My question is simple, but I am finding it hard to frame/explain it easily.
I log into several Unix boxes with different accounts. I see 2 different things for user1 and user2, while editing text files in vim
user1
When I type vim filename, vim opens and I edit the file. When I close it, the complete text from the file is gone , and I see the Teminals' command/output that was previously present.
user2
When I type vim filename, vim opens and I edit the file. When I close it, the part of file that was present on the display while I was in vim still shows up at the display, and all the previous Terminal display get's scrolled up. Even if the file was just 1 line, after exiting vim, the display shows the first line, with rest all the ~ and I see the command prompt at the bottom of screen.
Details
$ bash --version
GNU bash, version 3.2.25(1)-release (x86_64-redhat-linux-gnu)
Copyright (C) 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
$ vim --version
VIM - Vi IMproved 7.0 (2006 May 7, compiled Jun 12 2009 07:08:36)
I compared the vimrc files for both users, and I am aware of all the settings, and don't find any setting/config related to this behavior.
Is this behavior related to shell config ? How do I set the things, so that I get the behavior as shown in user1 scenario?
I am not able to describe this easily, also finding it hard to google, as I don't to know what keyword to look for such behavior. Let me know, If I should elaborate further.One of the reasons for that behaviour will be the setting of the terminal for each user.
For example:
User1 is using TERM=xterm, in this case when you exit vim it will clear the terminal.
User2 is using TERM=vt100, in this case when you exit vim it will not clear the terminal.
Check what terminal user1 is using with echo $TERM and set the same for user2.
for bash:Such behavior was the only thing that kept me away from using screen. It uses "screen" terminal and changing it to "xterm" didn't help.
Adding altscreen on option in ~/.screenrc solved it. From screen's manual:
altscreen on|off
If set to on, "alternate screen" support is enabled in virtual terminals, just like in xterm. Initial setting is `off'.
@Fox OP doesn't mention anything about TERM he is using, so this can be just alternative answer. Anyway this page is on very top while googling for screen issue too.
– BartBiczBożyNov 10 '16 at 7:16
2
This did the trick! Keywords: "vim quit leaves visual artifacts terminal"
– Jay TaylorDec 21 '17 at 17:53
Perfect. Works with nano, htop and etc. Why isn't this the default?
– ctrlbrkJun 20 at 16:44
