vim "modifiable" is off
VimViMacvimNerdtreeVim Problem Overview
I am trying to create a new file with NERDTree. I hit the a key to create a new file and I get the message:
E21: Cannot make changes, 'Modifiable' is off
I'm using MacVim with Janus (almost out of the box).
Vim Solutions
Solution 1 - Vim
:set ma
which is short for
:set modifiable
will make a buffer modifiable. And
:set noma
does the opposite.
Solution 2 - Vim
I am not familiar with NERDTree but I guess that by typing a in a NERDTree view, it is interpreted as "I want to append something to the NERDTree buffer", but that buffer is not modifiable.
You can check out this answer vim and NERDTree extension - adding a file which explains how to add a file with NERDTree.
Solution 3 - Vim
This worked for me:
:set buftype=
:w
Solution 4 - Vim
Ok, this may not be the most informed answer as I barely have a working knowledge of vim or linux, But I have found to solution to my problem and it may work for you to. To be specific, My problem was twofold:
-
whenever i tried to edit something in this new file i created, i got the Cannot make changes, 'Modifiable' is off error and...
-
after running :set modifiable and trying to save, i would get an e382 error of 'cannot write, buftype is set. so i couldn't save.
After pouring throuch scads of useless cryptic documentation i figured out this:
-
find the .vimviews directory, for me it was at the root of my git repository, do an
ls
inside it. i got something like this:
~=+www-halo=+test=+lib=+Halo=+Return2=+HeaderTest.php=
~=+www-halo=+test=+lib=+Halo=+Service=+LandmarkTest.php=
~=+www-halo=+test=+lib=+Halo=+Transaction=+AuthnetTest.php=
Which is totally useless to you since you have a different file structure. but look for the file that is giving you the problem. (oh btw, these are in fact file names, which is completely not obvious by looking at them). find the one that has the file in question and delete that sucker: example:
rm ~=+www-halo=+test=+lib=+Halo=+Return2=+HeaderTest.php=
Problem solved.
Solution 5 - Vim
If you want to happen a file in NERDTree, you need to hit "m" (for menu) then "a". Simply entering "a" in NERDTree buffer will be interpreted as "modify NERDTree buffer". Adding :ma will make NERDTree buffer modifiable, but this wont create new files for you, it will lead to inconsistent info between what NERDTree display and your actual file hierarchy.
Solution 6 - Vim
In case anyone else happens to google to this, check that you're not trying to open a directory in vim like I just was (d'oh)
Solution 7 - Vim
For me, I had stashed changes which included a directory I was then trying to create a file in that dir I had just stashed. NERDTree was still showing the pre-stashed tree with that dir. Using m on a dir that does not exist produced the modifiable error. I should have refreshed the tree with r to see the dir was no longer there and why it could not be modified.