How to Add a Buffer Tab Explorer to Vim and GVim
/* Posted December 18th, 2008 at 11:53am *//* Filed under How-To, Linux */
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I like to type and have found Vim to be the best editor suited to my style. Although traditionally a Linux text editing tool, it’s been ported to Windows and is a great alternative to match the likes of TextPad, Notepad++, or my fave, Crimson Editor. However, it is missing one basic but major feature that all the other editors have: no tabs! Tabs make it easy to navigate multiple files open at the same time in the same window. While you can split the screen vertically and horizontally, it still doesn’t make up for the lack of a buffer explorer tab (buffers = files in Vim).
Fortunately, adding a buffer tab to Vim is simple, thanks to a freely available extension called Mini Buffer Explorer. It’s actually just itself another buffer window, but the script automates the auto detection of currently open files and new files you open and keeps itself minimally sized as a bar on the top of Vim so as not to take up precious screen space.
The latest version as of this writing, 6.3.2, was last modified a month ago, so rest assured that this script is being constantly maintained. Installation is a breeze: just add the file “minibufexpl.vim” to your Vim plugins directory (~/.vim/plugin/).
When you open a single file, the buffer tab smartly does not kick in as it would be unnecessary. When a second file opens, you’ll see the buffer tab appear up top listing all files currently open. The tab itself takes up buffer 3 so remember this when you open a third file (because it’s actually in buffer 4).
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How to Add a Buffer Tab Explorer to Vim and GVim
(Linux/Unix) I like to type and have found Vim to be the best editor suited to my style. While you can split the screen vertically and horizontally, it still doesn’t make up for the lack of a buffer explorer tab (buffers = files in Vim). Fortunately, adding a buffer tab to Vim is simple, thanks to a freely available extension called Mini Buffer Explorer.Dugg 3 times
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