Vim tip 17: setting options
From :h options.txt:
Vim has a number of internal variables and switches which can be set to achieve special effects. These options come in three forms:
- boolean can only be on or off
- number has a numeric value
- string has a string value
Here are examples for each of these forms:
- :set cursorline highlight the line containing the cursor
- :set history=200 increase default history from 50 to 200
- :set ww+=[,] allow left and right arrow keys to move across lines in Insert mode
+=
allows you to append to an existing string value
Usage guidelines:
set {option}
switch on the given boolean setting- :set expandtab use spaces for tab expansion
set {option}!
toggle the given boolean setting- :set expandtab! if previously tabs were expanded, it will be turned off and vice versa
set inv{option}
can also be used
set no{option}
switch off the given boolean setting- :set noexpandtab disable expanding tab to spaces
set {option}?
get the current value of the given option (works for all three forms)- :set expandtab? output will be
expandtab
ornoexpandtab
depending on whether it is switched on or off
- :set expandtab? output will be
set {option}
get the current value of number or string option- for example, try :set history or :set ww
See :h options.txt for complete list of usage guidelines and available options.
Video demo:
See also my Vim Reference Guide and curated list of resources for Vim.