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Tip 132 Printable Monobook Previous Next

created 2001 · complexity basic · author Salman Halim · version 6.0


I frequently have multiple windows open in Vim–this reduces the number of lines each window displays–I almost always have my windows either all the same size or the current one as big as possible. The following function can be toggled on or off by typing <Leader>max (I can do this quite quickly); just change the mapping at the bottom to something else if you prefer. This causes the current window to be as big as possible (moving into another window causes that one to become big) and all the others get very small. I actually use this ALL the time. Turning it off (by typing the hotkey sequence again) will cause all windows to have the same height.

"toggles whether or not the current window is automatically zoomed
function! ToggleMaxWins()
  if exists('g:windowMax')
    au! maxCurrWin
    wincmd =
    unlet g:windowMax
  else
    augroup maxCurrWin
        " au BufEnter * wincmd _ | wincmd |
        "
        " only max it vertically
        au! WinEnter * wincmd _
    augroup END
    do maxCurrWin WinEnter
    let g:windowMax=1
  endif
endfunction
nnoremap <Leader>max :call ToggleMaxWins()<CR>

Note that the essential Vim commands are <c-_> which maximizes the current window by making all of the other windows 1-line high. And <c-=> which makes all window sizes the same. The script just makes it easier to toggle. For info on <Leader> see :help mapleader.

Rolodex Vim[]

A similar effect is achieved with the settings commonly known as "Rolodex Vim" or "the poor man's tabs", invented by Tonymec.

:set noequalalways winminheight=0 winheight=9999 helpheight=9999
  • 'noequalalways' makes sure Vim doesn't try to make all windows equal.
  • 'winminheight' set to 0 means non-current windows may collapse to a status line and nothing else (thus sparing screen real estate)
  • 'winheight' at 9999 swells the current window to maximum height, squashing all non-current windows
  • 'helpheight' does the same when in a help window.

The result is that the current window opens full-height, pushing all other windows above and below it to just a status line each. To see what it means, figure a Rolodex phone directory, like people once used before personal computers came around. The current card is open full-size, with the borders of the previous cards visible above it and those of the following cards below it. You can even push the similarity further: mouse-clicking any status line opens that "Rolodex page" in Vim, like holding one index letter on the top or bottom side of the Rolodex® allowed to open that directory card in the good old paper-and-ink times of a generation ago. Of course the "Vim Rolodex pages" can also be turned up and down one-by-one with ^Ww and ^WW etc.

See:

Rolodex Vim on a per tab basis[]

This code allows you to turn the settings on and off quickly by pressing F2. They are remembered on a per-tab basis so you can have it turned on just for one tab.

Put this code in your .vimrc file.

"This function turns Rolodex Vim on or off for the current tab
"If turning off, it sets all windows to equal height
function! ToggleRolodexTab()
    if exists("t:rolodex_tab") > 0
        unlet t:rolodex_tab
        call ClearRolodexSettings()
        execute "normal \<C-W>="
    else
        let t:rolodex_tab = 1
        call SetRolodexSettings()
    endif
endfunction

"This function clears the Rolodex Vim settings and restores the previous values
function! ClearRolodexSettings()
    "Assume if one exists they all will
    if exists("g:remember_ea") > 0
        let &equalalways=g:remember_ea
        let &winheight=g:remember_wh
        let &winminheight=g:remember_wmh
        let &helpheight=g:remember_hh
    endif
endfunction

"This function set the Rolodex Vim settings and remembers the previous values for later
function! SetRolodexSettings()
    if exists("t:rolodex_tab") > 0
        let g:remember_ea=&equalalways
        let g:remember_wh=&winheight
        let g:remember_wmh=&winminheight
        let g:remember_hh=&helpheight
        set noequalalways winminheight=0 winheight=9999 helpheight=9999
    endif
endfunction

"These two autocmds make Vim change the settings whenever a new tab is selected
"We have to use TabLeave to always clear them.  If we try and turn them off
"in TabEnter, it is too late ( I think, since WinEnter has already been called and triggered the display)
au TabLeave * call ClearRolodexSettings()
au TabEnter * call SetRolodexSettings()

"With this mapping, F2 toggles a tab to be Rolodex style
noremap <F2> :call ToggleRolodexTab()<CR>

 TO DO 
Merge below comments in if useful


Great tip—I always edit in this mode. Problem is, the quickfix window gets shrunk to nothing. Does anyone have any idea how to set the quickfix window (:help :cw) to a minimum of 12 lines (say) while in rolodex mode?

Try the following (untested) after opening the quickfix window (and with it being current):
:setlocal winfixheight=12
(see :help 'winfixheight') — Tonymec 05:25, September 25, 2010 (UTC)
'winfixheight' is a boolean option. You want something like :resize 12 | setlocal winfixheight. --Fritzophrenic 14:38, September 27, 2010 (UTC)
But help says that winfixheight is set in a quickfix window, and that it will be ignored when running out of room. So something more would be needed. JohnBeckett 11:15, September 28, 2010 (UTC)
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