Enhanced Arguments - Alpha

This plugin's goal is to extend FlashDevelop's argument processing. Currently FlashDevelop supports many variables. But this plugin is going to expand on that. The most common use for these enhancements are going to be FlashDevelop's snippets, but they can be used in other places like file templates.

Updates

[01-06-09] - Initial Release... prolly has some bugs. Also no cancel button
[01-07-09] - Added cancel button. Added default values. Added environmental variables. Again this plugin has been written in just a couple days. May have bugs. Let me know.
[01-08-09] - Added dropdown for default values. Added Special Arguments (DateTime). Modified Environmental Argument syntax (all Enhanced Arguments will start with $$ as to be less confused with built in arguments). Some refactoring. Updated RegEx's for User Arguments and Environmental Arguments to allow more characters in optional value. Hopefully no bugs.
[01-09-09] - Plugin now in FD svn.

Screen Shots


Features

User Arguments $$(var=value1,value2,value3) - This allows snippets to prompt the user for variables. By using variables with a double $ the user will be prompted for these variables. Also by using the = and comma separated text, you can set the default value(s). Note the default value(s) should be set on the first occurrence of the variable.
For example if I had a snippet of

Code:
trace($$(text));

The user will be prompted for the text variable.
Another more useful example:

Code:
for (var $$(var=i,x,y):int = $$(min=1); $$(var) < $$(max=100); $$(var)++) $(CSLB){
   $(EntryPoint)
}


The user will be prompted for var, min, and max and they will have the default values of i with options for x and y, 1, and 100 respectively. You may cancel the replace variables screen and Enhanced Arguments will blank out the text to be inserted. Please note that if you are using the variable substitution in a file template and cancel the dialog the file will be created blank.

Environment Arguments $$(%environvar%) - This allows snippets to use environmental variables. These are global variables to the OS. To use these variables you will use the syntax $$(%variable%). For example to get the Windows temp directory you can use $$(%temp%).

Special Arguments $$(#specialarg=args) - This allows snippets to use special arguments created by the plugin. The currently available special arguments are:

DateTime - This inserts the current date and/or time. Usage is $$(#DateTime#) to insert the default format, but you may also specify a custom format by using the =arguments (ex $$(#DateTime#=MM/dd/yyyy) ). You can read on the syntax here.

Download:
This plugin is for RC1. Since the RC1 release it has been included into FD source.
EnhancedArguments.dll

Very smart!

that's totally cool ...
but cancel button would be really helpful sometimes ...

greetz
back2dos

nice feature

does it support autocompletition?

Cancel button is coming... along with default values.


Not sure what you mean by auto completion. The prompted arguments can be used in normal snippets. Then control+b pulls up a list of your snippets and enter to insert.

*edit*
Also note I updated the plugin again with some new features (like cancel) But still wrapping my head around regular expressions so they may be some bugs

Amazing - I was just thinking yesterday that default values would be great. Now what about *several* default values which would appear in a (editable) combo box?

ask and ye shall receive.

Your plugin rocks!

I'd suggest that if you press Cancel you just replace all enhanced arguments with empty or default values, but don't clear all the text.

Ya... I can't get a correct feel for all situations. If the argument processing is being done on a file template, then I would like cancel to insert default values or clear just user variables. But when inserting a snippet I like the idea that cancel doesn't insert anything it cancels the snippet insertion.

Some other random suggestions:
- the fields labels should not be bold,
- a bit technical: position the dialog under/over the caret position so it's close to the eye focus,
- I'll look into letting you get completion context (for instance to fill the combobox with the class members/local vars).

hey xMCNUGGETx,

you rock, this plug-in is so cool, thank you for this..

Great addition to FD! Snippets needed some attention.

Prolly should remove the link to the 'no longer needed' dll...

I've a question...
Imagine this snippet:

But I'd like to have some parts of it conditionally removed (i.e. if I don't wont either setter part or getter part, or I don't need an initializer) I.e. having a checkbox in the prompt window asking for to enter the values and having it's values translated to some sort of "include this block" if checked and "exclude this block" if not checked wold be cool

Anyways, thumbs up, really useful plugin!

A great addon!

I also need check box a lot... there are function with optional parameters... especially.. if you coding in away3d. (there is a lot of them!) so having on option to include one or another parameter ... would be great help! and great speed improvement..

one more idea... that can save space in snippets.. that clutters so fast... make an drop down menu...! lets say... I want to make visual object... instead of having separate sniped for all available options... I would like to place all in one sniped.. and let something like switch statement to use one or another portion of the snippet...
so.. if switch is present.. snippet window show available blocks in drop down.. and change options according selection..

thanks for you work! and please... consider my ideas. Snippets speed up work a lot... and for me.. it replaces FDT build in auto generate functionality... so whats why we want more control... its huge time saver!

MCNUGGET, well done on this app. It's addicting!

My only minor gripe is that the window doesn't autosize to adjust for longer varname prompts but cuts them off instead. The combos are a little snug as well. Did they charge you by the inch for controls or something?

Beyond that it works flawlessly for me.

Hat's off and thanks!