How to set working/current directory in Vim?

So when I want to create a new file by using the :e command I don't want to specify the whole path, just the new filename. Can it be done?

As already suggested, you can use autochdir, which will change to the directory of the file you opened, the other option is

:cd mydirectory

which will change the directory. This can be an absolute or relative path, so :cd .. will move up one level. Or you can use :cd %:h which will also change to the directory the current file is in, but without setting autochdir.

:cd

will change directory to your home directory (or on windows, print the current directory).

:cd -

will change the directory to the previous directory you visited.

Also if you are browsing the filesystem with the netrw file explorer you can set the current directory by pressing the c key.

Try adding set autochdir to your .vimrc. If you want to change it just this once, use :cd (or :cd! to force it).

With netrw: in addition to pressing the c key to set the current directory, you may also put:

let g:netrw_keepdir= 0

in your .vimrc; this means that netrw will keep the browsing directory the same as the current directory.

I don't know what is wrong with vim. I want the directory where I start up vim as the current.

I have followed the tip about autochd above and set that to noautcd in my .vimrc.

I haven't done it yet, but I am about to start up vim like this from now on:

vim —cmd 'cd `pwd`'

That will make it stick to the current directory!

Adding this to my .vimrc automatically changes Vim's working dir to the current file:

autocmd BufEnter * silent! :lcd%:p:h

Update: Now I just use those code instead of install a plugin

" 自动切nvim到当前文件所在路径, 避免leaderF每个命令前都要敲一下 :pwd.
    " 代替autochdir:  Switch to the directory of the current file unless it breaks something.
    au AG BufEnter * call AutoDiR()
    func! AutoDiR()
        " Don't mess with vim on startup.
        let should_cd = (!exists("v:vim_did_enter") || v:vim_did_enter)
                                                  " 或
                                " v:vim_did_enter :
                                "     0 during startup
                                "     1 just before VimEnter.
        "  forbid for some filetypes
            " let should_cd = should_cd && david#init#find_ft_match(['help', 'dirvish', 'qf']) < 0
        " Only change to real files:
        let should_cd = should_cd && filereadable(expand("%"))
                                    " filereadable()
                                            " The result is a Number, which is |TRUE| when a file with the
                                            " name {file} exists, and can be read.
        if should_cd
            silent! cd %:p:h
        endif
    endf

    " cdh:   cd here
    nno cd :cd %:p:h<cr><cmd>pwd<cr><cmd>let g:Lf_WorkingDirectory=getcwd()<cr><cmd>echo "Lf目录:"..g:Lf_WorkingDirectory<cr>
    " nno cdh
    cnorea <expr> cdh ( getcmdtype() == ":" && getcmdline() == 'cdh') ?
                      \ 'cd %:p:h<cr>  :pwd<cr>'
                      \ :  'cdh'


    " 方法2: 不好使? 要敲一次pwd触发?
        " au AG VimEnter * set autochdir | pwd | echom '设置了autochdir'
                                " Note: When this option is on,  some plugins may not work.
    " 貌似不行:
        " Plug 'https://github.com/airblade/vim-rooter'


    " 对于vscode-nvim
        " vscode用wsl的nvim作为bin时,pwd永远是Microsoft VS Code.  等邮件通知更新吧. 其实不影响使用?
        " 我的笔记: https://github.com/vscode-neovim/vscode-neovim/issues/520#issuecomment-1013853745
        "
        "  这个也不行:
        " au AG BufEnter * silent! lcd %:p:h
                " lcd: local window cd ?
                "      Like |:cd|, but only set the current directory for the  current window.

---

You could install the Rooter Vim plugin, which automatically changes the working directory to the automatically-detected project root when you open a file or directory. After Rooter has set the working directory for you, if you try to edit a file like :e example.txt, Vim will edit example.txt in the project root.

If you’re using the vim-plug plugin manager, you can install Rooter by adding the following to your .vimrc, then reloading Vim and running :PlugInstall.

Plug 'airblade/vim-rooter'