Setting files of Karabiner(KeyRemap4MacBook) for VIM Emulation.
Note: For users since macOS Sierra, use Karabiner-Element + rcmdnk/KE-complex_modifications (Import Vim Emulation from Karabiner-Elements complex_modifications rules by rcmdnk.)
Now vim_emu was included in KeyRemap4MacBook from 8.3.7. If you use previous version, please update KeyRemap4MacBook or install files directly as below. If you are up-to-date at stable release but it is before 8.3.7, please try to check Beta version: follow this instruction.
Update: 2013/07/14 New version which includes several ChangeKeys, Macro, etc... is available from 8.90.19.
Note: currenlty, Repeat (e.g. 3w, y3d) and Visual Block are commented out.
There could be some updates not included in KeyRemap4MacBook, yet. If you want to try the latest version, do:
git clone git@github.com:rcmdnk/vim_emu.git
cd vim_emu
./install.sh
If you have KeyRemap4MacBook version in which vim_emu is already installed,
you need to comment out vim_emu in /Applications/KeyRemap4MacBook.app/Contents/Resources/checkbox.xml like:
<include path="include/checkbox/vi_mode.xml" />
<include path="include/checkbox/ubiquitous_vim_bindings.xml" />
<!-- <include path="include/checkbox/vim_emu.xml" /> -->
<include path="include/checkbox/complete_vi_mode.xml" />
Abobe work is no longer necessary. If you have line (~ top of the file):
<include path="vim_emu.xml"></include>
in private.xml, then please remove the line.
You should have following line at the bottom of file instead:
Note: You need to install KeyRemap4MacBook before installing these files.
Remove vim_emu_test.xml, vim_emu.xml, vim_emu directory in
"$HOME/Library/Application Support/KeyRemap4MacBook/.
Remove the line (~at the end of file):
<include path="vim_emu_test.xml"></include>
in "$HOME/Library/Application Support/KeyRemap4MacBook/private.xml.
Currently, vim_emu supports US, JIS and German (partly) keyboards.
Following checkboxes will appear in your setting panel:
- ChangeKey1: Escape to enter Normal Mode, holding to emulate raw ESC.
- ChangeKey2: + Escape to back in Insert Mode
- ChangeKey3: Escape to back in Normal Mode in other than Inser Mode.
- ChangeKey4: Ctrl-[ to enter Normal Mode, holding to emulate raw ESC.
- ChangeKey5: + Ctrl-[ to back in Insert Mode
- ChangeKey6: Ctrl-[ to back in Normal Mode in other than Inser Mode.
- ChangeKey7: Simultaneous jk toggles Normal-Insert Mode.
- ChangeKey8: Simultaneous qw toggles Normal-Insert Mode.
- ChangeKey9: Simultaneous sd toggles Normal-Insert Mode.
- ChangeKey10: Ctlr-l toggles Normal-Insert Mode.
- ChangeKey11: Tap Left Cmd toggles Normal-Insert Mode.
- ChangeKey12: Tap Right Cmd toggles Normal-Insert Mode.
- ChangeKey13: Use customize key to enter Normal Mode. Key is defined by
VIM_EMU_CUSTOMIZE_KEY. - ChangeKey14: Use customize toggle keys to enter Normal Mode. Key is defined by
VIM_EMU_CUSTOMIZE_SIMULTANEOUS_KEY. - Enable Vim Emulation.
- Enable Vim like complement.
- Enable Vim Recording Macro.
- Disable all non-assigned keys in other than Insert Mode.
- Ctrl-[ to Escape for non-vim_emu apps.
- Ctrl-[ to Escape in Noraml Mode.
- Reset vim_emu at non-vim_emu apps.
- Reset vim_emu at left click in any case.
- Reset vim_emu at Cmd-Tab in any case.
- Reset at Spotlight (Ctrl-Space or Ctrl-Option-Space)
- Additional settings of Control + X at insert mode.
Enable Enable Vim Emulation and at least one of ChangeKeys.
For simultaneous jk/qw/sd, it works only in Insert/Normal modes. Therefore, at least one of ChangeKey 1, 3, 4, 6, 10-14 needs to be checked to leave such Virtual mode.
ChangeKey 3 and 6 works only in modes other than Insert/Normal modes, therefore they are useful if you use ESC/Ctrl-[ as is in Insert/Normal modes.
For ChangeKey13, you can set a key as you like in your private.xml, like:
<replacementdef>
<replacementname>VIM_EMU_CUSTOMIZE_KEY</replacementname>
<replacementvalue>KeyCode::RETURN</replacementvalue>
</replacementdef>
This setting makes RETURN key to enter normal mode.
Under this setting, you can use RETURN by holding RETURN key.
For ChangeKey14, you can set a key to toggle Normal-Insert as you like in your private.xml, like:
<replacementdef>
<replacementname>VIM_EMU_CUSTOMIZE_SIMULTANEOUS_KEY</replacementname>
<replacementvalue>KeyCode::O, KeyCode::P</replacementvalue>
</replacementdef>
For Recording Macro, you need MadRuby (see below).
If you check "Reset vim_emu at non-vim_emu apps", vim_emu Mode will change to "Insert Mode" (Non-vim_emu mode) when you push single key/click at non-vim_emu apps. e.g.) If you change vim_emu mode to Normal at TextEdit and change the application to Terminal and click or push key, vim_emu Mode is changed to "Insert Mode". It doesn't affect on Terminal, but just changes the mode for vim_emu apps.
"Reset vim_emu at left click in any case" and "Reset vim_emu at Cmd-Tab in any case" are also similar options, but it reset mode even on vim_emu apps.
Note: You can enable all vim features, but it may make your key input/mouse move slow. Such Yank/Delete/Change Mode is especially heavy. (To do: make it light...)
Currently some options are disabled because they have too much key mappings and it affects on the performance of Mac.
If you want, try full_option branch.
Currently, following options are available in addition to above:
- Enable Vim Visual Block Mode.
- Enable Vim Repeat (Currently comented out).
The default setting enables vim emulation on applications w/o Terminal (iTerm), Vi (MacVim), Firefox, Emacs, and password dialog.
If you want to change applications, add replacement liens for VIM_EMU_ONLY_APPS (only on which enable) and VIM_EMU_IGNORE_APPS (on which don't enable) at the top of private.xml.
e.g.) Enable for all but Terminal (iTerm), Vi (MacVim), Cathode, Firefox, Emacs, and password dialog (default setting).
<replacementdef>
<replacementname>VIM_EMU_ONLY_APPS</replacementname>
<replacementvalue></replacementvalue>
</replacementdef>
<replacementdef>
<replacementname>VIM_EMU_IGNORE_APPS</replacementname>
<replacementvalue>TERMINAL, VI, CATHODE, PASSWORD, FIREFOX, EMACS</replacementvalue>
</replacementdef>
e.g.) Enable only for MAIL.
<replacementdef>
<replacementname>VIM_EMU_ONLY_APPS</replacementname>
<replacementvalue>MAIL</replacementvalue>
</replacementdef>
<replacementdef>
<replacementname>VIM_EMU_IGNORE_APPS</replacementname>
<replacementvalue></replacementvalue>
</replacementdef>
Refer /Applications/KeyRemap4MacBook.app/Contents/Resources/appdef.xml
or Specify application
for definitions of applications.
Here are main modes of vim emulation.
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Insert Mode | Normal Mac state |
| Normal Mode | As in vim, a cursor is moved by hjkl, w, etc... and some vim like commands are available. |
| Visual Mode | There are three visual mode: Character-wise, Line-wise, and Block-wise. Block-wise visual mode is optional and behaves a bit different from others. |
| Command Mode | Can be used for saving file/quitting. |
An initial state is Insert Mode, then Esc or Ctrl-[ brings you to the normal mode.
In the normal mode, i is the key to be back to the insert mode.
v and V are the key to the Character-wise and Line-wise
visual mode, respectively.
After push :, a few commands to save/quit are available.
There will be pop up like -- VIM -- during modes other than Insert mode
are enabled.
| Key/Commands | Function |
|---|---|
| ESC/Ctrl-[ | Enter Normal mode. Holding these keys emulate normal ESC. In addition, toggle option is available. |
| Simultaneous jk/qw/sd, Ctrl-l, Left-Cmd, Right-Cmd | Can be used for toggling Normal-Insert Modes. |
| Ctrl-n/p | Enter Complement mode, if "Enable Vim like complement" is checked. |
In Complement mode, use Ctrl-n/p to choose a candidate,
Ctrl-h to skip, and ESC/Ctrl-[ to choose a candidate.
When you enable Additional settings of Control + X at insert mode, following commands are also available:
| Key/Commands | Function |
|---|---|
| Ctrl-c | Enter Normal mode. |
| Ctrl-i | Insert Tab. |
| Ctrl-j | Return. |
| Ctrl-m | Return. |
| Ctrl-t | Insert tab at the beginning of current line. |
| Ctrl-u | Cut the text between the beginning of the line and the current position. |
| Ctrl-w | Cut the word before the cursor. |
Note: Some Control-X shortcut keys emacs like movements are originally available in OS X (see Mac keyboard shortcuts - Apple Support).
| Key/Commands | Function |
|---|---|
| i/I/a/A/o/O | Enter the insert mode at under the cursor/start of the line/next to the cursor/end of the line/next line/previous line. |
| v/V | Enter the visual mode of Character-wise/Line-wise. |
| : | Enter the command line mode |
| Key/Commands | Function |
|---|---|
| h/j/k/l | Left/Down/Up/Right. |
| 0/$ | Move to the beginning/last of the line (Mac Cmd-left, Cmd-right). |
| ^ | Move to the first character of the line. |
| +/- | Move to the next/previous line's first character. |
| {/} | Move to the beginning/end of the paragraph (Mac Ctrl-a, Ctrl-e. It works rather like "sentence". Sometime, it is actual sentence rather than 0/$). |
| Ctrl-a/Ctrl-e | To the beginning/last of the line (emacs like). |
| w/W/e/E | Move a word forward (w/W: the beginning of the word, e/E: the end of the word). |
| b/B, ge/gE | Move a word backward (b/B: the beginning of the word, ge/gE: the end of the word). |
| Ctrl-u/Ctrl-d | Go Up/Down 10 line. |
| Ctrl-b/Ctrl-f | PageUp/PageDown. |
| gg/G | Go to the top/bottom of the file |
Note: Curretnly W/E/B/gE are disabled, as they are exactly same as w/e/b/ge. (for a speed up.) Ctrl-a/Ctrl-e are also disable.
If you want to enable them, remove comments from corresponding lines in vim_emu/vim_emu_move.xml
| Key/Commands | Function |
|---|---|
| yy, Y | Copy the line. |
| dd | Cut the line. |
| D | Cut from here to the end of the line. |
| cc | Change the line (enter Insert mode). |
| C | Cut from here to the end of the line and enter Insert mode. |
| x/X | Delete a character under/before the cursor (not registered in the clipboard). |
| s/S | Delete/Cut a character/a line under the cursor and enter Insert mode. |
| p/P | Paste to the next/current place. If copy/cut was done with line-wise Visual mode, it pastes to the next/current line. Some commands (such yy/dd) also force to paste as line-wise. |
y/d/c+Move Command can be used, too.
- e.g.)
yw-> copy next one word.
Currently Repeaat feature is commented out.
| Key/Commands | Function |
|---|---|
| u(U)/Ctrl-r | Undo/Redo. |
| r/R | Replace one character/multi characters. |
| J | Combine two lines. |
| M | Move current line to the middle. Need enough lines in above/below. |
| . | It is fixed to do: Replace a following word with a clipboard (useful to use with a search). |
| / | Start search (search box will be opened) |
| n/N | Search next/previous. |
| * | Search the word under the cursor. |
| ZZ/ZQ | Save and Quit/Quit. |
|zi|Zoom in.| |zo|Zoom out.| |z0|Zoom reset.|
| Key/Commands | Function |
|---|---|
| ESC/Ctrl-[ | Enter Normal mode. |
| Move command | Most of move commands in the normal mode are available. |
| y/d/x/c | Copy/Cut/Cut/Cut and insert (d=x) |
| Y/D/X/C | Move to the end of line, then Copy/Cut/Cut/Cut and insert (D=X) |
| * | Search the selected word. |
Note: Currently, if you paste lines copied in visual line mode, there will be one empty line below the content if the content doesn't include the last line of the text.
| Key/Commands | Function |
|---|---|
| ESC/Ctrl-[ | Enter Normal mode. |
| w + RETURN | Save |
| w + SPACE | Save as |
| w + q | Save and Quit |
| q | Quit |
| h | Open help of the application |
Macro feature is available with additional application. In vim_emu, one option with MadRuby (Keyboard Macro Recorder, free application) is available.
Before enabling Recording Macro in vim_emu, please install MadRuby, and set kyboard shortcuts in MadRuby like:
| Function | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Start Recording | Ctrl-Shift-Cmd-6 |
| Stop Recording | Ctrl-Shift-Cmd-7 |
| Play Macro | Ctrl-Shift-Cmd-8 |
| Multiple Play Macro | Ctrl-Shift-Cmd-9 |
Then, enable Recording Macro in KeyRemap4macbook/vim_emu.
Following commands are available in Normal Mode.
| Key/Commands | Function |
|---|---|
| q | Start recording a macro. |
| q(while recording macro) | Stop recording a macro. |
| @ | Execute the macro once. |
| n@ (n=2-9) | Execute macro n-times. |
Note: If you switch application to what ignoring vim_emu during recording macro, you need to stop recording macro by Ctrl-Shift-Cmd-7, using menubar dialog of MadRuby.