Search and replace words in multiple files in Vim

Upgraded my project's factory girl and got some nasty warnings about Factory(:xxx) and Factory.create(:xxx) syntax being deprecated. I've been using the former for almost all of the specs so needed an easy way to search and replace words in multiple files in Vim.

:args app/models/*
:argdo %s/Factory(:/FactoryGirl.create(:/ge | update

Show whitespace characters in Vim

This toggles showing the whitespaces

:set list!


Sort lines in Vim

:{range}sort u
:{range}sort! u

Vim can't make backup file

Ensure that the backup directory in .vimrc exists.

# in .vimrc

set backup
set backupdir=~/.vim/backups

mkdir -p .vim/backups

Vim unable to open swap file

If you see the following message when opening a vim file

Unable to open swap file for "{filename}", recovery impossible

The directory specified in your vim for swap files is missing. In my case it's ~/.vim/tmp.

# in .vimrc
set directory=~/.vim/tmp

mkdir -p ~/.vim/tmp

Open files at line number in Vim

:e PATH_TO_FILE:LINE_NO

Eg.
:e app/models/user.rb:10

Deleting a word backwards in Bash and Vim

# To delete one word back
CTRL + w

# To paste deleted word
CTRL + y

Record & playback a Vim macro

# q{register} when in normal mode will start recording into register
qs

# q will stop recording
q

# Playback = @{register}
@s

Reload vimrc in Vim

# :so or :source
:so ~/.vimrc

Insert contents from clipboard into Vim

# This usually works in insert mode
SHIFT + INSERT

# However sometimes my "CTRL + c" on other application doesn't get contents into Vim's "clipboard". 
# The solution is to use Vim's multiline insert mode

:i or :in or :insert

# This will bring up lines which you can paste from Ubuntu's clipboard by "CTRL + SHIFT + v" to you heart's content. 
# Finish the multilines with a "." at the end
# NOTE: better to turn off Vim's "autoindent" with "!"

:in!

This is first line
This is 2nd line
This is last line
.

# A similar method would be append instead of insert

:a, :append

Yank all lines in Vim

3 methods.

# 1. Highlight select all lines before yanking
:0, SHIFT + v, G, y

# 2. State range to yank: G - the last line
:0,Gy

# 3. State range to yank: $ - end of text
:0,$y

Best built in Vim color theme for Rails

# Seems like Evening's the best
colorscheme Evening

% and # in Vim

# '%' represents current filename in buffer
# Eg. insert current file contents in Vim
:!!cat %

# '#' represents previous filename in buffer
# Eg. git commit current and previous file
:! git commit -m "Message for commit" % #

Insert shell output into Vim

# Insert date
!!date

# Insert directory listing
!!ls -l

Copy into global clipboard in Vim

# Yanking in Vim will only copy into Vim buffer
y

# Get into command history mode and copy into clipboard instead
q:
"+yy

Execute shell commands in Vim

# :! to execute shell commands directly in Vim
:! git status

# % specifies current file
:! git commit -m "Added changes" %

Highlight line in Vim

# Highlight line that cursor is on
SHIFT + v

# Highlight line and then tab it
SHIFT + v
>

Open shell in Vim

# Open shell inside vim to do shell operations
:shell

# Exit shell
exit

Autocomplete in Vim

# Autocomplete string in buffer
CTRL + p

# Autocomplete line in buffer
CTRL + x + l

Search and Replace in VIM

Syntax

:s/search/replace/
:[range]s/search/replace/

Examples

# Search & replace in current line
:s/entry/interview

# Search & replace in lines 8 to 10
:8,10 s/search/replace/

# Global search & replace
:%s/entry/interview/g

# Global search & replace with prompt
:%s/entry/interview/gc

More awesome search and replace tips at http://linux.com/learn/tutorials/8255-vim-tips-the-basics-of-search-and-replace