TWEeT #16: Custom Keyword List for Field Names
Thor TWEeT #16: Custom Keyword List for Field Names
The new feature of Custom Keyword List for field names has been shown in a number of images in earlier TWEeTs (including the one below, fromIntellisenseX: Aliases for VFP Tables), without ever being described.
Did you notice that some of the field names use upper case(“Field_Type”, e.g.,) in the middle? The Custom Keyword List allows you to define the case that is to be used for field names.
How is this done?
Thor maintains a table of global definitions of field names (and for other names, but that is addressed in another TWEeT,Custom Keyword List - all other names). The table has a single field, containing the field names as you want them to be represented. You can open the table for editing by using Thor tool Browse Custom Keyword List, although that’s not a very convenient way to go about building the table.
Instead, there are a number of Thor tools you can use:
- Add highlighted word– adds the currently highlighted word to the KCL. If the word is already in the list, the highlighted word replaces it.
- Add field names from current table– opens separate forms for words that are new to the list or might replace existing words on the list. You can edit the values in the “New Value” column (but you can’t change the spelling, only which letters are upper case).
- Super Browse– if you mark the checkbox under the list of field names, that list becomes editable, allowing you to change which letters are to be upper case. Simply click on any field name and edit it so that it appears as you would like it to. Any field name that you change is posted immediately to the Custom Keyword List and will be used any time this field name is referenced forany table, not just the current one. (No, youcan't modify the structure of the file this way -- all you can change is which characters are upper case.)
- Add all words from folder or project– This is the big papa of them all, as it adds all names (not only field names) from all your code to the KCL. Once processing is complete (which may take a few minutes), it brings up the same two forms as shown above under Add field names from current table. (Just with a lot more entries). This is described in more detail inCustom Keyword List - all other names.
Where are these field names in the Custom Keyword List used?
These field names from the Custom Keyword List are used every place in IntellisenseX where tables are referenced (and for both VFP Tables and SQL Server Tables) and as show in SuperBrowse, above.
See also History of all Thor TWEeTs andthe Thor Forum.
Previous headlines
#27, 2014-02-24 TWEeT #15: IntellisenseX and the Alias Dictionary
#26, 2014-02-17 TWEeT #14: IntellisenseX for Objects
#25, 2014-02-10 TWEeT #13: New (hidden) IntellisenseX Feature
#24, 2014-02-03 TWEeT #12: IntellisenseX by Dot or by Hot Key?
#23, 2014-01-27 TWEeT #11: IntellisenseX: Aliases for VFP Tables
#22, 2014-01-20 TWEeT #10: IntellisenseX: Field Names from SQL Server Tables
#21, 2014-01-13 TWEeT #9: Extract to Variable and Extract to Constant
#20, 2014-01-05 TWEeT #8: Creating Properties and Methods (#3)
#19, 2013-12-18 TWEeT #7: Creating Properties and Methods (#2)
#18, 2013-08-26 Thor Version 1.40 released: Thor ToolBar
#17, 2013-06-23 New VFPX Project: Finder
#16, 2013-03-31 New Video: 50 Ways to Run a Thor Tool
#15, 2012-03-05 New Thor Tool: AutoComplete
#14, 2012-01-16 Thor videos available from Thor menu
#13, 2012-01-05 Thor's Tool Launcher: The one tool youmust use
#12, 2012-11-16 Thor menus provide access to Discussion Forums and Change Logs
#11, 2012-11-10 Online FoxPro Users Group (OFUG) created
#10, 2012-10-14 New VFPX Project: FoxcodePlus
#9, 2012-10-06 Easy access to all VFPX home pages
#8, 2012-09-30 IntellisenseX released as a VFPX project
#7, 2012-09-19 All VFPX projects can be downloaded from Thor
#6, 2012-09-16 Use the Thor discussion group
#5, 2012-09-10 IntellisenseX released
#4, 2012-09-09 Data Explorer is now a Thor tool
#3, 2012-09-04 New VFPX Projects: Dynamic Forms & Data Explorer
#2, 2012-08-30 Join the Thor Beta discussion group
#1, 2012-08-25: Introducing Thor News
Thor Version 1.40 released: Thor ToolBar
Added the Thor ToolBar. Tools may be added to the Toolbar may using the checkbox shown in the Thor Configuration form, below (and also available in theTool Launcher.)
When you add a tool to the Thor Toolbar, you can select a caption for the tool or select an image to represent it. In the sample below, abbreviated captions are used.
The toolbar’s size, positioning, and docking, persist from one session to the next. (Truth be told, persisting the docking has been problematic.)
New VFPX Project: Finder
The new VFPX project Finder is a powerful search tool to find forms and classes. It searches either a project or folder (with sub-folders) for names of files or classes.
Files or classes can be opened by double-clicking and there are numerous other options available from the context menu for rows in the grid.
When Class Search is used, the classes found can be dragged/dropped onto forms or classes being edited.
See the Finder Home Page and watch theFinder introductory video (11:25).
Thor videos available from Thor menu
There are already a number of videos explaining features of Thor and there are more to come. Follow the link from the Thor menu to the list of all Thor videos.
Thor's Tool Launcher: The one tool you must use
Thor’s Tool Launcher uses a simple screen that allows you to browse through all the Thor tools by keyword, to read their descriptions or visit their home pages, to set their options, and, most importantly, to run them. It also helps you to organize the tools that you use most to make them easily accessible.
Thor suffers from an over-abundance of tools – there are so many that it may seem impossible to find which tools are of interest to you. The Tool Launcher simplifies that search.
Watch this short video (7:57) to learn all about it.
Thor menus provide access to Discussion Forums and Change Logs
The Thor menu has been changed to provide access to a number of related Discussion Forums.
These forums are the preferred form of communication about these tools, rather than private emails, or using the Universal Thread, Foxite, or any other on-line forums.
Change logs for the various tools and components of Thor are now available, as well as a link to the never ending list of Thor ERs.
Online FoxPro Users Group (OFUG) created
A new Online Foxpro User Group is starting up. For more information, join the Google group athttps://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/ofug.
Meetings will be held the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 8:30 Eastern Standard Time via GotoMeeting.com or equivalent.
Details about how to join the meeting will be published on the group forum (see link above) immediately before the meeting is to start.
We intend to record the meeting and make it available on-line for those unable to attend.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, November 20th, 8:30 PM Eastern Time (0130 UTC Wednesday, November 21)
Presenters:
- Matt Slay - Dynamic Forms
- Jim Nelson - PEM Editor and related tools
New VFPX Project: FoxcodePlus
The new VFPX project FoxcodePlus (Beta 1) is available from Check For Updates.
This project is not related to IntellisenseX, another VFPX project, although both provide Intellisense enhancements. FoxCodePlus provides a wider range of features and includes some of the features provided by IntellisenseX. Although not yet tested, it appears that the two may be used concurrently.
After downloading (which includes both the code and documentation), you can use the Thor menu pad in the system menu to open the folder in which these components are installed:
Easy access to all VFPX home pages
Thor now provides ready access to the home pages for all VFPX projects, available from the Thor menu pad.
IntellisenseX released as a VFPX project
IntellisenseX has been released as a VFPX project.
IntellisenseX refers to a suite of Thor Tools that provide functionality similar to native Intellisense. These tools display lists of available variable names, field names, or members (properties, events, methods, and objects) while you type code, just like Intellisense. However, they cover those areas that Intellisense forgot (such as the list of field names in a table when editing in a code window) and provide new capabilities, available through customization, such as displaying the list of field names in an SQL table.
Visit the IntellisenseX home page and also watch the Intellisense training videos.
IntellisenseX is available from Check For Updates.
All VFPX projects can be downloaded from Thor
The current version of all VFPX projects can now be downloaded directly from Check For Updates.
The projects listed in Check For Updates are listed alphabetically within these five groups:
- Projects that you have already downloaded for which there is a more current version. (see #4)
- Projects that you have not downloaded which have had updates in the last three months
- All other projects that you have not downloaded
- Projects that you have already downloaded and which are current
- All projects marked as “never update”. This takes precedence over any of the categories above.
Use the Thor discussion group for comments,
suggestions, bug reports, etc.
Use the “Community / Discussions” menu item in the Thor menu pad to send comments, suggestions, bug reports, and so on to the Thor Discussion Group. You are invited to become a member of the group so that you can see what is going on in the land of Thor.
Two things of note:
- You can email discussion questions (with screenshots) directly to:
- When reporting bugs, please provide as much information as possible, including screenshots. Any information you can provide (such as an image of the debugger, etc.) will be greatly appreciated.
IntellisenseX released
IntellisenseX refers to a suite of Thor Tools that provide functionality similar to native Intellisense. These tools display lists of available variable names, field names, or members (properties, events, methods, and objects) while you type code, just like Intellisense. However, they cover those areas that Intellisense forgot (such as the list of field names in a table when editing in a code window) and provide new capabilities, available through customization, such as displaying the list of field names in an SQL table, as shown below. For a full description, see the IntellisenseX Home Page.
Data Explorer is now a Thor tool
Data Explorer 3 is now available as a Thor Tool. This means that you can choose to access it by hot key by assigning the hot key in the Thor configuration form.
New VFPX Projects: Dynamic Forms & Data Explorer
Two new VFPX projects have been created in the last few days and are available from Check For Updates:
After downloading, you can use the Thor menu pad in the system menu to open the folder in which these components are installed:
Join the Thor Beta discussion group.
The Thor Beta discussion group is intended for discussions of features currently under development for Beta versions of Thor, the Thor Repository, and PEM Editor.
All other Thor issues should be directed to the Thor discussion group.
To use the Beta version for Thor, download Thor Repository Beta Updater.Zip and unzip it into this sub-folder of the folder where you have installed Thor:Thor\Tools\Updates\My Updates
Thereafter, you will see a record for "Thor Repository Beta" when you run "Check For Updates".
Introducing Thor News.
This is the first installment of the Thor News, which will notify you of changes and updates to Thor. It will also, from time to time, explore some of the more interesting tools found in Thor.
The latest news will be brought to you:
- each time that you run Check For Updates
- once a week when you execute RunThor.
You can change these settings in the Thor Configuration form: