* Lev Lvovsky [2006.10.17 17:15]:
> Is it possible to search for a string by
> selecting that string in visual mode? Meaning,
> if I highlight something, and then want to
> search for that thing which is highlighted in
> the rest of the doc?
You already got lots of good answers. Here's
another one.
I've had this in my vimrc for years, and use it
when the string I'm searching for is not a
keyword. It works both forward and backward, puts
the searched pattern in the search history and
doesn't screw up any register.
"--------------< cut here >---------------------------
" Search for visually selected text {{{
" From an idea by Michael Naumann, Jürgen Krämer.
function! VisualSearch(direction) range
let l:saved_reg = @"
execute "normal! vgvy"
let l:pattern = escape(@", '\\/.*$^~[]')
let l:pattern = substitute(l:pattern, "\n$", "", "")
if a:direction == 'b'
execute "normal ?" . l:pattern . "
"
else
execute "normal /" . l:pattern . "
"
endif
let @/ = l:pattern
let @" = l:saved_reg
endfunction
vnoremap <silent> * :call VisualSearch('f')<CR>
vnoremap <silent> # :call VisualSearch('b')<CR>
"--------------< cut here >---------------------------
HTH,
--
JR
[who has a vague remembrance that this subject has
come up before]
