VIM move in Insert mode

Question

Why I ask:

I use to enter code for example if(condition){}, in following step:

1. if(){ }
2. move cursor back into () to complete condition
3. move cursor into {} to add task

I have read Traversing text in Insert mode, and I add follow code into my $HOME/.vimrc

" key mapping
inoremap <A-h> <C-o>h
inoremap <A-j> <C-o>j
inoremap <A-k> <C-o>k
inoremap <A-l> <C-o>l

now I can use Alt+h and Alt+l, but the rest of two new map had no effect, then I test: Ctrl+oj and Ctrl+ok, both of them work.

1. Is there any mistake when I do the key mapping?
2. How to check if my new mapping is conflicted with other or not?

UPDATE: 2nd/Nov/2016

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1. I buy a new keyboard with cursor key...
2. Install auto pair

However, I found one interesting thing, when I in Linux, there is ok for all above mapping just except Alt+h, because it conflicted with the ubuntu current open window help menu. I only meet my problem when I use ssh via MobaXerm application.

Answer 1

I have read Traversing text in Insert mode, and I add follow code into my $HOME/.vimrc

You should carefully read the accepted answer for that answer, specially this part:

The right way is to press Esc, go where you want to do a small correction, fix it, go back and keep editing. It is effective because Vim has much more movements than usual character forward/backward/up/down. After you learn more of them, this will happen to be more productive.

The answer where you borrowed the mappings also mentions this:

Notwithstanding what Pavel Shved said - that it is probably more advisable to get used to Escaping Insert mode - here is an example set of mappings for quick navigation within Insert mode: (...)

Anyway, if you want to understand the problem with the Alt+j and Alt+k, you should first ensure that the mapping is still defined in Vim (they could have been erased or overwritten). You can use :imap to list them; try these:

:imap <A-j>
:imap <A-k>

If your mappings are correctly defined each one will list its target (e.g.: * <C-O>j). In this case you should check if Vim is receiving these combinations correctly; try inserting then in the text (insert mode) by using Ctrl+V (or Ctrl+Q if you mapped that to paste from clipboard) and the Alt combinations. You can get more details at the Vim FAQ "I am not able to create a mapping for the key. What is wrong?".

Edit:

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If your issue is mainly related with closing parenthesis, then there are several other options, which I believe that are more practical. I quick internet search returned the following:

• SO - Automatic closing brackets for Vim
• Vim wiki - Making Parenthesis And Brackets Handling Easier
• plugin - Auto Pairs

Answer 2

I also think that you misuse Vim.

I know that the question was about something else but here is my idea of how you should move around in vim.

You have 3 steps:
1. Insert some empty loop / condition
2. Insert a condition
3. Insert a body of the loop / condition

This should represent 3 changes, each separated by leaving the insert mode.

To do it properly you can perform step 1 and then leave insert mode by using either Esc or Ctrl+[ (with the second one- which is also vim default- you do not have to reach for escape key).

Then you should navigate to the place where you want to insert your change using h,j,k or l and follow it by starting insert mode.

There are several ways to start insert mode:

I - start insert mode at the beginning of the line (omitting whitespaces at the beginning)
i - start insert mode before the cursor
a - start insert mode after the cursor
A - start insert mode at the end of the line
s - change the sign under the cursor (can be combined with visual mode)
c - change text from under the cursor until place you have specified with the movement (e.g. ce - change until the end of the word, cl - the same as "s")
C - change everything from cursor until the end of the line
S - replace the whole line
o - start insert mode in the new line below
O - start insert mode in the new line above