Vim: Shortcuts specific to a file extension? [duplicate]

Question

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gVim and multiple programming languages (4 answers)

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In Vim, it is possible to attach syntax highlighter to a file extension.

Is it possible to do the same with keyboard shortcuts?

I.e. the shortcuts would switch on only if a file with particular extension is being edited.

Answer 1

The association is not directly to file extensions, but filetypes (which can be detected based on file extensions, but also other file patterns or even its contents). :setl filetype? shows you the current buffer's.

To define a filetype-specific mapping, just append the <buffer> attribute after the :map command. (Same for custom commands, use -buffer after :command.)

You can define that for certain filetypes by prepending :autocmd Filetype {filetype} ..., and put that into your ~/.vimrc. But that gets unwieldy as you add mappings and other settings for various filetypes. Better put the commands into ~/.vim/ftplugin/{filetype}_mappings.vim. (This requires that you have :filetype plugin on.)