Vim multiline editing like in sublimetext?

Question

I started to use gvim, and I can\'t quite understand how the multiline edit works in gvim.

For example:

Original text:

asd asd asd asd asd;
asd a         


        

Answer 1

Do yourself a favor by dropping the Windows compatibility layer.

The normal shortcut for entering Visual-Block mode is .

Others have dealt with recording macros, here are a few other ideas:

Using only visual-block mode.

1. Put the cursor on the second word:

   asd |a|sd asd asd asd;
   asd asd asd asd asd;
   asd asd asd asd asd;
   asd asd asd asd asd;
   asd asd asd asd asd;
   asd asd asd asd asd;
   asd asd asd asd asd;
   

2. Hit to enter visual-block mode and expand your selection toward the bottom:

   asd [a]sd asd asd asd;
   asd [a]sd asd asd asd;
   asd [a]sd asd asd asd;
   asd [a]sd asd asd asd;
   asd [a]sd asd asd asd;
   asd [a]sd asd asd asd;
   asd [a]sd asd asd asd;
   

3. Hit I" to obtain:

   asd "asd asd asd asd;
   asd "asd asd asd asd;
   asd "asd asd asd asd;
   asd "asd asd asd asd;
   asd "asd asd asd asd;
   asd "asd asd asd asd;
   asd "asd asd asd asd;
   

4. Put the cursor on the last char of the third word:

   asd "asd as|d| asd asd;
   asd "asd asd asd asd;
   asd "asd asd asd asd;
   asd "asd asd asd asd;
   asd "asd asd asd asd;
   asd "asd asd asd asd;
   asd "asd asd asd asd;
   

5. Hit to enter visual-block mode and expand your selection toward the bottom:

   asd "asd as[d] asd asd;
   asd "asd as[d] asd asd;
   asd "asd as[d] asd asd;
   asd "asd as[d] asd asd;
   asd "asd as[d] asd asd;
   asd "asd as[d] asd asd;
   asd "asd as[d] asd asd;
   

6. Hit A" to obtain:

   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   

With visual-block mode and Surround.vim.

1. Put the cursor on the second word:

   asd |a|sd asd asd asd;
   asd asd asd asd asd;
   asd asd asd asd asd;
   asd asd asd asd asd;
   asd asd asd asd asd;
   asd asd asd asd asd;
   asd asd asd asd asd;
   

2. Hit to enter visual-block mode and expand your selection toward the bottom and the right:

   asd [asd asd] asd asd;
   asd [asd asd] asd asd;
   asd [asd asd] asd asd;
   asd [asd asd] asd asd;
   asd [asd asd] asd asd;
   asd [asd asd] asd asd;
   asd [asd asd] asd asd;
   

3. Hit S" to surround your selection with ":

   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   

With visual-line mode and :normal.

1. Hit V to select the whole line and expand it toward the bottom:

   [asd asd asd asd asd;]
   [asd asd asd asd asd;]
   [asd asd asd asd asd;]
   [asd asd asd asd asd;]
   [asd asd asd asd asd;]
   [asd asd asd asd asd;]
   [asd asd asd asd asd;]
   

2. Execute this command: :'<,'>norm ^wi"eea" to obtain:

   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   asd "asd asd" asd asd;
   

   • :norm[al] allows you to execute normal mode commands on a range of lines (the '<,'> part is added automatically by Vim and means "act on the selected area")

   • ^ puts the cursor on the first char of the line

   • w moves to the next word

   • i" inserts a " before the cursor

   • is Vim's way to input a control character in this context, here it's used to exit insert mode

   • ee moves to the end of the next word

   • a" appends a " after the cursor

   • executes the command

   Using Surround.vim, the command above becomes

   :'<,'>norm ^wvees"