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Tip 676 Previous Next Created: March 13, 2004 Complexity: basic Author: LunLun Version: 6.0

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I want to open gvim, in Windows XP, using a shortcut key.

To do this, I made a shortcut to gvim, and I assigned a shortcut key in the Properties menu.

However, I can start the first instance of gvim, but the same combination will not allow me to start the second instance; it will just display the first one.

My solution was to create a shortcut in the Start Menu. Now, I press and release the "Windows" key, and then press "g" once. It can launch an unlimited number of instances of Vim. Sometimes, I need to write a script in one instance and to see the output in another.

[edit] Comments

I used this shortcut target, under the "\Doc*Settings\All Users\Start Menu":

"C:\Program Files\gvim\vim62\gvim.exe" "c:/"

Vim opens the root dir of c:, from which I can navigate and open the desired file w/o a mouse and Win Explorer.

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Where all else fails there is always autohotkey

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