# Vim documentation: cmdline

main help file

    *cmdline.txt*   For Vim version 7.2c.  Last change: 2008 Jul 29

    		  VIM REFERENCE MANUAL    by Bram Moolenaar

    				*Cmdline-mode* *Command-line-mode*

    Command-line mode		*Cmdline* *Command-line* *mode-cmdline* *:*

    Command-line mode is used to enter Ex commands (":"), search patterns
    ("/" and "?"), and filter commands ("!").

    Basic command line editing is explained in chapter 20 of the user manual
    |usr_20.txt|.

    1. Command-line editing		|cmdline-editing|
    2. Command-line completion	|cmdline-completion|
    3. Ex command-lines		|cmdline-lines|
    4. Ex command-line ranges	|cmdline-ranges|
    5. Ex command-line flags	|ex-flags|
    6. Ex special characters	|cmdline-special|
    7. Command-line window		|cmdline-window|

    ==============================================================================

    1. Command-line editing					*cmdline-editing*

    Normally characters are inserted in front of the cursor position.  You can
    move around in the command-line with the left and right cursor keys.  With the
    <Insert> key, you can toggle between inserting and overstriking characters.
    {Vi: can only alter the last character in the line}

    Note that if your keyboard does not have working cursor keys or any of the
    other special keys, you can use ":cnoremap" to define another key for them.

    For example, to define tcsh style editing keys:		*tcsh-style*
    	:cnoremap <C-A> <Home>
    	:cnoremap <C-F> <Right>
    	:cnoremap <C-B> <Left>
    	:cnoremap <Esc>b <S-Left>
    	:cnoremap <Esc>f <S-Right>
    (<> notation |<>|; type all this literally)

    							*cmdline-too-long*
    When the command line is getting longer than what fits on the screen, only the
    part that fits will be shown.  The cursor can only move in this visible part,
    thus you cannot edit beyond that.

    						*cmdline-history* *history*
    The command-lines that you enter are remembered in a history table.  You can
    recall them with the up and down cursor keys.  There are actually five
    history tables:
    - one for ':' commands
    - one for search strings
    - one for expressions
    - one for input lines, typed for the |input()| function.
    - one for debug mode commands
    These are completely separate.  Each history can only be accessed when
    entering the same type of line.
    Use the 'history' option to set the number of lines that are remembered
    (default: 20).
    Notes:
    - When you enter a command-line that is exactly the same as an older one, the
      old one is removed (to avoid repeated commands moving older commands out of
      the history).
    - Only commands that are typed are remembered.  Ones that completely come from
      mappings are not put in the history.
    - All searches are put in the search history, including the ones that come
      from commands like "*" and "#".  But for a mapping, only the last search is
      remembered (to avoid that long mappings trash the history).
    {Vi: no history}
    {not available when compiled without the |+cmdline_hist| feature}

    There is an automatic completion of names on the command-line; see
    |cmdline-completion|.

    							*c_CTRL-V*
    CTRL-V		Insert next non-digit literally.  Up to three digits form the
    		decimal value of a single byte.  The non-digit and the three
    		digits are not considered for mapping.  This works the same
    		way as in Insert mode (see above, |i_CTRL-V|).
    		Note: Under Windows CTRL-V is often mapped to paste text.
    		Use CTRL-Q instead then.

    							*c_CTRL-Q*
    CTRL-Q		Same as CTRL-V.  But with some terminals it is used for
    		control flow, it doesn't work then.

    							*c_<Left>*
    <Left>		cursor left

    							*c_<Right>*
    <Right>		cursor right

    							*c_<S-Left>*

    <S-Left> or <C-Left>					*c_<C-Left>*
    		cursor one WORD left

    							*c_<S-Right>*

    <S-Right> or <C-Right>					*c_<C-Right>*
    		cursor one WORD right

    CTRL-B or <Home>					*c_CTRL-B* *c_<Home>*
    		cursor to beginning of command-line

    CTRL-E or <End>						*c_CTRL-E* *c_<End>*
    		cursor to end of command-line

    							*c_<LeftMouse>*
    <LeftMouse>	Move the cursor to the position of the mouse click.

    CTRL-H							*c_<BS>* *c_CTRL-H*
    <BS>		Delete the character in front of the cursor (see |:fixdel| if
    		your <BS> key does not do what you want).

    							*c_<Del>*
    <Del>		Delete the character under the cursor (at end of line:
    		character before the cursor) (see |:fixdel| if your <Del>
    		key does not do what you want).

    							*c_CTRL-W*
    CTRL-W		Delete the |word| before the cursor.  This depends on the
    		'iskeyword' option.

    							*c_CTRL-U*
    CTRL-U		Remove all characters between the cursor position and
    		the beginning of the line.  Previous versions of vim
    		deleted all characters on the line.  If that is the
    		preferred behavior, add the following to your .vimrc:
    			:cnoremap <C-U> <C-E><C-U>

    		Note: if the command-line becomes empty with one of the
    		delete commands, Command-line mode is quit.

    							*c_<Insert>*
    <Insert>	Toggle between insert and overstrike.  {not in Vi}

    {char1} <BS> {char2}	or				*c_digraph*

    CTRL-K {char1} {char2}					*c_CTRL-K*
    		enter digraph (see |digraphs|).  When {char1} is a special
    		key, the code for that key is inserted in <> form.  {not in Vi}

    CTRL-R {0-9a-z"%#:-=.}					*c_CTRL-R* *c_<C-R>*
    		Insert the contents of a numbered or named register.  Between
    		typing CTRL-R and the second character '"'' will be displayed
    		to indicate that you are expected to enter the name of a
    		register.
    		The text is inserted as if you typed it, but mappings and
    		abbreviations are not used.  Command-line completion through
    		'wildchar' is not triggered though.  And characters that end
    		the command line are inserted literally (<Esc>, <CR>, <NL>,
    		<C-C>).  A <BS> or CTRL-W could still end the command line
    		though, and remaining characters will then be interpreted in
    		another mode, which might not be what you intended.
    		Special registers:
    			'"''	the unnamed register, containing the text of
    				the last delete or yank
    			'%'	the current file name
    			'#'	the alternate file name
    			'*'	the clipboard contents (X11: primary selection)
    			'+'	the clipboard contents
    			'/'	the last search pattern
    			':'	the last command-line
    			'-'	the last small (less than a line) delete
    			'.'	the last inserted text

    							*c_CTRL-R_=*
    			'='	the expression register: you are prompted to
    				enter an expression (see |expression|)
    				(doesn't work at the expression prompt; some
    				things such as changing the buffer or current
    				window are not allowed to avoid side effects)
    		See |registers| about registers.  {not in Vi}
    		Implementation detail: When using the |expression| register
    		and invoking setcmdpos(), this sets the position before
    		inserting the resulting string.  Use CTRL-R CTRL-R to set the
    		position afterwards.

    CTRL-R CTRL-F				*c_CTRL-R_CTRL-F* *c_<C-R>_<C-F>*

    CTRL-R CTRL-P				*c_CTRL-R_CTRL-P* *c_<C-R>_<C-P>*

    CTRL-R CTRL-W				*c_CTRL-R_CTRL-W* *c_<C-R>_<C-W>*

    CTRL-R CTRL-A				*c_CTRL-R_CTRL-A* *c_<C-R>_<C-A>*
    		Insert the object under the cursor:
    			CTRL-F	the Filename under the cursor
    			CTRL-P	the Filename under the cursor, expanded with
    				'path' as in |gf|
    			CTRL-W	the Word under the cursor
    			CTRL-A	the WORD under the cursor; see |WORD|

    		When 'incsearch' is set the cursor position at the end of the
    		currently displayed match is used.  With CTRL-W the part of
    		the word that was already typed is not inserted again.

    		{not in Vi}
    		CTRL-F and CTRL-P: {only when +file_in_path feature is
    		included}

    					*c_CTRL-R_CTRL-R* *c_<C-R>_<C-R>*

    					*c_CTRL-R_CTRL-O* *c_<C-R>_<C-O>*
    CTRL-R CTRL-R {0-9a-z"%#:-=. CTRL-F CTRL-P CTRL-W CTRL-A}
    CTRL-R CTRL-O {0-9a-z"%#:-=. CTRL-F CTRL-P CTRL-W CTRL-A}
    		Insert register or object under the cursor.  Works like
    		|c_CTRL-R| but inserts the text literally.  For example, if
    		register a contains "xy^Hz" (where ^H is a backspace),
    		"CTRL-R a" will insert "xz" while "CTRL-R CTRL-R a" will
    		insert "xy^Hz".

    CTRL-\ e {expr}						*c_CTRL-\_e*
    		Evaluate {expr} and replace the whole command line with the
    		result.  You will be prompted for the expression, type <Enter>
    		to finish it.  It's most useful in mappings though.  See
    		|expression|.
    		See |c_CTRL-R_=| for inserting the result of an expression.
    		Useful functions are |getcmdtype()|, |getcmdline()| and
    		|getcmdpos()|.
    		The cursor position is unchanged, except when the cursor was
    		at the end of the line, then it stays at the end.
    		|setcmdpos()| can be used to set the cursor position.
    		The |sandbox| is used for evaluating the expression to avoid
    		nasty side effects.
    		Example:
    			:cmap <F7> <C-\>eAppendSome()<CR>
    			:func AppendSome()
    			   :let cmd = getcmdline() . " Some()"
    			   :" place the cursor on the )
    			   :call setcmdpos(strlen(cmd))
    			   :return cmd
    			:endfunc
     		This doesn't work recursively, thus not when already editing
    		an expression.

    							*c_CTRL-Y*
    CTRL-Y		When there is a modeless selection, copy the selection into
    		the clipboard. |modeless-selection|
    		If there is no selection CTRL-Y is inserted as a character.

    CTRL-J						*c_CTRL-J* *c_<NL>* *c_<CR>*
    <CR> or <NL>	start entered command

    							*c_<Esc>*
    <Esc>		When typed and 'x' not present in 'cpoptions', quit
    		Command-line mode without executing.  In macros or when 'x'
    		present in 'cpoptions', start entered command.
    		Note: If your <Esc> key is hard to hit on your keyboard, train
    		yourself to use CTRL-[.

    							*c_CTRL-C*
    CTRL-C		quit command-line without executing

    							*c_<Up>*
    <Up>		recall older command-line from history, whose beginning
    		matches the current command-line (see below).
    		{not available when compiled without the |+cmdline_hist|
    		feature}

    							*c_<Down>*
    <Down>		recall more recent command-line from history, whose beginning
    		matches the current command-line (see below).
    		{not available when compiled without the |+cmdline_hist|
    		feature}

    							*c_<S-Up>* *c_<PageUp>*
    <S-Up> or <PageUp>
    		recall older command-line from history
    		{not available when compiled without the |+cmdline_hist|
    		feature}

    						*c_<S-Down>* *c_<PageDown>*
    <S-Down> or <PageDown>
    		recall more recent command-line from history
    		{not available when compiled without the |+cmdline_hist|
    		feature}

    CTRL-D		command-line completion (see |cmdline-completion|)
    'wildchar' option
    		command-line completion (see |cmdline-completion|)
    CTRL-N		command-line completion (see |cmdline-completion|)
    CTRL-P		command-line completion (see |cmdline-completion|)
    CTRL-A		command-line completion (see |cmdline-completion|)
    CTRL-L		command-line completion (see |cmdline-completion|)

    							*c_CTRL-_*
    CTRL-_		a - switch between Hebrew and English keyboard mode, which is
    		private to the command-line and not related to hkmap.
    		This is useful when Hebrew text entry is required in the
    		command-line, searches, abbreviations, etc.  Applies only if
    		Vim is compiled with the |+rightleft| feature and the
    		'allowrevins' option is set.
    		See |rileft.txt|.

    		b - switch between Farsi and English keyboard mode, which is
    		private to the command-line and not related to fkmap.  In
    		Farsi keyboard mode the characters are inserted in reverse
    		insert manner.  This is useful when Farsi text entry is
    		required in the command-line, searches, abbreviations, etc.
    		Applies only if Vim is compiled with the |+farsi| feature.
    		See |farsi.txt|.

    							*c_CTRL-^*
    CTRL-^		Toggle the use of language |:lmap| mappings and/or Input
    		Method.
    		When typing a pattern for a search command and 'imsearch' is
    		not -1, VAL is the value of 'imsearch', otherwise VAL is the
    		value of 'iminsert'.
    		When language mappings are defined:
    		- If VAL is 1 (langmap mappings used) it becomes 0 (no langmap
    		  mappings used).
    		- If VAL was not 1 it becomes 1, thus langmap mappings are
    		  enabled.
    		When no language mappings are defined:
    		- If VAL is 2 (Input Method is used) it becomes 0 (no input
    		  method used)
    		- If VAL has another value it becomes 2, thus the Input Method
    		  is enabled.
    		These language mappings are normally used to type characters
    		that are different from what the keyboard produces.  The
    		'keymap' option can be used to install a whole number of them.
    		When entering a command line, langmap mappings are switched
    		off, since you are expected to type a command.  After
    		switching it on with CTRL-^, the new state is not used again
    		for the next command or Search pattern.
    		{not in Vi}

    						*c_CTRL-]*
    CTRL-]		Trigger abbreviation, without inserting a character.  {not in
    		Vi}

    For Emacs-style editing on the command-line see |emacs-keys|.

    The <Up> and <Down> keys take the current command-line as a search string.
    The beginning of the next/previous command-lines are compared with this
    string.  The first line that matches is the new command-line.  When typing
    these two keys repeatedly, the same string is used again.  For example, this
    can be used to find the previous substitute command: Type ":s" and then <Up>.
    The same could be done by typing <S-Up> a number of times until the desired
    command-line is shown.  (Note: the shifted arrow keys do not work on all
    terminals)

    							*:his* *:history*
    :his[tory]	Print the history of last entered commands.
    		{not in Vi}
    		{not available when compiled without the |+cmdline_hist|
    		feature}

    :his[tory] [{name}] [{first}][, [{last}]]
    		List the contents of history {name} which can be:
    		c[md]	 or :	command-line history
    		s[earch] or /	search string history
    		e[xpr]	 or =	expression register history
    		i[nput]	 or @	input line history
    		d[ebug]	 or >	debug command history
    		a[ll]		all of the above
    		{not in Vi}

    		If the numbers {first} and/or {last} are given, the respective
    		range of entries from a history is listed.  These numbers can
    		be specified in the following form:

    							*:history-indexing*
    		A positive number represents the absolute index of an entry
    		as it is given in the first column of a :history listing.
    		This number remains fixed even if other entries are deleted.

    		A negative number means the relative position of an entry,
    		counted from the newest entry (which has index -1) backwards.

    		Examples:
    		List entries 6 to 12 from the search history:
    			:history / 6,12

    		List the recent five entries from all histories:
    			:history all -5,

    ==============================================================================

    2. Command-line completion				*cmdline-completion*

    When editing the command-line, a few commands can be used to complete the
    word before the cursor.  This is available for:

    - Command names: At the start of the command-line.
    - Tags: Only after the ":tag" command.
    - File names: Only after a command that accepts a file name or a setting for
      an option that can be set to a file name.  This is called file name
      completion.
    - Shell command names: After ":!cmd", ":r !cmd" and ":w !cmd".  $PATH is used.
    - Options: Only after the ":set" command.
    - Mappings: Only after a ":map" or similar command.
    - Variable and function names: Only after a ":if", ":call" or similar command.

    When Vim was compiled with the |+cmdline_compl| feature disabled, only file
    names, directories and help items can be completed.  The number of help item
    matches is limited (currently to 300) to avoid a long delay when there are
    very many matches.

    These are the commands that can be used:

    							*c_CTRL-D*
    CTRL-D		List names that match the pattern in front of the cursor.
    		When showing file names, directories are highlighted (see
    		'highlight' option).  Names where 'suffixes' matches are moved
    		to the end.
    		The 'wildoptions' option can be set to "tagfile" to list the
    		file of matching tags.

    					*c_CTRL-I* *c_wildchar* *c_<Tab>*
    'wildchar' option
    		A match is done on the pattern in front of the cursor.  The
    		match (if there are several, the first match) is inserted
    		in place of the pattern.  (Note: does not work inside a
    		macro, because <Tab> or <Esc> are mostly used as 'wildchar',
    		and these have a special meaning in some macros.) When typed
    		again and there were multiple matches, the next
    		match is inserted.  After the last match, the first is used
    		again (wrap around).
    		The behavior can be changed with the 'wildmode' option.

    							*c_CTRL-N*
    CTRL-N		After using 'wildchar' which got multiple matches, go to next
    		match.  Otherwise recall more recent command-line from history.

    <S-Tab>							*c_CTRL-P* *c_<S-Tab>*
    CTRL-P		After using 'wildchar' which got multiple matches, go to
    		previous match.  Otherwise recall older command-line from
    		history.  <S-Tab> only works with the GUI, on the Amiga and
    		with MS-DOS.

    							*c_CTRL-A*
    CTRL-A		All names that match the pattern in front of the cursor are
    		inserted.

    							*c_CTRL-L*
    CTRL-L		A match is done on the pattern in front of the cursor.  If
    		there is one match, it is inserted in place of the pattern.
    		If there are multiple matches the longest common part is
    		inserted in place of the pattern.  If the result is shorter
    		than the pattern, no completion is done.
    		When 'incsearch' is set, entering a search pattern for "/" or
    		"?" and the current match is displayed then CTRL-L will add
    		one character from the end of the current match.

    The 'wildchar' option defaults to <Tab> (CTRL-E when in Vi compatible mode; in
    a previous version <Esc> was used).  In the pattern standard wildcards '*' and
    '?' are accepted.  '*' matches any string, '?' matches exactly one character.

    If you like tcsh's autolist completion, you can use this mapping:
    	:cnoremap X <C-L><C-D>
    (Where X is the command key to use, <C-L> is CTRL-L and <C-D> is CTRL-D)
    This will find the longest match and then list all matching files.

    If you like tcsh's autolist completion, you can use the 'wildmode' option to
    emulate it.  For example, this mimics autolist=ambiguous:
    	:set wildmode=longest,list
    This will find the longest match with the first 'wildchar', then list all
    matching files with the next.

    							*suffixes*
    For file name completion you can use the 'suffixes' option to set a priority
    between files with almost the same name.  If there are multiple matches,
    those files with an extension that is in the 'suffixes' option are ignored.
    The default is ".bak,~,.o,.h,.info,.swp,.obj", which means that files ending
    in ".bak", "~", ".o", ".h", ".info", ".swp" and ".obj" are sometimes ignored.
    It is impossible to ignore suffixes with two dots.  Examples:

      pattern:	files:				match:
       test*	test.c test.h test.o		test.c
       test*	test.h test.o			test.h and test.o
       test*	test.i test.h test.c		test.i and test.c

    If there is more than one matching file (after ignoring the ones matching
    the 'suffixes' option) the first file name is inserted.  You can see that
    there is only one match when you type 'wildchar' twice and the completed
    match stays the same.  You can get to the other matches by entering
    'wildchar', CTRL-N or CTRL-P.  All files are included, also the ones with
    extensions matching the 'suffixes' option.

    To completely ignore files with some extension use 'wildignore'.

    To match only files that end at the end of the typed text append a "$".  For
    example, to match only files that end in ".c":
    	:e *.c$
    This will not match a file ending in ".cpp".  Without the "$" it does match.

    The old value of an option can be obtained by hitting 'wildchar' just after
    the '='.  For example, typing 'wildchar' after ":set dir=" will insert the
    current value of 'dir'.  This overrules file name completion for the options
    that take a file name.

    If you would like using <S-Tab> for CTRL-P in an xterm, put this command in
    your .cshrc:
    	xmodmap -e "keysym Tab = Tab Find"
    And this in your .vimrc:
    	:cmap <Esc>[1~ <C-P>

    ==============================================================================

    3. Ex command-lines					*cmdline-lines*

    The Ex commands have a few specialties:

    							*:quote*
    '"'' at the start of a line causes the whole line to be ignored.  '"''
    after a command causes the rest of the line to be ignored.  This can be used
    to add comments.  Example:
    	:set ai		"set 'autoindent' option
    It is not possible to add a comment to a shell command ":!cmd" or to the
    ":map" command and friends, because they see the '"'' as part of their
    argument.

    							*:bar* *:\bar*
    '|' can be used to separate commands, so you can give multiple commands in one
    line.  If you want to use '|' in an argument, precede it with '\'.

    These commands see the '|' as their argument, and can therefore not be
    followed by another Vim command:
        :argdo
        :autocmd
        :bufdo
        :command
        :cscope
        :debug
        :folddoopen
        :folddoclosed
        :function
        :global
        :help
        :helpfind
        :lcscope
        :make
        :normal
        :perl
        :perldo
        :promptfind
        :promptrepl
        :pyfile
        :python
        :registers
        :read !
        :scscope
        :tcl
        :tcldo
        :tclfile
        :vglobal
        :windo
        :write !
        :[range]!
        a user defined command without the "-bar" argument |:command|

    Note that this is confusing (inherited from Vi): With ":g" the '|' is included
    in the command, with ":s" it is not.

    To be able to use another command anyway, use the ":execute" command.
    Example (append the output of "ls" and jump to the first line):
    	:execute 'r !ls' | '[

    There is one exception: When the 'b' flag is present in 'cpoptions', with the
    ":map" and ":abbr" commands and friends CTRL-V needs to be used instead of
    '\'.  You can also use "<Bar>" instead.  See also |map_bar|.

    Examples:
    	:!ls | wc		view the output of two commands
    	:r !ls | wc		insert the same output in the text
    	:%g/foo/p|>		moves all matching lines one shiftwidth
    	:%s/foo/bar/|>		moves one line one shiftwidth
    	:map q 10^V|		map "q" to "10|"
    	:map q 10\| map \ l	map "q" to "10\" and map "\" to "l"
    					(when 'b' is present in 'cpoptions')

    You can also use <NL> to separate commands in the same way as with '|'.  To
    insert a <NL> use CTRL-V CTRL-J.  "^@" will be shown.  Using '|' is the
    preferred method.  But for external commands a <NL> must be used, because a
    '|' is included in the external command.  To avoid the special meaning of <NL>
    it must be preceded with a backslash.  Example:
    	:r !date<NL>-join
    This reads the current date into the file and joins it with the previous line.

    Note that when the command before the '|' generates an error, the following
    commands will not be executed.

    Because of Vi compatibility the following strange commands are supported:
    	:|			print current line (like ":p")
    	:3|			print line 3 (like ":3p")
    	:3			goto line 3

    A colon is allowed between the range and the command name.  It is ignored
    (this is Vi compatible).  For example:
    	:1,$:s/pat/string

    When the character '%' or '#' is used where a file name is expected, they are
    expanded to the current and alternate file name (see the chapter "editing
    files" |:_%| |:_#|).

    Embedded spaces in file names are allowed on the Amiga if one file name is
    expected as argument.  Trailing spaces will be ignored, unless escaped with a
    backslash or CTRL-V.  Note that the ":next" command uses spaces to separate
    file names.  Escape the spaces to include them in a file name.  Example:
    	:next foo\ bar goes\ to school\
    starts editing the three files "foo bar", "goes to" and "school ".

    When you want to use the special characters '"'' or '|' in a command, or want
    to use '%' or '#' in a file name, precede them with a backslash.  The
    backslash is not required in a range and in the ":substitute" command.

    							*:_!*
    The '!' (bang) character after an Ex command makes the command behave in a
    different way.  The '!' should be placed immediately after the command, without
    any blanks in between.  If you insert blanks the '!' will be seen as an
    argument for the command, which has a different meaning.  For example:
    	:w! name	write the current buffer to file "name", overwriting
    			any existing file
    	:w !name	send the current buffer as standard input to command
    			"name"

    ==============================================================================

    4. Ex command-line ranges	*cmdline-ranges* *[range]* *E16*

    Some Ex commands accept a line range in front of them.  This is noted as
    [range].  It consists of one or more line specifiers, separated with ',' or
    ';'.

    The basics are explained in section |10.3| of the user manual.

    						*:,* *:;*
    When separated with ';' the cursor position will be set to that line
    before interpreting the next line specifier.  This doesn't happen for ','.
    Examples:
       4,/this line/
     	from line 4 till match with "this line" after the cursor line.
       5;/that line/
     	from line 5 till match with "that line" after line 5.

    The default line specifier for most commands is the cursor position, but the
    commands ":write" and ":global" have the whole file (1,$) as default.

    If more line specifiers are given than required for the command, the first
    one(s) will be ignored.

    Line numbers may be specified with:		*:range* *E14* *{address}*
    	{number}	an absolute line number

    	.		the current line			  *:.*

    	$		the last line in the file		  *:$*

    	%		equal to 1,$ (the entire file)		  *:%*

    	't		position of mark t (lowercase)		  *:'*
    	'T		position of mark T (uppercase); when the mark is in
    			another file it cannot be used in a range

    	/{pattern}[/]	the next line where {pattern} matches	  *:/*

    	?{pattern}[?]	the previous line where {pattern} matches *:?*
    	\/		the next line where the previously used search
    			pattern matches
    	\?		the previous line where the previously used search
    			pattern matches
    	\&		the next line where the previously used substitute
    			pattern matches

    Each may be followed (several times) by '+' or '-' and an optional number.
    This number is added or subtracted from the preceding line number.  If the
    number is omitted, 1 is used.

    The "/" and "?" after {pattern} are required to separate the pattern from
    anything that follows.

    The "/" and "?" may be preceded with another address.  The search starts from
    there.  The difference from using ';' is that the cursor isn't moved.
    Examples:
    	/pat1//pat2/	Find line containing "pat2" after line containing
    			"pat1", without moving the cursor.
    	7;/pat2/	Find line containing "pat2", after line 7, leaving
    			the cursor in line 7.

    The {number} must be between 0 and the number of lines in the file.  When
    using a 0 (zero) this is interpreted as a 1 by most commands.  Commands that
    use it as a count do use it as a zero (|:tag|, |:pop|, etc).  Some commands
    interpret the zero as "before the first line" (|:read|, search pattern, etc).

    Examples:
    	.+3		three lines below the cursor
    	/that/+1	the line below the next line containing "that"
    	.,$		from current line until end of file
    	0;/that		the first line containing "that", also matches in the
    			first line.
    	1;/that		the first line after line 1 containing "that"

    Some commands allow for a count after the command.  This count is used as the
    number of lines to be used, starting with the line given in the last line
    specifier (the default is the cursor line).  The commands that accept a count
    are the ones that use a range but do not have a file name argument (because
    a file name can also be a number).

    Examples:
    	:s/x/X/g 5	substitute 'x' by 'X' in the current line and four
    			following lines
    	:23d 4		delete lines 23, 24, 25 and 26

    Folds and Range

    When folds are active the line numbers are rounded off to include the whole
    closed fold.  See |fold-behavior|.

    Reverse Range						*E493*

    A range should have the lower line number first.  If this is not the case, Vim
    will ask you if it should swap the line numbers.
    	Backwards range given, OK to swap
    This is not done within the global command ":g".

    You can use ":silent" before a command to avoid the question, the range will
    always be swapped then.

    Count and Range						*N:*

    When giving a count before entering ":", this is translated into:
    		:.,.+(count - 1)
    In words: The 'count' lines at and after the cursor.  Example: To delete
    three lines:
    		3:d<CR>		is translated into: .,.+2d<CR>

    Visual Mode and Range					*v_:*

    {Visual}:	Starts a command-line with the Visual selected lines as a
    		range.  The code ":'<,'>" is used for this range, which makes
    		it possible to select a similar line from the command-line
    		history for repeating a command on different Visually selected
    		lines.

    ==============================================================================

    5. Ex command-line flags				*ex-flags*

    These flags are supported by a selection of Ex commands.  They print the line
    that the cursor ends up after executing the command:

    	l	output like for |:list|
    	#	add line number
    	p	output like for |:print|

    The flags can be combined, thus "l#" uses both a line number and |:list| style
    output.

    ==============================================================================

    6. Ex special characters				*cmdline-special*

    Note: These are special characters in the executed command line.  If you want
    to insert special things while typing you can use the CTRL-R command.  For
    example, "%" stands for the current file name, while CTRL-R % inserts the
    current file name right away.  See |c_CTRL-R|.

    Note: If you want to avoid the special characters in a Vim script you may want
    to use |fnameescape()|.

    In Ex commands, at places where a file name can be used, the following
    characters have a special meaning.  These can also be used in the expression
    function expand() |expand()|.

    	%	is replaced with the current file name			*:_%*

    	#	is replaced with the alternate file name		*:_#*
    	#n	(where n is a number) is replaced with the file name of
    		buffer n.  "#0" is the same as "#"

    	##	is replaced with all names in the argument list		*:_##*
    		concatenated, separated by spaces.  Each space in a name
    		is preceded with a backslash.
    Note that these give the file name as it was typed.  If an absolute path is
    needed (when using the file name from a different directory), you need to add
    ":p".  See |filename-modifiers|.
    Note that backslashes are inserted before spaces, so that the command will
    correctly interpret the file name.  But this doesn't happen for shell
    commands.  For those you probably have to use quotes:
    	:!ls "%"
    	:r !spell "%"

    To avoid the special meaning of '%' and '#' insert a backslash before it.
    Detail: The special meaning is always escaped when there is a backslash before
    it, no matter how many backslashes.
    	you type:		result
    	   #			alternate.file
    	   \#			#
    	   \\#			\#

    			       *:<cword>* *:<cWORD>* *:<cfile>* *<cfile>*

    			       *:<sfile>* *<sfile>* *:<afile>* *<afile>*

    			       *:<abuf>* *<abuf>* *:<amatch>* *<amatch>*

    			       *E495* *E496* *E497* *E498* *E499* *E500*
    Note: these are typed literally, they are not special keys!
    	<cword>    is replaced with the word under the cursor (like |star|)
    	<cWORD>    is replaced with the WORD under the cursor (see |WORD|)
    	<cfile>    is replaced with the path name under the cursor (like what
    		   |gf| uses)
    	<afile>    when executing autocommands, is replaced with the file name
    		   for a file read or write
    	<abuf>     when executing autocommands, is replaced with the currently
    		   effective buffer number (for ":r file" and ":so file" it is
    		   the current buffer, the file being read/sourced is not in a
    		   buffer).
    	<amatch>   when executing autocommands, is replaced with the match for
    		   which this autocommand was executed.  It differs from
    		   <afile> only when the file name isn't used to match with
    		   (for FileType, Syntax and SpellFileMissing events).
    	<sfile>    when executing a ":source" command, is replaced with the
    		   file name of the sourced file;
    		   when executing a function, is replaced with
    		   "function {function-name}"; function call nesting is
    		   indicated like this:
    		   "function {function-name1}..{function-name2}".  Note that
    		   filename-modifiers are useless when <sfile> is used inside
    		   a function.

    							 *filename-modifiers*

    	 *:_%:* *::8* *::p* *::.* *::~* *::h* *::t* *::r* *::e* *::s* *::gs*
    The file name modifiers can be used after "%", "#", "#n", "<cfile>", "<sfile>",
    "<afile>" or "<abuf>".  They are also used with the |fnamemodify()| function.
    These are not available when Vim has been compiled without the |+modify_fname|
    feature.
    These modifiers can be given, in this order:
    	:p	Make file name a full path.  Must be the first modifier.  Also
    		changes "~/" (and "~user/" for Unix and VMS) to the path for
    		the home directory.  If the name is a directory a path
    		separator is added at the end.  For a file name that does not
    		exist and does not have an absolute path the result is
    		unpredictable.
    	:8	Converts the path to 8.3 short format (currently only on
    		win32).  Will act on as much of a path that is an existing
    		path.
    	:~	Reduce file name to be relative to the home directory, if
    		possible.  File name is unmodified if it is not below the home
    		directory.
    	:.	Reduce file name to be relative to current directory, if
    		possible.  File name is unmodified if it is not below the
    		current directory.
    		For maximum shortness, use ":~:.".
    	:h	Head of the file name (the last component and any separators
    		removed).  Cannot be used with :e, :r or :t.
    		Can be repeated to remove several components at the end.
    		When the file name ends in a path separator, only the path
    		separator is removed.  Thus ":p:h" on a directory name results
    		on the directory name itself (without trailing slash).
    		When the file name is an absolute path (starts with "/" for
    		Unix; "x:\" for MS-DOS, WIN32, OS/2; "drive:" for Amiga), that
    		part is not removed.  When there is no head (path is relative
    		to current directory) the result is empty.
    	:t	Tail of the file name (last component of the name).  Must
    		precede any :r or :e.
    	:r	Root of the file name (the last extension removed).  When
    		there is only an extension (file name that starts with '.',
    		e.g., ".vimrc"), it is not removed.  Can be repeated to remove
    		several extensions (last one first).
    	:e	Extension of the file name.  Only makes sense when used alone.
    		When there is no extension the result is empty.
    		When there is only an extension (file name that starts with
    		'.'), the result is empty.  Can be repeated to include more
    		extensions.  If there are not enough extensions (but at least
    		one) as much as possible are included.
    	:s?pat?sub?
    		Substitute the first occurrence of "pat" with "sub".  This
    		works like the |:s| command.  "pat" is a regular expression.
    		Any character can be used for '?', but it must not occur in
    		"pat" or "sub".
    		After this, the previous modifiers can be used again.  For
    		example ":p", to make a full path after the substitution.
    	:gs?pat?sub?
    		Substitute all occurrences of "path" with "sub".  Otherwise
    		this works like ":s".

    Examples, when the file name is "src/version.c", current dir
    "/home/mool/vim":
      :p			/home/mool/vim/src/version.c
      :p:.				       src/version.c
      :p:~				 ~/vim/src/version.c
      :h				       src
      :p:h			/home/mool/vim/src
      :p:h:h		/home/mool/vim
      :t					   version.c
      :p:t					   version.c
      :r				       src/version
      :p:r			/home/mool/vim/src/version
      :t:r					   version
      :e						   c
      :s?version?main?		       src/main.c
      :s?version?main?:p	/home/mool/vim/src/main.c
      :p:gs?/?\\?		\home\mool\vim\src\version.c

    Examples, when the file name is "src/version.c.gz":
      :p			/home/mool/vim/src/version.c.gz
      :e						     gz
      :e:e						   c.gz
      :e:e:e					   c.gz
      :e:e:r					   c
      :r				       src/version.c
      :r:e						   c
      :r:r				       src/version
      :r:r:r			       src/version

    					*extension-removal* *:_%<*
    If a "<" is appended to "%", "#", "#n" or "CTRL-V p" the extension of the file
    name is removed (everything after and including the last '.' in the file
    name).  This is included for backwards compatibility with version 3.0, the
    ":r" form is preferred.  Examples:

    	%		current file name
    	%<		current file name without extension
    	#		alternate file name for current window
    	#<		idem, without extension
    	#31		alternate file number 31
    	#31<		idem, without extension
    	<cword>		word under the cursor
    	<cWORD>		WORD under the cursor (see |WORD|)
    	<cfile>		path name under the cursor
    	<cfile><	idem, without extension

    Note: Where a file name is expected wildcards expansion is done.  On Unix the
    shell is used for this, unless it can be done internally (for speed).
    Backticks also work, like in
    	:n `echo *.c`
    (backtick expansion is not possible in |restricted-mode|)
    But expansion is only done if there are any wildcards before expanding the
    '%', '#', etc..  This avoids expanding wildcards inside a file name.  If you
    want to expand the result of <cfile>, add a wildcard character to it.
    Examples: (alternate file name is "?readme?")
    	command		expands to
    	:e #		:e ?readme?
    	:e `ls #`	:e {files matching "?readme?"}
    	:e #.*		:e {files matching "?readme?.*"}
    	:cd <cfile>	:cd {file name under cursor}
    	:cd <cfile>*	:cd {file name under cursor plus "*" and then expanded}

    When the expanded argument contains a "!" and it is used for a shell command
    (":!cmd", ":r !cmd" or ":w !cmd"), the "!" is escaped with a backslash to
    avoid it being expanded into a previously used command.  When the 'shell'
    option contains "sh", this is done twice, to avoid the shell trying to expand
    the "!".

    							*filename-backslash*
    For filesystems that use a backslash as directory separator (MS-DOS, Windows,
    OS/2), it's a bit difficult to recognize a backslash that is used to escape
    the special meaning of the next character.  The general rule is: If the
    backslash is followed by a normal file name character, it does not have a
    special meaning.  Therefore "\file\foo" is a valid file name, you don't have
    to type the backslash twice.

    An exception is the '$' sign.  It is a valid character in a file name.  But
    to avoid a file name like "$home" to be interpreted as an environment variable,
    it needs to be preceded by a backslash.  Therefore you need to use "/\$home"
    for the file "$home" in the root directory.  A few examples:

    	FILE NAME	INTERPRETED AS
    	$home		expanded to value of environment var $home
    	\$home		file "$home" in current directory
    	/\$home		file "$home" in root directory
    	\\$home		file "\\", followed by expanded $home

    ==============================================================================

    6. Command-line window				*cmdline-window* *cmdwin*

    In the command-line window the command line can be edited just like editing
    text in any window.  It is a special kind of window, because you cannot leave
    it in a normal way.
    {not available when compiled without the |+cmdline_hist| or |+vertsplit|
    feature}

    OPEN

    There are two ways to open the command-line window:
    1. From Command-line mode, use the key specified with the 'cedit' option.
       The default is CTRL-F when 'compatible' is not set.

    2. From Normal mode, use the "q:", "q/" or "q?" command.  *q:* *q/* *q?*
       This starts editing an Ex command-line ("q:") or search string ("q/" or
       "q?").  Note that this is not possible while recording is in progress (the
       "q" stops recording then).

    When the window opens it is filled with the command-line history.  The last
    line contains the command as typed so far.  The left column will show a
    character that indicates the type of command-line being edited, see
    |cmdwin-char|.

    Vim will be in Normal mode when the editor is opened, except when 'insertmode'
    is set.

    The height of the window is specified with 'cmdwinheight' (or smaller if there
    is no room).  The window is always full width and is positioned just above the
    command-line.

    EDIT

    You can now use commands to move around and edit the text in the window.  Both
    in Normal mode and Insert mode.

    It is possible to use ":", "/" and other commands that use the command-line,
    but it's not possible to open another command-line window then.  There is no
    nesting.

    							*E11*
    The command-line window is not a normal window.  It is not possible to move to
    another window or edit another buffer.  All commands that would do this are
    disabled in the command-line window.  Of course it _is_ possible to execute
    any command that you entered in the command-line window.

    CLOSE							*E199*

    There are several ways to leave the command-line window:

    <CR>		Execute the command-line under the cursor.  Works both in
    		Insert and in Normal mode.
    CTRL-C		Continue in Command-line mode.  The command-line under the
    		cursor is used as the command-line.  Works both in Insert and
    		in Normal mode.  ":close" also works.  There is no redraw,
    		thus the window will remain visible.
    :quit		Discard the command line and go back to Normal mode.
    		":exit", ":xit" and CTRL-\ CTRL-N also work.
    :qall		Quit Vim, unless there are changes in some buffer.
    :qall!		Quit Vim, discarding changes to any buffer.

    Once the command-line window is closed the old window sizes are restored.  The
    executed command applies to the window and buffer where the command-line was
    started from.  This works as if the command-line window was not there, except
    that there will be an extra screen redraw.
    The buffer used for the command-line window is deleted.  Any changes to lines
    other than the one that is executed with <CR> are lost.

    If you would like to execute the command under the cursor and then have the
    command-line window open again, you may find this mapping useful:

    	:autocmd CmdwinEnter * map <buffer> <F5> <CR>q:

    VARIOUS

    The command-line window cannot be used:
    - when there already is a command-line window (no nesting)
    - for entering a encryption key or when using inputsecret()
    - when Vim was not compiled with the +vertsplit feature

    Some options are set when the command-line window is opened:
    'filetype'	"vim", when editing an Ex command-line; this starts Vim syntax
    		highlighting if it was enabled
    'rightleft'	off
    'modifiable'	on
    'buftype'	"nofile"
    'swapfile'	off

    It is allowed to write the buffer contents to a file.  This is an easy way to
    save the command-line history and read it back later.

    If the 'wildchar' option is set to <Tab>, and the command-line window is used
    for an Ex command, then two mappings will be added to use <Tab> for completion
    in the command-line window, like this:
    	:imap <buffer> <Tab> <C-X><C-V>
    	:nmap <buffer> <Tab> a<C-X><C-V>
    Note that hitting <Tab> in Normal mode will do completion on the next
    character.  That way it works at the end of the line.
    If you don't want these mappings, disable them with:
    	au CmdwinEnter [:>] iunmap <Tab>
    	au CmdwinEnter [:>] nunmap <Tab>
    You could put these lines in your vimrc file.

    While in the command-line window you cannot use the mouse to put the cursor in
    another window, or drag statuslines of other windows.  You can drag the
    statusline of the command-line window itself and the statusline above it.
    Thus you can resize the command-line window, but not others.

    AUTOCOMMANDS

    Two autocommand events are used: |CmdwinEnter| and |CmdwinLeave|.  Since this
    window is of a special type, the WinEnter, WinLeave, BufEnter and BufLeave
    events are not triggered.  You can use the Cmdwin events to do settings
    specifically for the command-line window.  Be careful not to cause side
    effects!
    Example:
    	:au CmdwinEnter :  let b:cpt_save = &cpt | set cpt=.
    	:au CmdwinLeave :  let &cpt = b:cpt_save
    This sets 'complete' to use completion in the current window for |i_CTRL-N|.
    Another example:
    	:au CmdwinEnter [/?]  startinsert
    This will make Vim start in Insert mode in the command-line window.

    						*cmdwin-char*
    The character used for the pattern indicates the type of command-line:
    	:	normal Ex command
    	>	debug mode command |debug-mode|
    	/	forward search string
    	?	backward search string
    	=	expression for "= |expr-register|
    	@	string for |input()|
    	-	text for |:insert| or |:append|

    top - main help file