Question

I have two buffers open in vim using a vertical split which are linked using :set scrollbind.

Is there a way to switch between the windows so that the cursor remains on the same (relative) row when I do switch between them using the ctrl+w commands?

Answer 1

A mapping will do what you need

Do this in the left window:

:nmap <right> :let linenum=getpos('.')[1]\|:wincmd l\|:call cursor(linenum,0)<cr> 

and do this in the right window:

:nmap <left> :let linenum=getpos('.')[1]\|:wincmd h\|:call cursor(linenum,0)<cr>

Then you can use the left and right arrows to switch between the windows and the cursor will go to the same line in the other window.

Edit:

I didn’t read your question carefully (shame on me!:).

Here’s how to get exactly what you wanted:

On the left window:

:nnoremap <right> :let offset=winline()\|wincmd l\|exe 'normal ' . offset . 'H'<cr>

and on the right:

:nnoremap <left> :let offset=winline()\|wincmd h\|exe 'normal ' . offset . 'H'<cr>

Have fun!