Vim documentation: sign
main help file
*sign.txt* For Vim version 9.1. Last change: 2023 Feb 21
VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Gordon Prieur
and Bram Moolenaar
Sign Support Features *sign-support*
1. Introduction |sign-intro|
2. Commands |sign-commands|
3. Functions |sign-functions-details|
{only available when compiled with the |+signs| feature}
==============================================================================
1. Introduction *sign-intro* *signs*
When a debugger or other IDE tool is driving an editor it needs to be able
to give specific highlights which quickly tell the user useful information
about the file. One example of this would be a debugger which had an icon
in the left-hand column denoting a breakpoint. Another example might be an
arrow representing the Program Counter (PC). The sign features allow both
placement of a sign, or icon, in the left-hand side of the window and
definition of a highlight which will be applied to that line. Displaying the
sign as an image is most likely only feasible in gvim (although Sun
Microsystem's dtterm does support this it's the only terminal emulator I know
of which does). A text sign and the highlight should be feasible in any color
terminal emulator.
Signs and highlights are not useful just for debuggers. Sun's Visual
WorkShop uses signs and highlights to mark build errors and SourceBrowser
hits. Additionally, the debugger supports 8 to 10 different signs and
highlight colors, see |NetBeans|.
There are two steps in using signs:
1. Define the sign. This specifies the image, text and highlighting. For
example, you can define a "break" sign with an image of a stop roadsign and
text "!!".
2. Place the sign. This specifies the file and line number where the sign is
displayed. A defined sign can be placed several times in different lines
and files.
*sign-column*
When signs are defined for a file, Vim will automatically add a column of two
characters to display them in. When the last sign is unplaced the column
disappears again. This behavior can be changed with the 'signcolumn' option.
The color of the column is set with the SignColumn highlight group
|hl-SignColumn|. Example to set the color:
:highlight SignColumn guibg=darkgrey
If 'cursorline' is enabled, then the CursorLineSign highlight group is used
|hl-CursorLineSign|.
*sign-identifier*
Each placed sign is identified by a number called the sign identifier. This
identifier is used to jump to the sign or to remove the sign. The identifier
is assigned when placing the sign using the |:sign-place| command or the
|sign_place()| function. Each sign identifier should be a unique number. If
multiple placed signs use the same identifier, then jumping to or removing a
sign becomes unpredictable. To avoid overlapping identifiers, sign groups can
be used. The |sign_place()| function can be called with a zero sign identifier
to allocate the next available identifier.
*sign-group*
Each placed sign can be assigned to either the global group or a named group.
When placing a sign, if a group name is not supplied, or an empty string is
used, then the sign is placed in the global group. Otherwise the sign is
placed in the named group. The sign identifier is unique within a group. The
sign group allows Vim plugins to use unique signs without interfering with
other plugins using signs.
To place a sign in a popup window the group name must start with "PopUp".
Other signs will not show in a popup window. The group name "PopUpMenu" is
used by popup windows where 'cursorline' is set.
*sign-priority*
Each placed sign is assigned a priority value. When multiple signs are placed
on the same line, the attributes of the sign with the highest priority is used
independently of the sign group. The default priority for a sign is 10. The
priority is assigned at the time of placing a sign.
When two signs with the same priority are present, and one has an icon or text
in the signcolumn while the other has line highlighting, then both are
displayed.
When the line on which the sign is placed is deleted, the sign is moved to the
next line (or the last line of the buffer, if there is no next line). When
the delete is undone the sign does not move back.
When a sign with line highlighting and 'cursorline' highlighting are both
present, if the priority is 100 or more then the sign highlighting takes
precedence, otherwise the 'cursorline' highlighting.
==============================================================================
2. Commands *sign-commands* *:sig* *:sign*
Here is an example that places a sign "piet", displayed with the text ">>", in
line 23 of the current file:
:sign define piet text=>> texthl=Search
:exe ":sign place 2 line=23 name=piet file=" .. expand("%:p")
And here is the command to delete it again:
:sign unplace 2
Note that the ":sign" command cannot be followed by another command or a
comment. If you do need that, use the |:execute| command.
DEFINING A SIGN. *:sign-define* *E255* *E160* *E612*
See |sign_define()| for the equivalent Vim script function.
:sign define {name} {argument}...
Define a new sign or set attributes for an existing sign.
The {name} can either be a number (all digits) or a name
starting with a non-digit. Leading zeros are ignored, thus
"0012", "012" and "12" are considered the same name.
About 120 different signs can be defined.
Accepted arguments:
icon={bitmap}
Define the file name where the bitmap can be found. Should be
a full path. The bitmap should fit in the place of two
characters. This is not checked. If the bitmap is too big it
will cause redraw problems. Only GTK 2 can scale the bitmap
to fit the space available.
toolkit supports
GTK 1 pixmap (.xpm)
GTK 2 many
Motif pixmap (.xpm)
Win32 .bmp, .ico, .cur
pixmap (.xpm) |+xpm_w32|
linehl={group}
Highlighting group used for the whole line the sign is placed
in. Most useful is defining a background color.
numhl={group}
Highlighting group used for the line number on the line where
the sign is placed. Overrides |hl-LineNr|, |hl-LineNrAbove|,
|hl-LineNrBelow|, and |hl-CursorLineNr|.
text={text} *E239*
Define the text that is displayed when there is no icon or the
GUI is not being used. Only printable characters are allowed
and they must occupy one or two display cells.
texthl={group}
Highlighting group used for the text item.
culhl={group}
Highlighting group used for the text item when the cursor is
on the same line as the sign and 'cursorline' is enabled.
Example:
:sign define MySign text=>> texthl=Search linehl=DiffText
DELETING A SIGN *:sign-undefine* *E155*
See |sign_undefine()| for the equivalent Vim script function.
:sign undefine {name}
Deletes a previously defined sign. If signs with this {name}
are still placed this will cause trouble.
Example:
:sign undefine MySign
LISTING SIGNS *:sign-list* *E156*
See |sign_getdefined()| for the equivalent Vim script function.
:sign list Lists all defined signs and their attributes.
:sign list {name}
Lists one defined sign and its attributes.
PLACING SIGNS *:sign-place* *E158*
See |sign_place()| for the equivalent Vim script function.
:sign place {id} line={lnum} name={name} file={fname}
Place sign defined as {name} at line {lnum} in file {fname}.
*:sign-fname*
The file {fname} must already be loaded in a buffer. The
exact file name must be used, wildcards, $ENV and ~ are not
expanded, white space must not be escaped. Trailing white
space is ignored.
The sign is remembered under {id}, this can be used for
further manipulation. {id} must be a number.
It's up to the user to make sure the {id} is used only once in
each file (if it's used several times unplacing will also have
to be done several times and making changes may not work as
expected).
The following optional sign attributes can be specified before
"file=":
group={group} Place sign in sign group {group}
priority={prio} Assign priority {prio} to sign
By default, the sign is placed in the global sign group.
By default, the sign is assigned a default priority of 10. To
assign a different priority value, use "priority={prio}" to
specify a value. The priority is used to determine the sign
that is displayed when multiple signs are placed on the same
line.
Examples:
:sign place 5 line=3 name=sign1 file=a.py
:sign place 6 group=g2 line=2 name=sign2 file=x.py
:sign place 9 group=g2 priority=50 line=5
\ name=sign1 file=a.py
:sign place {id} line={lnum} name={name} [buffer={nr}]
Same, but use buffer {nr}. If the buffer argument is not
given, place the sign in the current buffer.
Example:
:sign place 10 line=99 name=sign3
:sign place 10 line=99 name=sign3 buffer=3
*E885*
:sign place {id} name={name} file={fname}
Change the placed sign {id} in file {fname} to use the defined
sign {name}. See remark above about {fname} |:sign-fname|.
This can be used to change the displayed sign without moving
it (e.g., when the debugger has stopped at a breakpoint).
The optional "group={group}" attribute can be used before
"file=" to select a sign in a particular group. The optional
"priority={prio}" attribute can be used to change the priority
of an existing sign.
Example:
:sign place 23 name=sign1 file=/path/to/edit.py
:sign place {id} name={name} [buffer={nr}]
Same, but use buffer {nr}. If the buffer argument is not
given, use the current buffer.
Example:
:sign place 23 name=sign1
:sign place 23 name=sign1 buffer=7
REMOVING SIGNS *:sign-unplace* *E159*
See |sign_unplace()| for the equivalent Vim script function.
:sign unplace {id} file={fname}
Remove the previously placed sign {id} from file {fname}.
See remark above about {fname} |:sign-fname|.
:sign unplace {id} group={group} file={fname}
Same but remove the sign {id} in sign group {group}.
:sign unplace {id} group=* file={fname}
Same but remove the sign {id} from all the sign groups.
:sign unplace * file={fname}
Remove all placed signs in file {fname}.
:sign unplace * group={group} file={fname}
Remove all placed signs in group {group} from file {fname}.
:sign unplace * group=* file={fname}
Remove all placed signs in all the groups from file {fname}.
:sign unplace {id} buffer={nr}
Remove the previously placed sign {id} from buffer {nr}.
:sign unplace {id} group={group} buffer={nr}
Remove the previously placed sign {id} in group {group} from
buffer {nr}.
:sign unplace {id} group=* buffer={nr}
Remove the previously placed sign {id} in all the groups from
buffer {nr}.
:sign unplace * buffer={nr}
Remove all placed signs in buffer {nr}.
:sign unplace * group={group} buffer={nr}
Remove all placed signs in group {group} from buffer {nr}.
:sign unplace * group=* buffer={nr}
Remove all placed signs in all the groups from buffer {nr}.
:sign unplace {id}
Remove the previously placed sign {id} from all files it
appears in.
:sign unplace {id} group={group}
Remove the previously placed sign {id} in group {group} from
all files it appears in.
:sign unplace {id} group=*
Remove the previously placed sign {id} in all the groups from
all the files it appears in.
:sign unplace *
Remove all placed signs in the global group from all the files.
:sign unplace * group={group}
Remove all placed signs in group {group} from all the files.
:sign unplace * group=*
Remove all placed signs in all the groups from all the files.
:sign unplace
Remove a placed sign at the cursor position. If multiple signs
are placed in the line, then only one is removed.
:sign unplace group={group}
Remove a placed sign in group {group} at the cursor
position.
:sign unplace group=*
Remove a placed sign in any group at the cursor position.
LISTING PLACED SIGNS *:sign-place-list*
See |sign_getplaced()| for the equivalent Vim script function.
:sign place file={fname}
List signs placed in file {fname}.
See remark above about {fname} |:sign-fname|.
:sign place group={group} file={fname}
List signs in group {group} placed in file {fname}.
:sign place group=* file={fname}
List signs in all the groups placed in file {fname}.
:sign place buffer={nr}
List signs placed in buffer {nr}.
:sign place group={group} buffer={nr}
List signs in group {group} placed in buffer {nr}.
:sign place group=* buffer={nr}
List signs in all the groups placed in buffer {nr}.
:sign place List placed signs in the global group in all files.
:sign place group={group}
List placed signs with sign group {group} in all files.
:sign place group=*
List placed signs in all sign groups in all files.
JUMPING TO A SIGN *:sign-jump* *E157*
See |sign_jump()| for the equivalent Vim script function.
:sign jump {id} file={fname}
Open the file {fname} or jump to the window that contains
{fname} and position the cursor at sign {id}.
See remark above about {fname} |:sign-fname|.
If the file isn't displayed in window and the current file can
not be |abandon|ed this fails.
:sign jump {id} group={group} file={fname}
Same but jump to the sign in group {group}
:sign jump {id} [buffer={nr}] *E934*
Same, but use buffer {nr}. This fails if buffer {nr} does not
have a name. If the buffer argument is not given, use the
current buffer.
:sign jump {id} group={group} [buffer={nr}]
Same but jump to the sign in group {group}
==============================================================================
3. Functions *sign-functions-details*
sign_define({name} [, {dict}]) *sign_define()*
sign_define({list})
Define a new sign named {name} or modify the attributes of an
existing sign. This is similar to the |:sign-define| command.
Prefix {name} with a unique text to avoid name collisions.
There is no {group} like with placing signs.
The {name} can be a String or a Number. The optional {dict}
argument specifies the sign attributes. The following values
are supported:
icon full path to the bitmap file for the sign.
linehl highlight group used for the whole line the
sign is placed in.
numhl highlight group used for the line number where
the sign is placed.
text text that is displayed when there is no icon
or the GUI is not being used.
texthl highlight group used for the text item
culhl highlight group used for the text item when
the cursor is on the same line as the sign and
'cursorline' is enabled.
If the sign named {name} already exists, then the attributes
of the sign are updated.
The one argument {list} can be used to define a list of signs.
Each list item is a dictionary with the above items in {dict}
and a "name" item for the sign name.
Returns 0 on success and -1 on failure. When the one argument
{list} is used, then returns a List of values one for each
defined sign.
Examples:
call sign_define("mySign", {
\ "text" : "=>",
\ "texthl" : "Error",
\ "linehl" : "Search"})
call sign_define([
\ {'name' : 'sign1',
\ 'text' : '=>'},
\ {'name' : 'sign2',
\ 'text' : '!!'}
\ ])
Can also be used as a YXXYmethod|:
GetSignList()->sign_define()
sign_getdefined([{name}]) *sign_getdefined()*
Get a list of defined signs and their attributes.
This is similar to the |:sign-list| command.
If the {name} is not supplied, then a list of all the defined
signs is returned. Otherwise the attribute of the specified
sign is returned.
Each list item in the returned value is a dictionary with the
following entries:
icon full path to the bitmap file of the sign
linehl highlight group used for the whole line the
sign is placed in; not present if not set
name name of the sign
numhl highlight group used for the line number where
the sign is placed; not present if not set
text text that is displayed when there is no icon
or the GUI is not being used.
texthl highlight group used for the text item; not
present if not set
culhl highlight group used for the text item when
the cursor is on the same line as the sign and
'cursorline' is enabled; not present if not
set
Returns an empty List if there are no signs and when {name} is
not found.
Examples:
" Get a list of all the defined signs
echo sign_getdefined()
" Get the attribute of the sign named mySign
echo sign_getdefined("mySign")
Can also be used as a YXXYmethod|:
GetSignList()->sign_getdefined()
sign_getplaced([{buf} [, {dict}]]) *sign_getplaced()*
Return a list of signs placed in a buffer or all the buffers.
This is similar to the |:sign-place-list| command.
If the optional buffer name {buf} is specified, then only the
list of signs placed in that buffer is returned. For the use
of {buf}, see |bufname()|. The optional {dict} can contain
the following entries:
group select only signs in this group
id select sign with this identifier
lnum select signs placed in this line. For the use
of {lnum}, see |line()|.
If {group} is '*', then signs in all the groups including the
global group are returned. If {group} is not supplied or is an
empty string, then only signs in the global group are
returned. If no arguments are supplied, then signs in the
global group placed in all the buffers are returned.
See |sign-group|.
Each list item in the returned value is a dictionary with the
following entries:
bufnr number of the buffer with the sign
signs list of signs placed in {bufnr}. Each list
item is a dictionary with the below listed
entries
The dictionary for each sign contains the following entries:
group sign group. Set to '' for the global group.
id identifier of the sign
lnum line number where the sign is placed
name name of the defined sign
priority sign priority
The returned signs in a buffer are ordered by their line
number and priority.
Returns an empty list on failure or if there are no placed
signs.
Examples:
" Get a List of signs placed in eval.c in the
" global group
echo sign_getplaced("eval.c")
" Get a List of signs in group 'g1' placed in eval.c
echo sign_getplaced("eval.c", {'group' : 'g1'})
" Get a List of signs placed at line 10 in eval.c
echo sign_getplaced("eval.c", {'lnum' : 10})
" Get sign with identifier 10 placed in a.py
echo sign_getplaced("a.py", {'id' : 10})
" Get sign with id 20 in group 'g1' placed in a.py
echo sign_getplaced("a.py", {'group' : 'g1',
\ 'id' : 20})
" Get a List of all the placed signs
echo sign_getplaced()
Can also be used as a YXXYmethod|:
GetBufname()->sign_getplaced()
*sign_jump()*
sign_jump({id}, {group}, {buf})
Open the buffer {buf} or jump to the window that contains
{buf} and position the cursor at sign {id} in group {group}.
This is similar to the |:sign-jump| command.
If {group} is an empty string, then the global group is used.
For the use of {buf}, see |bufname()|.
Returns the line number of the sign. Returns -1 if the
arguments are invalid.
Example:
" Jump to sign 10 in the current buffer
call sign_jump(10, '', '')
Can also be used as a YXXYmethod|:
GetSignid()->sign_jump()
*sign_place()*
sign_place({id}, {group}, {name}, {buf} [, {dict}])
Place the sign defined as {name} at line {lnum} in file or
buffer {buf} and assign {id} and {group} to sign. This is
similar to the |:sign-place| command.
If the sign identifier {id} is zero, then a new identifier is
allocated. Otherwise the specified number is used. {group} is
the sign group name. To use the global sign group, use an
empty string. {group} functions as a namespace for {id}, thus
two groups can use the same IDs. Refer to |sign-identifier|
and |sign-group| for more information.
{name} refers to a defined sign.
{buf} refers to a buffer name or number. For the accepted
values, see |bufname()|.
The optional {dict} argument supports the following entries:
lnum line number in the file or buffer
{buf} where the sign is to be placed.
For the accepted values, see |line()|.
priority priority of the sign. See
|sign-priority| for more information.
If the optional {dict} is not specified, then it modifies the
placed sign {id} in group {group} to use the defined sign
{name}.
Returns the sign identifier on success and -1 on failure.
Examples:
" Place a sign named sign1 with id 5 at line 20 in
" buffer json.c
call sign_place(5, '', 'sign1', 'json.c',
\ {'lnum' : 20})
" Updates sign 5 in buffer json.c to use sign2
call sign_place(5, '', 'sign2', 'json.c')
" Place a sign named sign3 at line 30 in
" buffer json.c with a new identifier
let id = sign_place(0, '', 'sign3', 'json.c',
\ {'lnum' : 30})
" Place a sign named sign4 with id 10 in group 'g3'
" at line 40 in buffer json.c with priority 90
call sign_place(10, 'g3', 'sign4', 'json.c',
\ {'lnum' : 40, 'priority' : 90})
Can also be used as a YXXYmethod|:
GetSignid()->sign_place(group, name, expr)
*sign_placelist()*
sign_placelist({list})
Place one or more signs. This is similar to the
|sign_place()| function. The {list} argument specifies the
List of signs to place. Each list item is a dict with the
following sign attributes:
buffer Buffer name or number. For the accepted
values, see |bufname()|.
group Sign group. {group} functions as a namespace
for {id}, thus two groups can use the same
IDs. If not specified or set to an empty
string, then the global group is used. See
|sign-group| for more information.
id Sign identifier. If not specified or zero,
then a new unique identifier is allocated.
Otherwise the specified number is used. See
|sign-identifier| for more information.
lnum Line number in the buffer where the sign is to
be placed. For the accepted values, see
|line()|.
name Name of the sign to place. See |sign_define()|
for more information.
priority Priority of the sign. When multiple signs are
placed on a line, the sign with the highest
priority is used. If not specified, the
default value of 10 is used. See
|sign-priority| for more information.
If {id} refers to an existing sign, then the existing sign is
modified to use the specified {name} and/or {priority}.
Returns a List of sign identifiers. If failed to place a
sign, the corresponding list item is set to -1.
Examples:
" Place sign s1 with id 5 at line 20 and id 10 at line
" 30 in buffer a.c
let [n1, n2] = sign_placelist([
\ {'id' : 5,
\ 'name' : 's1',
\ 'buffer' : 'a.c',
\ 'lnum' : 20},
\ {'id' : 10,
\ 'name' : 's1',
\ 'buffer' : 'a.c',
\ 'lnum' : 30}
\ ])
" Place sign s1 in buffer a.c at line 40 and 50
" with auto-generated identifiers
let [n1, n2] = sign_placelist([
\ {'name' : 's1',
\ 'buffer' : 'a.c',
\ 'lnum' : 40},
\ {'name' : 's1',
\ 'buffer' : 'a.c',
\ 'lnum' : 50}
\ ])
Can also be used as a YXXYmethod|:
GetSignlist()->sign_placelist()
sign_undefine([{name}]) *sign_undefine()*
sign_undefine({list})
Deletes a previously defined sign {name}. This is similar to
the |:sign-undefine| command. If {name} is not supplied, then
deletes all the defined signs.
The one argument {list} can be used to undefine a list of
signs. Each list item is the name of a sign.
Returns 0 on success and -1 on failure. For the one argument
{list} call, returns a list of values one for each undefined
sign.
Examples:
" Delete a sign named mySign
call sign_undefine("mySign")
" Delete signs 'sign1' and 'sign2'
call sign_undefine(["sign1", "sign2"])
" Delete all the signs
call sign_undefine()
Can also be used as a YXXYmethod|:
GetSignlist()->sign_undefine()
sign_unplace({group} [, {dict}]) *sign_unplace()*
Remove a previously placed sign in one or more buffers. This
is similar to the |:sign-unplace| command.
{group} is the sign group name. To use the global sign group,
use an empty string. If {group} is set to '*', then all the
groups including the global group are used.
The signs in {group} are selected based on the entries in
{dict}. The following optional entries in {dict} are
supported:
buffer buffer name or number. See |bufname()|.
id sign identifier
If {dict} is not supplied, then all the signs in {group} are
removed.
Returns 0 on success and -1 on failure.
Examples:
" Remove sign 10 from buffer a.vim
call sign_unplace('', {'buffer' : "a.vim", 'id' : 10})
" Remove sign 20 in group 'g1' from buffer 3
call sign_unplace('g1', {'buffer' : 3, 'id' : 20})
" Remove all the signs in group 'g2' from buffer 10
call sign_unplace('g2', {'buffer' : 10})
" Remove sign 30 in group 'g3' from all the buffers
call sign_unplace('g3', {'id' : 30})
" Remove all the signs placed in buffer 5
call sign_unplace('*', {'buffer' : 5})
" Remove the signs in group 'g4' from all the buffers
call sign_unplace('g4')
" Remove sign 40 from all the buffers
call sign_unplace('*', {'id' : 40})
" Remove all the placed signs from all the buffers
call sign_unplace('*')
Can also be used as a YXXYmethod|:
GetSigngroup()->sign_unplace()
sign_unplacelist({list}) *sign_unplacelist()*
Remove previously placed signs from one or more buffers. This
is similar to the |sign_unplace()| function.
The {list} argument specifies the List of signs to remove.
Each list item is a dict with the following sign attributes:
buffer buffer name or number. For the accepted
values, see |bufname()|. If not specified,
then the specified sign is removed from all
the buffers.
group sign group name. If not specified or set to an
empty string, then the global sign group is
used. If set to '*', then all the groups
including the global group are used.
id sign identifier. If not specified, then all
the signs in the specified group are removed.
Returns a List where an entry is set to 0 if the corresponding
sign was successfully removed or -1 on failure.
Example:
" Remove sign with id 10 from buffer a.vim and sign
" with id 20 from buffer b.vim
call sign_unplacelist([
\ {'id' : 10, 'buffer' : "a.vim"},
\ {'id' : 20, 'buffer' : 'b.vim'},
\ ])
Can also be used as a YXXYmethod|:
GetSignlist()->sign_unplacelist()
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