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Okay the /usr/share/vim/vim74/syntax/sh.vim file that came with my system was apparently buggy, so I want to replace it with the version by "Dr. Chip"

I know that I really should not edit the files under /usr/share/vim/ directory, so can I 'override' the buggy version with the new version by simply sticking the (new) sh.vim file somewhere?

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  • Add it to ~/.vim/syntax?
    – muru
    Commented Jun 30, 2015 at 12:16
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    The version in /usr/share/vim/vim74/syntax is by "Dr. Chip" too. It's just an older version of the file.
    – jamessan
    Commented Jun 30, 2015 at 14:31
  • Yep, the one already existing is much older than the one available on Dr. Chip's site. I forgot exact version, but IIRC the "Last Change" was in 2013 or something.
    – pepoluan
    Commented Jul 1, 2015 at 4:47

1 Answer 1

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When you enter the command :help syn-file they say:

  1. Create your user runtime directory. You would normally use the first item of the 'runtimepath' option. Example for Unix: mkdir ~/.vim

  2. Create a directory in there called "syntax". For Unix: mkdir ~/.vim/syntax

  3. Write the Vim syntax file. Or download one from the internet. Then write it in your syntax directory. For example, for the "mine" syntax: :w ~/.vim/syntax/mine.vim

Now you can start using your syntax file manually: :set syntax=mine You don't have to exit Vim to use this.

I think that should do the trick for your problem.

Also I'm not sure how buggy is your original file but this answer may interest you. For the tl;dr version: including the first line #!/bin/bash (or whatever is the shell you're using) helps vim to determine which syntax should be used (but I don't know if it is relevant in your case).

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