updated for version 7.3.171

Problem:    When the clipboard isn't supported: ":yank*" gives a confusing
	    error message.
Solution:   Specifically mention that the register name is invalid.
	    (Jean-Rene David)

Author: brammool

runtime/doc/change.txt

@@ -917,8 +917,10 @@ inside of strings can change!  Also see 'softtabstop' option. >
 {Visual}["x]Y		Yank the highlighted lines [into register x] (for
 			{Visual} see |Visual-mode|).  {not in Vi}
 
-							*:y* *:yank*
-:[range]y[ank] [x]	Yank [range] lines [into register x].
+							*:y* *:yank* *E850*
+:[range]y[ank] [x]	Yank [range] lines [into register x]. Yanking to the
+			"* or "+ registers is possible only in GUI versions or
+			when the |+xterm_clipboard| feature is included.
 
 :[range]y[ank] [x] {count}
 			Yank {count} lines, starting with last line number

src/ex_docmd.c

@@ -2424,25 +2424,39 @@ do_one_cmd(cmdlinep, sourcing,
     if (       (ea.argt & REGSTR)
 	    && *ea.arg != NUL
 #ifdef FEAT_USR_CMDS
-	    && valid_yank_reg(*ea.arg, (ea.cmdidx != CMD_put
-						   && USER_CMDIDX(ea.cmdidx)))
 	    /* Do not allow register = for user commands */
 	    && (!USER_CMDIDX(ea.cmdidx) || *ea.arg != '=')
-#else
-	    && valid_yank_reg(*ea.arg, ea.cmdidx != CMD_put)
 #endif
 	    && !((ea.argt & COUNT) && VIM_ISDIGIT(*ea.arg)))
     {
-	ea.regname = *ea.arg++;
-#ifdef FEAT_EVAL
-	/* for '=' register: accept the rest of the line as an expression */
-	if (ea.arg[-1] == '=' && ea.arg[0] != NUL)
+#ifndef FEAT_CLIPBOARD
+	/* check these explicitly for a more specific error message */
+	if (*ea.arg == '*' || *ea.arg == '+')
 	{
-	    set_expr_line(vim_strsave(ea.arg));
-	    ea.arg += STRLEN(ea.arg);
+	    errormsg = (char_u *)_(e_invalidreg);
+	    goto doend;
 	}
 #endif
-	ea.arg = skipwhite(ea.arg);
+	if (
+#ifdef FEAT_USR_CMDS
+	    valid_yank_reg(*ea.arg, (ea.cmdidx != CMD_put
+						   && USER_CMDIDX(ea.cmdidx)))
+#else
+	    valid_yank_reg(*ea.arg, ea.cmdidx != CMD_put)
+#endif
+	   )
+	{
+	    ea.regname = *ea.arg++;
+#ifdef FEAT_EVAL
+	    /* for '=' register: accept the rest of the line as an expression */
+	    if (ea.arg[-1] == '=' && ea.arg[0] != NUL)
+	    {
+		set_expr_line(vim_strsave(ea.arg));
+		ea.arg += STRLEN(ea.arg);
+	    }
+#endif
+	    ea.arg = skipwhite(ea.arg);
+	}
     }
 
     /*

src/globals.h

@@ -1561,6 +1561,9 @@ EXTERN char_u e_bufloaded[]	INIT(= N_("E139: File is loaded in another buffer"))
 	(defined(FEAT_INS_EXPAND) && defined(FEAT_COMPL_FUNC))
 EXTERN char_u e_notset[]	INIT(= N_("E764: Option '%s' is not set"));
 #endif
+#ifndef FEAT_CLIPBOARD
+EXTERN char_u e_invalidreg[]    INIT(= N_("E850: Invalid register name"));
+#endif
 
 #ifdef MACOS_X_UNIX
 EXTERN short disallow_gui	INIT(= FALSE);

src/version.c

@@ -714,6 +714,8 @@ static char *(features[]) =
 
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
+/**/
+    171,
 /**/
     170,
 /**/