Persistent Bookmarks

Arthur · May 17, 2009, 05:04:13 AM

I really miss the persistent bookmarks. What I mean is if the file is closed or you restarted HE the bookmarks you placed would reappear.

Otherwise, right now I cannot rely on the bookmarks too too much.

Is that a big deal adding them?

alex · May 17, 2009, 07:44:01 PM

Hello Arthur,

bookmarks are already stored between session for open files.
Also they stored for not open files, as file satelites. Only one problem, that they are stored together with a file, so only if file is modified. And if you set bookmark in file and then do not change/save it they would not be stored... But maybe this can be changed (in some new betas). But then, you would get additional files in directory for every file with bookmark...

Best regards,
Alex.

Arthur · May 19, 2009, 02:37:21 AM

Alex: does that mean the file I edited with HE and bookmarks were used (the saved with bookmarks example) binary different from the same file I edited with say the Notepad?

Arthur · May 19, 2009, 05:24:12 AM

I can see the bookmarks are already saved in file e.g. *.inf.xml, this is probably what you call the satellite.

alex · May 19, 2009, 11:08:23 AM

Hi Arthur,

I have big doubts that bookmarks saved with Hippoedit can be read by Notepad++, at least HE could not read Notepad++ bookmarks. Generally I even do not know where N++ stores it.. Do you know?

Yes, file_name.inf.xml is file satellite for main file_name file. But as I wrote it was not always stored. But I would correct this with new beta.

Best regards,
Alex.

Arthur · May 19, 2009, 03:56:44 PM

Did not use Notepad++, just opened the file .inf.xml with the Windows Notepad and could see a standard, 5 line XML with a text like: "bookmark 1: ... something".
This by the way is nice, I am thinking, because it opens a door to programmability around the bookmarks. E.g. in a scenario where one would want to use say the "copy bookmarked lines" feature. So one could set the bookmarks on a file using say the forthcoming script/macro or a VBScript for now and then review the results.

JJK · May 20, 2009, 01:04:49 PM

Hello Alex,

I'd be interested by persistent bookmarks also.
But I think it should be an option in the saving/quitting dialog (a checkbox). Otherwise we'd have as many bookmark files (containers) than files.txt.
Or perhaps only one bookmark file per directory.
Or only one bookmark container in user/profile ?
But what happens when you copy/move bookmarked files.txt to another directory ? The container should be updated, by what ? Windows explorer doesn't know that concept.

In summary, you'll have hard head pain...

Stefan · May 20, 2009, 01:47:59 PM

Oh, i discovered this store-bookmark feature right now.
And i am not lucky with addition files in my folders.

I mean such satellite files belong into an 'temp' sub-folder of HE. (or besides the workspace files?)
<Document tag could contain the full path to the file then.

I even mean it's enough to have ONE single bookmark file to store bookmarks of all files.
Since this could be a lot of bookmarks, maybe limit the stored files to the same amount as the recent files.

As addition there could be an option (for older, not recent files)
to let HE see IF there is an *.inf.xml file near the main file
and then load this bookmarks list.
So user could store bookmark list together with files if they want to.
(this could maybe be enhanced to store at wish all file related info in an "<file name.ext>.HEinf.xml" file?)

And BTW this *.inf.xml should contain an info that they are related to HE.
(Right now i have found an *.inf.xml file and don't know where this came from)

If an main file is moved/renamed then HE settings are not anymore relevant.
That's live? (but we can just modify the path/name in bookmark.xml)

. just some brainstorming...

alex · May 20, 2009, 01:49:21 PM

Hello JJK,

I have already added functionality to persisit bookmarks and collapsed code blocks to a satellite files. Also selection and cursor position strored, but only in case if collapsing or bookmarks for document changed. It done like this because overwise you would get such satellite files for all files you have touched.
If document contains not collapsed blocks or bookmarks, satellite file is deleted.

Yes, you are right that you can get a lot of such files, in directory and I also thoght about other possibilities to store such information (one file per directory, one global file for all files, using additional NTFS streams to store this info ect) but for now I would keep it like it is, and maybe with a time we can discuss here what is a best and I would add options for configuring this. What I can only do now (in new beta) I can add xml flags for disabling storing of bookmarks and outlining info. Then such files would not be created and you can get old behaviour.

What do you think?

Best regards,
Alex.

JJK · May 20, 2009, 03:20:53 PM

Quoteand maybe with a time we can discuss here what is a best and I would add options for configuring this. What I can only do now (in new beta) I can add xml flags for disabling storing of bookmarks and outlining info. Then such files would not be created and you can get old behaviour.

Sure, it is a prudent approach.
As Stefan, I don't like too much plenty of satellite files in my dirs. One in my profile is sufficient. That was, among other, the reason why I proposed to put an option check-box in saving/quitting dialog.
But I am not in hurry.

Good job, Alex !