External Commands via Vim

1. Create a working file (and open it for editing) with:

   vim
   :help windows
   :w ~/vimwindows.txt
   :q
   :e ~/vimwindows.txt
   

2. Open a shell session from inside Vim with:

   :shell
   

3. Run the ls command and inspect the output.

4. Display the user information with:

   whoami
   

5. Exit the bash shell and return to Vim with:

   exit
   

6. Now run a command from within Vim to display the files in local directory with:

   :!ls -l
   ENTER   (To return to Vim)
   

7. Execute a command that will write output to a file on disk and return without the ENTER prompt with:

   :silent !ls -l > lsoutput.txt
   

   IMPORTANT: You may have to issue the :redraw command or use Ctrl-l to refresh the Vim session screen.

8. Grab some text from a help file and write it to a file:

   :h toc
   

9. Highlight the block that starts with usr_01.txt and ends with usr_12.txt by pressing Shift-v and using the cursor keys to highlight all 12 lines, then write those 12 lines to a file with:

   :'<,'>w block.vim   (Vim will add the '<,'>)
   

10. Exit help with: :q

11. Cause the block.vim file contents to be imported into the current buffer starting at the top of the file with: :0 read block.vim

12. Next, add the block.vim file contents to be imported into the current buffer at the bottom of the buffer with: :$ read block.vim

13. Now add the contents of block.vim into the current buffer starting at line 25 with: :25 read block.vim

14. Use the u undo feature to return the file to its original state.

Note: You must have done Steps 1 and 2 in Task 1's to be able to do Task 2.

1. With the ~/vimwindows.txt file open in Vim, import a command's output and add it to the top of the file with:

   :0 !ls -l
   

2. Undo the import by pressing u until you read the original file state.
3. Insert the output of the cal command into the buffer starting at line position 15 with:

   :15 read !cal -m3
   

4. Undo the import by pressing u until you read the original file state.
5. Go to the top of the file with gg, then select the 12 numbered lines that start with 1. Introduction and end with 12. Special:

   Shift-v
   11j
   

6. Sort the lines inside Vim with:

   :'<,'>sort r    (vim will insert the '<,'>)
   

7. Re-select the range with gv, then use the external sort command to sort the range from the buffer and return it to the same area with:

   :'<,'>!sort -n
   

8. Re-select the range again with gv and get a word count of the range with:

   :'<,'>w !wc -w
   

9. Note the number returned, and press ENTER to continue.
10. Load the filetype plugin for looking up man pages in Vim with: :runtime! ftplugin/man.vim ENTER
11. Look up a man page from inside Vim with: :Man 5 crontab q (When done with Man)
12. Use man for a lookup from inside Vim by highlighting the word Vim on the line that reads: ```
13. Starting Vim ```
14. Then press K to initiate a lookup of the Vim man page.
15. When done using man, press q to quit and press ENTER to return to Vim.
16. Exit Vim without saving any changes to the vimwindows.txt file with: :q!

1. Open Vim with:

   vim
   

2. Start a recording by pressing:

   qz
   

3. The status line should show the message:

   recording @z
   

4. Press i to enter Insert mode and the status line should show info similar to the following:

   -- INSERT --recording @z
   

5. Enter the following text and press ESC:

   This is a macro recording session in Vim.
   ESC
   

6. Copy the line with the yy characters, and paste the line 5 more times with 5p.

7. Go to top of the buffer with gg.

8. Execute an external command and bring it's output back to the buffer to replace the first line of content with:

   !!date
   

9. Stop the recording by pressing q and the recording @z message will disappear.

10. Use the u feature to remove all contents in the buffer and then playback the recording with: ESC @z > Note: The recording should play back exactly as it was recorded.

11. Check to see that the recording is attached to the z register with: :register z

12. The recording contents should show near the status line, press ENTER to continue.

13. Write the file to disk with: :w recordingz.txt ENTER

14. Put the recording into the .vimrc so it's available at load time with:

    :e ~/.vimrc
    

15. Paste the z register contents (your recording) into the buffer with: "zp

16. Edit the line so that it roughly matches the text below (ensuring there are single quotes surrounding your recording):

    let @z='yourrecordingcontentshere'
    

17. Write both the files to disk and exit with: :wqa