How to start gVim maximized?

Question

How to make gVim automatically maximize it's window when I open it? And a cross-plataform solution, I'm trying to use the same configs in a Linux and Windows machine...

I've tried the hack :set lines=999 columns=999, it almost works, but the window is not maximized, just resized and I lose some rows/columns.

Answer 1

The best way if you're concerned about cross-platform compatibility is set lines=999 columns=999. I've found it in Vim's Wiki, and despite it's not perfect, it's a best solution if you need to work on different operating systems.

Answer 2

From the Vim wiki:

au GUIEnter * simalt ~x

That'll work on Windows; I'm not sure what key combinations you'd need on Gnome/KDE.

Answer 3

Trick with:

au GUIEnter * simalt ~x

depends on Windows language.

For my Polish version works:

au GUIEnter * simalt ~s

Where s comes from Mak_s_ymalizuj.

So if ~x doesn't work press ALT+SPACE to open Window menu and check shortcut for Ma_x_imize Window menu option.

Answer 4

You can use maximize.dll plugin for fullscreen veiw on Vim (if you are using Windows). Just copy maximize.dll into vimdirectory/plugin folder.

Answer 5

For me, :simalt ~x did the trick. (Windows 7, English.)

Answer 6

On GNU/Linux

On GNU/Linux, the easiest way is to invoke gvim with the -geometry option. For example:

gvim -geometry 1336x744

This is not handy if you would like to reuse the same start command on different machines.

Here is what I am using now on several machines without any issues. Just add it somewhere high up in your .vimrc.

if has("gui_running")
  " GUI is running or is about to start.
  " Maximize gvim window (for an alternative on Windows, see simalt below).
  set lines=999 columns=999
else
  " This is console Vim.
  if exists("+lines")
    set lines=50
  endif
  if exists("+columns")
    set columns=100
  endif
endif

Source: http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Maximize_or_set_initial_window_size

Answer 7

UPDATE: for linux users, I've found much better solution that really does maximize the window: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12448179/how-to-maximize-vims-windows-on-startup-with-vimrc

The only dependency is wmctrl, but it worths installing.

So, for windows I use maximize.dll plugin (as already mentioned by @fatihturan), and for linux I use wmctrl. Great!

(but I really can't understand why in 2014 gvim doesn't have this feature out-of-the-box)

---

Old answer:

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For me, plain hack :set lines=999 columns=999 works badly on my Linux Mint MATE with two monitors. I have usually gvim opened on the secondary monitor, there're no taskbar, so, Vim should occupy the whole screen. But if I do :set lines=999 columns=999, gvim shrinks these values to the size of primary monitor, therefore, there are a small area below gvim window unused. It's better if I set real lines/columns count: just maximize your window "by hand" and type :set lines? and :set columns? , to get needed values. Since I use two monitors, I also need to specify window position, so, type :winpos to get current window position.

And secondary, it's better not just put these settings to the .vimrc, but execute them when gui is loaded.

So, final recipe:

1) maximize your gvim by hand and type three commands to get actual values: :winpos , :set lines? and :set columns? .

2) add this to .vimrc :

function Maximize()

   " put your actual values below
   winpos 0 0
   set lines=78
   set columns=237

endfunction

autocmd GUIEnter * call Maximize()

Answer 8

Ubuntu (16.04)

Better let the window-manager do this task, at least in Ubuntu, it will fullscreen gvim instead of maximizing window, giving you more space. Of course this solution is platform dependent and not cross-platform, but it is a much better option for Ubuntu. You can even set gvim to open on a specific viewport.

Compiz Config Settings Manager -> Place Windows -> Fixed Window Placement -> Windows with fixed placement mode -> new

 Windows class=Gvim
 Mode    Maximize

If you don't have Compiz Config Settings Manager:

sudo apt install compizconfig-settings-manager

Answer 9

If you want vim to achieve full screen in Windows thoroughly (like in the picture), the plugin gvimfullscreen_win32 is highly recommended.

The plugin allows easier access to a full-screen mode and distraction-free environment. You can also add :set go= to gain more space. Here is a screenshot (Gvim7.4 on Windows 8.1):

Answer 10

I believe you can do this in your $HOME/.vimrc to achieve what you want:

if has("gui_running")
     set fuoptions=maxvert,maxhorz
     au GUIEnter * set fullscreen
 endif

You can confirm where the fullscreen is being applied like so:

:verbose set nofullscreen?
 fullscreen
       Last set from ~/.vim_runtime/my_configs.vim