How to yank count of matches of a pattern to a register?

Question

%s///n

show number of matching pattern like 102 matches on 102 lines.

How to copy this output to a register?

Answer 1

:redir @a | %s///n | redir END

An alternative is

:let @a=execute('%s///n')

If %s///n is the last command, you can type:

:let @a=execute('<Ctrl-r>:')

or if you want to paste it immediately into the document, switch to insert mode and type

<Ctrl-r>=execute('<Ctrl-r>:')

Relevant Links

• :h :redir
• :h execute()
• Gist :Redir https://gist.github.com/intuited/362802 :R %s///n @a
• https://github.com/mhinz/vim-galore#redir-and-execute
• http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Capture_ex_command_output
• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/8453211/how-do-i-capture-the-output-of-a-vim-command-in-a-register-without-the-newlines