Tools parameter "Browse for application"

[Stefan]

Idea 1,
if it is not to complicated: new Tools parameter "Browse for application"

Command: %BrowseForApplication% %CurrentWord%

At executing %BrowseForApplication% open an dialog to browse and select an *.vbs;*.cmd;*.exe and start this with next %param% as parameter.



--

Idea 2,

If i had an file name in document like "thisprogram.prg"
then %CurrentWord%  will only take "thisprogram.prg" into account (without extension)

I have to use %SelectedText% to get whole "thisprogram.prg".

Maybe you want to add an parameter which use complete word under cursor, form blank to blank, no matter if there is an . or _ or - or what ever.

Something like %CurrentWordForce% will use smtg like "this_is-program.prg"
if cursor is on "this_is-program.prg" in an sentence like
"I want to execute this_is-program.prg right now, please."


I know: if even possible, then in next release only... 

.

[alex]

Hi Stefan,

Idea 1: I think, can be covered with just creating another tool for another application (executable)
Because I do not see a scenario where this can be necessary.

Idea 2: Yes, I would keep this in mind, but I have doubts that even from spaces to spaces if not in quotas would also cover all cases for example this "(this_super_duper_file.prg)",  here I mean using of (), and who knows which syntax used in some exotic language.... The only way can be using of regular expressions: HE would search with it in line and return if match is found under cursor.

But solution with regexp would not be done in 1.4x, maybe in 1.5x if I will not forget this

Best regards

[Stefan]

Idea1: yes i know, but my idea is for the case you don't want to add all possible builds of an app to the tools.
F.ex. i want to execute an test script with an stable and an new beta of an app, but have to add all builds first to tools?

Or i am use HE portable and just want to chose an exe on an strange computer of an client.
F.ex. i wrote an script for ORIGIN and want to test it on an clients pc i have to add the exe first to tools?

I want to test an HTML with ie7, ie8, FF, Opera,... and have to add all apps first to the tools?
Maybe only for one day.

You know, i don't want to push you, if this is to much work or you have no time, forget it please.
Just ideas from the working desk to make HE better and an seller.




Idea2: i am wondering you can't just use an RegEx in your code to say
-- i am on WordUnderCursor,
-- search \b left and remember this pos,
-- search then \b on the right,
-- take this whole word and try to execute it?

Or was it this that you want to tell
that your HE-code can only use RegEx in build >= 1.5?

[alex]

The reason, why I have asked for example is that I do not want to add tags for all possible case, if it is really not used often by all users, just to reduce complexity during tag selecting and also of my code, because I need to support all this cases. Specially if workaround exist. Also all this special cases can became redundant when scripting would be in. Adding of such feature generally is very small effort, and maybe I would do this, but probably would not add to menu for suggestion, but leave for experienced used and probably need to put to docu...

Idea 2: that is how it woks now. Because . is not word symbol, with \b you would get same result I think. What I want to tell that you selecting of fully qualified paths would not be possible with your suggestion (C:\Program Files\HippoEDIT\license.txt or even C:\test.prg) so this is partial solution. And when providing regular expression as parameter for tag processing, it can work, because you can provide such expression as you need.

[Stefan]

O.K. thanks Alex.

My opinion is always that you never know what feature an user look for if he's on the search for an new editor.
So i provide you with interesting ideas i have or heard of and from them i see an potential.
Because you can't wait till all future users log on and tell what they want, most even didn't know what they want.
They (i too) take an look at the current state and may go away because not found what they search for.
So you could decoying them by providing usual  features. The features should be already there and waiting for the user.

The difficult is to provide this all in an moderate way not to terrify the user   you're right!
So adding not all to the menu but let it editable in ini and/or document it in the help for advanced users would be an good way.
(especially if the help is provided online too , or as separate download. ... on the other side we will tell about this features  in the forum sooner or later too  ...)

[alex]

Ok. Just understand me right, the point is that I do not want to do this (sometimes this also can be ) and try to convince you that idea is bad I just do post moderation of ideas, after moderation on forum. Too many features are also sometimes not good, because it makes start of using for tool harder and people can just go because they do not want so complex editor (or even without real reason). And What I see is that list of tags is already huge...

But Ok, let us come back to idea. Where you want to have it? Because you already can browse for file with Interactive file  (this tag can be used already as in Arguments field as in Command field). Only what is missing is additional filter for executable files. So feature mostly completed  .

Best regards,
Alex.

[Stefan]

Don't need to convent me 
If you don't like it, it's O.K.

But i can't agree that less features are better and let the novice user do it the hard way
to find work arounds or wrote an script first if he wants to do smtg.
My estimation is to provide as much as you can
but in an elegant way (maybe with sub-menu like "Special Tasks" or like that)
(or like PhotoImpact with several menu layout like "Easy", "Advance", "Power")
so novice or average user are not disturbed but power user can find what they need.

> And What I see is that list of tags is already huge...
You could make sub-menu's.

I think people want an complex editor 


If i push you to much just don't answer me  but i have to tell you my opinions, sorry 

[Stefan]

But Ok, let us come back to idea. Where you want to have it?

Because you already can browse for file with Interactive file 
(this tag can be used already as in Arguments field as in Command field).

Only what is missing is additional filter for executable files. So feature mostly completed  .

Oh, you're right.
I can use  Interactive file  for what i suggested with Idea 1 !
Many thanks for pointing me to that, Alex! 


Example:

Add Tool:
Title:         what you like your tool should be called, maybe "Chose application to open file under cursor"
Command:  %InteractiveFile%
Arguments: %FileDir%%CurrentWord%.%Enter an extension% 

Explanation:
%InteractiveFile% will open an dialog to select an file, here we chose an executable app.
The Argument
%FileDir% provide the path of the current document
%CurrentWord% provide the word under cursor in this current document
.%Enter an extension%  adds an dot and ask you for an extension, because this is not included with 'word under cursor'

-----------------------------------------

You could also use %FileName% to provide path and name of the current document
and open this with an application of your choice:
Title:         what you like your tool should be called, maybe "Chose app and open current file"
Command:  %InteractiveFile%
Arguments: %FileName%

For example if you want to test an *.html doc
you can chose the app (Internet Explorer ^TM, FireFox^TM, Opera^TM, Mosaic^TM) to preview this html file on the fly.

-----------------------------------------

> missing is additional filter
Not really, but if you like
you can add some filter for %InteractiveFile% -dialog like
"*.*"
"*.exe;*.com;*.bat;*.cmd;*.vbs;*.vbe;*.js"