Autocomplete/Inline templates

[mastabog]

Hello,

UE32 is a wonderful product and i really would like to switch to it from the editors that I use now. However I couldn't find a feature (that to me is critical) that inserts templates in an autocomplete/inline fashion.

To be more clear, i would like to be able to type words like "function" then press a key combination, which is always the same, say CTRL+Enter and then get the template inserted.

In case UE32 already does this and i missed it then I'm sorry, but in case it is not able to do this then my opinion is you should reeally implement it as it is badly needed. It would get rid of the annoying 10+10 keyboard shortcuts, there wouldn't be a limit to the number of templates and coders won't have to remember which key combination is assigned to which template. Most coders I know, me included, use templates in this way (it's alos a lot faster as you mostly type instead of moving around the keyboard pressing alt-+shift+9) and probably that's why they don't use UE32 which is a pitty.

Thanks a lot

[tatwo]

see "Auto Completion" in Help index ..

and sample auto-completion files here ..

http://www.ultraedit.com/downloads/extr ... tocomplete

[mastabog]

I was talking about template structures. I know about the auto-completion, invoked by ctrl+space, but unfortunately that is only for one line or one word completion only and not for template structures like:

Code: Select all

switch (^)
{
  case :
    break;
  case :
    break;
  default:
}

Right now in UE32 i would have to assign that template to a slot of 1-20 and then assign a keyb shortcut for it, say alt-shift-1. I am limited to only 20 (because any coder hates to keep using the mouse to go into menus) and will have to remember and press ugly and different shortcuts for each asigned template.

Almost every decent editor out there can do template insertion based on a typed word then a single keyb shortcut. For the example above i would type "switch" then press CTRL+Enter and get the template inserted, the cursor positioned between the paranthesis etc. Same goes for "if" then ctrl+enter and so on. This way you are not limited to 20 templates, you have only 1 keyb-shortcut easy to remember and handy and coding would be much faster since you just keep typing.

Honestly, I'm surprised that this isn't already implemented because theer are so many other features that are simply excelent. Any chance of seeing this in a future release?

[tatwo]

I understand now .. this feature is in EditPlus (and other editors as you point out).

In fact I'm comparing UltraEdit with EditPlus features .. both editors can be extended by customised User Tools ..

So in your case a User Tool might be coded to copy into clipboard and pass the keyword you have just typed - find a match of keyword fragment against a library of snippets - and then complete the auto-completion (if there is a match).

All in theory .. but I'm writing similar User Tools for parsing text.

The User Tool would trigger on a single key combination.

But again there might be an easier way .. I'm quite new to UltraEdit.

I'm trying to figure out if a specified file can be directed to the Output Window .. through command line argument (as in EditPlus).

[mastabog]

EditPlus is one of the editors I was refering to that has that feature. A user tool coding could not really do the trick (what about the placeholders and cursor position?) so a typed word + unique keyb shortcut is wht is needed.

I have to admit that this is the only reason I am not going to use UE32 and stick with my other editors (like EditPlus, jEdit and others). I hope the UE32 author can see the importance of this as it will atracts more coders to UE32.

[feng]

a good feature to request

[mastabog]

the more people post and agree the better the chances that it'll get implemented ... if you get my drift

[kinook]

This would be a very useful feature.

[sysdev]

This would be a fantastic feature... Emacs has it too, and JBuilder for Java.

[PaoloFCantoni]

ALWAYS submit a formal suggestion to the support email address. Link to this discussion if you like. That way IDM have a formal request...

Cheerz,
Paolo

[robswift]

I noted everyones comments about this - I too love the Auto-Completion templates you can set up in EditPlus - does IDM have any plans to build this into UltraEdit? I really don't want to pay for EditPlus aswell as UE and then later find out the feature has been added to UE...!

[Zer0]

The Zeus editor also has this feature (http://www.zeusedit.com).

This feature is great for things like for, if and while constructs.

[Bego]

You also can take a third party freeware tool that does the job in EVERY Windows application, like "shortcut" or "autohotkey".
I use shortcut it for many code-snippets, e.g.:

typing #c ---> --05.07.2005 Bego

or #crtab ---> pops up window, and I type the table-name TEST.
--->
prompt Tabelle TEST
CREATE TABLE TEST (
F1 NUMBER(4) NOT NULL,
F2 YYY.ZZZ%type)
storage ( initial 1M next 512K pctincrease 0);

See http://www.typer.de or http://www.autohotkey.com

Hope I got you right, Bego

[nathanv]

I too am contemplating the switch from edit plus and would like to see this implemented

thanks

[palou]

Hi all,

I agree with you for the request.

Personally, I resolved the problem by using macros which recignize some of my classic structures (if, case, etc.) then complete them. But it's not perfect and a bit slow.
You can take a look at the thread How to auto complete "if...end if" ? in the Macros forum.

Regards from Switzerland.