How to run a vim script interactively from vim command line?

Question

Is there a way to run these scripts from the : commandline with a few keystrokes?

Over the last couple of months, I've built a series of files full of vim-commands to auto-generate boilerplate code for my projects. It's allowed me to work faster.

However, the only way I know how to run these scripts is by assigning them to key-combinations in ~/.vimrc. There's only so many keys I can remap.

Is there a way to run these scripts from the : commandline with a few keystrokes?

For example, I have a unit_test_cpp.vim script, which builds a boilerplate unit test cpp file. I'd like to be able to type

:utc

or some other simple combination of letters with a simple mnemonic to run this script on my currently open file.

Rob Bednark · Accepted Answer · 2020-09-27 16:35:47Z

31

Open Vim and enter the following:

:source /path/to/vim/file/name.vim

If you are currently editing that file, you can also type:

:w <ENTER>
:source % <ENTER>

The percent sign (%) means the path to the currently opened file.

edited Sep 27, 2020 at 16:35

Rob Bednark

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answered Jan 10, 2012 at 16:38

HVNSweeting

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richq · Accepted Answer · 2010-07-30 20:08:38Z

10

You could use the command feature of vim. In your unit_test_cpp.vim file you would add something like this:

command Utc call CreateUnitTests()

Now when you type :Utc it will call your function. The only limitation is that your command must start with an uppercase letter.

answered Jul 30, 2010 at 20:08

richq

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Comments

Zsolt Botykai · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-10 17:42:56Z

5

Script or function? If it is a function, try

:call FunctionName()

edited Jan 10, 2012 at 17:42

Zsolt Botykai

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answered Jul 30, 2010 at 18:02

Doon

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3 Comments

J. Polfer Over a year ago

They are files with vim commands. I can run them with the so command.

J. Polfer Over a year ago

Each of the so commands is wrapped by a function in .vimrc. So could I use the :call FunctionName() method to run those functions from .vimrc?

Doon Over a year ago

basically. if you had function! Foo() source 'foo.vim' endfunction you could could :call Foo() and it should source foo.vim, or you can map the command as rq suggests below to avoid the :call...

Rob Bednark · Accepted Answer · 2020-09-27 16:38:54Z

0

:run file.vim

:run is like :source, but :run doesn't need the path. It searches the runtimepath.

A Linux runtimepath:

$HOME/.vim,
$VIM/vimfiles,
$VIMRUNTIME,
$VIM/vimfiles/after,
$HOME/.vim/after

edited Sep 27, 2020 at 16:38

Rob Bednark

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answered May 14, 2015 at 16:27

Javier OP

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