vim backspace problem (no, not THAT one!)

mad_pear · 03-03-2005, 02:16 PM

Hi,

When I'm in insert mode in vim, the backspace key works fine to delete any newly inserted text. However, once it reaches a point where the text was created using an earlier edit, it just beeps and will not erase any further. I've tried several versions of vim (6.2 and 6.3) including a binary that works fine on another linux box (different distribution though), which suggests that its not a problem with the editor itself. Running Slackware 9.1 if it matters, same problem in console mode or kde. Any ideas? Thanks.

Mad

bulliver · 03-03-2005, 02:40 PM

Works fine for me in 6.3

I think your problem is that you are in old-school vi compatible mode. You can test using (in command mode):

Code:

:set compatable?

If the response is "compatible" then edit your vimrc file and add:

Code:

set nocompatible

Save and restart vim...

mad_pear · 03-03-2005, 11:59 PM

Hi,

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. It wasn't the compatibility flag though. I just needed to add

set backspace=start,eol,indent

to my .vimrc file.

Mad

mrbass21 · 07-14-2009, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad_pear

Hi,

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. It wasn't the compatibility flag though. I just needed to add

set backspace=start,eol,indent

to my .vimrc file.

Mad

You beautiful bastard. That problem has plagued me forever on a home server and it was annoying me to no end. Thank you! Fixed my problem too.

Edit: Running FreeBSD 6.3 BTW