Open current file in web browser in Vim

Question

I\'d like to be able to send the HTML file I\'m currently editing in vim to my web browser, Chrome. I\'m running Linux.

This gets me very close:

Answer 1

Here are various tips on previewing files in your browser from Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X. Preview current HTML file

This mapping allows you to use a browser to preview the HTML file currently being edited.

 nnoremap <F5> :silent update<Bar>silent !firefox %:p &<CR>

If necessary, the current file is saved, then Firefox is used to open the file. Replace "firefox" with the name of another browser if wanted, such as "chromium-browser".

So as the question states that Chrome is the desired browser, then add this to your vimrc:

nnoremap <F5> :silent update<Bar>silent !google-chrome %:p &<CR>

As well as answer the OP, I wanted to share this link for those that reached this question in search of Windows and Mac OS X support.

Answer 2

For windows7 x64, - F2 to open current file, - F3 to lookup current cword under cursor.

for g:chrome_exe in [
    \'C:\Progra~2\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe',
    \'C:\Progra~1\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe',
    \'C:\Progra~1\Google\Chrome\Applic~1\chrome.exe',
    \'C:\Users\'.$USERNAME.'\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe' 
    \]
    if !filereadable(g:chrome_exe)
        continue
    endif
    let g:google_url='https://www.google.com/search?oq=&gws_rd=cr&dcr=0&ei=0&q='
    :nmap   <F2> :exe ":!start ".g:chrome_exe." --user-data-dir=%TEMP%/chrome-vim-sandbox file:///".expand("%:p")<CR>
    :nmap   <F3> :exe ":!start ".g:chrome_exe." --user-data-dir=%TEMP%/chrome-vim-sandbox ".g:google_url.expand("<cword>")<CR>
    break
endfor 

Answer 3

For Mac, you might have to type something that looks more like this:

nnoremap <F12>f :exe ':silent !open -a /Applications/Firefox.app %'<CR>
nnoremap <F12>c :exe ':silent !open -a /Applications/Google\ Chrome.app %'<CR>
nnoremap <F12>g :exe ':silent !open -a /Applications/Google\ Chrome.app %'<CR>
nnoremap <F12>s :exe ':silent !open /Applications/Safari.app %'<CR>

Notce it's Safari.app on the end...it'll save you a few minutes. :)