# Displaying only certain lines in the buffer

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/displaying-only-certain-lines-in-the-buffer/94460>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [May 4, 2006, 2:04am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/displaying-only-certain-lines-in-the-buffer/94460 "2006-05-04T02:04:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Gennady\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@Gennady\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Gennady_B)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 2:04am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/displaying-only-certain-lines-in-the-buffer/94460/1 "2006-05-04T02:04:02Z")

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Sorry for totally off-topic question.

I seem to remember that there’s a way to have vim display only certain  
lines in the buffer, like those satisfying a pattern. Unfortunately, I  
do not remember how to turn it on and all my attempts to find the  
information failed miserably. I vaguely remember that the mode was  
called something like “condensed display” or “compact display” or  
“compressed display” (I searched for everything, all in vain).

Does anybody know how to do it? Any hint will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,  
Gennady.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gennady\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@Gennady\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Gennady_B)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 2:10am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/displaying-only-certain-lines-in-the-buffer/94460/2 "2006-05-04T02:10:13Z")

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> Sorry for totally off-topic question.
> 
> I seem to remember that there’s a way to have vim display only certain  
> lines in the buffer, like those satisfying a pattern. Unfortunately, I  
> do not remember how to turn it on and all my attempts to find the  
> information failed miserably. I vaguely remember that the mode was  
> called something like “condensed display” or “compact display” or  
> “compressed display” (I searched for everything, all in vain).
> 
> Does anybody know how to do it? Any hint will be greatly appreciated.

folding.

[http://www.vim.org/htmldoc/fold.html](http://www.vim.org/htmldoc/fold.html)