Select Mode Details: Operators, Mappings, and Commands

and <S-End>. 'keymodel' must also contain "startsel". - Using "v", "V" or CTRL-V command, and 'selectmode' contains "cmd". - Using "gh", "gH" or "g_CTRL-H" command in Normal mode. - From Visual mode, press CTRL-G. *v_CTRL-G* Commands in Select mode: - Printable characters, <NL> and <CR> cause the selection to be deleted, and Vim enters Insert mode. The typed character is inserted. - Non-printable movement commands, with the Shift key pressed, extend the selection. 'keymodel' must include "startsel". - Non-printable movement commands, with the Shift key NOT pressed, stop Select mode. 'keymodel' must include "stopsel". - ESC stops Select mode. - CTRL-O switches to Visual mode for the duration of one command. *v_CTRL-O* - CTRL-G switches to Visual mode. - CTRL-R {register} selects the register to be used for the text that is deleted when typing text. *v_CTRL-R* Unless you specify the "_" (black hole) register, the unnamed register is also overwritten. Otherwise, typed characters are handled as in Visual mode. When using an operator in Select mode, and the selection is linewise, the selected lines are operated upon, but like in charwise selection. For example, when a whole line is deleted, it can later be pasted in the middle of a line. Mappings and menus in Select mode. *Select-mode-mapping* When mappings and menus are defined with the |:vmap| or |:vmenu| command they work both in Visual mode and in Select mode. When these are used in Select mode Vim automatically switches to Visual mode, so that the same behavior as in Visual mode is effective. If you don't want this use |:xmap| or |:smap|. One particular edge case: > :vnoremap <C-K> <Esc> This ends Visual mode when in Visual mode, but in Select mode it does not work, because Select mode is restored after executing the mapped keys. You need to use: > :snoremap <C-K> <Esc> < Users will expect printable characters to replace the selected area. Therefore avoid mapping printable characters in Select mode. Or use |:sunmap| after |:map| and |:vmap| to remove it for Select mode. After the mapping or menu finishes, the selection is enabled again and Select mode entered, unless the selected area was deleted, another buffer became the current one or the window layout was changed. When a character was typed that causes the selection to be deleted and Insert mode started, Insert mode mappings are applied to this character. This may cause some confusion, because it means Insert mode mappings apply to a character typed in Select mode. Language mappings apply as well. *gV* *v_gV* gV Avoid the automatic reselection of the Visual area after a Select mode mapping or menu has finished. Put this just before the end of the mapping or menu. At least it should be after any operations on the selection. *gh* gh Start Select mode, charwise. This is like "v", but starts Select mode instead of Visual mode. Mnemonic: "get highlighted". *gH* gH Start Select mode, linewise. This is like "V", but starts Select mode instead of Visual mode. Mnemonic: "get Highlighted". *g_CTRL-H* g CTRL-H Start Select mode, blockwise. This is like CTRL-V, but starts Select mode instead of Visual mode. Mnemonic: "get Highlighted". vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl:

This section elaborates on Select mode in Vim, covering how operators behave with linewise selections, and how mappings and menus defined for Visual mode also work in Select mode, with automatic switching to Visual mode. It discusses edge cases where mappings might not work as expected and suggests using specific mappings for Select mode. It also covers the impact of Insert mode mappings on characters typed in Select mode. Finally, it details the `gV` command to avoid automatic reselection after mappings, and introduces `gh`, `gH`, and `g_CTRL-H` to initiate Select mode charwise, linewise, and blockwise respectively, similar to `v`, `V`, and CTRL-V but starting in Select mode.