25

I have a ~/.vimrc that contains just this:

function! NewFile()
        let filename = input("Filename:")
endfunction
command NewFile :call NewFile()<cr>

(of course my real .vimrc is more complex, but I've recreated this small test case with no plugins etc.)

My intent is to write a function that supports creating a new file according to a template. Some input items will be asked from the vi user, such as the name of the file.

The function isn't that sophisticated yet (understatement!) - all it does is ask for the filename. When I use the command NewFile from the vi command line, it starts, but then once I enter the filename and hit Enter, I get the error:

E488: Trailing characters

Why is that? What am I doing wrong?

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1 Answer 1

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31

Remove the trailing <cr> That is only needed for mappings, but not for commands.

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3
  • 1
    Ah, perfect, thank you! I had copied this incantation from a mapping - a bit too closely, it seems. Thanks.
    – Andrew Ferrier
    Sep 9, 2015 at 15:29
  • 1
    You solved me a problem with same error message with a different context. Thank you ^_^
    – sensorario
    Jan 13, 2017 at 13:55
  • The vim trailing characters command is as meaningful as "E488: blah blah raspberries! - incontempintasmationable epehlsastianitionate wibble, perhaps. But you should not rely on this. It is advised that you seek professional help"
    – markling
    Dec 5, 2021 at 17:46

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