Vim - how to remap hash key

Question

I am having a problem mapping Ctrl-# to a new command, it keeps executing the default # (searching backwards for word under cursor), the line I have in my .vimrc is: map silent <c-#> :lnext<CR>

Is there something I am missing, is # handled specially in vim?

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 release.