How to get autocmd/iabbrev command to update?

Question

I have the following command which defines an iabbrev:

if !snips_installed
    augroup VimLogger
        autocmd!
        autocmd Filetype vim iabbrev <buffer> log hello!!
    augroup END
endif

It works when I open the .vimrc file. However, if I change the output, for example to:

autocmd Filetype vim iabbrev <buffer> log new!

It still produces the old output. I thought the purpose of augroup is to be able to update (and cancel out old) commands, but it doesn't seem to be working. What am I doing incorrectly here, or what might the issue be here? It seems like not only do I have to refresh the vimrc, I also have to 're-do' the filetype?

:w | so % | set ft=vim

?

Answer 1

Changing the autocommand in your file doesn’t automatically change the one in memory! (It is possible to add to or clear an auto group at runtime with Ex commands, but not there way shown.) Additionally, changing the in-memory version won’t automatically change the relevant mapping or abbreviation.

So the sequence is

1. Update the code autocommand
2. Source the file to update the one in memory
3. Trigger the event so the code for the event runs

---

To clear an entire auto-group from outside the group:

autocmd! group

(:help autocmd-remove has more targeted variants.)

To add to an auto-group from outside it (:help autocmd-define):

autocmd group event pattern ...