*repeat.txt*    Nvim


                            NVIM REFERENCE MANUAL


Repeating commands						*repeating*

Chapter 26 of the user manual introduces repeating |usr_26.txt|.

                                      Type |gO| to see the table of contents.

==============================================================================
Single repeat						*single-repeat*

							*.*
.			Repeat last change, with count replaced with [count].
			Also repeat a yank command, when the 'y' flag is
			included in 'cpoptions'.  Does not repeat a
			command-line command.

							*@:*
@:			Repeat last command-line [count] times.

Simple changes can be repeated with the "." command.  Without a count, the
count of the last change is used.  If you enter a count, it will replace the
last one.  |v:count| and |v:count1| will be set.

If the last change included a specification of a numbered register, the
register number will be incremented.  See |redo-register| for an example how
to use this.

Repeating an insert |ins-repeat| re-executes the whole session, including
non-jump cursor-moves: "iab<Left>c<Esc>." produces "acb", not "c".  Note that
jumps (mouse, |i_<PageUp>|, …) split an insert session.

Repeating a Visual-mode command re-executes the captured keysequence,
selection included.  See |visual-repeat|.

==============================================================================
Semantic repeat				*action-repeat* *cmdatom* *excalibur*

Every user action emits a |CmdAtom| event. This avoids the need for plugins to
"announce" the repeatable unit, thus plugins like vim-repeat aren't needed.

`CmdAtom.lhs` is the high-level user input collected during an action,
including getchar() input. This is signficant: it reflects the semantic
intent. `CmdAtom.keys` reveals the low-level internal commands that were
produced.

	INPUT (`lhs`)	RESOLUTION (`keys`) ~
	dw		"dw"		Not translated.
	zfa{		"zfa{"		Not an edit (`changed=false`).
	x		"dl"		Translated builtin.
	,d		"dl"		Mapping `:nnoremap ,d x`.
	@q		"dl"		Macro `@q = "x"`.
	<F6>		"dlw"		Composite `:nnoremap <F6> xw`:
					`type='mapping'`, subatoms "dl" and "w"
					concat to the composite keys.
	,Dw		"dw"		Incomplete mapping: ended mid-
					operation (`:nnoremap ,D d`),
					captures its continuation ("w").
	ds)		":call …<NL>)"	"Payload" mapping (e.g. vim-surround
					"ds'" reads |getchar()|).
	]q		nil		Lua mapping.
	V<C-E>d		""		Unreplayable: viewport-dependent
					Visual sequence; `lhs` is only
					a hint/label.

To repeat an atom, feed `keys` (mode "n"), or `lhs` (mode "m") if `keys=nil`. >lua

    local function replay(a)
      vim.api.nvim_feedkeys(a.keys or a.lhs, a.keys and 'n' or 'm', false)
    end
<
							*motion-repeat*
Example: This "," mapping repeats the last motion ("zj", "3w", "fx",
"/pat<CR>", "]c", any mapping/command that sets `moved=true`). >lua

    local last ---@type vim.event.cmdatom.data?
    vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('CmdAtom', {
      callback = function(ev)
        -- Skip edits, and the "," mapping itself.
        local motion = ev.data.moved or ev.match == 'motion'
        if motion and not (ev.data.changed or ev.data.lhs == ',') then
          last = ev.data
        end
      end,
    })
    vim.keymap.set('n', ',', function()
      -- CmdAtom is deferred; schedule the replay, in case "," follows a motion.
      vim.schedule(function()
        if last then
          vim.api.nvim_feedkeys(last.keys or last.lhs, last.keys and 'n' or 'm', false)
        end
      end)
    end)
<
							*edit-repeat*
Example: This "." mapping repeats ANY edit (except undo/redo), including
operations provided by plugins, without the need for "announcement" via
vim-repeat or similar. >lua

    local last ---@type vim.event.cmdatom.data?
    vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('CmdAtom', {
      callback = function(ev)
        local is_redo_or_undo = ev.data.changed and (ev.data.undoseq or 0) <= (vim.b[ev.buf].maxseq or 0)
        vim.b[ev.buf].maxseq = math.max(vim.b[ev.buf].maxseq or 0, ev.data.undoseq or 0)
        if ev.data.changed and not is_redo_or_undo and ev.data.lhs ~= '.' then
          last = ev.data
        end
      end,
    })
    vim.keymap.set('n', '.', function()
      -- Multicursors: degrade to builtin "." (cascades).
      local mc = vim.api.nvim_create_namespace('nvim.multicursor')
      if #vim.api.nvim_buf_get_extmarks(0, mc, 0, -1, { limit = 1 }) > 0 then
        vim.api.nvim_feedkeys('.', 'n', false)
        return
      end
      -- CmdAtom is deferred; schedule the replay, in case "." follows an edit.
      vim.schedule(function()
        if last then
          vim.api.nvim_feedkeys(last.keys or last.lhs, last.keys and 'n' or 'm', false)
        end
      end)
    end)
<
							*cmdatom-macro*
Example: This "[count]<Space>" mapping saves the last [count] atoms as an
editable macro: "2<Space>" opens the |cmdwin| with the last [count] atoms
listed (you can delete/edit steps if you want), <Enter> saves it. "<Space>"
without a count replays the macro. >lua

    -- Track the last 20 atoms.
    local atom_ring = {} ---@type vim.event.cmdatom.data[]
    vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('CmdAtom', {
      callback = function(ev)
        -- Skip this mapping itself, and cmdwin edits.
        if ev.data.lhs ~= ' ' and vim.fn.getcmdwintype() == '' then
          atom_ring[#atom_ring + 1] = ev.data
          if #atom_ring > 20 then
            table.remove(atom_ring, 1)
          end
        end
      end,
    })
    -- [count]<space> shows a cmdwin where the user can edit/save the last [count] atoms as a "macro".
    -- <space> (no count) replays it.
    vim.keymap.set('n', '<Space>', function()
      local count = vim.v.count
      -- CmdAtom is deferred; schedule it so pending events land in the ring first.
      vim.schedule(function()
        count = math.min(count, #atom_ring)
        if count == 0 then -- Replay the saved macro.
          for _, step in ipairs(vim.g.atom_macro or {}) do
            vim.api.nvim_feedkeys(vim.keycode(step.keys or step.lhs), step.keys and 'n' or 'm', false)
          end
          return
        end
        local parts = {}
        for i = #atom_ring - count + 1, #atom_ring do
          local a = atom_ring[i]
          local keys = a.keys or ('%s%s'):format(a.count or '', a.lhs)
          local field = a.keys and 'keys' or 'lhs'
          parts[#parts + 1] = ('{%s=%q},'):format(field, vim.fn.keytrans(keys))
        end
        local cmd = ('lua vim.g.atom_macro = { %s }'):format(table.concat(parts, ' '))
        -- Draft it on the cmdline; CTRL-F opens the cmdwin to edit it.
        vim.api.nvim_feedkeys((':%s%s'):format(cmd, vim.keycode('<C-f>')), 'n', false)
      end)
    end)
<
							*restore-undo-cursor*
By default, |undo| returns the cursor to its original position. If you don't
like that, you can use this snippet to get Vim's behavior instead: >lua

    vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('CmdAtom', {
      callback = function(ev)
        -- Undo/redo: the buffer changed to an already-seen undo state.
        local undid = ev.data.changed and (ev.data.undoseq or 0) <= (vim.b[ev.buf].maxseq or 0)
        vim.b[ev.buf].maxseq = math.max(vim.b[ev.buf].maxseq or 0, ev.data.undoseq or 0)
        if undid then
          vim.cmd('normal! `[') -- Start of the changed text.
        end
      end,
    })
<

==============================================================================
Multiple repeat					*multi-repeat*

						*:g* *:global* *E148*
:[range]g[lobal]/{pattern}/[cmd]
			Execute the Ex command [cmd] (default ":p") on the
			lines within [range] where {pattern} matches.

:[range]g[lobal]!/{pattern}/[cmd]
			Execute the Ex command [cmd] (default ":p") on the
			lines within [range] where {pattern} does NOT match.

							*:v* *:vglobal*
:[range]v[global]/{pattern}/[cmd]
			Same as :g!.

Example: >
	:g/^Obsolete/d _
Using the underscore after `:d` avoids clobbering registers or the clipboard.
This also makes it faster.

Instead of the '/' which surrounds the {pattern}, you can use any other
single byte character, but not an alphabetic character, '\', '"', '|' or '!'.
This is useful if you want to include a '/' in the search pattern or
replacement string.

For the definition of a pattern, see |pattern|.

NOTE [cmd] may contain a range; see |collapse| and |edit-paragraph-join| for
examples.

The global commands work by first scanning through the [range] lines and
marking each line where a match occurs (for a multi-line pattern, only the
start of the match matters).
In a second scan the [cmd] is executed for each marked line, as if the cursor
was in that line.  For ":v" and ":g!" the command is executed for each not
marked line.  If a line is deleted its mark disappears.
The default for [range] is the whole buffer (1,$).  Use "CTRL-C" to interrupt
the command.  If an error message is given for a line, the command for that
line is aborted and the global command continues with the next marked or
unmarked line.
								*E147*
When the command is used recursively, it only works on one line.  Giving a
range is then not allowed.  This is useful to find all lines that match a
pattern and do not match another pattern: >
	:g/found/v/notfound/{cmd}
This first finds all lines containing "found", but only executes {cmd} when
there is no match for "notfound".

Any Ex command can be used, see |ex-cmd-index|.  To execute a Normal mode
command, you can use the `:normal` command: >
	:g/pat/normal {commands}
Make sure that {commands} ends with a whole command, otherwise Vim will wait
for you to type the rest of the command for each match.  The screen will not
have been updated, so you don't know what you are doing.  See |:normal|.

The undo/redo command will undo/redo the whole global command at once.
The previous context mark will only be set once (with "''" you go back to
where the cursor was before the global command).

The global command sets both the last used search pattern and the last used
substitute pattern (this is vi compatible).  This makes it easy to globally
replace a string: >
	:g/pat/s//PAT/g
This replaces all occurrences of "pat" with "PAT".  The same can be done with: >
	:%s/pat/PAT/g
Which is two characters shorter!

==============================================================================
Complex repeat						*complex-repeat*

							*q* *recording* *macro*
q{0-9a-zA-Z"}		Record typed characters into register {0-9a-zA-Z"}
			(uppercase to append).  The 'q' command is disabled
			while executing a register, and it doesn't work inside
			a mapping and |:normal|.

			Note: If the register being used for recording is also
			used for |y| and |p| the result is most likely not
			what is expected, because the put will paste the
			recorded macro and the yank will overwrite the
			recorded macro.

			Note: The recording happens while you type, replaying
			the register happens as if the keys come from a
			mapping.  This matters, for example, for undo, which
			only syncs when commands were typed.

q			Stops recording.
			Implementation note: The 'q' that stops recording is
			not stored in the register, unless it was the result
			of a mapping

							*@*
@{0-9a-z".=*+}		Execute the contents of register {0-9a-z".=*+} [count]
			times.  Note that register '%' (name of the current
			file) and '#' (name of the alternate file) cannot be
			used.
			The register is executed like a mapping, that means
			that the difference between 'wildchar' and 'wildcharm'
			applies, and undo might not be synced in the same way.
			For "@=" you are prompted to enter an expression.  The
			result of the expression is then executed.
			See also |@:|.

							*@@* *E748*
@@			Repeat the previous @{0-9a-z":*} [count] times.

							*v_@-default*
{Visual}@{0-9a-z".=*+}	In linewise Visual mode, execute the contents of the
{Visual}@@		register for each selected line.
			See |visual-repeat|, |default-mappings|.

							*:@*
:[addr]@{0-9a-z".=*+}	Execute the contents of register {0-9a-z".=*+} as an
			Ex command.  First set cursor at line [addr] (default
			is current line).  When the last line in the register
			does not have a <CR> it will be added automatically
			when the 'e' flag is present in 'cpoptions'.
			For ":@=" the last used expression is used.  The
			result of evaluating the expression is executed as an
			Ex command.
			Mappings are not recognized in these commands.
			When the |line-continuation| character (\) is present
			at the beginning of a line in a linewise register,
			then it is combined with the previous line.  This is
			useful for yanking and executing parts of a Vim
			script.

							*:@:*
:[addr]@:		Repeat last command-line.  First set cursor at line
			[addr] (default is current line).

:[addr]@						*:@@*
:[addr]@@		Repeat the previous :@{register}.  First set cursor at
			line [addr] (default is current line).

==============================================================================
Multiple cursors					*mcursor* *multicursor*

You can place extra cursors ("multicursor") in a buffer, to repeat operations
at each cursor as-you-type. Unlike a |macro| (a stream of keys without any
context), multicursor replays actions "semantically" (|CmdAtom|).

- Normal-mode commands, Mappings, and even Macros (|@|) replay at each cursor.
- Insert-mode edits appear at each cursor as you type.
- Motions (|q=|) and Visual sequences replay at each cursor: "viweex"
  re-executes the selection so the extents are per-cursor (each cursor's own
  word, block, …).
- Registers are cursor-local. Each cursor reads/writes its own registers.
  The yanks are joined (linewise) when the multicursor session ends.
- Undo is atomic: |u| reverts the aggregate edits from all cursors at once.
- Folds are ignored during replay. Edits replay within folds ("dd" deletes the
  line at cursor, not the entire folded contents). Motions step into folds
  instead of skipping over them. The primary cursor keeps the usual
  |fold-behavior|.
- Cursors are per-buffer, and cascade only while their buffer is current.
- CTRL-C interrupts the cascade.

Example: place a cursor on every matching pattern: >
    :g/pattern/normal! nQ
<
Example: place a cursor at each |quickfix| item, or a range: >
    :cdo normal! Q
    :2,4cdo normal! Q
<
Example: place a cursor at every match, using the API: >lua
    for _, m in ipairs(vim.fn.matchbufline('%', [[pattern]], 1, '$')) do
      vim.api.nvim_mcursor(0, { m.lnum, m.byteidx })
    end
<
Plugins can place cursors with |nvim_mcursor()| and inspect user actions via
the |CmdAtom| event.

The cursor positions are tracked as |extmarks| in the "nvim.multicursor"
namespace. Query them with |nvim_buf_get_extmarks()|; deleting an extmark
deletes the cursor. You can also use |:marks| to peek at cursors: >
    :marks nvim.multicursor
<
Multicursors are presented as |hl-MCursor| highlights, unless your (terminal)
UI supports the Kitty multiple-cursors protocol.


COMMANDS
							*Q*
Q			Toggles a multicursor at the current cursor position.
			Disables follow-mode |q=|.

[count]Q		Places a cursor at every match (|gn|) of the last
			search pattern. Example:
			1. Search for something ("*", "/pattern<CR>", …).
			2. Type "1Q".

							*mcursor-mouse* *<C-LeftMouse>*
<C-LeftMouse>		Toggles a multicursor at the click position, without
			moving the primary cursor (or changing windows). Does
			NOT disable follow-mode |q=|. No-op in Insert-mode.

							*v_Q*
{Visual}Q		Places a cursor on each line of the Visual selection.
			Enables follow-mode |q=|.

							*q=*
q=			Toggles follow-mode: motions (not jumps/scrolls) are
			replayed per-cursor. Cursors arriving at the same
			position (e.g. "G") are merged (deduplicated). Motions
			that fail/beep are not replayed (e.g. "j" on the last
			line).

			Use [count] to force the mode instead of toggling:
			"1q=" on, "2q=" off.

							*mcursor-clear*
CTRL-L			Clears multicursors in the current buffer.
			|CTRL-L-default|

			Cursors can also be cleared by clearing the namespace: >lua
			    local mc_ns = vim.api.nvim_create_namespace('nvim.multicursor')
			    vim.api.nvim_buf_clear_namespace(0, mc_ns, 0, -1)
<
							*gQ*
gQ			Restores the previous multicursors.

							*g_CTRL-A*
g CTRL-A		During a multicursor session, inserts an ascending
			number ("counter") at each cursor, so a column of
			cursors becomes 1, 2, 3, …. Use [count] to choose the
			initial number.

							*]C*
]C			Jump to the [count]'th next cursor, leaving a cursor at
			the current position.

							*[C*
[C			Jump to the [count]'th previous cursor, leaving a cursor
			at the current position.


EXAMPLES						*mcursor-examples*

Example: a "follow-once" mapping: "q-{motion}" replays {motion} at every
cursor, then disables follow-mode again. >lua

    vim.keymap.set('n', 'q-', function()
      vim.cmd('normal! 1q=')
      vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('CmdAtom', {
        callback = function(ev)
          if ev.data.lhs == 'q-' then
            return -- Skip the mapping itself.
          end
          vim.cmd('normal! 2q=')
          return true -- Delete the handler.
        end,
      })
    end)
<

LIMITATIONS						*mcursor-limitations*

- During Insert-mode completion, live mirroring pauses if a preview could
  shift or overlap the primary's completion (same-line edits before the
  primary, or line insertions/deletions before it).
- Explicit clipboard registers (`"*yy`, `"+yy`) are global, not per-cursor. On
  multicursor exit, you can set the clipboard to the joined yank: >
      :let @+=@"
- Implicit 'clipboard' ("unnamed"/"unnamedplus") updates the clipboard on
  multicursor exit.
- Same-line cursors may be lost/misplaced by an edit that shifts columns (e.g.
  inserting text).
- Time-travel undo (|g-|, |g+|, |:earlier|) clears all cursors.
- Reloading/unloading a buffer (|:edit!|, 'autoread') clears its cursors
  (extmarks limitation).
- An operator replayed at a cursor inside a closed fold applies to the whole
  fold, like any operator (|fold-behavior|).
- |Q| is not allowed while recording or executing a macro.
- An 'operatorfunc' that caches its |getchar()| input instead of re-reading it
  misbehaves at the extra cursors: the unconsumed input runs as a normal-mode
  key.


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