You can use the :redir command to redirect the output of an ex command to a register and then paste the contents of the register into a Vim buffer. For example: :redir @a :set all :redir END Now, register 'a' will have the output of the "set all" ex command. You can paste this into a Vim buffer, using "ap. Example usage: :TabMessage highlight Note that :redir can use a variable instead of a register, as shown above.