Create a command shortcut for NERDTree in Vim editor

Question

I'd like to create an abbreviation for NERDTree on the command-line. I find it annoying have to write :NERDTree every time I want to enable it. So I'd like to type :nr or something like that. Is that possible?

Answer 1

In my .vimrc I have:

let mapleader = "," nmap <leader>ne :NERDTree<cr> 

So when I need NERDTree I just write ,ne in normal mode.

Answer 2

I find this works very nicely, better than any other suggestions I've tried:

map <silent> <C-n> :NERDTreeFocus<CR> 

You just hit control-n to go back to the hierarchy. Selecting a file name in the hierarchy will switch you, of course, to that file.

1. It works in both normal and insert mode
2. It doesn't close the hierarchy as the accepted answer does (using the :NERDTree command starts you from scratch, closing the hierarchy, while using :NERDTreeFocus simply moves the focus, which I think is what you want)