runtime(doc): Improve doc for cmdline-autocompletion

- Address https://github.com/vim/vim/pull/18219#issuecomment-3264634710
- Make the cmdline-autocompletion help more user friendly

closes: #18245

Signed-off-by: Girish Palya <girishji@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: Christian Brabandt <cb@256bit.org>
This commit is contained in:
Girish Palya
2025-09-08 16:25:42 -04:00
committed by Christian Brabandt
parent 3980c86525
commit d7d6a6f05a
3 changed files with 96 additions and 22 deletions

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@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
*builtin.txt* For Vim version 9.1. Last change: 2025 Sep 06
*builtin.txt* For Vim version 9.1. Last change: 2025 Sep 08
VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar
@ -12407,7 +12407,6 @@ wildmenumode() *wildmenumode()*
wildtrigger() *wildtrigger()*
Start wildcard expansion in the command-line, using the
behavior defined by the 'wildmode' and 'wildoptions' settings.
See |cmdline-completion|.
This function also enables completion in search patterns such
as |/|, |?|, |:s|, |:g|, |:v| and |:vimgrep|.
@ -12415,23 +12414,15 @@ wildtrigger() *wildtrigger()*
Unlike pressing 'wildchar' manually, this function does not
produce a beep when no matches are found and generally
operates more quietly. This makes it suitable for triggering
completion automatically, such as from an |:autocmd|.
completion automatically.
Note: After navigating command-line history, the first call to
wildtrigger() is a no-op; a second call is needed to start
expansion. This is to support history navigation in
command-line autocompletion.
See |cmdline-autocompletion|.
*cmdline-autocompletion*
Example: To make the completion menu pop up automatically
while typing on the command line: >
autocmd CmdlineChanged [:/\?] call wildtrigger()
set wildmode=noselect:lastused,full wildoptions=pum
<
To retain normal history navigation with the up/down keys: >
cnoremap <expr> <Up> wildmenumode() ? "\<C-E>\<Up>" : "\<Up>"
cnoremap <expr> <Down> wildmenumode() ? "\<C-E>\<Down>" : "\<Down>"
<
To apply an option only during a search, for example to set
'pumheight': >
autocmd CmdlineEnter [/\?] set pumheight=8
autocmd CmdlineLeave [/\?] set pumheight&
<
Return value is always 0.
Return type: |Number|

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@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
*cmdline.txt* For Vim version 9.1. Last change: 2025 Aug 08
*cmdline.txt* For Vim version 9.1. Last change: 2025 Sep 08
VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar
@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ Basic command line editing is explained in chapter 20 of the user manual
5. Ex command-line flags |ex-flags|
6. Ex special characters |cmdline-special|
7. Command-line window |cmdline-window|
8. Command-line autocompletion |cmdline-autocompletion|
==============================================================================
1. Command-line editing *cmdline-editing*
@ -406,6 +407,9 @@ word before the cursor. This is available for:
The number of help item matches is limited (currently to 300) to avoid a long
delay when there are very many matches.
For automatic completion as you type (without pressing a key like <Tab>),
see |cmdline-autocompletion|.
These are the commands that can be used:
*c_CTRL-D*
@ -479,8 +483,6 @@ When repeating 'wildchar' or CTRL-N you cycle through the matches, eventually
ending up back to what was typed. If the first match is not what you wanted,
you can use <S-Tab> or CTRL-P to go straight back to what you typed.
See also |wildtrigger()|.
The 'wildmenu' option can be set to show the matches just above the command
line.
@ -1340,4 +1342,83 @@ The character used for the pattern indicates the type of command-line:
@ string for |input()|
- text for |:insert| or |:append|
==============================================================================
8. Command-line autocompletion *cmdline-autocompletion*
Autocompletion makes the command-line more efficient and easier to navigate by
automatically showing a popup menu of suggestions as you type, whether
searching (/ or ?) or entering commands (:).
A basic setup is: >
autocmd CmdlineChanged [:/\?] call wildtrigger()
set wildmode=noselect:lastused,full
set wildoptions=pum
With this configuration, suggestions appear immediately, and you can
move through them with <Tab> or the arrow keys.
To retain normal command-line history navigation with <Up>/<Down>: >
cnoremap <expr> <Up> wildmenumode() ? "\<C-E>\<Up>" : "\<Up>"
cnoremap <expr> <Down> wildmenumode() ? "\<C-E>\<Down>" : "\<Down>"
Options can also be applied only for specific command-lines. For
example, to use a shorter popup menu height only during search: >
autocmd CmdlineEnter [/\?] set pumheight=8
autocmd CmdlineLeave [/\?] set pumheight&
EXTRAS *fuzzy-file-picker* *live-grep*
Command-line autocompletion can also be extended for advanced uses.
For example, you can turn the native |:find| command into a fuzzy, interactive
file picker: >
set findfunc=Find
func Find(arg, _)
if get(s:, 'filescache', []) == []
let s:filescache = systemlist(
\ 'find . -path "*/.git" -prune -o -type f -print')
endif
return a:arg == '' ? s:filescache : matchfuzzy(s:filescache, a:arg)
endfunc
autocmd CmdlineEnter : let s:filescache = []
The `:Grep` command searches for lines matching a pattern and updates the
results dynamically as you type (triggered after two characters; note: needs
the `CmdlineLeavePre` autocmd from the next section): >
command! -nargs=+ -complete=customlist,<SID>Grep
\ Grep call <SID>VisitFile()
func s:Grep(arglead, cmdline, cursorpos)
let cmd = $'grep -REIHns "{a:arglead}" --exclude-dir=.git
\ --exclude=".*"'
return len(a:arglead) > 1 ? systemlist(cmd) : []
endfunc
func s:VisitFile()
let item = getqflist(#{lines: [s:selected]}).items[0]
let pos = '[0,\ item.lnum,\ item.col,\ 0]'
exe $':b +call\ setpos(".",\ {pos}) {item.bufnr}'
call setbufvar(item.bufnr, '&buflisted', 1)
endfunc
Automatically select the first item in the completion list when leaving the
command-line, and for `:Grep`, add the typed pattern to the command-line
history: >
autocmd CmdlineLeavePre :
\ if get(cmdcomplete_info(), 'matches', []) != [] |
\ let s:info = cmdcomplete_info() |
\ if getcmdline() =~ '^\s*fin\%[d]\s' && s:info.selected == -1 |
\ call setcmdline($'find {s:info.matches[0]}') |
\ endif |
\ if getcmdline() =~ '^\s*Grep\s' |
\ let s:selected = s:info.selected != -1
\ ? s:info.matches[s:info.selected] : s:info.matches[0] |
\ call setcmdline(s:info.cmdline_orig) |
\ endif |
\ endif
For autocompletion in insert mode, see |ins-autocompletion|.
vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl:

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@ -6673,7 +6673,7 @@ cmdarg-variable eval.txt /*cmdarg-variable*
cmdbang-variable eval.txt /*cmdbang-variable*
cmdcomplete_info() builtin.txt /*cmdcomplete_info()*
cmdline-arguments vi_diff.txt /*cmdline-arguments*
cmdline-autocompletion builtin.txt /*cmdline-autocompletion*
cmdline-autocompletion cmdline.txt /*cmdline-autocompletion*
cmdline-changed version5.txt /*cmdline-changed*
cmdline-completion cmdline.txt /*cmdline-completion*
cmdline-editing cmdline.txt /*cmdline-editing*
@ -7680,6 +7680,7 @@ function-range-example userfunc.txt /*function-range-example*
function-search-undo userfunc.txt /*function-search-undo*
function_key intro.txt /*function_key*
functions eval.txt /*functions*
fuzzy-file-picker cmdline.txt /*fuzzy-file-picker*
fuzzy-matching pattern.txt /*fuzzy-matching*
fvwm.vim syntax.txt /*fvwm.vim*
fvwm2rc syntax.txt /*fvwm2rc*
@ -8829,6 +8830,7 @@ listener_remove() builtin.txt /*listener_remove()*
lite.vim syntax.txt /*lite.vim*
literal-Dict eval.txt /*literal-Dict*
literal-string eval.txt /*literal-string*
live-grep cmdline.txt /*live-grep*
lnum-variable eval.txt /*lnum-variable*
load-plugins starting.txt /*load-plugins*
load-vim-script repeat.txt /*load-vim-script*