Dr Chip's Vim Page

Various functions, plug-ins, and quick-insertion stubs follow alphabetically. There are several plugins that I post both here and at vim.sf.net. Scripts here are my most up-to-date ones and may be considered as alpha/beta releases; I tend to put the ones I'm updating/fixing here. After a bit of feedback, and a variable length of time (ie. whenever I get around to it), I will also post the scripts on vim.sf.net.

I use three release states with my plugins:

• NOT RELEASED -- my latest version (labelled v[0-9]*[a-z], ex. v3b). May be handed out to individuals while I'm attempting to debug some problem they're having. The version number will remain fixed while the plugin is in this state. These versions of my plugins shouldn't get generally released, but accidents happen.

• ASTRO-ONLY -- a somewhat experimental version of my plugins, also labelled with v[0-9]*[a-z] (ex. v3b). These versions have their trailing letter changed as they get updated. These versions appear on this website.

• (nothing) -- the plugin has been released on vim.sf.net and concurrently on my own website. These versions drop the trailing letters, having the format v[0-9]* (ex. v3). Those plugins which Bram has picked up for vim releases have also been forwarded to Bram.

If you have some feedback (problems or kudos!), please send an email to NdrOchip@ScampbellPfamily.AbizM (less the embedded NOSPAM therein).

• After/Syntax Directories

  Updated Apr 07, 2005 (v2a)

  Several directories, such as .vim/after/syntax, allows multiple files therein but does not look into sudirectories therein. By copying this file to such a directory, and renaming it using the subdirectory name + ".vim", the subdirectory name will be scanned for any and all *.vim files and such files will be loaded. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball Also available at vim.sf.net where you may rank it.


• DrChip's Astronaut Colorscheme

  Updated Aug 10, 2006 (v8c)

  The astronaut.vim colorscheme (see DrChip's colorscheme for more about it) provides a constant colorscheme for both gvim and vim. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Alignment

  Updated Mar 06, 2008 (v33)

  Aligns text based on patterns (see page for more!). NOTICE: The latest version of Align and AlignMaps given here need vim 7.0aa. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball Also available at vim.sf.net where you may rank it.


• Alignment Maps

  Updated Mar 21, 2008 (v40c)

  Provides numerous maps to facilitate text alignment(see page for more!) Also available at vim.sf.net where you may rank it. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Ansi Highlighting

  Updated May 12, 2008 (v9a)

  Source this in and ansi escape coloring sequences, generally of the forms ^[[3#m or ^[[3#;4#m, will be colored appropriately. The escape sequence itself takes space but will itself use "Ignore" highlighting. Ideally the escape sequences would be folded out but that capability isn't in vim 6.0 yet (folding is line-based). To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball Also available at vim.sf.net where you may rank it.


• AsNeeded

  Updated Feb 28, 2008 (v16i)

  Supports automatic sourcing (loading) of functions as needed. AsNeeded.vim is a plugin that sources other scripts in the .vim/AsNeeded directory when a function is called that is needed. One may use :AsNeeded command or :AN command. AsNeeded actually supports as-needed sourcing for functions, maps, and commands. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• AutoAlign suite

  Updated Sep 20, 2007 (v14c)

  Uses the Align.vba.gz package to facilitate aligning equations, etc, as you type them. Also available at vim.sf.net where you may rank it. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Blockhl: Nesting Level Based Highlighting For C

  Updated Feb 01, 2007 (v4)

  Blockhl controls the highlighting of leading tabs based on the nesting level of {}s for the C and C++ languages by providing a sequence of graylevels. The file should be put into the .../after/syntax/c directory. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Cecmatrix: Matrix Handling

  Updated Jan 04, 2008 (v1b)

  This plugin provides:
  
  
  • The MatInit command -- use visual block mode to define a Matrix
    
  • MatAdd, MatSub, MatMult, and MatTpose commands (and functions) to add, subtract, multiply, and transpose matrices
    
  • The MatWrite command -- to write one or more matrices into your text
  Uses the Align and cecutil plugins. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Stubs

  Updated Nov 21, 2007 (v3c)

  Supports quick entry of language constructs for C, sh/ksh/bash, LaTeX, and vim. Ie. while in insert mode and using C, a if` will result in a if(){} construct entered into your code with the cursor appropriately positioned for further insertion. When done with entering the test expression, hitting <esc&rt; will place your cursor (in insert mode) after the "{". (also see Abbreviations for C) To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• C Function Menu Generator Marcel van der Laan wrote a function :call C_ListFuncs() which uses flist to generate a menu of functions in the current file. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• C Compiler Commands

  Updated Jan 05, 2006 (v1)

  The compiling.vim plugin provides error format files for several C compilers, plus a :Chk command to show one window with source with lines with errors and warnings given Error highlighting and a quickfix window showing the associated messages. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• CVS Conflict File Handler

  Updated Apr 08, 2008 (v2c)

  When one does "cvs update", one may get files marked with "C" for conflict. Cvs was unable to automatically merge one's local version with the repository, and merging requires human intervention. The :CVSconflict command takes the current conflict file, splits it into two separate files, and enables vimdiff-style editing and viewing. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Calendar Utilities

  Updated Oct 19, 2007 (v3a)

  Used by visincr.vim (which is described below), <calutil.vim> provides three calendar-related functions: DayOfWeek(y,m,d), Cal2Jul(y,m,d), and Jul2Cal(julday). DayOfWeek() converts a date to a day of week name, and the other two convert between dates and the Julian day. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Cscope Interface

  Updated May 13, 2008 (v4b)

  (vim v7.0 only) Cscope interface to find functions which call functions, are called by functions, etc. Put in your .vim/plugin directory, and try :CSh for help. There's optional local quickfix windows, vertical or horizontal window with cscope output, menus, etc. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• DrC's Utilities contains various functions and some maps:

  Updated Sep 04, 2007 (v17)

  Marks: SaveMark(markname) RestoreMark(markname) DestroyMark(markname)
  Pos'n: SaveWinPosn() RestoreWinPosn() \swp \rwp (actually uses )
  To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Decho: DrC's Vim Debugger

  Updated Feb 13, 2008 (v20f)

  The Decho.vim plugin provides debugging messages in a separate window. One puts
  Decho "some message here"
  -or-
  call Decho("another message")
  and Decho will split the screen with a five line debugging window on the bottom of the display where the messages will appear. Allows one to inspect multiple error messages with the usual vim editing commands! More help and commands are available with Decho's help. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• DotFill

  Updated Apr 11, 2006 (v1a)

  Facilitates setting up aligned columns with user-specified fill-characters. Often used with contents pages. Example of usage: :[range]DotFill . (to fill with dots) To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• DrawIt.vba.gz

  Updated Oct 10, 2007 (v9)

  A plugin for drawing vertical, horizontal, and slanted lines using text. With DrawIt, one may use the number pad to leave a trail of dashes, bars, etc behind. Furthermore, it also supports using visual-block specified regions to draw boxes, ellipses, arrowheads, lines, and to specify floods. Also available at vim.sf.net where you may rank it. The version here requires vim 7.0!!! To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• DrC's Indent Files

  Updated May 03, 2005 (v1)

  The drc_indent.vim package of indent files provides DrC's indent files and customizations for sh, tex, vim, and maple. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• EasyAccents.vim

  Updated Feb 04, 2008 (v9a)

  A plug-in that makes using accented characters easier Also available at vim.sf.net where you may rank it. (Version 8) To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Engspchk (spelling checker)

  Updated Feb 28, 2008 (v65b)

  A multiple-human-language spell checking tool! Supports on-the-fly spell-checking, spelling suggestions, the mouse (when available), and menus (gvim). To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• FlistTree

  Updated Jan 02, 2008 (v9b)

  Shows a graphical function-usage tree. See FlistTree.vim itself for instructions. (uses flist, a program) To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• foldcol.vim

  Updated Dec 21, 2004 (v3a)

  Coupled with Vince Negri's conceal/ownsyntax patch, foldcol makes it possible to fold columns of text from view. Also available at vim.sf.net where you may rank it. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• funcsrch.vim

  Updated Jan 25, 2006 (v2a)

  Permits searches to be taken only within a function, as defined by [[ (for start of function) and ][ (for end of function). These normal commands may, of course, be defined as maps in the ftplugin directory to customize them for specific languages. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• getscript.vba.gz

  Updated Jan 08, 2008 (v29)

  This plugin's :GetLatestVimScripts command (or :GLVS for short) will automate grabbing the latest version of the plugins and scripts that you express an interest in by putting a line into the GetScript/GetScript.dat file. With cooperating plugins, GetScript can build the data file itself, too. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball. Unfortunately, there was a bug that makes the getscript.vim version that was distributed with vim v7.0 cause difficulties with a vimball-installation of a new getscript.vim. So, you'll need to remove the older version of getscript.vim:
  • Change directory to the directory holding the vim 7.0 distribution's plugin/ and autoload/ directories.
  • /bin/rm plugin/getscript*.vim autoload/getscript*.vim doc/pi_getscript.txt


• gvcolors

  Updated Oct 10, 2007 (v6)

  Gvim colors -- displays a list of named colors that gvim has available with X; each color shows up in its own color! One can toggle between dark and bright backgrounds by using a rightmouse click. A leftmouse click on a color brings it to the top line of the display. The colors at the top of the display have their red-green-blue values, in decimal, on the bottom of the screen. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Hdrtag List

  Updated Dec 04, 2006 (v1d)

  Display tags, tagtypes, in a left-hand window with the :Hdrtag command. Intended to support the hdrtag program by providing a taglist-like interface for it. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• More Help Syntax Highlighting

  Updated Apr 07, 2007 (v1c)

  This script will add extra highlighting and syntax-based folding to the vim help pages. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• HelpExtractor

  Updated May 25, 2005 (v3)

  This script can be used to make .vim scripts automatically install help. Also available at vim.sf.net To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Highlight Colors Help and Editor

  Updated Sep 11, 2007 (v9e)

  Shows highlighting colors in their own colors, plus a colorscheme editor! To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Highlight Current Line

  Updated Mar 01, 2006 (v7k)

  With this plugin the current line will be highlighted Also available at vim.sf.net where you may rank it. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Highlight Marks

  Updated Mar 20, 2008 (v2c)

  Highlights marks by using the signs feature (your vim needs to be compiled for big/huge). Required: Kruize and Gedde's ShowMarks.vim plugin, which does most of the work. Its at vim.sf.net . To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Hints for Library Functions (man2 based)

  Updated Mar 13, 2007 (v1)

  Shows prototype hints as one types a function (man page 2 based) To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Hints for Library Functions (man3 based)

  Updated Mar 13, 2007 (v1)

  Shows prototype hints as one types a function (man page 3 based) To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• HiLinkTrace

  Updated Feb 28, 2008 (v4f)

  A plugin which traces the highlighting linkages; ie. just what highlighting groups associated with the word under the cursor? (hilinks.vim, implements a map "\hlt") To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Highlighting Matching Brackets

  Updated Apr 28, 2006 (v23c)

  A Vim 6.0 plugin that highlights a matching bracket when the cursor moves on it. Uses HelpExtractor to set up its help. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• LaTeX Maps

  Updated Jan 14, 2008 (v2c)

  Supports quick entry of LaTeX constructs (ie. ".." becomes ``..'', enum` gets expanded to \begin{enumerate}, etc). To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• LargeFile

  Updated Apr 11, 2008 (v4d)

  Allows much quicker editing of large files (default: 100MB+ are "large"), at the price of turning off events, undo, syntax highlighting, etc. Also available at vim.sf.net where you may rank it. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Library Viewer

  Updated Oct 17, 2007 (v1a)

  This plugin uses the "nm" utility to present an overview of the contents of archive and object files. Its based on autocmds, and so to use it all one needs do is to open an archive (*.a), an object (*.o) file, or a shared library (*.so) by attempting to edit it. (formerly known as the archive/object visualizer) To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• LogiPat

  Updated Sep 25, 2006 (v3b)

  Provides a :LogiPat {boolean-logic pattern} and forms a search. Also available at vim.sf.net where you may rank it. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Maintainer

  Updated Mar 27, 2006 (v2a)

  Use ":echo Maintainer" to find out who the maintainer is of the syntax file you're currently using; ":echo Maintainer("language")" to determine the Maintainer of a specific language (ie. c, vim, tex, jsp, etc). To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Man Page Viewer

  Updated May 09, 2008 (v18d)

  A plugin which facilitates the viewing of man pages under Unix systems; supports :Man topic, :Man topic booknumber, :Man booknumber topic, and :Man topic(booknumber). While in a man page the K key will invoke manpaging on the word under the cursor. Also available at vim.sf.net where you may rank it. Supports perl (*.pl, *.upl) and info (*.i), too. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Maple Syrup

  Updated Jan 25, 2006 (v3b)

  This tarball contains multiple files to support MapleSoft's Maple programming language for symbolic algebra. Included: indent, auto-align, and matchit support. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Mines

  Updated Apr 08, 2008 (v17a)

  A game for vim implementing the world famous game of Mines! Also available at vim.sf.net where you may rank it. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Multi-Column Listing

  Updated Feb 07, 2006 (v1a)

  The mcol.vim plugin converts a list of words into a multi-column listing, much as "ls" does with a list of files. It uses the mcol program; see mcol to get a copy of the source. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Network Oriented Reading, Writing, and Browsing

  Updated May 09, 2008 (v125m)

  Supports network-oriented editing with urls. One may read and write files using one of several supported protocols (ex: ftp, scp) and browse directories, both remotely and locally. This version requires vim 7.0. Be sure to remove any older versions of netrw before attempting to install this version. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball. Unfortunately, there was a bug that makes the netrw version that was distributed with vim v7.0 cause difficulties with a vimball-installation of a new netrw. So, for vim v7.0, you'll need to remove the older version of netrw:
  • Change directory to the directory holding the vim 7.0 distribution's plugin/ and autoload/ directories.
  • /bin/rm plugin/netrw*.vim autoload/netrw*.vim doc/pi_netrw.txt
Beginning with v108b of netrw: sourcing remote files is supported.
Here's a list of some netrw options that I myself use:
let g:netrw_altv          = 1
let g:netrw_fastbrowse    = 2
let g:netrw_keepdir       = 0
let g:netrw_liststyle     = 2
let g:netrw_retmap        = 1
let g:netrw_silent        = 1
let g:netrw_special_syntax= 1


• Netrw Clean

  Updated Sep 05, 2007 (v1a)

  The netrwclean.vim plugin will attempt to remove the netrw plugin: with :NetrwClean, only the personal directory copy will be cleaned. With :NetrwClean!, this plugin will attempt to remove netrw from both your personal directory and the system directory. You need permission to remove such files, of course. This plugin may be helpful for those who've previously gotten an up-to-date version of netrw but then update their vim later via ftp, cvs, etc with an even more recent version of netrw (in that case, use :NetrwClean). To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• pluginkiller.vba.gz

  Updated Oct 10, 2007 (v3a)

  Plugin writers! Have you ever wished you could find what option settings will interfere with your plugin before your users do? The pluginkiller helps automate finding such troublesome settings. To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Rainbow Brackets

  Updated Apr 05, 2005 (v1)

  This plugin provides a rainbow of colors for matching brackets ( [] () {} ) depending on their nesting level ; it is intended to support the C and C++ languages. The syntax file distributed with Vim for Lisp already supports rainbow highlighting of ()s; bring up vim and type ":help ft-lisp-syntax". To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• Rndm

  Updated Feb 20, 2007 (v4e)

  Returns random variates
  • Rndm() returns uniformly distributed variates on [0, 100,000,000)
  • Urndm(a,b) returns uniformly distributed variates on [a,b])
  • Dice(qty,sides) rolls qty of sides-sided dice and adds them up
  To extract this plugin, you'll need the new vimball plugin (or vim 7.1 or later): vimball


• RunView