vim settings

# start vim with an alternate vimrc location
vim -u filename

# Turn compatibility mode off via set command
:set nocompatible

# view special characters in a vim session
:set list
:set nolist # disable

# set search result hilighting
:set hlsearch

# use different visible characters to see special characters in vim
:set listchars=eol:$,tab:>-,trail:~,extends:>,precedes:< :set list # view line numbers
:set nu
:set nonu # disable

# enable linewrap (on by default)
:set wrap
:set nowrap #disable

# indenting source code (setup)
:set et # expand tabs to spaces
:set sw=4
:set smarttab

# Manually choose the language for syntax highlighting

:setf language
:setf html  # example

# The available languages for syntax highlighting 

# can be found in the vim install directory.  

# In my system, it was /usr/share/vim/vim72/syntax


# indenting source code (usage)
1) in command mode press v to and arrows to select a range of lines
2) after selecting, press ==

http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Indenting_source_code

# indent multiple lines (not necessarily source code)
1) in command mode press v and arrows to select a range of lines
2) type shift >
shift < will shift a block back

# compatibility mode
# by default, vim will enter into compatibility mode when loading.
# Disable this behavior one of two ways
# 1) Create a .vimrc in your home directory
# 2) Within the vim command line, type :set nocompatible

# trim whitespace at end of line
:1,$s/[ <tab>]*$//

# get vim to return the previous position when editing files

" Tell vim to remember certain things when we exit
"  '10 : marks will be remembered for up to 10 previously edited files
"  "100 : will save up to 100 lines for each register
"  :20 : up to 20 lines of command-line history will be remembered
"  % : saves and restores the buffer list
"  n... : where to save the viminfo files
set viminfo='10,\"100,:20,%,n~/.viminfo

" when we reload, tell vim to restore the cursor to the saved position
augroup JumpCursorOnEdit
au!
autocmd BufReadPost *
\ if expand(":p:h") !=? $TEMP |
\ if line("'\"") > 1 && line("'\"") <= line("$") |
\ let JumpCursorOnEdit_foo = line("'\"") |
\ let b:doopenfold = 1 |
\ if (foldlevel(JumpCursorOnEdit_foo) > foldlevel(JumpCursorOnEdit_foo - 1)) |
\ let JumpCursorOnEdit_foo = JumpCursorOnEdit_foo - 1 |
\ let b:doopenfold = 2 |
\ endif |
\ exe JumpCursorOnEdit_foo |
\ endif |
\ endif
" Need to postpone using "zv" until after reading the modelines.
autocmd BufWinEnter *
\ if exists("b:doopenfold") |
\ exe "normal zv" |
\ if(b:doopenfold > 1) |
\ exe "+".1 |
\ endif |
\ unlet b:doopenfold |
\ endif
augroup END

http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Restore_cursor_to_file_position_in_previous_editing_session

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=789327
http://www.oualline.com/vim-cook.html
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1675688/make-vim-show-all-white-spaces-as-a-character
http://jamesreubenknowles.com/set-vim-syntax-language-270