14-Apr-2025

The . command in Vim is incredibly powerful for repeating actions. It re-executes the last change you made, whether it was a complex macro, a simple deletion, or an insertion. This can dramatically speed up your workflow, especially for repetitive tasks.

Here’s a breakdown:

• Repeating Changes: Imagine you need to add “//” at the beginning of multiple lines. You could manually do it, or you can use the . command. Add “//” to the first line, then press . on each subsequent line to repeat the insertion.

• Complex Edits: The . command isn’t limited to simple insertions or deletions. If you make a complex edit involving multiple commands (e.g., deleting a word, inserting text, changing capitalization), pressing . will repeat the entire sequence.

• Using with other commands: Combine . with other Vim commands for even greater efficiency. For example, you can delete a word with dw and then repeat the deletion on other occurrences of the word by pressing n (to find the next occurrence) and then ..

• Macros and the . command: While macros are powerful for complex repetitions, sometimes the . command offers a simpler alternative. If your repetition involves a single change or a small sequence of changes, . might be quicker than defining and executing a macro.

Example Scenario:

Let’s say you have the following text:

apple
banana
orange
grape

You want to change it to:

fruit: apple
fruit: banana
fruit: orange
fruit: grape

1. Position the cursor at the beginning of the first line.
2. Type ifruit: <Esc> (insert “fruit: ” at the beginning of the line).
3. Move the cursor to the next line (using j or the down arrow).
4. Press .. Vim will repeat the insertion, adding “fruit: ” to the second line.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the remaining lines.

This simple example demonstrates the power of the . command. Instead of manually typing “fruit: ” on each line, you efficiently repeat the initial insertion, saving significant time and effort. This principle applies to much more complex edits as well, making the . command an essential tool in any Vim user’s arsenal.