How to split existing buffer vertically in vim?

Question

I have list of buffers in vim. I can split buffer horizontally using :sb[N] where N is the buffer number. How can I split the buffer vertically ?

score 72 · Accepted Answer · edited Mar 06 '13 at 12:11

72

The vs and vsplit commands take a filename as an argument like :vs somefile to open a file in a vertical split.

To put an existing buffer in a split window you use the sb# command (where # is the buffer number). Splits in VIM default to horizontal, to change this, prefix your command with vert which forces a vertical split of the next split command.

:vert sb#

Where # is the buffer number

edited Mar 06 '13 at 12:11

Andy Smith

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answered Apr 23 '10 at 23:34

kyrisu

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I know :vsplit. I doesn't seem to take buffer number. – blacklife Apr 23 '10 at 23:53
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I thought it was to easy :P .. try :vert sbN -where N is the buffer number – kyrisu Apr 24 '10 at 00:12
wohoo! It works. – blacklife Apr 24 '10 at 00:41
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@blacklife: so the answer is actually ":vert sbN" ? – akira May 21 '10 at 06:38
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Since `:sb` works with buffer names too, this will also works with buffer names: `:vert sb vimrc` – fphilipe Apr 27 '13 at 14:07
@blacklife `:vsplit %` – Jacek Krysztofik Nov 18 '21 at 18:36

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 06 '13 at 21:39

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This is a command I created and added to my .vimrc to allow me to open a current buffer in a vertical split

command -nargs=1 Vsb call VsbFunction(<f-args>)

function VsbFunction (arg1)
  execute 'vert sb' a:arg1
endfunction

answered Mar 06 '13 at 21:39

Brett Y

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you mean open all files currently in the buffer on vertical splits right? that was the answer i was looking for. – kroe Nov 04 '16 at 02:12
How am I supposed to execute this? – Santosh Kumar Aug 31 '19 at 01:32
`:Vsb somefile` – Brett Y Aug 31 '19 at 10:17

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 09 '21 at 09:45

You can use vim-fzf plugins and:

Similarly to {ctrlp.vim}{3}, use enter key, CTRL-T, CTRL-X or CTRL-V to open selected files in the current window, in new tabs, in horizontal splits, or in vertical splits respectively.

use :Buffers select and hit CTRL-V

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 07 '13 at 10:35

As kirysu said, but additionally with "positioning the other split".

:vert rightbelow sb otherfile.txt

or

:vert bel sb otherfile.txt

... opens a existing buffer, named otherfile.txt, in a split "right below" the existing one.
In the case of vertical splitting, it means "right side of the existing buffer".

Here you can use the [tab]-key too, to let vim complete the buffer-name!

(see :help :vert too, for further "positioning"-commands)

How to split existing buffer vertically in vim?

4 Answers4