EasyAlign

EasyAlign is a plugin for doing character alignment that is nothing short of OCD.

Project address

https://github.com/junegunn/vim-easy-align

Installation

Modify .vimrc configuration, add the following configuration after call plug#begin()

Plug 'junegunn/vim-easy-align'

Note: For use of the Vim plugin manager, see [plugin.md](../plugin.md#plugin management)

Run Vim and execute the command :PlugInstall, you may get the following prompt:

1 Updated. Elapsed time: 6.008607 sec.
2 [===]
3
4 - Finishing ... Done!
5 - vim-github-dashboard: Already installed
6 - nerdtree: Already installed
7 - vim-easy-align: Resolving deltas: 100% (136/136), done.

Usage

Configuration

Add .vimrc configuration as follows:

" EasyAlign
xmap ga <Plug>(EasyAlign) " The shortcut key in visual mode
nmap ga <Plug>(EasyAlign) " The shortcut key in normal mode

" Configure some custom symbols
let g:easy_align_delimiters = {
\ '>': { 'pattern': '>>\|=>\|>'  },
\ '/': {
\     'pattern':         '//\+\|/\*\|\*/',
\     'delimiter_align': 'l',
\     'ignore_groups':   ['!Comment'] },
\ ']': {
\     'pattern':       '[[\]]',
\     'left_margin':   0,
\     'right_margin':  0,
\     'stick_to_left': 0
\   },
\ ')': {
\     'pattern':       '[()]',
\     'left_margin':   0,
\     'right_margin':  0,
\     'stick_to_left': 0
\   },
\ 'd': {
\     'pattern':      ' \(\S\+\s*[;=]\)\@=',
\     'left_margin':  0,
\     'right_margin': 0
\   }
\ }

Experiment

Try the following operations in the code below:

let a=1;// one
let  bcd=test=2; // two
let      longword=others= 'some content';// string

First locate the cursor to any sentence in the above code, press gaip<Space>, you should get the following results

let a=1;// one
let bcd=test=2; // two
let longword=others= 'some content';// string

Keep the cursor still, press gaip=, you should get the following results

let a        = 1;// one
let bcd      = test=2; // two
let longword = others= 'some content';// string

Keep the cursor still, press u, then press gaip*=, you should get the following results

let a        = 1;// one
let bcd      = test   = 2; // two
let longword = others = 'some content';// string

The meaning of the keys is explained below:

• gaip

  • ga is the shortcut to enable EasyAlign, which we defined in the .vimrc configuration file.

  • ip defines the action area, which can be done with any select action command, ip selects the current paragraph, and if the cursor is on the first line of code, 2j can be used instead of .vimrc. If the cursor is on the first line of code, you can use 2j instead of ip.

  • At this point, the word :EasyAlign (_) will appear in the command area, indicating that it is waiting for matching input.

  • Press <Space> to align the first space.

• gaip=

  • Same as above, = is to align the <equals sign>.

• gaip*=

  • To see the effect, undo the previous operation with u.

  • The = preceded by * is a descriptor that can be a number, representing the first equals sign, or a negative number, representing the the penultimate number, or an asterisk for all.

If you're sure you've changed the configuration as mentioned above, you can also try gaip/ to align the comment section, and when executed, look at It will look like this

let a        = 1;                       // one
let bcd      = test   = 2;              // two
let longword = others = 'some content'; // string

Explanation of Match Characters

The above mentioned <Space> = are special symbols defined in EasyAlign to indicate a certain type of character. These symbols are defined in EasyAlign to represent a certain type of character:

Keystrokes	Scenario Description
<Space>	Match whitespace
=	Operators containing the equals sign (=, ==, ! =, +=, ...)
:	Applies to JSON or YAML formats
.	Apply to multi-line dot syntax calls
,	Apply to multi-line parameter lists
&	Format LaTeX table to match & and \\\
#	Apply alignment to Ruby/Python comments
<Bar>	Markdown tables

Note: The <Bar> key mentioned in the table above is the | key.

Try to align a markdown table by gaip*| in the above table.

Tips

Alignment method

When you are waiting for a match to be entered and :EasyAlign (_) appears in the command area, you can press the <Enter> key to select the alignment direction. Press once to switch to right alignment and display :EasyAlign[R] (_), press again to switch to center alignment and display :EasyAlign[R] (_), and press <Enter> to switch to center alignment and display :EasyAlign[R] (_). toggle to center alignment and display :EasyAlign[C] (_), then press again to switch back to the default left alignment, and the display returns to its original state.

Try gaip<Enter><Enter>*| in the markdown table above.

Regular Matching

While waiting for a match to be typed, press the shortcut key <Ctrl-x> to enter match mode, and then type in the matching feature you want. The special combination can be matched by typing in the matching feature you need. See the following text:

Lorem<-ipsum
dolor  <--sit
amet<=  consectetur <- adipiscing
elit<~~ sed <~ do
eiusmod<-= tempor<=- incididunt
ut <== labore

Try typing gaip*<Ctrl-x>, then it enters the regular matching mode, continue typing <[-=~]*<Enter> and you will get the following result. The result is shown below.

Lorem    <- ipsum
dolor   <-- sit
amet     <= consectetur  <- adipiscing
elit    <~~ sed          <~ do
eiusmod <-= tempor      <=- incididunt
ut      <== labore

More references

For more references, please refer to the introduction of project page