Frequently Asked Questions

The Tools menu doesn't have a new option called VIM Emulator

This most likely means you did not properly copy the plugin jar file into the plugins directory of IDEA. Please make sure you have copied the IdeaVIM.jar file from the installation download into the plugins directory.

There is no "Vim" keymap listed after selecting the Options|Keymaps menu

Have you verified that you copied the Vim.xml file from the installation download into the <HOME>/.IntelliJIdea/config/keymaps directory?

Everything is installed properly but I just can't seem to enter VIM commands

Select the Tools menu and make sure the menu VIM Emulator has a checkmark next to it. Also select the Options|Keymaps menu and make sure the "Vim" keymap says "active" next to it. If not, select the "Vim" keymap and press the Set Active button.

How do I turn off the VIM plugin once it is installed?

If you wish to temporarily turn off the VIM plugin you must select the Tools menu an uncheck the VIM Emulator menu. You must also select the Options|Keymaps menu and make some other keymap active other than "Vim". Reverse this process to turn the VIM emulator back on. These settings will be saved and the next time you start IDEA, it will be in the same state as you left it.