Learning the vi and Vim Editors, 7th Edition

Playing Tag with Windows

Vim extends the vi tag functionality into windows by offering the same tag traversal mechanisms through multiple windows. Following a tag can also open a file in the associated place in a new window.

The tag windowing commands split the current window and follow a tag either to a file matching the tag or to the file matching the filename under the cursor.

:stag[!]tag splits the window to display the location for the tag found. The new file containing the matched tag becomes the current window, and the cursor is placed over the matched tag. If no tag is found, the command fails and no new window is created.

Tip

As you become more familiar with Vim’s help system, you can use this :stag command to split your way through the help system rather than jumping from file to file in the same window.

^WJ or ^W^J splits the window and opens a window above the current window. The new window becomes the current window, and the cursor is placed on the matching tag. If there is no match on the tag, the command fails.

^Wg] splits the window and creates a new window above the current window. In the new window, Vim performs the command :tselecttag, where tag was the tag identifier under the cursor. If no matching tag exists, the command fails. The cursor is placed in the new window, and that new window becomes the current window.

^Wg^J works exactly like ^Wg], except that instead of performing :tselect, it performs :tjump.

^Wf (or ^W^F) splits the window and edits the filename underneath ...