What is Vim recording and how can it be disabled?
VimVim Problem Overview
I keep seeing the recording message at the bottom of my gVim 7.2 window.
What is it and how do I turn it off?
Vim Solutions
Solution 1 - Vim
You start recording by q<letter> and you can end it by typing q again.
Recording is a really useful feature of Vim.
It records everything you type. You can then replay it simply by typing @<letter>. Record search, movement, replacement...
One of the best feature of Vim IMHO.
Solution 2 - Vim
Type :h recording to learn more.
q recording
q{0-9a-zA-Z"} Record typed characters into http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/sponsor.html#register">register</a> {0-9a-zA-Z"}
(uppercase to append). The 'http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/repeat.html#q">q</a>'; command is disabled
while executing a http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/sponsor.html#register">register</a>;, and http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/motion.html#it">it</a> doesn't work inside
a http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/map.html#mapping">mapping</a>;. {Vi: no recording}
http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/repeat.html#q">q</a> Stops http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/repeat.html#recording">recording</a>;. (Implementation note: The 'http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/repeat.html#q">q</a>'; that
stops http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/repeat.html#recording">recording</a> is not stored in the http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/sponsor.html#register">register</a>;, unless
http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/motion.html#it">it</a> was the result of a http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/map.html#mapping">mapping</a>;) {Vi: no recording}
*@*
@{0-9a-z".=} Execute the contents of http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/sponsor.html#register">register</a> {0-9a-z".=} http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/intro.html#[count]">[count]</a>
times. Note that http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/sponsor.html#register">register</a> 'http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/motion.html#%">%</a>'; (name of the current
file) and 'http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/pattern.html##">#</a>'; (name of the alternate file) cannot be
used. For "http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/change.html#@=">@=</a>" you are prompted to enter an
http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/eval.html#expression">expression</a>;. The result of the http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/eval.html#expression">expression</a> is then
executed. See also |http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/repeat.html#@:">@:</a>|. {Vi: only named registers}
Solution 3 - Vim
Typing q starts macro recording, and the recording stops when the user hits q again.
As Joey Adams mentioned, to disable recording, add the following line to .vimrc in your home directory:
map q <Nop>
Solution 4 - Vim
It sounds like you have macro recording turned on. To shut it off, press q.
Refer to ":help recording" for further information.
Related links:
Solution 5 - Vim
As others have said, it's macro recording, and you turn it off with q. Here's a nice article about how-to and why it's useful.
Solution 6 - Vim
It means you're in "record macro" mode. This mode is entered by typing q followed by a register name, and can be exited by typing q again.