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diff --git a/runtime/doc/remote.txt b/runtime/doc/remote.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5a6898c --- /dev/null +++ b/runtime/doc/remote.txt @@ -0,0 +1,209 @@ +*remote.txt* For Vim version 9.1. Last change: 2022 Feb 17 + + + VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar + + +Vim client-server communication *client-server* + +1. Common functionality |clientserver| +2. X11 specific items |x11-clientserver| +3. MS-Windows specific items |w32-clientserver| + +============================================================================== +1. Common functionality *clientserver* + +When compiled with the |+clientserver| option, Vim can act as a command +server. It accepts messages from a client and executes them. At the same +time, Vim can function as a client and send commands to a Vim server. + +The following command line arguments are available: + + argument meaning ~ + + --remote [+{cmd}] {file} ... *--remote* + Open the file list in a remote Vim. When + there is no Vim server, execute locally. + There is one optional init command: +{cmd}. + This must be an Ex command that can be + followed by "|". + The rest of the command line is taken as the + file list. Thus any non-file arguments must + come before this. + You cannot edit stdin this way |--|. + The remote Vim is raised. If you don't want + this use > + vim --remote-send "<C-\><C-N>:n filename<CR>" +< + --remote-silent [+{cmd}] {file} ... *--remote-silent* + As above, but don't complain if there is no + server and the file is edited locally. + --remote-wait [+{cmd}] {file} ... *--remote-wait* + As --remote, but wait for files to complete + (unload) in remote Vim. + --remote-wait-silent [+{cmd}] {file} ... *--remote-wait-silent* + As --remote-wait, but don't complain if there + is no server. + *--remote-tab* + --remote-tab Like --remote but open each file in a new + tabpage. + *--remote-tab-silent* + --remote-tab-silent Like --remote-silent but open each file in a + new tabpage. + *--remote-tab-wait* + --remote-tab-wait Like --remote-wait but open each file in a new + tabpage. + + *--remote-tab-wait-silent* + --remote-tab-wait-silent Like --remote-wait-silent but open each file + in a new tabpage. + *--servername* + --servername {name} Become the server {name}. When used together + with one of the --remote commands: connect to + server {name} instead of the default (see + below). The name used will be uppercase. + *--remote-send* + --remote-send {keys} Send {keys} to server and exit. The {keys} + are not mapped. Special key names are + recognized, e.g., "<CR>" results in a CR + character. + *--remote-expr* + --remote-expr {expr} Evaluate {expr} in server and print the result + on stdout. + *--serverlist* + --serverlist Output a list of server names. + + +Examples ~ + +Edit "file.txt" in an already running GVIM server: > + gvim --remote file.txt + +Edit "file.txt" in an already running server called FOOBAR: > + gvim --servername FOOBAR --remote file.txt + +Edit "file.txt" in server "FILES" if it exists, become server "FILES" +otherwise: > + gvim --servername FILES --remote-silent file.txt + +This doesn't work, all arguments after --remote will be used as file names: > + gvim --remote --servername FOOBAR file.txt + +Edit file "+foo" in a remote server (note the use of "./" to avoid the special +meaning of the leading plus): > + vim --remote ./+foo + +Tell the remote server "BLA" to write all files and exit: > + vim --servername BLA --remote-send '<C-\><C-N>:wqa<CR>' + + +SERVER NAME *client-server-name* + +By default Vim will try to register the name under which it was invoked (gvim, +egvim ...). This can be overridden with the --servername argument. If the +specified name is not available, a postfix is applied until a free name is +encountered, i.e. "gvim1" for the second invocation of gvim on a particular +X-server. The resulting name is available in the servername builtin variable +|v:servername|. The case of the server name is ignored, thus "gvim" and +"GVIM" are considered equal. + +When Vim is invoked with --remote, --remote-wait or --remote-send it will try +to locate the server name determined by the invocation name and --servername +argument as described above. If an exact match is not available, the first +server with the number postfix will be used. If a name with the number +postfix is specified with the --servername argument, it must match exactly. + +If no server can be located and --remote or --remote-wait was used, Vim will +start up according to the rest of the command line and do the editing by +itself. This way it is not necessary to know whether gvim is already started +when sending command to it. + +The --serverlist argument will cause Vim to print a list of registered command +servers on the standard output (stdout) and exit. + *{server}* +The {server} argument is used by several functions. When this is an empty +string then on Unix the default server name is used, which is "GVIM". On +MS-Windows an empty string does not work. + +Win32 Note: Making the Vim server go to the foreground doesn't always work, +because MS-Windows doesn't allow it. The client will move the server to the +foreground when using the --remote or --remote-wait argument and the server +name starts with "g". + + +REMOTE EDITING + +The --remote argument will cause a |:drop| command to be constructed from the +rest of the command line and sent as described above. +The --remote-wait argument does the same thing and additionally sets up to +wait for each of the files to have been edited. This uses the BufUnload +event, thus as soon as a file has been unloaded, Vim assumes you are done +editing it. +Note that the --remote and --remote-wait arguments will consume the rest of +the command line. I.e. all remaining arguments will be regarded as filenames. +You can not put options there! + + +FUNCTIONS + *E240* *E573* +There are a number of Vim functions for scripting the command server. See +the description in |builtin.txt| or use CTRL-] on the function name to jump to +the full explanation. + + synopsis explanation ~ + remote_startserver( name) run a server + remote_expr( server, string, idvar) send expression + remote_send( server, string, idvar) send key sequence + serverlist() get a list of available servers + remote_peek( serverid, retvar) check for reply string + remote_read( serverid) read reply string + server2client( serverid, string) send reply string + remote_foreground( server) bring server to the front + +See also the explanation of |CTRL-\_CTRL-N|. Very useful as a leading key +sequence. +The {serverid} for server2client() can be obtained with expand("<client>") + +============================================================================== +2. X11 specific items *x11-clientserver* + *E247* *E248* *E251* *E258* *E277* + +The communication between client and server goes through the X server. The +display of the Vim server must be specified. The usual protection of the X +server is used, you must be able to open a window on the X server for the +communication to work. It is possible to communicate between different +systems. + +By default, a GUI Vim will register a name on the X-server by which it can be +addressed for subsequent execution of injected strings. Vim can also act as +a client and send strings to other instances of Vim on the same X11 display. + +When an X11 GUI Vim (gvim) is started, it will try to register a send-server +name on the 'VimRegistry' property on the root window. + +A non GUI Vim with access to the X11 display (|xterm-clipboard| enabled), can +also act as a command server if a server name is explicitly given with the +--servername argument, or when Vim was built with the |+autoservername| +feature. + +An empty --servername argument will cause the command server to be disabled. + +To send commands to a Vim server from another application, read the source +file src/if_xcmdsrv.c, it contains some hints about the protocol used. + +============================================================================== +3. Win32 specific items *w32-clientserver* + +Every Win32 Vim can work as a server, also in the console. You do not need a +version compiled with OLE. Windows messages are used, this works on any +version of MS-Windows. But only communication within one system is possible. + +Since MS-Windows messages are used, any other application should be able to +communicate with a Vim server. An alternative is using the OLE functionality +|ole-interface|. + +When using gvim, the --remote-wait only works properly this way: > + + start /w gvim --remote-wait file.txt +< + vim:tw=78:sw=4:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl: |