Creating multiple .vimrc for multiple languages?

Question

I am starting to learn programming and saw that it is possible to configure vim through the .vimrc file. But I'm having trouble creating more than one setting. I want a configuration for java and another for C, but I do not know how to only enable a configuration when programming in a particular language.

I found the following solution to my problem:

If it's okay to configure the local exceptions centrally, you can put such autocmds into your ~/.vimrc:

:autocmd BufRead,BufNewFile /path/to/dir/* setlocal ts=4 sw=4

(How to load different .vimrc file for different working directory?)

But I did not understand that solution.

I figured I should do the following:

I wanted to create a C language setting on the Desktop. So I put in Shell (I'm using Mac OS) the following command vim ~/Desktop/.vimrc and put the desired configuration in this file.
Then I put the following command in the file ~/.vimrc: autocmd BufRead,BufNewFile ~/Desktop/.vimrc setlocal ts=4 sw=4
Then I went into the Shell and created a C file vim ~/Desktop/myprogram.c, but I realized that my setup had not worked.

Obviously I did something wrong, but I could not find the error, because I'm still noob.

Meninx - メネンックス · Accepted Answer · 2016-12-23T03:03:19.470

5

For that you need 3 files: ~/.vimrc and two scripts let's say C-settings.vim and java-settings.vim

In the first file, the ~/.vimrc, you need to include these autocommands:

"To enable file type detection"
filetype on
augroup Java_C_Settings
    "the command below execute the script for the specific filetype C
    autocmd FileType c source /path-for-C-settings/C-settings.vim

    "the command below execute the script for the specific filetype Java
    autocmd FileType java source /path-for-Java-settings/Java-settings.vim
augroup END

In the other files (C-settings.vim & Java-settings.vim) you put the settings that you need for every type of file *.c and *.java

Example:

C-settings.vim

set number
colorscheme blue

Java-settings.vim

set number
colorscheme evening

Whenever you open a file with vim the latter will check the filetype first and the settings will be automatically configured.

Note: if the setting files are not in the same directory you can rename them .exrc.

edited Dec 23 '16 at 03:03

answered Dec 22 '16 at 23:23

Meninx - メネンックス

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which `.vimrc` have you used ? – Meninx - メネンックス Dec 22 '16 at 23:41
I used the ~/.vimrc – Dec 22 '16 at 23:42
Have you set the correct paths for `Java-settings.vim` and `C-settings.vim` inside `.vimrc` and to be more precise in `autocmd` ?? Could you please verify it ? – Meninx - メネンックス Dec 22 '16 at 23:42
I put the archive `C-setting.vim` in Desktop and put the correct path in `.vimrc` – Dec 22 '16 at 23:46
Rename them as `c.vim` and `java.vim` better and try again (no capital letter). `syntax on` is for activating the syntax highlighting. – Meninx - メネンックス Dec 22 '16 at 23:48
I renamed the file and it still not working. I can not figure out where the problem is, because no error appears. What happens is that the commands placed in the `c.vim` file don't work. – Dec 22 '16 at 23:53
What kind of commands have you placed in `c.vim` it could be the default behavior ? – Meninx - メネンックス Dec 22 '16 at 23:56
Please type `:augroup` after opening the `main.c` and see if `Java_C_Settings` is there or not in the list. – Meninx - メネンックス Dec 23 '16 at 00:00
I put only two commands in `c.vim`. They're `set number` and `syntax on`. – Dec 23 '16 at 00:00
Can you please fill the files first with the settings described above in my answer I mean with `colorscheme` commands. – Meninx - メネンックス Dec 23 '16 at 00:04
I typed `: augroup` after opening a .c file and it did not work. – Dec 23 '16 at 00:05
I put the commands that you wrote in your answer, but still not work. – Dec 23 '16 at 00:08
Haven't you seen any changes ?? – Meninx - メネンックス Dec 23 '16 at 00:10
Unfortunately no. – Dec 23 '16 at 00:13
I cannot understand why it is not working in your machine. sorry then ! – Meninx - メネンックス Dec 23 '16 at 00:15
1

The `filetype plugin on` command was missing. Now it's working perfectly. Thanks for your help!!!!! – Dec 23 '16 at 00:16

score 4 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 23 '16 at 00:11

4

Use ftplugins they are meant for this.

Drop your C config in ~/.vim/ftplugin/c and so on. And don't forget to activate their support.

(This is actually a duplicate question)

edited Dec 23 '16 at 00:11

Meninx - メネンックス

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answered Dec 23 '16 at 00:10

Luc Hermitte

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Creating multiple .vimrc for multiple languages?

2 Answers2