Why is there no 'very magic' option?
bgold12
\v. Obviously it would be really annoying to have to type the \v every
time you want to search for something, so I mapped / to /\v, but this
is still undesirable as it doesn't cover the * and # operations, and
it adds an unnecessary element to the search expression. Why is there
not a setting for 'very magic' that would preclude having to include
the \v in every search expression, for example set magic=very?
Thanks.
Tony Mechelynck
":set magic=very" is not possible, and I believe never will be, because
'magic' is a Boolean option, and IIUC Bram won't break compatibility for
this kind of reason.
Changing an existing option from Boolean to String or vice-versa has
unpleasant properties, as follows:
command Boolean option String option
-----------------------------------------------------------------
:set magic set to TRUE display
:set nomagic set to FALSE syntax error
:set magic! toggle syntax error
:set invmagic toggle syntax error
:set magic=very syntax error set to "very"
:let foo = &magic Number (0 or 1) String (actual value)
:let &magic = 0 set to FALSE set to "0"
:let &magic = 1 set to TRUE set to "1"
:let &magic = "very" set to FALSE set to "very"
In theory one could e.g. define a 'verymagic' option, also Boolean, with
the following properties:
'noverymagic' 'verymagic'
(default)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
'magic' (default) magic very magic
'nomagic' nomagic very nomagic
but unless you want (and feel capable) to program that yourself as an
unofficial patch to the C code, I don't think it's going to appear out
of the blue.
I think the reason 'magic' exists at all is that old Vi scripts assumed
the equivalent of 'nomagic' (see ":help 'magic'); in most cases it is
recommended to keep 'magic' on constantly because that's what "modern"
scripts assume; you may however set any _individual_ search to very
nomagic, (ordinary) nomagic, (default) magic, or very magic by means of
modifiers within the pattern. If you could, and did, set 'very magic'
constantly, I have a hunch that you would see some functions and
commands fail in mysterious ways: for instance because \( and \) in
their patterns would suddenly start searching for literal parentheses
instead of grouping subexpressions as they normally do.
Best regards,
Tony.
--
In Boston, it is illegal to hold frog-jumping contests in nightclubs.
Bram Moolenaar
Tony Mechelynck wrote:
> On 19/09/09 00:54, bgold12 wrote:
> >
> > I recently started doing searches with 'very magic' turned on using
> > \v. Obviously it would be really annoying to have to type the \v every
> > time you want to search for something, so I mapped / to /\v, but this
> > is still undesirable as it doesn't cover the * and # operations, and
> > it adds an unnecessary element to the search expression. Why is there
> > not a setting for 'very magic' that would preclude having to include
> > the \v in every search expression, for example set magic=very?
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> ":set magic=very" is not possible, and I believe never will be, because
> 'magic' is a Boolean option, and IIUC Bram won't break compatibility for
> this kind of reason.
>
> Changing an existing option from Boolean to String or vice-versa has
> unpleasant properties, as follows:
It's not only because of changing the option type, it's also because
changing this option results in changing the meaning of patterns
everywhere. It's a good way to break existing scripts.
The 'magic' option should not exist. It's only there for Vi
compatibility. See ":help 'magic'" for the note that you should always
keep this option at its default value.
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and beautiful; what's not to like? --David A. Rogers
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Spencer Collyer
Why would you want it set in the * and # cases?
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