Renaming the current file in Vim

Question

How should I rename my current file in Vim?

For example:

• I am editing person.html_erb_spec.rb
• I would like it renamed to person

Answer 1

• Write the file while editing - :w newname - to create a copy.
• Start editing the new copy - :e#.
• (Optionally) remove the old copy - :!rm oldname.

On Windows, the optional 3rd step changes a little:

• (Optionally) remove old Windows copy - :!del oldname.

Answer 2

There's a sightly larger plugin called vim-eunuch by Tim Pope that includes a rename function as well as some other goodies (delete, find, save all, chmod, sudo edit, ...).

To rename a file in vim-eunuch:

:Move filename.ext

Compared to rename.vim:

:rename[!] filename.ext

Saves a few keystrokes :)

Answer 3

Short, secure, without plugin:

:sav new_name
:!rm <C-R>#  // or !del <C-R># for windows

control + R, # will instantly expand to an alternate-file (previously edited path in current window) before pressing Enter. That allows us to review what exactly we're going to delete. Using pipe | in such a case is not secure, because if sav fails for any reason, # will still point to another place (or to nothing). That means !rm # or delete(expand(#)) may delete completely different file! So do it by hand carefully or use good script (they are mentioned in many answers here).

Educational

...or try build a function/command/script yourself. Start from sth simple like:

command! -nargs=1 Rename saveas <args> | call delete(expand('#')) | bd #

after vimrc reload, just type :Rename new_filename. What is the problem with this command?

Security test 1: What does:Rename without argument?

Yes, it deletes file hidden in '#' !

Solution: you can use eg. conditions or try statement like that:

command! -nargs=1 Rename try | saveas <args> | call delete(expand('#')) | bd # | endtry

Security test 1: :Rename (without argument) will throw an error:

E471: Argument required

Security test 2: What if the name will be the same like previous one?

Security test 3: What if the file will be in different location than your actual?

Fix it yourself. For readability you can write it in this manner:

function! s:localscript_name(name):
  try
    execute 'saveas ' . a:name
    ...
  endtry
endfunction
command! -nargs=1 Rename call s:localscript_name(<f-args>)

---

notes

• !rm # is better than !rm old_name -> you don't need remember the old name

• !rm <C-R># is better than !rm # when do it by hand -> you will see what you actually remove (safety reason)

• !rm is generally not very secure... mv to a trash location is better

• call delete(expand('#')) is better than shell command (OS agnostic) but longer to type and impossible to use control + R

• try | code1 | code2 | tryend -> when error occurs while code1, don't run code2

• :sav (or :saveas) is equivalent to :f new_name | w - see file_f - and preserves undo history

• expand('%:p') gives whole path of your location (%) or location of alternate file (#)

Answer 4

I'm doing it with NERDTree plugin:

:NERDTreeFind

then press m

To rename you can choose (m)ove the current node and change file name. Also there are options like delete, copy, move, etc...

Answer 5

I'd recommend :Rename from tpope's eunuch for this.

It also includes a bunch of other handy commands.

The Rename command is defined as follows therein currently (check the repo for any updates!):

command! -bar -nargs=1 -bang -complete=file Rename :
  \ let s:file = expand('%:p') |
  \ setlocal modified |
  \ keepalt saveas<bang> <args> |
  \ if s:file !=# expand('%:p') |
  \   call delete(s:file) |
  \ endif |
  \ unlet s:file

Answer 6

Vim does have a rename function, but unfortunately it does not retain the history.

The easiest OS agnostic way to rename a file without losing the history would be:

:saveas new_file_name
:call delete(expand('#:p'))

expand('#:p') returns the full path of the older file.

Use :bd # if you also want to delete the older file from the buffer list.

Or create a plugin

If you want to use a quick command to rename the file, add a new file under ~/.vim/plugin with the following contents:

function! s:rename_file(new_file_path)
  execute 'saveas ' . a:new_file_path
  call delete(expand('#:p'))
  bd #
endfunction

command! -nargs=1 -complete=file Rename call <SID>rename_file(<f-args>)

The command Rename will help you to quickly rename a file.