Opening multiple files from a single command-line

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Tip 146 Printable Monobook Previous Next

created 2001 · complexity basic · author salmanhalim · version 5.7

I use the :split command a lot -- both to open a second window containing the currently edited file and to edit a new file altogether (with the :split <filename> option). however, I also like to be able to edit more than one file and calling :sp multiple times is inconvenient. so, I created the following command, function and abbreviation:

function! Sp(...)
  if(a:0 == 0)
    sp
  else
    let i = a:0
    while(i > 0)
      execute 'let file = a:' . i
      execute 'sp ' . file
      let i = i - 1
    endwhile
  endif
endfunction
com! -nargs=* -complete=file Sp call Sp(<f-args>)
cab sp Sp

This retains the behaviour of :sp in that I can still type :sp (the abbreviation takes care of that). :Sp takes any number of files and opens them all up, one after the other.

The things I have noticed are that this causes 'sp' to be expanded to 'Sp' everywhere, even in search patterns. Also, prepending 'vert' doesn't work.

Comments[]

This is great! It saves the effort of typing multiple :sp under vim. I have two suggestions.

1. If I use

vim
:Sp a b c

It results in 4 windows in vim. One is empty. Is this could be improved?

2. Is there a way to make a new_cmd that splits a window to 3, each one for a file specified in the command line? For example,

vim a b c
:new_cmd

then I could see 3 windows in vim. One for a, one for b, and one for c.

Just before the endif, add this:

windo if expand('%') == '' | q | endif

Empty windows will be closed (if unmodified).

I added an option to split also vertically and made filenames expand through glob:

function! Sp(dir, ...)
  let split = 'sp'
  if a:dir == '1'
    let split = 'vsp'
  endif
  if(a:0 == 0)
    execute split
  else
    let i = a:0
    while(i > 0)
      execute 'let files = glob (a:' . i . ')'
      for f in split (files, "\n")
        execute split . ' ' . f
      endfor
      let i = i - 1
    endwhile
    windo if expand('%') == '' | q | endif
endif
endfunction
com! -nargs=* -complete=file Sp call Sp(0, <f-args>)
com! -nargs=* -complete=file Vsp call Sp(1, <f-args>)

This tip is superseded by :argadd:

  :argadd *.html
  :all

Starting in splits[]

If you want to start vim with several files in a splitted window, just type

vim -o a b c

for the horizontal split, and

vim -O a b c

for the vertical split.

To change between the windows opened

crtl+ww

For further information, you can consult: