In /usr/share/vim/vimrc have you commented set mouse=a ?

Oh, IMHO, when set mouse=a, drag with left button could trigger visual mode, in which the selected content is handdled by vim internally but not X. So we cannot copy things out when mouse=a. But when set mouse=r, dragging mouse will not trigger visual mode so the selected content is passed to X. So we can copy things out.

Hmm,it's a pity that we cannot copy things out while in visual mode...

I think you have some conflict, perhaps in a vimrc you added
or something. Not only on 6 boxen on this LAN, but all other
computers where I've installed Slackware (I build and repair
them), commenting set mouse=a in /usr/share/vim/vimrc enables
highlighting with the left button and pasting with the middle
button -- everywhere.

Oh, yes. I'm sorry... I set mouse=a in ~/.vimrc ... ;(

Basically, set mouse=r, will let you copy from vim to X.

However, I rather have set mouse=a, where I can point to anywhere in the file using mouse. I don't copy things from vim to X very often. But if I want to do it, I write :set mouse=r real quick and copy it to the X.

Somehow my instructions are too complicated, or your
~/.vimrc files are overruling the system wide one, or
I am not understanding your problems or posts ...
I wrote that in GViM, and saved it. Then reopened it
and dragged the text with the left mouse button. Then
I copied it into here with the middle mouse button.

That is copying from ViM to X. As stated before, I can
copy and paste to and from ViM and every app in this way,
no matter where I start ViM from, too.

Also, it works for me with USB mouse, USB wireless mouse,
USB wireless mouse/kbd combo, PS/2 mouse, touchpad and
synaptic mouse. Only one I haven't tried it with is the
bluetooth mouse which default Slack kernel doesn't even
detect. When I have time for a custom kernel to get that
rodent working, I'll try it.

Maybe I'm missing something here and you can help me.

Ok ... lets get a few things cleared up ...

we are all talking about Slackware 12.1 stock install - no changes to the vim package ...

from inside xterm (while X is running i.e ) , open vim (thus the question of GPM doesn't arise)
I couldn't copy to-from vim ,

:set mouse=a allowed copy to vim
:set mouse=r allowed copy from vim


This is a pain in ass .. in earlier slackware versions I am pretty sure I could copy in either direction.

I tried recompiling with the --with-x option (by editing Pat's slackbuild .. but there was no difference)

Now ... how did anyone else solve this ?


I don't have a personal .vimrc nor have I touched the main vimrc.

Once again, might I suggest you "touch" the main vimrc?

I can't remember if this bad behavior first started in vim
with Slack-12.0, or 12.1 -- however, doing just what you see
above allows me to copy into and out of vim into and out of
any app on my box.

I have installed the new version of these apps from Slack-12.1
patches, but vim-7.1.285-i486-1 worked the same. And it is now
working the same on many other boxen.

doesn't really matter .. if you read the rest of the post .. I have manually done 'set mouse=a' and 'set mouse=r' and shared the results.

OK, I'm using VIM7.2 from current but I think it shouldn't be a problem since there is no changes in copying part as far as I can see.

In my condition:

:set mouse=a allowed copy to vim (via middle-click)
:set mouse=r allowed copy from vim (via drag selection and middle-click in other space) and copy to vim (via middle-click)

I don't think touch /usr/share/vim/vimrc is a good idea because all the work can be done via edit ~/.vimrc. This doesn't hurt the root system.

Whatever ... my vim works. :D

for gvim, how to always use the system clipboard
 

how to fix gvim to use the clipboard directly: read the online help!

according to
:help clipboard

When the "unnamed" string is included in the 'clipboard' option, the unnamed register is the same as the "* register. Thus you can yank to and paste the selection without prepending "* to commands.

So check the output of
:set clipboard?

and add in ,unnamed,

for example, in my .vimrc,

set clipboard=autoselect,unnamed,exclude:cons\|linux

You still need to press yy to yank and p to paste, but it's easier than "*yy and "*p

set mouse-=a

Another handy thing to add to vimrc is great for pasting if you have autoindent on

does work for me on all computers and all vim versions. Either "set mouse=" in ~/.vimrc or type ":set mouse=" while working in vim.

I use the Slackbuild in /source to rebuild vim with the --with-x flag.