Vim error E510: Can't make backup file (add ! to override)

Question

I am using Vim on Windows and decided to create a separate directory for all my backup files created by vim.

I am using Vim from my command prompt and not using the vim GUI(gVim).

I looked at this post and added the following lines in my _vimrc

set backup
set backupdir = D:\\VimTemp

I have already created D:\VimTemp on my system.

Now whenever I try to save changes to my file using :w I get the following error message

"PenProperties.py" E510: Can't make backup file (add ! to override)

I have already tried setting the backupdir in the following ways:

Now, I have already looked at similar questions on stackoverflow but the problem is still there.

So, my question is how to make this work properly.

You should also consider _set dir=_ which will move vim _swap_ files somewhere. See :help dir and note the _//_ syntax at the end ov the value, which will uniquify the filenames in the directory by prepending a string representing the path. — pb2q, May 21 '12 at 20:35

score 20 · Accepted Answer · answered May 19 '12 at 13:44

20

Kill the spaces around =

set backupdir=D:\\VimTemp

should work if you've created the directory.

answered May 19 '12 at 13:44

pb2q

also: don't neglect the help command for vim problems --> :help backupdir – pb2q May 19 '12 at 14:08
Nice. It Worked. Thanks a lot man and yes from next time I will first look at `vim help`. – RanRag May 19 '12 at 19:55
1

@SJMP what platform are you running gvim in? The above uses windows-specific path naming conventions, so if you're running under linux/OSX then you'll need to adjust the command to point to the actual directory that you're trying to use. Also note that the command assumes the existence of the directory _VimTemp_ on the _D_ drive: If you're in windows, have you created that directory? – pb2q Apr 24 '14 at 18:26
1

I am running on Windows. I got it now. Thank you :-) – Sagar Jain Apr 25 '14 at 05:48
My problem was that I used single slash character for paths. – nurettin Jan 04 '18 at 08:01

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 07 '14 at 07:10

0

On Linux, you can do by setting in editor- :verbose set backupdir?

answered Oct 07 '14 at 07:10

2 Answers2