CODEWITHSUNDEEP
vim
MKo
MKo

Reputation: 5038

Go to back directory browsing after opening file in vim

When I open a directory browsing in vim, I can open a file by moving the cursor to a file name and pressing Enter.

Now, is there any command to go back to the previous directory browsing?

If not, is there a way to open a file without closing the directory browsing mode?

Upvotes: 199

Views: 81795

Answers (7)

ezdazuzena
ezdazuzena

Reputation: 6770

You can go back to the last buffer using :b#.

If you just opened a file, then it will bring you just back to the directory browsing.

Update: Since this answer happened to be accept as the correct answer and is thus on the top, I'd like to summarize a bit the answers, including the one by @romainl that imho is the correct one.

Upvotes: 321

chenlola
chenlola

Reputation: 71

I'd like to use the Jump-motions shortcut keys to do any 'go back' or 'go forward' actions in Vim. It makes vim like a web browser.

You can search for Vim's help for more details.

Vim :h jump-motions

So like as mentioned in other answers ctrl+O works cool, and hope vim's help-file let you learn more commands like ctrl+I .

Ctrl + I : Go Forward

Ctrl + O : Go Back

Upvotes: 4

NM Pennypacker
NM Pennypacker

Reputation: 6942

I usually just use :E. It's easy to remember and gets you back to the directory listing of the file you had open.

Upvotes: 34

Peyman
Peyman

Reputation: 1061

You can use Ctrl-O to go back to the previous buffer.

Upvotes: 106

Aman Jain
Aman Jain

Reputation: 11317

I rely on Ctrl ^ to go back and forth b/w two buffers.

Upvotes: 33

romainl
romainl

Reputation: 196496

The proper command for returning to the netrw listing is :Rex[plore]. You can run it even after you have jumped to and from dozens of files.

Upvotes: 53

drug_user841417
drug_user841417

Reputation: 827

:Ex will take you back (and show you what you edited and didn't save).

Upvotes: 40

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