VIM Executing a key command in a function

Question

I have a function, and I want to execute a key command, but I get the error Trailing characters:

function! MyFunction()
  if condition
    <C-W><C-W>
  else
    :some_other_command
  endif
endfunction

It doesn't like the <C-W><C-W>

What can I use instead?

jw013 · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-31 16:28:23Z

33

The general answer is to use the :normal command, like

:exe "normal \<C-W>\<C-w>"

The :execute approach is the readable way to get :normal to recognize special characters like control-key combinations. The other approach is

:normal ^W^W

where each^W is one character inserted by typing Ctrl-vCtrl-w.

answered Aug 31, 2012 at 16:28

jw013

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Friendly Genius · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-13 04:37:16Z

3

Use feedkeys function. NOTE that ^W is NOT "^" + "W" but actually type "Ctrl-V Ctrl-W". It's a special character.

function! MyFunction()
  if condition
    call feedkeys("^W^W")  
  else
    :some_other_command
  endif
endfunction

Friendly Genius

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answered Nov 13, 2016 at 15:53

byname4321

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2 Answers 2