# ag.vim #

This plugin is a front for ag, A.K.A.
[the_silver_searcher](https://github.com/ggreer/the_silver_searcher).  Ag can
be used as a replacement for 153% of the uses of `ack`.  This plugin will allow
you to run ag from vim, and shows the results in a split window.

## Installation ##

### The Silver Searcher

You have to first install [ag](https://github.com/ggreer/the_silver_searcher), itself. On Mac+Homebrew, Gentoo Linux, several others, there's package named `the_silver_searcher`, but if your OS/distro don't have one, the GitHub repo installs fine:

```sh
git clone https://github.com/ggreer/the_silver_searcher ag && cd ag && ./build.sh && sudo make install
```

* Then, if you're using [pathogen](https://github.com/tpope/vim-pathogen):

```sh
cd ~/.vim/bundle && git clone https://github.com/rking/ag.vim ag && vim +Helptags
```

* Or, if you're using [Vundle](https://github.com/gmarik/vundle):

```sh
echo "Bundle 'rking/ag.vim'" >> ~/.vimrc && vim +BundleInstall
```

### Configuration

You can specify a custom ag name and path in your .vimrc like so:

    let g:agprg="<custom-ag-path-goes-here> --column"

## Usage ##

    :Ag [options] {pattern} [{directory}]

Search recursively in {directory} (which defaults to the current directory) for the {pattern}.

Files containing the search term will be listed in the split window, along with
the line number of the occurrence, once for each occurrence.  [Enter] on a line
in this window will open the file, and place the cursor on the matching line.

Just like where you use :grep, :grepadd, :lgrep, and :lgrepadd, you can use `:Ag`, `:AgAdd`, `:LAg`, and `:LAgAdd` respectively. (See `doc/ag.txt`, or install and `:h Ag` for more information.)

### Gotchas ###

Some characters have special meaning, and need to be escaped your search pattern. For instance, '#'. You have to escape it like this `:Ag '\\\#define foo'` to search for `#define foo`. (From [blueyed in issue #5](https://github.com/mileszs/ack.vim/issues/5).)

Sometimes `git grep` is even faster, though in my experience it's not noticeably so.

### Keyboard Shortcuts ###

In the quickfix window, you can use:

    e    to open file and close the quickfix window
    o    to open (same as enter)
    go   to preview file (open but maintain focus on ag.vim results)
    t    to open in new tab
    T    to open in new tab silently
    h    to open in horizontal split
    H    to open in horizontal split silently
    v    to open in vertical split
    gv   to open in vertical split silently
    q    to close the quickfix window

### Acknowledgements

This Vim plugin is derived (and by derived, I mean copied, almost entirely)
from [milesz's ack.vim](https://github.com/mileszs/ack.vim), which I also
recommend installing since you might be in a situation where you have ack but
not ag, and don't want to stop to install ag. Also, ack supports `--type`, and
a few other features.