xref: /vim-8.2.3635/runtime/doc/repeat.txt (revision 94688b8a)
1*repeat.txt*    For Vim version 8.1.  Last change: 2018 Dec 18
2
3
4		  VIM REFERENCE MANUAL    by Bram Moolenaar
5
6
7Repeating commands, Vim scripts and debugging			*repeating*
8
9Chapter 26 of the user manual introduces repeating |usr_26.txt|.
10
111. Single repeats		|single-repeat|
122. Multiple repeats		|multi-repeat|
133. Complex repeats		|complex-repeat|
144. Using Vim scripts		|using-scripts|
155. Using Vim packages		|packages|
166. Creating Vim packages	|package-create|
177. Debugging scripts		|debug-scripts|
188. Profiling			|profiling|
19
20==============================================================================
211. Single repeats					*single-repeat*
22
23							*.*
24.			Repeat last change, with count replaced with [count].
25			Also repeat a yank command, when the 'y' flag is
26			included in 'cpoptions'.  Does not repeat a
27			command-line command.
28
29Simple changes can be repeated with the "." command.  Without a count, the
30count of the last change is used.  If you enter a count, it will replace the
31last one.  |v:count| and |v:count1| will be set.
32
33If the last change included a specification of a numbered register, the
34register number will be incremented.  See |redo-register| for an example how
35to use this.
36
37Note that when repeating a command that used a Visual selection, the same SIZE
38of area is used, see |visual-repeat|.
39
40							*@:*
41@:			Repeat last command-line [count] times.
42			{not available when compiled without the
43			|+cmdline_hist| feature}
44
45
46==============================================================================
472. Multiple repeats					*multi-repeat*
48
49						*:g* *:global* *E148*
50:[range]g[lobal]/{pattern}/[cmd]
51			Execute the Ex command [cmd] (default ":p") on the
52			lines within [range] where {pattern} matches.
53
54:[range]g[lobal]!/{pattern}/[cmd]
55			Execute the Ex command [cmd] (default ":p") on the
56			lines within [range] where {pattern} does NOT match.
57
58							*:v* *:vglobal*
59:[range]v[global]/{pattern}/[cmd]
60			Same as :g!.
61
62Instead of the '/' which surrounds the {pattern}, you can use any other
63single byte character, but not an alphabetic character, '\', '"' or '|'.
64This is useful if you want to include a '/' in the search pattern or
65replacement string.
66
67For the definition of a pattern, see |pattern|.
68
69NOTE [cmd] may contain a range; see |collapse| and |edit-paragraph-join| for
70examples.
71
72The global commands work by first scanning through the [range] lines and
73marking each line where a match occurs (for a multi-line pattern, only the
74start of the match matters).
75In a second scan the [cmd] is executed for each marked line, as if the cursor
76was in that line.  For ":v" and ":g!" the command is executed for each not
77marked line.  If a line is deleted its mark disappears.
78The default for [range] is the whole buffer (1,$).  Use "CTRL-C" to interrupt
79the command.  If an error message is given for a line, the command for that
80line is aborted and the global command continues with the next marked or
81unmarked line.
82								*E147*
83When the command is used recursively, it only works on one line.  Giving a
84range is then not allowed. This is useful to find all lines that match a
85pattern and do not match another pattern: >
86	:g/found/v/notfound/{cmd}
87This first finds all lines containing "found", but only executes {cmd} when
88there is no match for "notfound".
89
90To execute a non-Ex command, you can use the `:normal` command: >
91	:g/pat/normal {commands}
92Make sure that {commands} ends with a whole command, otherwise Vim will wait
93for you to type the rest of the command for each match.  The screen will not
94have been updated, so you don't know what you are doing.  See |:normal|.
95
96The undo/redo command will undo/redo the whole global command at once.
97The previous context mark will only be set once (with "''" you go back to
98where the cursor was before the global command).
99
100The global command sets both the last used search pattern and the last used
101substitute pattern (this is vi compatible).  This makes it easy to globally
102replace a string:
103	:g/pat/s//PAT/g
104This replaces all occurrences of "pat" with "PAT".  The same can be done with:
105	:%s/pat/PAT/g
106Which is two characters shorter!
107
108When using "global" in Ex mode, a special case is using ":visual" as a
109command.  This will move to a matching line, go to Normal mode to let you
110execute commands there until you use |Q| to return to Ex mode.  This will be
111repeated for each matching line.  While doing this you cannot use ":global".
112To abort this type CTRL-C twice.
113
114==============================================================================
1153. Complex repeats					*complex-repeat*
116
117							*q* *recording*
118q{0-9a-zA-Z"}		Record typed characters into register {0-9a-zA-Z"}
119			(uppercase to append).  The 'q' command is disabled
120			while executing a register, and it doesn't work inside
121			a mapping and |:normal|.
122
123			Note: If the register being used for recording is also
124			used for |y| and |p| the result is most likely not
125			what is expected, because the put will paste the
126			recorded macro and the yank will overwrite the
127			recorded macro. {Vi: no recording}
128
129q			Stops recording.  (Implementation note: The 'q' that
130			stops recording is not stored in the register, unless
131			it was the result of a mapping)  {Vi: no recording}
132
133							*@*
134@{0-9a-z".=*+}		Execute the contents of register {0-9a-z".=*+} [count]
135			times.  Note that register '%' (name of the current
136			file) and '#' (name of the alternate file) cannot be
137			used.
138			The register is executed like a mapping, that means
139			that the difference between 'wildchar' and 'wildcharm'
140			applies.
141			For "@=" you are prompted to enter an expression.  The
142			result of the expression is then executed.
143			See also |@:|.  {Vi: only named registers}
144
145							*@@* *E748*
146@@			Repeat the previous @{0-9a-z":*} [count] times.
147
148:[addr]*{0-9a-z".=+}						*:@* *:star*
149:[addr]@{0-9a-z".=*+}	Execute the contents of register {0-9a-z".=*+} as an Ex
150			command.  First set cursor at line [addr] (default is
151			current line).  When the last line in the register does
152			not have a <CR> it will be added automatically when
153			the 'e' flag is present in 'cpoptions'.
154			Note that the ":*" command is only recognized when the
155			'*' flag is present in 'cpoptions'.  This is NOT the
156			default when 'nocompatible' is used.
157			For ":@=" the last used expression is used.  The
158			result of evaluating the expression is executed as an
159			Ex command.
160			Mappings are not recognized in these commands.
161			{Vi: only in some versions} Future: Will execute the
162			register for each line in the address range.
163
164							*:@:*
165:[addr]@:		Repeat last command-line.  First set cursor at line
166			[addr] (default is current line).  {not in Vi}
167
168:[addr]@							*:@@*
169:[addr]@@		Repeat the previous :@{0-9a-z"}.  First set cursor at
170			line [addr] (default is current line).  {Vi: only in
171			some versions}
172
173==============================================================================
1744. Using Vim scripts					*using-scripts*
175
176For writing a Vim script, see chapter 41 of the user manual |usr_41.txt|.
177
178					*:so* *:source* *load-vim-script*
179:so[urce] {file}	Read Ex commands from {file}.  These are commands that
180			start with a ":".
181			Triggers the |SourcePre| autocommand.
182
183:so[urce]! {file}	Read Vim commands from {file}.  These are commands
184			that are executed from Normal mode, like you type
185			them.
186			When used after |:global|, |:argdo|, |:windo|,
187			|:bufdo|, in a loop or when another command follows
188			the display won't be updated while executing the
189			commands.
190			{not in Vi}
191
192							*:ru* *:runtime*
193:ru[ntime][!] [where] {file} ..
194			Read Ex commands from {file} in each directory given
195			by 'runtimepath' and/or 'packpath'.  There is no error
196			for non-existing files.
197
198			Example: >
199				:runtime syntax/c.vim
200
201<			There can be multiple {file} arguments, separated by
202			spaces.  Each {file} is searched for in the first
203			directory from 'runtimepath', then in the second
204			directory, etc.  Use a backslash to include a space
205			inside {file} (although it's better not to use spaces
206			in file names, it causes trouble).
207
208			When [!] is included, all found files are sourced.
209			When it is not included only the first found file is
210			sourced.
211
212			When [where] is omitted only 'runtimepath' is used.
213			Other values:
214				START	search under "start" in 'packpath'
215				OPT 	search under "opt" in 'packpath'
216				PACK	search under "start" and "opt" in
217					'packpath'
218				ALL	first use 'runtimepath', then search
219					under "start" and "opt" in 'packpath'
220
221			When {file} contains wildcards it is expanded to all
222			matching files.  Example: >
223				:runtime! plugin/*.vim
224<			This is what Vim uses to load the plugin files when
225			starting up.  This similar command: >
226				:runtime plugin/*.vim
227<			would source the first file only.
228
229			When 'verbose' is one or higher, there is a message
230			when no file could be found.
231			When 'verbose' is two or higher, there is a message
232			about each searched file.
233			{not in Vi}
234
235							*:pa* *:packadd* *E919*
236:pa[ckadd][!] {name}	Search for an optional plugin directory in 'packpath'
237			and source any plugin files found.  The directory must
238			match:
239				pack/*/opt/{name} ~
240			The directory is added to 'runtimepath' if it wasn't
241			there yet.
242			If the directory pack/*/opt/{name}/after exists it is
243			added at the end of 'runtimepath'.
244
245			If loading packages from "pack/*/start" was skipped,
246			then this directory is searched first:
247				pack/*/start/{name} ~
248
249			Note that {name} is the directory name, not the name
250			of the .vim file.  All the files matching the pattern
251				pack/*/opt/{name}/plugin/**/*.vim ~
252			will be sourced.  This allows for using subdirectories
253			below "plugin", just like with plugins in
254			'runtimepath'.
255
256			If the filetype detection was not enabled yet (this
257			is usually done with a "syntax enable" or "filetype
258			on" command in your .vimrc file), this will also look
259			for "{name}/ftdetect/*.vim" files.
260
261			When the optional ! is added no plugin files or
262			ftdetect scripts are loaded, only the matching
263			directories are added to 'runtimepath'.  This is
264			useful in your .vimrc.  The plugins will then be
265			loaded during initialization, see |load-plugins|.
266
267			Also see |pack-add|.
268			{only available when compiled with |+eval|}
269
270						*:packl* *:packloadall*
271:packl[oadall][!]	Load all packages in the "start" directory under each
272			entry in 'packpath'.
273
274			First all the directories found are added to
275			'runtimepath', then the plugins found in the
276			directories are sourced.  This allows for a plugin to
277			depend on something of another plugin, e.g. an
278			"autoload" directory.  See |packload-two-steps| for
279			how this can be useful.
280
281			This is normally done automatically during startup,
282			after loading your .vimrc file.  With this command it
283			can be done earlier.
284
285			Packages will be loaded only once.  After this command
286			it won't happen again.  When the optional ! is added
287			this command will load packages even when done before.
288
289			An error only causes sourcing the script where it
290			happens to be aborted, further plugins will be loaded.
291			See |packages|.
292			{only available when compiled with |+eval|}
293
294:scripte[ncoding] [encoding]		*:scripte* *:scriptencoding* *E167*
295			Specify the character encoding used in the script.
296			The following lines will be converted from [encoding]
297			to the value of the 'encoding' option, if they are
298			different.  Examples: >
299				scriptencoding iso-8859-5
300				scriptencoding cp932
301<
302			When [encoding] is empty, no conversion is done.  This
303			can be used to restrict conversion to a sequence of
304			lines: >
305				scriptencoding euc-jp
306				... lines to be converted ...
307				scriptencoding
308				... not converted ...
309
310<			When conversion isn't supported by the system, there
311			is no error message and no conversion is done.  When a
312			line can't be converted there is no error and the
313			original line is kept.
314
315			Don't use "ucs-2" or "ucs-4", scripts cannot be in
316			these encodings (they would contain NUL bytes).
317			When a sourced script starts with a BOM (Byte Order
318			Mark) in utf-8 format Vim will recognize it, no need
319			to use ":scriptencoding utf-8" then.
320
321			If you set the 'encoding' option in your |.vimrc|,
322			`:scriptencoding` must be placed after that. E.g.: >
323				set encoding=utf-8
324				scriptencoding utf-8
325<
326			When compiled without the |+multi_byte| feature this
327			command is ignored.
328			{not in Vi}
329
330						*:scr* *:scriptnames*
331:scr[iptnames]		List all sourced script names, in the order they were
332			first sourced.  The number is used for the script ID
333			|<SID>|.
334			{not in Vi} {not available when compiled without the
335			|+eval| feature}
336
337:scr[iptnames][!] {scriptId}			*:script*
338			Edit script {scriptId}.  Although ":scriptnames name"
339			works, using ":script name" is recommended.
340			When the current buffer can't be |abandon|ed and the !
341			is not present, the command fails.
342
343						*:fini* *:finish* *E168*
344:fini[sh]		Stop sourcing a script.  Can only be used in a Vim
345			script file.  This is a quick way to skip the rest of
346			the file.  If it is used after a |:try| but before the
347			matching |:finally| (if present), the commands
348			following the ":finally" up to the matching |:endtry|
349			are executed first.  This process applies to all
350			nested ":try"s in the script.  The outermost ":endtry"
351			then stops sourcing the script.  {not in Vi}
352
353All commands and command sequences can be repeated by putting them in a named
354register and then executing it.  There are two ways to get the commands in the
355register:
356- Use the record command "q".  You type the commands once, and while they are
357  being executed they are stored in a register.  Easy, because you can see
358  what you are doing.  If you make a mistake, "p"ut the register into the
359  file, edit the command sequence, and then delete it into the register
360  again.  You can continue recording by appending to the register (use an
361  uppercase letter).
362- Delete or yank the command sequence into the register.
363
364Often used command sequences can be put under a function key with the ':map'
365command.
366
367An alternative is to put the commands in a file, and execute them with the
368':source!' command.  Useful for long command sequences.  Can be combined with
369the ':map' command to put complicated commands under a function key.
370
371The ':source' command reads Ex commands from a file line by line.  You will
372have to type any needed keyboard input.  The ':source!' command reads from a
373script file character by character, interpreting each character as if you
374typed it.
375
376Example: When you give the ":!ls" command you get the |hit-enter| prompt.  If
377you ':source' a file with the line "!ls" in it, you will have to type the
378<Enter> yourself.  But if you ':source!' a file with the line ":!ls" in it,
379the next characters from that file are read until a <CR> is found.  You will
380not have to type <CR> yourself, unless ":!ls" was the last line in the file.
381
382It is possible to put ':source[!]' commands in the script file, so you can
383make a top-down hierarchy of script files.  The ':source' command can be
384nested as deep as the number of files that can be opened at one time (about
38515).  The ':source!' command can be nested up to 15 levels deep.
386
387You can use the "<sfile>" string (literally, this is not a special key) inside
388of the sourced file, in places where a file name is expected.  It will be
389replaced by the file name of the sourced file.  For example, if you have a
390"other.vimrc" file in the same directory as your ".vimrc" file, you can source
391it from your ".vimrc" file with this command: >
392	:source <sfile>:h/other.vimrc
393
394In script files terminal-dependent key codes are represented by
395terminal-independent two character codes.  This means that they can be used
396in the same way on different kinds of terminals.  The first character of a
397key code is 0x80 or 128, shown on the screen as "~@".  The second one can be
398found in the list |key-notation|.  Any of these codes can also be entered
399with CTRL-V followed by the three digit decimal code.  This does NOT work for
400the <t_xx> termcap codes, these can only be used in mappings.
401
402							*:source_crnl* *W15*
403MS-DOS, Win32 and OS/2: Files that are read with ":source" normally have
404<CR><NL> <EOL>s.  These always work.  If you are using a file with <NL> <EOL>s
405(for example, a file made on Unix), this will be recognized if 'fileformats'
406is not empty and the first line does not end in a <CR>.  This fails if the
407first line has something like ":map <F1> :help^M", where "^M" is a <CR>.  If
408the first line ends in a <CR>, but following ones don't, you will get an error
409message, because the <CR> from the first lines will be lost.
410
411Mac Classic: Files that are read with ":source" normally have <CR> <EOL>s.
412These always work.  If you are using a file with <NL> <EOL>s (for example, a
413file made on Unix), this will be recognized if 'fileformats' is not empty and
414the first line does not end in a <CR>.  Be careful not to use a file with <NL>
415linebreaks which has a <CR> in first line.
416
417On other systems, Vim expects ":source"ed files to end in a <NL>.  These
418always work.  If you are using a file with <CR><NL> <EOL>s (for example, a
419file made on MS-DOS), all lines will have a trailing <CR>.  This may cause
420problems for some commands (e.g., mappings).  There is no automatic <EOL>
421detection, because it's common to start with a line that defines a mapping
422that ends in a <CR>, which will confuse the automaton.
423
424							*line-continuation*
425Long lines in a ":source"d Ex command script file can be split by inserting
426a line continuation symbol "\" (backslash) at the start of the next line.
427There can be white space before the backslash, which is ignored.
428
429Example: the lines >
430	:set comments=sr:/*,mb:*,el:*/,
431		     \://,
432		     \b:#,
433		     \:%,
434		     \n:>,
435		     \fb:-
436are interpreted as if they were given in one line:
437	:set comments=sr:/*,mb:*,el:*/,://,b:#,:%,n:>,fb:-
438
439All leading whitespace characters in the line before a backslash are ignored.
440Note however that trailing whitespace in the line before it cannot be
441inserted freely; it depends on the position where a command is split up
442whether additional whitespace is allowed or not.
443
444When a space is required it's best to put it right after the backslash.  A
445space at the end of a line is hard to see and may be accidentally deleted. >
446	:syn match Comment
447		\ "very long regexp"
448		\ keepend
449
450There is a problem with the ":append" and ":insert" commands: >
451   :1append
452   \asdf
453   .
454The backslash is seen as a line-continuation symbol, thus this results in the
455command: >
456   :1appendasdf
457   .
458To avoid this, add the 'C' flag to the 'cpoptions' option: >
459   :set cpo+=C
460   :1append
461   \asdf
462   .
463   :set cpo-=C
464
465Note that when the commands are inside a function, you need to add the 'C'
466flag when defining the function, it is not relevant when executing it. >
467   :set cpo+=C
468   :function Foo()
469   :1append
470   \asdf
471   .
472   :endfunction
473   :set cpo-=C
474<
475					*line-continuation-comment*
476To add a comment in between the lines start with '"\ '.  Notice the space
477after the backslash.  Example: >
478	let array = [
479		"\ first entry comment
480		\ 'first',
481		"\ second entry comment
482		\ 'second',
483		\ ]
484
485Rationale:
486	Most programs work with a trailing backslash to indicate line
487	continuation.  Using this in Vim would cause incompatibility with Vi.
488	For example for this Vi mapping: >
489		:map xx  asdf\
490<	Therefore the unusual leading backslash is used.
491
492	Starting a comment in a continuation line results in all following
493	continuation lines to be part of the comment.  Since it was like this
494	for a long time, when making it possible to add a comment halfway a
495	sequence of continuation lines, it was not possible to use \", since
496	that was a valid continuation line.  Using '"\ ' comes closest, even
497	though it may look a bit weird.  Requiring the space after the
498	backslash is to make it very unlikely this is a normal comment line.
499
500==============================================================================
5015. Using Vim packages					*packages*
502
503A Vim package is a directory that contains one or more plugins.  The
504advantages over normal plugins:
505- A package can be downloaded as an archive and unpacked in its own directory.
506  Thus the files are not mixed with files of other plugins.  That makes it
507  easy to update and remove.
508- A package can be a git, mercurial, etc. repository.  That makes it really
509  easy to update.
510- A package can contain multiple plugins that depend on each other.
511- A package can contain plugins that are automatically loaded on startup and
512  ones that are only loaded when needed with `:packadd`.
513
514
515Using a package and loading automatically ~
516
517Let's assume your Vim files are in the "~/.vim" directory and you want to add a
518package from a zip archive "/tmp/foopack.zip":
519	% mkdir -p ~/.vim/pack/foo
520	% cd ~/.vim/pack/foo
521	% unzip /tmp/foopack.zip
522
523The directory name "foo" is arbitrary, you can pick anything you like.
524
525You would now have these files under ~/.vim:
526	pack/foo/README.txt
527	pack/foo/start/foobar/plugin/foo.vim
528	pack/foo/start/foobar/syntax/some.vim
529	pack/foo/opt/foodebug/plugin/debugger.vim
530
531When Vim starts up, after processing your .vimrc, it scans all directories in
532'packpath' for plugins under the "pack/*/start" directory.  First all those
533directories are added to 'runtimepath'.  Then all the plugins are loaded.
534See |packload-two-steps| for how these two steps can be useful.
535
536In the example Vim will find "pack/foo/start/foobar/plugin/foo.vim" and adds
537"~/.vim/pack/foo/start/foobar" to 'runtimepath'.
538
539If the "foobar" plugin kicks in and sets the 'filetype' to "some", Vim will
540find the syntax/some.vim file, because its directory is in 'runtimepath'.
541
542Vim will also load ftdetect files, if there are any.
543
544Note that the files under "pack/foo/opt" are not loaded automatically, only the
545ones under "pack/foo/start".  See |pack-add| below for how the "opt" directory
546is used.
547
548Loading packages automatically will not happen if loading plugins is disabled,
549see |load-plugins|.
550
551To load packages earlier, so that 'runtimepath' gets updated: >
552	:packloadall
553This also works when loading plugins is disabled.  The automatic loading will
554only happen once.
555
556If the package has an "after" directory, that directory is added to the end of
557'runtimepath', so that anything there will be loaded later.
558
559
560Using a single plugin and loading it automatically ~
561
562If you don't have a package but a single plugin, you need to create the extra
563directory level:
564	% mkdir -p ~/.vim/pack/foo/start/foobar
565	% cd ~/.vim/pack/foo/start/foobar
566	% unzip /tmp/someplugin.zip
567
568You would now have these files:
569	pack/foo/start/foobar/plugin/foo.vim
570	pack/foo/start/foobar/syntax/some.vim
571
572From here it works like above.
573
574
575Optional plugins ~
576							*pack-add*
577To load an optional plugin from a pack use the `:packadd` command: >
578	:packadd foodebug
579This searches for "pack/*/opt/foodebug" in 'packpath' and will find
580~/.vim/pack/foo/opt/foodebug/plugin/debugger.vim and source it.
581
582This could be done if some conditions are met.  For example, depending on
583whether Vim supports a feature or a dependency is missing.
584
585You can also load an optional plugin at startup, by putting this command in
586your |.vimrc|: >
587	:packadd! foodebug
588The extra "!" is so that the plugin isn't loaded if Vim was started with
589|--noplugin|.
590
591It is perfectly normal for a package to only have files in the "opt"
592directory.  You then need to load each plugin when you want to use it.
593
594
595Where to put what ~
596
597Since color schemes, loaded with `:colorscheme`, are found below
598"pack/*/start" and "pack/*/opt", you could put them anywhere.  We recommend
599you put them below "pack/*/opt", for example
600".vim/pack/mycolors/opt/dark/colors/very_dark.vim".
601
602Filetype plugins should go under "pack/*/start", so that they are always
603found.  Unless you have more than one plugin for a file type and want to
604select which one to load with `:packadd`.  E.g. depending on the compiler
605version: >
606	if foo_compiler_version > 34
607	  packadd foo_new
608	else
609	  packadd foo_old
610	endif
611
612The "after" directory is most likely not useful in a package.  It's not
613disallowed though.
614
615==============================================================================
6166. Creating Vim packages				*package-create*
617
618This assumes you write one or more plugins that you distribute as a package.
619
620If you have two unrelated plugins you would use two packages, so that Vim
621users can chose what they include or not.  Or you can decide to use one
622package with optional plugins, and tell the user to add the ones he wants with
623`:packadd`.
624
625Decide how you want to distribute the package.  You can create an archive or
626you could use a repository.  An archive can be used by more users, but is a
627bit harder to update to a new version.  A repository can usually be kept
628up-to-date easily, but it requires a program like "git" to be available.
629You can do both, github can automatically create an archive for a release.
630
631Your directory layout would be like this:
632   start/foobar/plugin/foo.vim    	" always loaded, defines commands
633   start/foobar/plugin/bar.vim    	" always loaded, defines commands
634   start/foobar/autoload/foo.vim  	" loaded when foo command used
635   start/foobar/doc/foo.txt       	" help for foo.vim
636   start/foobar/doc/tags          	" help tags
637   opt/fooextra/plugin/extra.vim  	" optional plugin, defines commands
638   opt/fooextra/autoload/extra.vim  	" loaded when extra command used
639   opt/fooextra/doc/extra.txt  	        " help for extra.vim
640   opt/fooextra/doc/tags  	        " help tags
641
642This allows for the user to do: >
643	mkdir ~/.vim/pack/myfoobar
644	cd ~/.vim/pack/myfoobar
645	git clone https://github.com/you/foobar.git
646
647Here "myfoobar" is a name that the user can choose, the only condition is that
648it differs from other packages.
649
650In your documentation you explain what the plugins do, and tell the user how
651to load the optional plugin: >
652	:packadd! fooextra
653
654You could add this packadd command in one of your plugins, to be executed when
655the optional plugin is needed.
656
657Run the `:helptags` command to generate the doc/tags file.  Including this
658generated file in the package means that the user can drop the package in his
659pack directory and the help command works right away.  Don't forget to re-run
660the command after changing the plugin help: >
661	:helptags path/start/foobar/doc
662	:helptags path/opt/fooextra/doc
663
664
665Dependencies between plugins ~
666							*packload-two-steps*
667Suppose you have two plugins that depend on the same functionality. You can
668put the common functionality in an autoload directory, so that it will be
669found automatically.  Your package would have these files:
670
671	pack/foo/start/one/plugin/one.vim  >
672		call foolib#getit()
673<	pack/foo/start/two/plugin/two.vim >
674		call foolib#getit()
675<	pack/foo/start/lib/autoload/foolib.vim >
676		func foolib#getit()
677
678This works, because loading packages will first add all found directories to
679'runtimepath' before sourcing the plugins.
680
681==============================================================================
6827. Debugging scripts					*debug-scripts*
683
684Besides the obvious messages that you can add to your scripts to find out what
685they are doing, Vim offers a debug mode.  This allows you to step through a
686sourced file or user function and set breakpoints.
687
688NOTE: The debugging mode is far from perfect.  Debugging will have side
689effects on how Vim works.  You cannot use it to debug everything.  For
690example, the display is messed up by the debugging messages.
691{Vi does not have a debug mode}
692
693An alternative to debug mode is setting the 'verbose' option.  With a bigger
694number it will give more verbose messages about what Vim is doing.
695
696
697STARTING DEBUG MODE						*debug-mode*
698
699To enter debugging mode use one of these methods:
7001. Start Vim with the |-D| argument: >
701	vim -D file.txt
702<  Debugging will start as soon as the first vimrc file is sourced.  This is
703   useful to find out what is happening when Vim is starting up.  A side
704   effect is that Vim will switch the terminal mode before initialisations
705   have finished, with unpredictable results.
706   For a GUI-only version (Windows, Macintosh) the debugging will start as
707   soon as the GUI window has been opened.  To make this happen early, add a
708   ":gui" command in the vimrc file.
709								*:debug*
7102. Run a command with ":debug" prepended.  Debugging will only be done while
711   this command executes.  Useful for debugging a specific script or user
712   function.  And for scripts and functions used by autocommands.  Example: >
713	:debug edit test.txt.gz
714
7153. Set a breakpoint in a sourced file or user function.  You could do this in
716   the command line: >
717	vim -c "breakadd file */explorer.vim" .
718<  This will run Vim and stop in the first line of the "explorer.vim" script.
719   Breakpoints can also be set while in debugging mode.
720
721In debugging mode every executed command is displayed before it is executed.
722Comment lines, empty lines and lines that are not executed are skipped.  When
723a line contains two commands, separated by "|", each command will be displayed
724separately.
725
726
727DEBUG MODE
728
729Once in debugging mode, the usual Ex commands can be used.  For example, to
730inspect the value of a variable: >
731	echo idx
732When inside a user function, this will print the value of the local variable
733"idx".  Prepend "g:" to get the value of a global variable: >
734	echo g:idx
735All commands are executed in the context of the current function or script.
736You can also set options, for example setting or resetting 'verbose' will show
737what happens, but you might want to set it just before executing the lines you
738are interested in: >
739	:set verbose=20
740
741Commands that require updating the screen should be avoided, because their
742effect won't be noticed until after leaving debug mode.  For example: >
743	:help
744won't be very helpful.
745
746There is a separate command-line history for debug mode.
747
748The line number for a function line is relative to the start of the function.
749If you have trouble figuring out where you are, edit the file that defines
750the function in another Vim, search for the start of the function and do
751"99j".  Replace "99" with the line number.
752
753Additionally, these commands can be used:
754							*>cont*
755	cont		Continue execution until the next breakpoint is hit.
756							*>quit*
757	quit		Abort execution.  This is like using CTRL-C, some
758			things might still be executed, doesn't abort
759			everything.  Still stops at the next breakpoint.
760							*>next*
761	next		Execute the command and come back to debug mode when
762			it's finished.  This steps over user function calls
763			and sourced files.
764							*>step*
765	step		Execute the command and come back to debug mode for
766			the next command.  This steps into called user
767			functions and sourced files.
768							*>interrupt*
769	interrupt	This is like using CTRL-C, but unlike ">quit" comes
770			back to debug mode for the next command that is
771			executed.  Useful for testing |:finally| and |:catch|
772			on interrupt exceptions.
773							*>finish*
774	finish		Finish the current script or user function and come
775			back to debug mode for the command after the one that
776			sourced or called it.
777							*>bt*
778							*>backtrace*
779							*>where*
780	backtrace	Show the call stacktrace for current debugging session.
781	bt
782	where
783							*>frame*
784	frame N		Goes to N backtrace level. + and - signs make movement
785			relative.  E.g., ":frame +3" goes three frames up.
786							*>up*
787	up		Goes one level up from call stacktrace.
788							*>down*
789	down		Goes one level down from call stacktrace.
790
791About the additional commands in debug mode:
792- There is no command-line completion for them, you get the completion for the
793  normal Ex commands only.
794- You can shorten them, up to a single character, unless more than one command
795  starts with the same letter.  "f" stands for "finish", use "fr" for "frame".
796- Hitting <CR> will repeat the previous one.  When doing another command, this
797  is reset (because it's not clear what you want to repeat).
798- When you want to use the Ex command with the same name, prepend a colon:
799  ":cont", ":next", ":finish" (or shorter).
800
801The backtrace shows the hierarchy of function calls, e.g.:
802	>bt ~
803	  3 function One[3] ~
804	  2 Two[3] ~
805	->1 Three[3] ~
806	  0 Four ~
807	line 1: let four = 4 ~
808
809The "->" points to the current frame.  Use "up", "down" and "frame N" to
810select another frame.
811
812In the current frame you can evaluate the local function variables.  There is
813no way to see the command at the current line yet.
814
815
816DEFINING BREAKPOINTS
817							*:breaka* *:breakadd*
818:breaka[dd] func [lnum] {name}
819		Set a breakpoint in a function.  Example: >
820			:breakadd func Explore
821<		Doesn't check for a valid function name, thus the breakpoint
822		can be set before the function is defined.
823
824:breaka[dd] file [lnum] {name}
825		Set a breakpoint in a sourced file.  Example: >
826			:breakadd file 43 .vimrc
827
828:breaka[dd] here
829		Set a breakpoint in the current line of the current file.
830		Like doing: >
831			:breakadd file <cursor-line> <current-file>
832<		Note that this only works for commands that are executed when
833		sourcing the file, not for a function defined in that file.
834
835:breaka[dd] expr {expression}
836		Sets a breakpoint, that will break whenever the {expression}
837		evaluates to a different value. Example: >
838			:breakadd expr g:lnum
839
840<		Will break, whenever the global variable lnum changes.
841		Note if you watch a |script-variable| this will break
842		when switching scripts, since the script variable is only
843		valid in the script where it has been defined and if that
844		script is called from several other scripts, this will stop
845		whenever that particular variable will become visible or
846		unaccessible again.
847
848The [lnum] is the line number of the breakpoint.  Vim will stop at or after
849this line.  When omitted line 1 is used.
850
851							*:debug-name*
852{name} is a pattern that is matched with the file or function name.  The
853pattern is like what is used for autocommands.  There must be a full match (as
854if the pattern starts with "^" and ends in "$").  A "*" matches any sequence
855of characters.  'ignorecase' is not used, but "\c" can be used in the pattern
856to ignore case |/\c|.  Don't include the () for the function name!
857
858The match for sourced scripts is done against the full file name.  If no path
859is specified the current directory is used.  Examples: >
860	breakadd file explorer.vim
861matches "explorer.vim" in the current directory. >
862	breakadd file *explorer.vim
863matches ".../plugin/explorer.vim", ".../plugin/iexplorer.vim", etc. >
864	breakadd file */explorer.vim
865matches ".../plugin/explorer.vim" and "explorer.vim" in any other directory.
866
867The match for functions is done against the name as it's shown in the output
868of ":function".  For local functions this means that something like "<SNR>99_"
869is prepended.
870
871Note that functions are first loaded and later executed.  When they are loaded
872the "file" breakpoints are checked, when they are executed the "func"
873breakpoints.
874
875
876DELETING BREAKPOINTS
877						*:breakd* *:breakdel* *E161*
878:breakd[el] {nr}
879		Delete breakpoint {nr}.  Use |:breaklist| to see the number of
880		each breakpoint.
881
882:breakd[el] *
883		Delete all breakpoints.
884
885:breakd[el] func [lnum] {name}
886		Delete a breakpoint in a function.
887
888:breakd[el] file [lnum] {name}
889		Delete a breakpoint in a sourced file.
890
891:breakd[el] here
892		Delete a breakpoint at the current line of the current file.
893
894When [lnum] is omitted, the first breakpoint in the function or file is
895deleted.
896The {name} must be exactly the same as what was typed for the ":breakadd"
897command.  "explorer", "*explorer.vim" and "*explorer*" are different.
898
899
900LISTING BREAKPOINTS
901							*:breakl* *:breaklist*
902:breakl[ist]
903		List all breakpoints.
904
905
906OBSCURE
907
908						*:debugg* *:debuggreedy*
909:debugg[reedy]
910		Read debug mode commands from the normal input stream, instead
911		of getting them directly from the user.  Only useful for test
912		scripts.  Example: >
913		  echo 'q^Mq' | vim -e -s -c debuggreedy -c 'breakadd file script.vim' -S script.vim
914
915:0debugg[reedy]
916		Undo ":debuggreedy": get debug mode commands directly from the
917		user, don't use typeahead for debug commands.
918
919==============================================================================
9208. Profiling						*profile* *profiling*
921
922Profiling means that Vim measures the time that is spent on executing
923functions and/or scripts.  The |+profile| feature is required for this.
924It is only included when Vim was compiled with "huge" features.
925{Vi does not have profiling}
926
927You can also use the |reltime()| function to measure time.  This only requires
928the |+reltime| feature, which is present more often.
929
930For profiling syntax highlighting see |:syntime|.
931
932For example, to profile the one_script.vim script file: >
933	:profile start /tmp/one_script_profile
934	:profile file one_script.vim
935	:source one_script.vim
936	:exit
937
938
939:prof[ile] start {fname}			*:prof* *:profile* *E750*
940		Start profiling, write the output in {fname} upon exit.
941		"~/" and environment variables in {fname} will be expanded.
942		If {fname} already exists it will be silently overwritten.
943		The variable |v:profiling| is set to one.
944
945:prof[ile] pause
946		Don't profile until the following ":profile continue".  Can be
947		used when doing something that should not be counted (e.g., an
948		external command).  Does not nest.
949
950:prof[ile] continue
951		Continue profiling after ":profile pause".
952
953:prof[ile] func {pattern}
954		Profile function that matches the pattern {pattern}.
955		See |:debug-name| for how {pattern} is used.
956
957:prof[ile][!] file {pattern}
958		Profile script file that matches the pattern {pattern}.
959		See |:debug-name| for how {pattern} is used.
960		This only profiles the script itself, not the functions
961		defined in it.
962		When the [!] is added then all functions defined in the script
963		will also be profiled.
964		Note that profiling only starts when the script is loaded
965		after this command.  A :profile command in the script itself
966		won't work.
967
968
969:profd[el] ...						*:profd* *:profdel*
970		Stop profiling for the arguments specified. See |:breakdel|
971		for the arguments.
972
973
974You must always start with a ":profile start fname" command.  The resulting
975file is written when Vim exits.  Here is an example of the output, with line
976numbers prepended for the explanation:
977
978  1 FUNCTION  Test2() ~
979  2 Called 1 time ~
980  3 Total time:   0.155251 ~
981  4  Self time:   0.002006 ~
982  5  ~
983  6 count  total (s)   self (s) ~
984  7	9	       0.000096   for i in range(8) ~
985  8	8   0.153655   0.000410     call Test3() ~
986  9	8	       0.000070   endfor ~
987 10				  " Ask a question ~
988 11	1	       0.001341   echo input("give me an answer: ") ~
989
990The header (lines 1-4) gives the time for the whole function.  The "Total"
991time is the time passed while the function was executing.  The "Self" time is
992the "Total" time reduced by time spent in:
993- other user defined functions
994- sourced scripts
995- executed autocommands
996- external (shell) commands
997
998Lines 7-11 show the time spent in each executed line.  Lines that are not
999executed do not count.  Thus a comment line is never counted.
1000
1001The Count column shows how many times a line was executed.  Note that the
1002"for" command in line 7 is executed one more time as the following lines.
1003That is because the line is also executed to detect the end of the loop.
1004
1005The time Vim spends waiting for user input isn't counted at all.  Thus how
1006long you take to respond to the input() prompt is irrelevant.
1007
1008Profiling should give a good indication of where time is spent, but keep in
1009mind there are various things that may clobber the results:
1010
1011- The accuracy of the time measured depends on the gettimeofday() system
1012  function.  It may only be as accurate as 1/100 second, even though the times
1013  are displayed in micro seconds.
1014
1015- Real elapsed time is measured, if other processes are busy they may cause
1016  delays at unpredictable moments.  You may want to run the profiling several
1017  times and use the lowest results.
1018
1019- If you have several commands in one line you only get one time.  Split the
1020  line to see the time for the individual commands.
1021
1022- The time of the lines added up is mostly less than the time of the whole
1023  function.  There is some overhead in between.
1024
1025- Functions that are deleted before Vim exits will not produce profiling
1026  information.  You can check the |v:profiling| variable if needed: >
1027	:if !v:profiling
1028	:   delfunc MyFunc
1029	:endif
1030<
1031- Profiling may give weird results on multi-processor systems, when sleep
1032  mode kicks in or the processor frequency is reduced to save power.
1033
1034- The "self" time is wrong when a function is used recursively.
1035
1036
1037 vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl:
1038