VIM set autoindent -- not working from config file

introuble · 11-16-2006, 07:15 AM

In /etc/vim/vimrc I have added: "set autoindent".
This doesn't turn autoindenting on.

In ~/.vimrc I have added: "set autoindent".
This doesn't turn autoindenting on.

If, whilst I'm in VIM, I type: ":set ai", it turns autoindent on.

Any ideas why it doesn't work when I specify it in the config. files?

tronayne · 11-16-2006, 09:55 AM

Here's an alternative (that'll work with every vi, real or clone).

In you home directory, create a file .exrc with this content:

Code:

set autoindent showmode showmatch

Log out, log back in, and there you go.

You may not like showmode (it just displays the mode you're in; e.g., "open"), but you will like showmatch -- anytime you type an open paren, brace, or bracket when you type the closing paren, brace, or bracket the cursor will jump to show you the match; handy, that. And, of course, autoindent does what you want it to.

introuble · 11-16-2006, 12:55 PM

Doesn't work. Could someone post a vimrc file?

fordeck · 11-16-2006, 01:13 PM

On a FC 3 machine you could find the following file.

/usr/share/vim/vim63/vimrc_example.vim

and copy it to ~/.vimrc or just cut and paste the options you like. However I find that it provides alot of functionality one of which is setting your autoindent.

Note:
The file may be in a different directory on your system. But you could find with the following command:

Code:

find / -iname '*vimrc*' 2>/dev/null

Also here is a link that I find to be a great reference when it comes to VI.

slakmagik · 11-16-2006, 01:26 PM

You could also try ':verbose set ai?' to see if something's overriding you. If you have filetypes enabled, they may be doing something weird, for instance.

introuble · 11-17-2006, 07:08 AM

I reverted back to original debian config files and it's working now [didn't have to specify "set ai" :-/]