Footnotes

Creating and Using a Vim Plugin for Markdown Footnotes #

As a writer who frequently uses Markdown, I've always found managing footnotes to be a bit cumbersome. That's why I decided to create a Vim plugin to streamline the process. In this article, I'll walk you through how to create this plugin and how to use it effectively.

Creating the Plugin #

Step 1: Set Up the Plugin Structure #

First, we need to create the necessary directories:

1mkdir -p ~/.vim/pack/plugins/start/markdown-footnotes/plugin
2mkdir -p ~/.vim/pack/plugins/start/markdown-footnotes/autoload

Step 2: Create the Main Plugin File #

Create a file named markdown-footnotes.vim in the plugin directory:

 1if exists('g:loaded_markdown_footnotes') | finish | endif
 2let g:loaded_markdown_footnotes = 1
 3
 4command! -range AddFootnote call markdown_footnotes#add_footnote()
 5command! -nargs=? GoToFootnote call markdown_footnotes#go_to_footnote(<f-args>)
 6command! RenumberFootnotes call markdown_footnotes#renumber_footnotes()
 7
 8nnoremap <leader>fn :AddFootnote<CR>
 9nnoremap <leader>gf :GoToFootnote<CR>
10nnoremap <leader>rf :RenumberFootnotes<CR>

Step 3: Implement the Functionality #

Create a file named markdown_footnotes.vim in the autoload directory. This file will contain the main functions:

 1function! markdown_footnotes#add_footnote() range
 2  let l:next_number = markdown_footnotes#get_next_footnote_number()
 3  
 4  " Add footnote reference
 5  execute "normal! a[^" . l:next_number . "]"
 6  
 7  " Add footnote definition at the end of the file
 8  call append(line('$'), '')
 9  call append(line('$'), '[^' . l:next_number . ']: ')
10  
11  " Move cursor to the footnote definition
12  normal! G$
13  startinsert!
14endfunction
15
16" ... (include the other functions mentioned in the previous response)

Using the Plugin #

Now that we've created the plugin, let's see how to use it effectively.

Adding a Footnote #

1. While in normal mode, position your cursor where you want to add a footnote.
2. Press <leader>fn (by default, <leader> is typically the backslash key).
3. The plugin will insert a footnote marker (e.g., [^1]) at the cursor position.
4. It will also add a corresponding footnote definition at the end of the file.
5. Your cursor will automatically move to the footnote definition, ready for you to type the content.

Navigating Footnotes #

To quickly jump between footnote references and definitions:

1. Position your cursor on a footnote marker or definition.
2. Press <leader>gf.
3. The cursor will jump to the corresponding footnote definition or reference.

Renumbering Footnotes #

If you've added or removed footnotes and need to ensure they're all numbered correctly:

1. In normal mode, press <leader>rf.
2. The plugin will automatically renumber all footnotes in the document sequentially.

Customizing the Plugin #

You can customize the key mappings by modifying the nnoremap lines in the main plugin file. For example, if you prefer to use <leader>f instead of <leader>fn for adding footnotes, you can change the line to:

1nnoremap <leader>f :AddFootnote<CR>

Conclusion #

This Vim plugin for Markdown footnotes significantly streamlines the process of adding and managing footnotes in your documents. By automating the creation, navigation, and renumbering of footnotes, it allows you to focus on your writing without getting bogged down in formatting details.

Remember, the key to getting the most out of this plugin is to integrate it into your workflow. With a bit of practice, you'll find that managing footnotes becomes a seamless part of your writing process in Vim.