VIM open file in vertical split in read only mode

Question

In vim I can open a file in a vertical split by using the command vs myfile.txt and I can open a file in a new editor, in read only mode with vim -R myfile.txt.

I want to combine these to commands, ideally vs -R myfile.txt, but of course I've already discovered that doesn't work. I want to open the file this way because I have the file open in a different tab and I want to be sure that I don't accidently edit the file.

Answer 1

The command to view a file in "readonly mode" is :view. You can split the current window and run :view:

:vs|view file

And here is a variant:

:vert sview

Answer 2

If you want one file to be editable and only one read-only.Then

vim writablefile.txt
:vs | view readonlyfile.txt