if_perl.txt For Vim version 9.1. Last change: 2025 Nov 09 VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Sven Verdoolaege and Matt Gerassimof Perl and Vimperl Perl 1. Editing Perl filesperl-editing 2. Compiling Vim with Perl interfaceperl-compiling 3. Using the Perl interfaceperl-using 4. Dynamic loadingperl-dynamic {only available when Vim was compiled with the |+perl| feature} ============================================================================== 1. Editing Perl filesperl-editing Vim syntax highlighting supports Perl and POD files. Vim assumes a file is Perl code if the filename has a .pl or .pm suffix. Vim also examines the shebang line of a file, if no filetype has been detected, to check if a file is a Perl script. Vim assumes a file is POD text if the filename has a .POD suffix. To use tags with Perl, you need Universal/Exuberant Ctags. Look here: Universal Ctags (preferred): https://ctags.io Exuberant Ctags: http://ctags.sourceforge.net Alternatively, you can use the Perl script pltags.pl, which is shipped with Vim in the $VIMRUNTIME/tools directory. This script has currently more features than Exuberant ctags' Perl support. ============================================================================== 2. Compiling Vim with Perl interfaceperl-compiling To compile Vim with the Perl interface, you need a recent Perl version. Perl must be installed before you compile Vim. The Perl patches for Vim were made by: Sven Verdoolaege <skimo@breughel.ufsia.ac.be> Matt Gerassimof Perl for MS-Windows (and other platforms) can be found at: http://www.perl.org/ The ActiveState one should work, Strawberry Perl is a good alternative. ============================================================================== 3. Using the Perl interfaceperl-using :perl :pe :pe[rl] {cmd}Execute Perl command {cmd}. The current package is "main". Simple example to test if :perl is working: :perl VIM::Msg("Hello") :pe[rl] << [trim] [{endmarker}] {script} {endmarker} Execute Perl script {script}. The {endmarker} after {script} must NOT be preceded by any white space. If [endmarker] is omitted, it defaults to a dot '.' like for the :append and :insert commands. Using '.' helps when inside a function, because "$i;" looks like the start of an :insert command to Vim. This form of the :perl command is mainly useful for including perl code in vim scripts. Note: This command doesn't work when the Perl feature wasn't compiled in. To avoid errors, see script-here. Example Vim script: function! WhitePearl() perl << EOF VIM::Msg("pearls are nice for necklaces"); VIM::Msg("rubys for rings"); VIM::Msg("pythons for bags"); VIM::Msg("tcls????"); EOF endfunction To see what version of Perl you have: :perl print $^V :perldo :perld :[range]perld[o] {cmd}Execute Perl command {cmd} for each line in the [range], with $_ being set to the text of each line in turn, without a trailing <EOL>. Setting $_ will change the text, but note that it is not possible to add or delete lines using this command. The default for [range] is the whole file: "1,$". Here are some things you can try: :perl $a=1 :perldo $_ = reverse($_);1 :perl VIM::Msg("hello") :perl $line = $curbuf->Get(42) E299 Executing Perl commands in the sandbox is limited. ":perldo" will not be possible at all. ":perl" will be evaluated in the Safe environment, if possible. perl-overview Here is an overview of the functions that are available to Perl: :perl VIM::Msg("Text") # displays a message :perl VIM::Msg("Wrong!", "ErrorMsg") # displays an error message :perl VIM::Msg("remark", "Comment") # displays a highlighted message :perl VIM::SetOption("ai") # sets a vim option :perl $nbuf = VIM::Buffers() # returns the number of buffers :perl @buflist = VIM::Buffers() # returns array of all buffers :perl $mybuf = (VIM::Buffers('qq.c'))[0] # returns buffer object for 'qq.c' :perl @winlist = VIM::Windows() # returns array of all windows :perl $nwin = VIM::Windows() # returns the number of windows :perl ($success, $v) = VIM::Eval('&path') # $v: option 'path', $success: 1 :perl ($success, $v) = VIM::Eval('&xyz') # $v: '' and $success: 0 :perl $v = VIM::Eval('expand("<cfile>")') # expands <cfile> :perl $curwin->SetHeight(10) # sets the window height :perl @pos = $curwin->Cursor() # returns (row, col) array :perl @pos = (10, 10) :perl $curwin->Cursor(@pos) # sets cursor to @pos :perl $curwin->Cursor(10,10) # sets cursor to row 10 col 10 :perl $mybuf = $curwin->Buffer() # returns the buffer object for window :perl $curbuf->Name() # returns buffer name :perl $curbuf->Number() # returns buffer number :perl $curbuf->Count() # returns the number of lines :perl $l = $curbuf->Get(10) # returns line 10 :perl @l = $curbuf->Get(1 .. 5) # returns lines 1 through 5 :perl $curbuf->Delete(10) # deletes line 10 :perl $curbuf->Delete(10, 20) # delete lines 10 through 20 :perl $curbuf->Append(10, "Line") # appends a line :perl $curbuf->Append(10, "Line1", "Line2", "Line3") # appends 3 lines :perl @l = ("L1", "L2", "L3") :perl $curbuf->Append(10, @l) # appends L1, L2 and L3 :perl $curbuf->Set(10, "Line") # replaces line 10 :perl $curbuf->Set(10, "Line1", "Line2") # replaces lines 10 and 11 :perl $curbuf->Set(10, @l) # replaces 3 lines perl-Msg VIM::Msg({msg}, {group}?) Displays the message {msg}. The optional {group} argument specifies a highlight group for Vim to use for the message. perl-SetOption VIM::SetOption({arg}) Sets a vim option. {arg} can be any argument that the ":set" command accepts. Note that this means that no spaces are allowed in the argument! See :set. perl-Buffers VIM::Buffers([{bn}...]) With no arguments, returns a list of all the buffers in an array context or returns the number of buffers in a scalar context. For a list of buffer names or numbers {bn}, returns a list of the buffers matching {bn}, using the same rules as Vim's internal bufname() function. WARNING: the list becomes invalid when :bwipe is used. Using it anyway may crash Vim. perl-Windows VIM::Windows([{wn}...]) With no arguments, returns a list of all the windows in an array context or returns the number of windows in a scalar context. For a list of window numbers {wn}, returns a list of the windows with those numbers. WARNING: the list becomes invalid when a window is closed. Using it anyway may crash Vim. perl-DoCommand VIM::DoCommand({cmd}) Executes Ex command {cmd}. perl-Eval VIM::Eval({expr}) Evaluates {expr} and returns (success, value) in list context or just value in scalar context. success=1 indicates that val contains the value of {expr}; success=0 indicates a failure to evaluate the expression. '@x' returns the contents of register x, '&x' returns the value of option x, 'x' returns the value of internal variables x, and '$x' is equivalent to perl's $ENV{x}. All functions accessible from the command-line are valid for {expr}. A List is turned into a string by joining the items and inserting line breaks. perl-Blob VIM::Blob({expr}) Return Blob literal string 0zXXXX from scalar value. perl-SetHeight Window->SetHeight({height}) Sets the Window height to {height}, within screen limits. perl-GetCursor Window->Cursor({row}?, {col}?) With no arguments, returns a (row, col) array for the current cursor position in the Window. With {row} and {col} arguments, sets the Window's cursor position to {row} and {col}. Note that {col} is numbered from 0, Perl-fashion, and thus is one less than the value in Vim's ruler. Window->Buffer()perl-Buffer Returns the Buffer object corresponding to the given Window. perl-Name Buffer->Name() Returns the filename for the Buffer. perl-Number Buffer->Number() Returns the number of the Buffer. perl-Count Buffer->Count() Returns the number of lines in the Buffer. perl-Get Buffer->Get({lnum}, {lnum}?, ...) Returns a text string of line {lnum} in the Buffer for each {lnum} specified. An array can be passed with a list of {lnum}'s specified. perl-Delete Buffer->Delete({lnum}, {lnum}?) Deletes line {lnum} in the Buffer. With the second {lnum}, deletes the range of lines from the first {lnum} to the second {lnum}. perl-Append Buffer->Append({lnum}, {line}, {line}?, ...) Appends each {line} string after Buffer line {lnum}. The list of {line}s can be an array. perl-Set Buffer->Set({lnum}, {line}, {line}?, ...) Replaces one or more Buffer lines with specified {lines}s, starting at Buffer line {lnum}. The list of {line}s can be an array. If the arguments are invalid, replacement does not occur. $main::curwin The current window object. $main::curbuf The current buffer object. script-here When using a script language in-line, you might want to skip this when the language isn't supported. if has('perl') perl << EOF print 'perl works' EOF endif Note that "EOF" must be at the start of the line without preceding white space. ============================================================================== 4. Dynamic loadingperl-dynamic On MS-Windows and Unix the Perl library can be loaded dynamically. The :version output then includes +perl/dyn. This means that Vim will search for the Perl DLL or shared library file only when needed. When you don't use the Perl interface you don't need it, thus you can use Vim without this file. MS-Windows You can download Perl from http://www.perl.org. The one from ActiveState was used for building Vim. To use the Perl interface the Perl DLL must be in your search path. If Vim reports it cannot find the perl512.dll, make sure your $PATH includes the directory where it is located. The Perl installer normally does that. In a console window type "path" to see what directories are used. The 'perldll' option can be also used to specify the Perl DLL. The name of the DLL must match the Perl version Vim was compiled with. Currently the name is "perl512.dll". That is for Perl 5.12. To know for sure edit "gvim.exe" and search for "perl\d*.dll\c". Unix The 'perldll' option can be used to specify the Perl shared library file instead of DYNAMIC_PERL_DLL file what was specified at compile time. The version of the shared library must match the Perl version Vim was compiled with. Note: If you are building Perl locally, you have to use a version compiled with threading support for it for Vim to successfully link against it. You can use the -Dusethreads flags when configuring Perl, and check that a Perl binary has it enabled by running `perl -V` and verify that USE_ITHREADS is under "Compile-time options". ============================================================================== vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl: