1 *if_perl.txt* For Vim version 7.4. Last change: 2012 Oct 25
4 VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Sven Verdoolaege
7 Perl and Vim *perl* *Perl*
9 1. Editing Perl files |perl-editing|
10 2. Compiling VIM with Perl interface |perl-compiling|
11 3. Using the Perl interface |perl-using|
12 4. Dynamic loading |perl-dynamic|
14 {Vi does not have any of these commands}
16 The Perl interface only works when Vim was compiled with the |+perl| feature.
18 ==============================================================================
19 1. Editing Perl files *perl-editing*
21 Vim syntax highlighting supports Perl and POD files. Vim assumes a file is
22 Perl code if the filename has a .pl or .pm suffix. Vim also examines the first
23 line of a file, regardless of the filename suffix, to check if a file is a
24 Perl script (see scripts.vim in Vim's syntax directory). Vim assumes a file
25 is POD text if the filename has a .POD suffix.
27 To use tags with Perl, you need a recent version of Exuberant ctags. Look
29 http://ctags.sourceforge.net
31 Alternatively, you can use the Perl script pltags.pl, which is shipped with
32 Vim in the $VIMRUNTIME/tools directory. This script has currently more
33 features than Exuberant ctags' Perl support.
35 ==============================================================================
36 2. Compiling VIM with Perl interface *perl-compiling*
38 To compile Vim with Perl interface, you need Perl 5.004 (or later). Perl must
39 be installed before you compile Vim. Vim's Perl interface does NOT work with
40 the 5.003 version that has been officially released! It will probably work
41 with Perl 5.003_05 and later.
43 The Perl patches for Vim were made by:
44 Sven Verdoolaege <skimo@breughel.ufsia.ac.be>
47 Perl for MS-Windows can be found at: http://www.perl.com/
48 The ActiveState one should work.
50 ==============================================================================
51 3. Using the Perl interface *perl-using*
54 :pe[rl] {cmd} Execute Perl command {cmd}. The current package
55 is "main". Simple example to test if `:perl` is
57 :perl VIM::Msg("Hello")
59 :pe[rl] << {endpattern}
62 Execute Perl script {script}.
63 {endpattern} must NOT be preceded by any white space.
64 If {endpattern} is omitted, it defaults to a dot '.'
65 like for the |:append| and |:insert| commands. Using
66 '.' helps when inside a function, because "$i;" looks
67 like the start of an |:insert| command to Vim.
68 This form of the |:perl| command is mainly useful for
69 including perl code in vim scripts.
70 Note: This command doesn't work when the Perl feature
71 wasn't compiled in. To avoid errors, see
77 function! WhitePearl()
79 VIM::Msg("pearls are nice for necklaces");
80 VIM::Msg("rubys for rings");
81 VIM::Msg("pythons for bags");
88 :[range]perld[o] {cmd} Execute Perl command {cmd} for each line in the
89 [range], with $_ being set to the text of each line in
90 turn, without a trailing <EOL>. Setting $_ will change
91 the text, but note that it is not possible to add or
92 delete lines using this command.
93 The default for [range] is the whole file: "1,$".
95 Here are some things you can try: >
98 :perldo $_ = reverse($_);1
99 :perl VIM::Msg("hello")
100 :perl $line = $curbuf->Get(42)
103 Executing Perl commands in the |sandbox| is limited. ":perldo" will not be
104 possible at all. ":perl" will be evaluated in the Safe environment, if
109 Here is an overview of the functions that are available to Perl: >
111 :perl VIM::Msg("Text") # displays a message
112 :perl VIM::Msg("Error", "ErrorMsg") # displays an error message
113 :perl VIM::Msg("remark", "Comment") # displays a highlighted message
114 :perl VIM::SetOption("ai") # sets a vim option
115 :perl $nbuf = VIM::Buffers() # returns the number of buffers
116 :perl @buflist = VIM::Buffers() # returns array of all buffers
117 :perl $mybuf = (VIM::Buffers('qq.c'))[0] # returns buffer object for 'qq.c'
118 :perl @winlist = VIM::Windows() # returns array of all windows
119 :perl $nwin = VIM::Windows() # returns the number of windows
120 :perl ($success, $v) = VIM::Eval('&path') # $v: option 'path', $success: 1
121 :perl ($success, $v) = VIM::Eval('&xyz') # $v: '' and $success: 0
122 :perl $v = VIM::Eval('expand("<cfile>")') # expands <cfile>
123 :perl $curwin->SetHeight(10) # sets the window height
124 :perl @pos = $curwin->Cursor() # returns (row, col) array
125 :perl @pos = (10, 10)
126 :perl $curwin->Cursor(@pos) # sets cursor to @pos
127 :perl $curwin->Cursor(10,10) # sets cursor to row 10 col 10
128 :perl $mybuf = $curwin->Buffer() # returns the buffer object for window
129 :perl $curbuf->Name() # returns buffer name
130 :perl $curbuf->Number() # returns buffer number
131 :perl $curbuf->Count() # returns the number of lines
132 :perl $l = $curbuf->Get(10) # returns line 10
133 :perl @l = $curbuf->Get(1 .. 5) # returns lines 1 through 5
134 :perl $curbuf->Delete(10) # deletes line 10
135 :perl $curbuf->Delete(10, 20) # delete lines 10 through 20
136 :perl $curbuf->Append(10, "Line") # appends a line
137 :perl $curbuf->Append(10, "Line1", "Line2", "Line3") # appends 3 lines
138 :perl @l = ("L1", "L2", "L3")
139 :perl $curbuf->Append(10, @l) # appends L1, L2 and L3
140 :perl $curbuf->Set(10, "Line") # replaces line 10
141 :perl $curbuf->Set(10, "Line1", "Line2") # replaces lines 10 and 11
142 :perl $curbuf->Set(10, @l) # replaces 3 lines
145 VIM::Msg({msg}, {group}?)
146 Displays the message {msg}. The optional {group}
147 argument specifies a highlight group for Vim to use
151 VIM::SetOption({arg}) Sets a vim option. {arg} can be any argument that the
152 ":set" command accepts. Note that this means that no
153 spaces are allowed in the argument! See |:set|.
156 VIM::Buffers([{bn}...]) With no arguments, returns a list of all the buffers
157 in an array context or returns the number of buffers
158 in a scalar context. For a list of buffer names or
159 numbers {bn}, returns a list of the buffers matching
160 {bn}, using the same rules as Vim's internal
161 |bufname()| function.
162 WARNING: the list becomes invalid when |:bwipe| is
163 used. Using it anyway may crash Vim.
166 VIM::Windows([{wn}...]) With no arguments, returns a list of all the windows
167 in an array context or returns the number of windows
168 in a scalar context. For a list of window numbers
169 {wn}, returns a list of the windows with those
171 WARNING: the list becomes invalid when a window is
172 closed. Using it anyway may crash Vim.
175 VIM::DoCommand({cmd}) Executes Ex command {cmd}.
178 VIM::Eval({expr}) Evaluates {expr} and returns (success, value) in list
179 context or just value in scalar context.
180 success=1 indicates that val contains the value of
181 {expr}; success=0 indicates a failure to evaluate
182 the expression. '@x' returns the contents of register
183 x, '&x' returns the value of option x, 'x' returns the
184 value of internal |variables| x, and '$x' is equivalent
185 to perl's $ENV{x}. All |functions| accessible from
186 the command-line are valid for {expr}.
187 A |List| is turned into a string by joining the items
188 and inserting line breaks.
191 Window->SetHeight({height})
192 Sets the Window height to {height}, within screen
196 Window->Cursor({row}?, {col}?)
197 With no arguments, returns a (row, col) array for the
198 current cursor position in the Window. With {row} and
199 {col} arguments, sets the Window's cursor position to
200 {row} and {col}. Note that {col} is numbered from 0,
201 Perl-fashion, and thus is one less than the value in
204 Window->Buffer() *perl-Buffer*
205 Returns the Buffer object corresponding to the given
209 Buffer->Name() Returns the filename for the Buffer.
212 Buffer->Number() Returns the number of the Buffer.
215 Buffer->Count() Returns the number of lines in the Buffer.
218 Buffer->Get({lnum}, {lnum}?, ...)
219 Returns a text string of line {lnum} in the Buffer
220 for each {lnum} specified. An array can be passed
221 with a list of {lnum}'s specified.
224 Buffer->Delete({lnum}, {lnum}?)
225 Deletes line {lnum} in the Buffer. With the second
226 {lnum}, deletes the range of lines from the first
227 {lnum} to the second {lnum}.
230 Buffer->Append({lnum}, {line}, {line}?, ...)
231 Appends each {line} string after Buffer line {lnum}.
232 The list of {line}s can be an array.
235 Buffer->Set({lnum}, {line}, {line}?, ...)
236 Replaces one or more Buffer lines with specified
237 {lines}s, starting at Buffer line {lnum}. The list of
238 {line}s can be an array. If the arguments are
239 invalid, replacement does not occur.
242 The current window object.
245 The current buffer object.
249 When using a script language in-line, you might want to skip this when the
250 language isn't supported. But this mechanism doesn't work: >
256 Instead, put the Perl/Python/Ruby/etc. command in a function and call that
266 Note that "EOF" must be at the start of the line.
268 ==============================================================================
269 4. Dynamic loading *perl-dynamic*
271 On MS-Windows and Unix the Perl library can be loaded dynamically. The
272 |:version| output then includes |+perl/dyn|.
274 This means that Vim will search for the Perl DLL or shared library file only
275 when needed. When you don't use the Perl interface you don't need it, thus
276 you can use Vim without this file.
281 You can download Perl from http://www.perl.org. The one from ActiveState was
282 used for building Vim.
284 To use the Perl interface the Perl DLL must be in your search path.
285 If Vim reports it cannot find the perl512.dll, make sure your $PATH includes
286 the directory where it is located. The Perl installer normally does that.
287 In a console window type "path" to see what directories are used.
289 The name of the DLL must match the Perl version Vim was compiled with.
290 Currently the name is "perl512.dll". That is for Perl 5.12. To know for
291 sure edit "gvim.exe" and search for "perl\d*.dll\c".
293 ==============================================================================
294 vim:tw=78:ts=8:ft=help:norl: