Tag, Filename, Definition/Macro, Vim Command, and Register Completion

starts with the same characters as those before the cursor. The matched keyword is inserted in front of the cursor. CTRL-N Search forwards for next matching keyword. This keyword replaces the previous matching keyword. Note: CTRL-I is the same as <Tab>, which is likely to be typed after a successful completion, therefore CTRL-I is not used for searching for the next match. CTRL-P Search backward for previous matching keyword. This keyword replaces the previous matching keyword. CTRL-X CTRL-I Further use of CTRL-X CTRL-I will copy the words following the previous expansion in other contexts unless a double CTRL-X is used. Completing tags *compl-tag* *i_CTRL-X_CTRL-]* CTRL-X CTRL-] Search for the first tag that starts with the same characters as before the cursor. The matching tag is inserted in front of the cursor. Alphabetic characters and characters in 'iskeyword' are used to decide which characters are included in the tag name (same as for a keyword). See also |CTRL-]|. The 'showfulltag' option can be used to add context from around the tag definition. CTRL-] or CTRL-N Search forwards for next matching tag. This tag replaces the previous matching tag. CTRL-P Search backward for previous matching tag. This tag replaces the previous matching tag. Completing file names *compl-filename* *i_CTRL-X_CTRL-F* CTRL-X CTRL-F Search for the first file name that starts with the same characters as before the cursor. The matching file name is inserted in front of the cursor. Alphabetic characters and characters in 'isfname' are used to decide which characters are included in the file name. Note: the 'path' option is not used here (yet). CTRL-F or CTRL-N Search forwards for next matching file name. This file name replaces the previous matching file name. CTRL-P Search backward for previous matching file name. This file name replaces the previous matching file name. Completing definitions or macros *compl-define* The 'define' option is used to specify a line that contains a definition. The 'include' option is used to specify a line that contains an include file name. The 'path' option is used to search for include files. *i_CTRL-X_CTRL-D* CTRL-X CTRL-D Search in the current and included files for the first definition (or macro) name that starts with the same characters as before the cursor. The found definition name is inserted in front of the cursor. CTRL-D or CTRL-N Search forwards for next matching macro name. This macro name replaces the previous matching macro name. CTRL-P Search backward for previous matching macro name. This macro name replaces the previous matching macro name. CTRL-X CTRL-D Further use of CTRL-X CTRL-D will copy the words following the previous expansion in other contexts unless a double CTRL-X is used. Completing Vim commands *compl-vim* Completion is context-sensitive. It works like on the Command-line. It completes an Ex command as well as its arguments. This is useful when writing a Vim script. *i_CTRL-X_CTRL-V* CTRL-X CTRL-V Guess what kind of item is in front of the cursor and find the first match for it. Note: When CTRL-V is mapped you can often use CTRL-Q instead of |i_CTRL-Q|. CTRL-V or CTRL-N Search forwards for next match. This match replaces the previous one. CTRL-P Search backwards for previous match. This match replaces the previous one. CTRL-X CTRL-V Further use of CTRL-X CTRL-V will do the same as CTRL-V. This allows mapping a key to do Vim command completion, for example: > :imap <Tab> <C-X><C-V> Completing contents from registers *compl-register-words* *i_CTRL-X_CTRL-R* CTRL-X CTRL-R Guess what kind of item is in front of the cursor from all registers and find the first match for it. Further use of CTRL-R (without CTRL-X) will insert the

This section describes various completion modes in Vim, including tag completion (CTRL-X CTRL-]), which finds tags matching the characters before the cursor; filename completion (CTRL-X CTRL-F), which finds filenames; definition or macro completion (CTRL-X CTRL-D), utilizing the 'define', 'include', and 'path' options; Vim command completion (CTRL-X CTRL-V), which is context-sensitive and works like on the Command-line; and register completion (CTRL-X CTRL-R), which completes items from all registers. Each completion mode includes forward (CTRL-N) and backward (CTRL-P) search for additional matches.