The help says that virtual replace mode commands in Vim gr & GR replace characters in screen estate and not in file.:help Virtual-Replace-modeI am understanding this as something like changing the characters on the display but not in the buffer itself. Is that right? It seems incorrect.I can use an explanation and probably a scenario or an example where this feature is relevant.
What is the point of Virtual replace mode in Vim?
vim;vi
In Virtual-Replace-Mode the Buffer is harder fixed to its origin position.1. Hello World         ^ Cursor2. I like cheese3. And beerWhen entering normal replace mode and hitting Internet<CR>And others the new buffer will be like this:1. Hello Internet2. And others3. I like cheese4. And beerWhen doing the same in Virtual-Replace the result will be1. Hello Internet2. And othersese3. And beerAnother example (tabstop=2;sts=0):1. 0123456789012345678902. Hello beautiful World         ^ CursorPressed keys: <Tab><Tab>Replace-Mode result:1. 0123456789012345678902. Hello     autiful WorldVirtual-Replace-Mode result:1. 0123456789012345678902. Hello     tiful WorldBecause in Replace mode the replacement is done char by char, where Tab is one char, no matter how many chars are displayed. In Virtual-Replace-Mode visible length of the Tab (:h 'ts', :h 'sts') is used to replace the chars.