Why cannot I source vimrc for the current file being editing?

Question

And I add this in the vimrc file:

autocmd FileType markdown iabbrev mkdc <!--i--><left><left><left>

What I want to do is source the vimrc and make the abbreviation effective for the current file I'm editing.

I have tried:

1. :!sc, :redraw!
2. :source $MYVIMRC
3. :q and rerun Vim

But it seems that only the last method works. Is there any way to get this to work without leaving Vim? Why doesn't the second method as stated in all other related answers work in this situation?

Answer 1

Your autocommand is executed when the FileType event is triggered, with the markdown value. Sourcing your vimrc is not enough because it only adds the autocommand but the event is not triggered.

What you need to do is:

1. Source your vimrc with :source $MYVIMRC, this will add your autocommand to the existing ones.
2. Reload your current buffer with :e, this will trigger the FileType event and thus run your autocommand.

---

Also, adding half-understood FileType autocommands to your vimrc is not a good way to get filetype-specific settings/mappings/abbreviations/commands/whatever.

Instead, you should use the built-in filetype detection and put your filetype-specific stuff in proper ftplugins:

• in ~/.vimrc:

  filetype plugin indent on
  

• in ~/after/ftplugin/markdown.vim:

  iabbrev <buffer> mkdc <!--i--><left><left><left>
  

Answer 2

command! Sov source $MYVIMRC | e %

:Sov