README_dos.txt for version 6.0ad of Vim: Vi IMproved.

This file explains the installation of Vim on MS-DOS and MS-Windows systems.

See "README.txt" for general information about Vim.

These are the normal steps to install Vim:

1. Go to the directory where you want to put the Vim files. Examples:

cd C:\

cd D:\editors

If you already have a "vim" directory, go to the directory in which it is

located. Check the $VIM setting to see where it points to:

set VIM

For example, if you have

C:\vim\vim54

do

cd C:\

Binary and runtime Vim archives are normally unpacked in the same location,

on top of eachother.

2. Unpack the zip archives. This will create a new directory "vim\vim60",

in which all the distributed Vim files are placed. Since the directory

name includes the version number, it is unlikely that you overwrite

existing files.

Examples:

pkunzip -d gvim60.zip

unzip vim60w32.zip

You need to unpack the runtime archive and at least one of the binary

archives. When using more than one binary version, be careful not to

overwrite one version with the other, the names of the executables are the

same.

After you unpacked the files, you can still move the whole directory tree

to another location. That is where they will stay, the install program

won't move or copy the runtime files.

Only for the 32 bit DOS version on MS-DOS without DPMI support (trying to

run install.exe will produce an error message): Unpack the CSDPMI4B.ZIP

archive and follow the instructions in the documentation.

3. Change to the new directory:

cd vim\vim60

Run the "install.exe" program. It will ask you a number of questions about

how you would like to have your Vim setup. You can have it append a few

lines to your autoexec.bat, and write a "_vimrc" file with your preferences

in the parent directory. It can also install an "Edit with Vim" entry in

the Windows Explorer popup menu.

If you want to add Vim to the search path manually: The simplest is to add

a line to your autoexec.bat. Examples:

set path=%path%;C:\vim\vim60

set path=%path%;D:\editors\vim\vim60

That's it!

NOTE: The install.exe program appends to your autoexec.bat file. If yours

contains sections, this will probably not work correctly. You will have to

adjust the autoexec.bat file by hand afterwards.

Remarks:

- Make sure the Vim executable is in your search path. Either copy the Vim

executable to a directory that is in your search path, or (preferred) modify

the search path to include the directory where the Vim executable is.

Normally the install.exe program will do this for you.

- If Vim can't find the runtime files, ":help" won't work and the GUI version

won't show a menubar. Then you need to set the $VIM environment variable to

point to the top directory of your Vim files. Example:

set VIM=C:\editors\vim

Vim version 6.0 will look for your vimrc file in $VIM, and for the runtime

files in $VIM/vim60. See ":help $VIM" for more information.

- To avoid confusion between distributed files of different versions and your

own modified vim scripts, it is recommended to use this directory layout:

("C:\vim" is used here as the root, replace with the path you use)

Your own files:

C:\vim\_vimrc Your personal vimrc.

C:\vim\_viminfo Dynamic info for 'viminfo'.

C:\vim\... Other files you made.

Distributed files:

C:\vim\vim60\vim.exe The Vim version 6.0 executable.

C:\vim\vim60\doc\*.txt The version 6.0 documentation files.

C:\vim\vim60\bugreport.vim A Vim version 6.0 script.

C:\vim\vim60\... Other version 6.0 distributed files.

In this case the $VIM environment variable would be set like this:

set VIM=C:\vim

Then $VIMRUNTIME will automatically be set to "$VIM\vim60". Don't add

"vim60" to $VIM, that won't work.

- You can put your Vim executable anywhere else. If the executable is not

with the other Vim files, you should set $VIM. The simplest is to add a line

to your autoexec.bat. Examples:

set VIM=c:\vim

set VIM=d:\editors\vim

The install.exe program can move the Vim executable or set $VIM for you.

- If you have told the "install.exe" program to add the "Edit with Vim" menu

entry, you can remove it by running the "uninstal.exe". See

":help win32-popup-menu".

- In Windows 95/98/NT you can create a shortcut to Vim. This works for all

DOS and Win32 console versions. This gives you the opportunity to set

defaults for the Console where Vim runs in.

1. On the desktop, click right to get a menu. Select New/Shortcut.

2. In the dialog, enter Command line: "C:\command.com". Click "Next".

3. Enter any name. Click "Finish".

The new shortcut will appear on the desktop.

4. With the mouse pointer on the new shortcut, click right to get a menu.

Select Properties.

5. In the Program tab, change the "Cmdline" to add "/c" and the name of the

Vim executable. Examples:

C:\command.com /c C:\vim\vim60\vim.exe

C:\command.com /c D:\editors\vim\vim60\vim.exe

6. Select the font, window size, etc. that you like. If this isn't

possible, select "Advanced" in the Program tab, and deselect "MS-DOS

mode".

7. Click OK.

For gvim, you can use a normal shortcut on the desktop, and set the size of

the Window in your $VIM/_gvimrc:

set lines=30 columns=90

For further information, type one of these inside Vim:

:help dos

:help msdos

:help win32