Practical Vim, 2nd Edition

Tip 66

Normalize, Strike, Abort

Executing a macro can sometimes produce unexpected results, but we can achieve better consistency if we follow a handful of best practices.

When we execute a macro, Vim blindly repeats the sequence of canned keystrokes. If we aren’t careful, the outcome when we replay a macro might diverge from our expectations. But it’s possible to compose macros that are more flexible, adapting to do the right thing in each context.

The golden rule is this: when recording a macro, ensure that every command is repeatable.

Normalize the Cursor Position

As soon as you start recording a macro, ask yourself these questions: where am I, where have I come from, and where am I going? Before you do anything, make sure your cursor ...