The commands :s//string/, :g//, and :sort // all use the last search pattern when an empty pattern is given. :vimgrep // *, however, does not.
The attached patch makes :vimgrep // * behave like the other search
commands.
Details
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Trying and refining a search pattern and then using it with :s//string/
and :g// is a common editing pattern in Vim. But this doesn't work with
:vimgrep. Surprisingly, :vimgrep // * matches *everywhere*.
Why does it match everywhere? Regdump() output shows that "//" is
compiled to the following regexp:
regcomp():
1:BRANCH(7)
4:NOTHING(7)
7:END(0)
All Vim puts in the compiled regexp program is a zero-width NOTHING
atom. NOTHING doesn't assert anything and matches the empty string, i.e.
everywhere (like :vimgrep /\ze/ *).
As far as I am aware, this behaviour is not documented. At least for
:vimgrep it doesn't serve any purpose. (In fact, I can't think of any
situation where a completely empty regexp would be appropriate.)
The attached patch makes :vimgrep reuse the last search pattern, in the
same way :g and :s do (and :sort).
David Bürgin
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vimgrep-last-search-pattern.patch
Description: Binary data
