shortcut to open definition of variable in a vertical split

Question

I use the vertical split command a lot :vsplit, and I also have click on ctrl] to look at the definition of a variable (after generating the Ctags).

I would like to do a keyboard shortcut that does both like so: I see a variable I would like to see the definition of, so I put the cursor ontop of that variable, perform the keyboard shortcut, and then a vertical split on the right side should show with the definition of that variable (even if it's defined in the same file).. then I perform another keyboard shortcut to dismiss that new window and return to exactly where I was

How do I do that?

Answer 1

From the command line this will open a new vertical split with the tag target:

:vert winc ]

:winc ] is the command line equivalent of the CTRL-W CTRL-] key combo mentioned in a comment above...except neither the Normal mode version nor the command line version require the second Ctrl. CTRL-W ] is sufficient.

(In fact, many of the CTRL-W commands have variations where the second Ctrl is optional. The idea is to be forgiving if the user is rapidly pressing the keys and doesn't release Ctrl quickly enough after Ctrl+W.)

Then we have the modifier :vert that for certain commands that open a horizontal split opens a vertical split instead. That's why we're using the command line for this rather than the Normal mode keys.

Anyways, sounds like you want a Normal mode mapping for it so

:nnoremap XX :vert winc ]<CR>

Change XX to whatever unused key combo you prefer.

To close the window and return to where you were press Ctrl+W followed by C.