Hi,

I am switching to using Vim for for my LaTeX editing environment. I would like to be able to tex the source file from within Vim, and launch an external viewing if the compile was successful.

I know about the Vim-Latex suite, but, if possible, would prefer to avoid using it: it is pretty heavy-weight, hijacks a lot of my keys, and clutters up my vimruntime with a lot of files.

Here is what I have now:

if exists('b:tex_build_mapped')
    finish
endif
" use maparg or mapcheck to see if key is free
command! -buffer -nargs=* BuildTex call BuildTex(0, <f-args>)
command! -buffer -nargs=* BuildAndViewTex call BuildTex(1, <f-args>)
noremap <buffer> <silent> <F9> <Esc>:call BuildTex(0)<CR>
noremap <buffer> <silent> <S-F9> <Esc>:call BuildTex(1)<CR>
let b:tex_build_mapped = 1

if exists('g:tex_build_loaded')
    finish
endif
let g:tex_build_loaded = 1

function! BuildTex(view_results, ...)
    write
    if filereadable("Makefile")
        " If Makefile is available in current working directory, run 'make' with arguments
        echo "(using Makefile)"
        let l:cmd = "!make ".join(a:000, ' ')
        echo l:cmd
        execute l:cmd
        if a:view_results && v:shell_error == 0
            call ViewTexResults()
        endif
    else
        let b:tex_flavor = 'pdflatex'
        compiler tex
        make %
        if a:view_results && v:shell_error == 0
            call ViewTexResults()
        endif
    endif
endfunction

function! ViewTexResults(...)
    if a:0 == 0
        let l:target = expand("%:p:r") . ".pdf"
    else
        let l:target = a:1
    endif
    if has('mac')
        execute "! open -a Preview ".l:target
    endif
endfunction

The problem is that v:shell_error is not set, even if there are compile errors. Any suggestions or insight on how to detect whether a compile was successful or not would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!