Vim imap jk <Esc> not working

Question

In my vimrc, I've remapped jk to escape using imap.

The problem emerges when I use jk; it doesn't escape, it only echoes out <Esc>.

Here's the entry in quiestion: imap jk <Esc>

It's also a good point to make that I'm also using vim-X11 in fedora.

Hypnotherapy

Could you show us the entry in your vimrc? – Fear

:imap jk <Esc> works for me... – Tortious

It's possible you have another mapping interfering. Try inoremmap jk <esc> – Inchoate

Answer 1

It looks like your 'cpoptions' settings contains <; then, special key codes like <Esc> are not recognized.

Find out where this got set via

:verbose set cpo?

or re-write the mapping to use a literal Escape character; enter it via Ctrl + V Esc; it should appear as ^[ in the buffer.

---

PS: Though not related, you should usually use :inoremap unless remapping is required.

Glimmer

Thanks, the Ctrl + V thing worked ok! The set cpo? returned a menu file, though. Which line am I looking to edit in it to remove this problem? – Hypnotherapy

Oh, cpo is saved and restored in many scripts, so it's a challenge. Binary search (i.e. disabling half of your scripts) may work, but maybe it's easier to just put :set cpo-=< above your mapping definition. – Glimmer

You, sir, are the freaking man! That worked perfectly which now means that <Esc> works just fine. Thanks for everything and happy solstice. – Hypnotherapy

@JohnnyMcKenzie There is a way to force special meaning of <Esc> regardless of the value of 'cpoptions': imap <special> jk <Esc>. – Disinter

@Disinter Thanks, I'll have to remember that one! – Hypnotherapy

Answer 2

For those who are here because of the title, the jk mapping will also not work when :set paste is enabled.

Kellby

Solved my problem – Paresthesia

Answer 3

Make sure set nocompatible is run before setting any mappings. I moved that line to the beginning of my vimrc and it worked.

I now changed it to the following so that Vrapper (Vim for Eclipse) works:

if v:true
  set nocompatible
endif

Loseff