vim line numbers - how to have them on by default?

357
votes

I can :set number from within a file I'm editing but how can I have them always be on by default?

9
vimvieditingline-numbers
Can you put the set command in your .vimrc? - Tim
where is that located ? Or do I just create one ? - Michael Durrant
You can make one. It has to be in your home directory. See my answer for details. - Tim Pote
I created it, it worked. - Michael Durrant
I never understood why Vim and half the IDEs out there disable line numbers by default. Trying to save a few pixels? - sudo

9 Answers

508
votes

Add set number to your .vimrc file in your home directory.
If the .vimrc file is not in your home directory create one with vim .vimrc and add the commands you want at open.

Here's a site that explains the vimrc and how to use it.

87
votes

To change the default setting to display line numbers in vi/vim: 

vi ~/.vimrc

then add the following line to the file:

set number

Either we can source ~/.vimrc or save and quit by :wq, now future vi/vim sessions will have numbering :)

18
votes

set nu set ai set tabstop=4 set ls=2 set autoindent

Add the above code in your .vimrc file. if .vimrc file is not present please create in your home directory (/home/name of user)

set nu -> This makes Vim display line numbers

set ai -> This makes Vim enable auto-indentation

set ls=2 -> This makes Vim show a status line

set tabstop=4 -> This makes Vim set tab of length 4 spaces (it is 8 by default)

enter image description here

enter image description here

The filename will also be displayed.

15
votes

Terminal > su > password > vim /etc/vimrc

Click here and edit as in line number (13):

set nu

click here and Edit as "Line number (13)"

7
votes

I did not have a .vimrc file in my home directory. I created one, added this line:

set number

and that solved the problem.

5
votes

If you don't want to add/edit .vimrc, you can start with

vi "+set number" /path/to/file
2
votes

in home directory you will find a file called ".vimrc" in that file add this code "set nu" and save and exit and open new vi file and you will find line numbers on that.

2
votes

I'm using Debian 7 64-bit.

I didn't have a .vimrc file in my home folder. I created one and was able to set user defaults for vim.

However, for Debian 7, another way is to edit /etc/vim/vimrc

Here is a comment block in that file:

" All system-wide defaults are set in $VIMRUNTIME/debian.vim (usually just
" /usr/share/vim/vimcurrent/debian.vim) and sourced by the call to :runtime
" you can find below.  If you wish to change any of those settings, you should
" do it in this file (/etc/vim/vimrc), since debian.vim will be overwritten
" everytime an upgrade of the vim packages is performed.  It is recommended to
" make changes after sourcing debian.vim since it alters the value of the
" 'compatible' option.
0
votes

Add any command you want to have by default to your ~/.vimrc file (named _vimrc on Windows systems)