VIM: Deleting from current position until a space

Question

Often when developing I am confronted with a nested object that I'd like to delete from code in the middle of a line like this:

htmlDoc.WriteLine("<b><h3>" + this.cbAllSyncs.SelectedItem.ToString() + "</h3></b>");

The part that I'd like to delete is:

this.cbAllSyncs.SelectedItem.ToString()

I know I can count the number of words and periods and enter "7dw" to delete from my current cursor position of "this". However, what I'd love to do is not have to count at all and delete to the space with one command. Is this possible?

By the way, I love VI! I've been using it for about three or four months and it has changed my programming for the better. Many kudos to the developer at my job who insisted I learn.

Answer 1

Try dtspace. In general dtx deletes from current position till x. Just tx can be used to reach character x in current line.

Answer 2

You can use dW or dE as @glenn suggested if you don't want to delete the space itself.

A WORD (uppercase W) consists of a sequence of non-blank characters, separated with white space.

Give a look to the word motions.

Answer 3

one possible solution is to use the delete with a search.

so type in d/<space> and vim will delete until it hits a space.

Answer 4

"dt " is the answer to your question, but "df+" looks like it will solve your problem better.

Answer 5

If you want to delete from anywhere inside the WORD, and in a single command, just use daW

(you can of course use daw if you want to limit to a word)

I use it quite a lot because it spare a move to the begining of the word (in your case)