In recent days, we’ve continued working on enhancements for the SyntaxEditor .NET Languages Add-on for WPF/Silverlight, specifically in the area of IntelliPrompt completion lists. Today I’d like to show off some of these enhancements.
Auto-Display When Typing New Words
We’ve been able to update the completion provider to watch for certain scenarios when typing new words. Such as after a using keyword. In a number of scenarios where we know what is expected next, we are now automatically showing the completion list when the first letter of a new word is typed.
In the C# screenshot above, we’ve typed the using keyword, then space, then the letter s. The completion list knew that namespaces are expected next, so it automatically showed a list of available namespaces, without the need for the user to press Ctrl+Space.
In the VB screenshot above, we know that a type is expected after an As keyword so again the completion list automatically displays as the s character is typed. The list only shows namespace and type name options and filters out keywords, members, etc. that are in scope.
Keyword Options
Language keywords are now added into the completion list.
When pressing Ctrl+Space in a scenario such as above, all keyword options are presented. In some other scenarios, such as when the completion list knows an expression is expected, it will only include keywords that can start an expression.
Native Type Options
Going along with the keyword theme, native type keywords are now presented in the list.
As shown above, the resolved type quick info is displayed for the native type as well. In scenarios where the completion list knows that a type is expected (such as in VB following an As keyword), it will include native type keyword options.
Summary
These changes will really help with end user coding productivity. They will be part of the next WPF Studio and Silverlight Studio maintenance releases.