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- *usr_90.txt* For Vim version 6.0. Last change: 2001 Sep 09
-
- VIM USER MANUAL - by Bram Moolenaar
-
- Installing Vim
-
-
- Before you can use Vim you have to install it. Depending on your system it's
- simple or easy. This chapter gives a few hints and also explains how
- upgrading to a new version is done.
-
- |90.1| Unix
- |90.2| MS-Windows
- |90.3| Upgrading
- |90.4| Common installation issues
- |90.5| Uninstalling Vim
-
- Previous chapter: |usr_45.txt| Select your language
- Table of contents: |usr_toc.txt|
-
- ==============================================================================
- *90.1* Unix
-
- First you have to decide if you are going to install Vim system-wide or for a
- single user. The installation is almost the same, but the directory where Vim
- is installed in differs.
- For a system-wide installation the base directory "/usr/local" is often
- used. But this may be different for your system. Try finding out where other
- packages are installed.
- When installing for a single user, you can use your home directory as the
- base. The files will be placed in subdirectories like "bin" and "shared/vim".
-
-
- FROM A PACKAGE
-
- You can get precompiled binaries for many different UNIX systems. There is a
- long list with links on this page:
-
- http://www.vim.org/binaries.html ~
-
- Volunteers maintain the binaries, so they are often out of date. It is a
- good idea to compile your own UNIX version from the source. Also, creating
- the editor from the source allows you to control which features are compiled.
- This does require a compiler though.
-
- If you have a Linux distribution, the "vi" program is probably a minimal
- version of Vim. It doesn't do syntax highlighting, for example. Try finding
- another Vim package in your distribution, or search on the web site.
-
-
- FROM SOURCES
-
- To compile and install Vim, you will need the following:
-
- - A C compiler (GCC preferred)
- - The GZIP program (you can get it from www.gnu.org)
- - The Vim source and runtime archives
-
- To get the Vim archives, look in this file for a mirror near you, this should
- provide the fastest download:
-
- ftp://ftp.vim.org/pub/vim/MIRRORS ~
-
- Or use the home site ftp.vim.org, if you think it's fast enough. Go to the
- "unix" directory and you'll find a list of files there. The version number is
- embedded in the file name. You will want to get the most recent version.
- You can get the files for Unix in two ways: One big archive that contains
- everything, or four smaller ones that each fit on a floppy disk. For version
- 6.0 the single big one is called:
-
- vim-6.0.tar.bz2 ~
-
- You need the bzip2 program to uncompress it. If you don't have it, get the
- four smaller files, which can be uncompressed with gzip. For Vim 6.0 they are
- called:
-
- vim-6.0-src1.tar.gz ~
- vim-6.0-src2.tar.gz ~
- vim-6.0-rt1.tar.gz ~
- vim-6.0-rt2.tar.gz ~
-
-
- COMPILING
-
- First create a top directory to work in, for example: >
-
- mkdir ~/vim
- cd ~/vim
-
- Then unpack the archives there. If you have the one big archive, you unpack
- it like this: >
-
- bzip2 -d -c path/vim-6.0.tar.bz2 | tar xf -
-
- Change "path" to where you have downloaded the file.
-
- gzip -d path/vim-6.0-src1.tar.gz | tar xf -
- gzip -d path/vim-6.0-src2.tar.gz | tar xf -
- gzip -d path/vim-6.0-rt1.tar.gz | tar xf -
- gzip -d path/vim-6.0-rt2.tar.gz | tar xf -
-
- If you are satisfied with getting the default features, and your environment
- is setup properly, you should be able to compile Vim with just this: >
-
- cd vim60/src
- make
-
- The make program will run configure and compile everything. Further on we
- will explain how to compile with different features.
- If there are errors while compiling, carefully look at the error messages.
- There should be a hint about what went wrong. Hopefully you will be able to
- correct it. You might have to disable some features to make Vim compile.
- Look in the Makefile for specific hints for your system.
-
-
- TESTING
-
- Now you can check if compiling worked OK: >
-
- make test
-
- This will run a sequence of test scripts to verify that Vim works as expected.
- Vim will be started many times and all kinds of text and messages flash by.
- If it is alright you will finally see:
-
- test results: ~
- ALL DONE ~
-
- If there are one or two messages about failed tests, Vim might still work, but
- not perfectly. If you see a lot of error messages or Vim doesn't finish until
- the end, there must be something wrong. Either try to find out yourself, or
- find someone who can solve it. You could look in the |maillist-archive| for a
- solution. If everything else fails, you could ask in the vim |maillist| if
- someone can help you.
-
-
- INSTALLING
- *install-home*
- If you want to install in your home directory, edit the Makefile and search
- for a line:
-
- #prefix = $(HOME) ~
-
- Remove the # at the start of the line.
- When installing for the whole system, Vim has most likely already selected
- a good installation directory for you. You can also specify one, see below.
- You need to become root for the following.
-
- To install Vim do: >
-
- make install
-
- That should move all the relevant files to the right place. Now you can try
- running vim to verify that it works. Use two simple tests to check if Vim can
- find its runtime files: >
-
- :help
- :syntax enable
-
- If this doesn't work, use this command to check where Vim is looking for the
- runtime files: >
-
- :echo $VIMRUNTIME
-
- You can also start Vim with the "-V" argument to see what happens during
- startup: >
-
- vim -V
-
- Don't forget that the user manual assumes you Vim in a certain way. After
- installing Vim, follow the instructions at |not-compatible| to make Vim work
- as assumed in this manual.
-
-
- SELECTING FEATURES
-
- Vim has many ways to select features. One of the simple ways is to edit the
- Makefile. There are many directions and examples. Often you can enable or
- disable a feature by uncommenting a line.
- An alternative is to run "configure" separately. This allows you to
- specify configuration options manually. The disadvantage is that you have to
- figure out what exactly to type.
- Some of the most interesting configure arguments follow. These can also be
- enabled from the Makefile.
-
- --prefix={directory} Top directory where to install Vim.
-
- --with-features=tiny Compile with many features disabled.
- --with-features=small Compile with some features disabled.
- --with-features=big Compile with more features enabled.
- --with-features=huge Compile with most features enabled.
- See |+feature-list| for which feature
- is enabled in which case.
-
- --enable-perlinterp Enable the Perl interface. There are
- similar arguments for ruby, python and
- tcl.
-
- --disable-gui Do not compile the GUI interface.
- --without-x Do not compile X-windows features.
- When both of these are used, Vim will
- not connect to the X server, which
- makes startup faster.
-
- To see the whole list use: >
-
- ./configure --help
-
- You can find a bit of explanation for each feature, and links for more
- information here: |feature-list|.
- For the adventurous, edit the file "feature.h". You can also change the
- source code yourself!
-
- ==============================================================================
- *90.2* MS-Windows
-
- There are two ways to install the Vim program for Microsoft Windows. You can
- uncompress several archives, or use a self-installing big archive. Most users
- with fairly recent computers will prefer the second method. For the first
- one, you will need:
-
- - An archive with binaries for Vim.
- - The Vim runtime archive.
- - A program to unpack the zip files.
-
- To get the Vim archives, look in this file for a mirror near you, this should
- provide the fastest download:
-
- ftp://ftp.vim.org/pub/vim/MIRRORS ~
-
- Or use the home site ftp.vim.org, if you think it's fast enough. Go to the
- "pc" directory and you'll find a list of files there. The version number is
- embedded in the file name. You will want to get the most recent version.
- We will use "60" here, which is version 6.0.
-
- gvim60.exe The self-installing archive.
-
- This is all you need for the second method. Just launch the executable, and
- follow the prompts.
-
- For the first method you must chose one of the binary archives. These are
- available:
-
- gvim60.zip The normal MS-Windows GUI version.
- gvim60ole.zip The MS-Windows GUI version with OLE support.
- Uses more memory, supports interfacing with
- other OLE applications.
- vim60w32.zip 32 bit MS-Windows console version. For use in
- a Win NT/2000/XP console. Does not work well
- on Win 95/98.
- vim60d32.zip 32 bit MS-DOS version. For use in the
- Win 95/98 console window.
- vim60d16.zip 16 bit MS-DOS version. Only for old systems.
- Does not support long filenames.
-
- You only need one of them. Although you could install both a GUI and a
- console version. You always need to get the archive with runtime files.
-
- vim60rt.zip The runtime files.
-
- Use your un-zip program to unpack the files. For example, using the "unzip"
- program: >
-
- cd c:\
- unzip path\gvim60.zip
- unzip path\vim60rt.zip
-
- This will unpack the files in the directory "c:\vim\vim60". If you already
- have a "vim" directory somewhere, you will want to move to the directory just
- above it.
- Now change to the "vim\vim60" directory and run the install program: >
-
- install
-
- Carefully look through the messages and select the options you want to use.
- If you finally select "do it" the install program will carry out the actions
- you selected.
- The install program doesn't move the runtime files. They remain where you
- unpacked them.
-
- In case you are not satisfied with the features included in the supplied
- binaries, you could try compiling Vim yourself. Get the source archive from
- the same location as where the binaries are. You need a compiler for which a
- makefile exists. Microsoft Visual C works, but is expensive. The Free
- Borland command-line compiler 5.5 can be used, as well as the free MingW and
- Cygwin compilers. Check the file src/INSTALLpc.txt for hints.
-
- ==============================================================================
- *90.3* Upgrading
-
- If you are running one version of Vim and want to install another, here is
- what to do.
-
-
- UNIX
-
- When you type "make install" the runtime files will be copied to a directory
- which is specific for this version. Thus they will not overwrite a previous
- version. This makes it possible to use two or more versions next to
- each other.
- The executable "vim" will overwrite an older version. If you don't care
- about keeping the old version, running "make install" will work fine. You can
- delete the old runtime files manually. Just delete the directory with the
- version number in it and all files below it. Example: >
-
- rm -rf /usr/local/share/vim/vim58
-
- There are normally no changed files below this directory. If you did change
- the "filetype.vim" file, for example, you better merge the changes into the
- new version before deleting it.
-
- If you are careful and want to try out the new version for a while before
- switching to it, install the new version under another name. You need to
- specify a configure argument. For example: >
-
- ./configure --with-vim-name=vim6
-
- Before running "make install", you could use "make -n install" to check that
- no valuable existing files are overwritten.
- When you finally decide to switch to the new version, all you need to do is
- to rename the binary to "vim". For example: >
-
- mv /usr/local/bin/vim6 /usr/local/bin/vim
-
-
- MS-WINDOWS
-
- Upgrading is mostly equal to installing a new version. Just unpack the files
- in the same place as the previous version. A new directory will be created,
- e.g., "vim61", for the files of the new version. Your runtime files, vimrc
- file, viminfo, etc. will be left alone.
- If you want to run the new version next to the old one, you will have to do
- some handwork. Don't run the install program, it will overwrite a few files
- of the old version. Execute the new binaries by specifying the full path.
- The program should be able to automatically find the runtime files for the
- right version. However, this won't work if you set the $VIMRUNTIME variable
- somewhere.
- If you are satisfied with the upgrade, you can delete the files of the
- previous version. See |90.5|.
-
- ==============================================================================
- *90.4* Common installation issues
-
- This section describes some of the common problems that occur when installing
- Vim and suggests some solutions. It also contains answers to many
- installation questions.
-
-
- Q: I Do Not Have Root Privileges. How Do I Install Vim? (Unix)
-
- Use the following configuration command to install Vim in a directory called
- $HOME/vim: >
-
- ./configure --prefix=$HOME
-
- This gives you a personal copy of Vim. You need to put $HOME/bin in your
- path to execute the editor. Also see |install-home|.
-
-
- Q: The Colors Are Not Right on My Screen. (Unix)
-
- Check your terminal settings by using the following command in a shell: >
-
- echo $TERM
-
- If the terminal type listed is not correct, fix it. For more hints, see
- |06.2|. Another solution is to always use the GUI version of Vim, called
- gvim. This avoids the need for a correct terminal setup.
-
-
- Q: My Backspace And Delete Keys Don't Work Right
-
- The definition of what key sends what code is very unclear for backspace <BS>
- and Delete <Del> keys. First of all, check your $TERM setting. If there is
- nothing wrong with it, try this: >
-
- :set t_kb=^V<BS>
- :set t_kD=^V<Del>
-
- In the first line you need to press CTRL-V and then hit the backspace key.
- In the second line you need to press CTRL-V and then hit the Delete key.
- You can put these lines in your vimrc file, see |05.1|. A disadvantage is
- that it won't work when you use another terminal some day. Look here for
- alternate solutions: |:fixdel|.
-
-
- Q: I Am Using RedHat Linux. Can I Use the Vim That Comes with the System?
-
- By default RedHat installs a minimal version of Vim. Check your RPM packages
- for something named "Vim-enhanced-version.rpm" and install that.
-
-
- Q: How Do I Turn Syntax Coloring On?
-
- Use the following command: >
-
- :syntax enable
-
- See chapter 6 for information: |usr_06.txt|.
-
-
- Q: What Is a Good vimrc File to Use?
-
- See the www.vim.org Web site for several good examples.
-
-
- Q: Where Do I Find a Good Vim Plugin?
-
- See the Vim-online site: http://vim.sf.net. Many users have uploaded useful
- Vim scripts and plugins there.
-
-
- Q: Where Do I Find More Tips?
-
- See the Vim-online site: http://vim.sf.net. There is an archive with hints
- from Vim users. You might also want to search in the |maillist-archive|.
-
- ==============================================================================
- *90.5* Uninstalling Vim
-
- In the unlikely event you want to uninstall Vim completely, this is how you do
- it.
-
-
- UNIX
-
- When you installed Vim as a package, check your package manager to find out
- how to remove the package again.
- If you installed Vim from sources you can use this command: >
-
- make uninstall
-
- However, if you have deleted the original files or you used an archive that
- someone supplied, you can't do this. Do delete the files manually, here is an
- example for when "/usr/local" was used as the root: >
-
- rm -rf /usr/local/share/vim/vim60
- rm /usr/local/bin/eview
- rm /usr/local/bin/evim
- rm /usr/local/bin/ex
- rm /usr/local/bin/gview
- rm /usr/local/bin/gvim
- rm /usr/local/bin/gvim
- rm /usr/local/bin/gvimdiff
- rm /usr/local/bin/rgview
- rm /usr/local/bin/rgvim
- rm /usr/local/bin/rview
- rm /usr/local/bin/rvim
- rm /usr/local/bin/rvim
- rm /usr/local/bin/view
- rm /usr/local/bin/vim
- rm /usr/local/bin/vimdiff
- rm /usr/local/bin/vimtutor
- rm /usr/local/bin/xxd
- rm /usr/local/man/man1/eview.1
- rm /usr/local/man/man1/evim.1
- rm /usr/local/man/man1/ex.1
- rm /usr/local/man/man1/gview.1
- rm /usr/local/man/man1/gvim.1
- rm /usr/local/man/man1/gvimdiff.1
- rm /usr/local/man/man1/rgview.1
- rm /usr/local/man/man1/rgvim.1
- rm /usr/local/man/man1/rview.1
- rm /usr/local/man/man1/rvim.1
- rm /usr/local/man/man1/view.1
- rm /usr/local/man/man1/vim.1
- rm /usr/local/man/man1/vimdiff.1
- rm /usr/local/man/man1/vimtutor.1
- rm /usr/local/man/man1/xxd.1
-
-
- MS-WINDOWS
-
- If you installed Vim with the self-installing archive you can run
- the "uninstall-gui" program located in the same directory as the other Vim
- programs, e.g. "c:\vim\vim60". You can also launch it from the Start menu if
- installed the Vim entries there. This will remove most of the files, menu
- entries and desktop shortcuts. Some files may remain however, as they need a
- Windows restart before being deleted.
- You will be given the option to remove the whole "vim" directory. It
- probably contains your vimrc file and other runtime files that you created, so
- be careful.
-
- Else, if you installed Vim with the zip archives, the preferred way is to use
- the "uninstal" program (note the missing l at the end). You can find it in
- the same directory as the "install" program, e.g., "c:\vim\vim60". This
- should also work from the usual "install/remove software" page.
- However, this only removes the registry entries for Vim. You have to
- delete the files yourself. Simply select the directory "vim\vim60" and delete
- it recursively. There should be no files there that you changed, but you
- might want to check that first.
- The "vim" directory probably contains your vimrc file and other runtime
- files that you created. You might want to keep that.
-
- ==============================================================================
-
- Table of contents: |usr_toc.txt|
-
- Copyright: see |manual-copyright| vim:tw=78:ts=8:ft=help:norl:
-