Opening multiple files from a single command-line

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created October 23, 2001 · complexity basic · author salmanhalim · version 5.7

---

I use the :split command a lot -- both to open a second window containing the currently edited file and to edit a new file altogether (with the :split <filename> option). however, I also like to be able to edit more than one file and calling :sp multiple times is inconvenient. so, I created the following command, function and abbreviation:

function! Sp(...)
  if(a:0 == 0)
    sp
  else
    let i = a:0
    while(i > 0)
      execute 'let file = a:' . i
      execute 'sp ' . file
      let i = i - 1
    endwhile
  endif
endfunction
com! -nargs=* -complete=file Sp call Sp(<f-args>)
cab sp Sp

This retains the behaviour of :sp in that I can still type :sp (the abbreviation takes care of that). :Sp takes any number of files and opens them all up, one after the other.

The things I have noticed are that this causes 'sp' to be expanded to 'Sp' everywhere, even in search patterns. Also, prepending 'vert' doesn't work.

Comments

This is great! It saves the effort of typing multiple :sp under vim. I have two suggestions.

1. If I use

vim
:Sp a b c

It results in 4 windows in vim. One is empty. Is this could be improved?

2. Is there a way to make a new_cmd that splits a window to 3, each one for a file specified in the command line? For example,

vim a b c
:new_cmd

then I could see 3 windows in vim. One for a, one for b, and one for c.

---

Just before the endif, add this:

windo if expand('%') == '' | q | endif

Empty windows will be closed (if unmodified).

---

I added an option to split also vertically and made filenames expand through glob:

function! Sp(dir, ...)
	let split = 'sp'
	if a:dir == '1'
		let split = 'vsp'
	endif
	if(a:0 == 0)
		execute split
	else
		let i = a:0
		while(i > 0)
			execute 'let files = glob (a:' . i . ')'
			for f in split (files, "\n")
				execute split . ' ' . f
			endfor
			let i = i - 1
		endwhile
		windo if expand('%') == '' | q | endif
endif
endfunction
com! -nargs=* -complete=file Sp call Sp(0, <f-args>)
com! -nargs=* -complete=file Vsp call Sp(1, <f-args>)

Starting in splits

If you want to start vim with several files in a splitted window, just type

vim -o a b c

for the horizontal split, and

vim -O a b c

for the vertical split. For further information, you can consult

man vim

To change between the windows opened

crtl+ww