VIM: store output of external command into a register

Question

Is it possible to run an external command and store its output in a register?

• :redir works for ex commands, not for external commands (afaik)
• :r ! runs the external command but directly inserts output into the current buffer

Answer 1

Found the answer thanks to a user on the vim-use mailing list:

:let @a = system("ls -l")

To run a command with the file under the cursor as argument:

:let @a = system("ls -l " . shellescape(expand('<cfile>')))