How to Disable VSCode Tab Change on 'gt' Command in VIM Extension

Learn how to disable the tab change behavior of the 'gt' command in Visual Studio Code while using the VIM extension.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/63479259/ asked by the user 'Alex' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/6146387/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/63483851/ provided by the user 'isAif' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/4901118/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Disabling VSCode Tab Change on gt Command in VIM Extension

If you’re a fan of using the VIM extension in Visual Studio Code (VSCode), you might have run into an issue recently. The gt command, which is supposed to let you jump to specific characters in your code, has unintentionally switched its functionality to change tabs instead. This is certainly frustrating for users who rely on VIM commands to navigate efficiently within their code. Here, we’ll explore why this is happening and how you can adapt your workflow to get back to using gt as intended.

Understanding the gt Command in VIM

In VIM, the command gt is utilized to go to the next tab, while gT allows you to go to the previous tab. The VIM extension in VSCode attempts to replicate these useful functionalities, but recent updates might have changed its behavior.

What’s Happening in VSCode?

When you press "gt" in VSCode while using the VIM extension, instead of allowing you to jump to a character (like 'c'), it performs the default action of switching tabs. This change might have occurred due to updates in either VSCode or the VIM extension, causing confusion among users accustomed to traditional VIM navigation.

Alternative Solutions for Character Navigation

Not to worry! There are a few alternative commands you can use to achieve character navigation without affecting your tab browsing. Here’s a breakdown of these options:

Using the f Command

To jump to the next occurrence of a specific character, you can use the f command. For example:

Press fc to jump to the next 'c' character in your current line.

Cycling Through Characters

You can also cycle through found characters using:

;: This command allows you to cycle forward in the direction of your search. For instance, if you pressed fc, using ; will navigate to the next occurrence of 'c' in the line.

,: This command takes you in the opposite direction, moving you to the previous occurrence of the last searched character.

Using the F Command

To search for characters in the reverse direction, use the F command:

F: This command allows you to go to the previous occurrence of a specific character. You can then use:

;: To go back to the next occurrence in reverse direction.

,: To jump to the next occurrence in forward direction.

Conclusion

Navigating within code in VSCode using the VIM extension does come with its quirks, as you’ve experienced with the gt command. However, by using alternative commands such as f, ;, and ,, you’ll find that you can still navigate your code efficiently without losing functionality. Adjust your workflow slightly, and you'll be back to the efficient coding experience you’re used to in VIM!

If you have any questions or additional tips, feel free to share them in the comments!