Re: User Requested Enhanced IDE - Simplified Version

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Ugh.... no!

I find the IDE great for just about anything I do in the windows 
environment, and prefer a centralised approach.
I've not done any projects involving multiple files that are edited via the 
IDE - I write my main program using the IDE, and any *.ew files using Medit.
I find the code editor good for the most part, and I certainly wouldn't like 
to see a forced split between them.
Some things I don't like about the editor, and I offer the following 
suggestions:
*Support for multiple editor windows open at the same time
*Put the popup for procedure help in the statusbar at the bottom, or 
something. Either that, or make it a tooltip that doesn't cover over any 
text, like to the right of the cursor?
*Dropdown lists for win32lib and library function flags (like all the MB_* 
in msgbox.e, and such... and the create types). Maybe put this with the 
procedure help that pops up.
*Better support for included .e and .ew files. Have a section in the main 
window for other includes. Add the global funcs and procs to the list for 
showing parameters when you type the func in. Have the option to insert a 
function from a list for that .ew file.
*Make it easier to switch windows in the Code editor. Show the control list 
as a treeview or something so that you can see a control in the other 
window. (Not so much a problem if you have multiple window support.
*Support Emacs style tabbing = press tab and it auto indents that line.
*Have the ability to see the codebase in it's entirety, and make changes 
that are saved in the prj file. This wouldn't be completely free-range, 
perhaps have read only, and just have the ability to change the order of the 
components.
*Remember which event you were last looking at for each control, default to 
that.

I can't think of any more for the editor... For the project view:
*Copy/Paste for controls. Generate new control name, keep all other 
attributes the same
*Multiple selections. Grey out attributes window, allow the user to move the 
multiple controls around the window.
*A snap-to command that will automatically size and position existing 
controls to the nearest X pixels.
*Better change control: When you change the name of a control, popup a 
dialog that asks you if you want to search through the codebase for 
instances of that name, and change it.
*Don't complain about the control name being null, or the same as something 
else, until it loses focus.
*Some kind of support for the standard win32lib documentation system. It 
would be really cool if your own documentation, and the documentation in the 
libraries (obviously it'd have to follow the win32lib standard) could be 
shown in the context-sensitive help...


Judith, you have a great IDE, and I find it quite easy to use... I'm quite 
perturbed at the changes you suggest below, not one of them makes sense to 
me, and things like remove code view, and remove project view.... What of 
the IDE is left???

Keep up the good work Judith and all you contributors. Perhaps someone needs 
to make a good tutoria and help system for the IDE, that would make things a 
bit easier.

=====================================================
A happy customer.
.______<-------------------\__
/ _____<--------------------__|===
||_    <-------------------/
\__| Mr Trick


>From: Judith Evans <camping at txcyber.com>
>Reply-To: EUforum at topica.com
>To: Eu Forum <EUforum at topica.com>
>Subject: User Requested Enhanced IDE - Simplified Version
>Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 04:34:34 -0600
>
>
>To all IDE users:
>
>Several people have asked that IDE be returned to a simplier state. While I
>will not do that I am agreeable to maintaining two versions where one 
>strips
>most of the bells and whistles away.
>
>What has been recommended:
>1 - remove Code Editor. User creates and maintains coding files with editor
>of choice and saves data before generating an exw. IDE does not open or
>branch to that editor except perhaps via Menu Launcher. User inputs in IDE
>somewhere the coding file path and name. The generated exw is a combination
>of createEx statements from IDE and the coding file. File may be "included"
>in generated exw or read and statements copied to generated exw. An
>alternative suggestion was to generate only the createEx and related
>statements and display them in an IDE MleText. User then copies and pastes
>into his coding file. No exw file is created by IDE at all.
>2 - remove Project View
>3 - when drawing controls in Form Design  do so without attributes from
>Property such as color, fonts, bitmaps, icons etc
>4 - remove Properties not applicable to createEx and related statements 
>such
>as Cursor At and the Normal/Minimize/Maximize param associated with 
>WinMain.
>5 - Systray editor displays sample required statements but does not 
>generate
>coding in the exw for them but user may copy and paste where desired 
>(rather
>like Roland Stowasser's Message Box Editor.)
>6 - remove MenuItem Manage Include Statements
>7 - remove from configurations the tab "describe how major windows open" 
>and
>always reopen IDE and major windows in the state it was closed and with the
>last project opened and/or saved.
>8 - remove Tool Box Help button and screens
>9 - look into creating Simplified IDE using percentage method instead of
>hard coded pixels so those people with large resolutions can use IDE 
>without
>a magnifying glass.
>10 - look into using percentage method in generated exw.
>
>
>Comments/suggestions?
>--judith
>
>
>
>TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE!
>
>

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