Tip #347: Format paragraph without changing the cursor position

tip karma

Rating 17/10, Viewed by 2132

created:		October 18, 2002 21:02		complexity:		intermediate
author:		Kartik Agaram		as of Vim:		6.0

map <silent> <C-j> :let line=line(".")<CR>:let col=col(".")<CR>gqap:exec ":".line<CR>:exec "normal " . col . "\|"<CR> imap <silent> <C-j> <Esc>:let line=line(".")<CR>:let col=col(".")<CR>gqap:exec ":".line<CR>:exec "normal " . col . "\|"<CR>a

<<Wrap text in HTML/XML tags after prompting for the tag name | Quickly insert a single word >>

Additional Notes

Anonymous, October 23, 2002 1:20

Why not simply use <C-O> after gq command?

Kartik, October 23, 2002 17:52

Hmm... let me try to describe a case. Let's say you open a text file and start inserting text somewhere in between without ever adding to the jump list (just arrow keys, '{}'). Now typing <Esc> gqap <C-o> doesn't restore cursor position. At least for me.

Anonymous, October 24, 2002 6:33

Ok, mea culpa - I always used gq}, and it worked. The gqap is different.

[email protected] (Dorai Sitaram), March 13, 2003 11:47

It may be more desirable to preserve the cursor's logical position (i.e., which word it is currently on), rather than its line/col position. The following nmap does this by inserting a small and unusual bogus text at the current cursor position; formatting the paragraph; using search to get to the bogus word; and then deleting it. nmap gb i<zqfm><esc>gqip?<zqfm><cr>df>

Kartik, October 23, 2003 19:07

Absolutely outstanding. Thanks, Dorai!

[email protected], November 23, 2003 12:56

Is there a way to make "gqap" use filling spaces to have block alignment instead of left alignment in the lines?




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