How to make my gvimrc file use my vimrc file (VIM)

Question

TDLR; I am unable to edit gvim using the _vimrc file

Basically, I want to change some default settings (like background color) in the GUI version of vim (gvim). However, when I make changes to my .vimrc file, my gvim does not react to the changes.

I already have

if has("gui_number") set number colorscheme desert endif

in my .vimrc file, and from what I've read that should make changes in my GVIM, but it doesn't.

I even tried to type some random stuff in the .vimrc file to see if GVIM would display an error, which it did not.

So i think the problem may be my gvim isn't reading my .vimrc file at all. So this may be a pathing problem?

This below is my .vimrc file

source $VIMRUNTIME/vimrc_example.vim
jhgfjhgjhg (This here was to test for an error)

if has('gui_running')
    set number
    colorscheme desert
endif


set diffexpr=MyDiff()
function MyDiff()
  let opt = '-a --binary '
  if &diffopt =~ 'icase' | let opt = opt . '-i ' | endif
  if &diffopt =~ 'iwhite' | let opt = opt . '-b ' | endif
  let arg1 = v:fname_in
  if arg1 =~ ' ' | let arg1 = '"' . arg1 . '"' | endif
  let arg1 = substitute(arg1, '!', '\!', 'g')
  let arg2 = v:fname_new
  if arg2 =~ ' ' | let arg2 = '"' . arg2 . '"' | endif
  let arg2 = substitute(arg2, '!', '\!', 'g')
  let arg3 = v:fname_out
  if arg3 =~ ' ' | let arg3 = '"' . arg3 . '"' | endif
  let arg3 = substitute(arg3, '!', '\!', 'g')
  if $VIMRUNTIME =~ ' '
    if &sh =~ '\<cmd'
      if empty(&shellxquote)
        let l:shxq_sav = ''
        set shellxquote&
      endif
      let cmd = '"' . $VIMRUNTIME . '\diff"'
    else
      let cmd = substitute($VIMRUNTIME, ' ', '" ', '') . '\diff"'
    endif
  else
    let cmd = $VIMRUNTIME . '\diff'
  endif
  let cmd = substitute(cmd, '!', '\!', 'g')
  silent execute '!' . cmd . ' ' . opt . arg1 . ' ' . arg2 . ' > ' . arg3
  if exists('l:shxq_sav')
    let &shellxquote=l:shxq_sav
  endif

endfunction






Here is my .GVIMRC file

version 6.0
if &cp | set nocp | endif
let s:cpo_save=&cpo
set cpo&vim
map! <S-Insert> *
vmap  "*d
map Q gq
vmap [% [%m'gv``
vmap ]% ]%m'gv``
vmap a% [%v]%
vmap gx <Plug>NetrwBrowseXVis
nmap gx <Plug>NetrwBrowseX
vnoremap <silent> <Plug>NetrwBrowseXVis :call netrw#BrowseXVis()

nnoremap <silent> <Plug>NetrwBrowseX :call netrw#BrowseX(expand((exists("g:netrw_gx")? g:netrw_gx : '<cfile>')),netrw#CheckIfRemote())

vmap <C-Del> "*d
vmap <S-Del> "*d
vmap <C-Insert> "*y
vmap <S-Insert> "-d"*P
nmap <S-Insert> "*P
inoremap  u
let &cpo=s:cpo_save
unlet s:cpo_save
set backspace=indent,eol,start
set backup
set diffexpr=MyDiff()
set display=truncate
set guioptions=egmrLT
set helplang=En
set history=200
set hlsearch
set incsearch
set langnoremap
set nolangremap
set nrformats=bin,hex
set ruler
set runtimepath=~/vimfiles,C:\\Program\ Files\ (x86)\\Vim/vimfiles,C:\\Program\ Files\ (x86)\\Vim\\vim81,C:\\Program\ Files\ (x86)\\Vim\\vim81\\pack\\dist\\opt\\matchit,C:\\Program\ Files\ (x86)\\Vim/vimfiles/after,~/vimfiles/after
set scrolloff=5
set ttimeout
set ttimeoutlen=100
set undofile
set wildmenu
" vim: set ft=vim :

I would hope that my gvim would display lines and a different background, but nothing happens.

edit: should my _vimrc file look exactly like my gvimrc?

Answer 1

I figured it out guys. So apparently I was supposed to create a _vimrc file in my home directory.

If you are on windows 7 and having the problem where you cant edit your _vimrc file in your VIM directory to change gvimrc, then its because you are trying to edit the wrong _vimrc!! You need to make a different user one in your home directory!

Windows 7:

Open vim, type in :e $HOME/_vimrc And then put the new settings and save (then reopen GVIM)