vi sequence number generation
regex, vi, vim
Solution
`:help ctrl-a`
^a increments the number under the cursor, which you can use in a macro. For your case, assuming you have the first line and the cursor is on it:
qaYpw^aq4@a
Should do the trick. This is the technique outlined in the help pages, modified with `w` to move the cursor forward to the number. Breaking it down:
- `qa` start recording a macro in register `a`
- `Y` yank the current line
- `p` put the yank buffer below the current position and move to column 1 of the new row
- `w` move forward one word (to the number)
- `^a` increment the number
- `q` stop recording the macro
- `<count>@a` apply the macro <count> times
Another technique is to use an external tool. For example, if you already have the line and the cursor is on it:
!!awk '1;{for(i=0;i<5;i++){$2+=1; print}}'
Problem
I need to create a file in `vi` with this pattern. Is there a way to auto generate these lines using the first line ``` run 1 end run 2 end run 3 end run 4 end run 5 end run 6 end ``` I can always do this in excel and then convert it to a text file and then switch to `vi`, but wanted to know if there a way to do it in `vi` so that I don't have to switch back to excel