How do I copy command output in vim?

Question

For example, if I type ':pwd' to get the current working directory, I can select the text in gvim but I can't figure out how to copy it to the clipboard. If I try the same in console vim, I can't even select it with the mouse. I would like this to work with all vim commands, such as set guifont to copy the guifont=Consolas:h10:cANSI output.

Solution 1

Are you looking for this,

:redir @* | set guifont | redir END

:redir command redirects the output of a command to a register (@*). The register @* refers to the clipboard.

For more info on this,

:help :redir

Solution 2

Try ':r !pwd' to get the current working directory directly in to the GVIM opened file.
You can then copy it to clipboard like you would any other text file contents opened there.

Solution 3

For this particular example you could do (note the "!" which makes it go through the shell):

:!pwd | xclip

or

:!pwd | xclip -selection secondary

(depending on which X-selection you want).

You might have to install xclip first

sudo apt-get install xclip

(or equivalent)

Solution 4

If you're running vim in an xterm, holding the shift key while selecting the text will copy the text to the X equivalent of the clipboard.

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Comments

[Marius Gedminas]

X has two clipboards (at least); your suggestion will place the text in the PRIMARY selection (paste with middle-click) rather than the CLIPBOARD hselection (paste with Ctrl+V in most apps).

[Steven]

This is useful, but can I use this with set guifont for example?

[DrColossos]

No, that is not a shell command so it will not work.

[Sergio Abreu]

didn't work in vim-gtk some clue ?

[leeand00]

@SergioAbreu try @+ instead of @* (well, it works in gvim).