How do I make my own function to insert text in vim?

Question

I have a folder of third party libraries called add-libraries and the location for this specific library is /home/yapjiahong/projects/cpp/add-libraries/plog/include.

I want to write a function called Include that takes in lib as an argument. Then append that to the end of a string. Then write it out where my cursor is at this is what I currently have:

function Include(lib)
    let path = "/home/yapjiahong/projects/cpp/add-libraries/" . a:lib
    exe "insert!: . l:path
endfunction

This gives an error and I'm not too sure how to fix it. This alternatives works, but I wanna use a function instead. The alternative:

nnoremap <leader>ff i/home/yapjiahong/projects/cpp/add-libraries/<Esc><Esc>

Answer 1

The :insert command cannot take an argument like you're trying to do, it expects user input for the lines, followed by a single line consisting of a . to finish inserting.

You probably want the append() function instead:

function Include(lib)
    let path = "/home/yapjiahong/projects/cpp/add-libraries/" . a:lib
    call append(line('.') - 1, path)
endfunction

Answer 2

I think what you want is an abbreviation when you are in insert mode. Try adding the following to your .vim/ftplugin/cpp.vim file:

iabbr <buffer> include() /home/yapjiahong/projects/cpp/add-libraries/plog/include

Now, whenever you are in insert mode and type include() followed by a space or return, the text on the right hand side will automatically replace the text on the lefthand side.

Note: I couldn't get the abbreviation to work with a : in the front.

I hope that helps and is what you were looking for.

Answer 3

Try defining in your vimrc:

:command! Include call Ins()<CR>

And define your function in your vimrc(it is referenced in the comments).

Then use :Include to execute.