Vim map a key combination while in insert mode

vim

This is probably an easy question for most vim users.

I want to map :tabn to <C-Tab>. It works perfectly while I'm in normal mode but when I'm in my insert mode (typing code) it just inserts tabs characters.

In my vimrc file I have

map <C-Tab> :tabn<CR>

Any ideas?
Thanks!

Best Answer

Try this:

:imap <C-Tab> <Esc>:tabn<CR>

That will leave you in normal mode after switching to the next tab. You could instead use this:

:imap <C-Tab> <C-O>:tabn<CR>

which will put you back into insert mode in the next tab at the position where you left the cursor in that tab.

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Lost left/right cursor keys in VIM insert mode

It may be that somehow the keys have become mapped to a command. Type :mapCtrlV→ to see if the right arrow has been mapped, and the same for left arrow after.

Vim: strange behavior of “\” in insert mode

You've identified the problem: \ is being used as the first character of an imap. To find out where it is being set you can execute

:verbose imap \

I don't have any solution other than to eliminate the mapping or unmap it when you're editing TeX files. You can do that by putting a line like this in a file named ~/.vim/after/ftplugin/tex.vim on Unix or ~\vimfiles\after\ftplugin\tex.vim on Windows:

silent! iunmap \x

where you would replace x by the corresponding part of the offending mapping.

I use LaTeX a little, have the Vim-LaTeX-Suite installed, and do not see that behavior, so at least it's not a problem with that suite.

Best Answer

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Lost left/right cursor keys in VIM insert mode

Vim: strange behavior of “\” in insert mode

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