Tip 35: Run Command in the Shell

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Executing Programs in the Shell

• invoke external programs in the shell by prefixing them with a bang symbol

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h :!

• Comparison
  • :!ls: call the ls command in the shell
  • :ls: call Vim's built-in command, which shows the contents of the buffer list

• %: shorthand for the current file name

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h cmdline-special

• filename modifiers

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h filename-modifiers

• :shell: start an iterative shell session

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h :shell

• Alternative of :shell and :exit: <C-z> and <fg>

Using the Contents of a Buffer for Standard Input or Output

• :read !{cmd}: put the output from the {cmd} into the current buffer

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h read!

• :write !{cmd}: use the contents of the buffer as standard input for the specified {cmd}

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h :write_c

• Comparison
  • :write !sh: pass the contents of the buffer as standard input to the external sh command
  • :write ! sh: pass the contents of the buffer as standard input to the external sh command
  • :write! sh: write the contents of the buffer to a file called "sh" by calling the :write! command
• Effect of :write !sh: each line of the current buffer is executed in the shell

Example:

:h :rename-files

Filtering the Contents of a Buffer Through an External Command

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h :range!

• shortcut for setting the range of a :[range]!{filter} command: !{motion}

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h !

e.g. invoke !G → vim opens a prompt with the :.,$! range set up for us