Copy Paste With Vim and Tmux

Copying between two VIM sessions

Using vim + clipboard copy to just get vim content and not all the VIM formatting (line numbers and so on).

• On MacOS X + and * registers are the same.

• On GNU/Linux

  • + is the desktop clipboard (usable via ctl-c/x/v)
  • * is the X11 primary selection (usable via mouse selection/middle mouse button)

• Select text in VIM

• Copy to the * register (system clipboard) "*y

• Paste the clipboard in new vim session "*p

Copying using TMUX

• https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tmux-copycat

• https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tmux-yank

• https://vim.fandom.com/wiki/Accessing_the_system_clipboard

• Selecting content in tmux:

  • Enter tmux pane history “navigation” mode: ctrl-b+[
  • Use arrows or h/j/k/l to go to where you need
  • Use V to move in line selection mode
  • Use y to copy (yank) to system clipboard

• Pasting using tmux

  • ctrl-b + ]

Copying from TMUX to VIM

• Selecting content in tmux:
  • Enter tmux pane history “navigation” mode: ctrl-b+[
  • Use arrows or h/j/k/l to go to where you need
  • Use V to move in line selection mode
  • Use y to copy (yank) to system clipboard
• Pasting using tmux
  • ctrl-b + ]
• Or pasting in vim
  • Paste content from system clipboard (aka +): "+p