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vimeval.txt (138620B)


      1 *vimeval.txt*	Nvim
      2 
      3 
      4 	  VIM REFERENCE MANUAL	  by Bram Moolenaar
      5 
      6 
      7 Expression evaluation	*vimscript* *expression* *expr* *E15* *eval* *eval.txt*
      8 
      9 Using expressions is introduced in chapter 41 of the user manual |usr_41.txt|.
     10 
     11 			      Type |gO| to see the table of contents.
     12 
     13 ==============================================================================
     14 1. Variables						*variables*
     15 
     16 1.1 Variable types ~
     17 					*E712* *E896* *E897* *E899*
     18 There are seven types of variables:
     19 
     20 						*Number* *Integer*
     21 Number		A 32 or 64 bit signed number.  |expr-number|
     22 	The number of bits is available in |v:numbersize|.
     23 	Examples:  -123  0x10  0177  0o177  0b1011
     24 
     25 Float		A floating point number. |floating-point-format| *Float*
     26 	Examples: 123.456  1.15e-6  -1.1e3
     27 
     28 String		A NUL terminated string of 8-bit unsigned characters (bytes).
     29 	|expr-string| Examples: "ab\txx\"--"  'x-z''a,c'
     30 
     31 Funcref		A reference to a function |Funcref|.
     32 	Example: function("strlen")
     33 	It can be bound to a dictionary and arguments, it then works
     34 	like a Partial.
     35 	Example: function("Callback", [arg], myDict)
     36 
     37 List		An ordered sequence of items, see |List| for details.
     38 	Example: [1, 2, ['a', 'b']]
     39 
     40 Dictionary	An associative, unordered array: Each entry has a key and a
     41 	value. |Dictionary|
     42 	Examples: >
     43 		{"blue": "#0000ff", "red": "#ff0000"}
     44 		#{blue: "#0000ff", red: "#ff0000"}
     45 
     46 Blob		Binary Large Object.  Stores any sequence of bytes.  See |Blob|
     47 	for details.
     48 	Example: 0zFF00ED015DAF
     49 	0z is an empty Blob.
     50 
     51 The Number and String types are converted automatically, depending on how they
     52 are used.
     53 
     54 Conversion from a Number to a String is by making the ASCII representation of
     55 the Number.  Examples:
     56 Number 123	-->	String "123" ~
     57 Number 0	-->	String "0" ~
     58 Number -1	-->	String "-1" ~
     59 						*octal*
     60 Conversion from a String to a Number is done by converting the first digits to
     61 a number.  Hexadecimal "0xf9", Octal "017" or "0o17", and Binary "0b10"
     62 numbers are recognized.  If the String doesn't start with digits, the result
     63 is zero. Examples:
     64 String "456"	-->	Number 456 ~
     65 String "6bar"	-->	Number 6 ~
     66 String "foo"	-->	Number 0 ~
     67 String "0xf1"	-->	Number 241 ~
     68 String "0100"	-->	Number 64 ~
     69 String "0o100"	-->	Number 64 ~
     70 String "0b101"	-->	Number 5 ~
     71 String "-8"	-->	Number -8 ~
     72 String "+8"	-->	Number 0 ~
     73 
     74 To force conversion from String to Number, add zero to it: >
     75 :echo "0100" + 0
     76 <	64 ~
     77 
     78 To avoid a leading zero to cause octal conversion, or for using a different
     79 base, use |str2nr()|.
     80 
     81 					*TRUE* *FALSE* *Boolean*
     82 For boolean operators Numbers are used.  Zero is FALSE, non-zero is TRUE.
     83 You can also use |v:false| and |v:true|.
     84 When TRUE is returned from a function it is the Number one, FALSE is the
     85 number zero.
     86 
     87 Note that in the command: >
     88 :if "foo"
     89 :" NOT executed
     90 "foo" is converted to 0, which means FALSE.  If the string starts with a
     91 non-zero number it means TRUE: >
     92 :if "8foo"
     93 :" executed
     94 To test for a non-empty string, use empty(): >
     95 :if !empty("foo")
     96 
     97 <						*falsy* *truthy*
     98 An expression can be used as a condition, ignoring the type and only using
     99 whether the value is "sort of true" or "sort of false".  Falsy is:
    100 the number zero
    101 empty string, blob, list or dictionary
    102 Other values are truthy.  Examples:
    103 0	falsy
    104 1	truthy
    105 -1	truthy
    106 0.0	falsy
    107 0.1	truthy
    108 ''	falsy
    109 'x'	truthy
    110 []	falsy
    111 [0]	truthy
    112 {}	falsy
    113 #{x: 1} truthy
    114 0z	falsy
    115 0z00	truthy
    116 
    117 						*non-zero-arg*
    118 Function arguments often behave slightly different from |TRUE|: If the
    119 argument is present and it evaluates to a non-zero Number, |v:true| or a
    120 non-empty String, then the value is considered to be TRUE.
    121 Note that " " and "0" are also non-empty strings, thus considered to be TRUE.
    122 A List, Dictionary or Float is not a Number or String, thus evaluate to FALSE.
    123 
    124 			*E745* *E728* *E703* *E729* *E730* *E731*
    125 			*E974* *E975* *E976*
    126 |List|, |Dictionary|, |Funcref|, and |Blob| types are not automatically
    127 converted.
    128 
    129 						*E805* *E806* *E808*
    130 When mixing Number and Float the Number is converted to Float.  Otherwise
    131 there is no automatic conversion of Float.  You can use str2float() for String
    132 to Float, printf() for Float to String and float2nr() for Float to Number.
    133 
    134 				*E362* *E891* *E892* *E893* *E894* *E907*
    135 When expecting a Float a Number can also be used, but nothing else.
    136 
    137 				*no-type-checking*
    138 You will not get an error if you try to change the type of a variable.
    139 
    140 
    141 1.2 Function references ~
    142 				*Funcref* *E695* *E718* *E1192*
    143 A Funcref variable is obtained with the |function()| function, the |funcref()|
    144 function or created with the lambda expression |expr-lambda|.  It can be used
    145 in an expression in the place of a function name, before the parenthesis
    146 around the arguments, to invoke the function it refers to.  Example: >
    147 
    148 :let Fn = function("MyFunc")
    149 :echo Fn()
    150 <							*E704* *E705* *E707*
    151 A Funcref variable must start with a capital, "s:", "w:", "t:" or "b:".  You
    152 can use "g:" but the following name must still start with a capital.  You
    153 cannot have both a Funcref variable and a function with the same name.
    154 
    155 A special case is defining a function and directly assigning its Funcref to a
    156 Dictionary entry.  Example: >
    157 :function dict.init() dict
    158 :   let self.val = 0
    159 :endfunction
    160 
    161 The key of the Dictionary can start with a lower case letter.  The actual
    162 function name is not used here.  Also see |numbered-function|.
    163 
    164 A Funcref can also be used with the |:call| command: >
    165 :call Fn()
    166 :call dict.init()
    167 
    168 The name of the referenced function can be obtained with |string()|. >
    169 :let func = string(Fn)
    170 
    171 You can use |call()| to invoke a Funcref and use a list variable for the
    172 arguments: >
    173 :let r = call(Fn, mylist)
    174 <
    175 							*Partial*
    176 A Funcref optionally binds a Dictionary and/or arguments.  This is also called
    177 a Partial.  This is created by passing the Dictionary and/or arguments to
    178 function() or funcref().  When calling the function the Dictionary and/or
    179 arguments will be passed to the function.  Example: >
    180 
    181 let Cb = function('Callback', ['foo'], myDict)
    182 call Cb('bar')
    183 
    184 This will invoke the function as if using: >
    185 call myDict.Callback('foo', 'bar')
    186 
    187 Note that binding a function to a Dictionary also happens when the function is
    188 a member of the Dictionary: >
    189 
    190 let myDict.myFunction = MyFunction
    191 call myDict.myFunction()
    192 
    193 Here MyFunction() will get myDict passed as "self".  This happens when the
    194 "myFunction" member is accessed.  When assigning "myFunction" to otherDict
    195 and calling it, it will be bound to otherDict: >
    196 
    197 let otherDict.myFunction = myDict.myFunction
    198 call otherDict.myFunction()
    199 
    200 Now "self" will be "otherDict".  But when the dictionary was bound explicitly
    201 this won't happen: >
    202 
    203 let myDict.myFunction = function(MyFunction, myDict)
    204 let otherDict.myFunction = myDict.myFunction
    205 call otherDict.myFunction()
    206 
    207 Here "self" will be "myDict", because it was bound explicitly.
    208 
    209 
    210 1.3 Lists ~
    211 					*list* *List* *Lists* *E686*
    212 A List is an ordered sequence of items.  An item can be of any type.  Items
    213 can be accessed by their index number.  Items can be added and removed at any
    214 position in the sequence.
    215 
    216 
    217 List creation ~
    218 						*E696* *E697*
    219 A List is created with a comma-separated list of items in square brackets.
    220 Examples: >
    221 :let mylist = [1, two, 3, "four"]
    222 :let emptylist = []
    223 
    224 An item can be any expression.  Using a List for an item creates a
    225 List of Lists: >
    226 :let nestlist = [[11, 12], [21, 22], [31, 32]]
    227 
    228 An extra comma after the last item is ignored.
    229 
    230 
    231 List index ~
    232 						*list-index* *E684*
    233 An item in the List can be accessed by putting the index in square brackets
    234 after the List.  Indexes are zero-based, thus the first item has index zero. >
    235 :let item = mylist[0]		" get the first item: 1
    236 :let item = mylist[2]		" get the third item: 3
    237 
    238 When the resulting item is a list this can be repeated: >
    239 :let item = nestlist[0][1]	" get the first list, second item: 12
    240 <
    241 A negative index is counted from the end.  Index -1 refers to the last item in
    242 the List, -2 to the last but one item, etc. >
    243 :let last = mylist[-1]		" get the last item: "four"
    244 
    245 To avoid an error for an invalid index use the |get()| function.  When an item
    246 is not available it returns zero or the default value you specify: >
    247 :echo get(mylist, idx)
    248 :echo get(mylist, idx, "NONE")
    249 
    250 
    251 List concatenation ~
    252 						*list-concatenation*
    253 Two lists can be concatenated with the "+" operator: >
    254 :let longlist = mylist + [5, 6]
    255 :let longlist = [5, 6] + mylist
    256 To prepend or append an item, turn it into a list by putting [] around it.
    257 
    258 A list can be concatenated with another one in-place using |:let+=| or
    259 |extend()|: >
    260 :let mylist += [7, 8]
    261 :call extend(mylist, [7, 8])
    262 <
    263 See |list-modification| below for more about changing a list in-place.
    264 
    265 
    266 Sublist ~
    267 						*sublist*
    268 A part of the List can be obtained by specifying the first and last index,
    269 separated by a colon in square brackets: >
    270 :let shortlist = mylist[2:-1]	" get List [3, "four"]
    271 
    272 Omitting the first index is similar to zero.  Omitting the last index is
    273 similar to -1. >
    274 :let endlist = mylist[2:]	" from item 2 to the end: [3, "four"]
    275 :let shortlist = mylist[2:2]	" List with one item: [3]
    276 :let otherlist = mylist[:]	" make a copy of the List
    277 
    278 Notice that the last index is inclusive.  If you prefer using an exclusive
    279 index use the |slice()| method.
    280 
    281 If the first index is beyond the last item of the List or the second item is
    282 before the first item, the result is an empty list.  There is no error
    283 message.
    284 
    285 If the second index is equal to or greater than the length of the list the
    286 length minus one is used: >
    287 :let mylist = [0, 1, 2, 3]
    288 :echo mylist[2:8]		" result: [2, 3]
    289 
    290 NOTE: mylist[s:e] means using the variable "s:e" as index.  Watch out for
    291 using a single letter variable before the ":".  Insert a space when needed:
    292 mylist[s : e].
    293 
    294 
    295 List identity ~
    296 						*list-identity*
    297 When variable "aa" is a list and you assign it to another variable "bb", both
    298 variables refer to the same list.  Thus changing the list "aa" will also
    299 change "bb": >
    300 :let aa = [1, 2, 3]
    301 :let bb = aa
    302 :call add(aa, 4)
    303 :echo bb
    304 <	[1, 2, 3, 4]
    305 
    306 Making a copy of a list is done with the |copy()| function.  Using [:] also
    307 works, as explained above.  This creates a shallow copy of the list: Changing
    308 a list item in the list will also change the item in the copied list: >
    309 :let aa = [[1, 'a'], 2, 3]
    310 :let bb = copy(aa)
    311 :call add(aa, 4)
    312 :let aa[0][1] = 'aaa'
    313 :echo aa
    314 <	[[1, aaa], 2, 3, 4] >
    315 :echo bb
    316 <	[[1, aaa], 2, 3]
    317 
    318 To make a completely independent list use |deepcopy()|.  This also makes a
    319 copy of the values in the list, recursively.  Up to a hundred levels deep.
    320 
    321 The operator "is" can be used to check if two variables refer to the same
    322 List.  "isnot" does the opposite.  In contrast "==" compares if two lists have
    323 the same value. >
    324 :let alist = [1, 2, 3]
    325 :let blist = [1, 2, 3]
    326 :echo alist is blist
    327 <	0 >
    328 :echo alist == blist
    329 <	1
    330 
    331 Note about comparing lists: Two lists are considered equal if they have the
    332 same length and all items compare equal, as with using "==".  There is one
    333 exception: When comparing a number with a string they are considered
    334 different.  There is no automatic type conversion, as with using "==" on
    335 variables.  Example: >
    336 echo 4 == "4"
    337 <	1 >
    338 echo [4] == ["4"]
    339 <	0
    340 
    341 Thus comparing Lists is more strict than comparing numbers and strings.  You
    342 can compare simple values this way too by putting them in a list: >
    343 
    344 :let a = 5
    345 :let b = "5"
    346 :echo a == b
    347 <	1 >
    348 :echo [a] == [b]
    349 <	0
    350 
    351 
    352 List unpack ~
    353 
    354 To unpack the items in a list to individual variables, put the variables in
    355 square brackets, like list items: >
    356 :let [var1, var2] = mylist
    357 
    358 When the number of variables does not match the number of items in the list
    359 this produces an error.  To handle any extra items from the list append ";"
    360 and a variable name: >
    361 :let [var1, var2; rest] = mylist
    362 
    363 This works like: >
    364 :let var1 = mylist[0]
    365 :let var2 = mylist[1]
    366 :let rest = mylist[2:]
    367 
    368 Except that there is no error if there are only two items.  "rest" will be an
    369 empty list then.
    370 
    371 
    372 List modification ~
    373 						*list-modification*
    374 To change a specific item of a list use |:let| this way: >
    375 :let list[4] = "four"
    376 :let listlist[0][3] = item
    377 
    378 To change part of a list you can specify the first and last item to be
    379 modified.  The value must at least have the number of items in the range: >
    380 :let list[3:5] = [3, 4, 5]
    381 
    382 To add items to a List in-place, you can use |:let+=| (|list-concatenation|): >
    383 :let listA = [1, 2]
    384 :let listA += [3, 4]
    385 <
    386 When two variables refer to the same List, changing one List in-place will
    387 cause the referenced List to be changed in-place: >
    388 :let listA = [1, 2]
    389 :let listB = listA
    390 :let listB += [3, 4]
    391 :echo listA
    392 [1, 2, 3, 4]
    393 <
    394 Adding and removing items from a list is done with functions.  Here are a few
    395 examples: >
    396 :call insert(list, 'a')		" prepend item 'a'
    397 :call insert(list, 'a', 3)	" insert item 'a' before list[3]
    398 :call add(list, "new")		" append String item
    399 :call add(list, [1, 2])		" append a List as one new item
    400 :call extend(list, [1, 2])	" extend the list with two more items
    401 :let i = remove(list, 3)	" remove item 3
    402 :unlet list[3]			" idem
    403 :let l = remove(list, 3, -1)	" remove items 3 to last item
    404 :unlet list[3 : ]		" idem
    405 :call filter(list, 'v:val !~ "x"')  " remove items with an 'x'
    406 
    407 Changing the order of items in a list: >
    408 :call sort(list)		" sort a list alphabetically
    409 :call reverse(list)		" reverse the order of items
    410 :call uniq(sort(list))		" sort and remove duplicates
    411 
    412 
    413 For loop ~
    414 
    415 The |:for| loop executes commands for each item in a |List|, |String| or |Blob|.
    416 A variable is set to each item in sequence.  Example with a List: >
    417 :for item in mylist
    418 :   call Doit(item)
    419 :endfor
    420 
    421 This works like: >
    422 :let index = 0
    423 :while index < len(mylist)
    424 :   let item = mylist[index]
    425 :   :call Doit(item)
    426 :   let index = index + 1
    427 :endwhile
    428 
    429 If all you want to do is modify each item in the list then the |map()|
    430 function will be a simpler method than a for loop.
    431 
    432 Just like the |:let| command, |:for| also accepts a list of variables.  This
    433 requires the argument to be a List of Lists. >
    434 :for [lnum, col] in [[1, 3], [2, 8], [3, 0]]
    435 :   call Doit(lnum, col)
    436 :endfor
    437 
    438 This works like a |:let| command is done for each list item.  Again, the types
    439 must remain the same to avoid an error.
    440 
    441 It is also possible to put remaining items in a List variable: >
    442 :for [i, j; rest] in listlist
    443 :   call Doit(i, j)
    444 :   if !empty(rest)
    445 :      echo "remainder: " .. string(rest)
    446 :   endif
    447 :endfor
    448 
    449 For a Blob one byte at a time is used.
    450 
    451 For a String one character, including any composing characters, is used as a
    452 String.  Example: >
    453 for c in text
    454   echo 'This character is ' .. c
    455 endfor
    456 
    457 
    458 List functions ~
    459 					*E714*
    460 Functions that are useful with a List: >
    461 :let r = call(funcname, list)	" call a function with an argument list
    462 :if empty(list)			" check if list is empty
    463 :let l = len(list)		" number of items in list
    464 :let big = max(list)		" maximum value in list
    465 :let small = min(list)		" minimum value in list
    466 :let xs = count(list, 'x')	" count nr of times 'x' appears in list
    467 :let i = index(list, 'x')	" index of first 'x' in list
    468 :let lines = getline(1, 10)	" get ten text lines from buffer
    469 :call append('$', lines)	" append text lines in buffer
    470 :let list = split("a b c")	" create list from items in a string
    471 :let string = join(list, ', ')	" create string from list items
    472 :let s = string(list)		" String representation of list
    473 :call map(list, '">> " .. v:val')  " prepend ">> " to each item
    474 
    475 Don't forget that a combination of features can make things simple.  For
    476 example, to add up all the numbers in a list: >
    477 :exe 'let sum = ' .. join(nrlist, '+')
    478 
    479 
    480 1.4 Dictionaries ~
    481 			 *Dict* *dict* *Dictionaries* *Dictionary*
    482 A Dictionary is an associative array: Each entry has a key and a value.  The
    483 entry can be located with the key.  The entries are stored without a specific
    484 ordering.
    485 
    486 
    487 Dictionary creation ~
    488 					*E720* *E721* *E722* *E723*
    489 A Dictionary is created with a comma-separated list of entries in curly
    490 braces.  Each entry has a key and a value, separated by a colon.  Each key can
    491 only appear once.  Examples: >
    492 :let mydict = {1: 'one', 2: 'two', 3: 'three'}
    493 :let emptydict = {}
    494 <							*E713* *E716* *E717*
    495 A key is always a String.  You can use a Number, it will be converted to a
    496 String automatically.  Thus the String '4' and the number 4 will find the same
    497 entry.  Note that the String '04' and the Number 04 are different, since the
    498 Number will be converted to the String '4', leading zeros are dropped.  The
    499 empty string can also be used as a key.
    500 					*literal-Dict* *#{}*
    501 To avoid having to put quotes around every key the #{} form can be used.  This
    502 does require the key to consist only of ASCII letters, digits, '-' and '_'.
    503 Example: >
    504 :let mydict = #{zero: 0, one_key: 1, two-key: 2, 333: 3}
    505 Note that 333 here is the string "333".  Empty keys are not possible with #{}.
    506 
    507 A value can be any expression.  Using a Dictionary for a value creates a
    508 nested Dictionary: >
    509 :let nestdict = {1: {11: 'a', 12: 'b'}, 2: {21: 'c'}}
    510 
    511 An extra comma after the last entry is ignored.
    512 
    513 
    514 Accessing entries ~
    515 
    516 The normal way to access an entry is by putting the key in square brackets: >
    517 :let val = mydict["one"]
    518 :let mydict["four"] = 4
    519 
    520 You can add new entries to an existing Dictionary this way, unlike Lists.
    521 
    522 For keys that consist entirely of letters, digits and underscore the following
    523 form can be used |expr-entry|: >
    524 :let val = mydict.one
    525 :let mydict.four = 4
    526 
    527 Since an entry can be any type, also a List and a Dictionary, the indexing and
    528 key lookup can be repeated: >
    529 :echo dict.key[idx].key
    530 
    531 
    532 Dictionary to List conversion ~
    533 
    534 You may want to loop over the entries in a dictionary.  For this you need to
    535 turn the Dictionary into a List and pass it to |:for|.
    536 
    537 Most often you want to loop over the keys, using the |keys()| function: >
    538 :for key in keys(mydict)
    539 :   echo key .. ': ' .. mydict[key]
    540 :endfor
    541 
    542 The List of keys is unsorted.  You may want to sort them first: >
    543 :for key in sort(keys(mydict))
    544 
    545 To loop over the values use the |values()| function:  >
    546 :for v in values(mydict)
    547 :   echo "value: " .. v
    548 :endfor
    549 
    550 If you want both the key and the value use the |items()| function.  It returns
    551 a List in which each item is a List with two items, the key and the value: >
    552 :for [key, value] in items(mydict)
    553 :   echo key .. ': ' .. value
    554 :endfor
    555 
    556 
    557 Dictionary identity ~
    558 						*dict-identity*
    559 Just like Lists you need to use |copy()| and |deepcopy()| to make a copy of a
    560 Dictionary.  Otherwise, assignment results in referring to the same
    561 Dictionary: >
    562 :let onedict = {'a': 1, 'b': 2}
    563 :let adict = onedict
    564 :let adict['a'] = 11
    565 :echo onedict['a']
    566 11
    567 
    568 Two Dictionaries compare equal if all the key-value pairs compare equal.  For
    569 more info see |list-identity|.
    570 
    571 
    572 Dictionary modification ~
    573 						*dict-modification*
    574 To change an already existing entry of a Dictionary, or to add a new entry,
    575 use |:let| this way: >
    576 :let dict[4] = "four"
    577 :let dict['one'] = item
    578 
    579 Removing an entry from a Dictionary is done with |remove()| or |:unlet|.
    580 Three ways to remove the entry with key "aaa" from dict: >
    581 :let i = remove(dict, 'aaa')
    582 :unlet dict.aaa
    583 :unlet dict['aaa']
    584 
    585 Merging a Dictionary with another is done with |extend()|: >
    586 :call extend(adict, bdict)
    587 This extends adict with all entries from bdict.  Duplicate keys cause entries
    588 in adict to be overwritten.  An optional third argument can change this.
    589 Note that the order of entries in a Dictionary is irrelevant, thus don't
    590 expect ":echo adict" to show the items from bdict after the older entries in
    591 adict.
    592 
    593 Weeding out entries from a Dictionary can be done with |filter()|: >
    594 :call filter(dict, 'v:val =~ "x"')
    595 This removes all entries from "dict" with a value not matching 'x'.
    596 This can also be used to remove all entries: >
    597 call filter(dict, 0)
    598 
    599 
    600 Dictionary function ~
    601 			*Dictionary-function* *self* *E725* *E862*
    602 When a function is defined with the "dict" attribute it can be used in a
    603 special way with a dictionary.  Example: >
    604 :function Mylen() dict
    605 :   return len(self.data)
    606 :endfunction
    607 :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3], 'len': function("Mylen")}
    608 :echo mydict.len()
    609 
    610 This is like a method in object oriented programming.  The entry in the
    611 Dictionary is a |Funcref|.  The local variable "self" refers to the dictionary
    612 the function was invoked from.
    613 
    614 It is also possible to add a function without the "dict" attribute as a
    615 Funcref to a Dictionary, but the "self" variable is not available then.
    616 
    617 			*numbered-function* *anonymous-function*
    618 To avoid the extra name for the function it can be defined and directly
    619 assigned to a Dictionary in this way: >
    620 :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3]}
    621 :function mydict.len()
    622 :   return len(self.data)
    623 :endfunction
    624 :echo mydict.len()
    625 
    626 The function will then get a number and the value of dict.len is a |Funcref|
    627 that references this function.  The function can only be used through a
    628 |Funcref|.  It will automatically be deleted when there is no |Funcref|
    629 remaining that refers to it.
    630 
    631 It is not necessary to use the "dict" attribute for a numbered function.
    632 
    633 If you get an error for a numbered function, you can find out what it is with
    634 a trick.  Assuming the function is 42, the command is: >
    635 :function g:42
    636 
    637 
    638 Functions for Dictionaries ~
    639 						*E715*
    640 Functions that can be used with a Dictionary: >
    641 :if has_key(dict, 'foo')	" TRUE if dict has entry with key "foo"
    642 :if empty(dict)			" TRUE if dict is empty
    643 :let l = len(dict)		" number of items in dict
    644 :let big = max(dict)		" maximum value in dict
    645 :let small = min(dict)		" minimum value in dict
    646 :let xs = count(dict, 'x')	" count nr of times 'x' appears in dict
    647 :let s = string(dict)		" String representation of dict
    648 :call map(dict, '">> " .. v:val')  " prepend ">> " to each item
    649 
    650 
    651 1.5 Blobs ~
    652 					*blob* *Blob* *Blobs* *E978*
    653 A Blob is a binary object.  It can be used to read an image from a file and
    654 send it over a channel, for example.
    655 
    656 A Blob mostly behaves like a |List| of numbers, where each number has the
    657 value of an 8-bit byte, from 0 to 255.
    658 
    659 
    660 Blob creation ~
    661 
    662 A Blob can be created with a |blob-literal|: >
    663 :let b = 0zFF00ED015DAF
    664 Dots can be inserted between bytes (pair of hex characters) for readability,
    665 they don't change the value: >
    666 :let b = 0zFF00.ED01.5DAF
    667 
    668 A blob can be read from a file with |readfile()| passing the {type} argument
    669 set to "B", for example: >
    670 :let b = readfile('image.png', 'B')
    671 
    672 
    673 Blob index ~
    674 						*blob-index* *E979*
    675 A byte in the Blob can be accessed by putting the index in square brackets
    676 after the Blob.  Indexes are zero-based, thus the first byte has index zero. >
    677 :let myblob = 0z00112233
    678 :let byte = myblob[0]		" get the first byte: 0x00
    679 :let byte = myblob[2]		" get the third byte: 0x22
    680 
    681 A negative index is counted from the end.  Index -1 refers to the last byte in
    682 the Blob, -2 to the last but one byte, etc. >
    683 :let last = myblob[-1]		" get the last byte: 0x33
    684 
    685 To avoid an error for an invalid index use the |get()| function.  When an item
    686 is not available it returns -1 or the default value you specify: >
    687 :echo get(myblob, idx)
    688 :echo get(myblob, idx, 999)
    689 
    690 
    691 Blob iteration ~
    692 
    693 The |:for| loop executes commands for each byte of a Blob.  The loop variable is
    694 set to each byte in the Blob.  Example: >
    695 :for byte in 0z112233
    696 :   call Doit(byte)
    697 :endfor
    698 This calls Doit() with 0x11, 0x22 and 0x33.
    699 
    700 
    701 Blob concatenation ~
    702 						*blob-concatenation*
    703 Two blobs can be concatenated with the "+" operator: >
    704 :let longblob = myblob + 0z4455
    705 :let longblob = 0z4455 + myblob
    706 <
    707 A blob can be concatenated with another one in-place using |:let+=|: >
    708 :let myblob += 0z6677
    709 <
    710 See |blob-modification| below for more about changing a blob in-place.
    711 
    712 
    713 Part of a blob ~
    714 
    715 A part of the Blob can be obtained by specifying the first and last index,
    716 separated by a colon in square brackets: >
    717 :let myblob = 0z00112233
    718 :let shortblob = myblob[1:2]	" get 0z1122
    719 :let shortblob = myblob[2:-1]	" get 0z2233
    720 
    721 Omitting the first index is similar to zero.  Omitting the last index is
    722 similar to -1. >
    723 :let endblob = myblob[2:]	" from item 2 to the end: 0z2233
    724 :let shortblob = myblob[2:2]	" Blob with one byte: 0z22
    725 :let otherblob = myblob[:]	" make a copy of the Blob
    726 
    727 If the first index is beyond the last byte of the Blob or the second index is
    728 before the first index, the result is an empty Blob.  There is no error
    729 message.
    730 
    731 If the second index is equal to or greater than the length of the Blob the
    732 length minus one is used: >
    733 :echo myblob[2:8]		" result: 0z2233
    734 
    735 
    736 Blob modification ~
    737 						*blob-modification*
    738 To change a specific byte of a blob use |:let| this way: >
    739 :let blob[4] = 0x44
    740 
    741 When the index is just one beyond the end of the Blob, it is appended.  Any
    742 higher index is an error.
    743 
    744 To change a sequence of bytes the [:] notation can be used: >
    745 let blob[1:3] = 0z445566
    746 The length of the replaced bytes must be exactly the same as the value
    747 provided. *E972*
    748 
    749 To change part of a blob you can specify the first and last byte to be
    750 modified.  The value must have the same number of bytes in the range: >
    751 :let blob[3:5] = 0z334455
    752 
    753 To add items to a Blob in-place, you can use |:let+=| (|blob-concatenation|): >
    754 :let blobA = 0z1122
    755 :let blobA += 0z3344
    756 <
    757 When two variables refer to the same Blob, changing one Blob in-place will
    758 cause the referenced Blob to be changed in-place: >
    759 :let blobA = 0z1122
    760 :let blobB = blobA
    761 :let blobB += 0z3344
    762 :echo blobA
    763 0z11223344
    764 <
    765 You can also use the functions |add()|, |remove()| and |insert()|.
    766 
    767 
    768 Blob identity ~
    769 
    770 Blobs can be compared for equality: >
    771 if blob == 0z001122
    772 And for equal identity: >
    773 if blob is otherblob
    774 <							*blob-identity* *E977*
    775 When variable "aa" is a Blob and you assign it to another variable "bb", both
    776 variables refer to the same Blob.  Then the "is" operator returns true.
    777 
    778 When making a copy using [:] or |copy()| the values are the same, but the
    779 identity is different: >
    780 :let blob = 0z112233
    781 :let blob2 = blob
    782 :echo blob == blob2
    783 <	1 >
    784 :echo blob is blob2
    785 <	1 >
    786 :let blob3 = blob[:]
    787 :echo blob == blob3
    788 <	1 >
    789 :echo blob is blob3
    790 <	0
    791 
    792 Making a copy of a Blob is done with the |copy()| function.  Using [:] also
    793 works, as explained above.
    794 
    795 
    796 1.6 More about variables ~
    797 						*more-variables*
    798 If you need to know the type of a variable or expression, use the |type()|
    799 function.
    800 
    801 When the '!' flag is included in the 'shada' option, global variables that
    802 start with an uppercase letter, and don't contain a lowercase letter, are
    803 stored in the shada file |shada-file|.
    804 
    805 When the 'sessionoptions' option contains "global", global variables that
    806 start with an uppercase letter and contain at least one lowercase letter are
    807 stored in the session file |session-file|.
    808 
    809 variable name		can be stored where ~
    810 my_var_6		not
    811 My_Var_6		session file
    812 MY_VAR_6		shada file
    813 
    814 
    815 It's possible to form a variable name with curly braces, see
    816 |curly-braces-names|.
    817 
    818 ==============================================================================
    819 2. Expression syntax					*expression-syntax*
    820 
    821 Expression syntax summary, from least to most significant:
    822 
    823 |expr1|	expr2
    824 expr2 ? expr1 : expr1	if-then-else
    825 
    826 |expr2|	expr3
    827 expr3 || expr3 ...	logical OR
    828 
    829 |expr3|	expr4
    830 expr4 && expr4 ...	logical AND
    831 
    832 |expr4|	expr5
    833 expr5 == expr5		equal
    834 expr5 != expr5		not equal
    835 expr5 >	 expr5		greater than
    836 expr5 >= expr5		greater than or equal
    837 expr5 <	 expr5		smaller than
    838 expr5 <= expr5		smaller than or equal
    839 expr5 =~ expr5		regexp matches
    840 expr5 !~ expr5		regexp doesn't match
    841 
    842 expr5 ==? expr5		equal, ignoring case
    843 expr5 ==# expr5		equal, match case
    844 etc.			As above, append ? for ignoring case, # for
    845 			matching case
    846 
    847 expr5 is expr5		same |List|, |Dictionary| or |Blob| instance
    848 expr5 isnot expr5	different |List|, |Dictionary| or |Blob|
    849 			instance
    850 
    851 |expr5|	expr6
    852 expr6 +	 expr6 ...	number addition, list or blob concatenation
    853 expr6 -	 expr6 ...	number subtraction
    854 expr6 .	 expr6 ...	string concatenation
    855 expr6 .. expr6 ...	string concatenation
    856 
    857 |expr6|	expr7
    858 expr7 *	 expr7 ...	number multiplication
    859 expr7 /	 expr7 ...	number division
    860 expr7 %	 expr7 ...	number modulo
    861 
    862 |expr7|	expr8
    863 ! expr7			logical NOT
    864 - expr7			unary minus
    865 + expr7			unary plus
    866 
    867 |expr8|	expr9
    868 expr8[expr1]		byte of a String or item of a |List|
    869 expr8[expr1 : expr1]	substring of a String or sublist of a |List|
    870 expr8.name		entry in a |Dictionary|
    871 expr8(expr1, ...)	function call with |Funcref| variable
    872 expr8->name(expr1, ...)	|method| call
    873 
    874 |expr9|	number			number constant
    875 "string"		string constant, backslash is special
    876 `'string'`		string constant, ' is doubled
    877 [expr1, ...]		|List|
    878 `{expr1: expr1, ...}`	|Dictionary|
    879 #{key: expr1, ...}	|Dictionary|
    880 &option			option value
    881 (expr1)			nested expression
    882 variable		internal variable
    883 va{ria}ble		internal variable with curly braces
    884 $VAR			environment variable
    885 @r			contents of register "r"
    886 function(expr1, ...)	function call
    887 func{ti}on(expr1, ...)	function call with curly braces
    888 `{args -> expr1}`	lambda expression
    889 
    890 
    891 "..." indicates that the operations in this level can be concatenated.
    892 Example: >
    893 &nu || &list && &shell == "csh"
    894 
    895 All expressions within one level are parsed from left to right.
    896 
    897 Expression nesting is limited to 1000 levels deep (300 when build with MSVC)
    898 to avoid running out of stack and crashing. *E1169*
    899 
    900 
    901 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    902 expr1				*expr1* *ternary* *falsy-operator* *??* *E109*
    903 
    904 The ternary operator: expr2 ? expr1 : expr1
    905 The falsy operator:   expr2 ?? expr1
    906 
    907 Ternary operator ~
    908 
    909 The expression before the '?' is evaluated to a number.  If it evaluates to
    910 |TRUE|, the result is the value of the expression between the '?' and ':',
    911 otherwise the result is the value of the expression after the ':'.
    912 Example: >
    913 :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum
    914 
    915 Since the first expression is an "expr2", it cannot contain another ?:.  The
    916 other two expressions can, thus allow for recursive use of ?:.
    917 Example: >
    918 :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum == 1000 ? "last" : lnum
    919 
    920 To keep this readable, using |line-continuation| is suggested: >
    921 :echo lnum == 1
    922 :\	? "top"
    923 :\	: lnum == 1000
    924 :\		? "last"
    925 :\		: lnum
    926 
    927 You should always put a space before the ':', otherwise it can be mistaken for
    928 use in a variable such as "a:1".
    929 
    930 Falsy operator ~
    931 
    932 This is also known as the "null coalescing operator", but that's too
    933 complicated, thus we just call it the falsy operator.
    934 
    935 The expression before the '??' is evaluated.  If it evaluates to
    936 |truthy|, this is used as the result.  Otherwise the expression after the '??'
    937 is evaluated and used as the result.  This is most useful to have a default
    938 value for an expression that may result in zero or empty: >
    939 echo theList ?? 'list is empty'
    940 echo GetName() ?? 'unknown'
    941 
    942 These are similar, but not equal: >
    943 expr2 ?? expr1
    944 expr2 ? expr2 : expr1
    945 In the second line "expr2" is evaluated twice.
    946 
    947 
    948 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    949 expr2 and expr3						*expr2* *expr3*
    950 
    951 expr3 || expr3 ..	logical OR		*expr-barbar*
    952 expr4 && expr4 ..	logical AND		*expr-&&*
    953 
    954 The "||" and "&&" operators take one argument on each side.  The arguments
    955 are (converted to) Numbers.  The result is:
    956 
    957    input			 output ~
    958 n1	n2		n1 || n2	n1 && n2 ~
    959 |FALSE|	|FALSE|		|FALSE|		|FALSE|
    960 |FALSE|	|TRUE|		|TRUE|		|FALSE|
    961 |TRUE|	|FALSE|		|TRUE|		|FALSE|
    962 |TRUE|	|TRUE|		|TRUE|		|TRUE|
    963 
    964 The operators can be concatenated, for example: >
    965 
    966 &nu || &list && &shell == "csh"
    967 
    968 Note that "&&" takes precedence over "||", so this has the meaning of: >
    969 
    970 &nu || (&list && &shell == "csh")
    971 
    972 Once the result is known, the expression "short-circuits", that is, further
    973 arguments are not evaluated.  This is like what happens in C.  For example: >
    974 
    975 let a = 1
    976 echo a || b
    977 
    978 This is valid even if there is no variable called "b" because "a" is |TRUE|,
    979 so the result must be |TRUE|.  Similarly below: >
    980 
    981 echo exists("b") && b == "yes"
    982 
    983 This is valid whether "b" has been defined or not.  The second clause will
    984 only be evaluated if "b" has been defined.
    985 
    986 
    987 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    988 expr4							*expr4*
    989 
    990 expr5 {cmp} expr5
    991 
    992 Compare two expr5 expressions, resulting in a 0 if it evaluates to false, or 1
    993 if it evaluates to true.
    994 
    995 		*expr-==*  *expr-!=*  *expr->*	 *expr->=*
    996 		*expr-<*   *expr-<=*  *expr-=~*  *expr-!~*
    997 		*expr-==#* *expr-!=#* *expr->#*  *expr->=#*
    998 		*expr-<#*  *expr-<=#* *expr-=~#* *expr-!~#*
    999 		*expr-==?* *expr-!=?* *expr->?*  *expr->=?*
   1000 		*expr-<?*  *expr-<=?* *expr-=~?* *expr-!~?*
   1001 		*expr-is* *expr-isnot* *expr-is#* *expr-isnot#*
   1002 		*expr-is?* *expr-isnot?*
   1003 	use 'ignorecase'    match case	   ignore case ~
   1004 equal			==		==#		==?
   1005 not equal		!=		!=#		!=?
   1006 greater than		>		>#		>?
   1007 greater than or equal	>=		>=#		>=?
   1008 smaller than		<		<#		<?
   1009 smaller than or equal	<=		<=#		<=?
   1010 regexp matches		=~		=~#		=~?
   1011 regexp doesn't match	!~		!~#		!~?
   1012 same instance		is		is#		is?
   1013 different instance	isnot		isnot#		isnot?
   1014 
   1015 Examples:
   1016 "abc" ==# "Abc"	  evaluates to 0
   1017 "abc" ==? "Abc"	  evaluates to 1
   1018 "abc" == "Abc"	  evaluates to 1 if 'ignorecase' is set, 0 otherwise
   1019 
   1020 						*E691* *E692*
   1021 A |List| can only be compared with a |List| and only "equal", "not equal",
   1022 "is" and "isnot" can be used.  This compares the values of the list,
   1023 recursively.  Ignoring case means case is ignored when comparing item values.
   1024 
   1025 						*E735* *E736*
   1026 A |Dictionary| can only be compared with a |Dictionary| and only "equal", "not
   1027 equal", "is" and "isnot" can be used.  This compares the key/values of the
   1028 |Dictionary| recursively.  Ignoring case means case is ignored when comparing
   1029 item values.
   1030 
   1031 						*E694*
   1032 A |Funcref| can only be compared with a |Funcref| and only "equal", "not
   1033 equal", "is" and "isnot" can be used.  Case is never ignored.  Whether
   1034 arguments or a Dictionary are bound (with a partial) matters.  The
   1035 Dictionaries must also be equal (or the same, in case of "is") and the
   1036 arguments must be equal (or the same).
   1037 
   1038 To compare Funcrefs to see if they refer to the same function, ignoring bound
   1039 Dictionary and arguments, use |get()| to get the function name: >
   1040 if get(Part1, 'name') == get(Part2, 'name')
   1041    " Part1 and Part2 refer to the same function
   1042 
   1043 Using "is" or "isnot" with a |List|, |Dictionary| or |Blob| checks whether
   1044 the expressions are referring to the same |List|, |Dictionary| or |Blob|
   1045 instance.  A copy of a |List| is different from the original |List|.  When
   1046 using "is" without a |List|, |Dictionary| or |Blob|, it is equivalent to
   1047 using "equal", using "isnot" is equivalent to using "not equal".  Except that
   1048 a different type means the values are different: >
   1049 echo 4 == '4'
   1050 1
   1051 echo 4 is '4'
   1052 0
   1053 echo 0 is []
   1054 0
   1055 "is#"/"isnot#" and "is?"/"isnot?" can be used to match and ignore case.
   1056 
   1057 When comparing a String with a Number, the String is converted to a Number,
   1058 and the comparison is done on Numbers.  This means that: >
   1059 echo 0 == 'x'
   1060 1
   1061 because 'x' converted to a Number is zero.  However: >
   1062 echo [0] == ['x']
   1063 0
   1064 Inside a List or Dictionary this conversion is not used.
   1065 
   1066 When comparing two Strings, this is done with strcmp() or stricmp().  This
   1067 results in the mathematical difference (comparing byte values), not
   1068 necessarily the alphabetical difference in the local language.
   1069 
   1070 When using the operators with a trailing '#', or the short version and
   1071 'ignorecase' is off, the comparing is done with strcmp(): case matters.
   1072 
   1073 When using the operators with a trailing '?', or the short version and
   1074 'ignorecase' is set, the comparing is done with stricmp(): case is ignored.
   1075 
   1076 'smartcase' is not used.
   1077 
   1078 The "=~" and "!~" operators match the lefthand argument with the righthand
   1079 argument, which is used as a pattern.  See |pattern| for what a pattern is.
   1080 This matching is always done like 'magic' was set and 'cpoptions' is empty, no
   1081 matter what the actual value of 'magic' or 'cpoptions' is.  This makes scripts
   1082 portable.  To avoid backslashes in the regexp pattern to be doubled, use a
   1083 single-quote string, see |literal-string|.
   1084 Since a string is considered to be a single line, a multi-line pattern
   1085 (containing \n, backslash-n) will not match.  However, a literal NL character
   1086 can be matched like an ordinary character.  Examples:
   1087 "foo\nbar" =~ "\n"	evaluates to 1
   1088 "foo\nbar" =~ "\\n"	evaluates to 0
   1089 
   1090 
   1091 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1092 expr5 and expr6						*expr5* *expr6*
   1093 
   1094 expr6 + expr6   Number addition, |List| or |Blob| concatenation	*expr-+*
   1095 expr6 - expr6   Number subtraction				*expr--*
   1096 expr6 . expr6   String concatenation				*expr-.*
   1097 expr6 .. expr6  String concatenation				*expr-..*
   1098 
   1099 For |Lists| only "+" is possible and then both expr6 must be a list.  The
   1100 result is a new list with the two lists Concatenated.
   1101 
   1102 For String concatenation ".." is preferred, since "." is ambiguous, it is also
   1103 used for |Dict| member access and floating point numbers.
   1104 
   1105 expr7 * expr7  Number multiplication				*expr-star*
   1106 expr7 / expr7  Number division					*expr-/*
   1107 expr7 % expr7  Number modulo					*expr-%*
   1108 
   1109 For all, except "." and "..", Strings are converted to Numbers.
   1110 For bitwise operators see |and()|, |or()| and |xor()|.
   1111 
   1112 Note the difference between "+" and ".":
   1113 "123" + "456" = 579
   1114 "123" . "456" = "123456"
   1115 
   1116 Since '.' has the same precedence as '+' and '-', you need to read: >
   1117 1 . 90 + 90.0
   1118 As: >
   1119 (1 . 90) + 90.0
   1120 That works, since the String "190" is automatically converted to the Number
   1121 190, which can be added to the Float 90.0.  However: >
   1122 1 . 90 * 90.0
   1123 Should be read as: >
   1124 1 . (90 * 90.0)
   1125 Since '.' has lower precedence than "*".  This does NOT work, since this
   1126 attempts to concatenate a Float and a String.
   1127 
   1128 When dividing a Number by zero the result depends on the value:
   1129   0 / 0  = -0x80000000	(like NaN for Float)
   1130  >0 / 0  =  0x7fffffff	(like positive infinity)
   1131  <0 / 0  = -0x7fffffff	(like negative infinity)
   1132 (before Vim 7.2 it was always 0x7fffffff)
   1133 
   1134 When 64-bit Number support is enabled:
   1135   0 / 0  = -0x8000000000000000	(like NaN for Float)
   1136  >0 / 0  =  0x7fffffffffffffff	(like positive infinity)
   1137  <0 / 0  = -0x7fffffffffffffff	(like negative infinity)
   1138 
   1139 When the righthand side of '%' is zero, the result is 0.
   1140 
   1141 None of these work for |Funcref|s.
   1142 
   1143 . and % do not work for Float. *E804*
   1144 
   1145 
   1146 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1147 expr7							*expr7*
   1148 
   1149 ! expr7			logical NOT		*expr-!*
   1150 - expr7			unary minus		*expr-unary--*
   1151 + expr7			unary plus		*expr-unary-+*
   1152 
   1153 For '!' |TRUE| becomes |FALSE|, |FALSE| becomes |TRUE| (one).
   1154 For '-' the sign of the number is changed.
   1155 For '+' the number is unchanged.  Note: "++" has no effect.
   1156 
   1157 A String will be converted to a Number first.
   1158 
   1159 These three can be repeated and mixed.  Examples:
   1160 !-1	    == 0
   1161 !!8	    == 1
   1162 --9	    == 9
   1163 
   1164 
   1165 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1166 expr8							*expr8*
   1167 
   1168 This expression is either |expr9| or a sequence of the alternatives below,
   1169 in any order.  E.g., these are all possible:
   1170 expr8[expr1].name
   1171 expr8.name[expr1]
   1172 expr8(expr1, ...)[expr1].name
   1173 expr8->(expr1, ...)[expr1]
   1174 Evaluation is always from left to right.
   1175 
   1176 
   1177 expr8[expr1]		item of String or |List|	*expr-[]* *E111*
   1178 						*subscript*
   1179 In legacy Vim script:
   1180 If expr8 is a Number or String this results in a String that contains the
   1181 expr1'th single byte from expr8.  expr8 is used as a String (a number is
   1182 automatically converted to a String), expr1 as a Number.  This doesn't
   1183 recognize multibyte encodings, see `byteidx()` for an alternative, or use
   1184 `split()` to turn the string into a list of characters.  Example, to get the
   1185 byte under the cursor: >
   1186 :let c = getline(".")[col(".") - 1]
   1187 
   1188 Index zero gives the first byte.  This is like it works in C.  Careful:
   1189 text column numbers start with one!  Example, to get the byte under the
   1190 cursor: >
   1191 :let c = getline(".")[col(".") - 1]
   1192 
   1193 Index zero gives the first byte.  Careful: text column numbers start with one!
   1194 
   1195 If the length of the String is less than the index, the result is an empty
   1196 String.  A negative index always results in an empty string (reason: backward
   1197 compatibility).  Use [-1:] to get the last byte.
   1198 
   1199 If expr8 is a |List| then it results the item at index expr1.  See |list-index|
   1200 for possible index values.  If the index is out of range this results in an
   1201 error.  Example: >
   1202 :let item = mylist[-1]		" get last item
   1203 
   1204 Generally, if a |List| index is equal to or higher than the length of the
   1205 |List|, or more negative than the length of the |List|, this results in an
   1206 error.
   1207 
   1208 
   1209 expr8[expr1a : expr1b]	substring or |sublist|		*expr-[:]* *substring*
   1210 
   1211 If expr8 is a String this results in the substring with the bytes or
   1212 characters from expr1a to and including expr1b.  expr8 is used as a String,
   1213 expr1a and expr1b are used as a Number.
   1214 
   1215 In legacy Vim script the indexes are byte indexes.  This doesn't recognize
   1216 multibyte encodings, see |byteidx()| for computing the indexes.  If expr8 is
   1217 a Number it is first converted to a String.
   1218 
   1219 The item at index expr1b is included, it is inclusive.  For an exclusive index
   1220 use the |slice()| function.
   1221 
   1222 If expr1a is omitted zero is used.  If expr1b is omitted the length of the
   1223 string minus one is used.
   1224 
   1225 A negative number can be used to measure from the end of the string.  -1 is
   1226 the last character, -2 the last but one, etc.
   1227 
   1228 If an index goes out of range for the string characters are omitted.  If
   1229 expr1b is smaller than expr1a the result is an empty string.
   1230 
   1231 Examples: >
   1232 :let c = name[-1:]		" last byte of a string
   1233 :let c = name[0:-1]		" the whole string
   1234 :let c = name[-2:-2]		" last but one byte of a string
   1235 :let s = line(".")[4:]		" from the fifth byte to the end
   1236 :let s = s[:-3]			" remove last two bytes
   1237 <
   1238 						*slice*
   1239 If expr8 is a |List| this results in a new |List| with the items indicated by
   1240 the indexes expr1a and expr1b.  This works like with a String, as explained
   1241 just above.  Also see |sublist| below.  Examples: >
   1242 :let l = mylist[:3]		" first four items
   1243 :let l = mylist[4:4]		" List with one item
   1244 :let l = mylist[:]		" shallow copy of a List
   1245 
   1246 If expr8 is a |Blob| this results in a new |Blob| with the bytes in the
   1247 indexes expr1a and expr1b, inclusive.  Examples: >
   1248 :let b = 0zDEADBEEF
   1249 :let bs = b[1:2]		" 0zADBE
   1250 :let bs = b[]			" copy of 0zDEADBEEF
   1251 
   1252 Using expr8[expr1] or expr8[expr1a : expr1b] on a |Funcref| results in an
   1253 error.
   1254 
   1255 Watch out for confusion between a namespace and a variable followed by a colon
   1256 for a sublist: >
   1257 mylist[n:]     " uses variable n
   1258 mylist[s:]     " uses namespace s:, error!
   1259 
   1260 
   1261 expr8.name		entry in a |Dictionary|		*expr-entry*
   1262 
   1263 If expr8 is a |Dictionary| and it is followed by a dot, then the following
   1264 name will be used as a key in the |Dictionary|.  This is just like:
   1265 expr8[name].
   1266 
   1267 The name must consist of alphanumeric characters, just like a variable name,
   1268 but it may start with a number.  Curly braces cannot be used.
   1269 
   1270 There must not be white space before or after the dot.
   1271 
   1272 Examples: >
   1273 :let dict = {"one": 1, 2: "two"}
   1274 :echo dict.one		" shows "1"
   1275 :echo dict.2		" shows "two"
   1276 :echo dict .2		" error because of space before the dot
   1277 
   1278 Note that the dot is also used for String concatenation.  To avoid confusion
   1279 always put spaces around the dot for String concatenation.
   1280 
   1281 
   1282 expr8(expr1, ...)	|Funcref| function call		*E1085*
   1283 
   1284 When expr8 is a |Funcref| type variable, invoke the function it refers to.
   1285 
   1286 
   1287 expr8->name([args])	method call			*method* *->*
   1288 expr8->{lambda}([args])
   1289 
   1290 						*E260* *E276*
   1291 For methods that are also available as global functions this is the same as: >
   1292 name(expr8 [, args])
   1293 There can also be methods specifically for the type of "expr8".
   1294 
   1295 This allows for chaining, passing the value that one method returns to the
   1296 next method: >
   1297 mylist->filter(filterexpr)->map(mapexpr)->sort()->join()
   1298 <
   1299 Example of using a lambda: >
   1300 GetPercentage()->{x -> x * 100}()->printf('%d%%')
   1301 <
   1302 When using -> the |expr7| operators will be applied first, thus: >
   1303 -1.234->string()
   1304 Is equivalent to: >
   1305 (-1.234)->string()
   1306 And NOT: >
   1307 -(1.234->string())
   1308 <
   1309 						*E274*
   1310 "->name(" must not contain white space.  There can be white space before the
   1311 "->" and after the "(", thus you can split the lines like this: >
   1312 mylist
   1313 \ ->filter(filterexpr)
   1314 \ ->map(mapexpr)
   1315 \ ->sort()
   1316 \ ->join()
   1317 
   1318 When using the lambda form there must be no white space between the } and the
   1319 (.
   1320 
   1321 
   1322 						*expr9*
   1323 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1324 number
   1325 
   1326 number			number constant			*expr-number*
   1327 
   1328 		*0x* *hex-number* *0o* *octal-number* *binary-number*
   1329 Decimal, Hexadecimal (starting with 0x or 0X), Binary (starting with 0b or 0B)
   1330 and Octal (starting with 0, 0o or 0O).
   1331 
   1332 					*floating-point-format*
   1333 Floating point numbers can be written in two forms:
   1334 
   1335 [-+]{N}.{M}
   1336 [-+]{N}.{M}[eE][-+]{exp}
   1337 
   1338 {N} and {M} are numbers.  Both {N} and {M} must be present and can only
   1339 contain digits.
   1340 [-+] means there is an optional plus or minus sign.
   1341 {exp} is the exponent, power of 10.
   1342 Only a decimal point is accepted, not a comma.  No matter what the current
   1343 locale is.
   1344 
   1345 Examples:
   1346 123.456
   1347 +0.0001
   1348 55.0
   1349 -0.123
   1350 1.234e03
   1351 1.0E-6
   1352 -3.1416e+88
   1353 
   1354 These are INVALID:
   1355 3.		empty {M}
   1356 1e40		missing .{M}
   1357 
   1358 Rationale:
   1359 Before floating point was introduced, the text "123.456" was interpreted as
   1360 the two numbers "123" and "456", both converted to a string and concatenated,
   1361 resulting in the string "123456".  Since this was considered pointless, and we
   1362 could not find it intentionally being used in Vim scripts, this backwards
   1363 incompatibility was accepted in favor of being able to use the normal notation
   1364 for floating point numbers.
   1365 
   1366 						*float-pi* *float-e*
   1367 A few useful values to copy&paste: >
   1368 :let pi = 3.14159265359
   1369 :let e  = 2.71828182846
   1370 Or, if you don't want to write them in as floating-point literals, you can
   1371 also use functions, like the following: >
   1372 :let pi = acos(-1.0)
   1373 :let e  = exp(1.0)
   1374 <
   1375 					*floating-point-precision*
   1376 The precision and range of floating points numbers depends on what "double"
   1377 means in the library Vim was compiled with.  There is no way to change this at
   1378 runtime.
   1379 
   1380 The default for displaying a |Float| is to use 6 decimal places, like using
   1381 printf("%g", f).  You can select something else when using the |printf()|
   1382 function.  Example: >
   1383 :echo printf('%.15e', atan(1))
   1384 <	7.853981633974483e-01
   1385 
   1386 
   1387 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1388 string					*string* *String* *expr-string* *E114*
   1389 
   1390 "string"		string constant		*expr-quote*
   1391 
   1392 Note that double quotes are used.
   1393 
   1394 A string constant accepts these special characters:
   1395 \...	three-digit octal number (e.g., "\316")
   1396 \..	two-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit)
   1397 \.	one-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit)
   1398 \x..	byte specified with two hex numbers (e.g., "\x1f")
   1399 \x.	byte specified with one hex number (must be followed by non-hex char)
   1400 \X..	same as \x..
   1401 \X.	same as \x.
   1402 \u....	character specified with up to 4 hex numbers, stored as UTF-8
   1403 (e.g., "\u02a4")
   1404 \U....	same as \u but allows up to 8 hex numbers.
   1405 \b	backspace <BS>
   1406 \e	escape <Esc>
   1407 \f	formfeed 0x0C
   1408 \n	newline <NL>
   1409 \r	return <CR>
   1410 \t	tab <Tab>
   1411 \\	backslash
   1412 \"	double quote
   1413 \<xxx>	Special key named "xxx".  e.g. "\<C-W>" for CTRL-W.  This is for use
   1414 in mappings, the 0x80 byte is escaped.
   1415 To use the double quote character it must be escaped: "<M-\">".
   1416 Don't use <Char-xxxx> to get a UTF-8 character, use \uxxxx as
   1417 mentioned above.
   1418 \<*xxx>	Like \<xxx> but prepends a modifier instead of including it in the
   1419 character.  E.g. "\<C-w>" is one character 0x17 while "\<*C-w>" is
   1420 four bytes: 3 for the CTRL modifier and then character "W".
   1421 
   1422 Note that "\xff" is stored as the byte 255, which may be invalid in some
   1423 encodings.  Use "\u00ff" to store character 255 correctly as UTF-8.
   1424 
   1425 Note that "\000" and "\x00" force the end of the string.
   1426 
   1427 
   1428 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1429 blob-literal				*blob-literal* *E973*
   1430 
   1431 Hexadecimal starting with 0z or 0Z, with an arbitrary number of bytes.
   1432 The sequence must be an even number of hex characters.  Example: >
   1433 :let b = 0zFF00ED015DAF
   1434 
   1435 
   1436 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1437 literal-string						*literal-string* *E115*
   1438 
   1439 'string'		string constant			*expr-'*
   1440 
   1441 Note that single quotes are used.
   1442 
   1443 This string is taken as it is.  No backslashes are removed or have a special
   1444 meaning.  The only exception is that two quotes stand for one quote.
   1445 
   1446 Single quoted strings are useful for patterns, so that backslashes do not need
   1447 to be doubled.  These two commands are equivalent: >
   1448 if a =~ "\\s*"
   1449 if a =~ '\s*'
   1450 
   1451 
   1452 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1453 interpolated-string				*$quote* *interpolated-string*
   1454 
   1455 $"string"		interpolated string constant		*expr-$quote*
   1456 $'string'		interpolated literal string constant	*expr-$'*
   1457 
   1458 Interpolated strings are an extension of the |string| and |literal-string|,
   1459 allowing the inclusion of Vim script expressions (see |expr1|).  Any
   1460 expression returning a value can be enclosed between curly braces.  The value
   1461 is converted to a string.  All the text and results of the expressions
   1462 are concatenated to make a new string.
   1463 							*E1278*
   1464 To include an opening brace '{' or closing brace '}' in the string content
   1465 double it.  For double quoted strings using a backslash also works.  A single
   1466 closing brace '}' will result in an error.
   1467 
   1468 Examples: >
   1469 let your_name = input("What's your name? ")
   1470 <	What's your name?  Peter ~
   1471 >
   1472 echo
   1473 echo $"Hello, {your_name}!"
   1474 <	Hello, Peter! ~
   1475 >
   1476 echo $"The square root of {{9}} is {sqrt(9)}"
   1477 <	The square root of {9} is 3.0 ~
   1478 
   1479 					*string-offset-encoding*
   1480 A string consists of multiple characters.  UTF-8 uses one byte for ASCII
   1481 characters, two bytes for other latin characters and more bytes for other
   1482 characters.
   1483 
   1484 A string offset can count characters or bytes.  Other programs may use
   1485 UTF-16 encoding (16-bit words) and an offset of UTF-16 words.  Some functions
   1486 use byte offsets, usually for UTF-8 encoding.  Other functions use character
   1487 offsets, in which case the encoding doesn't matter.
   1488 
   1489 The different offsets for the string "a©😊" are below:
   1490 
   1491  UTF-8 offsets:
   1492      [0]: 61, [1]: C2, [2]: A9, [3]: F0, [4]: 9F, [5]: 98, [6]: 8A
   1493  UTF-16 offsets:
   1494      [0]: 0061, [1]: 00A9, [2]: D83D, [3]: DE0A
   1495  UTF-32 (character) offsets:
   1496      [0]: 00000061, [1]: 000000A9, [2]: 0001F60A
   1497 
   1498 You can use the "g8" and "ga" commands on a character to see the
   1499 decimal/hex/octal values.
   1500 
   1501 The functions |byteidx()|, |utf16idx()| and |charidx()| can be used to convert
   1502 between these indices.  The functions |strlen()|, |strutf16len()| and
   1503 |strcharlen()| return the number of bytes, UTF-16 code units and characters in
   1504 a string respectively.
   1505 
   1506 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1507 option						*expr-option* *E112* *E113*
   1508 
   1509 &option			option value, local value if possible
   1510 &g:option		global option value
   1511 &l:option		local option value
   1512 
   1513 Examples: >
   1514 echo "tabstop is " .. &tabstop
   1515 if &expandtab
   1516 
   1517 Any option name can be used here.  See |options|.  When using the local value
   1518 and there is no buffer-local or window-local value, the global value is used
   1519 anyway.
   1520 
   1521 
   1522 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1523 register						*expr-register* *@r*
   1524 
   1525 @r			contents of register 'r'
   1526 
   1527 The result is the contents of the named register, as a single string.
   1528 Newlines are inserted where required.  To get the contents of the unnamed
   1529 register use @" or @@.  See |registers| for an explanation of the available
   1530 registers.
   1531 
   1532 When using the '=' register you get the expression itself, not what it
   1533 evaluates to.  Use |eval()| to evaluate it.
   1534 
   1535 
   1536 nesting							*expr-nesting* *E110*
   1537 -------
   1538 (expr1)			nested expression
   1539 
   1540 
   1541 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1542 environment variable					*expr-env*
   1543 
   1544 $VAR			environment variable
   1545 
   1546 The String value of any environment variable.  When it is not defined, the
   1547 result is an empty string.
   1548 
   1549 The functions `getenv()` and `setenv()` can also be used and work for
   1550 environment variables with non-alphanumeric names.
   1551 The function `environ()` can be used to get a Dict with all environment
   1552 variables.
   1553 
   1554 
   1555 					*expr-env-expand*
   1556 Note that there is a difference between using $VAR directly and using
   1557 expand("$VAR").  Using it directly will only expand environment variables that
   1558 are known inside the current Vim session.  Using expand() will first try using
   1559 the environment variables known inside the current Vim session.  If that
   1560 fails, a shell will be used to expand the variable.  This can be slow, but it
   1561 does expand all variables that the shell knows about.  Example: >
   1562 :echo $shell
   1563 :echo expand("$shell")
   1564 The first one probably doesn't echo anything, the second echoes the $shell
   1565 variable (if your shell supports it).
   1566 
   1567 
   1568 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1569 internal variable					*expr-variable*
   1570 
   1571 variable		internal variable
   1572 See below |internal-variables|.
   1573 
   1574 
   1575 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1576 function call		*expr-function* *E116* *E118* *E119* *E120*
   1577 
   1578 function(expr1, ...)	function call
   1579 See below |functions|.
   1580 
   1581 
   1582 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1583 lambda expression				*expr-lambda* *lambda*
   1584 
   1585 `{args -> expr1}`	lambda expression			*E451*
   1586 
   1587 A lambda expression creates a new unnamed function which returns the result of
   1588 evaluating |expr1|.  Lambda expressions differ from |user-function|s in
   1589 the following ways:
   1590 
   1591 1. The body of the lambda expression is an |expr1| and not a sequence of |Ex|
   1592   commands.
   1593 2. The prefix "a:" should not be used for arguments.  E.g.: >
   1594 :let F = {arg1, arg2 -> arg1 - arg2}
   1595 :echo F(5, 2)
   1596 <	3
   1597 
   1598 The arguments are optional.  Example: >
   1599 :let F = {-> 'error function'}
   1600 :echo F('ignored')
   1601 <	error function
   1602 						*closure*
   1603 Lambda expressions can access outer scope variables and arguments.  This is
   1604 often called a closure.  Example where "i" and "a:arg" are used in a lambda
   1605 while they already exist in the function scope.  They remain valid even after
   1606 the function returns: >
   1607 :function Foo(arg)
   1608 :  let i = 3
   1609 :  return {x -> x + i - a:arg}
   1610 :endfunction
   1611 :let Bar = Foo(4)
   1612 :echo Bar(6)
   1613 <	5
   1614 Note that the variables must exist in the outer scope before the lambda is
   1615 defined for this to work.  See also |:func-closure|.
   1616 
   1617 Lambda and closure support can be checked with: >
   1618 if has('lambda')
   1619 
   1620 Examples for using a lambda expression with |sort()|, |map()| and |filter()|: >
   1621 :echo map([1, 2, 3], {idx, val -> val + 1})
   1622 <	[2, 3, 4] >
   1623 :echo sort([3,7,2,1,4], {a, b -> a - b})
   1624 <	[1, 2, 3, 4, 7]
   1625 
   1626 The lambda expression is also useful for jobs and timers: >
   1627 :let timer = timer_start(500,
   1628 		\ {-> execute("echo 'Handler called'", "")},
   1629 		\ {'repeat': 3})
   1630 <	Handler called
   1631 Handler called
   1632 Handler called
   1633 
   1634 Note that it is possible to cause memory to be used and not freed if the
   1635 closure is referenced by the context it depends on: >
   1636 function Function()
   1637    let x = 0
   1638    let F = {-> x}
   1639  endfunction
   1640 The closure uses "x" from the function scope, and "F" in that same scope
   1641 refers to the closure.  This cycle results in the memory not being freed.
   1642 Recommendation: don't do this.
   1643 
   1644 Notice how execute() is used to execute an Ex command.  That's ugly though.
   1645 
   1646 
   1647 Lambda expressions have internal names like '<lambda>42'.  If you get an error
   1648 for a lambda expression, you can find what it is with the following command: >
   1649 :function <lambda>42
   1650 See also: |numbered-function|
   1651 
   1652 ==============================================================================
   1653 3. Internal variable				*internal-variables* *E461*
   1654 
   1655 An internal variable name can be made up of letters, digits and '_'.  But it
   1656 cannot start with a digit.  It's also possible to use curly braces, see
   1657 |curly-braces-names|.
   1658 
   1659 An internal variable is created with the ":let" command |:let|.
   1660 An internal variable is explicitly destroyed with the ":unlet" command
   1661 |:unlet|.
   1662 Using a name that is not an internal variable or refers to a variable that has
   1663 been destroyed results in an error.
   1664 
   1665 					*variable-scope*
   1666 There are several name spaces for variables.  Which one is to be used is
   1667 specified by what is prepended:
   1668 
   1669 	(nothing) In a function: local to a function; otherwise: global
   1670 |buffer-variable|    b:	  Local to the current buffer.
   1671 |window-variable|    w:	  Local to the current window.
   1672 |tabpage-variable|   t:	  Local to the current tab page.
   1673 |global-variable|    g:	  Global.
   1674 |local-variable|     l:	  Local to a function.
   1675 |script-variable|    s:	  Local to a |:source|d Vim script.
   1676 |function-argument|  a:	  Function argument (only inside a function).
   1677 |vim-variable|       v:	  Global, predefined by Vim.
   1678 
   1679 The scope name by itself can be used as a |Dictionary|.  For example, to
   1680 delete all script-local variables: >
   1681 :for k in keys(s:)
   1682 :    unlet s:[k]
   1683 :endfor
   1684 <
   1685 					*buffer-variable* *b:var* *b:*
   1686 A variable name that is preceded with "b:" is local to the current buffer.
   1687 Thus you can have several "b:foo" variables, one for each buffer.
   1688 This kind of variable is deleted when the buffer is wiped out or deleted with
   1689 |:bdelete|.
   1690 
   1691 One local buffer variable is predefined:
   1692 				*b:changedtick* *changetick*
   1693 b:changedtick	The total number of changes to the current buffer.  It is
   1694 	incremented for each change.  An undo command is also a change
   1695 	in this case.  Resetting 'modified' when writing the buffer is
   1696 	also counted.
   1697 	This can be used to perform an action only when the buffer has
   1698 	changed.  Example: >
   1699 	    :if my_changedtick != b:changedtick
   1700 	    :	let my_changedtick = b:changedtick
   1701 	    :	call My_Update()
   1702 	    :endif
   1703 <		You cannot change or delete the b:changedtick variable.
   1704 
   1705 					*window-variable* *w:var* *w:*
   1706 A variable name that is preceded with "w:" is local to the current window.  It
   1707 is deleted when the window is closed.
   1708 
   1709 					*tabpage-variable* *t:var* *t:*
   1710 A variable name that is preceded with "t:" is local to the current tab page,
   1711 It is deleted when the tab page is closed.
   1712 
   1713 					*global-variable* *g:var* *g:*
   1714 Inside functions global variables are accessed with "g:".  Omitting this will
   1715 access a variable local to a function.  But "g:" can also be used in any other
   1716 place if you like.
   1717 
   1718 					*local-variable* *l:var* *l:*
   1719 Inside functions local variables are accessed without prepending anything.
   1720 But you can also prepend "l:" if you like.  However, without prepending "l:"
   1721 you may run into reserved variable names.  For example "count".  By itself it
   1722 refers to "v:count".  Using "l:count" you can have a local variable with the
   1723 same name.
   1724 
   1725 					*script-variable* *s:var*
   1726 In a Vim script variables starting with "s:" can be used.  They cannot be
   1727 accessed from outside of the scripts, thus are local to the script.
   1728 
   1729 They can be used in:
   1730 - commands executed while the script is sourced
   1731 - functions defined in the script
   1732 - autocommands defined in the script
   1733 - functions and autocommands defined in functions and autocommands which were
   1734  defined in the script (recursively)
   1735 - user defined commands defined in the script
   1736 Thus not in:
   1737 - other scripts sourced from this one
   1738 - mappings
   1739 - menus
   1740 - etc.
   1741 
   1742 Script variables can be used to avoid conflicts with global variable names.
   1743 Take this example: >
   1744 
   1745 let s:counter = 0
   1746 function MyCounter()
   1747   let s:counter = s:counter + 1
   1748   echo s:counter
   1749 endfunction
   1750 command Tick call MyCounter()
   1751 
   1752 You can now invoke "Tick" from any script, and the "s:counter" variable in
   1753 that script will not be changed, only the "s:counter" in the script where
   1754 "Tick" was defined is used.
   1755 
   1756 Another example that does the same: >
   1757 
   1758 let s:counter = 0
   1759 command Tick let s:counter = s:counter + 1 | echo s:counter
   1760 
   1761 When calling a function and invoking a user-defined command, the context for
   1762 script variables is set to the script where the function or command was
   1763 defined.
   1764 
   1765 The script variables are also available when a function is defined inside a
   1766 function that is defined in a script.  Example: >
   1767 
   1768 let s:counter = 0
   1769 function StartCounting(incr)
   1770   if a:incr
   1771     function MyCounter()
   1772       let s:counter = s:counter + 1
   1773     endfunction
   1774   else
   1775     function MyCounter()
   1776       let s:counter = s:counter - 1
   1777     endfunction
   1778   endif
   1779 endfunction
   1780 
   1781 This defines the MyCounter() function either for counting up or counting down
   1782 when calling StartCounting().  It doesn't matter from where StartCounting() is
   1783 called, the s:counter variable will be accessible in MyCounter().
   1784 
   1785 When the same script is sourced again it will use the same script variables.
   1786 They will remain valid as long as Vim is running.  This can be used to
   1787 maintain a counter: >
   1788 
   1789 if !exists("s:counter")
   1790   let s:counter = 1
   1791   echo "script executed for the first time"
   1792 else
   1793   let s:counter = s:counter + 1
   1794   echo "script executed " .. s:counter .. " times now"
   1795 endif
   1796 
   1797 Note that this means that filetype plugins don't get a different set of script
   1798 variables for each buffer.  Use local buffer variables instead |b:var|.
   1799 
   1800 
   1801 PREDEFINED VIM VARIABLES			*vim-variable* *v:var* *v:*
   1802 							*E963*
   1803 
   1804 The alphabetic list of all builtin variables and details are in a separate
   1805 help file: |vvars|.
   1806 
   1807 ==============================================================================
   1808 4. Builtin Functions				*vim-function* *functions*
   1809 
   1810 The Vimscript subsystem (referred to as "eval" internally) provides builtin
   1811 functions.  Scripts can also define |user-function|s.
   1812 
   1813 See |function-list| to browse functions by topic.
   1814 
   1815 The alphabetic list of all builtin functions and details are in a separate
   1816 help file: |vimscript-functions|.
   1817 
   1818 ==============================================================================
   1819 5. Defining functions					*user-function*
   1820 
   1821 New functions can be defined.  These can be called just like builtin
   1822 functions.  The function takes arguments, executes a sequence of Ex commands
   1823 and can return a value.
   1824 
   1825 You can find most information about defining functions in |userfunc.txt|.
   1826 
   1827 ==============================================================================
   1828 6. Curly braces names					*curly-braces-names*
   1829 
   1830 In most places where you can use a variable, you can use a "curly braces name"
   1831 variable.  This is a regular variable name with one or more expressions
   1832 wrapped in braces {} like this: >
   1833 my_{adjective}_variable
   1834 
   1835 When Vim encounters this, it evaluates the expression inside the braces, puts
   1836 that in place of the expression, and re-interprets the whole as a variable
   1837 name.  So in the above example, if the variable "adjective" was set to
   1838 "noisy", then the reference would be to "my_noisy_variable", whereas if
   1839 "adjective" was set to "quiet", then it would be to "my_quiet_variable".
   1840 
   1841 One application for this is to create a set of variables governed by an option
   1842 value.  For example, the statement >
   1843 echo my_{&background}_message
   1844 
   1845 would output the contents of "my_dark_message" or "my_light_message" depending
   1846 on the current value of 'background'.
   1847 
   1848 You can use multiple brace pairs: >
   1849 echo my_{adverb}_{adjective}_message
   1850 ..or even nest them: >
   1851 echo my_{ad{end_of_word}}_message
   1852 where "end_of_word" is either "verb" or "jective".
   1853 
   1854 However, the expression inside the braces must evaluate to a valid single
   1855 variable name, e.g. this is invalid: >
   1856 :let foo='a + b'
   1857 :echo c{foo}d
   1858 .. since the result of expansion is "ca + bd", which is not a variable name.
   1859 
   1860 					*curly-braces-function-names*
   1861 You can call and define functions by an evaluated name in a similar way.
   1862 Example: >
   1863 :let func_end='whizz'
   1864 :call my_func_{func_end}(parameter)
   1865 
   1866 This would call the function "my_func_whizz(parameter)".
   1867 
   1868 This does NOT work: >
   1869  :let i = 3
   1870  :let @{i} = ''  " error
   1871  :echo @{i}      " error
   1872 
   1873 ==============================================================================
   1874 7. Commands						*expression-commands*
   1875 
   1876 :let {var-name} = {expr1}				*:let* *E18*
   1877 		Set internal variable {var-name} to the result of the
   1878 		expression {expr1}.  The variable will get the type
   1879 		from the {expr}.  If {var-name} didn't exist yet, it
   1880 		is created.
   1881 
   1882 :let {var-name}[{idx}] = {expr1}			*E689*
   1883 		Set a list item to the result of the expression
   1884 		{expr1}.  {var-name} must refer to a list and {idx}
   1885 		must be a valid index in that list.  For nested list
   1886 		the index can be repeated.
   1887 		This cannot be used to add an item to a |List|.
   1888 		This cannot be used to set a byte in a String.  You
   1889 		can do that like this: >
   1890 			:let var = var[0:2] .. 'X' .. var[4:]
   1891 <			When {var-name} is a |Blob| then {idx} can be the
   1892 		length of the blob, in which case one byte is
   1893 		appended.
   1894 
   1895 						*E711* *E719*
   1896 :let {var-name}[{idx1}:{idx2}] = {expr1}		*E708* *E709* *E710*
   1897 		Set a sequence of items in a |List| to the result of
   1898 		the expression {expr1}, which must be a list with the
   1899 		correct number of items.
   1900 		{idx1} can be omitted, zero is used instead.
   1901 		{idx2} can be omitted, meaning the end of the list.
   1902 		When the selected range of items is partly past the
   1903 		end of the list, items will be added.
   1904 
   1905 		*:let+=* *:let-=* *:letstar=*
   1906 		*:let/=* *:let%=* *:let.=* *:let..=* *E734*
   1907 :let {var} += {expr1}	Like ":let {var} = {var} + {expr1}".
   1908 :let {var} -= {expr1}	Like ":let {var} = {var} - {expr1}".
   1909 `:let {var} *= {expr1}`	Like ":let {var} = {var} * {expr1}".
   1910 :let {var} /= {expr1}	Like ":let {var} = {var} / {expr1}".
   1911 :let {var} %= {expr1}	Like ":let {var} = {var} % {expr1}".
   1912 :let {var} .= {expr1}	Like ":let {var} = {var} . {expr1}".
   1913 :let {var} ..= {expr1}	Like ":let {var} = {var} .. {expr1}".
   1914 		These fail if {var} was not set yet and when the type
   1915 		of {var} and {expr1} don't fit the operator.
   1916 		`+=` modifies a |List| or a |Blob| in-place instead of
   1917 		creating a new one.
   1918 
   1919 
   1920 :let ${env-name} = {expr1}			*:let-environment* *:let-$*
   1921 		Set environment variable {env-name} to the result of
   1922 		the expression {expr1}.  The type is always String.
   1923 :let ${env-name} .= {expr1}
   1924 :let ${env-name} ..= {expr1}
   1925 		Append {expr1} to the environment variable {env-name}.
   1926 		If the environment variable didn't exist yet this
   1927 		works like "=".
   1928 
   1929 :let @{reg-name} = {expr1}			*:let-register* *:let-@*
   1930 		Write the result of the expression {expr1} in register
   1931 		{reg-name}.  {reg-name} must be a single letter, and
   1932 		must be the name of a writable register (see
   1933 		|registers|).  "@@" can be used for the unnamed
   1934 		register, "@/" for the search pattern.
   1935 		If the result of {expr1} ends in a <CR> or <NL>, the
   1936 		register will be linewise, otherwise it will be set to
   1937 		charwise.
   1938 		This can be used to clear the last search pattern: >
   1939 			:let @/ = ""
   1940 <			This is different from searching for an empty string,
   1941 		that would match everywhere.
   1942 
   1943 :let @{reg-name} .= {expr1}
   1944 :let @{reg-name} ..= {expr1}
   1945 		Append {expr1} to register {reg-name}.  If the
   1946 		register was empty it's like setting it to {expr1}.
   1947 
   1948 :let &{option-name} = {expr1}			*:let-option* *:let-&*
   1949 		Set option {option-name} to the result of the
   1950 		expression {expr1}.  A String or Number value is
   1951 		always converted to the type of the option.
   1952 		For an option local to a window or buffer the effect
   1953 		is just like using the |:set| command: both the local
   1954 		value and the global value are changed.
   1955 		Example: >
   1956 			:let &path = &path .. ',/usr/local/include'
   1957 
   1958 :let &{option-name} .= {expr1}
   1959 :let &{option-name} ..= {expr1}
   1960 		For a string option: Append {expr1} to the value.
   1961 		Does not insert a comma like |:set+=|.
   1962 
   1963 :let &{option-name} += {expr1}
   1964 :let &{option-name} -= {expr1}
   1965 		For a number or boolean option: Add or subtract
   1966 		{expr1}.
   1967 
   1968 :let &l:{option-name} = {expr1}
   1969 :let &l:{option-name} += {expr1}
   1970 :let &l:{option-name} -= {expr1}
   1971 :let &l:{option-name} .= {expr1}
   1972 :let &l:{option-name} ..= {expr1}
   1973 		Like above, but only set the local value of an option
   1974 		(if there is one).  Works like |:setlocal|.
   1975 
   1976 :let &g:{option-name} = {expr1}
   1977 :let &g:{option-name} += {expr1}
   1978 :let &g:{option-name} -= {expr1}
   1979 :let &g:{option-name} .= {expr1}
   1980 :let &g:{option-name} ..= {expr1}
   1981 		Like above, but only set the global value of an option
   1982 		(if there is one).  Works like |:setglobal|.
   1983 
   1984 :let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] = {expr1}		*:let-unpack* *E687* *E688*
   1985 		{expr1} must evaluate to a |List|.  The first item in
   1986 		the list is assigned to {name1}, the second item to
   1987 		{name2}, etc.
   1988 		The number of names must match the number of items in
   1989 		the |List|.
   1990 		Each name can be one of the items of the ":let"
   1991 		command as mentioned above.
   1992 		Example: >
   1993 			:let [s, item] = GetItem(s)
   1994 <			Detail: {expr1} is evaluated first, then the
   1995 		assignments are done in sequence.  This matters if
   1996 		{name2} depends on {name1}.  Example: >
   1997 			:let x = [0, 1]
   1998 			:let i = 0
   1999 			:let [i, x[i]] = [1, 2]
   2000 			:echo x
   2001 <			The result is [0, 2].
   2002 
   2003 :let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] += {expr1}
   2004 :let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] -= {expr1}
   2005 `:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] *= {expr1}`
   2006 :let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] /= {expr1}
   2007 :let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] %= {expr1}
   2008 :let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] .= {expr1}
   2009 :let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] ..= {expr1}
   2010 		Like above, but add, subtract, multiply, divide,
   2011 		modulo, or append the value for each |List| item.
   2012 
   2013 :let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] = {expr1}				*E452*
   2014 		Like |:let-unpack| above, but the |List| may have more
   2015 		items than there are names.  A list of the remaining
   2016 		items is assigned to {lastname}.  If there are no
   2017 		remaining items {lastname} is set to an empty list.
   2018 		Example: >
   2019 			:let [a, b; rest] = ["aval", "bval", 3, 4]
   2020 <
   2021 :let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] += {expr1}
   2022 :let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] -= {expr1}
   2023 :let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] .= {expr1}
   2024 :let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] ..= {expr1}
   2025 		Like above, but add/subtract/append the value for each
   2026 		|List| item.
   2027 
   2028 					*:let=<<* *:let-heredoc*
   2029 				*E990* *E991* *E172* *E221* *E1145*
   2030 :let {var-name} =<< [trim] [eval] {endmarker}
   2031 text...
   2032 text...
   2033 {endmarker}
   2034 		Set internal variable {var-name} to a |List|
   2035 		containing the lines of text bounded by the string
   2036 		{endmarker}.
   2037 
   2038 		If "eval" is not specified, then each line of text is
   2039 		used as a |literal-string|, except that single quotes
   2040 		does not need to be doubled.
   2041 		If "eval" is specified, then any Vim expression in the
   2042 		form {expr} is evaluated and the result replaces the
   2043 		expression, like with |interpolated-string|.
   2044 		Example where $HOME is expanded: >
   2045 			let lines =<< trim eval END
   2046 			  some text
   2047 			  See the file {$HOME}/.vimrc
   2048 			  more text
   2049 			END
   2050 <			There can be multiple Vim expressions in a single line
   2051 		but an expression cannot span multiple lines.  If any
   2052 		expression evaluation fails, then the assignment
   2053 		fails.
   2054 
   2055 		{endmarker} must not contain white space.
   2056 		{endmarker} cannot start with a lower case character.
   2057 		The last line should end only with the {endmarker}
   2058 		string without any other character.  Watch out for
   2059 		white space after {endmarker}!
   2060 
   2061 		Without "trim" any white space characters in the lines
   2062 		of text are preserved.  If "trim" is specified before
   2063 		{endmarker}, then indentation is stripped so you can
   2064 		do: >
   2065 			let text =<< trim END
   2066 			   if ok
   2067 			     echo 'done'
   2068 			   endif
   2069 			END
   2070 <			Results in: `["if ok", "  echo 'done'", "endif"]`
   2071 		The end marker must line up with "let" and the
   2072 		indentation of the first line is removed from all the
   2073 		text lines.
   2074 		Specifically: all the leading indentation exactly
   2075 		matching the leading indentation of the first
   2076 		non-empty text line is stripped from the input lines.
   2077 		All leading indentation exactly matching the leading
   2078 		indentation before `let` is stripped from the line
   2079 		containing {endmarker}.  Note that the difference
   2080 		between space and tab matters here.
   2081 
   2082 		If {var-name} didn't exist yet, it is created.
   2083 		Cannot be followed by another command, but can be
   2084 		followed by a comment.
   2085 
   2086 		To avoid line continuation to be applied, consider
   2087 		adding 'C' to 'cpoptions': >
   2088 			set cpo+=C
   2089 			let var =<< END
   2090 			   \ leading backslash
   2091 			END
   2092 			set cpo-=C
   2093 <
   2094 		Examples: >
   2095 			let var1 =<< END
   2096 			Sample text 1
   2097 			    Sample text 2
   2098 			Sample text 3
   2099 			END
   2100 
   2101 			let data =<< trim DATA
   2102 				1 2 3 4
   2103 				5 6 7 8
   2104 			DATA
   2105 
   2106 			let code =<< trim eval CODE
   2107 			   let v = {10 + 20}
   2108 			   let h = "{$HOME}"
   2109 			   let s = "{Str1()} abc {Str2()}"
   2110 			   let n = {MyFunc(3, 4)}
   2111 			CODE
   2112 <
   2113 							*E121*
   2114 :let {var-name}	...	List the value of variable {var-name}.  Multiple
   2115 		variable names may be given.  Special names recognized
   2116 		here:				*E738*
   2117 		  g:	global variables
   2118 		  b:	local buffer variables
   2119 		  w:	local window variables
   2120 		  t:	local tab page variables
   2121 		  s:	script-local variables
   2122 		  l:	local function variables
   2123 		  v:	Vim variables.
   2124 
   2125 :let			List the values of all variables.  The type of the
   2126 		variable is indicated before the value:
   2127 		    <nothing>	String
   2128 			#	Number
   2129 			*	Funcref
   2130 
   2131 :unl[et][!] {name} ...				*:unlet* *:unl* *E108* *E795*
   2132 		Remove the internal variable {name}.  Several variable
   2133 		names can be given, they are all removed.  The name
   2134 		may also be a |List| or |Dictionary| item.
   2135 		With [!] no error message is given for non-existing
   2136 		variables.
   2137 		One or more items from a |List| can be removed: >
   2138 			:unlet list[3]	  " remove fourth item
   2139 			:unlet list[3:]   " remove fourth item to last
   2140 <			One item from a |Dictionary| can be removed at a time: >
   2141 			:unlet dict['two']
   2142 			:unlet dict.two
   2143 <			This is especially useful to clean up used global
   2144 		variables and script-local variables (these are not
   2145 		deleted when the script ends).  Function-local
   2146 		variables are automatically deleted when the function
   2147 		ends.
   2148 
   2149 :unl[et] ${env-name} ...			*:unlet-environment* *:unlet-$*
   2150 		Remove environment variable {env-name}.
   2151 		Can mix {name} and ${env-name} in one :unlet command.
   2152 		No error message is given for a non-existing
   2153 		variable, also without !.
   2154 		If the system does not support deleting an environment
   2155 		variable, it is made empty.
   2156 
   2157 					*:cons* *:const*
   2158 :cons[t] {var-name} = {expr1}
   2159 :cons[t] [{name1}, {name2}, ...] = {expr1}
   2160 :cons[t] [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] = {expr1}
   2161 :cons[t] {var-name} =<< [trim] [eval] {endmarker}
   2162 text...
   2163 text...
   2164 {endmarker}
   2165 		Similar to |:let|, but additionally lock the variable
   2166 		after setting the value.  This is the same as locking
   2167 		the variable with |:lockvar| just after |:let|, thus: >
   2168 			:const x = 1
   2169 <			is equivalent to: >
   2170 			:let x = 1
   2171 			:lockvar! x
   2172 <			This is useful if you want to make sure the variable
   2173 		is not modified.  If the value is a List or Dictionary
   2174 		literal then the items also cannot be changed: >
   2175 			const ll = [1, 2, 3]
   2176 			let ll[1] = 5  " Error!
   2177 <			Nested references are not locked: >
   2178 			let lvar = ['a']
   2179 			const lconst = [0, lvar]
   2180 			let lconst[0] = 2  " Error!
   2181 			let lconst[1][0] = 'b'  " OK
   2182 <							*E995*
   2183 		It is an error to specify an existing variable with
   2184 		|:const|. >
   2185 			:let x = 1
   2186 			:const x = 1  " Error!
   2187 <							*E996*
   2188 		Note that environment variables, option values and
   2189 		register values cannot be used here, since they cannot
   2190 		be locked.
   2191 
   2192 :cons[t]
   2193 :cons[t] {var-name}
   2194 		If no argument is given or only {var-name} is given,
   2195 		the behavior is the same as |:let|.
   2196 
   2197 :lockv[ar][!] [depth] {name} ...			*:lockvar* *:lockv*
   2198 		Lock the internal variable {name}.  Locking means that
   2199 		it can no longer be changed (until it is unlocked).
   2200 		A locked variable can be deleted: >
   2201 			:lockvar v
   2202 			:let v = 'asdf'	  " fails!
   2203 			:unlet v	  " works
   2204 <							*E741* *E940* *E1122*
   2205 		If you try to change a locked variable you get an
   2206 		error message: "E741: Value is locked: {name}".
   2207 		If you try to lock or unlock a built-in variable you
   2208 		will get an error message "E940: Cannot lock or unlock
   2209 		variable {name}".
   2210 
   2211 		[depth] is relevant when locking a |List| or
   2212 		|Dictionary|.  It specifies how deep the locking goes:
   2213 			0	Lock the variable {name} but not its
   2214 				value.
   2215 			1	Lock the |List| or |Dictionary| itself,
   2216 				cannot add or remove items, but can
   2217 				still change their values.
   2218 			2	Also lock the values, cannot change
   2219 				the items.  If an item is a |List| or
   2220 				|Dictionary|, cannot add or remove
   2221 				items, but can still change the
   2222 				values.
   2223 			3	Like 2 but for the |List| /
   2224 				|Dictionary| in the |List| /
   2225 				|Dictionary|, one level deeper.
   2226 		The default [depth] is 2, thus when {name} is a |List|
   2227 		or |Dictionary| the values cannot be changed.
   2228 
   2229 		Example with [depth] 0: >
   2230 			let mylist = [1, 2, 3]
   2231 			lockvar 0 mylist
   2232 			let mylist[0] = 77	" OK
   2233 			call add(mylist, 4)	" OK
   2234 			let mylist = [7, 8, 9]  " Error!
   2235 <								*E743*
   2236 		For unlimited depth use [!] and omit [depth].
   2237 		However, there is a maximum depth of 100 to catch
   2238 		loops.
   2239 
   2240 		Note that when two variables refer to the same |List|
   2241 		and you lock one of them, the |List| will also be
   2242 		locked when used through the other variable.
   2243 		Example: >
   2244 			:let l = [0, 1, 2, 3]
   2245 			:let cl = l
   2246 			:lockvar l
   2247 			:let cl[1] = 99		" won't work!
   2248 <			You may want to make a copy of a list to avoid this.
   2249 		See |deepcopy()|.
   2250 
   2251 
   2252 :unlo[ckvar][!] [depth] {name} ...			*:unlockvar* *:unlo*
   2253 		Unlock the internal variable {name}.  Does the
   2254 		opposite of |:lockvar|.
   2255 
   2256 		No error is given if {name} does not exist.
   2257 
   2258 :if {expr1}			*:if* *:end* *:endif* *:en* *E171* *E579* *E580*
   2259 :en[dif]		Execute the commands until the next matching `:else`
   2260 		or `:endif` if {expr1} evaluates to non-zero.
   2261 		Although the short forms work, it is recommended to
   2262 		always use `:endif` to avoid confusion and to make
   2263 		auto-indenting work properly.
   2264 
   2265 		From Vim version 4.5 until 5.0, every Ex command in
   2266 		between the `:if` and `:endif` is ignored.  These two
   2267 		commands were just to allow for future expansions in a
   2268 		backward compatible way.  Nesting was allowed.  Note
   2269 		that any `:else` or `:elseif` was ignored, the `else`
   2270 		part was not executed either.
   2271 
   2272 		You can use this to remain compatible with older
   2273 		versions: >
   2274 			:if version >= 500
   2275 			:  version-5-specific-commands
   2276 			:endif
   2277 <			The commands still need to be parsed to find the
   2278 		`endif`.  Sometimes an older Vim has a problem with a
   2279 		new command.  For example, `:silent` is recognized as
   2280 		a `:substitute` command.  In that case `:execute` can
   2281 		avoid problems: >
   2282 			:if version >= 600
   2283 			:  execute "silent 1,$delete"
   2284 			:endif
   2285 <
   2286 		NOTE: The `:append` and `:insert` commands don't work
   2287 		properly in between `:if` and `:endif`.
   2288 
   2289 					*:else* *:el* *E581* *E583*
   2290 :el[se]			Execute the commands until the next matching `:else`
   2291 		or `:endif` if they previously were not being
   2292 		executed.
   2293 
   2294 				*:elseif* *:elsei* *E582* *E584*
   2295 :elsei[f] {expr1}	Short for `:else` `:if`, with the addition that there
   2296 		is no extra `:endif`.
   2297 
   2298 :wh[ile] {expr1}			*:while* *:endwhile* *:wh* *:endw*
   2299 					*E170* *E585* *E588* *E733*
   2300 :endw[hile]		Repeat the commands between `:while` and `:endwhile`,
   2301 		as long as {expr1} evaluates to non-zero.
   2302 		When an error is detected from a command inside the
   2303 		loop, execution continues after the `endwhile`.
   2304 		Example: >
   2305 			:let lnum = 1
   2306 			:while lnum <= line("$")
   2307 			   :call FixLine(lnum)
   2308 			   :let lnum = lnum + 1
   2309 			:endwhile
   2310 <
   2311 		NOTE: The `:append` and `:insert` commands don't work
   2312 		properly inside a `:while` and `:for` loop.
   2313 
   2314 :for {var} in {object}					*:for* *E690* *E732*
   2315 :endfo[r]						*:endfo* *:endfor*
   2316 		Repeat the commands between `:for` and `:endfor` for
   2317 		each item in {object}.  {object} can be a |List|,
   2318 		a |Blob| or a |String|.
   2319 
   2320 		Variable {var} is set to the value of each item.
   2321 
   2322 		When an error is detected for a command inside the
   2323 		loop, execution continues after the `endfor`.
   2324 		Changing {object} inside the loop affects what items
   2325 		are used.  Make a copy if this is unwanted: >
   2326 			:for item in copy(mylist)
   2327 <
   2328 		When {object} is a |List| and not making a copy, Vim
   2329 		stores a reference to the next item in the |List|
   2330 		before executing the commands with the current item.
   2331 		Thus the current item can be removed without effect.
   2332 		Removing any later item means it will not be found.
   2333 		Thus the following example works (an inefficient way
   2334 		to make a |List| empty): >
   2335 			for item in mylist
   2336 			   call remove(mylist, 0)
   2337 			endfor
   2338 <			Note that reordering the |List| (e.g., with sort() or
   2339 		reverse()) may have unexpected effects.
   2340 
   2341 		When {object} is a |Blob|, Vim always makes a copy to
   2342 		iterate over.  Unlike with |List|, modifying the
   2343 		|Blob| does not affect the iteration.
   2344 
   2345 		When {object} is a |String| each item is a string with
   2346 		one character, plus any combining characters.
   2347 
   2348 :for [{var1}, {var2}, ...] in {listlist}
   2349 :endfo[r]
   2350 		Like `:for` above, but each item in {listlist} must be
   2351 		a list, of which each item is assigned to {var1},
   2352 		{var2}, etc.  Example: >
   2353 			:for [lnum, col] in [[1, 3], [2, 5], [3, 8]]
   2354 			   :echo getline(lnum)[col]
   2355 			:endfor
   2356 <
   2357 					*:continue* *:con* *E586*
   2358 :con[tinue]		When used inside a `:while` or `:for` loop, jumps back
   2359 		to the start of the loop.
   2360 
   2361 		If it is used after a `:try` inside the loop but
   2362 		before the matching `:finally` (if present), the
   2363 		commands following the `:finally` up to the matching
   2364 		`:endtry` are executed first.  This process applies to
   2365 		all nested `:try`s inside the loop.  The outermost
   2366 		`:endtry` then jumps back to the start of the loop.
   2367 
   2368 					*:break* *:brea* *E587*
   2369 :brea[k]		When used inside a `:while` or `:for` loop, skips to
   2370 		the command after the matching `:endwhile` or
   2371 		`:endfor`.
   2372 		If it is used after a `:try` inside the loop but
   2373 		before the matching `:finally` (if present), the
   2374 		commands following the `:finally` up to the matching
   2375 		`:endtry` are executed first.  This process applies to
   2376 		all nested `:try`s inside the loop.  The outermost
   2377 		`:endtry` then jumps to the command after the loop.
   2378 
   2379 :try				*:try* *:endt* *:endtry* *E600* *E601* *E602*
   2380 :endt[ry]		Change the error handling for the commands between
   2381 		`:try` and `:endtry` including everything being
   2382 		executed across `:source` commands, function calls,
   2383 		or autocommand invocations.
   2384 
   2385 		When an error or interrupt is detected and there is
   2386 		a `:finally` command following, execution continues
   2387 		after the `:finally`.  Otherwise, or when the
   2388 		`:endtry` is reached thereafter, the next
   2389 		(dynamically) surrounding `:try` is checked for
   2390 		a corresponding `:finally` etc.  Then the script
   2391 		processing is terminated.  Whether a function
   2392 		definition has an "abort" argument does not matter.
   2393 		Example: >
   2394 	try | call Unknown() | finally | echomsg "cleanup" | endtry
   2395 	echomsg "not reached"
   2396 <
   2397 		Moreover, an error or interrupt (dynamically) inside
   2398 		`:try` and `:endtry` is converted to an exception.  It
   2399 		can be caught as if it were thrown by a `:throw`
   2400 		command (see `:catch`).  In this case, the script
   2401 		processing is not terminated.
   2402 
   2403 		The value "Vim:Interrupt" is used for an interrupt
   2404 		exception.  An error in a Vim command is converted
   2405 		to a value of the form "Vim({command}):{errmsg}",
   2406 		other errors are converted to a value of the form
   2407 		"Vim:{errmsg}".  {command} is the full command name,
   2408 		and {errmsg} is the message that is displayed if the
   2409 		error exception is not caught, always beginning with
   2410 		the error number.
   2411 		Examples: >
   2412 	try | sleep 100 | catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/ | endtry
   2413 	try | edit | catch /^Vim(edit):E\d\+/ | echo "error" | endtry
   2414 <
   2415 				*:cat* *:catch* *E603* *E604* *E605*
   2416 :cat[ch] [/{pattern}/]	The following commands until the next `:catch`,
   2417 		`:finally`, or `:endtry` that belongs to the same
   2418 		`:try` as the `:catch` are executed when an exception
   2419 		matching {pattern} is being thrown and has not yet
   2420 		been caught by a previous `:catch`.  Otherwise, these
   2421 		commands are skipped.
   2422 		Pattern can start with "Vim({cmd})" to indicate an
   2423 		exception that occurred when executing the Ex command
   2424 		{cmd}.  When {pattern} is omitted all errors are
   2425 		caught. Examples: >
   2426 	:catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/	 " catch interrupts (CTRL-C)
   2427 	:catch /^Vim\%((\S\+)\)\=:E/	 " catch all Vim errors
   2428 	:catch /^Vim\%((\S\+)\)\=:/	 " catch errors and interrupts
   2429 	:catch /^Vim(write):/		 " catch all errors in :write
   2430 	:catch /^Vim(!):/		 " catch all errors in :!
   2431 	:catch /^Vim\%((\S\+)\)\=:E123:/ " catch error E123
   2432 	:catch /my-exception/		 " catch user exception
   2433 	:catch /.*/			 " catch everything
   2434 	:catch				 " same as /.*/
   2435 <
   2436 		Another character can be used instead of / around the
   2437 		{pattern}, so long as it does not have a special
   2438 		meaning (e.g., '|' or '"') and doesn't occur inside
   2439 		{pattern}.
   2440 		Information about the exception is available in
   2441 		|v:exception|.  Also see |throw-variables|.
   2442 		NOTE: It is not reliable to ":catch" the TEXT of
   2443 		an error message because it may vary in different
   2444 		locales.
   2445 
   2446 				*:fina* *:finally* *E606* *E607*
   2447 :fina[lly]		The following commands until the matching `:endtry`
   2448 		are executed whenever the part between the matching
   2449 		`:try` and the `:finally` is left:  either by falling
   2450 		through to the `:finally` or by a `:continue`,
   2451 		`:break`, `:finish`, or `:return`, or by an error or
   2452 		interrupt or exception (see `:throw`).
   2453 
   2454 						*:th* *:throw* *E608*
   2455 :th[row] {expr1}	The {expr1} is evaluated and thrown as an exception.
   2456 		If the `:throw` is used after a `:try` but before the
   2457 		first corresponding `:catch`, commands are skipped
   2458 		until the first `:catch` matching {expr1} is reached.
   2459 		If there is no such `:catch` or if the `:throw` is
   2460 		used after a `:catch` but before the `:finally`, the
   2461 		commands following the `:finally` (if present) up to
   2462 		the matching `:endtry` are executed.  If the `:throw`
   2463 		is after the `:finally`, commands up to the `:endtry`
   2464 		are skipped.  At the `:endtry`, this process applies
   2465 		again for the next dynamically surrounding `:try`
   2466 		(which may be found in a calling function or sourcing
   2467 		script), until a matching `:catch` has been found.
   2468 		If the exception is not caught, the command processing
   2469 		is terminated.
   2470 		Example: >
   2471 	:try | throw "oops" | catch /^oo/ | echo "caught" | endtry
   2472 <			Note that "catch" may need to be on a separate line
   2473 		for when an error causes the parsing to skip the whole
   2474 		line and not see the "|" that separates the commands.
   2475 
   2476 						*:ec* *:echo*
   2477 :ec[ho] {expr1} ...	Echoes each {expr1}, with a space in between.  The
   2478 		first {expr1} starts on a new line.
   2479 		Also see |:comment|.
   2480 		Use "\n" to start a new line.  Use "\r" to move the
   2481 		cursor to the first column.
   2482 		Uses the highlighting set by the `:echohl` command.
   2483 		Cannot be followed by a comment.
   2484 		Example: >
   2485 	:echo "the value of 'shell' is" &shell
   2486 <							*:echo-redraw*
   2487 		A later redraw may make the message disappear again.
   2488 		And since Vim mostly postpones redrawing until it's
   2489 		finished with a sequence of commands this happens
   2490 		quite often.  To avoid that a command from before the
   2491 		`:echo` causes a redraw afterwards (redraws are often
   2492 		postponed until you type something), force a redraw
   2493 		with the `:redraw` command.  Example: >
   2494 	:new | redraw | echo "there is a new window"
   2495 <							*:echo-self-refer*
   2496 		When printing nested containers echo prints second
   2497 		occurrence of the self-referencing container using
   2498 		"[...@level]" (self-referencing |List|) or
   2499 		"{...@level}" (self-referencing |Dict|): >
   2500 	:let l = []
   2501 	:call add(l, l)
   2502 	:let l2 = []
   2503 	:call add(l2, [l2])
   2504 	:echo l l2
   2505 <			echoes "[[...@0]] [[[...@0]]]". Echoing "[l]" will
   2506 		echo "[[[...@1]]]" because l first occurs at second
   2507 		level.
   2508 
   2509 						*:echon*
   2510 :echon {expr1} ...	Echoes each {expr1}, without anything added.  Also see
   2511 		|:comment|.
   2512 		Uses the highlighting set by the `:echohl` command.
   2513 		Cannot be followed by a comment.
   2514 		Example: >
   2515 			:echon "the value of 'shell' is " &shell
   2516 <
   2517 		Note the difference between using `:echo`, which is a
   2518 		Vim command, and `:!echo`, which is an external shell
   2519 		command: >
   2520 	:!echo %		--> filename
   2521 <			The arguments of ":!" are expanded, see |:_%|. >
   2522 	:!echo "%"		--> filename or "filename"
   2523 <			Like the previous example.  Whether you see the double
   2524 		quotes or not depends on your 'shell'. >
   2525 	:echo %			--> nothing
   2526 <			The '%' is an illegal character in an expression. >
   2527 	:echo "%"		--> %
   2528 <			This just echoes the '%' character. >
   2529 	:echo expand("%")	--> filename
   2530 <			This calls the expand() function to expand the '%'.
   2531 
   2532 						*:echoh* *:echohl*
   2533 :echoh[l] {name}	Use the highlight group {name} for the following
   2534 		`:echo`, `:echon` and `:echomsg` commands.  Also used
   2535 		for the `input()` prompt.  Example: >
   2536 	:echohl WarningMsg | echo "Don't panic!" | echohl None
   2537 <			Don't forget to set the group back to "None",
   2538 		otherwise all following echo's will be highlighted.
   2539 
   2540 						*:echom* *:echomsg*
   2541 :echom[sg] {expr1} ...	Echo the expression(s) as a true message, saving the
   2542 		message in the |message-history|.
   2543 		Spaces are placed between the arguments as with the
   2544 		`:echo` command.  But unprintable characters are
   2545 		displayed, not interpreted.
   2546 		The parsing works slightly different from `:echo`,
   2547 		more like `:execute`.  All the expressions are first
   2548 		evaluated and concatenated before echoing anything.
   2549 		If expressions does not evaluate to a Number or
   2550 		String, string() is used to turn it into a string.
   2551 		Uses the highlighting set by the `:echohl` command.
   2552 		Example: >
   2553 	:echomsg "It's a Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz, as you can plainly see."
   2554 <			See |:echo-redraw| to avoid the message disappearing
   2555 		when the screen is redrawn.
   2556 
   2557 						*:echoe* *:echoerr*
   2558 :echoe[rr] {expr1} ...	Echo the expression(s) as an error message, saving the
   2559 		message in the |message-history|.  When used in a
   2560 		script or function the line number will be added.
   2561 		Spaces are placed between the arguments as with the
   2562 		`:echomsg` command.  When used inside a try conditional,
   2563 		the message is raised as an error exception instead
   2564 		(see |try-echoerr|).
   2565 		Example: >
   2566 	:echoerr "This script just failed!"
   2567 <			If you just want a highlighted message use `:echohl`.
   2568 		And to get a beep: >
   2569 	:exe "normal \<Esc>"
   2570 <
   2571 						*:eval*
   2572 :eval {expr}		Evaluate {expr} and discard the result.  Example: >
   2573 			:eval Getlist()->Filter()->append('$')
   2574 
   2575 <			The expression is supposed to have a side effect,
   2576 		since the resulting value is not used.  In the example
   2577 		the `append()` call appends the List with text to the
   2578 		buffer.  This is similar to `:call` but works with any
   2579 		expression.
   2580 
   2581 		The command can be shortened to `:ev` or `:eva`, but
   2582 		these are hard to recognize and therefore not to be
   2583 		used.
   2584 
   2585 		The command cannot be followed by "|" and another
   2586 		command, since "|" is seen as part of the expression.
   2587 
   2588 
   2589 						*:exe* *:execute*
   2590 :exe[cute] {expr1} ...	Executes the string that results from the evaluation
   2591 		of {expr1} as an Ex command.
   2592 		Multiple arguments are concatenated, with a space in
   2593 		between.  To avoid the extra space use the ".."
   2594 		operator to concatenate strings into one argument.
   2595 		{expr1} is used as the processed command, command line
   2596 		editing keys are not recognized.
   2597 		Cannot be followed by a comment.
   2598 		Examples: >
   2599 	:execute "buffer" nextbuf
   2600 	:execute "normal" count .. "w"
   2601 <
   2602 		":execute" can be used to append a command to commands
   2603 		that don't accept a '|'.  Example: >
   2604 	:execute '!ls' | echo "theend"
   2605 
   2606 <			":execute" is also a nice way to avoid having to type
   2607 		control characters in a Vim script for a ":normal"
   2608 		command: >
   2609 	:execute "normal ixxx\<Esc>"
   2610 <			This has an <Esc> character, see |expr-string|.
   2611 
   2612 		Be careful to correctly escape special characters in
   2613 		file names.  The |fnameescape()| function can be used
   2614 		for Vim commands, |shellescape()| for |:!| commands.
   2615 		Examples: >
   2616 	:execute "e " .. fnameescape(filename)
   2617 	:execute "!ls " .. shellescape(filename, 1)
   2618 <
   2619 		Note: The executed string may be any command-line, but
   2620 		starting or ending "if", "while" and "for" does not
   2621 		always work, because when commands are skipped the
   2622 		":execute" is not evaluated and Vim loses track of
   2623 		where blocks start and end.  Also "break" and
   2624 		"continue" should not be inside ":execute".
   2625 		This example does not work, because the ":execute" is
   2626 		not evaluated and Vim does not see the "while", and
   2627 		gives an error for finding an ":endwhile": >
   2628 	:if 0
   2629 	: execute 'while i > 5'
   2630 	:  echo "test"
   2631 	: endwhile
   2632 	:endif
   2633 <
   2634 		It is allowed to have a "while" or "if" command
   2635 		completely in the executed string: >
   2636 	:execute 'while i < 5 | echo i | let i = i + 1 | endwhile'
   2637 <
   2638 
   2639 						*:exe-comment*
   2640 		":execute", ":echo" and ":echon" cannot be followed by
   2641 		a comment directly, because they see the '"' as the
   2642 		start of a string.  But, you can use '|' followed by a
   2643 		comment.  Example: >
   2644 	:echo "foo" | "this is a comment
   2645 
   2646 ==============================================================================
   2647 8. Exception handling					*exception-handling*
   2648 
   2649 The Vim script language comprises an exception handling feature.  This section
   2650 explains how it can be used in a Vim script.
   2651 
   2652 Exceptions may be raised by Vim on an error or on interrupt, see
   2653 |catch-errors| and |catch-interrupt|.  You can also explicitly throw an
   2654 exception by using the ":throw" command, see |throw-catch|.
   2655 
   2656 
   2657 TRY CONDITIONALS					*try-conditionals*
   2658 
   2659 Exceptions can be caught or can cause cleanup code to be executed.  You can
   2660 use a try conditional to specify catch clauses (that catch exceptions) and/or
   2661 a finally clause (to be executed for cleanup).
   2662   A try conditional begins with a |:try| command and ends at the matching
   2663 |:endtry| command.  In between, you can use a |:catch| command to start
   2664 a catch clause, or a |:finally| command to start a finally clause.  There may
   2665 be none or multiple catch clauses, but there is at most one finally clause,
   2666 which must not be followed by any catch clauses.  The lines before the catch
   2667 clauses and the finally clause is called a try block. >
   2668 
   2669     :try
   2670     :	...
   2671     :	...				TRY BLOCK
   2672     :	...
   2673     :catch /{pattern}/
   2674     :	...
   2675     :	...				CATCH CLAUSE
   2676     :	...
   2677     :catch /{pattern}/
   2678     :	...
   2679     :	...				CATCH CLAUSE
   2680     :	...
   2681     :finally
   2682     :	...
   2683     :	...				FINALLY CLAUSE
   2684     :	...
   2685     :endtry
   2686 
   2687 The try conditional allows to watch code for exceptions and to take the
   2688 appropriate actions.  Exceptions from the try block may be caught.  Exceptions
   2689 from the try block and also the catch clauses may cause cleanup actions.
   2690   When no exception is thrown during execution of the try block, the control
   2691 is transferred to the finally clause, if present.  After its execution, the
   2692 script continues with the line following the ":endtry".
   2693   When an exception occurs during execution of the try block, the remaining
   2694 lines in the try block are skipped.  The exception is matched against the
   2695 patterns specified as arguments to the ":catch" commands.  The catch clause
   2696 after the first matching ":catch" is taken, other catch clauses are not
   2697 executed.  The catch clause ends when the next ":catch", ":finally", or
   2698 ":endtry" command is reached - whatever is first.  Then, the finally clause
   2699 (if present) is executed.  When the ":endtry" is reached, the script execution
   2700 continues in the following line as usual.
   2701   When an exception that does not match any of the patterns specified by the
   2702 ":catch" commands is thrown in the try block, the exception is not caught by
   2703 that try conditional and none of the catch clauses is executed.  Only the
   2704 finally clause, if present, is taken.  The exception pends during execution of
   2705 the finally clause.  It is resumed at the ":endtry", so that commands after
   2706 the ":endtry" are not executed and the exception might be caught elsewhere,
   2707 see |try-nesting|.
   2708   When during execution of a catch clause another exception is thrown, the
   2709 remaining lines in that catch clause are not executed.  The new exception is
   2710 not matched against the patterns in any of the ":catch" commands of the same
   2711 try conditional and none of its catch clauses is taken.  If there is, however,
   2712 a finally clause, it is executed, and the exception pends during its
   2713 execution.  The commands following the ":endtry" are not executed.  The new
   2714 exception might, however, be caught elsewhere, see |try-nesting|.
   2715   When during execution of the finally clause (if present) an exception is
   2716 thrown, the remaining lines in the finally clause are skipped.  If the finally
   2717 clause has been taken because of an exception from the try block or one of the
   2718 catch clauses, the original (pending) exception is discarded.  The commands
   2719 following the ":endtry" are not executed, and the exception from the finally
   2720 clause is propagated and can be caught elsewhere, see |try-nesting|.
   2721 
   2722 The finally clause is also executed, when a ":break" or ":continue" for
   2723 a ":while" loop enclosing the complete try conditional is executed from the
   2724 try block or a catch clause.  Or when a ":return" or ":finish" is executed
   2725 from the try block or a catch clause of a try conditional in a function or
   2726 sourced script, respectively.  The ":break", ":continue", ":return", or
   2727 ":finish" pends during execution of the finally clause and is resumed when the
   2728 ":endtry" is reached.  It is, however, discarded when an exception is thrown
   2729 from the finally clause.
   2730   When a ":break" or ":continue" for a ":while" loop enclosing the complete
   2731 try conditional or when a ":return" or ":finish" is encountered in the finally
   2732 clause, the rest of the finally clause is skipped, and the ":break",
   2733 ":continue", ":return" or ":finish" is executed as usual.  If the finally
   2734 clause has been taken because of an exception or an earlier ":break",
   2735 ":continue", ":return", or ":finish" from the try block or a catch clause,
   2736 this pending exception or command is discarded.
   2737 
   2738 For examples see |throw-catch| and |try-finally|.
   2739 
   2740 
   2741 NESTING OF TRY CONDITIONALS				*try-nesting*
   2742 
   2743 Try conditionals can be nested arbitrarily.  That is, a complete try
   2744 conditional can be put into the try block, a catch clause, or the finally
   2745 clause of another try conditional.  If the inner try conditional does not
   2746 catch an exception thrown in its try block or throws a new exception from one
   2747 of its catch clauses or its finally clause, the outer try conditional is
   2748 checked according to the rules above.  If the inner try conditional is in the
   2749 try block of the outer try conditional, its catch clauses are checked, but
   2750 otherwise only the finally clause is executed.  It does not matter for
   2751 nesting, whether the inner try conditional is directly contained in the outer
   2752 one, or whether the outer one sources a script or calls a function containing
   2753 the inner try conditional.
   2754 
   2755 When none of the active try conditionals catches an exception, just their
   2756 finally clauses are executed.  Thereafter, the script processing terminates.
   2757 An error message is displayed in case of an uncaught exception explicitly
   2758 thrown by a ":throw" command.  For uncaught error and interrupt exceptions
   2759 implicitly raised by Vim, the error message(s) or interrupt message are shown
   2760 as usual.
   2761 
   2762 For examples see |throw-catch|.
   2763 
   2764 
   2765 EXAMINING EXCEPTION HANDLING CODE			*except-examine*
   2766 
   2767 Exception handling code can get tricky.  If you are in doubt what happens, set
   2768 'verbose' to 13 or use the ":13verbose" command modifier when sourcing your
   2769 script file.  Then you see when an exception is thrown, discarded, caught, or
   2770 finished.  When using a verbosity level of at least 14, things pending in
   2771 a finally clause are also shown.  This information is also given in debug mode
   2772 (see |debug-scripts|).
   2773 
   2774 
   2775 THROWING AND CATCHING EXCEPTIONS			*throw-catch*
   2776 
   2777 You can throw any number or string as an exception.  Use the |:throw| command
   2778 and pass the value to be thrown as argument: >
   2779 :throw 4711
   2780 :throw "string"
   2781 <							*throw-expression*
   2782 You can also specify an expression argument.  The expression is then evaluated
   2783 first, and the result is thrown: >
   2784 :throw 4705 + strlen("string")
   2785 :throw strpart("strings", 0, 6)
   2786 
   2787 An exception might be thrown during evaluation of the argument of the ":throw"
   2788 command.  Unless it is caught there, the expression evaluation is abandoned.
   2789 The ":throw" command then does not throw a new exception.
   2790   Example: >
   2791 
   2792 :function! Foo(arg)
   2793 :  try
   2794 :    throw a:arg
   2795 :  catch /foo/
   2796 :  endtry
   2797 :  return 1
   2798 :endfunction
   2799 :
   2800 :function! Bar()
   2801 :  echo "in Bar"
   2802 :  return 4710
   2803 :endfunction
   2804 :
   2805 :throw Foo("arrgh") + Bar()
   2806 
   2807 This throws "arrgh", and "in Bar" is not displayed since Bar() is not
   2808 executed. >
   2809 :throw Foo("foo") + Bar()
   2810 however displays "in Bar" and throws 4711.
   2811 
   2812 Any other command that takes an expression as argument might also be
   2813 abandoned by an (uncaught) exception during the expression evaluation.  The
   2814 exception is then propagated to the caller of the command.
   2815   Example: >
   2816 
   2817 :if Foo("arrgh")
   2818 :  echo "then"
   2819 :else
   2820 :  echo "else"
   2821 :endif
   2822 
   2823 Here neither of "then" or "else" is displayed.
   2824 
   2825 						*catch-order*
   2826 Exceptions can be caught by a try conditional with one or more |:catch|
   2827 commands, see |try-conditionals|.   The values to be caught by each ":catch"
   2828 command can be specified as a pattern argument.  The subsequent catch clause
   2829 gets executed when a matching exception is caught.
   2830   Example: >
   2831 
   2832 :function! Foo(value)
   2833 :  try
   2834 :    throw a:value
   2835 :  catch /^\d\+$/
   2836 :    echo "Number thrown"
   2837 :  catch /.*/
   2838 :    echo "String thrown"
   2839 :  endtry
   2840 :endfunction
   2841 :
   2842 :call Foo(0x1267)
   2843 :call Foo('string')
   2844 
   2845 The first call to Foo() displays "Number thrown", the second "String thrown".
   2846 An exception is matched against the ":catch" commands in the order they are
   2847 specified.  Only the first match counts.  So you should place the more
   2848 specific ":catch" first.  The following order does not make sense: >
   2849 
   2850 :  catch /.*/
   2851 :    echo "String thrown"
   2852 :  catch /^\d\+$/
   2853 :    echo "Number thrown"
   2854 
   2855 The first ":catch" here matches always, so that the second catch clause is
   2856 never taken.
   2857 
   2858 						*throw-variables*
   2859 If you catch an exception by a general pattern, you may access the exact value
   2860 in the variable |v:exception|: >
   2861 
   2862 :  catch /^\d\+$/
   2863 :    echo "Number thrown.  Value is" v:exception
   2864 
   2865 You may also be interested where an exception was thrown.  This is stored in
   2866 |v:throwpoint|.  And you can obtain the stack trace from |v:stacktrace|.
   2867 Note that "v:exception", "v:stacktrace" and "v:throwpoint" are valid for the
   2868 exception most recently caught as long it is not finished.
   2869   Example: >
   2870 
   2871 :function! Caught()
   2872 :  if v:exception != ""
   2873 :    echo 'Caught "' .. v:exception .. '" in ' .. v:throwpoint
   2874 :  else
   2875 :    echo 'Nothing caught'
   2876 :  endif
   2877 :endfunction
   2878 :
   2879 :function! Foo()
   2880 :  try
   2881 :    try
   2882 :      try
   2883 :	 throw 4711
   2884 :      finally
   2885 :	 call Caught()
   2886 :      endtry
   2887 :    catch /.*/
   2888 :      call Caught()
   2889 :      throw "oops"
   2890 :    endtry
   2891 :  catch /.*/
   2892 :    call Caught()
   2893 :  finally
   2894 :    call Caught()
   2895 :  endtry
   2896 :endfunction
   2897 :
   2898 :call Foo()
   2899 
   2900 This displays >
   2901 
   2902 Nothing caught
   2903 Caught "4711" in function Foo, line 4
   2904 Caught "oops" in function Foo, line 10
   2905 Nothing caught
   2906 
   2907 A practical example:  The following command ":LineNumber" displays the line
   2908 number in the script or function where it has been used: >
   2909 
   2910 :function! LineNumber()
   2911 :    return substitute(v:throwpoint, '.*\D\(\d\+\).*', '\1', "")
   2912 :endfunction
   2913 :command! LineNumber try | throw "" | catch | echo LineNumber() | endtry
   2914 <
   2915 						*try-nested*
   2916 An exception that is not caught by a try conditional can be caught by
   2917 a surrounding try conditional: >
   2918 
   2919 :try
   2920 :  try
   2921 :    throw "foo"
   2922 :  catch /foobar/
   2923 :    echo "foobar"
   2924 :  finally
   2925 :    echo "inner finally"
   2926 :  endtry
   2927 :catch /foo/
   2928 :  echo "foo"
   2929 :endtry
   2930 
   2931 The inner try conditional does not catch the exception, just its finally
   2932 clause is executed.  The exception is then caught by the outer try
   2933 conditional.  The example displays "inner finally" and then "foo".
   2934 
   2935 						*throw-from-catch*
   2936 You can catch an exception and throw a new one to be caught elsewhere from the
   2937 catch clause: >
   2938 
   2939 :function! Foo()
   2940 :  throw "foo"
   2941 :endfunction
   2942 :
   2943 :function! Bar()
   2944 :  try
   2945 :    call Foo()
   2946 :  catch /foo/
   2947 :    echo "Caught foo, throw bar"
   2948 :    throw "bar"
   2949 :  endtry
   2950 :endfunction
   2951 :
   2952 :try
   2953 :  call Bar()
   2954 :catch /.*/
   2955 :  echo "Caught" v:exception
   2956 :endtry
   2957 
   2958 This displays "Caught foo, throw bar" and then "Caught bar".
   2959 
   2960 						*rethrow*
   2961 There is no real rethrow in the Vim script language, but you may throw
   2962 "v:exception" instead: >
   2963 
   2964 :function! Bar()
   2965 :  try
   2966 :    call Foo()
   2967 :  catch /.*/
   2968 :    echo "Rethrow" v:exception
   2969 :    throw v:exception
   2970 :  endtry
   2971 :endfunction
   2972 <							*try-echoerr*
   2973 Note that this method cannot be used to "rethrow" Vim error or interrupt
   2974 exceptions, because it is not possible to fake Vim internal exceptions.
   2975 Trying so causes an error exception.  You should throw your own exception
   2976 denoting the situation.  If you want to cause a Vim error exception containing
   2977 the original error exception value, you can use the |:echoerr| command: >
   2978 
   2979 :try
   2980 :  try
   2981 :    asdf
   2982 :  catch /.*/
   2983 :    echoerr v:exception
   2984 :  endtry
   2985 :catch /.*/
   2986 :  echo v:exception
   2987 :endtry
   2988 
   2989 This code displays
   2990 
   2991 Vim(echoerr):Vim:E492: Not an editor command:	asdf ~
   2992 
   2993 
   2994 CLEANUP CODE						*try-finally*
   2995 
   2996 Scripts often change global settings and restore them at their end.  If the
   2997 user however interrupts the script by pressing CTRL-C, the settings remain in
   2998 an inconsistent state.  The same may happen to you in the development phase of
   2999 a script when an error occurs or you explicitly throw an exception without
   3000 catching it.  You can solve these problems by using a try conditional with
   3001 a finally clause for restoring the settings.  Its execution is guaranteed on
   3002 normal control flow, on error, on an explicit ":throw", and on interrupt.
   3003 (Note that errors and interrupts from inside the try conditional are converted
   3004 to exceptions.  When not caught, they terminate the script after the finally
   3005 clause has been executed.)
   3006 Example: >
   3007 
   3008 :try
   3009 :  let s:saved_ts = &ts
   3010 :  set ts=17
   3011 :
   3012 :  " Do the hard work here.
   3013 :
   3014 :finally
   3015 :  let &ts = s:saved_ts
   3016 :  unlet s:saved_ts
   3017 :endtry
   3018 
   3019 This method should be used locally whenever a function or part of a script
   3020 changes global settings which need to be restored on failure or normal exit of
   3021 that function or script part.
   3022 
   3023 						*break-finally*
   3024 Cleanup code works also when the try block or a catch clause is left by
   3025 a ":continue", ":break", ":return", or ":finish".
   3026   Example: >
   3027 
   3028 :let first = 1
   3029 :while 1
   3030 :  try
   3031 :    if first
   3032 :      echo "first"
   3033 :      let first = 0
   3034 :      continue
   3035 :    else
   3036 :      throw "second"
   3037 :    endif
   3038 :  catch /.*/
   3039 :    echo v:exception
   3040 :    break
   3041 :  finally
   3042 :    echo "cleanup"
   3043 :  endtry
   3044 :  echo "still in while"
   3045 :endwhile
   3046 :echo "end"
   3047 
   3048 This displays "first", "cleanup", "second", "cleanup", and "end". >
   3049 
   3050 :function! Foo()
   3051 :  try
   3052 :    return 4711
   3053 :  finally
   3054 :    echo "cleanup\n"
   3055 :  endtry
   3056 :  echo "Foo still active"
   3057 :endfunction
   3058 :
   3059 :echo Foo() "returned by Foo"
   3060 
   3061 This displays "cleanup" and "4711 returned by Foo".  You don't need to add an
   3062 extra ":return" in the finally clause.  (Above all, this would override the
   3063 return value.)
   3064 
   3065 						*except-from-finally*
   3066 Using either of ":continue", ":break", ":return", ":finish", or ":throw" in
   3067 a finally clause is possible, but not recommended since it abandons the
   3068 cleanup actions for the try conditional.  But, of course, interrupt and error
   3069 exceptions might get raised from a finally clause.
   3070   Example where an error in the finally clause stops an interrupt from
   3071 working correctly: >
   3072 
   3073 :try
   3074 :  try
   3075 :    echo "Press CTRL-C for interrupt"
   3076 :    while 1
   3077 :    endwhile
   3078 :  finally
   3079 :    unlet novar
   3080 :  endtry
   3081 :catch /novar/
   3082 :endtry
   3083 :echo "Script still running"
   3084 :sleep 1
   3085 
   3086 If you need to put commands that could fail into a finally clause, you should
   3087 think about catching or ignoring the errors in these commands, see
   3088 |catch-errors| and |ignore-errors|.
   3089 
   3090 
   3091 CATCHING ERRORS						*catch-errors*
   3092 
   3093 If you want to catch specific errors, you just have to put the code to be
   3094 watched in a try block and add a catch clause for the error message.  The
   3095 presence of the try conditional causes all errors to be converted to an
   3096 exception.  No message is displayed and |v:errmsg| is not set then.  To find
   3097 the right pattern for the ":catch" command, you have to know how the format of
   3098 the error exception is.
   3099   Error exceptions have the following format: >
   3100 
   3101 Vim({cmdname}):{errmsg}
   3102 or >
   3103 Vim:{errmsg}
   3104 
   3105 {cmdname} is the name of the command that failed; the second form is used when
   3106 the command name is not known.  {errmsg} is the error message usually produced
   3107 when the error occurs outside try conditionals.  It always begins with
   3108 a capital "E", followed by a two or three-digit error number, a colon, and
   3109 a space.
   3110 
   3111 Examples:
   3112 
   3113 The command >
   3114 :unlet novar
   3115 normally produces the error message >
   3116 E108: No such variable: "novar"
   3117 which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
   3118 Vim(unlet):E108: No such variable: "novar"
   3119 
   3120 The command >
   3121 :dwim
   3122 normally produces the error message >
   3123 E492: Not an editor command: dwim
   3124 which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
   3125 Vim:E492: Not an editor command: dwim
   3126 
   3127 You can catch all ":unlet" errors by a >
   3128 :catch /^Vim(unlet):/
   3129 or all errors for misspelled command names by a >
   3130 :catch /^Vim:E492:/
   3131 
   3132 Some error messages may be produced by different commands: >
   3133 :function nofunc
   3134 and >
   3135 :delfunction nofunc
   3136 both produce the error message >
   3137 E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
   3138 which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
   3139 Vim(function):E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
   3140 or >
   3141 Vim(delfunction):E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
   3142 respectively.  You can catch the error by its number independently on the
   3143 command that caused it if you use the following pattern: >
   3144 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E128:/
   3145 
   3146 Some commands like >
   3147 :let x = novar
   3148 produce multiple error messages, here: >
   3149 E121: Undefined variable: novar
   3150 E15: Invalid expression:  novar
   3151 Only the first is used for the exception value, since it is the most specific
   3152 one (see |except-several-errors|).  So you can catch it by >
   3153 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E121:/
   3154 
   3155 You can catch all errors related to the name "nofunc" by >
   3156 :catch /\<nofunc\>/
   3157 
   3158 You can catch all Vim errors in the ":write" and ":read" commands by >
   3159 :catch /^Vim(\(write\|read\)):E\d\+:/
   3160 
   3161 You can catch all Vim errors by the pattern >
   3162 :catch /^Vim\((\a\+)\)\=:E\d\+:/
   3163 <
   3164 						*catch-text*
   3165 NOTE: You should never catch the error message text itself: >
   3166 :catch /No such variable/
   3167 only works in the English locale, but not when the user has selected
   3168 a different language by the |:language| command.  It is however helpful to
   3169 cite the message text in a comment: >
   3170 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E108:/   " No such variable
   3171 
   3172 
   3173 IGNORING ERRORS						*ignore-errors*
   3174 
   3175 You can ignore errors in a specific Vim command by catching them locally: >
   3176 
   3177 :try
   3178 :  write
   3179 :catch
   3180 :endtry
   3181 
   3182 But you are strongly recommended NOT to use this simple form, since it could
   3183 catch more than you want.  With the ":write" command, some autocommands could
   3184 be executed and cause errors not related to writing, for instance: >
   3185 
   3186 :au BufWritePre * unlet novar
   3187 
   3188 There could even be such errors you are not responsible for as a script
   3189 writer: a user of your script might have defined such autocommands.  You would
   3190 then hide the error from the user.
   3191   It is much better to use >
   3192 
   3193 :try
   3194 :  write
   3195 :catch /^Vim(write):/
   3196 :endtry
   3197 
   3198 which only catches real write errors.  So catch only what you'd like to ignore
   3199 intentionally.
   3200 
   3201 For a single command that does not cause execution of autocommands, you could
   3202 even suppress the conversion of errors to exceptions by the ":silent!"
   3203 command: >
   3204 :silent! nunmap k
   3205 This works also when a try conditional is active.
   3206 
   3207 
   3208 CATCHING INTERRUPTS					*catch-interrupt*
   3209 
   3210 When there are active try conditionals, an interrupt (CTRL-C) is converted to
   3211 the exception "Vim:Interrupt".  You can catch it like every exception.  The
   3212 script is not terminated, then.
   3213   Example: >
   3214 
   3215 :function! TASK1()
   3216 :  sleep 10
   3217 :endfunction
   3218 
   3219 :function! TASK2()
   3220 :  sleep 20
   3221 :endfunction
   3222 
   3223 :while 1
   3224 :  let command = input("Type a command: ")
   3225 :  try
   3226 :    if command == ""
   3227 :      continue
   3228 :    elseif command == "END"
   3229 :      break
   3230 :    elseif command == "TASK1"
   3231 :      call TASK1()
   3232 :    elseif command == "TASK2"
   3233 :      call TASK2()
   3234 :    else
   3235 :      echo "\nIllegal command:" command
   3236 :      continue
   3237 :    endif
   3238 :  catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/
   3239 :    echo "\nCommand interrupted"
   3240 :    " Caught the interrupt.  Continue with next prompt.
   3241 :  endtry
   3242 :endwhile
   3243 
   3244 You can interrupt a task here by pressing CTRL-C; the script then asks for
   3245 a new command.  If you press CTRL-C at the prompt, the script is terminated.
   3246 
   3247 For testing what happens when CTRL-C would be pressed on a specific line in
   3248 your script, use the debug mode and execute the |>quit| or |>interrupt|
   3249 command on that line.  See |debug-scripts|.
   3250 
   3251 
   3252 CATCHING ALL						*catch-all*
   3253 
   3254 The commands >
   3255 
   3256 :catch /.*/
   3257 :catch //
   3258 :catch
   3259 
   3260 catch everything, error exceptions, interrupt exceptions and exceptions
   3261 explicitly thrown by the |:throw| command.  This is useful at the top level of
   3262 a script in order to catch unexpected things.
   3263   Example: >
   3264 
   3265 :try
   3266 :
   3267 :  " do the hard work here
   3268 :
   3269 :catch /MyException/
   3270 :
   3271 :  " handle known problem
   3272 :
   3273 :catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/
   3274 :    echo "Script interrupted"
   3275 :catch /.*/
   3276 :  echo "Internal error (" .. v:exception .. ")"
   3277 :  echo " - occurred at " .. v:throwpoint
   3278 :endtry
   3279 :" end of script
   3280 
   3281 Note: Catching all might catch more things than you want.  Thus, you are
   3282 strongly encouraged to catch only for problems that you can really handle by
   3283 specifying a pattern argument to the ":catch".
   3284   Example: Catching all could make it nearly impossible to interrupt a script
   3285 by pressing CTRL-C: >
   3286 
   3287 :while 1
   3288 :  try
   3289 :    sleep 1
   3290 :  catch
   3291 :  endtry
   3292 :endwhile
   3293 
   3294 
   3295 EXCEPTIONS AND AUTOCOMMANDS				*except-autocmd*
   3296 
   3297 Exceptions may be used during execution of autocommands.  Example: >
   3298 
   3299 :autocmd User x try
   3300 :autocmd User x   throw "Oops!"
   3301 :autocmd User x catch
   3302 :autocmd User x   echo v:exception
   3303 :autocmd User x endtry
   3304 :autocmd User x throw "Arrgh!"
   3305 :autocmd User x echo "Should not be displayed"
   3306 :
   3307 :try
   3308 :  doautocmd User x
   3309 :catch
   3310 :  echo v:exception
   3311 :endtry
   3312 
   3313 This displays "Oops!" and "Arrgh!".
   3314 
   3315 						*except-autocmd-Pre*
   3316 For some commands, autocommands get executed before the main action of the
   3317 command takes place.  If an exception is thrown and not caught in the sequence
   3318 of autocommands, the sequence and the command that caused its execution are
   3319 abandoned and the exception is propagated to the caller of the command.
   3320   Example: >
   3321 
   3322 :autocmd BufWritePre * throw "FAIL"
   3323 :autocmd BufWritePre * echo "Should not be displayed"
   3324 :
   3325 :try
   3326 :  write
   3327 :catch
   3328 :  echo "Caught:" v:exception "from" v:throwpoint
   3329 :endtry
   3330 
   3331 Here, the ":write" command does not write the file currently being edited (as
   3332 you can see by checking 'modified'), since the exception from the BufWritePre
   3333 autocommand abandons the ":write".  The exception is then caught and the
   3334 script displays: >
   3335 
   3336 Caught: FAIL from BufWrite Auto commands for "*"
   3337 <
   3338 						*except-autocmd-Post*
   3339 For some commands, autocommands get executed after the main action of the
   3340 command has taken place.  If this main action fails and the command is inside
   3341 an active try conditional, the autocommands are skipped and an error exception
   3342 is thrown that can be caught by the caller of the command.
   3343   Example: >
   3344 
   3345 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo "File successfully written!"
   3346 :
   3347 :try
   3348 :  write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
   3349 :catch
   3350 :  echo v:exception
   3351 :endtry
   3352 
   3353 This just displays: >
   3354 
   3355 Vim(write):E212: Can't open file for writing (/i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e)
   3356 
   3357 If you really need to execute the autocommands even when the main action
   3358 fails, trigger the event from the catch clause.
   3359   Example: >
   3360 
   3361 :autocmd BufWritePre  * set noreadonly
   3362 :autocmd BufWritePost * set readonly
   3363 :
   3364 :try
   3365 :  write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
   3366 :catch
   3367 :  doautocmd BufWritePost /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
   3368 :endtry
   3369 <
   3370 You can also use ":silent!": >
   3371 
   3372 :let x = "ok"
   3373 :let v:errmsg = ""
   3374 :autocmd BufWritePost * if v:errmsg != ""
   3375 :autocmd BufWritePost *   let x = "after fail"
   3376 :autocmd BufWritePost * endif
   3377 :try
   3378 :  silent! write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
   3379 :catch
   3380 :endtry
   3381 :echo x
   3382 
   3383 This displays "after fail".
   3384 
   3385 If the main action of the command does not fail, exceptions from the
   3386 autocommands will be catchable by the caller of the command:  >
   3387 
   3388 :autocmd BufWritePost * throw ":-("
   3389 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo "Should not be displayed"
   3390 :
   3391 :try
   3392 :  write
   3393 :catch
   3394 :  echo v:exception
   3395 :endtry
   3396 <
   3397 						*except-autocmd-Cmd*
   3398 For some commands, the normal action can be replaced by a sequence of
   3399 autocommands.  Exceptions from that sequence will be catchable by the caller
   3400 of the command.
   3401   Example:  For the ":write" command, the caller cannot know whether the file
   3402 had actually been written when the exception occurred.  You need to tell it in
   3403 some way. >
   3404 
   3405 :if !exists("cnt")
   3406 :  let cnt = 0
   3407 :
   3408 :  autocmd BufWriteCmd * if &modified
   3409 :  autocmd BufWriteCmd *   let cnt = cnt + 1
   3410 :  autocmd BufWriteCmd *   if cnt % 3 == 2
   3411 :  autocmd BufWriteCmd *     throw "BufWriteCmdError"
   3412 :  autocmd BufWriteCmd *   endif
   3413 :  autocmd BufWriteCmd *   write | set nomodified
   3414 :  autocmd BufWriteCmd *   if cnt % 3 == 0
   3415 :  autocmd BufWriteCmd *     throw "BufWriteCmdError"
   3416 :  autocmd BufWriteCmd *   endif
   3417 :  autocmd BufWriteCmd *   echo "File successfully written!"
   3418 :  autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
   3419 :endif
   3420 :
   3421 :try
   3422 :	write
   3423 :catch /^BufWriteCmdError$/
   3424 :  if &modified
   3425 :    echo "Error on writing (file contents not changed)"
   3426 :  else
   3427 :    echo "Error after writing"
   3428 :  endif
   3429 :catch /^Vim(write):/
   3430 :    echo "Error on writing"
   3431 :endtry
   3432 
   3433 When this script is sourced several times after making changes, it displays
   3434 first >
   3435 File successfully written!
   3436 then >
   3437 Error on writing (file contents not changed)
   3438 then >
   3439 Error after writing
   3440 etc.
   3441 
   3442 						*except-autocmd-ill*
   3443 You cannot spread a try conditional over autocommands for different events.
   3444 The following code is ill-formed: >
   3445 
   3446 :autocmd BufWritePre  * try
   3447 :
   3448 :autocmd BufWritePost * catch
   3449 :autocmd BufWritePost *   echo v:exception
   3450 :autocmd BufWritePost * endtry
   3451 :
   3452 :write
   3453 
   3454 
   3455 EXCEPTION HIERARCHIES AND PARAMETERIZED EXCEPTIONS	*except-hier-param*
   3456 
   3457 Some programming languages allow to use hierarchies of exception classes or to
   3458 pass additional information with the object of an exception class.  You can do
   3459 similar things in Vim.
   3460   In order to throw an exception from a hierarchy, just throw the complete
   3461 class name with the components separated by a colon, for instance throw the
   3462 string "EXCEPT:MATHERR:OVERFLOW" for an overflow in a mathematical library.
   3463   When you want to pass additional information with your exception class, add
   3464 it in parentheses, for instance throw the string "EXCEPT:IO:WRITEERR(myfile)"
   3465 for an error when writing "myfile".
   3466   With the appropriate patterns in the ":catch" command, you can catch for
   3467 base classes or derived classes of your hierarchy.  Additional information in
   3468 parentheses can be cut out from |v:exception| with the ":substitute" command.
   3469   Example: >
   3470 
   3471 :function! CheckRange(a, func)
   3472 :  if a:a < 0
   3473 :    throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:RANGE(" .. a:func .. ")"
   3474 :  endif
   3475 :endfunction
   3476 :
   3477 :function! Add(a, b)
   3478 :  call CheckRange(a:a, "Add")
   3479 :  call CheckRange(a:b, "Add")
   3480 :  let c = a:a + a:b
   3481 :  if c < 0
   3482 :    throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:OVERFLOW"
   3483 :  endif
   3484 :  return c
   3485 :endfunction
   3486 :
   3487 :function! Div(a, b)
   3488 :  call CheckRange(a:a, "Div")
   3489 :  call CheckRange(a:b, "Div")
   3490 :  if (a:b == 0)
   3491 :    throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:ZERODIV"
   3492 :  endif
   3493 :  return a:a / a:b
   3494 :endfunction
   3495 :
   3496 :function! Write(file)
   3497 :  try
   3498 :    execute "write" fnameescape(a:file)
   3499 :  catch /^Vim(write):/
   3500 :    throw "EXCEPT:IO(" .. getcwd() .. ", " .. a:file .. "):WRITEERR"
   3501 :  endtry
   3502 :endfunction
   3503 :
   3504 :try
   3505 :
   3506 :  " something with arithmetic and I/O
   3507 :
   3508 :catch /^EXCEPT:MATHERR:RANGE/
   3509 :  let function = substitute(v:exception, '.*(\(\a\+\)).*', '\1', "")
   3510 :  echo "Range error in" function
   3511 :
   3512 :catch /^EXCEPT:MATHERR/	" catches OVERFLOW and ZERODIV
   3513 :  echo "Math error"
   3514 :
   3515 :catch /^EXCEPT:IO/
   3516 :  let dir = substitute(v:exception, '.*(\(.\+\),\s*.\+).*', '\1', "")
   3517 :  let file = substitute(v:exception, '.*(.\+,\s*\(.\+\)).*', '\1', "")
   3518 :  if file !~ '^/'
   3519 :    let file = dir .. "/" .. file
   3520 :  endif
   3521 :  echo 'I/O error for "' .. file .. '"'
   3522 :
   3523 :catch /^EXCEPT/
   3524 :  echo "Unspecified error"
   3525 :
   3526 :endtry
   3527 
   3528 The exceptions raised by Vim itself (on error or when pressing CTRL-C) use
   3529 a flat hierarchy:  they are all in the "Vim" class.  You cannot throw yourself
   3530 exceptions with the "Vim" prefix; they are reserved for Vim.
   3531   Vim error exceptions are parameterized with the name of the command that
   3532 failed, if known.  See |catch-errors|.
   3533 
   3534 
   3535 PECULIARITIES
   3536 						*except-compat*
   3537 The exception handling concept requires that the command sequence causing the
   3538 exception is aborted immediately and control is transferred to finally clauses
   3539 and/or a catch clause.
   3540 
   3541 In the Vim script language there are cases where scripts and functions
   3542 continue after an error: in functions without the "abort" flag or in a command
   3543 after ":silent!", control flow goes to the following line, and outside
   3544 functions, control flow goes to the line following the outermost ":endwhile"
   3545 or ":endif".  On the other hand, errors should be catchable as exceptions
   3546 (thus, requiring the immediate abortion).
   3547 
   3548 This problem has been solved by converting errors to exceptions and using
   3549 immediate abortion (if not suppressed by ":silent!") only when a try
   3550 conditional is active.  This is no restriction since an (error) exception can
   3551 be caught only from an active try conditional.  If you want an immediate
   3552 termination without catching the error, just use a try conditional without
   3553 catch clause.  (You can cause cleanup code being executed before termination
   3554 by specifying a finally clause.)
   3555 
   3556 When no try conditional is active, the usual abortion and continuation
   3557 behavior is used instead of immediate abortion.  This ensures compatibility of
   3558 scripts written for Vim 6.1 and earlier.
   3559 
   3560 However, when sourcing an existing script that does not use exception handling
   3561 commands (or when calling one of its functions) from inside an active try
   3562 conditional of a new script, you might change the control flow of the existing
   3563 script on error.  You get the immediate abortion on error and can catch the
   3564 error in the new script.  If however the sourced script suppresses error
   3565 messages by using the ":silent!" command (checking for errors by testing
   3566 |v:errmsg| if appropriate), its execution path is not changed.  The error is
   3567 not converted to an exception.  (See |:silent|.)  So the only remaining cause
   3568 where this happens is for scripts that don't care about errors and produce
   3569 error messages.  You probably won't want to use such code from your new
   3570 scripts.
   3571 
   3572 						*except-syntax-err*
   3573 Syntax errors in the exception handling commands are never caught by any of
   3574 the ":catch" commands of the try conditional they belong to.  Its finally
   3575 clauses, however, is executed.
   3576   Example: >
   3577 
   3578 :try
   3579 :  try
   3580 :    throw 4711
   3581 :  catch /\(/
   3582 :    echo "in catch with syntax error"
   3583 :  catch
   3584 :    echo "inner catch-all"
   3585 :  finally
   3586 :    echo "inner finally"
   3587 :  endtry
   3588 :catch
   3589 :  echo 'outer catch-all caught "' .. v:exception .. '"'
   3590 :  finally
   3591 :    echo "outer finally"
   3592 :endtry
   3593 
   3594 This displays: >
   3595    inner finally
   3596    outer catch-all caught "Vim(catch):E54: Unmatched \("
   3597    outer finally
   3598 The original exception is discarded and an error exception is raised, instead.
   3599 
   3600 						*except-single-line*
   3601 The ":try", ":catch", ":finally", and ":endtry" commands can be put on
   3602 a single line, but then syntax errors may make it difficult to recognize the
   3603 "catch" line, thus you better avoid this.
   3604   Example: >
   3605 :try | unlet! foo # | catch | endtry
   3606 raises an error exception for the trailing characters after the ":unlet!"
   3607 argument, but does not see the ":catch" and ":endtry" commands, so that the
   3608 error exception is discarded and the "E488: Trailing characters" message gets
   3609 displayed.
   3610 
   3611 						*except-several-errors*
   3612 When several errors appear in a single command, the first error message is
   3613 usually the most specific one and therefore converted to the error exception.
   3614   Example: >
   3615 echo novar
   3616 causes >
   3617 E121: Undefined variable: novar
   3618 E15: Invalid expression: novar
   3619 The value of the error exception inside try conditionals is: >
   3620 Vim(echo):E121: Undefined variable: novar
   3621 <							*except-syntax-error*
   3622 But when a syntax error is detected after a normal error in the same command,
   3623 the syntax error is used for the exception being thrown.
   3624   Example: >
   3625 unlet novar #
   3626 causes >
   3627 E108: No such variable: "novar"
   3628 E488: Trailing characters
   3629 The value of the error exception inside try conditionals is: >
   3630 Vim(unlet):E488: Trailing characters
   3631 This is done because the syntax error might change the execution path in a way
   3632 not intended by the user.  Example: >
   3633 try
   3634     try | unlet novar # | catch | echo v:exception | endtry
   3635 catch /.*/
   3636     echo "outer catch:" v:exception
   3637 endtry
   3638 This displays "outer catch: Vim(unlet):E488: Trailing characters", and then
   3639 a "E600: Missing :endtry" error message is given, see |except-single-line|.
   3640 
   3641 ==============================================================================
   3642 9. Examples						*eval-examples*
   3643 
   3644 Printing in Binary ~
   3645 >
   3646  :" The function Nr2Bin() returns the binary string representation of a number.
   3647  :func Nr2Bin(nr)
   3648  :  let n = a:nr
   3649  :  let r = ""
   3650  :  while n
   3651  :    let r = '01'[n % 2] .. r
   3652  :    let n = n / 2
   3653  :  endwhile
   3654  :  return r
   3655  :endfunc
   3656 
   3657  :" The function String2Bin() converts each character in a string to a
   3658  :" binary string, separated with dashes.
   3659  :func String2Bin(str)
   3660  :  let out = ''
   3661  :  for ix in range(strlen(a:str))
   3662  :    let out = out .. '-' .. Nr2Bin(char2nr(a:str[ix]))
   3663  :  endfor
   3664  :  return out[1:]
   3665  :endfunc
   3666 
   3667 Example of its use: >
   3668  :echo Nr2Bin(32)
   3669 result: "100000" >
   3670  :echo String2Bin("32")
   3671 result: "110011-110010"
   3672 
   3673 
   3674 Sorting lines ~
   3675 
   3676 This example sorts lines with a specific compare function. >
   3677 
   3678  :func SortBuffer()
   3679  :  let lines = getline(1, '$')
   3680  :  call sort(lines, function("Strcmp"))
   3681  :  call setline(1, lines)
   3682  :endfunction
   3683 
   3684 As a one-liner: >
   3685  :call setline(1, sort(getline(1, '$'), function("Strcmp")))
   3686 <
   3687 
   3688 scanf() replacement ~
   3689 						*sscanf*
   3690 There is no sscanf() function in Vim.  If you need to extract parts from a
   3691 line, you can use matchstr() and substitute() to do it.  This example shows
   3692 how to get the file name, line number and column number out of a line like
   3693 "foobar.txt, 123, 45". >
   3694   :" Set up the match bit
   3695   :let mx='\(\f\+\),\s*\(\d\+\),\s*\(\d\+\)'
   3696   :"get the part matching the whole expression
   3697   :let l = matchstr(line, mx)
   3698   :"get each item out of the match
   3699   :let file = substitute(l, mx, '\1', '')
   3700   :let lnum = substitute(l, mx, '\2', '')
   3701   :let col = substitute(l, mx, '\3', '')
   3702 
   3703 The input is in the variable "line", the results in the variables "file",
   3704 "lnum" and "col". (idea from Michael Geddes)
   3705 
   3706 
   3707 getting the scriptnames in a Dictionary ~
   3708 					*scriptnames-dictionary*
   3709 The `:scriptnames` command can be used to get a list of all script files that
   3710 have been sourced.  There is also the `getscriptinfo()` function, but the
   3711 information returned is not exactly the same.  In case you need to manipulate
   3712 the output of `scriptnames` this code can be used: >
   3713    " Get the output of ":scriptnames" in the scriptnames_output variable.
   3714    let scriptnames_output = ''
   3715    redir => scriptnames_output
   3716    silent scriptnames
   3717    redir END
   3718 
   3719    " Split the output into lines and parse each line.	Add an entry to the
   3720    " "scripts" dictionary.
   3721    let scripts = {}
   3722    for line in split(scriptnames_output, "\n")
   3723      " Only do non-blank lines.
   3724      if line =~ '\S'
   3725 " Get the first number in the line.
   3726 let nr = matchstr(line, '\d\+')
   3727 " Get the file name, remove the script number " 123: ".
   3728 let name = substitute(line, '.\+:\s*', '', '')
   3729 " Add an item to the Dictionary
   3730 let scripts[nr] = name
   3731      endif
   3732    endfor
   3733    unlet scriptnames_output
   3734 
   3735 ==============================================================================
   3736 The sandbox					*eval-sandbox* *sandbox*
   3737 
   3738 The 'foldexpr', 'formatexpr', 'includeexpr', 'indentexpr', 'statusline' and
   3739 'foldtext' options may be evaluated in a sandbox.  This means that you are
   3740 protected from these expressions having nasty side effects.  This gives some
   3741 safety for when these options are set from a modeline.  It is also used when
   3742 the command from a tags file is executed and for CTRL-R = in the command line.
   3743 The sandbox is also used for the |:sandbox| command.
   3744 
   3745 							*E48*
   3746 These items are not allowed in the sandbox:
   3747 - changing the buffer text
   3748 - defining or changing mapping, autocommands, user commands
   3749 - setting certain options (see |option-summary|)
   3750 - setting certain v: variables (see |v:var|)  *E794*
   3751 - executing a shell command
   3752 - reading or writing a file
   3753 - jumping to another buffer or editing a file
   3754 - executing Python, Perl, etc. commands
   3755 This is not guaranteed 100% secure, but it should block most attacks.
   3756 
   3757 						*:san* *:sandbox*
   3758 :san[dbox] {cmd}	Execute {cmd} in the sandbox.  Useful to evaluate an
   3759 		option that may have been set from a modeline, e.g.
   3760 		'foldexpr'.
   3761 
   3762 						*sandbox-option*
   3763 A few options contain an expression.  When this expression is evaluated it may
   3764 have to be done in the sandbox to avoid a security risk.  But the sandbox is
   3765 restrictive, thus this only happens when the option was set from an insecure
   3766 location.  Insecure in this context are:
   3767 - sourcing a .nvimrc or .exrc in the current directory
   3768 - while executing in the sandbox
   3769 - value coming from a modeline
   3770 - executing a function that was defined in the sandbox
   3771 
   3772 Note that when in the sandbox and saving an option value and restoring it, the
   3773 option will still be marked as it was set in the sandbox.
   3774 
   3775 ==============================================================================
   3776 Textlock							*textlock*
   3777 
   3778 In a few situations it is not allowed to change the text in the buffer, jump
   3779 to another window and some other things that might confuse or break what Vim
   3780 is currently doing.  This mostly applies to things that happen when Vim is
   3781 actually doing something else.  For example, a TextYankPost autocommand cannot
   3782 edit the text it is yanking.
   3783 
   3784 This is not allowed when the textlock is active:
   3785 - changing the buffer text
   3786 - jumping to another buffer or window
   3787 - editing another file
   3788 - closing a window or quitting Vim
   3789 - etc.
   3790 
   3791 ==============================================================================
   3792 Vim script library					*vimscript-library*
   3793 
   3794 Vim comes bundled with a Vim script library, that can be used by runtime,
   3795 script authors.  Currently, it only includes very few functions, but it may
   3796 grow over time.
   3797 
   3798 							*dist#vim*
   3799 The functions make use of the autoloaded prefix "dist#vim".
   3800 
   3801 The following functions are available:
   3802 
   3803 dist#vim#IsSafeExecutable(filetype, executable) ~
   3804 
   3805 This function takes a filetype and an executable and checks whether it is safe
   3806 to execute the given executable.  For security reasons users may not want to
   3807 have Vim execute random executables or may have forbidden to do so for
   3808 specific filetypes by setting the "<filetype>_exec" variable (|plugin_exec|).
   3809 
   3810 It returns |TRUE| or |FALSE| to indicate whether the plugin should run the given
   3811 executable.  It takes the following arguments:
   3812 
   3813 argument	type ~
   3814 
   3815 filetype	string
   3816 executable	string
   3817 
   3818 ==============================================================================
   3819 Command-line expressions highlighting		*expr-highlight*
   3820 
   3821 Expressions entered by the user in |i_CTRL-R_=|, |c_CTRL-\_e|, |quote=| are
   3822 highlighted by the built-in expressions parser.  It uses highlight groups
   3823 described in the table below, which may be overridden by colorschemes.
   3824 						*hl-NvimInvalid*
   3825 Besides the "Nvim"-prefixed highlight groups described below, there are
   3826 "NvimInvalid"-prefixed highlight groups which have the same meaning but
   3827 indicate that the token contains an error or that an error occurred just
   3828 before it.  They have mostly the same hierarchy, except that (by default) in
   3829 place of any non-Nvim-prefixed group NvimInvalid linking to `Error` is used
   3830 and some other intermediate groups are present.
   3831 
   3832 Group                              Default link            Colored expression ~
   3833 *hl-NvimInternalError*               None, red/red           Parser bug
   3834 
   3835 *hl-NvimAssignment*                  Operator                Generic assignment
   3836 *hl-NvimPlainAssignment*             NvimAssignment          `=` in |:let|
   3837 *hl-NvimAugmentedAssignment*         NvimAssignment          Generic, `+=`/`-=`/`.=`
   3838 *hl-NvimAssignmentWithAddition*      NvimAugmentedAssignment `+=` in |:let+=|
   3839 *hl-NvimAssignmentWithSubtraction*   NvimAugmentedAssignment `-=` in |:let-=|
   3840 *hl-NvimAssignmentWithConcatenation* NvimAugmentedAssignment `.=` in |:let.=|
   3841 
   3842 *hl-NvimOperator*                    Operator                Generic operator
   3843 
   3844 *hl-NvimUnaryOperator*               NvimOperator            Generic unary op
   3845 *hl-NvimUnaryPlus*                   NvimUnaryOperator       |expr-unary-+|
   3846 *hl-NvimUnaryMinus*                  NvimUnaryOperator       |expr-unary--|
   3847 *hl-NvimNot*                         NvimUnaryOperator       |expr-!|
   3848 
   3849 *hl-NvimBinaryOperator*              NvimOperator            Generic binary op
   3850 *hl-NvimComparison*                  NvimBinaryOperator      Any |expr4| operator
   3851 *hl-NvimComparisonModifier*          NvimComparison          `#`/`?` near |expr4| op
   3852 *hl-NvimBinaryPlus*                  NvimBinaryOperator      |expr-+|
   3853 *hl-NvimBinaryMinus*                 NvimBinaryOperator      |expr--|
   3854 *hl-NvimConcat*                      NvimBinaryOperator      |expr-.|
   3855 *hl-NvimConcatOrSubscript*           NvimConcat              |expr-.| or |expr-entry|
   3856 *hl-NvimOr*                          NvimBinaryOperator      |expr-barbar|
   3857 *hl-NvimAnd*                         NvimBinaryOperator      |expr-&&|
   3858 *hl-NvimMultiplication*              NvimBinaryOperator      |expr-star|
   3859 *hl-NvimDivision*                    NvimBinaryOperator      |expr-/|
   3860 *hl-NvimMod*                         NvimBinaryOperator      |expr-%|
   3861 
   3862 *hl-NvimTernary*                     NvimOperator            `?` in |expr1|
   3863 *hl-NvimTernaryColon*                NvimTernary             `:` in |expr1|
   3864 
   3865 *hl-NvimParenthesis*                 Delimiter               Generic bracket
   3866 *hl-NvimLambda*                      NvimParenthesis         `{`/`}` in |lambda|
   3867 *hl-NvimNestingParenthesis*          NvimParenthesis         `(`/`)` in |expr-nesting|
   3868 *hl-NvimCallingParenthesis*          NvimParenthesis         `(`/`)` in |expr-function|
   3869 
   3870 *hl-NvimSubscript*                   NvimParenthesis         Generic subscript
   3871 *hl-NvimSubscriptBracket*            NvimSubscript           `[`/`]` in |expr-[]|
   3872 *hl-NvimSubscriptColon*              NvimSubscript           `:` in |expr-[:]|
   3873 *hl-NvimCurly*                       NvimSubscript           `{`/`}` in
   3874                                                           |curly-braces-names|
   3875 
   3876 *hl-NvimContainer*                   NvimParenthesis         Generic container
   3877 *hl-NvimDict*                        NvimContainer           `{`/`}` in |dict| literal
   3878 *hl-NvimList*                        NvimContainer           `[`/`]` in |list| literal
   3879 
   3880 *hl-NvimIdentifier*                  Identifier              Generic identifier
   3881 *hl-NvimIdentifierScope*             NvimIdentifier          Namespace: letter
   3882                                                           before `:` in
   3883                                                           |internal-variables|
   3884 *hl-NvimIdentifierScopeDelimiter*    NvimIdentifier          `:` after namespace
   3885                                                           letter
   3886 *hl-NvimIdentifierName*              NvimIdentifier          Rest of the ident
   3887 *hl-NvimIdentifierKey*               NvimIdentifier          Identifier after
   3888                                                           |expr-entry|
   3889 
   3890 *hl-NvimColon*                       Delimiter               `:` in |dict| literal
   3891 *hl-NvimComma*                       Delimiter               `,` in |dict| or |list|
   3892                                                           literal or
   3893                                                           |expr-function|
   3894 *hl-NvimArrow*                       Delimiter               `->` in |lambda|
   3895 
   3896 *hl-NvimRegister*                    SpecialChar             |expr-register|
   3897 *hl-NvimNumber*                      Number                  Non-prefix digits
   3898                                                           in integer
   3899                                                           |expr-number|
   3900 *hl-NvimNumberPrefix*                Type                    `0` for |octal-number|
   3901                                                           `0x` for |hex-number|
   3902                                                           `0b` for |binary-number|
   3903 *hl-NvimFloat*                       NvimNumber              Floating-point
   3904                                                           number
   3905 
   3906 *hl-NvimOptionSigil*                 Type                    `&` in |expr-option|
   3907 *hl-NvimOptionScope*                 NvimIdentifierScope     Option scope if any
   3908 *hl-NvimOptionScopeDelimiter*        NvimIdentifierScopeDelimiter
   3909                                                           `:` after option scope
   3910 *hl-NvimOptionName*                  NvimIdentifier          Option name
   3911 
   3912 *hl-NvimEnvironmentSigil*            NvimOptionSigil         `$` in |expr-env|
   3913 *hl-NvimEnvironmentName*             NvimIdentifier          Env variable name
   3914 
   3915 *hl-NvimString*                      String                  Generic string
   3916 *hl-NvimStringBody*                  NvimString              Generic string
   3917                                                           literal body
   3918 *hl-NvimStringQuote*                 NvimString              Generic string quote
   3919 *hl-NvimStringSpecial*               SpecialChar             Generic string
   3920                                                           non-literal body
   3921 
   3922 *hl-NvimSingleQuote*                 NvimStringQuote         `'` in |expr-'|
   3923 *hl-NvimSingleQuotedBody*            NvimStringBody          Literal part of
   3924                                                           |expr-'| string body
   3925 *hl-NvimSingleQuotedQuote*           NvimStringSpecial       `''` inside |expr-'|
   3926                                                           string body
   3927 
   3928 *hl-NvimDoubleQuote*                 NvimStringQuote         `"` in |expr-quote|
   3929 *hl-NvimDoubleQuotedBody*            NvimStringBody          Literal part of
   3930                                                           |expr-quote| body
   3931 *hl-NvimDoubleQuotedEscape*          NvimStringSpecial       Valid |expr-quote|
   3932                                                           escape sequence
   3933 *hl-NvimDoubleQuotedUnknownEscape*   NvimInvalidValue        Unrecognized
   3934                                                           |expr-quote| escape
   3935                                                           sequence
   3936 
   3937 vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl: