How do I "source" something in my .vimrc file?
Files in your .vim/plugin directory are sourced (loaded) automatically.
There is always the :source file command. I usually write .vimrc
that contains custom commands and what not for the console application and then a .gvimrc
that contains additional goodies that are appropriate for a windowed version. My .gvimrc
starts with source $HOME/.vimrc
to pick up everything from the console version before adding in new stuff.
Sourcing a file is 'executing' it. Essentially, each line of the file is considered a command. Sourcing it is the same as typing each command in order. You source with the command :source
(usually shortened to :so
).
So if you source myStuff.vim
:so myStuff.vim
and if myStuff.vim
contained these lines
set xx iI just intersted this<C-]>
set yy bbbb4dw
It's the same as if you typed those commands into Vim
:set xx iI just intersted this<C-]>
:set yy bbbb4dw
The only file sourced by default is the .vimrc
(_vimrc
on windows) so that's a place you can keep all the commands you use to set up Vim every time.
Where it gets interesting is the fact that since a sourced file is just a series of commands, and sourcing is a command, you can source files from your source files. So plugins you use every time could be sourced when you start up Vim by adding a line to your .vimrc
like this
so myPlugin.vim