How to replace selected text in vimscript

Question

I have some specific parts of files with unformated xml code. I need to write a vimscript function that selects the text and calls xmllint over it.

I know I can do this on the command line :'<,'>!xmllint --format -

But I really need to do the same in a vimscript function and I don't know how to make something like normal! call for visual.

I tried this but it does not work correctly :

function! MyFormat()
    ... stuff done here
    let startl = line("'<")
    let endl = line("'>")
    let line = getline(startl, endl)
    let r = system('echo "' . join(line, "") . '" | xmllint --format -')

    call setline('.', r)
endfunction

You need to or you want to? The command you gave seems to do the job fine so what problem, exactly, are you trying to solve and how do you plan to use that function? — romainl
– romainl, Commented Mar 30, 2021 at 17:20
And your question lacks the level of detail necessary for it to be answered properly, most importantly, what you have tried. — romainl
– romainl, Commented Mar 30, 2021 at 18:26
I have updated my question. I think maybe I could have an issue with quotes in string injecte in the system function — sigz
– sigz, Commented Mar 30, 2021 at 19:50

romainl · Accepted Answer · 2021-03-30 20:27:21Z

2

Every line in a Vim script is an Ex command. Since you already have a working Ex command, you might as well use it.

function! MyFormat()
    " ... stuff done here
    '<,'>!xmllint --format -
    " ... more stuff done here
endfunction

But, again, data is missing so this might work… or not, be sufficient… or not, etc.

answered Mar 30, 2021 at 20:27

romainl

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