Re: [vile] Can one ^X! direct into text being edited somehow?

[Chris Green]

On Thu, Sep 06, 2012 at 10:11:06AM +0100, Chris Green wrote:
> I want an easy way to insert today's date (or possibly another, I might
> get the called command to pop up a calendar) into the text I'm editing.
> 
> Using ":r !date" is a bit clumsy as one has to exit and return to insert
> mode.  
> 
> The alternative "^X!date" puts the date into a separate buffer so,
> again, is a bit clumsy if one simply wants the date inserted at the
> point at which one is typing.
> 
> Is there a quick and easy way to do this or do I need to write a macro?
> I guess a macro which does "<ESC>:r !date^Mi" isn't too bad.
> 
Well I've nearly solved it myself, the following:-

    map! #2 ^[:r !date^Mi

gets the date into the text at the insertion point, the only downside is
that the insertion point remains at the beginning of the date.  Since
I'm going to use a customized date format of fixed length I think I can
just move the required number of characters forward easily enough. 
Unless anyone can suggest an easy way of automating the "getting the end
of text inserted using 'r'".

-- 
Chris Green