Insert predefined text on keyboard shortcut

Question

I often insert binding.pry to my ruby files when I debug them. As I use Vim I\'d love to automate it to avoid retyping it every time. How could I do it?

Th

Answer 1

Another mapping that will do is:

nnoremap <silent> gb :let a='binding.pry'\|put=a<cr>

Answer 2

Based on Fredrik's idea, you can define and store a macro in your .vimrc, say g:

let @g = "Obinding.pry^["

Note that to type the escape character you hit CTRL-V then ESC.

You can then do @g to perform the macro.

---

In general, if you want to save a macro, one easy way would be to record the macro, say in register q, then do "qp (where q is the macro name) to paste the macro. Then surround it with

let @x = "..."

where x is the macro name you want it to always have and put it in the .vimrc file.

Answer 3

Record a macro (untested)

qq               " record macro to register q 
o                " insert empty line below cursor
esc              " exit insert-mode
:r /path/to/binding.pry   " insert content of file
esc              " cmd-mode
q                " end recording

To execute macro, do

@q

Or add the following to your .vimrc file

update

To insert the string binding.pry the mapping becomes:

map ,p obinding.pry<ESC>

Answer 4

Easiest is an abbreviation that is triggered from insert mode:

:ia debug <CR>binding.pry

Now, when you type debug, the text binding.pry is inserted on a new line.

Documentation: :help abbreviations

Answer 5

A great quandary I found myself in. To solve this I placed the following mappings in my .vimrc:

imap <C-b> binding.pry 
nnoremap <leader>bp O<% binding.pry %><esc>

The first allows me to use to insert a binding.pry when already in insert mode.

The second lets me use my leader+bp to place a binding.pry above the current line.

Answer 6

You can define a shortcut for this purpose with the following key strokes

1. :vsplit $MYVIMRC
2. i
3. nnoremap bi obinding.pry<cr><esc>
4. <esc>
5. :w
6. :source $MYVIMRC

Explaination

1. Open your vimrc in a new vertical splitted window
2. Switch to insert mode
3. Define a mapping for the shortcut 'bi'.
4. Leave insert mode
5. Save the changes
6. Source your vimrc to make the shortcut available

Now, while you in normal mode, the keystrokes <b><i> (one key after each other) will insert 'binding.pry' in a new line under the current line.

Explaination for step 3: nnoremap is the command for mapping keystroke(s) to do some action. 'bi' is the keystroke combination. You can adjust this to your needs. And the rest is a normal edit sequenz on VIM:

• o - Switch to insert mode under the current line
• binding.pry<cr> - is the text which will be writen
• <esc> - Push escape to leave insert mode.