vim change :x function to delete buffer instead of save & quit

Question

I want to set :x in vim gui-mode to delete buffer because I always kill the whole gvim, which is kind of annoying. I know i can specifically set gui problems with if has("gui running") but don't know how to remap :x

thanks in advance

ps.: maybe the tag/term remap is wrong but I don't know the correct term, that's why google didn't provide any help at all.

• eckes: possible duplicate of Vim: Redefine a command

Answer 1

I find the safest alternative is to use an expression abbreviation:

cnoreabbrev <expr> x getcmdtype() == ":" && getcmdline() == 'x' ? 'bd' : 'x'

This will ensure the abbreviation will only be expanded to bd when :x is used otherwise just expand to x.

For more help:

:h map-<expr>
:h getcmdtype()
:h getcmdline()

Upon further inspection there appears to be a plugin that does exactly this by Hari Krishna Dara called cmdalias.vim. It uses a variation of the technique above.

Answer 2

This is not as easy as it looks. :map won't work with commands and :command only accepts commands that start with an uppercase letter. But you can use :cabbrev:

if has("gui_running")
 cabbrev x bd
endif

UPDATE: :cmap could actually be used: :cmap x bd, but it doesn't work right: each occurrence of x in a command is immediately replaced by bd.

EDIT: This question is a duplicate of Can I (re)map Ex commands in vim?.

• Chris Morgan: Why has("gui running")? I don't believe that'll ever be true. Should be has("gui").
• Chris Morgan: This has the problem then that if you ever enter "x" as a word, e.g. :echo "1 + x = 3" (convoluted, I know!), it'll be turned into :echo "1 + bd = 3". @Peter's solution is better because it doesn't have this flaw.
• ZyX: @ChrisMorgan It should be has("gui_running"). It can be found in a list below :h has-patch (use :helpg gui_running).
• Chris Morgan: @ZyX Correct, my mistake. I've used it before but didn't refer to it... has('gui') certainly won't cut it.