How in Vim to visual select lines from command mode?

Question

In vim we can move, copy or delete lines from command line

Copy from 12 to 14 code and paste here:

:12,14t.

Move code from lines 14 - 16 to 20:

:14,16m20

But how to make visual selection from line 10 to 20 from command line?

And a relative question.

How to paste code from external buffer to the line 14, for example?

There's the :{range}read [filename] command to read from a file. — Friedrich, Feb 15 at 15:42
Out of curiosity: what's the use case for creating a visual selection from line numbers? For any operation, the line numbers suffice. Usually, visual mode is employed to (well) visually show the user what they select. I'm under the impression this question turns the concept of visual mode upside down. — Friedrich, Feb 15 at 15:45

Vivian De Smedt · Accepted Answer · 2023-02-15 15:55:00Z

1

If you mean from Vim command line I would do:

:normal 10GV20G

To past right after line 14 I would do:

:14put

answered Feb 15 at 15:14

Vivian De Smedt

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2

:14put (or :14pu, even) would be more straightforward.
– romainl
Feb 15 at 15:49

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