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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-05-11T16:48:41+00:00

So I’ve figured out how to add line numbers to vim (:set no or

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So I’ve figured out how to add line numbers to vim (:set no or :set number) but how can I make it so that when I use my mouse in a terminal emulator to select a block of lines, it does not also select the numbers?

For example, say I have three lines that look like so in vim:

1    First line
2    Second
3    Third

If I want to select the three lines with the mouse what I want is for it to ONLY select the actual text. But what ends up happening is it selects the line numbers as well as all the space to the left and right of the line numbers.

Is there any way to change this behavior? BTW, I’m using the gnome terminal editor in gnome if that makes a difference.

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    AFAIK, that is not possible.

    The only thing I can add at the moment is that you’d be better off with

    :set invnumber

    It will inverse the current condition, so you can map it to a key, and toggle it. That way you don’t have to remember two commands.

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