created November 17, 2006 · complexity basic · author Jesse · version 5.7
When one switches to the Dvorak keyboard and uses Vim it becomes difficult to use the standard (h,j,k,l) movement keys. This is a great way to have the same movement locations and retain all of the functionality. There are also a few added benefits, that can be used. Add this to your vimrc:
The fixes for what is broken
- Delete 'd' -> Junk 'j'
- Next 'n' -> Look 'l'
- Previous 'N' -> Look Back 'L'
There were also some changes for familiarity, 's'/'S' can be used to access command mode (the old location of the :, which still works).
Added Benefits
- End of line '$' -also- '-'
- Beginning of line '^' -also- '_'
- Move up 8 'T'
- Move down 8 'H'
- Next window <C-w><C-w> -also- 'N'
- Swap windows <C-w><C-r> -also- 'D'
" Dvorak it! no d h no h j no t k no n l no s : no S : no j d no l n no L N " Added benefits no - $ no _ ^ no N <C-w><C-w> "no T <C-w><C-r> no H 8<Down> no T 8<Up> no D <C-w><C-r>
Comments
I used to use something very similar to this, but lately I've felt better off just using the default keymappings under Dvorak. When I used a keymapping file for basic movement commands, I quickly became dependent on it, and I'd be unable to accomplish even simple Vim tasks under Dvorak without my handy mapping.
Agreed: h is left of the l, on the same hand; jk are adjacent. It's actually pretty convenient to scroll up/down with the left hand using the default layout. If Dvorak is what you used before you found Vim, it works just fine with the default bindings!
I think using :keymap dvorak is probably a better way to retain default 'nethack-style' movement though.
If you are also using Tag List, the ability to use 't' to move up is lost. You can edit taglist.vim at line 1560 to us another key for following a link.