Test for BufWritePre autocommand that deletes or unloads the buffer. STARTTEST :so small.vim :au BufWritePre Xxx1 bunload :au BufWritePre Xxx2 bwipe /^start of A1:.,/end of/w! Xxx1 " write test file Xxx1 $r2:.,/end of/w! Xxx2 " write test file Xxx2 :e! Xxx2 " edit Xxx2 :bdel test8.in " delete this file from the buffer list :e Xxx1 " edit Xxx1 :w " write it, will unload it and give an error msg :w! test.out " Write contents of this file :e! Xxx2 " start editing Xxx2 :bwipe test.out " remove test.out from the buffer list :w " write it, will delete the buffer and give an error msg :w >>test.out " Append contents of this file :qa! ENDTEST start of Xxx test end of Xxx