diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 86625d5..9d19d1a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -100,13 +100,13 @@ As usual, to have your system use `vimpager` in place of `less`, you'll need to
 
 #### Sidebars ####
 
-| Binding         | Mode | Action                                        |
-|-----------------|------|-----------------------------------------------|
-| Ctrl-or-Alt+F1  | ALL  | Toggle **vimfiler** file manager sidebar      |
-| Ctrl-or-Alt+F2  | ALL  | Toggle the **gundo** undo history sidebar     |
-| Ctrl-or-Alt+F3  | ALL  | Toggle the **tagbar** source code tag sidebar |
-| Ctrl-or-Alt+F4  | ALL  | Toggle the **extradite** git history window   |
-| Ctrl-or-Alt+F12 | ALL  | Toggle the **goyo** distraction-free mode     |
+| Binding                        | Mode | Action                                        |
+|--------------------------------|------|-----------------------------------------------|
+| Ctrl or Alt+F1 or Backslash+\[ | ALL  | Toggle **vimfiler** file manager sidebar      |
+| Ctrl or Alt+F2 or Backslash+\] | ALL  | Toggle the **gundo** undo history sidebar     |
+| Ctrl or Alt+F3 or Backslash+{  | ALL  | Toggle the **tagbar** source code tag sidebar |
+| Ctrl or Alt+F4 or Backslash+}  | ALL  | Toggle the **extradite** git history window   |
+| Ctrl or Alt+F12                | ALL  | Toggle the **goyo** distraction-free mode     |
 
 #### Toggles ####
 
diff --git a/vim/config/after.vim b/vim/config/after.vim
index 161c64e..a557b33 100644
--- a/vim/config/after.vim
+++ b/vim/config/after.vim
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ endif
     autocmd BufEnter,FileType extradite setlocal number "enable line numbers in extradite
     autocmd BufEnter,FileType help* setlocal nocursorline "remove the horizontal cursor line
 
-    "load help in an 80 char vertical split if the window is wider than 140 characters, otherwise load horizontally at 33% of the height
-    autocmd BufEnter,FileType help* if (winwidth(0) >= 140)|wincmd L|vertical resize 80|endif
+    "load in an 80 char vertical split if the window is wider than 140 characters
+    autocmd BufEnter,FileType help* if (winwidth(0) >= 110)|wincmd L|vertical resize 80|endif
 
     "settings for buffers in diff mode
     autocmd VimEnter,FilterWritePre * if &diff|setlocal nofoldenable|endif
diff --git a/vim/config/keyboard.vim b/vim/config/keyboard.vim
index 6f40d49..686de92 100644
--- a/vim/config/keyboard.vim
+++ b/vim/config/keyboard.vim
@@ -114,13 +114,17 @@
 "    <Space>0                 | (N) -> reset all folds using default fold level
 "
 "    <Ctrl-F1>                | (A) -> toggle vimfiler sidebar
-"    <Ctrl-F2>                | (A) -> toggle the gundo sidebar
-"    <Ctrl-F3>                | (A) -> toggle the tagbar sidebar
-"    <Ctrl-F4>                | (A) -> toggle extradite git commit history
 "    <Alt-F1>                 | (A) -> toggle vimfiler sidebar
-"    <Alt-F2>                 | (A) -> toggle the gundo sidebar
-"    <Alt-F3>                 | (A) -> toggle the tagbar sidebar
+"    <Leader>[                | (A) -> toggle vimfiler sidebar
+"    <Ctrl-F2>                | (A) -> toggle the tagbar sidebar
+"    <Alt-F2>                 | (A) -> toggle the tagbar sidebar
+"    <Leader>]                | (A) -> toggle the tagbar sidebar
+"    <Ctrl-F3>                | (A) -> toggle the gundo sidebar
+"    <Alt-F3>                 | (A) -> toggle the gundo sidebar
+"    <Leader>{                | (A) -> toggle the gundo sidebar
+"    <Ctrl-F4>                | (A) -> toggle extradite git commit history
 "    <Alt-F4>                 | (A) -> toggle extradite git commit history
+"    <Leader>}                | (A) -> toggle extradite git commit history
 "
 "    <F1>                     | (A) -> toggle line wrapping
 "    <F2>                     | (A) -> toggle spell check
@@ -495,22 +499,31 @@
         nnoremap <silent><expr> <A-F1> ':VimFiler -split -simple -toggle -no-quit -direction=topleft -winwidth=45<CR>'
         xnoremap <silent><expr> <A-F1> '<Esc>:VimFiler -split -simple -toggle -no-quit -direction=topleft -winwidth=45<CR>'
         inoremap <silent><expr> <A-F1> '<Esc>:VimFiler -split -simple -toggle -no-quit -direction=topleft -winwidth=45<CR>'
-
-        "bindings to trigger the gundo undo history
-        nnoremap <silent><expr> <C-F2> ':GundoToggle<CR>:echo "undo history sidebar toggled"<CR>'
-        xnoremap <silent><expr> <C-F2> '<Esc>:GundoToggle<CR>'
-        inoremap <silent><expr> <C-F2> '<Esc>:GundoToggle<CR>'
-        nnoremap <silent><expr> <A-F2> ':GundoToggle<CR>:echo "undo history sidebar toggled"<CR>'
-        xnoremap <silent><expr> <A-F2> '<Esc>:GundoToggle<CR>'
-        inoremap <silent><expr> <A-F2> '<Esc>:GundoToggle<CR>'
+        nnoremap <silent><expr> <Leader>[ ':VimFiler -split -simple -toggle -no-quit -direction=topleft -winwidth=45<CR>'
+        xnoremap <silent><expr> <Leader>[ '<Esc>:VimFiler -split -simple -toggle -no-quit -direction=topleft -winwidth=45<CR>'
+        inoremap <silent><expr> <Leader>[ '<Esc>:VimFiler -split -simple -toggle -no-quit -direction=topleft -winwidth=45<CR>'
 
         "bindings to trigger the tagbar list of tags
-        nnoremap <silent><expr> <C-F3> ':TagbarToggle<CR>:echo "tagbar toggled"<CR>'
-        xnoremap <silent><expr> <C-F3> '<Esc>:TagbarToggle<CR>gv'
-        inoremap <silent><expr> <C-F3> '<C-O>:TagbarToggle<CR>'
+        nnoremap <silent><expr> <C-F2> ':TagbarToggle<CR>:echo "tagbar toggled"<CR>'
+        xnoremap <silent><expr> <C-F2> '<Esc>:TagbarToggle<CR>gv'
+        inoremap <silent><expr> <C-F2> '<C-O>:TagbarToggle<CR>'
         nnoremap <silent><expr> <A-F3> ':TagbarToggle<CR>:echo "tagbar toggled"<CR>'
         xnoremap <silent><expr> <A-F3> '<Esc>:TagbarToggle<CR>gv'
         inoremap <silent><expr> <A-F3> '<C-O>:TagbarToggle<CR>'
+        nnoremap <silent><expr> <Leader>] ':TagbarToggle<CR>:echo "tagbar toggled"<CR>'
+        xnoremap <silent><expr> <Leader>] '<Esc>:TagbarToggle<CR>gv'
+        inoremap <silent><expr> <Leader>] '<C-O>:TagbarToggle<CR>'
+
+        "bindings to trigger the gundo undo history
+        nnoremap <silent><expr> <C-F3> ':GundoToggle<CR>:echo "undo history sidebar toggled"<CR>'
+        xnoremap <silent><expr> <C-F3> '<Esc>:GundoToggle<CR>'
+        inoremap <silent><expr> <C-F3> '<Esc>:GundoToggle<CR>'
+        nnoremap <silent><expr> <A-F2> ':GundoToggle<CR>:echo "undo history sidebar toggled"<CR>'
+        xnoremap <silent><expr> <A-F2> '<Esc>:GundoToggle<CR>'
+        inoremap <silent><expr> <A-F2> '<Esc>:GundoToggle<CR>'
+        nnoremap <silent><expr> <Leader>{ ':GundoToggle<CR>:echo "undo history sidebar toggled"<CR>'
+        xnoremap <silent><expr> <Leader>{ '<Esc>:GundoToggle<CR>'
+        inoremap <silent><expr> <Leader>{ '<Esc>:GundoToggle<CR>'
 
         "view commit history and diffs
         nnoremap <expr><silent> <C-F4> ':SyntasticToggleOff<CR>:Extradite!<CR>:resize 10<CR>:wincmd x<CR>:wincmd b<CR>:wincmd H<CR>:wincmd b<CR>'
@@ -519,6 +532,9 @@
         nnoremap <expr><silent> <A-F4> ':SyntasticToggleOff<CR>:Extradite!<CR>:resize 10<CR>:wincmd x<CR>:wincmd b<CR>:wincmd H<CR>:wincmd b<CR>'
         xnoremap <expr><silent> <A-F4> '<Esc>:SyntasticToggleOff<CR>:Extradite!<CR>:resize 10<CR>:wincmd x<CR>:wincmd b<CR>:wincmd H<CR>:wincmd b<CR>'
         inoremap <expr><silent> <A-F4> '<Esc>:SyntasticToggleOff<CR>:Extradite!<CR>:resize 10<CR>:wincmd x<CR>:wincmd b<CR>:wincmd H<CR>:wincmd b<CR>'
+        nnoremap <silent><expr> <Leader>} ':SyntasticToggleOff<CR>:Extradite!<CR>:resize 10<CR>:wincmd x<CR>:wincmd b<CR>:wincmd H<CR>:wincmd b<CR>'
+        xnoremap <silent><expr> <Leader>} '<Esc>:SyntasticToggleOff<CR>:Extradite!<CR>:resize 10<CR>:wincmd x<CR>:wincmd b<CR>:wincmd H<CR>:wincmd b<CR>'
+        inoremap <silent><expr> <Leader>} '<Esc>:SyntasticToggleOff<CR>:Extradite!<CR>:resize 10<CR>:wincmd x<CR>:wincmd b<CR>:wincmd H<CR>:wincmd b<CR>'
 
         "toggle line wrapping (and bottom bar if using the gui)
         nnoremap <silent><expr> <F1> ':set wrap!<CR>:echo "line wrapping toggled"<CR>'
@@ -781,7 +797,7 @@
     autocmd FileType qf map <buffer> h j
     autocmd FileType qf map <buffer> l k
     autocmd FileType qf map <buffer> <silent><expr> q ':call ToggleQuickfixList()<CR>'
-    autocmd FileType qf map <buffer> <silent><expr> <C-F3> ':call ToggleQuickfixList()<CR>'
+    autocmd FileType qf map <buffer> <silent><expr> <C-F2> ':call ToggleQuickfixList()<CR>'
     autocmd FileType qf map <buffer> <silent><expr> <A-F3> ':call ToggleQuickfixList()<CR>'
 
     "vimdiff
@@ -808,9 +824,9 @@
 "MAPPINGS DISABLED FOR GIVEN FILETYPES: {{{
     "remove incompatible toggles from specific file types
     autocmd Filetype qf,gundo,vimfiler,tagbar,extradite,help noremap <buffer> ` <Nop>
-    autocmd Filetype qf,vimfiler,extradite,help noremap <buffer> <C-F2> <Nop>
+    autocmd Filetype qf,vimfiler,extradite,help noremap <buffer> <C-F3> <Nop>
     autocmd Filetype qf,vimfiler,extradite,help noremap <buffer> <A-F2> <Nop>
-    autocmd Filetype gundo,vimfiler,extradite,help noremap <buffer> <C-F3> <Nop>
+    autocmd Filetype gundo,vimfiler,extradite,help noremap <buffer> <C-F2> <Nop>
     autocmd Filetype gundo,vimfiler,extradite,help noremap <buffer> <A-F3> <Nop>
     autocmd Filetype qf,gundo,vimfiler,tagbar,help,diff noremap <buffer> <C-F4> <Nop>
     autocmd Filetype qf,gundo,vimfiler,tagbar,help,diff noremap <buffer> <A-F4> <Nop>
diff --git a/vim/config/plugins.vim b/vim/config/plugins.vim
index 414a9f4..e412ce0 100644
--- a/vim/config/plugins.vim
+++ b/vim/config/plugins.vim
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ scriptencoding utf-8
 "}}}
 
 "GUNDO: {{{
-    let g:gundo_right=1
+    let g:gundo_right=0
     let g:gundo_width=35
     let g:gundo_preview_height=10
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ scriptencoding utf-8
     map g/ <Plug>(incsearch-stay)
 
     "n and N behavioru is consistant
-    let g:incsearch#consistent_n_direction = 1
+    let g:incsearch#consistent_n_direction=1
 "}}}
 
 "JSON: {{{
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ scriptencoding utf-8
         \   'subseparator': {'left': '|', 'right': '|'},
         \   'component': {
         \       'tagbar': '%{tagbar#currenttag("[%s]", "", "f")}',
-        \   },
+        \   }
         \ }
     endif