Vim: Insert at same column across multiple lines

Question

For example, this is your starting code:

.pt-1 {padding-top: 1px}
.pt-2 {padding-top: 2px}
.pt-3 {padding-top: 3px}
.pt-4 {padding-top: 4px}
.pt-5 {padding-top: 5px}

You want to change every number from n to n0 (eg., 1px -> 10px). The result should be like this:

.pt-1 {padding-top: 10px}
.pt-2 {padding-top: 20px}
.pt-3 {padding-top: 30px}
.pt-4 {padding-top: 40px}
.pt-5 {padding-top: 50px}

I'm used to VS Code where normally you can just place multiple cursors and type everything all at the same time using ctrl+alt and Down Arrow.

How would you do this in Vim?

NOTE: This is NOT this question: Vim: insert the same characters across multiple lines (but I wish it was...)

I'm asking how to do this in the same location in multiple lines, that question is saying for the beginning of the lines.

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 05 '21 at 08:42

With visual-block mode

Move the cursor to 1px.
Enter visual-block mode:
```
<C-v>
```
See :help visual-mode.
Extend the block to 5px:
```
<Down><Down><Down><Down>
```
or:
```
jjjj
```
or:
```
/5p<CR>
```
or whatever feels intuitive to you.

See :help motion.txt for some inspiration.
Append a zero:
```
A0<Esc>
```
See :help v_b_A.

With a substitution

Visually select the lines.

You can use any of the three visual modes, it doesn't matter.
Run a substitution on the selection:
```
:'<,'>s/px/0&<CR>
```
Breakdown:
- '<,'> is the range on which the command that follows will operate. This one represents the visual selection, it is automatically inserted for you when you press : while in visual mode. See :help :range.
- s/pattern/replacement is the substitution command. See :help :s.
- px is our pattern.
- 0& is the replacement, where & represents the whole match. Here, we replace px with 0px. See :help s/\e.

With search and the dot command

Jump to the first px:
```
/px<CR>
```
Change the match to 0px:
```
cgn0px<Esc>
```
Jump to next match:
```
n
```
Repeat the change:
```
.
```
Repeat steps 3-4 as many times as needed.

See :help gn and :help ..

PERFECT! This is exactly what I was looking for. – Zack Plauché Jun 05 '21 at 08:48 — Zack Plauché, Jun 05 '21 at 08:48

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 05 '21 at 08:31

1

Use the substitute command. You can anchor it on the px:

:%s/px/0px/

answered Jun 05 '21 at 08:31

Roland Smith

42,427
3
64
94

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 05 '21 at 08:39

Here's how I mapped Ctrl+Alt+j to add cursor below and Ctrl+Alt+k to add cursor above in normal mode. (I assume you are using the VSCodeVim extension)

Open Command Palette and run "Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts (JSON)" to open keybindings.json.
Add the following objects at the end of the array:

  {
    "key": "ctrl+alt+j",
    "command": "editor.action.insertCursorBelow",
    "when": "vim.active && editorTextFocus"
  },
  {
    "key": "ctrl+alt+k",
    "command": "editor.action.insertCursorAbove",
    "when": "vim.active && editorTextFocus"
  }

Open Keyboard Shortcuts with Ctrl+K Ctrl+S. Search for ctrl + alt + j and ctrl + alt + k and delete any keybindings that conflict with Ctrl+Alt+j or Ctrl+Alt+k.

Results:

Vim: Insert at same column across multiple lines

3 Answers3

With visual-block mode

With a substitution

With search and the dot command