Remove All Non Printable Characters In Vim

Understanding Non Printable Characters

When working with text files in Vim, you may encounter non printable characters that can be frustrating to deal with. These characters, also known as control characters, can be invisible or display as strange symbols, making it difficult to edit your text. Removing them can be a challenge, but with the right techniques, you can simplify your text editing experience and improve your productivity.

Non printable characters can include tabs, line breaks, and other special characters that are not visible on the screen. They can be inserted into your text accidentally or intentionally, and can cause problems when trying to edit or format your text. To remove these characters, you need to understand how to identify and delete them in Vim.

Removing Non Printable Characters in Vim

To remove non printable characters in Vim, you need to use the right commands. One way to do this is to use the ':s' command, which allows you to search and replace text. You can use regular expressions to match non printable characters and replace them with nothing, effectively deleting them. For example, the command ':s/[[:cntrl:]]//g' will remove all non printable characters from the current line.

Another way to remove non printable characters in Vim is to use the ':%s' command, which allows you to search and replace text across the entire file. This command is similar to the ':s' command, but it operates on all lines in the file, rather than just the current line. By using the right commands and techniques, you can easily remove all non printable characters in Vim and simplify your text editing experience.