Question

I have files that look like the following:

>>Start-pattern
some text
some more text
>>Start-pattern
some other text

some more other text
>>Start-pattern
[and so on]

What I would like to have is a mapping that allows me to delete the current “block” of text. Where “block” is defined as all lines ranging from “>>Start-pattern” until before the next “>>Start-pattern” line.

What I have is the following:

nnoremap ,d $:?^>>Start-pattern?,/^>>Start-pattern/-1delete<CR>

that works unless I’m standing on the last “block” in a file.

How can I get this map (or a completely different one that does the same thing) to work on all “blocks” in the file?

Answer 1

I think, once again, we’re pushing the boundaries of regular expressions past what they are good at. They are good at swapping one string with another, it’s a side effect that you can delete text with them.

Instead why not take advantage of the charming scripting language vim provides. It’s easier and like a trip on the way-back machine. If you add the following function to your .vimrc file, it will do what you want and be more reusable/flexible:

fun! DelBlock(thePattern)
  let origLineNumber = line(".")
  let lineNumber = origLineNumber

  let lineString = getline(lineNumber)
  while lineString !~ a:thePattern
    let lineNumber = lineNumber - 1
    if lineNumber < 0
      echo "Function not found :/"
    endif
    let lineString = getline(lineNumber)
  endwhile
  let startLine = lineNumber

  let lastLineInFile = line("$")
  let lineNumber = origLineNumber + 1
  let lineString = getline(lineNumber)
  while lineNumber != lastLineInFile && lineString !~ a:thePattern
    let lineNumber = lineNumber + 1
    let lineString = getline(lineNumber)
  endwhile
  let endLine = lineNumber
  if endLine != lastLineInFile
    let endLine = endLine - 1
  end

  execute startLine.","endLine."d"
endfunction

map ,d :call DelBlock("^>>Start-pattern")<CR>