Changes: VimLock mode to enter numbers

Latest revision as of 06:33, 13 July 2012

Tip 1564 Printable Monobook Previous Next

created 2008 · complexity basic · author Benshi · version 7.0

It can be convenient to use the numeric keypad when you need to enter a lot of numbers. However, your keyboard may not have a keypad, or you may not want to move your hands from the home row.

The following script allows you to switch Vim to a special "VimLock" mode (like pressing the Num Lock key). In this mode, pressing keys on the home row (a, s, d, ...) will generate digits (1, 2, 3, ...) rather than letters. Press Escape to exit from VimLock mode.

Put the following in your vimrc:

nnoremap <C-I> :call VimLock(1)<CR>i
function! VimLock(enable)
  if a:enable
    inoremap a 1
    inoremap s 2
    inoremap d 3
    inoremap f 4
    inoremap g 5
    inoremap h 6
    inoremap j 7
    inoremap k 8
    inoremap l 9
    inoremap ; 0
    inoremap <Esc> <Esc>:call VimLock(0)<CR>
  else
    iunmap a
    iunmap s
    iunmap d
    iunmap f
    iunmap g
    iunmap h
    iunmap j
    iunmap k
    iunmap l
    iunmap ;
    iunmap <Esc>
  endif
endfunction

Now you can press Ctrl-i to enter insert mode and map the keys "a s d f g h j k l ;" to the digits "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0". Pressing Esc will end this mode and restore the letter keys. Since Ctrl-i is Tab, you can just press the Tab key to enter VimLock mode.

The mappings assume a QWERTY US keyboard where the ; key is on the right of L. If necessary, change ; to suit your keyboard.

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+{{TipNew
-{{TipProposed
-|id=0
+|id=1564
-|previous=0
+|previous=1563
-|next=0
+|next=1565
-|created=May 10, 2008
+|created=2008
 |complexity=basic
 |author=Benshi
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 |category2=
 }}
+It can be convenient to use the numeric keypad when you need to enter a lot of numbers. However, your keyboard may not have a keypad, or you may not want to move your hands from the home row.
-In this tip you will get an explanation on how to create a special insert mode in which some keys will be maped to the numbers "<tt>0-9</tt>" and remaped to their original function as soon as this mode is left.
+The following script allows you to switch Vim to a special "VimLock" mode (like pressing the Num Lock key). In this mode, pressing keys on the home row (a, s, d, ...) will generate digits (1, 2, 3, ...) rather than letters. Press Escape to exit from VimLock mode.
-First, define two functions (preferably in your [[vimrc]]):
+Put the following in your [[vimrc]]:
 <pre>
+nnoremap <C-I> :call VimLock(1)<CR>i
-function! Vimblock()
+function! VimLock(enable)
-  imap a 1
+  if a:enable
-  imap s 2
+    inoremap a 1
-  imap d 3
+    inoremap s 2
-  imap f 4
+    inoremap d 3
-  imap g 5
+    inoremap f 4
-  imap h 6
+    inoremap g 5
-  imap j 7
+    inoremap h 6
-  imap k 8
+    inoremap j 7
-  imap l 9
+    inoremap k 8
-  imap ö 0
+    inoremap l 9
-  imap <Esc> <Esc>:call Blockend()<CR>
+    inoremap ; 0
+    inoremap <Esc> <Esc>:call VimLock(0)<CR>
+  else
+    iunmap a
+    iunmap s
+    iunmap d
+    iunmap f
+    iunmap g
+    iunmap h
+    iunmap j
+    iunmap k
+    iunmap l
+    iunmap ;
+    iunmap <Esc>
+  endif
 endfunction
-function! Blockend()
-  iunmap a
-  iunmap s
-  iunmap d
-  iunmap f
-  iunmap g
-  iunmap h
-  iunmap j
-  iunmap k
-  iunmap l
-  iunmap :
-  imap <Esc> <Esc><CR>
-ndfunction
 </pre>
+Now you can press <code>Ctrl-i</code> to enter insert mode and map the keys "<code>a s d f g h j k l ;</code>" to the digits "<code>1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0</code>". Pressing <code>Esc</code> will end this mode and restore the letter keys. Since <code>Ctrl-i</code> is Tab, you can just press the Tab key to enter VimLock mode.
-Now you can map the new mode to a key, for example <tt>Control-i</tt>:
-<pre>
-map <C-I> :call Vimblock()<CR>i
-</pre>
+The mappings assume a QWERTY US keyboard where the <code>;</code> key is on the right of <code>L</code>. If necessary, change <code>;</code> to suit your keyboard.
-Now, hitting <tt>Ctrl-i</tt> will get you to insert mode and map the keys "<tt>a s d f g h j k l :</tt>" to the numbers "<tt>0-9</tt>". Pressing <tt>Esc</tt> will end this mode and bring the letter keys to their original state.
 ==References==
@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 *{{help|user-functions}}
 *{{help|:call}}
-*{{help|:imap}}
+*{{help|:inoremap}}
 *{{help|:iunmap}}

Changes: VimLock mode to enter numbers

Latest revision as of 06:33, 13 July 2012

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