Zeus virgin questions - multiple windows and code completion

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softfoot
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2010 9:50 am

Zeus virgin questions - multiple windows and code completion

Post by softfoot »

I am looking for an alternative to my aging (and much loved) CodeWright editor and Zeus looks ideal :-)

I have set up CW in Brief emulation mode (another plus for Zeus) but cannot figure out how to view multiple files at once :-(

In CW, F3 followed by a cursor key sets up a clone of the current text window and selects it and then ALT+N moves that window on to the next file.

Similarly F4 closes a text window and F1 followed by a cursor key selects an existing window for editing.

Can I set up a similar arranement with Zeus?

If I have 10 files open I can tile them all (not helpfull) but cant figure out how to select (say) 2 or 3 to be windowed - useful when cutting pasting or when comparing code.

---

On the subject of code completion ALT+SPACE completes the function name and when I enter a "(" it gives me a hint about the arguments required.

But ... I have found that if I create a new function and then reference it then it doesnt suggest the arguments just the name and a "(" appear in the popup.

However, as soon as I save the file this corrects itself - so I assume this is parsed only at certain points in the file's lifetime in the editor.

Also ... it does the same if the function has the arguments split over multiple lines (but this is never fixed by a save) eg :-

int fred(
int arg1,
char arg2)
{}

Any ideas/tips welcome :-)
Dave
jussij
Site Admin
Posts: 2650
Joined: Fri Aug 13, 2004 5:10 pm

Post by jussij »

Hi Dave,
In CW, F3 followed by a cursor key sets up a clone of the current text window
I am not familair with CW, but I don't think Zeus has this file clone concept. In Zeus any given file can only be loaded into the editor the one time.

If by clone you mean make a copy of the current file, then you could write a Zeus macro to do something like this.
Similarly F4 closes a text window and F1 followed by a cursor key selects an existing window for editing.
This F3/F4 does sound a bit like the Zeus Window, Split Horizontal or Split Veritcal menu but I am not sure :?

When Zeus splits a file window all it is doing is creating a second view of the current file but the file is still only loaded once.
If I have 10 files open I can tile them all (not helpfull) but cant figure out how to select (say) 2 or 3 to be windowed - useful when cutting pasting or when comparing code.
Zeus is an MDI Windows application so the windowing is limited to what is provided by Windows itself :(

So in this instance about the best you can do is minimise all the windows using the Windows menu, then restore the two files you are interested in so that you can edit them.

What I generally do in cases like this is use the clip.lua macro to copy the current file name to clipboard and then in a second instance of Zeus just edit those two file.

This works because, when I come back to the first instance of Zeus all my changes get automatically reloaded ;)
However, as soon as I save the file this corrects itself - so I assume this is parsed only at certain points in the file's lifetime in the editor.
That is correct. Zeus maintains a ctags database and the database is only updated when the file is saved.
Also ... it does the same if the function has the arguments split over multiple lines (but this is never fixed by a save) eg :-
The information that gets displayed is the information generated by ctags.

Unfortunately for cases like this, that was the information that ctags generated for that function :(

Cheers Jussi
softfoot
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2010 9:50 am

Post by softfoot »

When Zeus splits a file window all it is doing is creating a second view of the current file but the file is still only loaded once.
That is what I meant.
So in this instance about the best you can do is minimise all the windows using the Windows menu, then restore the two files you are interested in so that you can edit them.

What I generally do in cases like this is use the clip.lua macro to copy the current file name to clipboard and then in a second instance of Zeus just edit those two file.

This works because, when I come back to the first instance of Zeus all my changes get automatically reloaded ;)
If you do that to view 2 or 3 files then ALT+N doesnt change the displayed file, just moves the tab highlight. Also there is no keyboard way to select the file to edit.

That is a rather "clunky" way to do it - even Notepad++ handles it rather more cleanly.

This is something I want to do all the time - having multiple instances of Zeus open is just plain clumsy.

Zeus has some damn good features but this rather lets it down :-(
That is correct. Zeus maintains a ctags database and the database is only updated when the file is saved.
OK - as long as I know :-)
jussij
Site Admin
Posts: 2650
Joined: Fri Aug 13, 2004 5:10 pm

Post by jussij »

That is a rather "clunky" way to do it - even Notepad++ handles it rather more cleanly
Then I would have thought the obvious answer would be to use Notepad++.

Zeus does not pretend to be something that it is not. What you see is what get.

The only question Zeus will ever ask of you is whether or not it is a suitable editor for your needs and in reality that is a question only you can answer ;)

Cheers Jussi
softfoot
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2010 9:50 am

Post by softfoot »

jussij wrote:
That is a rather "clunky" way to do it - even Notepad++ handles it rather more cleanly
Then I would have thought the obvious answer would be to use Notepad++.

Zeus does not pretend to be something that it is not. What you see is what get.

The only question Zeus will ever ask of you is whether or not it is a suitable editor for your needs and in reality that is a question only you can answer ;)

Cheers Jussi
Hmmm ....
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