Remap ⌘S to save a file in VIM

Question

I have recently switched from using MacVim to just using Vim on the command line. One feature I miss is being able to save a file with ⌘S rather than having to go back into normal mode and then :wq

I am using Vim inside iTerm2. Is there any way to get ⌘S to save a file both in insert and normal mode?

Just curious, why'd you switch from MacVim? – Robert Speicher Feb 09 '11 at 20:39 — Robert Speicher, Feb 09 '11 at 20:39

score 5 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 07 '12 at 23:06

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You can use iTerm2 to map Cmd-S to some other combination that the shell and Vim will recognize (e.g. Ctrl+S) , then you can simply map that command via a .vimrc file as Andrew pointed out.

In summary:

edit iTerm2 Keys with a new entry that maps Cmd-S to Ctrl+S.
Add commands for mapping Ctrl+S to vimrc file (like Andrew describes) or like this site.

answered Mar 07 '12 at 23:06

Dolan Antenucci

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Thank a bunch for the hint. I want to make this a bit more concrete. I mapped cmd-s to send hex code 0x1b 0x4f 0x51 which corresponds to F2. Then, in vimrc I add imap :update . – Piti Ongmongkolkul May 26 '12 at 17:12
+1 for iTerm2. It is a great terminal emulator with many extra nice features that make it great for using vim in the console. – JeremyFromEarth Dec 17 '12 at 21:39
@PitiOngmongkolkul how did you get that hex code for F2??? I could find out that F2 has the 0x78 keycode, but no idea how to transform that into a scape hex code – SystematicFrank Jan 16 '14 at 07:45
I recalled that I have it printed out the key I press in vi somehow. Can't exactly remember how though... – Piti Ongmongkolkul Feb 25 '14 at 05:29

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 01 '16 at 18:46

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Here is an even simpler way to do it: using iTerm2's "Send Text". Basically you can map Cmd-S to send a text to the current vim session :w\n.

$Send Text: <code>:w\n</code>$

answered Jun 01 '16 at 18:46

Alex Dong

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I can confirm this worked -- but what does `:w\n` actually mean in the context of vimscript? – Richard Jarram May 23 '22 at 00:48

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 09 '11 at 13:10

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Well, I'm not sure that command-line Vim can register the ⌘ key, and I'm not on my Mac to confirm, but you can map ⌘S in .vimrc like this.

inoremap <D-s> <ESC>:w<CR>i  "insertmode
nnoremap <D-s> :w<CR>        "normalmode

Again, this will only work if command-line vim can recognize the ⌘key.

answered Feb 09 '11 at 13:10

Andrew Mcveigh

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This doesn't seem to work when using command line Vim in iTerm2. It looks like the ⌘S is not getting through to Vim, it's just calling the iTerm command instead (Save text as). – Crofty Feb 09 '11 at 14:29
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If iTerm is catching it, then you're out of luck (as far as I know). You could always try to map ctrl-s, or try pressing alt-s and mapping that. – Andrew Mcveigh Feb 09 '11 at 15:44

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 19 '11 at 16:04

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It is not possible to map to ⌘ in the console version of Vim. If you want to be able to use ⌘ in a mapping you'll need to switch back to MacVim.

answered Feb 19 '11 at 16:04

b4winckler

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Remap ⌘S to save a file in VIM

4 Answers4