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File-local variables : Set/let per-file-variables à la Emacs

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created by
Tom Link
 
script type
utility
 
description
This plugin tries to mimic Emacs's file local variables feature. File local
variables are kept in a section in the last g:localVariablesRange
(default=30) lines of a file (this variable also defines the maximum number
of file local variables). E.g., in this example >

    Local Variables:
    foo:1
    bar:"bla"
    End:

the variable b:foo will be set to "1" (which, in vim, equals 1), b:bar
to "bla" after opening the file.

The beginning of the section is marked with g:localVariablesBegText
(default="Local Variables:"), the end with g:localVariablesEndText
(default="End:"). These markers can be surrounded by arbitrary prefix and
suffix markers. These (optional) prefixes and suffixes must be consistent for
the whole section. The prefix and suffix are defined by the end-marker.
Example: >

    ### Local Variables: ###
    ### foo:1 ###
    ### bar:"bla" ###
    ### End: ###
<
                                                    *g:localVariablesDownCaseHyphenedNames*
                                                    *localvariables-hyphens*
If a variable name contains a hyphen ("-"), the variable name will be
translated into a buffer local variable in camel case, i.e. "comment-start"
becomes "b:commentStart". A hyphendized variable's scope is always "b". If
g:localVariablesDownCaseHyphenedNames (default=1) is true, then the variable
name will be downcased first for compatibility reasons -- as (emacs) lisp is
case insensitive. I.e., "COMMENT-START" becomes "b:commentStart", too.


                                                    *localvariables-values*
A small note on value handling: For security reasons, all normal values
(i.e., anything but |localvariables-special|) are put in quotes unless
the value already matches "^\\([\"']\\)[^\"]*\\1$".


                                                    *localvariables-transpose*
In order to be "compatible" with, e.g, Emacs's file local variables, it might be
necessary to translate some variable names.

You can use also variables with the prefix "g:localVariableX" for
translating variable names without scope definitions. Example: >

    let g:localVariableXtabWidth = "&tabstop"
    ---
    ### Local Variables: ###
    ### tab-width:4 ###
    ### End: ###

This would set the buffer-local option |tabstop| to 4. (Which could of course
be achieved with a vim line, too.)

As an alternative, you can also define a function with the prefix
"LocalVariableX" which will be called with the value as single argument.  
This provides a controlled way for executing commands when loading/editing
a file. By defining a function "LocalVariableXmode", this can be used to
reuse Emacs's mode annotations for files that don't match the usual file
patterns. Example: >

    fun! LocalVariableXfoo(arg)
        if a:arg == "0"
            GoFoo
        elseif a:arg == "1"
            GoBar
        endif
    endfun
    ---
    ### Local Variables: ###
    ### foo:0 ###
    ### End: ###

This example would execute GoFoo or GoBar depending on the value of the file
local variable foo.


                                                    *localvariables-definition*
A variable definition has the form (as regexp): >

((scope char:)?(variable|special name)|hyphened name):value

If no scope character is given, the variable is buffer local ("b"-scope).

If the scope character is "&", |setlocal| will be used to set the variable.

                                                      *localvariables-special*
If the scope is ":", the variable name is interpreted as a special name:

                                                      *localvariables-execute*
- execute: The value of s:localVariablesAllowExec can't be changed by this
  script. (The first 4 letters of "execute" are essential.)

                                                      *localvariables-events*
                                                      *LocalVariablesRegisterHook*
- On{event}: The value is registered for execution when the denoted
  autocommand event occurs. You have to register LocalVariables for use with
  this event by using the command >

   :LocalVariablesRegisterHook EVENT
<
  Use this feature, e.g., for recompiling some files after saving.

                                                      *s:localVariablesAllowExec*
The value of s:localVariablesAllowExec (default=1) defines if the execution
of special variables is allowed. Values: >

0 ... disable
1 ... query user, default = no
2 ... query user, default = yes
3 ... allow

NOTE: You most likely have to edit the plugin to change this variable.

NOTE: A change from 0 to [1-3] takes effect only after reloading the plugin!

NOTE: |input()| appears to make problems when opening a file - vim (6.2)
appears to hang. When a gui is running, use |inputdialog()| for querying
the user. I don't know if |input()| works on a terminal.

                                                      *localvariables-security-risks*
CAVEAT: Be aware that "special values" are evaluated with |execute|.  
This potentially pushes vim ahead in the era of computer viruses/worms.
Take care.

Example:
Execute >

LocalVariablesRegisterHook! BufWritePre

and put something like this at the end of a file: >

### Local Variables: ###
### b:variable1:1 ###
### g:variable2:"2" ###
### variable3:"three" ###
### tab-width:4 ###
### ::exec:echo "Got it!" ###
### ::OnBufWritePre:call inputdialog("You shouldn't have written this text") ###
### End: ###
 
install details
1. Extract the archive to your vimfiles directory. Run |helptags| on this directory.

2. Insert something like this into your .vimrc: >

autocmd BufReadPost * call LocalVariablesCheck()

Or rather: >

autocmd BufEnter    * call LocalVariablesCheck()

3. Optionally, read |localvariables-security-risks| and register some events as in: >

LocalVariablesRegisterHook! BufWritePre

When calling LocalVariablesCheck(), the buffer will only be scanned once.  
Force an re-evaluation of file local variables by calling
LocalVariablesReCheck().

Also available via git
http://github.com/tomtom/vimtlib/tree/master
 

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script versions (upload new version)

Click on the package to download.

package script version date Vim version user release notes
localvariables.zip 2.0 2004-03-14 6.0 Tom Link Security fixes; support for autocmd events
localvariables.vim 183 2003-12-19 6.0 Tom Link Bug fixes. You can now define a function of the name LocalVariableX{name} for translating variable names. This is useful for handling Emacs's "mode" pseudo-variable.
localvariables.vim 143 2003-12-09 6.0 Tom Link Initial upload
ip used for rating: 142.132.191.50

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