Remap Ctrl+' to go to end of line in Insert mode in Vim

Question

I'm unable to remap Ctrl + ' to go to the end of the line when in Insert mode. This line in my vimrc file doesn't work (doesn't seem to do anything at all):

inoremap <c-'> <end>

However, if I use other keys instead of the single quote, it works fine. For example, this works:

inoremap <ce> <end>

Do I need to use a different syntax to use the single quote key in a key remapping like this?

Answer 1

Due to the way that the keyboard input is handled internally, this unfortunately isn't generally possible today, even in GVIM. Some key combinations, like Ctrl + non-alphabetic cannot be mapped, and Ctrl + letter vs. Ctrl + Shift + letter cannot be distinguished. (Unless your terminal sends a distinct termcap code for it, which most don't.) In insert or command-line mode, try typing the key combination. If nothing happens / is inserted, you cannot use that key combination. This also applies to <Tab> / <CI> , <CR> / <CM> / <Esc> / <C-[> etc. (Only exception is <BS> / <CH> .) This is a known pain point, and the subject of various discussions on vim_dev and the #vim IRC channel.

Some people (foremost Paul LeoNerd Evans) want to fix that (even for console Vim in terminals that support this), and have floated various proposals, cp. http://groups.google.com/group/vim_dev/browse_thread/thread/626e83fa4588b32a/bfbcb22f37a8a1f8

But as of today, no patches or volunteers have yet come forward, though many have expressed a desire to have this in a future Vim 8 major release.