- INSTALLATION
- RELEASE NOTES
- FILES
- ADDITIONAL TIPS
- CREDITS
Perl Support implements a Perl-IDE for Vim/gVim. It has been written to considerably speed up writing code in a consistent style. This is done by inserting complete statements, comments, idioms, code snippets, templates, and POD documentation. Reading perldoc is integrated. Syntax checking, running a script, running perltidy, running perlcritics, starting a debugger and a profiler can be done with a keystroke. There are many additional hints and options which can improve speed and comfort when writing Perl. Please read the documentation.
This plug-in can be used with Vim version 7.x.
A system-wide installation for all users can also be done. This will have
further effects on how the plug-in works. For a step-by-step instruction, as
well as an explanation of the other consequences, please see the help file
doc/perlsupport.txt or look up the documentation via:
:help perlsupport-system-wide
The subdirectories in the zip archive perl-support.zip mirror the directory
structure which is needed below the local installation directory $HOME/.vim/
(find the value of $HOME with :echo $HOME from inside Vim).
(1.0) Save the template files in $HOME/.vim/perl-support/templates/Templates if
you have changed any of them.
(1.1) Copy the zip archive perl-support.zip to $HOME/.vim and run
unzip perl-support.zip
Afterwards, these files should exist:
$HOME/.vim/autoload/mmtemplates/...
$HOME/.vim/doc/...
$HOME/.vim/plugin/perl-support.vim
(1.2) Loading of plug-in files must be enabled. If not use
:filetype plugin on
This is the minimal content of the file $HOME/.vimrc. Create one if there
is none or use the files in $HOME/.vim/perl-support/rc as a starting point.
(1.3) Set at least some personal details. Use the map \ntw inside a Perl buffer
or the menu entry:
Perl -> Snippets -> template setup wizard
It will help you set up the file _runtimepath_/templates/personal.templates.
The file is read by all plug-ins supporting this feature to get your personal
details. Here is the minimal personalization (my settings as an example):
SetMacro( 'AUTHOR', 'Wolfgang Mehner' )
SetMacro( 'AUTHORREF', 'wm' )
SetMacro( 'EMAIL', '[email protected]' )
SetMacro( 'COPYRIGHT', 'Copyright (c) |YEAR|, |AUTHOR|' )
Use the file $HOME/.vim/templates/perl.templates to customize or add to
your Perl template library. It can also be set up via the wizard.
(Read more about the template system in the plug-in documentation)
(1.4) Make the plug-in help accessible by typing the following command on the Vim command line:
:helptags $HOME/.vim/doc/
(1.5) Consider additional settings in the file $HOME/.vimrc. The files
customization.vimrc and customization.gvimrc are replacements or
extensions for your .vimrc and .gvimrc. You may want to use parts of
them. The files are documented.
The subdirectories in the zip archive perl-support.zip mirror the directory
structure which is needed below the local installation directory
$HOME/vimfiles/ (find the value of $HOME with :echo $HOME from inside Vim).
(2.0) Save the template files in $HOME/vimfiles/perl-support/templates/Templates
if you have changed any of them.
(2.1) Copy the zip archive perl-support.zip to $HOME/vimfiles and run
unzip perl-support.zip
Afterwards, these files should exist:
$HOME/vimfiles/autoload/mmtemplates/...
$HOME/vimfiles/doc/...
$HOME/vimfiles/plugin/perl-support.vim
(2.2) Loading of plug-in files must be enabled. If not use
:filetype plugin on
This is the minimal content of the file $HOME/_vimrc. Create one if there
is none or use the files in $HOME/vimfiles/perl-support/rc as a starting point.
(2.3) Set at least some personal details. Use the map \ntw inside a Perl buffer
or the menu entry:
Perl -> Snippets -> template setup wizard
It will help you set up the file _runtimepath_/templates/personal.templates.
The file is read by all plug-ins supporting this feature to get your personal
details. Here is the minimal personalization (my settings as an example):
SetMacro( 'AUTHOR', 'Wolfgang Mehner' )
SetMacro( 'AUTHORREF', 'wm' )
SetMacro( 'EMAIL', '[email protected]' )
SetMacro( 'COPYRIGHT', 'Copyright (c) |YEAR|, |AUTHOR|' )
Use the file $HOME/vimfiles/templates/perl.templates to customize or add to
your Perl template library. It can also be set up via the wizard.
(Read more about the template system in the plug-in documentation)
(2.4) Make the plug-in help accessible by typing the following command on the Vim command line:
:helptags $HOME\vimfiles\doc\
(2.5) Consider additional settings in the file $HOME/_vimrc. The files
customization.vimrc and customization.gvimrc are replacements or
extensions for your _vimrc and _gvimrc. You may want to use parts of
them. The files are documented.
(2.6) Make sure the shell is set up correctly. The options 'shell',
'shellcmdflag', 'shellquote', and 'shellxquote' must be set consistently.
Compare :help perlsupport-troubleshooting.
There are a lot of features and options which can be used and influenced:
- use of template files and tags
- using and managing personal code snippets
- Perl dictionary for keyword completion
- the Perl module list
- reading Perl documentation with integrated calls to perldoc
- removing the root menu
- using additional plug-ins
Look at the Perl Support help with:
:help perlsupport
+-----------------------------------------------+
| +-------------------------------------------+ |
| | ** PLEASE READ THE DOCUMENTATION ** | |
| | Actions differ for different modes! | |
| +-------------------------------------------+ |
+-----------------------------------------------+
Any problems? See the TROUBLESHOOTING section at the end of the help file
doc/perlsupport.txt.
- Add 'g:Perl_CustomTemplateFile'.
- Add template personalization file and setup wizard.
- Rename setting 'g:Perl_Perl' into 'g:Perl_Executable'. ('g:Perl_Perl' still works for backwards compatibility.)
- Respect 'g:Xterm_Executable' and 'g:Xterm_Options'. ('g:Perl_XtermDefaults' still works for backwards compatibility.)
- Remove unused 'g:Perl_GuiTemplateBrowser' and 'g:Perl_MenuHeader'.
- New and reworked templates.
- Change map "\vs" -> "\vps", in favor of a more consistent naming scheme.
- Minor changes.
-> see file perl-support/doc/ChangeLog
README.md
This file.
autoload/perlsupportprofiling.vim
Profiler support.
autoload/perlsupportregex.vim
Regex analyser code.
autoload/mmtemplates/*
The template system.
autoload/mmtoolbox/*
The toolbox (make, ...).
doc/perlsupport.txt
The help file for perl support.
doc/templatesupport.txt
The help file for the template system.
doc/toolbox*.txt
The help files for the toolbox.
plugin/perl-support.vim
The Perl plugin for Vim/gVim.
perl-support/codesnippets/*
Some Perl code snippets as a starting point.
perl-support/modules/
Directory for the list of installed Perl modules.
perl-support/scripts/*
Several helper scripts.
perl-support/templates/Templates
Perl main template file.
perl-support/templates/*.templates
Several dependent template files.
perl-support/wordlists/perl.list
A file used as dictionary for automatic word completion.
This file is referenced in the file customization.vimrc.
The following files and extensions are for convenience only. perl-support.vim will work without them. The settings are explained in the files themselves.
ftplugin/make.vim
Access hotkeys for make(1) in makefiles.
ftplugin/perl.vim
A filetype plugin. Define hotkeys, create a local
dictionary for each Perl file.
ftplugin/pod.vim
A filetype plugin. Define hotkeys for filetype 'pod'.
ftplugin/qf.vim
A filetype plugin used by the profilers.
ftdetect/template.vim
ftplugin/template.vim
syntax/template.vim
Additional files for working with templates.
perl-support/rc/customization.ctags
Additional settings for use in .ctags to enable
navigation through POD with the plugin taglist.vim.
perl-support/rc/customization.gvimrc
Additional settings for use in .gvimrc:
hot keys, mouse settings, ...
The file is commented. Append it to your .gvimrc if you
like.
perl-support/rc/customization.perltidyrc
Additional settings for use in .perltidyrc to customize
perltidy.
perl-support/rc/customization.smallprof
Additional settings for use to control the profiler
Devel::SmallProf
perl-support/rc/customization.vimrc
Additional settings for use in .vimrc:
incremental search, tabstop, hot keys,
font, use of dictionaries, ...
The file is commented. Append it to your .vimrc if you
like.
perl-support/rc/*.templates
Sample template files for customization. Used by the
template setup wizard.
perl-support/doc/perl-hot-keys.pdf
Reference card for the key mappings. The mappings can
also be used with the non-GUI Vim, where the menus are
not available.
perl-support/doc/pmdesc3.text
The man page for pmdesc3.
perl-support/doc/ChangeLog
The change log.
(1) You may want to use a central hidden directory for all your backup files
(see also rc/customization.vimrc):
1.1 Add the following line to .vimrc (see also rc/customization.vimrc ):
set backupdir =$HOME/.vim.backupdir
1.2 Create $HOME/.vim.backupdir.
1.3 Add the following line to your shell initialization file ~/.profile:
find $HOME/.vim.backupdir/ -name "*" -type f -mtime +60 -exec rm -f {} \;
When you are logging in all files in the backup directory older then 60 days (-mtime +60) will be removed (60 days is a suggestion, of course). Be shure to backup in shorter terms!
(2) gVim. Toggle 'insert mode' <--> 'normal mode' with the right mouse button
(see mapping in file customization.gvimrc).
(3) gVim. Use tear off menus.
(4) Try 'Focus under mouse' as window behavior (No mouse click when the mouse pointer is back from the menu entry).
(5) Use Emulate3Buttons "on" (X11) even for a 3-button mouse. Pressing left and right button simultaneously without moving your fingers is faster than moving a finger to the middle button (which is often a wheel).
Wolfgang Mehner (wolfgang-mehner AT web.de) for the implementation of the powerful template system templatesupport.
David Fishburn (fishburn AT ianywhere.com) for the implementation of the single root menu and several suggestions for improving the customization and the documentation.
Ryan Hennig (hennig AT amazon.com) improved the install script.
Aristotle, http://qs321.pair.com/~monkads/ is the author of the script pmdesc2 which is the base of the included script pmdesc3.
David Fishburn contributed changes for the Windows platform and suggested to not let snippets and templates enter the list of alternate files.
The two files pod-template-application.pl and pod-template-module.pl are taken from Damian Conway's book "Perl Best Practices".
This plug-in has been developed by Fritz Mehner, who maintained it until 2015.