*textprop.txt* For Vim version 8.2. Last change: 2020 Jan 10
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 typeProperty 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 propertyExampleSuppose 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 setvar = "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_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: 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 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; when omitted zero is used type name of the text property type 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 not be highlighted but will move with the text, as a kind of mark. 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. Can also be used as a |method|:GetLnum()->prop_add(col, props)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 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{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()* Return a List with all text properties in line{lnum}. When{props}contains a "bufnr" item, use this buffer instead of the current buffer. The properties are ordered by starting column and priority. Each property is a Dict with these entries: col starting column length length in bytes, one more if line break is included id property ID type name of the property type, omitted if the type was deleted 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. Can also be used as a |method|:GetLnum()->prop_list()*prop_remove()* *E968* 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.{props}is a dictionary with these fields: id remove text properties with this ID type remove text properties with this type name bufnr use this buffer instead of the current one all when TRUE remove all matching text properties, not just the first one A property matches when either "id" or "type" 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 TRUE combine the highlight with any syntax highlight; when omitted or FALSE syntax highlight will not 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 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:
- 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.
vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl:
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