What is the fastest way to perform this change?

Question

In my codes, I often have to do this kind of text editing:

u(:,:,:) = 0._dp
v(:,:,:) = 0._dp
temp(:,:,:) = 0._dp

To:

grid%u(0:nx,0:ny,0:nz) = 0._dp
grid%v(0:nx,0:ny,0:nz) = 0._dp
grid%temp(0:nx,0:ny,0:nz) = 0._dp

I'm using the record option, which is something that I recently learned how to use and therefore not excel at. Here is how I do it (cursor is placed on "u").

1. qq / i grid% / ESC (start recording and store in buffer "q", go to insert mode and enter "grid%", escape insert mode)
2. f: / i 0 / ESC / ;; / . / ;; / . (go to next ":", insert 0, escape insert mode, go to 2nd next ":", repeat last command, go to 2nd next ":", repeat last command)
3. ; / a nz / ESC / ,, / a ny / ESC / ,, / a nx / ESC (go to next ":", insert after cursor "nz", escape insert mode, go to 2nd previous ":", insert after cursor "ny", escape insert mode, go to 2nd previous ":", insert after cursor "nz", escape insert mode)
4. j / SHIFT-^ / @q (go down one line, go to first non-blank character, apply macro "q")
5. j / SHIFT-^ / @q (go down one line, go to first non-blank character, apply macro "q")

The only thing I can think of which can make this code editing more efficient is to use the macro on the two lines in one command. Intuitively, I tried 2@q but that did not work.

Answer 1

As far as I can tell, your recording doesn't include any vertical motion. This means that 2@q will play your recording twice on the same line.

You could add a j at the end of your macro to move down.

Or you could use 2:norm @q to play your recording on the current line and the following one.

The "count" you give to Vim before running an ex command is transformed into a range. Here, your 2 is transformed into .,.+1 which covers the current line (.) and the one below (.+1).