store regex searches in vimrc as mappings

Question

In browsing markdown files, I find the following search useful

/\v^(\*|#)

However, when I try to map it I get an error

nmap <c-j> /\v^(\*|#)<cr>

E488: Trailing characters: #)

What would be the best way to make this work?

Answer 1

You need to use <Bar> instead of |:

nmap <c-j> /\v^(\*<Bar>#)<cr>

This is because the | is used as a command separator, for example:

nmap <C-j> :echo "Foo" | echo "bar"

Is actually seen as:

nmap <C-j> :echo "Foo"
echo "bar"

The | separates the nmap command from the echo command. In your case, Vim reads it as:

nmap <c-j> /\v^(\*
#)<cr>

Hence the somewhat confusing error.

Also see :help map_bar.