Show ]I, [I, ]D, [D, :ilist and :dlist results — even spanning multiple files — in the quickfix window.

list.md

This gist is no longer maintained.

See https://github.com/romainl/vim-qlist for an up-to-date version.

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My Vim-related gists.

list.vim

" This is an updated, more powerful, version of the function discussed here:
" http://www.reddit.com/r/vim/comments/1rzvsm/do_any_of_you_redirect_results_of_i_to_the/

" The purpose of this function is to make the results of ']I', '[I', ']D', '[D', ':ilist' and ':dlist'
" easier to navigate and more persistant by using the quickfix window instead of the default list-like interface.

function! List(command, selection, start_at_cursor, ...)
    " Derive the commands used below from the first argument.
    let excmd   = a:command . "list"
    let normcmd = toupper(a:command)

    " If we are operating on a visual selection, redirect the output of '[I', ']I', '[D' or ']D'.
    " If we don't, redirect the output of ':ilist argument' or ':dlist argument'.
    let output  = ""
    if a:selection
        if a:0 > 0 && len(a:1) > 0
            let search_pattern = a:1
        else
            let old_reg = @v
            normal! gv"vy
            let search_pattern = substitute(escape(@v, '\/.*$^~[]'), '\\n', '\\n', 'g')
            let @v = old_reg
        endif
        redir => output
        silent! execute (a:start_at_cursor ? '+,$' : '') . excmd . ' /' . search_pattern
        redir END
    else
        redir => output
        silent! execute 'normal! ' . (a:start_at_cursor ? ']' : '[') . normcmd
        redir END
    endif
    
    " Clean up the output.
    let lines = split(output, '\n')
    
    " Bail out on errors.
    if lines[0] =~ '^Error detected'
        echomsg 'Could not find "' . (a:selection ? search_pattern : expand("<cword>")) . '".'
        return
    endif
    
    " Our results may span multiple files so we need to build a relatively complex list based on filenames.
    let filename   = ""
    let qf_entries = []
    for line in lines
        if line !~ '^\s*\d\+:'
            let filename = split(line, '\.\./')[-1]
        else
            let lnum = split(line)[1]
            let text = substitute(line, '^\s*.\{-}:\s*\S\{-}\s\s', "", "")
            let col  = match(text, a:selection ? search_pattern : expand("<cword>")) + 2
            call add(qf_entries, {"filename" : filename, "lnum" : lnum, "col" : col, "text" : text})
        endif
    endfor
    
    " Build the quickfix list from our results.
    call setqflist(qf_entries)
    
    " Open the quickfix window if there is something to show.
    cwindow
endfunction

" Override the built-in [I and ]I.
nnoremap <silent> [I :call List("i", 0, 0)<CR>
nnoremap <silent> ]I :call List("i", 0, 1)<CR>
" Add [I and ]I for visual mode.
xnoremap <silent> [I :<C-u>call List("i", 1, 0)<CR>
xnoremap <silent> ]I :<C-u>call List("i", 1, 1)<CR>
" Add the :Ilist command.
command! -nargs=1 Ilist call List("i", 1, 0, <f-args>)

" Override the built-in [D and ]D.
nnoremap <silent> [D :call List("d", 0, 0)<CR>
nnoremap <silent> ]D :call List("d", 0, 1)<CR>
" Add [D and ]D for visual mode.
xnoremap <silent> [D :<C-u>call List("d", 1, 0)<CR>
xnoremap <silent> ]D :<C-u>call List("d", 1, 1)<CR>
" Add the :Dlist command.
command! -nargs=1 Dlist call List("d", 1, 0, <f-args>)

I'm wondering if I should turn this thing into an actual plugin. On one hand it would help tracking issues, on the other hand this function may be too small for that.

This gist is no longer maintained. See romainl/vim-qlist.