In vim can you split multiple files from the command line?

Question

In vim you can edit multiple files when you launch, a la:

$ vim file1 file2 file3

Then you can edit each file one after the other.

What I would like to do is have file1, file2, and file3 all open up in different buffers, like they would if I did $ vim, :split file1, :split file2, :split file3

Is this possible?

I'd also settle for being able to run a command on entry that would split the files (as seen with :ls) into different windows, that would also work.

(Interesting and mostly unrelated side note - I didn't mention emacs anywhere in the title and SO told me the question appears subjective ;)

Answer 1

I know you said, "from the command line", but you can use Ctrl-w s to split the window once vim is already open, in case it helps. You can then use Ctrl-w {arrow} to move between the window areas, and :bN/:bn to move between the buffers.

Answer 2

vim -c ":vsp file1" -c ":vsp file2" file3

Answer 3

Look at the -o and -O flags (vim --help).