Changes: Change cursor shape in different modes

Revision as of 08:49, 10 May 2015

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created March 28, 2009 · complexity basic · author Weltensegler · version 7.0

To change the shape of the cursor in different modes, you can add the following into your vimrc.

For the Gnome-Terminal (version 2.26)

if has("autocmd")
  au InsertEnter * silent execute "!gconftool-2 --type string --set /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/cursor_shape ibeam"
  au InsertLeave * silent execute "!gconftool-2 --type string --set /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/cursor_shape block"
  au VimLeave * silent execute "!gconftool-2 --type string --set /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/cursor_shape ibeam"
endif

If you use more than one profile in gnome-terminal, you might have to adapt this to your profiles.

For iTerm2 on OS X

let &t_SI = "\<Esc>]50;CursorShape=1\x7"
let &t_EI = "\<Esc>]50;CursorShape=0\x7"

For tmux running in iTerm2 on OS X:

let &t_SI = "\<Esc>Ptmux;\<Esc>\<Esc>]50;CursorShape=1\x7\<Esc>\\"
let &t_EI = "\<Esc>Ptmux;\<Esc>\<Esc>]50;CursorShape=0\x7\<Esc>\\"

In theory, the escape sequence could be used for tmux in any terminal.

NOTE: These do not work with the default terminal.

For Konsole in KDE4

let &t_SI = "\<Esc>]50;CursorShape=1\x7"
let &t_EI = "\<Esc>]50;CursorShape=0\x7"

This works with multiple tabs and windows.

For xfce-terminal

if has("autocmd")
  au InsertEnter * silent execute "!sed -i.bak -e 's/TERMINAL_CURSOR_SHAPE_BLOCK/TERMINAL_CURSOR_SHAPE_UNDERLINE/' ~/.config/xfce4/terminal/terminalrc"                                                                                          
  au InsertLeave * silent execute "!sed -i.bak -e 's/TERMINAL_CURSOR_SHAPE_UNDERLINE/TERMINAL_CURSOR_SHAPE_BLOCK/' ~/.config/xfce4/terminal/terminalrc"                                                                                          
  au VimLeave * silent execute "!sed -i.bak -e 's/TERMINAL_CURSOR_SHAPE_UNDERLINE/TERMINAL_CURSOR_SHAPE_BLOCK/' ~/.config/xfce4/terminal/terminalrc"  
endif

Comments

In a vim_use thread on 31 March 2009, Matt Wozniski made the following comments:

Re the Gnome code: Unless I'm misunderstanding something, this would not only work improperly when combined with tools like screen and dvtm, but also, when you have multiple terminals open, it would change the cursor shape in all of them!

Re the KDE4 code: That won't play nicely with gnu screen, or with dvtm, or any of the other terminal multiplexers out there.

Both will probably have problems with multiple tabs.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{TipNew
-{{TipProposed
-|id=0
+|id=1622
-|previous=0
+|previous=1621
-|next=0
+|next=1623
 |created=March 28, 2009
 |complexity=basic
@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 If you use more than one profile in gnome-terminal, you might have to adapt this to your profiles.
+==For iTerm2 on OS X ==
+<pre>
+let &t_SI = "\<Esc>]50;CursorShape=1\x7"
+let &t_EI = "\<Esc>]50;CursorShape=0\x7"
+</pre>
+For tmux running in iTerm2 on OS X:
+<pre>
+let &t_SI = "\<Esc>Ptmux;\<Esc>\<Esc>]50;CursorShape=1\x7\<Esc>\\"
+let &t_EI = "\<Esc>Ptmux;\<Esc>\<Esc>]50;CursorShape=0\x7\<Esc>\\"
+</pre>
+In theory, the escape sequence could be used for tmux in any terminal.
+NOTE: These do not work with the default terminal.
 ==For Konsole in KDE4==
@@ Line 29: / Line 45: @@
 let &t_EI = "\<Esc>]50;CursorShape=0\x7"
 </pre>
+This works with multiple tabs and windows.
+==For xfce-terminal==
+<pre>
+if has("autocmd")
+  au InsertEnter * silent execute "!sed -i.bak -e 's/TERMINAL_CURSOR_SHAPE_BLOCK/TERMINAL_CURSOR_SHAPE_UNDERLINE/' ~/.config/xfce4/terminal/terminalrc"
+  au InsertLeave * silent execute "!sed -i.bak -e 's/TERMINAL_CURSOR_SHAPE_UNDERLINE/TERMINAL_CURSOR_SHAPE_BLOCK/' ~/.config/xfce4/terminal/terminalrc"
+  au VimLeave * silent execute "!sed -i.bak -e 's/TERMINAL_CURSOR_SHAPE_UNDERLINE/TERMINAL_CURSOR_SHAPE_BLOCK/' ~/.config/xfce4/terminal/terminalrc"
+endif
+</pre>
 ==See also==
-*[[Change cursor color in different modes]]
+*[[Configuring the cursor]]
 ==Comments==
 In a vim_use thread on 31 March 2009, Matt Wozniski made the [http://groups.google.com/group/vim_use/browse_thread/thread/91619df7d7f3fdc5 following comments]:
-''Re the Gnome code'': Unless I'm misunderstanding something, this would not only work improperly when combined with tools like screen and dvtm, but also - when you have multiple terminals open it would change the cursor shape in all of them!
+''Re the Gnome code'': Unless I'm misunderstanding something, this would not only work improperly when combined with tools like screen and dvtm, but also, when you have multiple terminals open, it would change the cursor shape in all of them!
 ''Re the KDE4 code'': That won't play nicely with gnu screen, or with dvtm, or any of the other terminal multiplexers out there.
+Both will probably have problems with multiple tabs.
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