How to map CAPS LOCK key in VIM?

Linux? With X, use xmodmap to alter the key mapping, e.g.

xmodmap -e 'clear Lock' -e 'keycode 0x42 = Escape'

Will map Esc to the CapsLock key. Google for more examples.

If your intention is just to avoid working outside of Vim, you can put these lines in your .vimrc:

au VimEnter * !xmodmap -e 'clear Lock' -e 'keycode 0x42 = Escape'
au VimLeave * !xmodmap -e 'clear Lock' -e 'keycode 0x42 = Caps_Lock'

The first line maps escape to the caps lock key when you enter Vim, and the second line returns normal functionality to caps lock when you quit.

This requires Linux with the xorg-xmodmap package installed.

For Mac OS, you can remap the 'caps lock' key system wide in 'system preferences'.

Follow this path:

system preferences > keyboard > modifier keys

Then click the drop down box next to 'caps lock' and choose '^ Control'.

Under windows? Use AutoHotkey. It's not a vim mapping, but as the others have stated you can't map it. I use AHK to map my CAPSLOCK to CTRL.

In Linux systems this can be done with xmodmap.

Save this in a text file in the home folder

! Swap caps lock and escape
remove Lock = Caps_Lock
keysym Escape = Caps_Lock
keysym Caps_Lock = Escape
add Lock = Caps_Lock

Save this file with a name like .capstoescswitc

Then execute this file via the terminal.

xmodmap ~/.capstoescswitc

If want to reveres it simply switch the key variables in the script file.

For more info refer this page

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