Project Window

exVim use ex-project browse project files by default. You can switch to NERDTree by press <ctrl-Tab> in the project-window. You can also make NERDTree as your default project tree by setting project_browser to nerdtree in your .exvim file.

When you open exVim project, you will see:

Build Project Tree

In the chapter Getting Start we've show you how to build project tree by ex-project plugins. Basically just move your cursor to project-window, and press <leader>R. The ex-project will build the tree like this:

Refresh single folder

Sometimes you just changes files in a single folder, using <leader>R to rebuild the whole project seems too heavy. Instead, we use <leader>r on it. It will only rebuild/refresh the folder under your cursor.

Filter Folders

ex-project allow you include or exclude first level folders when building the project tree. exVim integrate this function in .exvim file. Edit your-project.exvim, find the option folder_filter_mode and folder_filter.

The folder_filter_mode accept value 'include' and 'exclude'. The folder_filter accept the folder names in first level and separated by comma ,.

Suppose your first level directories are: bin, src, tests, core, examples and docs. If you would like ex-project only build tree include src and core, you can set the option as:

folder_filter_mode = include
folder_filter += src,core

If you would like ex-project exclude bin and test directory but show others, you can write:

folder_filter_mode = exclude
folder_filter += bin,test

Note: To make it works, you need to save your .exvim changes, go to the project-window and rebuild it.

Filter Files

You can also filter files by provide file_filter in your-project.exvim. The file_filter option accept file suffixes separated by comma ,.

For example, if you want to show files with suffixes .lua, .c and .h in your project, set the file_filter as:

file_filter += lua,c,h

file_filter also accetps empty suffix by named it __EMPTY__, for example:

file_filter += __EMPTY__,lua,c,h

This will allow files like LICENSE, README, Makefile, ... added to project tree.

Note: To make it works, you need to save your .exvim changes, go to the project-window and rebuild it.

For more details about file and folder filters, read Config .exvim.

Folding the folder

You are able to fold a directory by moving the cursor to the line of the folder and press <Enter>. Press <Enter> again will unfold it.

You can use the vim’s builtin fold command under project-window, for example:

• Use zO and zM to fold up/close the whole project.
• Use zo and zc to fold up/close current directory.
• Use zk and zj to move between folds.

Moving around in project-window

Basically you can use h,j,k,l and arrow keys moving in the project-window. ex-project also provides <ctrl-k> and <ctrl-j> to help you fast jump between folders.

You may noticed, ex-project use { and } as its foldmarker:

This means you can use fold jumping commands and mappings:

• Move your cursor to the start or end line of the fold, and press % to find the match of a fold.
• Use [{ and ]} to jump to the prev or next fold.

Working with edit-window

Edit file

When press <enter> on the file in project-window. ex-project will try to open the file in your last edit edit-window. You can also split editing your file in edit-window by press <shift-enter>.

Open file browser

When press <shift-enter> on the folder in project-window. ex-project will use the OS's file browser, and open the folder in it. This is very useful when you trying to operate files in a folder.

Locate your current file

If you are editing a file, and try to locate it in project-window. Just press <leader>fc. This operation will make ex-project search current edit file in edit-window and move the cursor to it in project-window.

Create new file

To create a new file in project-window, move your cursor under a file or a folder line, then press o. ex-project will help you create a line like this:

Type your filename and hit <enter> to open it in edit-window. Edit and save it by :w will
create the new file.

Create new folder

Create a new folder is more complicate than files. You must move your cursor under an exists folder. This will make ex-project understand which folder you wish to your new folder to be created in. After that, press O and the ex-project will ask you to type your folder name:

When you input the name and hit enter confirm it, ex-project will immediately craete the
new folder under the selected directory.

Working with NERDTree

The best thing is ex-project can be works with NERDTree seamlessly. Move your cursor to your project-window, and press <ctrl-tab>. ex-project will automatically switch to NERDTree. Even more, the <leader>fc mappings will also be applied to NERDTree. To swich back, just press <ctrl-tab> again.

Switch among .exvim projects

You may have multiple .exvim files in your project. And exVim supports switch project dynamically. By open the different .exvim file, and explicitly save it with :w, exVim will switch to the new project.