Visual selection on variable line lengths

Question

Suppose we have something like,

here is some text.
here is some more text.
here is.
here is some.

Starting with gg 0, how do I do something like v t. 4j so that I can replace text up to a . on each line?

Matt · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-02 07:00:56Z

2

What you want is to replace the text, not select it

1,4normal! ct.Whatever

answered Jun 2 '20 at 7:00

Matt

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Suppose I want to copy the text. Then 1,4normal! yt. just copies the last line (well, I guess it copies each line 1 through 4, but doesn't store them as it would when yanking a visual block). The reason I was trying to select is so that I know what I am operating on.
– algae
Jun 3 '20 at 5:45
@algae Vim doesn't support arbitrary visual selection. You can search for some "crutch"-plugin (vim-multiple-cursors or whatever they call it).
– Matt
Jun 3 '20 at 6:42
Thanks. Strange you can't copy it without visual selection though.
– algae
Jun 3 '20 at 7:00
@algae Why not? 1,4normal! "Ayt.
– Matt
Jun 3 '20 at 7:14
Okay, but no new lines.
– algae
Jun 3 '20 at 7:55

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