FileManager for vim

Question

Is there a way to make Vim work like notepad++ with explorer plugin or other text editors as pspad, ultraedit and editplus?

that is

keep a fileexplorer always left (left sidebar of 15% width) and opens all files in the content window (85% of width) and every file in a new tab (above).

I checked nerdtree and vimexplorer plugin but could not find any way to do what I want.

I guess it could, but tabs /= files in Vim, and using them in a way 1 tab /= 1 file, is really not the right way to go with Vim. — Rook, Dec 01 '11 at 15:27
Why do you say "could not find any way to do what I want"? NERD_Tree does **exactly** what you want (left sidebar, opens files in main "window" or in new "tab"). Making it permanent across tabs is not that easy, though. But Vim's "tabs" have nothing to do with other apps' "tabs" except the name. — romainl, Dec 01 '11 at 16:25

score 9 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 01 '11 at 14:52

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Check out NERD Tree. This isn't the best screenshot, but it'll give you an idea of what to expect:

enter image description here

answered Dec 01 '11 at 14:52

Stephen Emslie

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score 7 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:34

To your question there is definitely many ways you can possibly get the outcome. When you mentioned NERDTree does not work the way you want, I believe you have not tried it out well enough. I would recommend you read the documentation of the NERDTree plugin. Derek's answer just shows you that with NERDTree and minibufexplorer.

One solution I could suggest is have a windows file explorer open beside your gvim window. Follow instructions in the vim.wikia page to open files in a tab when you double click on the file. If you are using Mac, MacVim has an option to open new files in a tab by default.

Now that I have provided a solution, let me remind you that Vim is unlike most of the other editors you might have used earlier. Look at the answer titled "Your problem with Vim is that you don't grok vi.", here. Vim is different, learn to grok it.

Now the point of tabs in Vim. Tabs in Vim are different, look at an answer in SO here. Tabs in vi are more like workspaces. In Linux or Mac you have the concept of workspaces where you can place your application windows together. For example assume I am working on developing a website. In one workspace I would keep my code editor, my web browser and probably a terminal. And for all my personal stuffs I would you another workspace. Like for my social stuffs I would have another workspace with my twitter client, my chat messenger and a browser for facebook. Similarly in Vim use tabs as workspaces for your different files. You might be editing couple of files. Group the ones you edit, use window splits which vim is best for. This is my vim layout:

My Vim layout .

I havent used tabs but use NERDTree, minibufexplorer and serves my need. I don't have to use my mouse at all, it makes my editing more efficient. Take some time reading good articles about Vim. You will see that you actually don't need most of the GUI stuffs many other editors gloat about. Try using Command-T plugin for opening files. You will find it a lot more efficient.

Read the following to get a better idea about tabs, buffers and windows in Vim: http://jonathan.jsphere.com/post/9927807318/taming-vim-4-buffers-windows-tabs http://blog.interlinked.org/tutorials/vim_tutorial.html

Its called tutticolori, I am not sure where I got it from, but you can check it from my [github](https://github.com/satyajitranjeev/Dotvim/blob/master/colors/tutticolori.vim) — satran, Dec 02 '11 at 09:12

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 01 '11 at 15:21

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I personally use a combination of minibufexplorer and NERDTree, and it works very well for me. minibufexplorer keeps a window at the top with all the files I've opened, which I can switch between using ctrl-tab. NERDTree is open on the left, and choosing a file opens it in my main editor window, and lists it in the minibufexplorer window.

My Vim window, with minibufexplorer and nerdtree

answered Dec 01 '11 at 15:21

Derek

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How do you make minibufexplorer not take full width at the top? – emilecantin Feb 01 '13 at 16:23
It's all about order of opening. If you open NERDTree first then the buffer explorer, then it will be over the entire window. If you have the buffer explorer open first, then you open nerdtree, you will get the situation you see in my screen shot. Similarly, if the buffer explorer is over the entire window, then you toggle NERD tree off then on, it will now only cover the right side. – Derek Feb 01 '13 at 18:33

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 21 '12 at 03:35

VIM includes netrw, which is already a filebrowser and I like it a lot more than NERDTree.

I have included the function below in my local .alias file. Thus, from a terminal or console execute vc (mnemonics for V.im C.ommander) and you'll get a nice double pane browser with ssh, ftp, file execution and a large array of capabilities.

In SH alike shells try:

vc () 
{ 
    local TARGET='';

    [ -z "$@" ] && TARGET=. || TARGET="$@";
    vim \
    -c "set cursorline" \
    -c vsplit \
    -c "normal gh" \
    -c "let &titlestring=\"netrw\"" \
    -c "set acd" "$TARGET";

    return 0
}

Enjoy!

PS:// If you need netrw filetype definitions (i.e., executing a movie player for movie files and so forth, i'll publish mine)

FileManager for vim

4 Answers4