this thread covers the same issues as my replies in the thread "Column mode - Just for insert does not work". But since the title of the thread implies other content I decided to better start a new thread. Here we go...
In order to perfectionise column mode editing I suggest a few more features:
- Visualizing zero width column selection. Ultraedit does this, only a 1px line, but it works great.
- Explizit column editing mode switch mode/button: Another great feature of Ulraedit or Textpad which I would love to see in my (new) favourite editor NPP.
Reason: imagine the following: I have a long text file, of which I want to remove some columns (really happens once in a while). When using one of those editors, I only have to switch to column editing, and mark the area using the ctrl-shift-end keyboard operation -> finished.
When using NPP, I am only able to do this per mouse selection, which is a real pain in long files because I'm being forced to additionally hold the alt-key which then breaks the ctrl-shift shortcut. An explizit column mode removes the need to hold down the alt-button and fixes this lack.
Another great benefit for this mode in NPP would be the ability to be able to change the behaviour of the ctrl-pos1 and ctrl-end shortcut from e.g.: "jump to the end of file" to "jump to the same column in the last line".
I do not intend to suggest giving up the fast and easy alt-column-selection, but only in adding one more button/mode similar to the "show invisible chars"-mode.
- When having selected multiple columns, stroking keys result into changing all chars to the same new value. That's fine. But what should be the correct behaviour when an empty column is selected? Ultraedit's answer: column inserts! (One new column per keystroke, selection is still there an moves with each new character column) This is ingeniuos and the only resonable thing to do, isn't it?
So what do you think about these suggestions? Comments greatly appreciated! :)
BTW: Thanks to anybody which has participated - especially the main programmers - for this already great editor! :))
Best regards from Germany,
Ralph Gutmann.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
I agree for all proposal.
I just add that it could be could to add virtual space system to be able to add character wih a vertical alignment. An example of that could be:
Original text
signal1
sig2
lonsignal3
After inserting with column mode ( a "_" represant a space)
signal1______=> ;
sig2_________=> ;
lonsignal3___=> ;
Another thing it could be good to add option to insert number by decreasing order with the insert in column dialog box (which is a good idea)
Thanks a lot
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
If you think his feature is difficult to implement because of NP++ supporting different fonts at once - even proportional fonts, the explizit column mode is the solution for this problem too:
When switching into explizit column mode, nobody would try to argue against it if you would only use only one non-proportional font - e.g. Courier. This way real block selections are much easier as well as column inserts in one column after all line endings.
Best regards,
Ralph Gutmann.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
>> I just add that it could be could to add virtual space system to be able to add character wih a vertical alignment. An example of that could be:
>> Original text
>> signal1
>> sig2
>> lonsignal3
>> After inserting with column mode ( a "_" represant a space)
>> signal1______=> ;
>> sig2_________=> ;
>> lonsignal3___=> ;
> The approach you suggest is difficult to implement, and make a low performance issue.
Might be true, but he's right - it would feel natural and intuitive. I always wondered why I wasn't able to select real blocks - line endings included. I also had several times the need to add a new block behind all line endings. With Ultraedit no problem: column mode, select empty block behind all line endings and start entering text -> voilà. Otherwise it's a pain to get the right amount of spaces behind each line...
(this is especially cool for creating scripts files with several equal cmds, only differing in the name of the files which are handled, and the length of the name - of course)
Best regards, and many thanks again for this editor! :)
Ralph Gutmann.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Good thing to start a new thread. I was about to suggest this in the other thread, although it was not totally off-topic there.
One thing I would like is for the Text FX to use the shown column number as position indicator. That would make it possible to logically sort files that contain tabs. Currently tabs are _counted_ as one position, which make sorting very fuzzy. Tab positions should be accounted for in the same way they are shown and shown as column number on the status line. Let's be clear about character position (of almost no interest in a text editor) and column number as shown on the screen (let's call it a grid for that purpose).
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
For me there are th two very important things to add, so I don't know if the Scintilla Sourceforge request system is use a lot by project leader, but those who agree could post on this topic to increase priority.
Thanks,
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Hi guys,
this thread covers the same issues as my replies in the thread "Column mode - Just for insert does not work". But since the title of the thread implies other content I decided to better start a new thread. Here we go...
In order to perfectionise column mode editing I suggest a few more features:
- Visualizing zero width column selection. Ultraedit does this, only a 1px line, but it works great.
- Explizit column editing mode switch mode/button: Another great feature of Ulraedit or Textpad which I would love to see in my (new) favourite editor NPP.
Reason: imagine the following: I have a long text file, of which I want to remove some columns (really happens once in a while). When using one of those editors, I only have to switch to column editing, and mark the area using the ctrl-shift-end keyboard operation -> finished.
When using NPP, I am only able to do this per mouse selection, which is a real pain in long files because I'm being forced to additionally hold the alt-key which then breaks the ctrl-shift shortcut. An explizit column mode removes the need to hold down the alt-button and fixes this lack.
Another great benefit for this mode in NPP would be the ability to be able to change the behaviour of the ctrl-pos1 and ctrl-end shortcut from e.g.: "jump to the end of file" to "jump to the same column in the last line".
I do not intend to suggest giving up the fast and easy alt-column-selection, but only in adding one more button/mode similar to the "show invisible chars"-mode.
- When having selected multiple columns, stroking keys result into changing all chars to the same new value. That's fine. But what should be the correct behaviour when an empty column is selected? Ultraedit's answer: column inserts! (One new column per keystroke, selection is still there an moves with each new character column) This is ingeniuos and the only resonable thing to do, isn't it?
So what do you think about these suggestions? Comments greatly appreciated! :)
BTW: Thanks to anybody which has participated - especially the main programmers - for this already great editor! :))
Best regards from Germany,
Ralph Gutmann.
I approve the "Column editing" suggestion like ultradit.
This is a fantastic feature
Hi,
I love all the ideas and would appreciate to see it.
Hubert
Hi
I agree for all proposal.
I just add that it could be could to add virtual space system to be able to add character wih a vertical alignment. An example of that could be:
Original text
signal1
sig2
lonsignal3
After inserting with column mode ( a "_" represant a space)
signal1______=> ;
sig2_________=> ;
lonsignal3___=> ;
Another thing it could be good to add option to insert number by decreasing order with the insert in column dialog box (which is a good idea)
Thanks a lot
We talked this issue in French forum.
The approach you suggest is difficult to implement, and make a low performance issue.
> Another thing it could be good to add option to insert number by decreasing order
> with the insert in column dialog box (which is a good idea)
I'll consider it.
Don
Hi again,
one more thing I just thought of:
If you think his feature is difficult to implement because of NP++ supporting different fonts at once - even proportional fonts, the explizit column mode is the solution for this problem too:
When switching into explizit column mode, nobody would try to argue against it if you would only use only one non-proportional font - e.g. Courier. This way real block selections are much easier as well as column inserts in one column after all line endings.
Best regards,
Ralph Gutmann.
Hi Don,
>> I just add that it could be could to add virtual space system to be able to add character wih a vertical alignment. An example of that could be:
>> Original text
>> signal1
>> sig2
>> lonsignal3
>> After inserting with column mode ( a "_" represant a space)
>> signal1______=> ;
>> sig2_________=> ;
>> lonsignal3___=> ;
> The approach you suggest is difficult to implement, and make a low performance issue.
Might be true, but he's right - it would feel natural and intuitive. I always wondered why I wasn't able to select real blocks - line endings included. I also had several times the need to add a new block behind all line endings. With Ultraedit no problem: column mode, select empty block behind all line endings and start entering text -> voilà. Otherwise it's a pain to get the right amount of spaces behind each line...
(this is especially cool for creating scripts files with several equal cmds, only differing in the name of the files which are handled, and the length of the name - of course)
Best regards, and many thanks again for this editor! :)
Ralph Gutmann.
Good thing to start a new thread. I was about to suggest this in the other thread, although it was not totally off-topic there.
One thing I would like is for the Text FX to use the shown column number as position indicator. That would make it possible to logically sort files that contain tabs. Currently tabs are _counted_ as one position, which make sorting very fuzzy. Tab positions should be accounted for in the same way they are shown and shown as column number on the status line. Let's be clear about character position (of almost no interest in a text editor) and column number as shown on the screen (let's call it a grid for that purpose).
Hi,
This function seems to be difficult to implemented because of scintilla so I have looking in the feature request but it seems that there isn't a clear request to insert in column mode add that https://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=1821189&group_id=2439&atid=352439
For virtual space there is a request with a very low priority https://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=1821189&group_id=2439&atid=352439
For me there are th two very important things to add, so I don't know if the Scintilla Sourceforge request system is use a lot by project leader, but those who agree could post on this topic to increase priority.
Thanks,
Hi,
no idea how to get this priority up, so i just added a supporting comment.
BTW: both links target the same id - I suppose one is wrong, isn't it?
Best regards, RG.
It seems to me that Scintilla could actually be holding this project back?
Are there alternatives and if there are would it be worth switching to it?
If not is there a way for the developers to more closely collaborate to improve both projects?