In Vim, how do I apply a macro to a set of lines?

Question

I have a file with a bunch of lines. I have recorded a macro that performs an operation on a single line. I want to repeat that macro on all of the remaining lines in the file. Is there a quick way to do this?

I tried Ctrl+Q, highlighted a set of lines, and pressed @@, but that didn't seem to do the trick.

Offtopic question: I wasn't aware of VIM macros ( or didn't wanted to be aware :P ) Do you have some nice "lazy reader" oriented link on VIM macros? — OscarRyz, Dec 23 '08 at 22:02
Sure, this: http://www.oreillynet.com/mac/blog/2006/07/more_vim_save_time_with_macros_1.html sums it up pretty well. — Jordan Parmer, Dec 23 '08 at 22:02

Judge Maygarden · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-03T15:11:31.903

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Use the normal command in Ex mode to execute the macro on multiple/all lines:

Execute the macro stored in register a on lines 5 through 10.

:5,10norm! @a

Execute the macro stored in register a on lines 5 through the end of the file.

:5,$norm! @a

Execute the macro stored in register a on all lines.

:%norm! @a

Execute the macro store in register a on all lines matching pattern.

:g/pattern/norm! @a

To execute the macro on visually selected lines, press V and the j or k until the desired region is selected. Then type :norm! @a and observe the that following input line is shown.

:'<,'>norm! @a

Enter :help normal in vim to read more.

edited May 03 '16 at 15:11

answered Dec 23 '08 at 22:02

Judge Maygarden

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Adding a : first doesn't allow me to use @ – Jordan Parmer Dec 23 '08 at 22:05
Yes it does. You type the whole thing on the line and then press enter. – Judge Maygarden Dec 23 '08 at 22:06
Ah, it was the norm! part that I was missing. – Jordan Parmer Dec 23 '08 at 22:07
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Yes, :help normal in vim or the link I just added. – Judge Maygarden Dec 23 '08 at 22:09
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Anything to help a fellow non-emacs user! – Judge Maygarden Dec 23 '08 at 22:24
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Nice!! Beginner tip: use V then j/k to highlight the lines you want, then type just `:norm! @a` – Kevin Bourrillion Sep 22 '11 at 04:22
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To add to the very helpful tip from @KevinBourrillion, when pressing `:` after highlighting the lines, the Ex input line will instead read `:'<,'>` to which you will then add rest of what Kevin suggested. This will make the final command read: `:'<,'>norm! @a`. – Deiwin Jun 16 '15 at 14:56
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I do not understand why the `!` is necessary at the end; other `norm` usages do not require it. – Gabe Moothart Dec 28 '15 at 23:01
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@GabeMoothart The `!` avoids user remapping of keys. You may not need it, but an answer that works for everyone requires it. – Judge Maygarden May 03 '16 at 15:08
In emacs evil mode I get this error `/bin/bash: @a: command not found`. It works when I remove the `!` – Steven Fontanella Jan 05 '21 at 07:24
Great examples. Run the macro up to a certain pattern? e.g. macro searches for "public class" and then I tell it to run to the next "^}" (end of class)? E.g. I need to renumber all the ProtoMember(id) numbers within a class and restart counter with each class. – GGleGrand Jun 14 '23 at 10:38

score 64 · Answer 2 · edited Mar 27 '19 at 12:22

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Use global to run the macro 'a' on all lines that contain 'pattern'

:g/pattern/normal! @a

For help, check: :help global.

edited Mar 27 '19 at 12:22

kenorb

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answered Mar 13 '11 at 22:19

SergioAraujo

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Just for clarification for future users: this a global Ex command. – atp Aug 14 '13 at 19:37

score 54 · Answer 3 · edited Jul 15 '20 at 15:49

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You can also do this:

In normal mode:

[number of times to apply the macro] @ [register]

For example:

1000@q

Apply the macro in register q to the next 1000 lines.

Update: the accepted answer is a lot better

Update: as @kevinliu pointed out, you likely want to end the macro with a j to go to the next line.

edited Jul 15 '20 at 15:49

Ginhing

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answered Jan 03 '14 at 22:26

Max Heiber

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This stops on the last line, and doesn't execute multiple time on the last line, which I was afraid of. – Hubro Aug 02 '15 at 04:13
@Hubro, these answers from other users worked for me: `:%norm! @a` and `vGG :norm! @a` – Max Heiber Aug 03 '15 at 17:22
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For some reason, this worked awesomely, and the accepted answer didn't. My macro involved inserting a new line, doing stuff, and moving to the next line. – Dec 13 '15 at 03:13
@jasonszhao yes same here. but is there anyway to not say 1000 but all lines till end.. and still take care of the new line, doing stuff, etc. – ihightower Jan 19 '19 at 15:42
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I think it should be pointed out that your macro must end with a `j` command to go down to the next line otherwise it will try to apply it to the same line. – Kevin Liu Jun 04 '19 at 12:40
@KevinLiu that is the important part, the author failed to point out in the first place. – jdhao Oct 26 '20 at 16:46

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 13 '11 at 18:38

There's also a plugin called RangeMacro, does exactly what you want! For everyone that can't guess by the name, what it does: it repeats a recorded macro for each line in a given range, no matter if by visual selection or by a :40,50 / :+10

See http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=3271

In Vim, how do I apply a macro to a set of lines?

4 Answers4

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