In vim, how do I get a file to open at the same line number I closed it at last time?
VimVim Problem Overview
I want to configure vim to open a file at the same place I left off at.
Vim Solutions
Solution 1 - Vim
From Ubuntu's /etc/vim/vimrc file, this example is commented out:
" Uncomment the following to have Vim jump to the last position when
" reopening a file
if has("autocmd")
au BufReadPost * if line("'\"") > 0 && line("'\"") <= line("$")
\| exe "normal! g'\"" | endif
endif
If this doesn't work, a common problem is not having ownership of your ~/.viminfo file. If this is the case, then run:
sudo chown user:group ~/.viminfo
where user is your username and group is often the same as your username.
Solution 2 - Vim
If you don't mind trading automation for simplicity, just press the keystroke '" (apostrophe, followed by double quotes) on opening a file, you'll jump to where you were. This is essentially what @marcog's answer is doing.
Solution 3 - Vim
:h views-sessions
You can place this in your .vimrc :
autocmd BufWinLeave *.* mkview
autocmd BufWinEnter *.* silent loadview
the views will be placed in .vim/view. You probably need to create these directories.
Solution 4 - Vim
You can start vim without specifying a file name using
vim
Next press CTRL+O twice to move to the last location in any file you worked on.
Solution 5 - Vim
There is a plugin called vim-lastplace (I am the author) that will open your files where you left off. It improves on the above suggestions by ignoring commit messages because you're typically editing a new message and want to start at the top of the commit message file.
Solution 6 - Vim
If you have viminfo enabled, it is as simple as ``0` to go to the last edited file position. You'll notice that this is just a 'go to mark' command;
Indeed, you can later do '3 to go to the third previous edited location (perhaps in another file), and then return to the last one with ``0` again
Have a look at
:marks
to see remembered locations. Note also that viminfo stores all kinds of other stuff (like the contents of registers, marks per file, command and search history). Most people have this enabled for obvious reasons
Solution 7 - Vim
Sometimes ~/.viminfo becomes read-only or your user don't have access to the file. That could also be a reason that vim does not store your cursor position when you close your file.