Get the name of the current file

Duplicate tip

This tip is very similar to the following:

• VimTip193
• VimTip1322

These tips need to be merged – see the merge guidelines.

Tip 530 Printable Monobook Previous Next

created 2003 · complexity basic · author Geoff Hubbard · version 5.7

---

To get the name of the file you are currently editing use:

@%

If you want to make sure of the path as well use:

expand("%:p")

References

• :help @
• :help expand()
• :help cmdline-special
• Copy filename to clipboard shows why it might be useful

Comments

To enter the name of the current file in insert or command mode, use <C-R>%.

---

If you want to use it as part of a command line just use %, for example:

!echo %

---

Without the extention:

!echo %:r

---

Ctrl-G is an easier way to get this info.

---

If you need to insert otherfile names (say the *.h name in an #include), you can do C-X+C-F for filename completion.

---

Complete path, filename and extension:

2+Ctrl-G

---

It can be useful to get the name of the current file in command mode, and be able to edit it. The % sign can be used to get the name, but that will not allow you to edit the path. By pressing ^R#, the current path will be inserted, and you can edit it to open another file.

---

Hey quick question, Ctrl-G worked but I'm wondering if there is a special way to examine the contents of the % register? According to the vim docs above

• @* @{0-9a-z".=*} Execute the contents of register {0-9a-z".=*} [count] times. Note that register '%' (name of the current file) and '#' (name of the alternate file) cannot be used. Is there a special way to echo its contents? In case it's useful information, I'm on vim version 7.3 with patches: 1-154.