Beep upon using a mapping

Question

Well, I try to use the following convention. ± (as unused key) is used for increase search where / is used for regular search.

The implementation:

set noincsearch

nmap  ± <esc>:set incsearch<CR>/

augroup vimrc-noincsearch-highlight
  autocmd!
  autocmd CmdlineLeave / :set noincsearch |  :noh 
augroup END

Everything works fine.

The only tiny problem is that I get a beep every time I use it!

I tried to use other keys as well, but I get the same anonying beep.

Temporary solution:

set visualbell t_vb=

Help?

Thanks.

Answer 1

nmap  ± <esc>:set incsearch<CR>/

<Esc> in normal mode issues a beep. Your :nmap is a normal mode mapping; no <esc> is necessary here. You could use <C-u> to swallow any accidental [count], though. And you should use :noremap; it makes the mapping immune to remapping and recursion:

nnoremap  ± :<C-u>set incsearch<CR>/

Though not needed here, there is a special mapping that ensures normal mode without a beep: :help CTRL-\_CTRL-N

Additionally the command CTRL-\ CTRL-N or can be used to go to Normal mode from any other mode. This can be used to make sure Vim is in Normal mode, without causing a beep like would. However, this does not work in Ex mode.