNewFile *.c,*.h set tw=0 cin noic :autocmd BufEnter *.c,*.h abbr FOR for (i = 0; i < 3; ++i)<CR>{<CR>}<Esc>O :autocmd BufLeave *.c,*.h unabbr FOR For makefiles (makefile, Makefile, imakefile, makefile.unix, etc.): > :autocmd BufEnter ?akefile* set include=^s\=include :autocmd BufLeave ?akefile* set include& To always start editing C files at the first function: > :autocmd BufRead *.c,*.h 1;/^{ Without the "1;" above, the search would start from wherever the file was entered, rather than from the start of the file. *skeleton* *template* To read a skeleton (template) file when opening a new file: > :autocmd BufNewFile *.c 0r ~/vim/skeleton.c :autocmd BufNewFile *.h 0r ~/vim/skeleton.h :autocmd BufNewFile *.java 0r ~/vim/skeleton.java To insert the current date and time in a *.html file when writing it: > :autocmd BufWritePre,FileWritePre *.html ks|call LastMod()|'s :fun LastMod() : if line("$") > 20 : let l = 20 : else : let l = line("$") : endif : exe "1," . l . "g/Last modified: /s/Last modified: .*/Last modified: " . : \ strftime("%Y %b %d") :endfun You need to have a line "Last modified: <date time>" in the first 20 lines of the file for this to work. Vim replaces <date time> (and anything in the same line after it) with the current date and time. Explanation: ks mark current position with mark 's' call LastMod() call the LastMod() function to do the work 's return the cursor to the old position The LastMod() function checks if the file is shorter than 20 lines, and then uses the ":g" command to find lines that contain "Last modified: ". For those lines the ":s" command is executed to replace the existing date with the current one. The ":execute" command is used to be able to use an expression for the ":g" and ":s" commands. The date is obtained with the strftime() function. You can change its argument to get another date string. When entering :autocmd on the command-line, completion of events and command names may be done (with <Tab>, CTRL-D, etc.) where appropriate. Vim executes all matching autocommands in the order that you specify them. It is recommended that your first autocommand be used for all files by using "*" as the file pattern. This means that you can define defaults you like here for any settings, and if there is another matching autocommand it will override these. But if there is no other matching autocommand, then at least your default settings are recovered (if entering this file from another for which autocommands did match). Note that "*" will also match files starting with ".", unlike Unix shells. *autocmd-searchpat* Autocommands do not change the current search patterns. Vim saves the current search patterns before executing autocommands then restores them after the autocommands finish. This means that autocommands do not affect the strings highlighted with the 'hlsearch' option. Within autocommands, you can still use search patterns normally, e.g., with the "n" command. If you want an autocommand to set the search pattern, such that it is used after the autocommand finishes, use the ":let @/ =" command. The search-highlighting cannot be switched off with ":nohlsearch" in an autocommand. Use the 'h' flag in the 'viminfo' option to disable search- highlighting when starting Vim. *Cmd-event* When using one of the "*Cmd" events, the matching autocommands are expected to do the file reading or writing. This can be used when working with a special kind of file, for example on a remote system. CAREFUL: If you use these events in a wrong way, it may have the effect of making it impossible to read or write the matching files! Make sure you test your autocommands properly. Best is to use a pattern that will never match a normal file name, for example "ftp://*". When defining a BufReadCmd it will be difficult for Vim to recover a crashed editing session. When recovering from the original file, Vim reads only those parts of a file that are not found in the swap file. Since that is not possible with a BufReadCmd, use the |:preserve| command to make sure the original file isn't needed for recovery. You might want to do this only when you expect the file to be modified. The |v:cmdarg| variable holds the "++enc=" and "++ff=" argument that are effective. These should be used for the command that reads/writes the file. See the $VIMRUNTIME/plugin/netrw.vim for examples. vim:tw=78:ts=8:ft=help:norl: