Tip 1063 Printable Monobook Previous Next
created 2005 · complexity basic · author zzapper · version 6.0
After searching for text, you can use :g// to list all lines containing the pattern you last searched for. Or, just type g/pattern/ to display all lines containing pattern. This tip shows how to capture the result (the list of all lines that contain the pattern).
Redirecting output
Put the following map in your vimrc. Then, when you are satisfied with the regex you last used for searching, press F3 to output the :g/pattern/ results to a new window.
nmap <F3> :redir @a<CR>:g//<CR>:redir END<CR>:new<CR>:put! a<CR><CR>
Explanation:
:redir @a redirect output to register a :g// repeat last global command :redir END end redirection :new create new window :put! a paste register a into new window
See also
- Power of g for more on the :g// command
- Copy the search results into clipboard for other methods to capture search hits
Comments
Send output of last g// to a named file, and open the file:
:nmap <F4> :redir! >/mydir/temp.txt<CR>:g//<CR>:redir END<CR>:new /mydir/temp.txt<CR><CR>
To not get line numbers printed if line numbers are turned on:
" Turn off line numbers, do g//, restore previous state. :nmap <F3> :let @b=&number<CR>:set nonumber<CR>:redir @a<CR>:g//<CR>:redir END<CR>:let &number=@b<CR>:new<CR>:put! a<CR><CR>
A slightly adapted version to run as a user-defined command:
command! Filter execute 'normal! 0"ay0' | execute 'g//y A' | split | enew | setlocal bt=nofile | put! a
execute 'normal! 0"ay0'-- clear the registerexecute 'g//y A'-- copy all matching lines to the end of the registersplit | enew | setlocal bt=nofile-- create a new scratch bufferput! a-- paste the contents of the register into the scratch buffer