4.4 Completion

IDLWAVE offers completion for class names, routine names, keywords, system variables, system variable tags, class structure tags, regular structure tags and file names. As in many programming modes, completion is bound to M-TAB (or simply TAB in the IDLWAVE Shell; see Using the Shell). Completion uses exactly the same internal information as routine info, so when necessary (rarely) it can be updated with C-c C-i (idlwave-update-routine-info).

The completion function is context sensitive and figures out what to complete based on the location of the point. Here are example lines and what M-TAB would try to complete when the cursor is on the position marked with a ‘_’:

plo_                    Procedure
x = a_                  Function
plot,xra_               Keyword of plot procedure
plot,x,y,/x_            Keyword of plot procedure
plot,min(_              Keyword of min function
obj -> a_               Object method (procedure)
a[2,3] = obj -> a_      Object method (function)
x = obj_new('IDL_       Class name
x = obj_new('MyCl',a_   Keyword to Init method in class MyCl
pro A_                  Class name
pro _                   Fill in Class:: of first method in this file
!v_                     System variable
!version.t_             Structure tag of system variable
self.g_                 Class structure tag in methods
state.w_                Structure tag, if tag completion enabled
name = 'a_              File name (default inside quotes)

The only place where completion is ambiguous is procedure/function keywords versus functions. After ‘plot,x,_’, IDLWAVE will always assume a keyword to ‘plot’. However, a function is also a possible completion here. You can force completion of a function name at such a location by using a prefix arg: C-u M-TAB.

Giving two prefix arguments (C-u C-u M-TAB) prompts for a regular expression to search among the commands to be completed. As an example, completing a blank line in this way will allow you to search for a procedure matching a regexp.

If the list of completions is too long to fit in the *Completions* window, the window can be scrolled by pressing M-TAB repeatedly. Online help (if installed) for each possible completion is available by clicking with mouse-3 on the item. Items for which system online help (from the IDL manual) is available will be emphasized (e.g., colored blue). For other items, the corresponding source code or DocLib header will be used as the help text.

Completion is not a blocking operation; you are free to continue editing, enter commands, or simply ignore the *Completions* buffer during a completion operation. If, however, the most recent command was a completion, C-g will remove the buffer and restore the window configuration. You can also remove the buffer at any time with no negative consequences.

User Option: idlwave-keyword-completion-adds-equal (t) ¶

Non-nil means completion automatically adds ‘=’ after completed keywords.

User Option: idlwave-function-completion-adds-paren (t) ¶

Non-nil means completion automatically adds ‘(’ after completed function. A value of 2 means also add the closing parenthesis and position the cursor between the two.

User Option: idlwave-completion-restore-window-configuration (t) ¶

Non-nil means restore window configuration after successful completion.

User Option: idlwave-highlight-help-links-in-completion (t) ¶

Non-nil means highlight completions for which system help is available.

• Case of Completed Words
• Object Method Completion and Class Ambiguity
• Object Method Completion in the Shell
• Class and Keyword Inheritance
• Structure Tag Completion