This document provides an overview of useful Vim commands for working with Rails projects, including commands for opening and navigating between files, editing text, running specs, and recommended plugins. Some key commands covered are NERDTree for file browsing, ctags for navigating code definitions, gf and Rcommands for navigating between related files, surround for text manipulation, and Rake for running specs. Useful split window commands and plugins like Fuzzy Finder are also mentioned.

1. Vim Eye For the Rails Guy Working with Multiple Files
:e path/to/filename – edit file
Karmen Blake
:NERDTree – opens left hand file explorer
http://blog.dudeblake.com
ctags
control+] - navigate to definition
Movement
control+t - navigate back on stack
command + <arrows>
g+] - list all occurrences of word
h l k j – left, right, up, down
:tags – shows tag stack
b w – word left, word right
:tag <method or class definition> - open or list
:tag /<definition> - search substring
Insert/Append Text
:Rfind substring of filename – search for, give you options
i – start insert mode
to open file/directory in Rails project
a – append after cursor
:Renvironment – opens environment.rb by default
o – open blank line below current line
:Rinitializer – opens routes.rb by default
Esc – exit insert mode
:A – alternate file most often the spec file
:R – related file, read rails.vim docs
Editing
gf – mac daddy go anywhere command
u – undo last command
if clicked anywhere in relevant string it will do its
control + p – autocomplete word
best to go to related file. Examples with tons more
column edit
in rails.vim docs,
control + v (visual block)
Po*st.find ---> models/post.rb
use arrows to select column to replace
has_many :c*omments ---> models/comment.rb
c + new text + Esc
gt – switch between open tabs
indent
<leader>b – view all buffers and select one (open files)
:> - indents current line
:bd – close a buffer (file)
:>> - indents current line twice
:> # - indent # of lines
Opening windows
:>> # - indents twice # of lines
:sp path/to/filename – open file in horizontal split window
surround
:vsp path/to/filename – open file in vertical split window
cs<old><new> (cs“*)
:AS – open alternate file in horizontal split
ds<delimiter> – remove delimiters
:AV – open alternate file in vertical split
csw<delimiter> - surrounds word
:RS – open related file in horizontal split
yss<delimiter> - surround line
:RV – open related file in vertical split
Running Specs
Marking Text
:.Rake – runs one spec
v – start visual mode
:Rake – runs whole spec suite
V – start Linewise visual mode
Exit
Visual Commands
command + s (save)
aw – select word
:w – save but don't exit
ap – select paragraph
:wq – save and exit
:q! - quit and ignores edits
Copy/Cut and Paste
yy – yank (copy) line
Vim Plugins
dd – delete (cut) line
• Rails: http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=1567
p – put (paste) clipboard after cursor
• Fuzzy Finder: http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?
Search/Replace script_id=1984
•
/pattern – search for pattern NERDTree: http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=1658
n – repeat search forward • surround: http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=1697
:set hlsearch – highlight all results of search
:nohlsearch to turn off highlights
:%s/old/new/g – replace all old with new in file
:begline#,endline#/old/new/g – replace old with new
between beg/end line #s