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I'm trying to use the feature g<C-A> in a vimscript function to renumber a visual selection-ed list, but it never does the renumbering.

function! ReNumber() execute "normal! g$\<C-A>" endfunction

I've tried incorporating the notion of range as suggested by this and this.

function! ReNumber() range execute a:firstline .. ',' .. a:lastline .. "normal! g$\<C-A>" endfunction

I have tried using a remapping for g<C-A> and it does work, but unsure if I could use the remapped key in my vimscript function

vnoremap <C-H> g<C-A>

How do I use g<C-A> in my vimscript function, when I call the function on a visually selected chunk of text?

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    Could you tell us why your are adding $? An example of transformation before and after would help to understand what you want to achieve :-) Commented Apr 2, 2024 at 18:52
  • You ask how to use g<C-a> but you are trying to use g$<C-a>. Commented Apr 2, 2024 at 19:19
  • I thought that was how to write out <C-a> in a norm command based on this. Commented Apr 2, 2024 at 20:50
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    The reddit post gives the $ as an example for operating on the end of the line. When you’re not sure, try :help. Commented Apr 2, 2024 at 21:18
  • Oh, you're right. I saw it late last night and in my desperation to get this to work, thought it was necessary for referencing a control key. Thanks for pointing that out! Commented Apr 2, 2024 at 21:31

1 Answer 1

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To renumber till the end of the buffer I would do:

:normal! VGg^A

Where ^A is inserted using Ctrl va Or

:execute "normal! VGg\<C-a>"

If you want to trigger it from an existing selection you could do:

vnoremap <F6> g<C-a>

Or using the normal command:

vnoremap <F6> :<C-u>normal! gvg<C-v><C-a><cr>
  • the <C-u> get rid of the '<,'>
  • the gv restore the selection
  • the <C-v><C-a> insert the ^A character in the command line.

g<C-A> is only working in visual mode.

It increments the first number of each line in the selection by a number (1 for the first line, 2 for the second line, ...).

If a count is provided the first number of the first line is incremented by count, the first number of the second line by 2 count, ...

More information with :help v_g_CTRL-A.

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  • These worked for me for renumbering an entire file (hence the VG). But when I tried them on a range that I had highlighted, after removing VG, the top command you suggested did nothing and the bottom command said "no range allowed". How would I make this work on a specific range that I've highlighted? Thank you! Commented Apr 2, 2024 at 20:56
  • The range should be a range of lines. If you already selected the line `execute "normal! gvg\<C-a>" should do the trick. Commented Apr 2, 2024 at 21:16
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    Since OP is confused about key notation, it’s worth explaining why the execute string uses double quotes and escapes for the key, and maybe even why that’s not needed with map commands because they interpret key notation first. Commented Apr 2, 2024 at 21:20
  • @VivianDeSmedt running execute "normal! gvg\<C-a>" in my vimscript function worked!! Would you modify your answer to reflect this and I'll accept your answer? Thank you! Commented Apr 2, 2024 at 21:32
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    For anyone running into this problem, I'll also add that when a chunk of text is visually highlighted and I wanted to use g<C-a> in ex mode, I needed to run :execute "normal! gvg\<C-a>" making sure to remove the range brackets '<,'> from the command, otherwise I got the "range not allowed" error. Commented Apr 2, 2024 at 21:38

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