insert register contents on a macro

Question

How can I include the contents of a register when recording a macro?

If I use Ctrl+R x I get a "pointer" to register x, i.e., my macro will contain ^Rx instead of the register contents.

Motivation:

Often I need to record a macro which involves a substitution using a complex regex:

1. create the regex with the aid of incremental search ('incsearch'), and using highlight search results ('hlsearch') to ensure that I'm matching the correct text
2. create the substitution command with s/<c-r>//<replacement>, so I end up with s/<complete regex>/<replacement>
3. start recording a macro, do some stuff, repeat the substitution with :upENTER (or @:or :Ctrl+r:ENTER), add the end steps and stop recording the macro.

The problem with this approach is that the macro stops working as soon as I use another ex command.

I could copy the : to another register and use it on the macro, but then it is necessary to keep avoiding to overwrite that register.

Currently I'm copying the substitution command on a split window an re-typing it, but certainly there must be a less cumbersome solution.

Answer 1

Edit: Better answer -

After you search you can do a :let @z = @/. This will copy your complex regex into register z. You can now freely use <C-r>z in your macro without having to retype the regex into your document.

I also realize that you said you didn't want to have worry about overwriting a register. Fun fact: the registers you use for macros are actually the same registers that you can yank to. So you could:

• Record your macro, say to register q, using <C-r>/ to input your search pattern
• Do "qp to see your macro written out
• Delete the resulting ^R/ and replace it with the actual text from your search pattern. (Again using <C-r>/ to avoid typing it.)
• Do a "qdd to then copy the new macro back to register q
• Use @q as needed

Now at least you're only using one register to store the macro, and you don't have to actually reference any other ones.

Old answer:

Is there anything wrong with writing out <complexregex>, yanking it to a register that you don't use very often (Let's say z), and then using <C-r>z in your macro?

Workflow:

• Type out regex
• Visually select
• Delete to register z: "zd
• Record macro, something like: qq:s/<C-r>z/foo/^Mq
• Use macro as needed: @q