How to get visually selected text in VimScript

Question

I\'m able to get the cursor position with getpos(), but I want to retrieve the selected text within a line, that is \'<,\'>.

Answer 1

Overview:

visually select, press mapping, reselect original selection with gv and copy it to a register, finally paste from the register

Use case:

1. Add function Test() to your vimrc:

function! Test() range
exe 'sp temp.tmp'
exe 'norm p'
endfunction

2. Open a new file
3. Create the mapping ,m
   :vmap ,m :norm gvy:call Test()
4. visually select some text
5. press ,m (the selection is gone, but 'norm gv' reselects it and 'y' yanks it to current register)
6. Test() is called: file temp.tmp is opened and 'norm p' pastes from current register, which is the original visual selection