Close file without quitting VIM application?

user_62776 0
Viewed 95180

I use the :e and :w commands to edit and to write a file. I am not sure if there is "close" command to close the current file without leaving Vim?

I know that the :q command can be used to close a file, but if it is the last file, Vim is closed as well; Actually on Mac OS MacVim does quit. Only the Vim window is closed and I could use Control-N to open a blank Vim window again. I would like Vim to remain open with a blank screen.

vim
12 Answers

This deletes the buffer (which translates to close the file)

:bd
Vinko_Vrsalovic_51900

If you have multiple split windows in your Vim window then :bd closes the split window of the current file, so I like to use something a little more advanced:

map fc <Esc>:call CleanClose(1)

map fq <Esc>:call CleanClose(0)


function! CleanClose(tosave)
if (a:tosave == 1)
    w!
endif
let todelbufNr = bufnr("%")
let newbufNr = bufnr("#")
if ((newbufNr != -1) && (newbufNr != todelbufNr) && buflisted(newbufNr))
    exe "b".newbufNr
else
    bnext
endif

if (bufnr("%") == todelbufNr)
    new
endif
exe "bd".todelbufNr
endfunction
Gowri_32530 
:[N]bd[elete][!]                        *:bd* *:bdel* *:bdelete* *E516*
:bd[elete][!] [N]
                Unload buffer [N] (default: current buffer) and delete it from
                the buffer list.  If the buffer was changed, this fails,
                unless when [!] is specified, in which case changes are lost.
                The file remains unaffected.  Any windows for this buffer are
                closed.  If buffer [N] is the current buffer, another buffer
                will be displayed instead.  This is the most recent entry in
                the jump list that points into a loaded buffer.
                Actually, the buffer isn't completely deleted, it is removed
                from the buffer list |unlisted-buffer| and option values,
                variables and mappings/abbreviations for the buffer are
                cleared.
ephemient_207130

If you've saved the last file already, then :enew is your friend (:enew! if you don't want to save the last file). Note that the original file will still be in your buffer list (the one accessible via :ls).

user_2660

If you modify a file and want to close it without quitting Vim and without saving, you should type :bd!.

user_26230740

For me close-buffers is pretty useful plugin:

:Bdelete this to close that you can remap.

user_59418070
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