Vi command: howto insert '\n' at column 80?

jhwilliams · 08-15-2007, 09:28 AM

Hello,

I have a very long file, and I would like to insert an '\n' character before every word that contains a character on column 80. The word containing the character at column 80 would then be placed after the '\n' (on the next line.)

I am sure there must be a vi command for this, but I am too inexperienced with it to know where to begin. Would appreciate help from an experienced UNIX VIteran. (hoho.)

Thanks -
Jameson

raskin · 08-15-2007, 09:58 AM

I failed to find any easier way than to insert the following function in .vimrc:

Code:

function! WordWrap(n)
	let v:errmsg=""
	while v:errmsg==""
		exe "normal /.\\{".a:n."}/e? a"
	endwhile
endfunction
command! -nargs=1 WordWrap call WordWrap(<f-args>)

So ':WordWrap 80 ' will do after that.

jhwilliams · 08-15-2007, 12:19 PM

Thanks!

Unfortunately, this is beyond my VI knowledge and I'm having a problem:

On the line:

Code:

exe "normal /.\\{".a:n."}/e? a(stuff)"

I am seeing a box with "001B" written in it (where I have "stuff" written) after /e? a

This is an ASCII ESC character, '\e', right?

When I change the segment in question to a(backslash)e , source my rc file and go to use vi, the function enters an infinite loop.

Perhaps I also do not understand what the function's argument is supposed to be.

- Jameson

raskin · 08-15-2007, 01:03 PM

The part up to "/e" was rendered correctly.. It is direct slash, not backslash.
After it you should press (in Vim):

Code:

<Ctrl-V> <Enter> <?> <Space> <Ctrl-V> <Enter> <a> <Ctrl-V> 
<Enter> <Ctrl-V> <Esc> <DoubleQuote ">

Keypresses are space-separated and <>-enclosed.

Argument is column number. What it does is cyclically simulates keypresses.
/.\{80}/e<Enter>
-- this looks for a line 80 characters long and puts cursor on its end.
? <Enter>
-- this goes to last space before that position.
a<Enter><Esc>
--this adds newline character after this space.

You should see:

Code:

exe "normal /.\\{".a:n."}/e^M? ^Ma^M^["

jhwilliams · 08-15-2007, 01:40 PM

Thanks! It is working now. However, I get this error everytime I use it when it finishes:

Code:

Error detected while processing function WW:
line    3:
E486: Pattern not found: .\{80}

My .vimrc looks like this in VIM:

Code:

function! WW(n)
   let v:errmsg=""
   while v:errmsg==""
     exe "normal /.\\{".a:n."}/e^M? ^Ma^M^["
  endwhile
 endfunction
 command! -nargs=1 WW call WW(<f-args>)

Any idea what this about - can I get rid of it somehow, to polish the thing off?

raskin · 08-15-2007, 02:07 PM

I'm not sure. Really this error is the condition on which endless loop exits. Try writing

Code:

 command! -nargs=1 WW silent! call WW(<f-args>)