Loading filetype scripts when editing a file on VimEnter

Hello Vim users,

I want an installation of gVim to auto-edit a "notes" file when opened=20
with no arguments. I'm using this script in my Vim configuration:

vim9script
def LoadNotes()
 =C2=A0 if argc() =3D=3D 0
 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 edit path\to\notes.md
 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 echomsg "Auto-opened notes.md."
 =C2=A0 endif
enddef
autocmd VimEnter * ++once LoadNotes()

This edits the file as expected. However, Vim does not apply syntax=20
highlighting to the file. When I run :scriptnames, none of the Markdown=20
ftplugin or syntax scripts are listed. (Although many other ftplugin=20
script names are listed.)

If I manually run :edit after startup, then the syntax highlighting=20
works, and Vim's ftplugin\markdown.vim and its associated scripts are=20
now all listed in :scriptnames.

Is there a way to guarantee that Vim will load all of the needed=20
filetype scripts during the VimEnter event? Or is there a more=20
appropriate event for this use case? I'm happy to provide more details=20
if they're helpful.

:version
VIM - Vi IMproved 9.2 (2026 Feb 14, compiled Feb 14 2026 12:17:29)
MS-Windows 64-bit GUI/console version with OLE support

John

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