Command-Line Window Details: Exiting, Options, and Autocommands

several ways to leave the command-line window: <CR> Execute the command-line under the cursor. Works both in Insert and in Normal mode. CTRL-C Continue in Command-line mode. The command-line under the cursor is used as the command-line. Works both in Insert and in Normal mode. There is no redraw, thus the window will remain visible. :quit Discard the command line and go back to Normal mode. ":close", CTRL-W c, ":exit", ":xit" and CTRL-\ CTRL-N also work. :qall Quit Vim, unless there are changes in some buffer. :qall! Quit Vim, discarding changes to any buffer. Once the command-line window is closed the old window sizes are restored. The executed command applies to the window and buffer where the command-line was started from. This works as if the command-line window was not there, except that there will be an extra screen redraw. The buffer used for the command-line window is deleted. Any changes to lines other than the one that is executed with <CR> are lost. If you would like to execute the command under the cursor and then have the command-line window open again, you may find this mapping useful: > :autocmd CmdwinEnter * map <buffer> <F5> <CR>q: VARIOUS The command-line window cannot be used when there already is a command-line window (no nesting). Some options are set when the command-line window is opened: 'filetype' "vim", when editing an Ex command-line; this starts Vim syntax highlighting if it was enabled 'rightleft' off 'modifiable' on 'buftype' "nofile" 'swapfile' off It is allowed to write the buffer contents to a file. This is an easy way to save the command-line history and read it back later. If the 'wildchar' option is set to <Tab>, and the command-line window is used for an Ex command, then two mappings will be added to use <Tab> for completion in the command-line window, like this: > :inoremap <buffer> <Tab> <C-X><C-V> :nnoremap <buffer> <Tab> a<C-X><C-V> Note that hitting <Tab> in Normal mode will do completion on the next character. That way it works at the end of the line. If you don't want these mappings, disable them with: > au CmdwinEnter [:>] iunmap <buffer> <Tab> au CmdwinEnter [:>] nunmap <buffer> <Tab> You could put these lines in your vimrc file. While in the command-line window you cannot use the mouse to put the cursor in another window, or drag statuslines of other windows. You can drag the statusline of the command-line window itself and the statusline above it. Thus you can resize the command-line window, but not others. The |getcmdwintype()| function returns the type of the command-line being edited as described in |cmdwin-char|. Nvim defines this default CmdwinEnter autocmd in the "nvim.cmdwin" group: > autocmd CmdwinEnter [:>] syntax sync minlines=1 maxlines=1 < You can disable this in your config with "autocmd! nvim.cmdwin". |default-autocmds| AUTOCOMMANDS Two autocommand events are used: |CmdwinEnter| and |CmdwinLeave|. You can use the Cmdwin events to do settings specifically for the command-line window. Be careful not to cause side effects! Example: > :au CmdwinEnter : let b:cpt_save = &cpt | set cpt=. :au CmdwinLeave : let &cpt = b:cpt_save This sets 'complete' to use completion in the current window for |i_CTRL-N|. Another example: > :au CmdwinEnter [/?] startinsert This will make Vim start in Insert mode in the command-line window. *cmdline-char* *cmdwin-char* The character used for the pattern indicates the type of command-line: : normal Ex command > debug mode command |debug-mode| / forward search string ? backward search string = expression for "= |expr-register| @ string for |input()| `-` text for |:insert| or |:append| vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl:

This section elaborates on exiting the Vim command-line window, listing various commands like <CR>, CTRL-C, :quit, and :qall. It covers various settings applicable in command line window, including filetype, rightleft, modifiable, buftype and swapfile. It mentions options and functionalities such as saving command-line history, tab completion mapping, mouse usage and various commands to access the window. The section details the CmdwinEnter and CmdwinLeave autocommand events and provides examples for customizing the command-line window. It also specifies the characters that indicate the command-line type.