Open a file in a tab in vim in readonly mode

Question

I'm aware of opening files in readonly mode from shell using vim -R, but how to open a file from inside vim in a separate tab (:tabe <filename>) in readonly mode?

Thanks for your time.

Solution 1

To open a file in read only mode in a new tab, use

tab sview /path/to/file

To open the file in the same pane, (without using a new window or tab), use

view /path/to/file

Note that tab view /path/to/file does not open a new tab.

Solution 2

You can open a file in readonly mode from inside vim:

:view /path/to/file

or from command line:

$ vim -M /path/to/file

Solution 3

vim -M filename opens the file in readonly mode.

Solution 4

Just open your file by using :tabe <filename>, then enter :view. It will automatically switch to read-only mode.

Solution 5

Try :tabedit +set\ noma|set\ ro FILE; this will open FILE in a new tab with modifiable off and readonly on, preventing you from modifying or writing the file. If you just want readonly, omit the noma set. Might be convenient to remap this to another command.

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Comments

[Dharmit]

vim -R works as read-only mode. vim -M opens the file with modifiable set to off.

[Anthony DiSanti]

For anyone that isn't looking to use tabs, simply :view /path/to/file will open a new buffer with the file in read-only mode

[Saulo Silva]

He specifically said "how to open a file from inside vim".

[user456584]

Still useful for people coming in from Google.

[Seng Cheong]

@user456584 Only for those who are bad at using Google. This question is specifically about opening read-only in a tab.

[Seng Cheong]

This question is specifically about opening read-only in a tab.

[Aman]

I like this alternative; fits my normal workflow for tabs, and easier to remember.

[erikbstack]

It's still good you posted that, because I came here exactly for that!

[jpaugh]

user2015258's answer does this in one step.

[shaahiin]

You can use vim -R filename for opening the file in read-only mode (file is modifiable, but not writable) and vim -M filename for opening the file with modifiable set to off (file is neither modifiable, nor writable).