Open a buffer as a vertical split in Vim

Question

If you are editing a file in Vim and then you need to open an existing buffer (e.g., from your buffer list: :buffers), how can you open it in a vertical split?

I know that you already can open it with a normal split like:

:sbuffer N

Where N is the buffer number you want. However, the above opens that N buffer horizontally, not vertically.

I'm also aware that you can change the window placement after opening and have a vertical split like so:

Ctrl + W, H
Ctrl + W, L

Which will vertically split the window to the right or the left.

It seems to me that if there is a sbuffer there should be a vsbuffer, but that doesn't exist (not that I am aware of).

Also, please note that I am not looking for a plugin to solve this question. I know about a wealth of plugins that will allow you to do this.

I am sure I might be missing something that is already there.

I have created a simple function with a mapping if someone else stumbles across this issue and do not want to install a plugin:

Function:

" Vertical Split Buffer Function
function VerticalSplitBuffer(buffer)
    execute "vert belowright sb" a:buffer
endfunction

Mapping:

" Vertical Split Buffer Mapping
command -nargs=1 Vbuffer call VerticalSplitBuffer(<f-args>)

This accomplishes the task of opening a buffer in a right split, so for buffer 1, you would call it like:

:Vbuffer 1

Answer 1

Try:

:vert sb N

which will open a left vertical split (by default, unless you have modified some options).

To open a split to the right, on the other hand:

:vert belowright sb N

Answer 2

:vsp | b1

1 being some buffer number. Use buffers to list all buffers.

Here's some additional info on splits, if you're interested. Link

Answer 3

The answer to the OP that I found most useful is embedded deep in Jerinaw's answer and a comment on it, and in Wolfson's answer. But I felt it might be brought out more. (Nor have those been voted most highly, even though they seemed to me the ones that answered OP best.)

The answer to the question, Why is there not :vsbuffer, is that there is. It's called :vsplit and does the trick either as

:vsplit NameOfBuffer

OR

:vsplit #NumberOfBuffer.

(In this second use, take care to note that the hash # is significant. If you want to get to buffer number 3, you need to say :vsplit #3, not just :vsplit 3 which will instead create a new file named "3".)

Again, this answer is embedded above, it's just not brought out clearly enough for the quick scanner, IMV.

Answer 4

You can ease your pain by adding the following to your .vimrc

cabbrev vb vert sb

Now you can use it in the following way.

:vb <buffer>

Answer 5

You can also combine :ls that lists your current buffers and the commands to open the desired buffer in either

1. current window: :b <N/bufname>
2. vertical split: :vsp | b <N/bufname>
3. horizontal split: :sp | b <N/bufname>

For this, I've added the following mappings to my ~/.vimrc (order of mappings represents the above list of desired windows)

 nnoremap <leader>b :ls<cr>:b<space>
 nnoremap <leader>v :ls<cr>:vsp<space>\|<space>b<space>
 nnoremap <leader>s :ls<cr>:sp<space>\|<space>b<space>

Based on this, you can see the buffer list as soon as you hit

1. <leader>b
2. <leader>v
3. <leader>s

and then just enter the desired buffer number N. This will then open the buffer in the desired window. You can of course still use a part of the buffer name bufname as well.

I mapped the <leader> to , based on

let mapleader = ","

For some people (e.g. me) this could even replace plugins like MiniBufExpl and thus save space on the screen.

Answer 6

You can use Neovim, like this:

autocmd FileType python nmap <F5> :rightbelow vertical split <bar> :term python %<cr>