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xmlvimindentationvi

Getting Vim to recognize XML

I would like Vim to help me indent my XML files like my C code. However, when I use

gg=G

It just sets everything to the left. Do I need to designate a syntax? Is XML recognized as a language?

Solution

  • Put 

    filetype plugin indent on

    in your .vimrc to have Vim automatically identify .xml files as xml. You might need to put 

    set nocompatible

    before that.

    If the file extension is not .xml, you can make Vim threat it like xml by using

    :set filetype=xml

    After you do that, Vim's autoindention (and syntax highlighting, and omnicomplete (that in xml just closes tags, but that's still something)) will work properly for xml.