vi(m): Edit multiple files without saving

[yc2]

Hi,

Sorry for a question that my friend Google might resolve, but I am behind a firewall and all is hard now

When I jump between files in vi (:n#), is it then possible to leave (and return to) a file where I haven't saved changes (w). As it seems now (vi and vim) I must save changes before leaving a file for the next.

Thanks

[sikander3786]

Ctrl + X and 'N' to say no to changes.

Doesn't that work?

[yc2]

What I would like to do is to keep the changes until a come back to the file again, but I do not want to write them to disk. maybe that is not possible.

When I try the ctrl/x command in vim command-mode I just hear a "click", it seems not to be allowed.

Sorry for adding one question: Syntax highlighting works for C, but not for php. Is that possible to cure? (And preferably also JavaScript)

/add: I think I found the answer to the added question: SET SYN=PHP seems to do it.


Thanks

[geirha]

I usually don't find it problematic to save when switching files, though I have noticed that if you use split window (with :split or :vsplit), you don't need to save while moving between the open windows. To move between the open windows, use ^W<direction>.

[yc2]

yes, the inability to save is not a big issue. I used CLI-editors a lot in the 70's and 80's and now I find I am returning more and more to vi. So I have better try finding a quick and pleasant working environment.

I haven't yet found a color scheme I quite like. I am getting a little older and should wear reading glasses, but I don't. I prefer light background, but I think that somehow makes the text not stand out enough.

Here the text comes out better, but I would like to try the background lighter
:highlight Normal ctermfg=grey ctermbg=darkblue
Changing the command to lightblue does not make a difference.

All the colorschemes I can find on the Internet do not seem to be installed in the verison I am running.

How do I install colorschemes. (In the 80's we only had b/w )
And how do I find which ones are installed. (:colorscheme does not work) (OK I found the reply to this one: colorscheme<space><tab>)

[yc2]

It only seems possible to set color for the first file edited.

If I open more files by
:n myfile
they all come out in black background.

For the first file I edit I can change colors with
:colo desert
:colo morning

But this does not work for other files opened with :n

It looks like a bug, but considering the qualities of vi(m), I guess I just haven't found out how to do it yet.

[ja660k]

this may or may not be relevant...
:vsp <path/to/file>

splits the window vertically
use ctrl+w to switch between files to edit.
:qall to quit all.
or :q! to quit each window.

i hope thats what you meant?

[krazyd]

enter this (or just put in your .vimrc):

set hidden

then use :e to edit new files rather than :n

also, to have your colours persist across sessions, put them in your .vimrc. My personal favourite is darkspectrum, which works great in the terminal with this plugin.

[yc2]

enter this (or just put in your .vimrc):

set hidden

then use :e to edit new files rather than :n
...

Thank you everyone for good ideas.

Thank you Krazyd, you gave the solution to my original question. I tried your advice, it works. (I yet don't understand how, though. ) There is always a solution in vim.

I will check more about colorschemes and come back. Now time to sleep in the region I reside

Thanks guys.

[spjackson]

When I jump between files in vi (:n#), is it then possible to leave (and return to) a file where I haven't saved changes (w). As it seems now (vi and vim) I must save changes before leaving a file for the next.

In vim, if you want to be able to temporarily leave a modified buffer in order to visit another file, you need to enable this feature with

 :set hidden

which allows modified buffers to be hidden.