PE new feature Request(s)

BCJKiwi

Senior Member
WeastAust55 wrote (paraphrased);
***************
with V5.2.2 programming editor, we get a useful list of all the
variables, constants and labels in a separate panel down the right side.

Even shows where you have multiple aliases for the same byte or word variable. and now . . .

Suggestion / Request No 1:
at the moment, the variables are listed alphabetically on the alias name.
can we have an option to sort on the byte/word variable names so all aliases of say b0 are grouped together.
***************

Suggestion / Request No 2:
Another sort option that would be useful is the order in which they appear in the program. Since I usually carefully order the constants and variables at the top of the code in a way that makes sense to me, it would be useful if they appeared that way in the new panel, i.e. sort on symbol / label name.

Suggestion / Request No 3:
The listing in ( ) of the variables next to the symbol name is great. What would also be useful would be to list the b and w combos together.

i.e. if the listing shows say
My_Variable (b1)
would it be possible to include the w as well as in say,
My_Variable (b1) [w0]
and
Other_Variable (w1) [b2,3]

Thus conflicts/re-use could be more easily resolved - specially when combined with suggestion/request No 1: sort on variable name

Suggestion / Request No 4:
Just discovered the panel width is fixed - Duhh!
Please make this width adjustable to accomodate those longer symbol names else the usability of the panel immediately drops dramatically.
 
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womai

Senior Member
And another panel request - not only make the width adjustable (personally I like rather long, self-explaining names for variables and constant, and they always exceed the panel width); but also add an option to turn the panel off; reason: e.g. when I want to compare two files side-by-side (e.g. to see what the differences are between a new version and an older version), the two panels eat up too much screen space.

The request for adjustable variable panel size also goes for the simulator!
 

Technical

Technical Support
Staff member
We'll have a look at these suggestions.
However if you hover the mouse over a name that is too long to be displayed the whole line will then be displayed as a mousetooltip.
 

westaust55

Moderator
I notice that the screen shot for the PE on the Rev Ed website shows three panes.

First has flow chart - but assume also for BASIC code,
Second at the right seems to have a more complex (and wider) display.
Third panel along the bottom.

Too fuzzy to read properly. Is this what were can expect in the forthcoming
PE V5.3.0 ? :confused:
 

hippy

Technical Support
Staff member
I believe that's a generic Programming Editor screen shot and not a particular recent one. Just a case of opening the desired windows, and moving them about into whatever display pattern you want.
 

GDSever

Member
but also add an option to turn the panel off; reason: e.g. when I want to compare two files side-by-side (e.g. to see what the differences are between a new version and an older version), the two panels eat up too much screen space.
You can already do that, under the "View -> Code Explorer" menu item.
 

BCJKiwi

Senior Member
@Technical,
Re 'code Explorer'
While the mouse tool tip is there (only for names too long for the panel width) this is no use if the RHS of the program panel is near the RHS of the screen as the tool tip runs off the edge of the screen
For me, this is pretty much always the case.

On another point entirely, when in the simulator, and the focus is changed to another program (e.g. Excel, word etc), only the main program editor window goes to the back - the simulator/serial output buffer/memory panels stay on top of the newly opened program and have to be closed/moved out of the way manually!

Now getting really picky here;
How about making that fancy new tool bar a bit more useful by enabling customisation of it - i.e. allow to add menu items to the tool bar that behave the way you want them to. e.g. a Code explorer section with a button which turns it on/off in each of the sort modes, a simulation section with a button for start up in step, run, turn on/off each panel (serial, memory etc).
 

Andrew Cowan

Senior Member
Personally I would like to be able to have more than one program open at a time. I find it confusing when I have the one window with multiple programs minimized in it.

A
 

Attachments

lbenson

Senior Member
Here's another request: for the simulator, an additional checkbox on the serial output buffer to have no characters other than those sent by the program displayed--i.e., no blank lines (except as indicated by CR, LF), and no "'Sertxd output ...".
 

hippy

Technical Support
Staff member
@ Dave : That's there in 5.2.2 - The 'menu bar' for the window being edited has a drop down list selection of font sizes; 10, 12, 16 and 20.
 

tiscando

Senior Member
Wider range of input styles for inputting serin data in the simulation for 'serin' co

mmands:
When I'm simulating, I found that I could only enter in decimal numbers and text strings into the data box which pops up when the program flow enters a 'serin' command. Could I also type in $hexadecimal if not already supported, and %binary, and also type in predefined constants e.g. if there is 'symbol g_hex=%00001001' in the program, then typing 'g_hex' in the serin data window would be the same as typing '%00001001 or '9'.

Thanx.
 

lbenson

Senior Member
Another request: in the Serial Output Buffer in the Simulator, provide a way to copy the output. It is possible to select all of the data, but <ctrl+C> doesn't work and right click doesn't show any choices.
 

tiscando

Senior Member
When the 'connect to external outputs' appears

I would like to know when PE is able to simulate onto external outputs, such as the K8055 (2ADC, 5in, 8out, 2DAC), which was lying around, only with the tester program, waiting for the computer to have an external output programmer, just like the 'connect' function on PE.
 

westaust55

Moderator
Give 40 pin chips their own simulation mode

Just found problems trying to simulate 40X/X1 code via the 28X/X1 mode in the PE.

When the port C is set to outputs (for 40 pin chip use) then with the 28 pin chip selected, a command like IF pin X = 1 THEN . . . . will not work.
This is becasue the 28 pin devices use portC is the default inputs whereas the 40 pin chips use port D.

Please look to providing definite/separate 40 pin chip simulation in the next revision of the PE.
 

alphamike27

New Member
Sometimes, a bit more space than normal may be need for comments. Comments to the code can of course be 10 pages long, BUT make the code difficult to read at times.

What would be nice, would be to have the ability to enter the comment in a different window, and just leave a comment "marker" on code page.

(Similar to how you can make comments in a cell in MS Excel, you can actually display the whole comment on the code sheet, or just a marker to indicate that a comment exists)
 

tiscando

Senior Member
More suggestions:

!.) Font sizes: Also opt for size 9 and 8 (I can't type in a number in the box); this would show more of the code in one window. I typed 7 in the font size for Picaxe VSM's program windows, and I could still read it well.

".) referring to andrew@post 8: How about having a 'taskbar' at the bottom which shows which code windows are open and minimized, e.g. a button for an open window is in, and a button for a minimized window is sticking out. Features for the taskbar:
1.) option to auto-hide (and turn-off) the taskbar, e.g. if the mouse rolls onto or below the status bar or the bottom line, the taskbar shows.
2.) Option to hide minimized windows from the window area while the taskbar is on (including on autohide) (because they're already shown on the taskbar.)
3.) Option to double-tier the task bar.
4.) Ability to drag buttons to different positions.

£.) Extra to BCJK@post 7: Option on the toolbar to - Show all; hide name/text; hide picture - on each button, varying the toolbar width as required.

$.) More to Req. 01 @post 1: Option to list symbol names in the order they are typed in the code window.

%.) I would also like to be able to type in a quadword, or larger (in hex and binary) in a serout, owout, sound, tune, eeprom, and table commands.
Code:
Example 1:
owout 1,%1001,($55,$16F4198C0AB28501,$44)
'       Reset, mchrom, serial number, Convert
Would output:
owout 1,%1001,($55,$16,$F4,$19,$8C,$0A,$B2,$85,$01,$44)
'       Reset, mchrom, serial number,              Convert
 
Example 2:
table 0,  (%00000000000000000000000000000000)
table 4,  (%00000001110000000000011100000000)
table 8,  (%00000001110000000000011100000000)
table 12, (%00000001110000000000011100000000)
table 16, (%00000000000000000000000000000000)
table 20, (%00000000000000111000000000000000)
table 24, (%00000000000000111000000000000000)
table 28, (%00000000000000111000000000000000)
table 32, (%00011000000000000000000000110000)
table 36, (%00001111000000000000000111100000)
table 40, (%00000001111100000001111100000000)
table 44, (%00000000000111111111000000000000)
 
Would output:
table 0,  (%00000000,%00000000,%00000000,%00000000)
table 4,  (%00000001,%11000000,%00000111,%00000000)
table 8,  (%00000001,%11000000,%00000111,%00000000)
table 12, (%00000001,%11000000,%00000111,%00000000)
table 16, (%00000000,%00000000,%00000000,%00000000)
table 20, (%00000000,%00000011,%10000000,%00000000)
table 24, (%00000000,%00000011,%10000000,%00000000)
table 28, (%00000000,%00000011,%10000000,%00000000)
table 32, (%00011000,%00000000,%00000000,%00110000)
table 36, (%00001111,%00000000,%00000001,%11100000)
table 40, (%00000001,%11110000,%00011111,%00000000)
table 44, (%00000000,%00011111,%11110000,%00000000)
This would, in certain circumstances e.g. serial numbers or graphics, make it neater.


^.) Ability to customize the variable list in the main simulation window e.g. using directives in the program code, and have a check box named 'custom', alongside 'byte' and 'word'.
Example: (variable list width varies accordingly)
Code:
#variablelist (b0,$,%,?1-1end), (b1,$,%,?1-1end), (b2,%), (b3,%), (b4,0), (b5,0)
#variablelist (b6,0), (b7,0), (b8,0), (b9,0), (b16,s,0), (w7,s,0), (b17,s,0,%)
 
symbol iocs16=pin0'porta
symbol dmarq=pin1
 
symbol sel=3'outputs
symbol tso=4
symbol gso=5
symbol dw=6
symbol dr=7
 
symbol irdy=pin0'inputs
symbol intrq=pin2
symbol pdiag=pin5
symbol dasp=pin6
symbol cts=pin7
symbol sri=4
symbol gsi=7
symbol tsi=3
 
symbol ordy=0'portc
symbol dmack=1
 
symbol secno=b16
symbol cylin=w7'b14+b15
symbol cyllow=b14
symbol cylhigh=b15
symbol hdsel=b17
 
symbol cs=bit16'b2 and b3 is used as a bit register
symbol cs1=0
symbol cs3=1
symbol adm=bit17
symbol chs=0
symbol lba=1
symbol mrsl=bit18
symbol master=0
symbol slave=1
symbol hdb0=bit19
symbol hexbin0=1
symbol ofdec0=0
symbol hdb1=bit20
symbol decbin1=1
symbol ofhex1=0
symbol eret=bit21
symbol norm=0
symbol once=1
symbol sctradr=bit22
symbol cyladr=bit23
symbol headadr=bit24
 
 
symbol ent=$0d
 
symbol rprtc=%00000010'the RS232 40x1 IO expanders
symbol wprtc=%00000011
symbol wdirc=%00000101
symbol rin=%00000110
symbol wout=%00000111
symbol rpa=%00100010
symbol rmem=%00100010
symbol wmem=%00100011
'xx001xxx=readadc
'xx010xxx=clear outpin
'xx011xxx=set outpin
symbol kpscan=%00110000
 
symbol hics1=%00011111
symbol locs1=%00010111
symbol hics3=%00011110
symbol locs3=%00010110
symbol hirst=%00011101
symbol lorst=%00010101
 
symbol ch8line1=0
symbol ch8line2=16
symbol ch8line3=32
symbol ch8line4=48
symbol ch8line5=64
symbol ch8line6=80
symbol ch8line7=96
symbol ch8line8=112
symbol ch6line1=0
symbol ch6line2=21
symbol ch6line3=42
symbol ch6line4=63
symbol ch6line5=84
symbol ch6line6=105
symbol ch6line7=126
symbol ch6line8=147
 
symbol lch6line1=1
symbol lch6line2=22
symbol lch6line3=43
symbol lch6line4=64
symbol lch6line5=85
symbol lch6line6=106
symbol lch6line7=127
symbol lch6line8=148
 
#cont 1:
symbol kidentdev=20'keypad part of io expander 0
symbol kwrtcatche=21
symbol krdlkahead=22
symbol kpwronrevers=23
symbol kverify=24
symbol kseek=25
symbol kdevdiag=26
symbol kmultimode=27
symbol krecalib=28
symbol ksecadres=29
symbol kreadsec=30
symbol kwritesec=31
'1 to 15 = k1 to kF
symbol k0=16
symbol kyes=17
symbol kno=18
symbol khexbin=19
symbol kbksp=32
symbol kblank1=33
symbol kchslba=34
symbol konce=35
symbol kmrsl=36
 
symbol gclrtxt        =%10000000
symbol gwrtxt        =%00011000'commands for graphical lcd interface
symbol gwrend        =%00011011
symbol gnormal        =%00000100
symbol gonce        =%00000101
symbol gmulti        =%00000110
symbol ghdboff        =%00001000
symbol ghex        =%00001001
symbol gdec        =%00001010
symbol gbin        =%00001011
symbol gsecno        =%00001100
symbol gcylin         =%00001101
symbol gchlbmrsl    =%00010000
symbol glistptr    =%00100000
symbol ghdsel        =%00110000
#cont 1end:
 
symbol srst=bit2'device control
symbol nien=bit1
 
symbol bbk=bit7'error register
symbol unc=bit6
symbol mc=bit5
symbol idnf=bit4
symbol mcr=bit3
symbol abrt=bit2
symbol tk0nf=bit1
symbol amnf=bit0
 
symbol bsy=bit7'status register
symbol drdy=bit6
symbol dwf=bit5
symbol dsc=bit4
symbol drq=bit3
symbol corr=bit2
symbol idx=bit1
symbol err=bit0
#variablelist (b0,$,%,?1-1end), (b1,$,%,?1-1end), (b2,%), (b3,%), (b4,0), (b5,0)
#variablelist (b6,0), (b7,0), (b8,0), (b9,0), (b16,s,0), (w7,s,0), (b17,s,0,%)

symbol ...
...

The above commands builds up the list showing: (in the column order the same as how they are typed in the line, e.g. for b0, hex value is on the first data column (after the variable name column), and constant names are on the third column)
- b0 with $hex value, %binary, and constant names from constant symbols under '#cont 1' down to '#cont 1end'
- b1 with $hex value, %binary, and constant names (same as above)
- b2 with %binary value showed in the next column (first data column)
- b3 with %binary
- b4 with decimal value
- b5 with decimal
- b6 with decimal
- b7 with decimal
- b8 with decimal
- b9 with decimal
- b16 (symbol name 'secno' displayed instead of 'b16') with decimal
- w7 (symbol name 'cylin' displayed, as there is a 'symbol cylin=w7' in the program) with decimal
- b17 ('hdsel' displayed in the variable name column instead of 'b17') with decimal and binary.
3 data columns after the variable name column will be shown in the variablelist, because 3 is the highest amount of data types in the above list per one variable.
Variablelist syntax: #VARIABLELIST (variable, {S,} dtype{, dtype...}){, (variable, ...)}

'variable' is a bitvariable, bytevariable or wordvariable (including system variables and flags when supported).

if 'S,' is typed after 'variable', it's symbol name (if there is one) is used in the variable list instead of the variable name, e.g. in (b16,s, ...), there is an S in there, so 'secno' instead of 'b16' is displayed in the first column (variable name column).

'dtype' is a symbol which defines the data type shown in a column: '$' means 'show hex value' e.g. $4B, '0' shows decimal e.g. 75, '%' shows binary e.g. %01001011, and 'A' shows ascii charactors (1 for bytes, 2 for words) e.g. "K".
'?' is used to show a predefined constant name whenever possible. e.g. '?1-1end' means 'every time a different number is in the variable, all the constant-defining symbol command between the '#cont 1' and '#cont 1end' labels are checked, e.g. if the new value in the variable is 29, the scan stops at the 'symbol ksecadres=29' command, and displays 'ksecadres' (without ' or ") in the variable list.'
When the 'custom' box is checked, the simulator looks for the #variablelist commands, and puts all the data in these commands into the variable list simulator, and it would show the variable list accordingly.

#variablelist is an example command name, and #cont ... is an example of a special label directive that is read by the (#variablelist) command.
 
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BDG

New Member
Filename Case and Compiler Directive &quot;filename&quot;

Hi all,
a couple of other PE suggestions to add to the list:
(Sorry if they have already been addressed, but I was unable to find them elsewhere)

1. Filename Case
I am an avid believer of saving many revisions of code, so you can revert to a version that worked if your new revisions don't work as expected (or required).
Currently, when you "save as", the PE brings up the current filename in all UPPER CASE. Would it be possible to bring up the current filename in the case its been saved in, rather than having to retype it. It's a lot easier to read and is shorter in the file manager (when you dont retype).

2. Compiler Directive "filename"
I like to include the current filename in a SerTxD command somewhere (usually at initialisation) so I can tell which version of code I'm running.
Currently I have to remember to retype the text string each time I save a new revision. Could you add a compiler directive to insert the current filename as say a "field", which could be inserted in the your code where you choose.

Thanks
 

Technical

Technical Support
Staff member
All comments are noted, and where possible, we try to include sensible suggestions in the next release.
 

SilentScreamer

Senior Member
A couple of ideas.

Constants - have something like a "symbolc" command that means that a number can be declared without using variables. An example of its use is with an flashing LED (this could be used for far more complex things but its easier to demonstrate like this). The person who is writing the code writes something like this:

Code:
symbolc LED_pause_time = 500

do
high 1
pause LED_pause_time
low 1
pause LED_pause_time
loop
The programming editor could then replace the "LED_pause_time" with the predefined number (in this example 500). Could be useful for when the same number is used over several areas of a program and may need them all changing (I recently made an alarm which had the alarms time delay in a variable, it wasn't a problem for me as I had plenty of variables to spare but it was a waste of a variable).

Multiple PICAXEs Simulated at the same time - Make some way of simulating having two PICAXE's programs communicating via serial or I2C (or both). It would make simulating multiple PICAXE projects far easier.

Case sensitive symbol commands - Have an option to make the symbol commands case sensitive so the same name can be used twice with only the case changing. The option could be disabled by default of course to prevent the mass of posts asking why "symbol LED = 1 : high led" doesn't work.

Export Colour Syntax - The ability to export the colour syntax to a .rtf or .doc file would be very useful. My current method of printing the code to a .pdf splitting it into single pages and then importing them into word is slow and tedious and if my code changes I have to start all over again.

Basic Code Optimisation - I've not got a clue how easy or hard this would be to implement but could the programming editor compile things like this:

Code:
if pin1 = 1 then
	goto main
	endif
To this to save space:

Code:
if pin1 = 1 then main
Also I think a section of manual two should at least touch on the subject and briefly mention some simple and moderately advanced ways of doing it (sounds like a great job for hippy to do :p).
 
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hippy

Technical Support
Staff member
Named Constants - The SYMBOL command already allows that.

Multiple PICAXE Simulation - That could be quite complicated to implement and use effectively. Using VSM would probably be a better option.

Case Sensitive Symbols - Possibly though I've never personally liked case sensitivity. It would have to be controlled by a #directive within the source or people could end up wondering why cut-and-pasted code would not work and I can see people posting code snippets without anyone knowing if case sensitivity is on or not. My personally feeling is it would bring more pain than gain.

Export Colour Syntax - I'm not really following the issue you are having there.

Basic Code Optimisation - The compilers do some optimisation but it's not as extensive as it could be. The downside is increased compilation times and confusion in potentially quite drastic code size changes when something apparently minor is changed.
 

SilentScreamer

Senior Member
Colour Syntax - My issue with colour syntax is I keep needing to provide annotated versions of my code for my GCSE coursework. Its 8 pages long so its impractical to do using print screens and my current method means that its very tedious to update my code for my coursework (I noticed a mistake that I had previously missed, it took me over an hour to update it all again if I could export it as rich text then I could have just edited the text from within word).

Basic Code Optimisation - Could there be an option or wizard to "compress" the code.
 

hippy

Technical Support
Staff member
Colour Syntax - Thanks, I understand now; Copy to Clipboard or Save to File loses the colouring which exists while within the editor.

Code Optimisation - It is possible though it would be better ( and easier ) to optimise the code behind the scenes than alter source code with a Wizard. Though easier it would still be far from easy; it's one of those things which humans can be good at but computers less so, or, more correctly, it's difficult to define and implement in a way that allows a computer to do the same. That therefore translates into a lot of time and effort creating and testing it works correctly for something which will likely only deliver modest gains anyway.

Optimisation ( for the PICAXE ) beyond what there already is only really works for code which is less than optimal, a last ditch attempt to make things slightly better than they are, and far better gains can often be had from better code design. For the particular case cited, a GOTO within an IF-ENDIF should raise a flag that the code is less than optimal and something like a DO-LOOP would probably be a cleaner and clearer design and deliver the best optimised solution without an additional optimising phase. For well designed code all the effort put into creating an optimiser is effectively wasted and even becomes unnecessary overhead.

There is also an argument against optimisation in that, without it, it shows what people get from what they are doing, allows the benefits that better code design gives to be seen and is a valuable part of the learning process. It can be said that silently improving code behind the scenes encourages bad habits to continue. It would be great if there were tools which could take existing code and turn it into optimal source, but that's even harder to do.

There is optimisation within the compiler, so the real issue is how much more can be sensibly added to deliver real gains for the effort involved. Where optimisations clearly make sense I am sure we will continue to add them.
 
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Dippy

Moderator
I'll say amen to that.

I have used various compilers with variable optimisers. On the whole very good, but some caution is required sometimes. I have yet to find a 100% optimiser that turns numpty code into fantastic code.
Even the best optimer cannot polish a turd.
 

BeanieBots

Moderator
And which way do you want to optimise?
For speed or for code size? Maybe even a mix and for certain sections only.

Code is often written a particular way to optimise one way or another. The last thing you want is an "optimiser" undoing all that because it "knows better".
 

Dippy

Moderator
Very true BB. One compiler I use (no, not that one) gives you the option of making sub procedures inline or referenced. As you say speed vs space.

Anyway, sorry, I've gone off at a tangent.
 

westaust55

Moderator
Colour Syntax - My issue with colour syntax is I keep needing to provide annotated versions of my code for my GCSE coursework. Its 8 pages long so its impractical to do using print screens and my current method means that its very tedious to update my code for my coursework (I noticed a mistake that I had previously missed, it took me over an hour to update it all again if I could export it as rich text then I could have just edited the text from within word).

Basic Code Optimisation - Could there be an option or wizard to "compress" the code.


A work around is:

1. install pdfcreator
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/PDF/PDFCreator-look4soft.shtml

This acts like a printer driver but the end result is a pdf rather than a paper copy.

2. Within the Programming Editor, print your program listing and select pdfcreator as the printer.

3. If you want to transfer to MS Word, copy and paste from the .pdf document to the Word document - the colour scheme from PE has been retained :D

Copy of a listing as pdf and word document attached.
For the word document change the file extension from .txt to .doc first

Note this is not from my own PC so do not get too worried by the directory structure listed/shown at the top of the listings :)
 

Attachments

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SilentScreamer

Senior Member
Ahh, I never considered copying the text from acrobat. I have always inserted the pdf as a object into word. Thanks for the idea.
 

tiscando

Senior Member
More suggestions #2

!.) I still only have a serial terminal on PE (even v5.2.4) that is limited to raw ASCII.

to clarify from my previous post about this, I would like to have options in PE's terminal to allow:
  1. Typing decimal, hex, and binary numbers, and ascii charactors like this: {%10101101,$6A,34,"r",45,"go"},
  2. Typing hex-only {B4,23,5E},
  3. Typing decimal-only {165,3,84},
  4. Typing binary only {10010,00110110,011,10100110},
  5. As well as typing ascii only {37-This Requires AsciiToBin!/4;48}
similary, I would also like data in the input buffer to be displayed in different ways as well as in ascii. e.g:
  1. ascii mode: {6ak#},
  2. binary mode(shortened): {110110 1100001 1101011 100011},
  3. binary mode(8bit): {00110110 01100001 01101011 00100011},
  4. hex mode: {36 61 6B 23}
  5. decimal mode: {54, 97, 107, 35}.
The charactors in { } are what's typed in the terminal's output field.


".) I still don't have a simulation panel that simulates the lights on the keyboard from the keyled commands.


£.) all the new commands and system variables for the x2 parts are still black after I typed them in the window, but at least nearly all of them (if they are in correct syntax) pass the syntax check.
"adcsetup" could show the variable colour rather than the command colour because it is now suggested that it behaves like a variable rather than a command
 
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boriz

Senior Member
I almost never need a blank (new) program space when I run the PE. Please could you have the option for it to load the last program I worked on instead? It would save me a familiar boring routine of:

Closing the blank document
Opening the file menu
Searching through the list of recent files to identify which is the latest version

And would it be possible to have tabs for different documents?
 

westaust55

Moderator
I almost never need a blank (new) program space when I run the PE. Please could you have the option for it to load the last program I worked on instead? It would save me a familiar boring routine of:

Closing the blank document
Opening the file menu
Searching through the list of recent files to identify which is the latest version

And would it be possible to have tabs for different documents?
A shorter method than using the open menu and searching is to use the Recent Files/Programs menu which lists in order of last use the last few programs saved/accessed.
 

BCJKiwi

Senior Member
@Westy
Yes but when the editor is opened you still get a new blank file window.

Also, another really annoying thing (for me) is that the size of the window on opening a file is fixed. Why can't it either be set, or preferably, remember the last windows size like just about every other windows program does?
 

boriz

Senior Member
I said "Searching through the list of recent files".

It often does NOT have the file I want at the top. EG: I have several programs open in the editor. The one on top (last one to open) is the one I’m working on. The others are either previous versions of the program or some example I'm studying or little test routines etc.

Now I exit. It saves them all. What order do they appear on the recent files list?
 

BCJKiwi

Senior Member
If the files are closed one by one, the most recently used list reflects the last one open (in order) for me.

A simple test indicates that if the program is exited with multiple files open, they are stored in the recently used list with the last one opened at the top, not the last one worked on.
 

boriz

Senior Member
I also frequently forget about the other open windows (because there are no tabs they are hidden). So I close the window of the program I’m working on first, then find the other windows ‘revealed’ and then close the whole editor.

Anyway. The upshot is that what started as an inconvenience every time I open the PE, is becoming a pain in the A**.

The program at the top of the recent list should be the program last edited, or last burned to a Picaxe.

“Also, another really annoying thing (for me) is that the size of the window on opening a file is fixed. Why can't it either be set, or preferably, remember the last windows size like just about every other windows program does?”

Yep.
 

David Crocombe

New Member
The text has changed. Do you want to save the changes?

Every time I open a file, even if I don't make changes I get the following question.
I hate having to answer No to saving changes when I have just viewed a file.
It's a waste of my time.

"The text has changed. Do you want to save the changes?"

-------------
I also find the blank document opening all the time annoying.
I'd like to have an option I could configure as to whether I get a blank document or not upon opening the program.

Especially if I am opening an exisitng document from windows explorer, which starts the program, there is absolutely no need to also give me a blank document.
 

westaust55

Moderator
Every time I open a file, even if I don't make changes I get the following question.
I hate having to answer No to saving changes when I have just viewed a file.
It's a waste of my time.

"The text has changed. Do you want to save the changes?"

-------------
I also find the blank document opening all the time annoying.
I'd like to have an option I could configure as to whether I get a blank document or not upon opening the program.

Especially if I am opening an exisitng document from windows explorer, which starts the program, there is absolutely no need to also give me a blank document.

David,

Firstly, welcome to the PICAXE forum

Not sure when you get the message:
"The text has changed. Do you want to save the changes?"

I get that message in PE V5.2.4 if I do change text,
but NOT if I open a file from within the PE and then close it without doing anything to the file.

Ah thought of another test . . .
IF I open a file from within Windows Explorer that causes the PE to open and then the selected file, then YES, the message you indicate does occur when you close the file even if no changes made.

Helps to be clear about exactly when the "problem" situation occurs.
 
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