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From: kcooper@netcom.com (Ken Cooper)
Subject: Re: Visual Smalltalk browser questions
Message-ID: <kcooperD9vK0M.9D5@netcom.com>
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
References: <jnedzelD9v1AJ.7Mx@netcom.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 1995 22:05:09 GMT
Lines: 47
Sender: kcooper@netcom8.netcom.com

In article <jnedzelD9v1AJ.7Mx@netcom.com>,
Jared Nedzel <jnedzel@netcom.com> wrote:
>
>I've got a couple questions on the Visual Smalltalk browser:
>
>1) Is there a way to get an alphabetical class listing, rather than the
>hierarchical listing?

Well, you can't easily in the default browsers, but our product edIt
may interest you.  It adds a popup dialog to the CHB, called a QuickList,
that allows you to rapidly select a class by typing enough of its name
to distinguish it from others (with great feedback, and yes, the list
is alphabetical).  QuickLists are also provided for method selection, 
package selection in Team/V, Debugger stack contexts, instance variables 
in Inspectors, and more.  You'll find yourself quickly getting addicted to 
this feature.  I know; I just spent the last few months doing the port 
to OS/2 without having access to QuickLists. :-(

>2) How can I search for sendors and/or implementors of a method other than
>the method that I'm in?  I'm getting a doesNotUnderstand because I'm sending
>a method to the wrong class, but I can't figure out how to get the darn
>browser to search for the method....

Again, edIt may be for you.  It has 'hypertext' senders, implementors,
and references search capability.  What this means is that you can
click somewhere within a message send in the text of your code, and 
edIt will parse the method to find the selector and execute the appropriate
search on it. (Parsing of course implies that this works even when the 
arguments separating the keywords form complex expressions.) If you want to
revert to the barbaric practice of typing in the selector, you can do
that as well. :-)

This really only scratches the surface of what edIt provides; there's
also syntax color highlighting, auto code formatting (in a style you
can tailor), automatic variable declaration, configurable keybindings,
and many useful niceties like block indent, comment filling, and 
auto commenting.  What more could you ask for for $195? :-)
To do it justice, you should take a look at the product.  If you're 
using Win32, and you'd like to try out a fully functional demo, try 
downloading the following file:

	st.cs.uiuc.edu:/ftp/pub/cooper/edIt/editdemo.exe.  

If you're using OS/2, send me email, and I'll get you on our beta.

Ken Cooper
Cooper & Peters, Inc.
