When I run :make from vim and there's an error, it opens that file on the error line number in the current buffer. If possible, I would prefer it switch tabs to the file if it's already open, or make a new tab with the error file. Is this possible?
Configure vim's :make to switch or open tabs on error
vim;make
You can work with a quickfix window:In the quickfix window, each line is one error.  The line number is equal to  the error number.  You can use :.cc to jump to the error under the cursor.  Hitting the Enter key or double-clicking the mouse on a line has the same  effect.  The file containing the error is opened in the window above the  quickfix window.  If there already is a window for that file, it is used  instead.(from Vim's quickfix.txt, Section 2)Just type:help quickfix-windowin vim to get there.For example:copenopens a quickfix window.