sponsor Vim development Vim logo Vim Book Ad

System : A way to use system commands with `: !`

 script karma  Rating 23/9, Downloaded by 3527  Comments, bugs, improvements  Vim wiki

created by
Marcin Szamotulski
 
script type
utility
 
description
I# System Vim Plugin

This is a tiny vim script which might have been discovered ages ago (but I am
unaware). Its rather for vim than gvim users.

When executing commands from vim you enter a vim shell where you see the
output. In many situations this is not what you want and you'd prefer
```viml
    :call system("command")
```
but it is a lot to type, and you don't have completion. With this snippet
every command which starts with:
```viml
    :! command
```
(note the space after the `!`) will be wrapped into `system()` and the output
will be echoed. The plugin refreshes the history with what you typed rather
than the call to the `system()` function.

There are some configuration variables:
```viml
    g:system_expand = 1
```
by default `%` (with modifiers) is expanded in the same way as by the `:!`.
```viml
    g:system_echocmd = 0
```
echo the command together with its output (by default off).

The reason why I like it is that I have different background colors in vim
(dark) and terminal (light). If I stay inside vim I am not flushed with
bright colors which is a annoying (and may be eyes tiring).

Benefits: you get completion for system commands and system files.

You can use the expression register with Vim 7.3.686.  With an earlier version
you will not be able to use it.

# Requirements
You have to also install [CRDispatcher](https://github.com/coot/CRDispatcher)
plugin.

I learned how to do that reading the
[EmacsCommandLine Plugin](https://github.com/houtsnip/vim-emacscommandline).

Other plugins with shell like functionality:
* [vim-addon-async](https://github.com/MarcWeber/vim-addon-async)
* [Conque Shell Plugin](http://code.google.com/p/conque)
* [VimProc Plugin](http://github.com/Shougo/vimproc/tree/master/doc/vimproc.txt)

## Copyright
© Marcin Szamotulski, 2012-2014

## License
Vim license, see :help license
 
install details
First install http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=4856 then put the vim script file in to your plugin folder.
 

rate this script Life Changing Helpful Unfulfilling 
script versions (upload new version)

Click on the package to download.

package script version date Vim version user release notes
system.vim 5 2014-03-01 7.3 Marcin Szamotulski Updated version.  Please also update: http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=4856 .
system.vim 4 2014-02-07 7.0 Marcin Szamotulski New version.  Also install: http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=4856 .
system.vim 3 2014-02-02 7.3 Marcin Szamotulski Update to make it work with my new plugin Enchanted Vim (persistent very magic option) http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=4849
system.vim 2 2012-09-22 7.0 Marcin Szamotulski Handles command line history.
system.vim 1 2012-09-21 7.0 Marcin Szamotulski Initial upload
ip used for rating: 142.132.191.50

If you have questions or remarks about this site, visit the vimonline development pages. Please use this site responsibly.
Questions about Vim should go to the maillist. Help Bram help Uganda.
   
Vim at Github