vim_ahk

Setting file/exe file of AutoHotkey for Vim emulation.

vim.ahk is the setting file for AutoHotkey(Autohotkey_L).

vim.exe is a standalone application made from vim.ahk (available in the releases page).

This is vim emulation for Windows. If you are interested in the same settings for Mac, try Vim emulation for Karabiner - Software for macOS: Karabiner-Elements complex_modifications rules by rcmdnk.

AutoHotkey v1 or v2

This script is for AutoHotkey v2.

If you are using AutoHotkey v1, please use release v0.13.2 (or ahk_v1 branch).

Installation

Scripts

If you've already installed AutoHotKey, just open vim.ahk with AutoHotkey.

If you are running AutoHotKey with another script, you can include it in your script using AutoHotKey... Please copy vim.ahk and lib directory in \Users\%username%\Documents or where the script is in, and add the following line in AutoHotkey.ahk or your script:

#Include  %A_LineFile%\..\vim.ahk

at the end of the Auto-execute section.

Executable

You can also use vim_ahk.exe, which can work standalone w/o AutoHotKey.

To get executable, go to the releases page and download the latest zip file.

Unzip the zip file, and place the extracted vim_ahk folder where you like, then launch vim_ahk.exe.

Note

place vim_ahk_icons folder in the same folder with vim_ahk.exe, otherwise, the tray menu icon feature does not work.

Build executable from the source

Clone vim_ahk and go vim_ahk folder, and run build.bat.

• Double click the file
• Or run .\build.bat on PowerShell or Command Prompt.

You will find vim_ahk folder which contains vim_ahk.exe and vim_ahk_icons.

Applications (VimGroup)

The default setting enables vim-mode for the following applications:

• Notepad (メモ帳)
• Wordpad
• TeraPad
• Windows Explorer
• Thunderbird (only sending window)
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Word
• Evernote
• Visual Studio Code
• TexWork
• TexStudio
• Q-dir
• OneNote
• Applications using ahk_exe ApplicationFrameHost.exe

You can change them from the right-click menu of the task tray icon (find VimMenu-Settings in the list), or launch the setting window by Ctrl-Alt-Shift-v.

If you want to change applications directly in the script, add VimGroup variable before Vim := new VimAhk() in vim.ahk (Window title/class can be checked by Window spy of AutoHotkey), or write before including vim.ahk

Example line:

VimGroup := "ahk_exe chrome.exe,ahk_exe firefox.exe"

Multiple applications can be written by a comma-separated.

Note

This will overwrite the default applications. If you want to add these applications to the default applications, add following applications after your applications:

ahk_exe notepad.exe,ahk_exe explorer.exe,ahk_exe wordpad.exe,ahk_exe TeraPad.exe,作成,Write:,ahk_exe POWERPNT.exe,ahk_exe WINWORD.exe,ahk_exe Evernote.exe,ahk_exe Code.exe,ahk_exe onenote.exe,OneNote,ahk_exe texworks.exe,ahk_exe texstudio.exe

Or you can use GUI option setting menu described below.

The default setting of VimSetTitleMatchMode is 2, which makes matching methods as Contain.

If you set OneNote, all windows with a title containing OneNote (e.g. XXX's OneNote) will be included. If you set VimSetTitleMatchMode as 3, only the exact title of OneNote will be included.

It may not work on OneNote. OneNote may have a window name like User's Notebook - OneNote, instead of OneNote.

In that case, you need to check OneNote's window title with Window spy.

Window spy will give you about Window Title, Class and Process like:

User's Notebook - OneNote
ahk_class ApplicationFrameWindow
ahk_exe ApplicationFrameHost.exe

If you add any of the above lines to VimGroup, vim_ahk works on OneNote. But if you set ahk_class ApplicationFrameWindow or ahk_exe ApplicationFrameHost.exe, vim_ahk also works on other applications which use these Class/Process names (most of the applications installed from Microsoft Store).

Examples of applications:

• Chrome: ahk_exe chrome.exe
• Firefox: ahk_exe firefox.exe
• Excel: ahk_exe EXCEL.EXE
• LibreOffice: ahk_exe soffice.bin (for all LibreOffice applications)

Options

In addition to VimGroup, there are the following options that you can set in your script. All of these can be changed from the setting menu, too.

Option	Description	Default
VimEscNormal	If 1, short press ESC sets the normal mode, while long press ESC sends ESC.	1
VimSendEscNormal	If 1, short press ESC send ESC in the normal mode.	0
VimLongEscNormal	If 1, short press and long press of ESC behaviors are swapped.	0
VimCtrlBracketToEsc	If 1, Ctrl-[ behaves as ESC. If VimCtrlBracketNormal is 0, Ctrl-[ sends ESC. If VimCtrlBracketNormal is 1, long press Ctrl-[ sends ESC.	0
VimCtrlBracketNormal	If 1, pushing Ctrl-[ sets the normal mode, while long press Ctrl-[ sends Ctrl-[.	1
VimSendCtrlBracketNormal	If 1, short press Ctrl-[ send Ctrl-[ in the normal mode.	0
VimLongCtrlBracketNormal	If 1, short press and long press of Ctrl-[ behaviors are swapped.	0
VimChangeCaretWidth	If 1, check the character under the cursor before an action. Currently this is used for: a in the normal mode (check if the cursor is located at the end of the line).	0
VimRestoreIME	If 1, IME status is restored at entering the insert mode.	1
VimJJ	If 1, jj changes the mode to the normal mode from the insert mode.	0
VimTwoLetterEsc	A list of character pairs to press together during the insert mode to get to the Normal mode. For example, a value of jf means pressing j and f at the same time will enter the Normal mode. Multiple combination can be set by separated by ,. (e.g. jf,jk,sd)
VimDisableUnused	Disable level of unused keys in other than the insert mode: Do not disable unused keys Disable alphabets (+shift) and symbols Disable all including keys with modifiers (e.g. Ctrl+Z)	3
VimSetTitleMatchMode	SetTitleMatchMode: Start with Contain Exact match Regular expression	2
VimSetTitleMatchModeFS	SetTitleMatchMode: Fast: Text is not detected for such edit control. Slow: Works for all windows, but slow.	Fast
VimIconCheckInterval	Interval to check vim_ahk status (ms) and change tray icon (see below picture). If it is set to 0, the original AHK icon is set and not changed.	1000
VimVerbose	Verbose level: Nothing. Minimum tooltip (mode information only). ToolTip (all information). Debug mode with a message box, which doesn't disappear automatically.	1
VimAppList	Application list usage: All: Enable vim_ahk on all applications (the applicatoin list is ignored). Allow List: Use the application list as an allow list. Deny List: Use the application list as a deny list.	Allow List
VimGroup	Applications on witch vim_ahk is enabled.	See Applications section

You can add your options before including vim.ahk in your script in the auto execute section like:

VimVerbose := 2
#Include \path\to\vim.ahk

If you want to change them directly in the vim.ahk script, add these variable before Vim := new VimAhk().

Note

These Vim variables will overwrite the default values and initial values. After checking these variables, the configuration file is read. If you have already run vim_ahk, the configuration file was created and all the settings were saved. To reflect the new settings, try Reset in the GUI option setting window.

Note

VimIconCheckInterval example

If you set VimIconCheckInterval as non-zero, the tray icon is changed when you change the mode or change the applications to vim_ahk enabled or not enabled ones.

Warning

VimChangeCaretWidth

Caret width can be changed only on specific applications: Wordpad, Word, or OneNote. On Notepad or Explorer, the caret width is kept but does not change.

For most other applications, the caret width is kept as the original width.

When this option is enabled, the current window briefly loses focus when the mode is changed.

If you enabled this option and change the caret width thick in the Normal mode, and disable the option, the cursor width is kept as thick. To reverse the caret width, re-enable the option and enter the Insert mode at the Wordpad or something to revert the caret width, then disable the option.

GUI Option Setting Window

You can change these options from the right-click menu of the task tray icon (find VimMenu-Settings in the list), or launch the setting window by Ctrl-Alt-Shift-v.

Here, you can add applications, change the mode change key, or change the verbose level.

If you push Reset, default settings will be shown in the window. These settings will be enabled only if you push the OK button.

These default settings are overwritten by your VimXXX options in your script described above. (i.e. Reset will restore your options in the script in addition to the default settings of vim_ahk.)

Global shortcut keys

Key	Function
Ctrl-Alt-Shift-v	Launch GUI Option Setting Window.
Ctrl-Alt-Shift-s	Suspend/restart vim_ahk.
Ctrl-Alt-Shift-c	Show status check window. (Only on the VimGroup applications.)

Main Modes

Here are the main modes.

Mode	Description
Insert mode	Original Windows state
Normal mode	As in vim, a cursor is moved by hjkl, w, etc... and some vim-like commands are available.
Visual mode	There are three visual modes: Character-wise, Line-wise, and Block-wise. Block-wise visual mode is valid only for applications that support block-wise selection (such TeraPad).
Command mode	Can be used for saving the file/quitting.

The initial state is the insert mode, then ESC or Ctrl-[ brings you to the normal mode.

In the normal mode, i is the key to being back to the insert mode.

v, V and Ctrl-v are the key to the Character-wise, the Line-wise, and the Block-wise visual mode, respectively.

After pressing :, a few commands to save/quit are available.

Available commands in the insert mode

Key/Commands	Function
ESC/Ctrl-[	Enter the normal mode. Holding (0.5s) these keys emulate normal ESC/Ctrl-[.
jj	Enter the normal mode, if enabled.
Custom two letters	If two-letter mapping is set.

ESC/Ctrl-[ switch off IME if IME is on. ESC acts as ESC when IME is on and converting instructions. Ctrl-[ switches off IME and enters the normal mode even if IME is on.

Long press ESC (Ctrl-[) will send these original keys, if VimLongEscNormal (VimLongCtrlBracketNormal is not enabled (0).

If VimLongEscNormal (VimLongCtrlBracketNormal) is enabled, a single press will send original keys and a long press will change the mode to the normal mode.

If using a custom two-letter hotkey to enter the normal mode, the two letters must be different.

Warning

A character can be used only for one two-letter hotkey. If you specify ab and bc, ba (push b first and then a) does not work. If you push a first, then ab will work, though.

Available commands in the normal mode

Mode Change

Key/Commands	Function
i/I/a/A/o/O	Enter the insert mode under the cursor/start of the line/next to the cursor/end of the line/next line/previous line.
v/V/Ctrl-v	Enter the visual mode of Character-wise/Line-wise/Block-wise.
:	Enter the command line mode

Move

Key/Commands	Function
h/j/k/l	Left/Down/Up/Right.
0/$	Move to the start/end of the line.
Ctrl-a/Ctrl-e	Move to the start/end of the line (emacs like).
^	Move to the starting non-whitespace character of the line.
w/W	Move to the beginning of the next word.
e/E	Move to the end of the word. (Actually, move to the beginning of the next word and move one character left.)
b/B	Move to the beginning of the previous word.
Ctrl-u/Ctrl-d	Go Up/Down 10 line.
Ctrl-b/Ctrl-f	PageUp/PageDown.
gg/G	Go to the top/bottom of the file
Space	Right.
Enter	Move to the beginning of the next line.

Note

Enter works only for editor applications (for other than Explorer, Q-dir, it works as Enter even in the normal mode).

In addition, Repeat is also available for some commands.

Example Commands	Action
4j	Down 4 lines
3w	Move 3 words forward
100j	Down 100 lines

Yank/Cut(Delete)/Change/Paste

Key/Commands	Function
yy, Y	Copy the line.
dd	Cut the line.
D	Cut from here to the end of the line.
cc	Change the line (enter the insert mode).
C	Cut from here to the end of the line and enter the insert mode.
x/X	Delete a character under/before the cursor (not registered in the clipboard).
p/P	Paste to the next/current place. If copy/cut was done with the line-wise visual mode, it pastes to the next/current line. Some commands (such yy/dd) also force to paste as line-wise.
yiw/diw/ciw	Copy/cut/change current word.

y/d/c+Move Command can be used, too.

• e.g.) yw -> copy next one word.
• e.g.) d3w -> delete next 3 words.

Others

Key/Commands	Function
u/Ctrl-r	Undo/Redo.
r/R	Replace one character/multiple characters.
J	Combine two lines.
.	It is fixed to do: Replace the following word with a clipboard (useful to use with a search).
~	Change case.
/	Start search (search box will be opened)
n/N	Search next/previous (Some applications support only next search)
*	Search the word under the cursor.
ZZ/ZQ	Save and Quit/Quit.

Available commands in visual mode

Key/Commands	Function
ESC/Ctrl-[	Enter the normal mode.
Move command	Most move commands in the normal mode are available.
y/d/x/c	Copy/Cut/Cut/Cut and insert (d=x)
Y/D/X/C	Move to the end of the line, then Copy/Cut/Cut/Cut and the insert mode (D=X)
iw	Select the current word.
*	Search the selected word.

Available commands in the command mode

Key/Commands	Function
ESC/Ctrl-[	Enter the normal mode.
w + RETURN	Save
w + SPACE	Save as
w + q	Save and Quit
q	Quit
h	Open help of the application

Application-specific settings

Q-dir

Refer ranger which is a console file manager with VI key bindings.

Available commands in the normal mode

Key/Commands	Function
h/j/k/l	Backspace(returns to the parent directory)/Down/Up/Enter(enters the selected directory or opens a file)
Alt+u/i/j/k	switch between Quad-Directories
'	menu Quick-links

Testing

Tests are run by executing tests/run_vimahk_tests.ahk. A notepad and vim window is opened, and vim_ahk is started.

The testing system used is a series of test cases in tests/testcases.txt representing keystrokes to send to vim_ahk. These are sent to the open vim and notepad windows, and the resulting text is compared.

The tests can be very flakey, so should be used as a guide and to execute code paths to check for errors. Tests should be run with a default ini.

References (Japanese)

• vim_ahkでウィンドウを定期的にチェックしてトレイアイコンを変えられる様にした
• vim_ahkで有効にするアプリの変更もメニューから出来る様にした
• vim_ahkでメニューから設定変更出来る様にした
• AutoHotkeyでToolTipを出す
• AutoHotkeyで設定ファイルの読み書きをする
• AutoHotkeyでのGUI操作
• AutoHotkeyでのメニューの追加
• AutoHotkeyで短い連続入力を認識させる方法
• AutoHotkeyで特定の条件下で設定したキー以外全てを無効にする簡単な方法
• Vim以外でVimする: Windows+AutoHotkey編