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diff --git a/runtime/doc/quickfix.txt b/runtime/doc/quickfix.txt new file mode 100644 index 000000000..1c35d685a --- /dev/null +++ b/runtime/doc/quickfix.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1010 @@ +*quickfix.txt* For Vim version 7.0aa. Last change: 2004 May 20 + + + VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar + + +This subject is introduced in section |30.1| of the user manual. + +1. Using QuickFix commands |quickfix| +2. The error window |quickfix-window| +3. Using more than one list of errors |quickfix-error-lists| +4. Using :make |:make_makeprg| +5. Using :grep |grep| +6. Selecting a compiler |compiler-select| +7. The error format |error-file-format| +8. The directory stack |quickfix-directory-stack| +9. Specific error file formats |errorformats| + +{Vi does not have any of these commands} + +The quickfix commands are not available when the |+quickfix| feature was +disabled at compile time. + +============================================================================= +1. Using QuickFix commands *quickfix* *Quickfix* *E42* + +Vim has a special mode to speedup the edit-compile-edit cycle. This is +inspired by the quickfix option of the Manx's Aztec C compiler on the Amiga. +The idea is to save the error messages from the compiler in a file and use Vim +to jump to the errors one by one. You can examine each problem and fix it, +without having to remember all the error messages. + +If you are using Manx's Aztec C compiler on the Amiga look here for how to use +it with Vim: |quickfix-manx|. If you are using another compiler you should +save the error messages in a file and start Vim with "vim -q filename". An +easy way to do this is with the |:make| command (see below). The +'errorformat' option should be set to match the error messages from your +compiler (see |errorformat| below). + +The following quickfix commands can be used: + + *:cc* +:cc[!] [nr] Display error [nr]. If [nr] is omitted, the same + error is displayed again. Without [!] this doesn't + work when jumping to another buffer, the current buffer + has been changed, there is the only window for the + buffer and both 'hidden' and 'autowrite' are off. + When jumping to another buffer with [!] any changes to + the current buffer are lost, unless 'hidden' is set or + there is another window for this buffer. + The 'switchbuf' settings are respected when jumping + to a buffer. + + *:cn* *:cnext* *E553* +:[count]cn[ext][!] Display the [count] next error in the list that + includes a file name. If there are no file names at + all, go to the [count] next error. See |:cc| for + [!] and 'switchbuf'. + +:[count]cN[ext][!] *:cp* *:cprevious* *:cN* *:cNext* +:[count]cp[revious][!] Display the [count] previous error in the list that + includes a file name. If there are no file names at + all, go to the [count] previous error. See |:cc| for + [!] and 'switchbuf'. + + *:cnf* *:cnfile* +:[count]cnf[ile][!] Display the first error in the [count] next file in + the list that includes a file name. If there are no + file names at all or if there is no next file, go to + the [count] next error. See |:cc| for [!] and + 'switchbuf'. + +:[count]cNf[ile][!] *:cpf* *:cpfile* *:cNf* *:cNfile* +:[count]cpf[ile][!] Display the last error in the [count] previous file in + the list that includes a file name. If there are no + file names at all or if there is no next file, go to + the [count] previous error. See |:cc| for [!] and + 'switchbuf'. + + *:crewind* *:cr* +:cr[ewind][!] [nr] Display error [nr]. If [nr] is omitted, the FIRST + error is displayed. See |:cc|. + + *:cfirst* *:cfir* +:cfir[st][!] [nr] Same as ":crewind". + + *:clast* *:cla* +:cla[st][!] [nr] Display error [nr]. If [nr] is omitted, the LAST + error is displayed. See |:cc|. + + *:cq* *:cquit* +:cq[uit] Quit Vim with an error code, so that the compiler + will not compile the same file again. + + *:cf* *:cfile* +:cf[ile][!] [errorfile] Read the error file and jump to the first error. + This is done automatically when Vim is started with + the -q option. You can use this command when you + keep Vim running while compiling. If you give the + name of the errorfile, the 'errorfile' option will + be set to [errorfile]. See |:cc| for [!]. + + *:cg* *:cgetfile* +:cg[etfile][!] [errorfile] + Read the error file. Just like ":cfile" but don't + jump to the first error. + + *:cl* *:clist* +:cl[ist] [from] [, [to]] + List all errors that are valid |quickfix-valid|. + If numbers [from] and/or [to] are given, the respective + range of errors is listed. A negative number counts + from the last error backwards, -1 being the last error. + The 'switchbuf' settings are respected when jumping + to a buffer. + +:cl[ist]! [from] [, [to]] + List all errors. + +If you insert or delete lines, mostly the correct error location is still +found because hidden marks are used. Sometimes, when the mark has been +deleted for some reason, the message "line changed" is shown to warn you that +the error location may not be correct. If you quit Vim and start again the +marks are lost and the error locations may not be correct anymore. + +============================================================================= +2. The error window *quickfix-window* + + *:cope* *:copen* +:cope[n] [height] Open a window to show the current list of errors. + When [height] is given, the window becomes that high + (if there is room). Otherwise the window is made ten + lines high. + The window will contain a special buffer, with + 'buftype' equal to "quickfix". Don't change this! + If there already is a quickfix window, it will be made + the current window. It is not possible to open a + second quickfix window. + + *:ccl* *:cclose* +:ccl[ose] Close the quickfix window. + + *:cw* *:cwindow* +:cw[indow] [height] Open the quickfix window when there are recognized + errors. If the window is already open and there are + no recognized errors, close the window. + + +Normally the quickfix window is at the bottom of the screen. If there are +vertical splits, it's at the bottom of the rightmost column of windows. To +make it always occupy the full width: > + :botright cwindow +You can move the window around with |window-moving| commands. +For example, to move it to the top: CTRL-W K +The 'winfixheight' option will be set, which means that the window will mostly +keep its height, ignoring 'winheight' and 'equalalways'. You can change the +height manually (e.g., by dragging the status line above it with the mouse). + +In the quickfix window, each line is one error. The line number is equal to +the error number. You can use ":.cc" to jump to the error under the cursor. +Hitting the <CR> key or double-clicking the mouse on a line has the same +effect. The file containing the error is opened in the window above the +quickfix window. If there already is a window for that file, it is used +instead. If the buffer in the used window has changed, and the error is in +another file, jumping to the error will fail. You will first have to make +sure the window contains a buffer which can be abandoned. + +When the quickfix window has been filled, two autocommand events are +triggered. First the 'filetype' option is set to "qf", which triggers the +FileType event. Then the BufReadPost event is triggered. This can be used to +perform some action on the listed errors. Example: > + au BufReadPost quickfix setlocal nomodifiable + \ | silent g/^/s//\=line(".")." "/ + \ | setlocal modifiable +This prepends the line number to each line. Note the use of "\=" in the +substitute string of the ":s" command, which is used to evaluate an +expression. + +Note: Making changes in the quickfix window has no effect on the list of +errors. 'modifiable' is off to avoid making changes. If you delete or insert +lines anyway, the relation between the text and the error number is messed up. +If you really want to do this, you could write the contents of the quickfix +window to a file and use ":cfile" to have it parsed and used as the new error +list. + +============================================================================= +3. Using more than one list of errors *quickfix-error-lists* + +So far has been assumed that there is only one list of errors. Actually the +ten last used lists are remembered. When starting a new list, the previous +ones are automatically kept. Two commands can be used to access older error +lists. They set one of the existing error lists as the current one. + + *:colder* *:col* *E380* +:col[der] [count] Go to older error list. When [count] is given, do + this [count] times. When already at the oldest error + list, an error message is given. + + *:cnewer* *:cnew* *E381* +:cnew[er] [count] Go to newer error list. When [count] is given, do + this [count] times. When already at the newest error + list, an error message is given. + +When adding a new error list, it becomes the current list. + +When ":colder" has been used and ":make" or ":grep" is used to add a new error +list, one newer list is overwritten. This is especially useful if you are +browsing with ":grep" |grep|. If you want to keep the more recent error +lists, use ":cnewer 99" first. + +============================================================================= +4. Using :make *:make_makeprg* + + *:mak* *:make* +:mak[e][!] [arguments] 1. If the 'autowrite' option is on, write any changed + buffers + 2. An errorfile name is made from 'makeef'. If + 'makeef' doesn't contain "##", and a file with this + name already exists, it is deleted. + 3. The program given with the 'makeprg' option is + started (default "make") with the optional + [arguments] and the output is saved in the + errorfile (for Unix it is also echoed on the + screen). + 4. The errorfile is read using 'errorformat'. + 5. If [!] is not given the first error is jumped to. + 6. The errorfile is deleted. + 7. You can now move through the errors with commands + like |:cnext| and |:cprevious|, see above. + This command does not accept a comment, any " + characters are considered part of the arguments. + +The ":make" command executes the command given with the 'makeprg' option. +This is done by passing the command to the shell given with the 'shell' +option. This works almost like typing + + ":!{makeprg} [arguments] {shellpipe} {errorfile}". + +{makeprg} is the string given with the 'makeprg' option. Any command can be +used, not just "make". Characters '%' and '#' are expanded as usual on a +command-line. You can use "%<" to insert the current file name without +extension, or "#<" to insert the alternate file name without extension, for +example: > + :set makeprg=make\ #<.o + +[arguments] is anything that is typed after ":make". +{shellpipe} is the 'shellpipe' option. +{errorfile} is the 'makeef' option, with ## replaced to make it unique. + +The placeholder "$*" can be used for the argument list in {makeprog} if the +command needs some additional characters after its arguments. The $* is +replaced then by all arguments. Example: > + :set makeprg=latex\ \\\\nonstopmode\ \\\\input\\{$*} +or simpler > + :let &mp = 'latex \\nonstopmode \\input\{$*}' +"$*" can be given multiple times, for example: > + :set makeprg=gcc\ -o\ $*\ $* + +The 'shellpipe' option defaults to ">" for the Amiga, MS-DOS and Win32. This +means that the output of the compiler is saved in a file and not shown on the +screen directly. For Unix "| tee" is used. The compiler output is shown on +the screen and saved in a file the same time. Depending on the shell used +"|& tee" or "2>&1| tee" is the default, so stderr output will be included. + +If 'shellpipe' is empty, the {errorfile} part will be omitted. This is useful +for compilers that write to an errorfile themselves (e.g., Manx's Amiga C). + +============================================================================== +5. Using :grep *grep* *lid* + +Vim can interface with "grep" and grep-like programs (such as the GNU +id-utils) in a similar way to its compiler integration (see |:make| above). + +[Unix trivia: The name for the Unix "grep" command comes from ":g/re/p", where +"re" stands for Regular Expression.] + + *:gr* *:grep* +:gr[ep][!] [arguments] Just like ":make", but use 'grepprg' instead of + 'makeprg' and 'grepformat' instead of 'errorformat'. + *:grepa* *:grepadd* +:grepa[dd][!] [arguments] + Just like ":grep", but instead of making a new list of + errors the matches are appended to the current list. + Example: > + :grep nothing % + :bufdo grepadd! something % +< The first command makes a new error list which is + empty. The second command executes "grepadd" for each + listed buffer. Note the use of ! to avoid that + ":grepadd" jumps to the first error, which is not + allowed with |:bufdo|. + +5.1 Setting up grep + +If you have a standard "grep" program installed, the :grep command may work +well with the defaults. The syntax is very similar to the standard command: > + + :grep foo *.c + +Will search all files with the .c extension for the substring "foo". The +arguments to :grep are passed straight to the "grep" program, so you can use +whatever options your "grep" supports. + +By default, :grep invokes grep with the -n option (show file and line +numbers). You can change this with the 'grepprg' option. You will need to set +'grepprg' if: + +a) You are using a program that isn't called "grep" +b) You have to call grep with a full path +c) You want to pass other options automatically (e.g. case insensitive + search.) + +Once "grep" has executed, Vim parses the results using the 'grepformat' +option. This option works in the same way as the 'errorformat' option - see +that for details. You may need to change 'grepformat' from the default if +your grep outputs in a non-standard format, or you are using some other +program with a special format. + +Once the results are parsed, Vim loads the first file containing a match and +jumps to the appropriate line, in the same way that it jumps to a compiler +error in |quickfix| mode. You can then use the |:cnext|, |:clist|, etc. +commands to see the other matches. + + +5.2 Using :grep with id-utils + +You can set up :grep to work with the GNU id-utils like this: > + + :set grepprg=lid\ -Rgrep\ -s + :set grepformat=%f:%l:%m + +then > + :grep (regexp) + +works just as you'd expect. +(provided you remembered to mkid first :) + + +5.3 Browsing source code with :grep + +Using the stack of error lists that Vim keeps, you can browse your files to +look for functions and the functions they call. For example, suppose that you +have to add an argument to the read_file() function. You enter this command: > + + :grep read_file *.c + +You use ":cn" to go along the list of matches and add the argument. At one +place you have to get the new argument from a higher level function msg(), and +need to change that one too. Thus you use: > + + :grep msg *.c + +While changing the msg() functions, you find another function that needs to +get the argument from a higher level. You can again use ":grep" to find these +functions. Once you are finished with one function, you can use > + + :colder + +to go back to the previous one. + +This works like browsing a tree: ":grep" goes one level deeper, creating a +list of branches. ":colder" goes back to the previous level. You can mix +this use of ":grep" and "colder" to browse all the locations in a tree-like +way. If you do this consistently, you will find all locations without the +need to write down a "todo" list. + +============================================================================= +6. Selecting a compiler *compiler-select* + + *:comp* *:compiler* *E666* +:comp[iler][!] {name} Set options to work with compiler {name}. + Without the "!" options are set for the + current buffer. With "!" global options are + set. + If you use ":compiler foo" in "file.foo" and + then ":compiler! bar" in another buffer, Vim + will keep on using "foo" in "file.foo". + {not available when compiled without the + |+eval| feature} + + +The Vim plugins in the "compiler" directory will set options to use the +selected compiler. For ":compiler" local options are set, for ":compiler!" +global options. + *current_compiler* +To support older Vim versions, the plugins always use "current_compiler" and +not "b:current_compiler". What the command actually does is the following: + +- Delete the "current_compiler" and "b:current_compiler" variables. +- Define the "CompilerSet" user command. With "!" it does ":set", without "!" + it does ":setlocal". +- Execute ":runtime! compiler/{name}.vim". The plugins are expected to set + options with "CompilerSet" and set the "current_compiler" variable to the + name of the compiler. +- Delete the "CompilerSet user command. +- Set "b:current_compiler" to the value of "current_compiler". +- Without "!" the old value of "current_compiler" is restored. + + +For writing a compiler plugin, see |write-compiler-plugin|. + + +MANX AZTEC C *quickfix-manx* *compiler-manx* + +To use Vim with Manx's Aztec C compiler on the Amiga you should do the +following: +- Set the CCEDIT environment variable with the command: > + mset "CCEDIT=vim -q" +- Compile with the -qf option. If the compiler finds any errors, Vim is + started and the cursor is positioned on the first error. The error message + will be displayed on the last line. You can go to other errors with the + commands mentioned above. You can fix the errors and write the file(s). +- If you exit Vim normally the compiler will re-compile the same file. If you + exit with the :cq command, the compiler will terminate. Do this if you + cannot fix the error, or if another file needs to be compiled first. + +There are some restrictions to the Quickfix mode on the Amiga. The +compiler only writes the first 25 errors to the errorfile (Manx's +documentation does not say how to get more). If you want to find the others, +you will have to fix a few errors and exit the editor. After recompiling, +up to 25 remaining errors will be found. + +If Vim was started from the compiler, the :sh and some :! commands will not +work, because Vim is then running in the same process as the compiler and +stdin (standard input) will not be interactive. + + +PYUNIT COMPILER *compiler-pyunit* + +This is not actually a compiler, but a unit testing framework for the +Python language. It is included into standard Python distribution +starting from version 2.0. For older versions, you can get it from +http://pyunit.sourceforge.net. + +When you run your tests with the help of the framework, possible errors +are parsed by Vim and presented for you in quick-fix mode. + +Unfortunately, there is no standard way to run the tests. +The alltests.py script seems to be used quite often, that's all. +Useful values for the 'makeprg' options therefore are: + setlocal makeprg=./alltests.py " Run a testsuite + setlocal makeprg=python % " Run a single testcase + +Also see http://vim.sourceforge.net/tip_view.php?tip_id=280. + + +TEX COMPILER *compiler-tex* + +Included in the distribution compiler for TeX ($VIMRUNTIME/compiler/tex.vim) +uses make command if possible. If the compiler finds a file named "Makefile" +or "makefile" in the current directory, it supposes that you want to process +your *TeX files with make, and the makefile does the right work. In this case +compiler sets 'errorformat' for *TeX output and leaves 'makeprg' untouched. If +neither "Makefile" nor "makefile" is found, the compiler will not use make. +You can force the compiler to ignore makefiles by defining +b:tex_ignore_makefile or g:tex_ignore_makefile variable (they are checked for +existence only). + +If the compiler chose not to use make, it need to choose a right program for +processing your input. If b:tex_flavor or g:tex_flavor (in this precedence) +variable exists, it defines TeX flavor for :make (actually, this is the name +of executed command), and if both variables do not exist, it defaults to +"latex". For example, while editing chapter2.tex \input-ed from mypaper.tex +written in AMS-TeX: > + + :let b:tex_flavor = 'amstex' + :compiler tex +< [editing...] > + :make mypaper + +Note that you must specify a name of the file to process as an argument (to +process the right file when editing \input-ed or \include-ed file; portable +solution for substituting % for no arguments is welcome). This is not in the +semantics of make, where you specify a target, not source, but you may specify +filename without extension ".tex" and mean this as "make filename.dvi or +filename.pdf or filename.some_result_extension according to compiler". + +Note: tex command line syntax is set to usable both for MikTeX (suggestion +by Srinath Avadhanula) and teTeX (checked by Artem Chuprina). Suggestion +from |errorformat-LaTeX| is too complex to keep it working for different +shells and OSes and also does not allow to use other available TeX options, +if any. If your TeX doesn't support "-interaction=nonstopmode", please +report it with different means to express \nonstopmode from the command line. + +============================================================================= +7. The error format *error-file-format* + + *errorformat* *E372* *E373* *E374* + *E375* *E376* *E377* *E378* +The 'errorformat' option specifies a list of formats that are recognized. The +first format that matches with an error message is used. You can add several +formats for different messages your compiler produces, or even entries for +multiple compilers. See |efm-entries|. + +Each entry in 'errorformat' is a scanf-like string that describes the format. +First, you need to know how scanf works. Look in the documentation of your +C compiler. Below you find the % items that Vim understands. Others are +invalid. + +Special characters in 'errorformat' are comma and backslash. See +|efm-entries| for how to deal with them. Note that a literal "%" is matched +by "%%", thus it is not escaped with a backslash. + +Note: By default the difference between upper and lowercase is ignored. If +you want to match case, add "\C" to the pattern |/\C|. + + +Basic items + + %f file name (finds a string) + %l line number (finds a number) + %c column number (finds a number representing character + column of the error, (1 <tab> == 1 character column)) + %v virtual column number (finds a number representing + screen column of the error (1 <tab> == 8 screen + columns) + %t error type (finds a single character) + %n error number (finds a number) + %m error message (finds a string) + %r matches the "rest" of a single-line file message %O/P/Q + %p pointer line (finds a sequence of '-', '.' or ' ' and + uses the length for the column number) + %*{conv} any scanf non-assignable conversion + %% the single '%' character + +The "%f" conversion depends on the current 'isfname' setting. + +The "%f" and "%m" conversions have to detect the end of the string. They +should be followed by a character that cannot be in the string. Everything +up to that character is included in the string. But when the next character +is a '%' or a backslash, "%f" will look for any 'isfname' character and "%m" +finds anything. If the "%f" or "%m" is at the end, everything up to the end +of the line is included. + +On MS-DOS, MS-Windows and OS/2 a leading "C:" will be included in "%f", even +when using "%f:". This means that a file name which is a single alphabetical +letter will not be detected. + +The "%p" conversion is normally followed by a "^". It's used for compilers +that output a line like: > + ^ +or > + ---------^ +to indicate the column of the error. This is to be used in a multi-line error +message. See |errorformat-javac| for a useful example. + + +Changing directory + +The following uppercase conversion characters specify the type of special +format strings. At most one of them may be given as a prefix at the begin +of a single comma-separated format pattern. +Some compilers produce messages that consist of directory names that have to +be prepended to each file name read by %f (example: GNU make). The following +codes can be used to scan these directory names; they will be stored in an +internal directory stack. *E379* + %D "enter directory" format string; expects a following + %f that finds the directory name + %X "leave directory" format string; expects following %f + +When defining an "enter directory" or "leave directory" format, the "%D" or +"%X" has to be given at the start of that substring. Vim tracks the directory +changes and prepends the current directory to each erroneous file found with a +relative path. See |quickfix-directory-stack| for details, tips and +limitations. + + +Multi-line messages *errorformat-multi-line* + +It is possible to read the output of programs that produce multi-line +messages, ie. error strings that consume more than one line. Possible +prefixes are: + %E start of a multi-line error message + %W start of a multi-line warning message + %I start of a multi-line informational message + %A start of a multi-line message (unspecified type) + %C continuation of a multi-line message + %Z end of a multi-line message +These can be used with '+' and '-', see |efm-ignore| below. + +Example: Your compiler happens to write out errors in the following format +(leading line numbers not being part of the actual output): + + 1 Error 275 + 2 line 42 + 3 column 3 + 4 ' ' expected after '--' + +The appropriate error format string has to look like this: > + :set efm=%EError\ %n,%Cline\ %l,%Ccolumn\ %c,%Z%m + +And the |:clist| error message generated for this error is: + + 1:42 col 3 error 275: ' ' expected after '--' + +Another example: Think of a Python interpreter that produces the following +error message (line numbers are not part of the actual output): + + 1 ============================================================== + 2 FAIL: testGetTypeIdCachesResult (dbfacadeTest.DjsDBFacadeTest) + 3 -------------------------------------------------------------- + 4 Traceback (most recent call last): + 5 File "unittests/dbfacadeTest.py", line 89, in testFoo + 6 self.assertEquals(34, dtid) + 7 File "/usr/lib/python2.2/unittest.py", line 286, in + 8 failUnlessEqual + 9 raise self.failureException, \ + 10 AssertionError: 34 != 33 + 11 + 12 -------------------------------------------------------------- + 13 Ran 27 tests in 0.063s + +Say you want |:clist| write the relevant information of this message only, +namely: + 5 unittests/dbfacadeTest.py:89: AssertionError: 34 != 33 + +Then the error format string could be defined as follows: > + :set efm=%C\ %.%#,%A\ \ File\ \"%f\"\\,\ line\ %l%.%#,%Z%[%^\ ]%\\@=%m + +Note that the %C string is given before the %A here: since the expression +' %.%#' (which stands for the regular expression ' .*') matches every line +starting with a space, followed by any characters to the end of the line, +it also hides line 7 which would trigger a separate error message otherwise. +Error format strings are always parsed pattern by pattern until the first +match occurs. + + +Separate file name *errorformat-separate-filename* + +These prefixes are useful if the file name is given once and multiple messages +follow that refer to this file name. + %O single-line file message: overread the matched part + %P single-line file message: push file %f onto the stack + %Q single-line file message: pop the last file from stack + +Example: Given a compiler that produces the following error logfile (without +leading line numbers): + + 1 [a1.tt] + 2 (1,17) error: ';' missing + 3 (21,2) warning: variable 'z' not defined + 4 (67,3) error: end of file found before string ended + 5 + 6 [a2.tt] + 7 + 8 [a3.tt] + 9 NEW compiler v1.1 + 10 (2,2) warning: variable 'x' not defined + 11 (67,3) warning: 's' already defined + +This logfile lists several messages for each file enclosed in [...] which are +properly parsed by an error format like this: > + :set efm=%+P[%f],(%l\\,%c)%*[\ ]%t%*[^:]:\ %m,%-Q + +A call of |:clist| writes them accordingly with their correct filenames: + + 2 a1.tt:1 col 17 error: ';' missing + 3 a1.tt:21 col 2 warning: variable 'z' not defined + 4 a1.tt:67 col 3 error: end of file found before string ended + 8 a3.tt:2 col 2 warning: variable 'x' not defined + 9 a3.tt:67 col 3 warning: 's' already defined + +Unlike the other prefixes that all match against whole lines, %P, %Q and %O +can be used to match several patterns in the same line. Thus it is possible +to parse even nested files like in the following line: + {"file1" {"file2" error1} error2 {"file3" error3 {"file4" error4 error5}}} +The %O then parses over strings that do not contain any push/pop file name +information. See |errorformat-LaTeX| for an extended example. + + +Ignoring and using whole messages *efm-ignore* + +The codes '+' or '-' can be combined with the uppercase codes above; in that +case they have to precede the letter, eg. '%+A' or '%-G': + %- do not include the matching multi-line in any output + %+ include the whole matching line in the %m error string + +One prefix is only useful in combination with '+' or '-', namely %G. It parses +over lines containing general information like compiler version strings or +other headers that can be skipped. + %-G ignore this message + %+G general message + + +Pattern matching + +The scanf()-like "%*[]" notation is supported for backward-compatibility +with previous versions of Vim. However, it is also possible to specify +(nearly) any Vim supported regular expression in format strings. +Since meta characters of the regular expression language can be part of +ordinary matching strings or file names (and therefore internally have to +be escaped), meta symbols have to be written with leading '%': + %\ the single '\' character. Note that this has to be + escaped ("%\\") in ":set errorformat=" definitions. + %. the single '.' character. + %# the single '*'(!) character. + %^ the single '^' character. + %$ the single '$' character. + %[ the single '[' character for a [] character range. + %~ the single '~' character. +When using character classes in expressions (see |/\i| for an overview), +terms containing the "\+" quantifier can be written in the scanf() "%*" +notation. Example: "%\\d%\\+" ("\d\+", "any number") is equivalent to "%*\\d". +Important note: The \(...\) grouping of sub-matches can not be used in format +specifications because it is reserved for internal conversions. + + +Multiple entries in 'errorformat' *efm-entries* + +To be able to detect output from several compilers, several format patterns +may be put in 'errorformat', separated by commas (note: blanks after the comma +are ignored). The first pattern that has a complete match is used. If no +match is found, matching parts from the last one will be used, although the +file name is removed and the error message is set to the whole message. If +there is a pattern that may match output from several compilers (but not in a +right way), put it after one that is more restrictive. + +To include a comma in a pattern precede it with a backslash (you have to type +two in a ":set" command). To include a backslash itself give two backslashes +(you have to type four in a ":set" command). You also need to put a backslash +before a space for ":set". + + +Valid matches *quickfix-valid* + +If a line does not completely match one of the entries in 'errorformat', the +whole line is put in the error message and the entry is marked "not valid" +These lines are skipped with the ":cn" and ":cp" commands (unless there is +no valid line at all). You can use ":cl!" to display all the error messages. + +If the error format does not contain a file name Vim cannot switch to the +correct file. You will have to do this by hand. + + +Examples + +The format of the file from the Amiga Aztec compiler is: + + filename>linenumber:columnnumber:errortype:errornumber:errormessage + + filename name of the file in which the error was detected + linenumber line number where the error was detected + columnnumber column number where the error was detected + errortype type of the error, normally a single 'E' or 'W' + errornumber number of the error (for lookup in the manual) + errormessage description of the error + +This can be matched with this 'errorformat' entry: + %f>%l:%c:%t:%n:%m + +Some examples for C compilers that produce single-line error outputs: +%f:%l:\ %t%*[^0123456789]%n:\ %m for Manx/Aztec C error messages + (scanf() doesn't understand [0-9]) +%f\ %l\ %t%*[^0-9]%n:\ %m for SAS C +\"%f\"\\,%*[^0-9]%l:\ %m for generic C compilers +%f:%l:\ %m for GCC +%f:%l:\ %m,%Dgmake[%*\\d]:\ Entering\ directory\ `%f', +%Dgmake[%*\\d]:\ Leaving\ directory\ `%f' + for GCC with gmake (concat the lines!) +%f(%l)\ :\ %*[^:]:\ %m old SCO C compiler (pre-OS5) +%f(%l)\ :\ %t%*[^0-9]%n:\ %m idem, with error type and number +%f:%l:\ %m,In\ file\ included\ from\ %f:%l:,\^I\^Ifrom\ %f:%l%m + for GCC, with some extras + +Extended examples for the handling of multi-line messages are given below, +see |errorformat-Jikes| and |errorformat-LaTeX|. + +Note the backslash in front of a space and double quote. It is required for +the :set command. There are two backslashes in front of a comma, one for the +:set command and one to avoid recognizing the comma as a separator of error +formats. + + +Filtering messages + +If you have a compiler that produces error messages that do not fit in the +format string, you could write a program that translates the error messages +into this format. You can use this program with the ":make" command by +changing the 'makeprg' option. For example: > + :set mp=make\ \\\|&\ error_filter +The backslashes before the pipe character are required to avoid it to be +recognized as a command separator. The backslash before each space is +required for the set command. + +============================================================================= +8. The directory stack *quickfix-directory-stack* + +Quickfix maintains a stack for saving all used directories parsed from the +make output. For GNU-make this is rather simple, as it always prints the +absolute path of all directories it enters and leaves. Regardless if this is +done via a 'cd' command in the makefile or with the parameter "-C dir" (change +to directory before reading the makefile). It may be useful to use the switch +"-w" to force GNU-make to print out the working directory before and after +processing. + +Maintaining the correct directory is more complicated if you don't use +GNU-make. AIX-make for example doesn't print any information about its working +directory. Then you need to enhance the makefile. In the makefile of lesstiff +there is a command which echoes "Making {target} in {dir}". The special +problem here is that it doesn't print informations on leaving the directory +and that it doesn't print the absolute path. + +To solve the problem with relative paths and missing "leave directory" +messages Vim uses following algorithm: + +1) Check if the given directory is a subdirectory of the current directory. + If this is true, store it as the current directory. +2) If it is not a subdir of the current directory, try if this is a + subdirectory of one of the upper directories. +3) If the directory still isn't found, it is assumed to be a subdirectory + of Vim's current directory. + +Additionally it is checked for every file, if it really exists in the +identified directory. If not, it is searched in all other directories of the +directory stack (NOT the directory subtree!). If it is still not found, it is +assumed that it is in Vim's current directory. + +There are limitation in this algorithm. This examples assume that make just +prints information about entering a directory in the form "Making all in dir". + +1) Assume you have following directories and files: + ./dir1 + ./dir1/file1.c + ./file1.c + + If make processes the directory "./dir1" before the current directory and + there is an error in the file "./file1.c", you will end up with the file + "./dir1/file.c" loaded by Vim. + + This can only be solved with a "leave directory" message. + +2) Assume you have following directories and files: + ./dir1 + ./dir1/dir2 + ./dir2 + + You get the following: + + Make output Directory interpreted by Vim + ------------------------ ---------------------------- + Making all in dir1 ./dir1 + Making all in dir2 ./dir1/dir2 + Making all in dir2 ./dir1/dir2 + + This can be solved by printing absolute directories in the "enter directory" + message or by printing "leave directory" messages.. + +To avoid this problems, ensure to print absolute directory names and "leave +directory" messages. + +Examples for Makefiles: + +Unix: + libs: + for dn in $(LIBDIRS); do \ + (cd $$dn; echo "Entering dir '$$(pwd)'"; make); \ + echo "Leaving dir"; \ + done + +Add + %DEntering\ dir\ '%f',%XLeaving\ dir +to your 'errorformat' to handle the above output. + +Note that Vim doesn't check if the directory name in a "leave directory" +messages is the current directory. This is why you could just use the message +"Leaving dir". + +============================================================================= +9. Specific error file formats *errorformats* + + *errorformat-Jikes* +Jikes(TM), a source-to-bytecode Java compiler published by IBM Research, +produces simple multi-line error messages. + +An 'errorformat' string matching the produced messages is shown below. +The following lines can be placed in the user's |vimrc| to overwrite Vim's +recognized default formats, or see |:set+=| how to install this format +additionally to the default. > + + :set efm=%A%f:%l:%c:%*\\d:%*\\d:, + \%C%*\\s%trror:%m, + \%+C%*[^:]%trror:%m, + \%C%*\\s%tarning:%m, + \%C%m +< +Jikes(TM) produces a single-line error message when invoked with the option +"+E", and can be matched with the following: > + + :set efm=%f:%l:%v:%*\\d:%*\\d:%*\\s%m +< + *errorformat-javac* +This 'errorformat' has been reported to work well for javac, which outputs a +line with "^" to indicate the column of the error: > + :set efm=%A%f:%l:\ %m,%-Z%p^,%-C%.%# +or: > + :set efm=%A%f:%l:\ %m,%+Z%p^,%+C%.%#,%-G%.%# +< + *errorformat-ant* +For ant (http://jakarta.apache.org/) the above errorformat has to be modified +to honour the leading [javac] in front of each javac output line: > + :set efm=%A\ %#[javac]\ %f:%l:\ %m,%-Z\ %#[javac]\ %p^,%-C%.%# + +The 'errorformat' can also be configured to handle ant together with either +javac or jikes. If you're using jikes, you should tell ant to use jikes' +E +command line switch which forces jikes to generate one-line error messages. +This is what the second line (of a build.xml file) below does: > + <property name = "build.compiler" value = "jikes"/> + <property name = "build.compiler.emacs" value = "true"/> + +The 'errorformat' which handles ant with both javac and jikes is: > + :set efm=\ %#[javac]\ %#%f:%l:%c:%*\\d:%*\\d:\ %t%[%^:]%#:%m, + \%A\ %#[javac]\ %f:%l:\ %m,%-Z\ %#[javac]\ %p^,%-C%.%# +< + *errorformat-jade* +parsing jade (see http://www.jclark.com/) errors is simple: > + :set efm=jade:%f:%l:%c:%t:%m +< + *errorformat-LaTeX* +The following is an example how an 'errorformat' string can be specified +for the (La)TeX typesetting system which displays error messages over +multiple lines. The output of ":clist" and ":cc" etc. commands displays +multi-lines in a single line, leading white space is removed. +It should be easy to adopt the above LaTeX errorformat to any compiler output +consisting of multi-line errors. + +The commands can be placed in a |vimrc| file or some other Vim script file, +eg. a script containing LaTeX related stuff which is loaded only when editing +LaTeX sources. +Make sure to copy all lines of the example (in the given order), afterwards +remove the comment lines. For the '\' notation at the start of some lines see +|line-continuation|. + + First prepare 'makeprg' such that LaTeX will report multiple + errors; do not stop when the first error has occurred: > + :set makeprg=latex\ \\\\nonstopmode\ \\\\input\\{$*} +< + Start of multi-line error messages: > + :set efm=%E!\ LaTeX\ %trror:\ %m, + \%E!\ %m, +< Start of multi-line warning messages; the first two also + include the line number. Meaning of some regular expressions: + - "%.%#" (".*") matches a (possibly empty) string + - "%*\\d" ("\d\+") matches a number > + \%+WLaTeX\ %.%#Warning:\ %.%#line\ %l%.%#, + \%+W%.%#\ at\ lines\ %l--%*\\d, + \%WLaTeX\ %.%#Warning:\ %m, +< Possible continuations of error/warning messages; the first + one also includes the line number: > + \%Cl.%l\ %m, + \%+C\ \ %m., + \%+C%.%#-%.%#, + \%+C%.%#[]%.%#, + \%+C[]%.%#, + \%+C%.%#%[{}\\]%.%#, + \%+C<%.%#>%.%#, + \%C\ \ %m, +< Lines that match the following patterns do not contain any + important information; do not include them in messages: > + \%-GSee\ the\ LaTeX%m, + \%-GType\ \ H\ <return>%m, + \%-G\ ...%.%#, + \%-G%.%#\ (C)\ %.%#, + \%-G(see\ the\ transcript%.%#), +< Generally exclude any empty or whitespace-only line from + being displayed: > + \%-G\\s%#, +< The LaTeX output log does not specify the names of erroneous + source files per line; rather they are given globally, + enclosed in parentheses. + The following patterns try to match these names and store + them in an internal stack. The patterns possibly scan over + the same input line (one after another), the trailing "%r" + conversion indicates the "rest" of the line that will be + parsed in the next go until the end of line is reached. + + Overread a file name enclosed in '('...')'; do not push it + on a stack since the file apparently does not contain any + error: > + \%+O(%f)%r, +< Push a file name onto the stack. The name is given after '(': > + \%+P(%f%r, + \%+P\ %\\=(%f%r, + \%+P%*[^()](%f%r, + \%+P[%\\d%[^()]%#(%f%r, +< Pop the last stored file name when a ')' is scanned: > + \%+Q)%r, + \%+Q%*[^()])%r, + \%+Q[%\\d%*[^()])%r + +Note that in some cases file names in the LaTeX output log cannot be parsed +properly. The parser might have been messed up by unbalanced parentheses +then. The above example tries to catch the most relevant cases only. +You can customize the given setting to suit your own purposes, for example, +all the annoying "Overfull ..." warnings could be excluded from being +recognized as an error. +Alternatively to filtering the LaTeX compiler output, it is also possible +to directly read the *.log file that is produced by the [La]TeX compiler. +This contains even more useful information about possible error causes. +However, to properly parse such a complex file, an external filter should +be used. See the description further above how to make such a filter known +by Vim. + + *errorformat-Perl* +In $VIMRUNTIME/tools you can find the efm_perl.pl script, which filters Perl +error messages into a format that quickfix mode will understand. See the +start of the file about how to use it. + + + + vim:tw=78:ts=8:ft=help:norl: |