Vim / Neovim Command-line, Help, and Sessions

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Use the command line efficiently, navigate help, and save working context with sessions.

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## Ex command-line essentials

Write and quit

↗#

:w  :q  :wq  :q!

# Save your changes or exit cleanly.

Insert shell output into buffer

↗#

:read !date

# Read command output below the cursor line.

Run a shell command

↗#

:!ls

# Execute a command without leaving the editor.

Open the command-line window

↗#

q:

# Edit command history in a full window.

## Built-in help system

Open a help topic

↗#

:help registers

# View docs for a keyword or command.

Look up special key notation

↗#

:help CTRL-W

# Search for control-key topics and special commands.

Open help for word under cursor

↗#

# Jump into help based on the current token.

## Sessions and arglists

Save a session file

↗#

:mksession! Session.vim

# Store tabs, windows, and buffers.

Load a session file

↗#

nvim -S Session.vim
vim -S Session.vim

# Restore a saved editing workspace.

Use the argument list

↗#

:args *.ts  :next  :prev

# Populate and navigate an arglist for multi-file tasks.

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