You can create line drawings in Vim editor using the Vim DrawIt! plugin. You can draw flow charts, ER diagrams, or any other diagrams that can be created as line drawing inside a text editor using this plugin.
2 Steps to install drawit.vim
Step 1: Download latest version of the plugin from vim.org
Download the plugin from vim.org
$ cd ~ $ wget -O DrawIt.vba.gz http://www.vim.org/scripts/download_script.php?src_id=8798
Step 2: Install the DrawIt! Vim plugin
$ cd ~ $ vim DrawIt.vba.gz :so % :q
5 Powerful Features of Vim Editor DrawIt! Plugin
- \di will turn on the Drawit! plugin
- \ds will turn off the Drawit! plugin
Feature 1: Draw as you Navigate inside Vim Editor
From the Vim editor, when you navigate using arrow keys (left, right, up and down) it will draw boxes or lines appropriately as per your navigation.
Following is an example of a simple CPU-Input-Output diagram that was drawn inside Vim editor in just few seconds using only navigation keys to draw the boxes and lines.
Fig: Text diagram created inside Vim editor in few seconds
Feature 2: Drawing a Box inside Vim Editor (in Visual Mode)
Step 1: Select a region using visual selection.
Fig: Visual selection of area to draw a box inside Vim editor
Step 2: Draw box by pressing \b
Fig: Box diagram created automatically based on selected area inside text file
Feature 3: Drawing Ellipse inside Vim Editor (in Visual Mode)
Step 1: Select a region using visual selection.
Step 2: Draw ellipse by pressing \e
Fig: Ellipse diagram created automatically based on selected area inside text file
Feature 4: Draw Arrows inside Vim Editor
Use the following key strokes to draw the corresponding arrows mentioned below.
- > left arrow
- \> fat left arrow
- < right arrow
- \< fat arrow
- ^ up arrow
- \^ fat up arrow
- V down arrow
- \V fat down arrow
Feature 5: Draw Slanting Lines inside Vim Editor
Slanting lines is — front slash and back slash. Use the following key strokes to draw the corresponding slanting lines
- PageDown – Draw \ move down and right
- End – Draw / move down and left
- PageUP – Draw / move up and right
- Home – Draw \ move up and left
Recommended Reading
Vim 101 Hacks, by Ramesh Natarajan. I’m a command-line junkie. So, naturally I’m a huge fan of Vi and Vim editors. Several years back, when I wrote lot of C code on Linux, I used to read all available Vim editor tips and tricks. Based on my Vim editor experience, I’ve written Vim 101 Hacks eBook that contains 101 practical examples on various advanced Vim features that will make you fast and productive in the Vim editor. Even if you’ve been using Vi and Vim Editors for several years and have not read this book, please do yourself a favor and read this book. You’ll be amazed with the capabilities of Vim editor.
My name is Ramesh Natarajan. I will be posting instruction guides, how-to, troubleshooting tips and tricks on Linux, database, hardware, security and web. My focus is to write articles that will either teach you or help you resolve a problem. Read more about
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Thats cool and can be useful when you want to show someone your idea through diagram but there are no MS Visio, Krita or Dia installed on machine and vim is. Thanks a lot, it is quite easy to learn and use.
Thanks man. It’s really useful.
In Feature 5, I think the keys in the number pad match the direction very well. But If I use Notebook, which have no numpad, can I use other keys instead?
With the visual commands, I couldn’t get the \f and \s didn’t work as I expected.
In Vim, is there a way to search all open buffers or a directory and then create a window with a clickable jump list of the results (file and context)?
GOOD one !!
@Ged, bosha, rakesh,
I’m glad you liked this article. Thanks for your nice comments.
@Berry,
Yes. You can use those keys (pagedown, end, pageup, home) from the notebook keyboard also.
@Tim,
\s is filling up the space as expected.
Steps:
———
Select specific lines in visual mode,
press \s which will append spaces.
You are right. \f is not working as expected in the visual mode. I’m not sure whether this is a bug in the plugin (or) something else. I’ll do some research on this topic later.
I am trying to install DrawIt.vba i.e. drawing tool in vim. I am unable to install it. I am using RHEL 4. In root login i have the file called DrawIt.vba available. I am doing as follows:
# vim DrawIt.vba –> it opens the file in vim
If i issue :so % then i am getting error in line 2 as follows :
Error detected while processing /root/DrawIt.vba:
line 2:
E492: Not an editor command: UseVimball
Hit ENTER or type command to continue
can you please guide how to install this?
Jagdish Chhailkar
I could install the plugin but I am finding it difficult to start the plugin.Where do I have to run the command \di.Can you please tell me ramesh.
Thanks,Ajit
Hi, Ajit.
There is some issue with plugin and sometimes you need to type in \di twice to start drawing. You should type in \di in command mode (if you are in another mode like input or visual you should press Esc key to enter command one). After \di executes you’ll see “[DrawIt]” at the bottom of screen. Now you could type \b (draw rectangle) or another command to draw appropriate figure. After typing \b use arrow keys to draw. To stop drawing type in \ds and you’ll see [DrawIt Off] that indicates you leave drawing mode.
Hope it helps you.
Ged,
That helped me get started.I was able to get into the drawit mode and try few stuff but I think I will definitely need some time to get a hang of it :).Thanks for the comment though.
Ajit
I like this article and its topic, but I have problem to find out how to really use keystrokes as \di \ds \b ect.. If I’m in vim editor, I tried it in most of its modes without success. Could you help me to solve this issue. Thank you in advance for your support.
Kind regards,
Radovan Bonk