How to close buffer without closing the window

vim

I usually open a few windows and keep some buffers open. Since my MO in buffer exploring is to use quick shortcuts to :bn and :bp, I want to close unneeded buffers from distracting my buffer surfing.

But the pain is, issuing :bd and :bw results in closing the window as well, in case I have multiple ones open. How do I close (delete) a buffer and leave the windows intact?

Solution inspired by @peth's answer

:command! BW :bn|:bd#

It is simple. Doesn't work well with only one buffer open (I get different behaviour depending on the way I open the files) but it isn't a big issue. 🙂

Best Answer

It can be a pain, this question is raised over and over on #vim (Freenode), too.

Some people recommend not deleting buffers and switching with :b partial<Tab> instead of :bn, which works, but isn't what you're asking.

The best way I know of to do that is to switch to another buffer and then :bd#, which you could map, of course.

See also Deleting a buffer without closing the window on the Vim wikia.

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i do not think so. the only solution which comes to mind is to create a new keybinding which

:vnew
ctrl-w left
ctrl-w q

instead of just closing the current buffer.

How to keep a buffer list per window in Vim

IMHO, What you really need is a Work Space manager.

you can find one for vim @ http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=1410

It will provide you following commands:

:WsAddFile              Add a new file to the workspace.                  
:WsAddGroup             Add a new group to the workspace.                 
:WsClose                Close the workspace window.                       
:WsInsertFile           Insert a file.                                    
:WsInsertGroup  Insert a group.                                           
:WsOpen         Open a workspace and display it in a window.              
:WsRun          Run a command using the selected unquoted file names.     
:WsRunq         Run a command using the selected quoted file names.       
:WsSave         Save the workspace.                                       
:WsSessionOpen  Open the workspace and Vim session.                       
:WsSessionSave  Save the workspace and the Vim session.                   
:WsToggle               Open or Close the workspace window.

I've a screen shot of working with Workspace manager with 4+ windows posted on my fb, you can view it there (which is public).

It's not exactly a list of buffers as you wanted it, but you can open files in different windows, and in multiple buffers in same window.

In the later case, workspace manager will serve as a buffer list. As you can see in screenshot, I've grouped files into different groups.

This is as close as what you can get, AFIK.

Good day.

Solution inspired by @peth's answer

Best Answer

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Mac – way to “lock” the viewport in vim

How to keep a buffer list per window in Vim

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