title: How to turn on syntax highlighting in VIM 7.3 OSX
body: <p>System = OSX 10.9.4</p>
  
  <p>I am trying to turn on syntax highlighting in vim while using the terminal. However, I am unable to get it to work properly. </p>
  
  <p>Things I've tried: </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>located the vimrc file and added the following code:</p>
  
  <pre><code> set ai                  " auto indenting 
   set history=100         " keep 100 lines of history
   set ruler               " show the cursor position
   syntax on               " syntax highlighting
   set hlsearch            " highlight the last searched term
   filetype plugin on      " use the file type plugins
  </code></pre></li>
  <li><p>Located vimrc under directory: </p>
  
  <pre><code> cd /usr/share/vim/
  </code></pre></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>The interesting thing is that once I add the code to the vimrc using vim, followed by exiting (x), and re-opening the file again, syntax is correctly highlighted in the vimrc. </p>
  
  <p>However, when I try to make a new vim file called "test", copy the same code, save and exit. Re-open it, the syntax is not highlighted at all. </p>
  
  <p>It appears that syntax highlighting only works when I open the actually vimrc file---and not when I try to create a new one or open another file that should have syntax highlighting.</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>I've also tried to create a .vimrc (exact copy) under the ~/ (directory). No success. </li>
  <li><p>Made a new file called "test" and tried turning it on while active as well:</p>
  
  <pre><code>   vim test 
  </code></pre></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>"then within vim" </p>
  
  <pre><code>       :syntax on
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I am really confused as to why this partially works. </p>
  
  <p>Any help is much appreciated. </p>
  
  <p>Cheers!</p>
  
  <p>p.s. I have followed these instructions as well from: <a href="http://geekology.co.za/article/2009/03/how-to-enable-syntax-highlighting-and-other-options-in-vim">http://geekology.co.za/article/2009/03/how-to-enable-syntax-highlighting-and-other-options-in-vim</a></p>
  
  <p>*I am aware of macvim, but would like a solution for the native vim in terminal. Thanks.</p>