How to remove space at the end of a cab abbreviation and wait for input in GVim?

Question

I have created a Vim abbreviation for the start of a file path, i.e.

cab  \x\     M:\xmlexport\Output\

and I want to have this expand, remove the space and wait for further input. I have tried using =Eatchar('s') but don't know what to put before it to make it trigger correctly. All the examples I have seen use <C-R> which adds in a new line. I have tried <left> just to move back one space but this creates M:\xmlexport\Output \

Answer 1

Perhaps I have misunderstood the question, but I've tested the function you pointed out and seems to work:

I've added the Eatchar function to .vimrc:

func Eatchar(pat)
   let c = nr2char(getchar(0))
   return (c =~ a:pat) ? '' : c                                                                                    
endfunc

And inside vim I've created your abbreviation, like:

:cab  \x\     M:\xmlexport\Output\ <left><C-R>=Eatchar('\s')<CR>

Then I write :\x\ in command-line and it expands to :M:\xmlexport\Output\, and the cursor position is just after the last backslash to write your desired input.