howto.txt For Vim version 9.2. Last change: 2026 Feb 14 VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar How to ... howdoi how-do-i howto how-to tutor get started :quit exit? I'm trapped, help me! initialization initialize Vim vimrc-intro write a Vim script file (vimrc) suspend suspend Vim usr_11.txt recover after a crash 07.4 keep a backup of my file when writing over it usr_07.txt edit files 23.4 edit binary files usr_24.txt insert text deleting delete text usr_04.txt change text 04.5 copy and move text usr_25.txt format text 30.6 format comments 30.2 indent C programs 25.3 automatically set indent usr_26.txt repeat commands 02.5 undo and redo usr_03.txt move around word-motions word motions left-right-motions left-right motions up-down-motions up-down motions object-motions text-object motions various-motions various motions object-select text-object selection 'whichwrap' move over line breaks 'virtualedit' move to where there is no text usr_27.txt specify pattern for searches tags-and-searches do tags and special searches 29.4 search in include'd files used to find variables, functions, or macros K look up manual for the keyword under cursor 03.7 scroll 'sidescroll' scroll horizontally/sideways 'scrolloff' set visible context lines mode-switching change modes 04.4 use Visual mode 'insertmode' start Vim in Insert mode 40.1 map keys 24.7 create abbreviations ins-expandtab expand a tab to spaces in Insert mode i_CTRL-R insert contents of a register in Insert mode 24.3 complete words in Insert mode 25.1 break a line before it gets too long 20.1 do command-line editing 20.3 do command-line completion 'cmdheight' increase the height of command-line 10.3 specify command-line ranges 40.3 specify commands to be executed automatically before/after reading/writing entering/leaving a buffer/window 'autowrite' write automatically 30.1 speedup edit-compile-edit cycle or compile and fix errors within Vim options set options auto-setting set options automatically term-dependent-settings set options depending on terminal name save-settings save settings :quote comment my .vim files 'helpheight' change the default help height 'highlight' set various highlighting modes 'title' set the window title 'icon' set window icon title 'report' avoid seeing the change messages on every line 'shortmess' avoid hit-enter prompts mouse-using use mouse with Vim usr_08.txt manage multiple windows and buffers gui.txt use the gui |You can't! (yet)| do dishes using Vim usr_06.txt switch on syntax highlighting 2html.vim convert a colored file to HTML less use Vim like less or more with syntax highlighting vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl: