I'm simply trying perform some commands on text that is selected in visual mode.
If I select some text & then press y (for yank) or d (for delete), it yanks or deletes the selected text
However I need to be able to do this from the command line (because I'm writing a function that I'm going to remap to one of my keys).
However when I enter the command line from visual mode '<,'> is there by default, so I just try to append y or d to the end of it leaving me with :'<,'>d
The problem with this however is that it deletes the whole line that the visual selection is in. I only want to delete the selection I made within the line.
I've tried looking at http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Search_and_replace_in_a_visual_selection but nothing I try seems to work.
I'm sure it must be something simple but I just don't know what. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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What is your goal? I am starting to think this may be an XY ProblemPeter Rincker– Peter Rincker2014-11-13 14:10:40 +00:00Commented Nov 13, 2014 at 14:10
1 Answer
All Vim native ex commands work on lines. I guess you can buck this trend. However you seem to be wanting to create a command simply so you can map it some key(s). You probably just want to call the function directly or creating a <Plug> or <SID> mapping instead.
Calling a function directly
xnoremap * :<c-u>call YourFunctionGoesHere<cr>
The secret sauce using :<c-u>call here. You probably want to use :normal! gv inside your function.
Using <Plug>
Here is a quick-n-dirty visual start example showing:
function! s:vstar()
let reg = @@
normal! gvy
let @/ = '\V' . substitute(escape(@@, '\'))
let @@ = reg
endfunction
xnoremap <Plug>(vstar) :<c-u>call <SID>vstar()<cr>/<c-r>/<cr><cr>
This show how to create the <Plug> map which shows how to call a function which is the same as calling the function directly example. The use of <SID>/s: makes sure the function is "namespace'd" to the current script.
Now you can just map * to your <Plug> mapping like in your ~/.vimrc file:
xmap * <Plug>(vstar)
This is how Vim Plugin's create their mappings. A good starting place for learning Vim plugins is :h write-plugin and looking at some very popular vim plugins. I suggest you look at Tim Pope's or Ingo Karkat's plugins as both are very prolific authors.
For more help see:
:h <Plug>
:h <SID>
:h using-<Plug>
:h write-plugin
:h c_ctrl-u
:h :norm
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