VS code VIM extension copy and paste

Question

Is there a normal way to copy and paste in vs code using vim extension?

I've tried mapping VIM register commands to the shortcut commands I'm used to (ctrl + c for copying and ctrl + v for pasting), but the results are pretty weird and I'm not sure how to do this correctly.

While using vim the key bindings were quite simple, vimrc file:

map <C-c> "+y
map <C-v> "+p

Now I try to migrate those to vs-code by editting json.settings file:

{
    "vim.visualModeKeyBindings": [
        {
            "before": ["<C-c>"],
            "after": ["\"", "+", "y"]
        },
        {
            "before": ["<C-v>"], 
            "after":  ["\"", "+", "p"]
        },
    ], }

I want this to operate both in visual mode and in normal mode (for pasting), and be able to copy and paste from clipboard using these shortcuts.

How to do this correctly? Is there another way to do this?

You can always copy to the clipboard with `"+y` And past from the clipboard with `"+p` — Sharku, Oct 09 '19 at 15:43

Brampage · Accepted Answer · 2022-08-09T15:05:09.423

228

Vim - extension config flag

Tick the checkbox in settings by searching for "vim clip".

or

Paste the following inside your VS Code's settings.json file:

"vim.useSystemClipboard": true

Access VSCode settings.json file:

Press Ctrl + , (or go to File > Preferences > Settings)
Click the icon: "file with arrow" in the top right corner

Settings found in VSCodeVim/Vim repository quick-example

edited Aug 09 '22 at 15:05

answered Apr 06 '20 at 18:04

Brampage

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16

This answer is better than rebinding `` and `` to `false` because it keeps the shortcut for visual block mode. – Macondo May 27 '20 at 09:12
6

Shortcut: Go to settings, search "vim clip", check the tick. – Hamza Zubair Sep 03 '20 at 11:33
1

For some reason this didn't solve the problem in my case. However, the first answer solved it. Do you have any idea why? – basilisk Dec 02 '20 at 17:19
@basilisk I am facing the similar issue – rbansal Jan 28 '21 at 10:10
@basilisk, @rbansal one additional detail about this solution is that it's enabling the system clipboard to be available with the selection register (`*`). This allows you to paste via the native `p` command in normal mode (or `Ctrl-r *` in insert mode). It doesn't allow you to then use `Ctrl-v` as may be expected. – Tony Cesaro May 20 '21 at 14:28
Not being able to use Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V for copy-and-paste in VS Code was driving me nuts. Thanks for posting this! – Vincent Jul 03 '21 at 01:12
@basilisk It didnt solve for me either! – Raul Chiarella Nov 13 '22 at 21:33
I find that yank reacts strangely after enabling the system clipboard - it solved the problem of not being able to yank in one vscode instance and paste in another (which is great) - but I feel the cost is too high... any other way global yank can be made possible (without using system clipboard) ? – Martin Vang Dec 01 '22 at 12:25

Das_Geek · Answer 2 · 2019-10-09T15:57:11.250

79

Rather than rebinding, you can simply stop the vscodevim extension from handling Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V entirely, which then allows VSCode to handle them natively. This can be done by placing the below code in the extension's settings.json file:

"vim.handleKeys": {
    "<C-c>": false,
    "<C-v>": false
}

This will work regardless of which mode you're in, and will perfectly accommodate the system clipboard. I'm not sure if the <C-c> is necessary, but the <C-v> definitely is, as <C-v> is the standard Vim chord to enter visual block mode.

As an aside, your rebind method is perfectly valid; it just requires a bit more code:

// For visual mode
"vim.visualModeKeyBindings": [
  {
    "before": ["<C-c>"],
    "after": ["\"", "+", "y"]
  },
  {
    "before": ["<C-v>"], 
    "after":  ["\"", "+", "p"]
  }
],
// For normal mode
"vim.normalModeKeyBindings": [
  {
    "before": ["<C-c>"],
    "after": ["\"", "+", "y"]
  },
  {
    "before": ["<C-v>"], 
    "after":  ["\"", "+", "p"]
  }
]

edited Oct 09 '19 at 15:57

answered Oct 09 '19 at 15:49

Das_Geek

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Do you know why `C` copy rest the line instead of changing it? – 7537247 Jan 16 '20 at 02:47
Yes! Thank you, this solves one of my problems that the yank `y` key yanks and the delete key `d` overwrites the register. I have one more issue though: After yanking I want to replace a `'word'` with `ci'` but the ci' copies word into my clipboard . Do you know how to disable this functionality? – Flov Apr 24 '20 at 09:39
I just answered my own question: `{ "before": ["c"], "after": ["\"", "_", "c"] }` – Flov Apr 24 '20 at 10:06
5

To save you some browsing if you're on OS X: the mapping `"before": [""]` becomes `"before": [""]` as Vim considers the command key as "D". Open vim and type `:help – Sami Farhat May 04 '20 at 10:07
Other useful shortcuts to be preserved from original VS Code would be ctrl+a; ctrl+s; ctrl+x; settings.json: "vim.handleKeys": { "": false, "": false, "": false, "": false, "": false } – Bart N May 24 '21 at 14:49
"_This can be done by placing the below code in the extension's settings.json file:_" Which, afaict, is also the main user settings file. Did I miss something? (Putting it in the user prefs file _does_ seem to work, fwiw.) – ruffin Jul 26 '23 at 13:57

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 29 '22 at 02:00

4

In the latest version of VS code (on Linux, flatpak version, 1.68.1) and vim addon (at the time of writing), this can be easily enabled by ticking the "Vim: Use System Clipboard".

Note: You can open settings by Ctrl+, then search for 'vim clipboard'

answered Jun 29 '22 at 02:00

user115625

161
3

brilliant, exact match for LunarVim behavior – Alexei Sosin Jul 23 '23 at 09:46

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 18 '22 at 15:20

2

I have found that one can use CTRL+INSERT / SHIFT+INSERT successfully with VS Code VIM to copy to/from the system clipboard without stumbling over the VIM buffers.

For context, I'm running VS Code on WSL2 on Windows.

answered Mar 18 '22 at 15:20

Jaigene Kang

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score 1 · Answer 5 · answered May 12 '20 at 01:45

Use vs code default copy, paste, delete line.

"vim.normalModeKeyBindingsNonRecursive": [
        {
            "before": ["d","d"],
            "commands":["editor.action.deleteLines"],
            "when":"textInputFocus && !editorReadonly"
        },
        {
            "before":["y"],
            "commands":["editor.action.clipboardCopyAction"],
            "when":"textInputFocus"
        },
        {
            "before":["y","y"],
            "commands":["editor.action.clipboardCopyAction"],
            "when":"textInputFocus"
        },
        {
            "before":["p"],
            "commands":["editor.action.clipboardPasteAction"],
            "when":"textInputFocus && !editorReadonly"
        }
    ],
    "vim.visualModeKeyBindingsNonRecursive":[
        {
            "before":["y"],
            "commands":["editor.action.clipboardCopyAction"],
            "when":"textInputFocus"
        },
        {
            "before":["y","y"],
            "commands":["editor.action.clipboardCopyAction"],
            "when":"textInputFocus"
        },
        {
            "before":["x"],
            "commands":["deleteRight"],
            "when":"textInputFocus"
        },
    ]

https://github.com/VSCodeVim/Vim/#key-remapping https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/keybindings

This may be a correct answer, but it’d be useful to provide additional explanation of your code so developers can understand your reasoning. This is especially useful for new developers who may not be familiar with the syntax. Further, it can help reduce the need for follow-up questions. Would you mind updating your comment with additional details? Take a look at the accepted answer for a good example. — Jeremy Caney, May 12 '20 at 05:15

score 1 · Answer 6 · answered Dec 01 '21 at 16:58

1

You can also access system clipboard with vim

In INSERT mode hit CTRL+R then * or +

answered Dec 01 '21 at 16:58

Highmastdon

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score 1 · Answer 7 · answered Dec 15 '22 at 00:50

1

For mac users,

add this into the settings.json

"vim.handleKeys":{
  "<D-c>": false
}

Access VSCode settings.json file:

Press Cmd + , (or go to File > Preferences > Settings)
Click the icon: "file with arrow" in the top right corner

answered Dec 15 '22 at 00:50

Coder Gautam YT

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score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Sep 01 '22 at 20:49

If you use Linux (or a terminal itself) you must know that for copy and paste you add the shift key in the middle, that is:

ctrl + shift + c to copy

ctrl + shift + v to paste

Thus, for me is more simple to remember this, and add it to the configuration, because it helps me to see VS Code as a "terminal".

Steps:

F1
Preferences: Open Keyboard shortcuts (JSON)
Add this

 {
    "key": "ctrl+shift+c",
    "command": "editor.action.clipboardCopyAction"
  },
  {
    "key": "ctrl+shift+v",
    "command": "editor.action.clipboardPasteAction"
  }

VS code VIM extension copy and paste

8 Answers8

Vim - extension config flag

For mac users,

Linked