textprop.txt For Vim version 9.1. Last change: 2023 Apr 23 VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar Displaying text with properties attached. textprop text-properties 1. Introduction text-prop-intro 2. Functions text-prop-functions 3. When text changes text-prop-changes {not able to use text properties when the +textprop feature was disabled at compile time} ============================================================================== 1. Introduction text-prop-intro Text properties can be attached to text in a buffer. They will move with the text: If lines are deleted or inserted the properties move with the text they are attached to. Also when inserting/deleting text in the line before the text property. And when inserting/deleting text inside the text property, it will increase/decrease in size. The main use for text properties is to highlight text. This can be seen as a replacement for syntax highlighting. Instead of defining patterns to match the text, the highlighting is set by a script, possibly using the output of an external parser. This only needs to be done once, not every time when redrawing the screen, thus can be much faster, after the initial cost of attaching the text properties. Text properties can also be used for other purposes to identify text. For example, add a text property on a function name, so that a search can be defined to jump to the next/previous function. A text property is attached at a specific line and column, and has a specified length. The property can span multiple lines. A text property has these fields: "id" a number to be used as desired "type" the name of a property type Property Types E971 A text property normally has the name of a property type, which defines how to highlight the text. The property type can have these entries: "highlight" name of the highlight group to use "combine" when omitted or TRUE the text property highlighting is combined with any syntax highlighting; when FALSE the text property highlighting replaces the syntax highlighting "priority" when properties overlap, the one with the highest priority will be used. "start_incl" when TRUE inserts at the start position will be included in the text property "end_incl" when TRUE inserts at the end position will be included in the text property Example Suppose line 11 in a buffer has this text (excluding the indent): The number 123 is smaller than 4567. To highlight the numbers in this text: call prop_type_add('number', {'highlight': 'Constant'}) call prop_add(11, 12, {'length': 3, 'type': 'number'}) call prop_add(11, 32, {'length': 4, 'type': 'number'}) Try inserting or deleting lines above the text, you will see that the text properties stick to the text, thus the line number is adjusted as needed. Setting "start_incl" and "end_incl" is useful when white space surrounds the text, e.g. for a function name. Using false is useful when the text starts and/or ends with a specific character, such as the quote surrounding a string. func FuncName(arg) ^^^^^^^^ property with start_incl and end_incl set var = "text"; ^^^^^^ property with start_incl and end_incl not set Nevertheless, when text is inserted or deleted the text may need to be parsed and the text properties updated. But this can be done asynchronously. Internal error E967 If you see E967, please report the bug. You can do this at Github: https://github.com/vim/vim/issues/new ============================================================================== 2. Functions text-prop-functions Manipulating text property types: prop_type_add({name}, {props}) define a new property type prop_type_change({name}, {props}) change an existing property type prop_type_delete({name} [, {props}]) delete a property type prop_type_get({name} [, {props}]) get property type values prop_type_list([{props}]) get list of property types Manipulating text properties: prop_add({lnum}, {col}, {props}) add a text property prop_add_list({props}, [{item}, ...]) add a text property at multiple positions. prop_clear({lnum} [, {lnum-end} [, {bufnr}]]) remove all text properties prop_find({props} [, {direction}]) search for a text property prop_list({lnum} [, {props}]) text properties in {lnum} prop_remove({props} [, {lnum} [, {lnum-end}]]) remove a text property prop_add() E965 prop_add({lnum}, {col}, {props}) Attach a text property at position {lnum}, {col}. {col} is counted in bytes, use one for the first column. If {lnum} is invalid an error is given. E966 If {col} is invalid an error is given. E964 {props} is a dictionary with these fields: type name of the text property type length length of text in bytes, can only be used for a property that does not continue in another line; can be zero end_lnum line number for the end of text (inclusive) end_col column just after the text; not used when "length" is present; when {col} and "end_col" are equal, and "end_lnum" is omitted or equal to {lnum}, this is a zero-width text property bufnr buffer to add the property to; when omitted the current buffer is used id user defined ID for the property; must be a number, should be positive; when using "text" then "id" must not be present and will be set automatically to a negative number; otherwise zero is used E1305 text text to be displayed before {col}, or above/below the line if {col} is zero; prepend and/or append spaces for padding with highlighting; cannot be used with "length", "end_lnum" and "end_col" See virtual-text for more information. E1294 text_align when "text" is present and {col} is zero; specifies where to display the text: after after the end of the line right right aligned in the window (unless the text wraps to the next screen line) below in the next screen line above just above the line When omitted "after" is used. Only one "right" property can fit in each line, if there are two or more these will go in a separate line (still right aligned). text_padding_left E1296 used when "text" is present and {col} is zero; padding between the end of the text line (leftmost column for "above" and "below") and the virtual text, not highlighted text_wrap when "text" is present and {col} is zero, specifies what happens if the text doesn't fit: wrap wrap the text to the next line truncate truncate the text to make it fit When omitted "truncate" is used. Note that this applies to the individual text property, the 'wrap' option sets the overall behavior All fields except "type" are optional. It is an error when both "length" and "end_lnum" or "end_col" are given. Either use "length" or "end_col" for a property within one line, or use "end_lnum" and "end_col" for a property that spans more than one line. When neither "length" nor "end_col" are given the property will be zero-width. That means it will move with the text, as a kind of mark. One character will be highlighted, if the type specifies highlighting. The property can end exactly at the last character of the text, or just after it. In the last case, if text is appended to the line, the text property size will increase, also when the property type does not have "end_incl" set. "type" will first be looked up in the buffer the property is added to. When not found, the global property types are used. If not found an error is given. virtual-text When "text" is used and the column is non-zero then this text will be displayed at the specified start location of the text property. The text of the buffer line will be shifted to make room. This is called "virtual text". When the column is zero the virtual text will appear above, after or below the buffer text. The "text_align" and "text_wrap" arguments determine how it is displayed. To separate the virtual text from the buffer text prepend and/or append spaces to the "text" field or use the "text_padding_left" value. Make sure to use a highlight that makes clear to the user that this is virtual text, otherwise it will be very confusing that the text cannot be edited. When using "above" you need to make clear this text belongs to the text line below it, when using "below" you need to make sure it belongs to the text line above it. The text will be displayed but it is not part of the actual buffer line, the cursor cannot be placed on it. A mouse click in the text will move the cursor to the first character after the text, or the last character of the line. Any Tab and other control character in the text will be changed to a space (Rationale: otherwise the size of the text is difficult to compute). A negative "id" will be chosen and is returned. Before text properties with text were supported it was possible to use a negative "id", even though this was very rare. Now that negative "id"s are reserved for text properties with text an error is given when using a negative "id". When a text property with text already exists using a negative "id" results in E1293 . If a negative "id" was used and later a text property with text is added results in E1339 . Can also be used as a method: GetLnum()->prop_add(col, props) prop_add_list() prop_add_list({props}, [{item}, ...]) Similar to prop_add(), but attaches a text property at multiple positions in a buffer. {props} is a dictionary with these fields: bufnr buffer to add the property to; when omitted the current buffer is used id user defined ID for the property; must be a number; when omitted zero is used type name of the text property type All fields except "type" are optional. The second argument is a List of items, where each {item} is a list that specifies the starting and ending position of the text: [{lnum}, {col}, {end-lnum}, {end-col}] or: [{lnum}, {col}, {end-lnum}, {end-col}, {id}] The first two items {lnum} and {col} specify the starting position of the text where the property will be attached. The next two items {end-lnum} and {end-col} specify the position just after the text. An optional fifth item {id} can be used to give a different ID to a property. When omitted the ID from {props} is used, falling back to zero if none are present. It is not possible to add a text property with a "text" field here. Example: call prop_add_list(#{type: 'MyProp', id: 2}, \ [[1, 4, 1, 7], \ [1, 15, 1, 20], \ [2, 30, 3, 30]] Can also be used as a method: GetProp()->prop_add_list([[1, 1, 1, 2], [1, 4, 1, 8]]) prop_clear({lnum} [, {lnum-end} [, {props}]]) prop_clear() Remove all text properties from line {lnum}. When {lnum-end} is given, remove all text properties from line {lnum} to {lnum-end} (inclusive). When {props} contains a "bufnr" item use this buffer, otherwise use the current buffer. Can also be used as a method: GetLnum()->prop_clear() prop_find() prop_find({props} [, {direction}]) Search for a text property as specified with {props}: id property with this ID type property with this type name both "id" and "type" must both match bufnr buffer to search in; when present a start position with "lnum" and "col" must be given; when omitted the current buffer is used lnum start in this line (when omitted start at the cursor) col start at this column (when omitted and "lnum" is given: use column 1, otherwise start at the cursor) skipstart do not look for a match at the start position A property matches when either "id" or "type" matches. {direction} can be "f" for forward and "b" for backward. When omitted forward search is performed. If a match is found then a Dict is returned with the entries as with prop_list(), and additionally an "lnum" entry. If no match is found then an empty Dict is returned. prop_list({lnum} [, {props}]) prop_list() Returns a List with all the text properties in line {lnum}. The following optional items are supported in {props}: bufnr use this buffer instead of the current buffer end_lnum return text properties in all the lines between {lnum} and {end_lnum} (inclusive). A negative value is used as an offset from the last buffer line; -1 refers to the last buffer line. types List of property type names. Return only text properties that match one of the type names. ids List of property identifiers. Return only text properties with one of these identifiers. The properties are ordered by starting column and priority. Each property is a Dict with these entries: lnum starting line number. Present only when returning text properties between {lnum} and {end_lnum}. col starting column length length in bytes, one more if line break is included id property ID text text to be displayed before {col}. Only present for virtual-text properties. text_align alignment property of virtual-text. text_padding_left left padding used for virtual text. text_wrap specifies whether virtual-text is wrapped. type name of the property type, omitted if the type was deleted type_bufnr buffer number for which this type was defined; 0 if the type is global start when TRUE property starts in this line end when TRUE property ends in this line When "start" is zero the property started in a previous line, the current one is a continuation. When "end" is zero the property continues in the next line. The line break after this line is included. Returns an empty list on error. Examples: " get text properties placed in line 5 echo prop_list(5) " get text properties placed in line 20 in buffer 4 echo prop_list(20, {'bufnr': 4}) " get all the text properties between line 1 and 20 echo prop_list(1, {'end_lnum': 20}) " get all the text properties of type 'myprop' echo prop_list(1, {'types': ['myprop'], \ 'end_lnum': -1}) " get all the text properties of type 'prop1' or 'prop2' echo prop_list(1, {'types': ['prop1', 'prop2'], \ 'end_lnum': -1}) " get all the text properties with ID 8 echo prop_list(1, {'ids': [8], 'end_lnum': line('$')}) " get all the text properties with ID 10 and 20 echo prop_list(1, {'ids': [10, 20], 'end_lnum': -1}) " get text properties with type 'myprop' and ID 100 " in buffer 4. echo prop_list(1, {'bufnr': 4, 'types': ['myprop'], \ 'ids': [100], 'end_lnum': -1}) Can also be used as a method: GetLnum()->prop_list() prop_remove() E968 E860 prop_remove({props} [, {lnum} [, {lnum-end}]]) Remove a matching text property from line {lnum}. When {lnum-end} is given, remove matching text properties from line {lnum} to {lnum-end} (inclusive). When {lnum} is omitted remove matching text properties from all lines (this requires going over all lines, thus will be a bit slow for a buffer with many lines). {props} is a dictionary with these fields: id remove text properties with this ID type remove text properties with this type name types remove text properties with type names in this List both "id" and "type"/"types" must both match bufnr use this buffer instead of the current one all when TRUE remove all matching text properties, not just the first one Only one of "type" and "types" may be supplied. E1295 A property matches when either "id" or one of the supplied types matches. If buffer "bufnr" does not exist you get an error message. If buffer "bufnr" is not loaded then nothing happens. Returns the number of properties that were removed. Can also be used as a method: GetProps()->prop_remove() prop_type_add({name}, {props}) prop_type_add() E969 E970 Add a text property type {name}. If a property type with this name already exists an error is given. Nothing is returned. {props} is a dictionary with these optional fields: bufnr define the property only for this buffer; this avoids name collisions and automatically clears the property types when the buffer is deleted. highlight name of highlight group to use priority when a character has multiple text properties the one with the highest priority will be used; negative values can be used, the default priority is zero combine when omitted or TRUE combine the highlight with any syntax highlight; when FALSE syntax highlight will not be used override when TRUE the highlight overrides any other, including 'cursorline' and Visual start_incl when TRUE inserts at the start position will be included in the text property end_incl when TRUE inserts at the end position will be included in the text property Can also be used as a method: GetPropName()->prop_type_add(props) prop_type_change({name}, {props}) prop_type_change() Change properties of an existing text property type. If a property with this name does not exist an error is given. The {props} argument is just like prop_type_add(). Can also be used as a method: GetPropName()->prop_type_change(props) prop_type_delete({name} [, {props}]) prop_type_delete() Remove the text property type {name}. When text properties using the type {name} are still in place, they will not have an effect and can no longer be removed by name. {props} can contain a "bufnr" item. When it is given, delete a property type from this buffer instead of from the global property types. When text property type {name} is not found there is no error. Can also be used as a method: GetPropName()->prop_type_delete() prop_type_get({name} [, {props}]) prop_type_get() Returns the properties of property type {name}. This is a dictionary with the same fields as was given to prop_type_add(). When the property type {name} does not exist, an empty dictionary is returned. {props} can contain a "bufnr" item. When it is given, use this buffer instead of the global property types. Can also be used as a method: GetPropName()->prop_type_get() prop_type_list([{props}]) prop_type_list() Returns a list with all property type names. {props} can contain a "bufnr" item. When it is given, use this buffer instead of the global property types. ============================================================================== 3. When text changes text-prop-changes Vim will do its best to keep the text properties on the text where it was attached. When inserting or deleting text the properties after the change will move accordingly. When text is deleted and a text property no longer includes any text, it is deleted. However, a text property that was defined as zero-width will remain, unless the whole line is deleted. E275 When a buffer is unloaded, all the text properties are gone. There is no way to store the properties in a file. You can only re-create them. When a buffer is hidden the text is preserved and so are the text properties. It is not possible to add text properties to an unloaded buffer. When using replace mode, the text properties stay on the same character positions, even though the characters themselves change. To update text properties after the text was changed, install a callback with listener_add(). E.g, if your plugin does spell checking, you can have the callback update spelling mistakes in the changed text. Vim will move the properties below the changed text, so that they still highlight the same text, thus you don't need to update these. Text property columns are not updated or copied: - When setting the line with setline() or through an interface, such as Lua, Tcl or Python. Vim does not know what text got inserted or deleted. - With a command like :move, which takes a line of text out of context. vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl: