Ctags and Search Results window move in Textpad

Aeneas · Post by **Aeneas** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 7:53 am

Is there any way to:
1) generate Ctags databases on source code directories and subdirectories, and then perform Ctags C/C++ variable and function definition lookups within Textpad ?

2) move the Search Results window so that it is a top to bottom window on the right hand side of the main Textpad window.
With today's widescreens, the Search Results output should finally have found a permanent home where it is not sharing vertical space with the source file you are looking at currrently.

Post by **helios** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:02 am

1. This article on Ctags may help:

http://www.textpad.com/support/tips/index.html#ctags

2. Configure/Preferences/View/Dockable log windows. You can then drag the title bar of the docked Search Results window and drop it on the desired dockable arrow that appears on the right hand side.

I hope this helps.

woho · Post by **woho** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:37 am

FindTag is an excellent TextPad - cTags interface written by Frank Fesevur.
- a) position cursor in name of item to search (variable, function, macro,...)
=> jump to definition of item
- b) provides GUI for browsing definitions graphically

=> Search FindTag in the forum
=> http://findtag.sourceforge.net/

Thanks Frank !

Aeneas · Post by **Aeneas** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:50 am

helios wrote:1. This article on Ctags may help:
http://www.textpad.com/support/tips/index.html#ctags
2. Configure/Preferences/View/Dockable log windows. You can then drag the title bar of the docked Search Results window and drop it on the desired dockable arrow that appears on the right hand side.
I hope this helps.

1) Unfortunately, those Ctags instructions at that link are poorly written.
After a search, I did just stumble across where the Tools/Add feature was located, but the other arguments listed do not have a place in that menu.
Someone should rewrite the text there.
Relying on Cygwin to speak to the native Windows 7 environment appears to be a awkward proposition.
I saw Exuberant Ctags work seamlessly with another editor, but that editor was harder to use or had bugs.
Ultimately, this ought to be included in the next version of Textpad.
2) The re-docking of the Search Results window worked fine, once you keep dragging the Search Results window around until you get the hang of it.

Aeneas · Post by **Aeneas** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 12:19 pm

woho wrote:FindTag is an excellent TextPad - cTags interface written by Frank Fesevur.
- a) position cursor in name of item to search (variable, function, macro,...)
=> jump to definition of item
- b) provides GUI for browsing definitions graphically
=> Search FindTag in the forum
=> http://findtag.sourceforge.net/
Thanks Frank !

I will try this when I have a chance.

Aeneas · Post by **Aeneas** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:27 am

woho wrote:FindTag is an excellent TextPad - cTags interface written by Frank Fesevur.
- a) position cursor in name of item to search (variable, function, macro,...)
=> jump to definition of item
- b) provides GUI for browsing definitions graphically
=> Search FindTag in the forum
=> http://findtag.sourceforge.net/
Thanks Frank !

After following the instructions under Textpad 5.3.1 to Configure/Preferences/Tools the Findtag and Show Tags tools,
I do not see the method to define a project of files, or at least point Findtag tool at a main directory and all of its subdirectories of .c, .cpp and .h files, and have it create the ctags list file and then save that context as a Workspace.
Any thoughts or guiding URLs as to that methodology under Textpad ?
Also, I do not see the option: "Always use full paths in the tags file" .

woho · Post by **woho** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 2:57 pm

a) I'm using german version so maybe the fields are named a little different:
My TextPad Tool:
command: D:\Programm\FindTag\FindTag.exe
parameter: -tag $AppWnd $File $Line $SelWord
directory: $FileDir\..\..

=> the directory determines the 'root' for ctags; in my case I start 2 levels above my file

b) dialog 'Show Tags'/button 'options'

hope this helps
WoHo

Aeneas · Post by **Aeneas** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:32 pm

Results of installing the FindTags 2.0 and following its instructions:
================================
Find Tags:
-tag $AppWnd $File $Line $SelWord
Tag " not found!

Show Tags:
-tree $AppWnd $File $Line
Wrong command line parameters!

File Tags:
-file $AppWnd $File $Line
Wrong command line parameters!

Tag Back
-back
Nothing to pop back to!
==============================

I do not see any of the Options entering menus,
such as:
Always use full paths in the tags file
Use DDE
etc

What is the exact keystroke path to these Options ?

woho · Post by **woho** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 8:41 am

Find Tags:
-tag $AppWnd $File $Line $SelWord
Tag " not found!

- a) you did not write what you wrote in the 'Initial folder' field (eventually I switched my TextPad language - I had written 'directory' instead before)
=> that must also be set !!

- b) apparently you did not select any language element !
select e.g. a c-function and try again

did you follow instructions in FindTag/ReadMe.htm/Installation ?

was there a 'tags' file (thats the default name and it is a ASCII so you can open with Textpad) created by ctags.exe ?

the File Tags dialog only shows when
- Show Tags or
- File Tags
was called successfully => then there is an 'Options' button !

Aeneas · Post by **Aeneas** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:15 am

After messing around with this add-on and its misleading error messages, I realized I had to open a file in the directory above my source directories before it would then start to work, at all.
It then did create a tag file with the Tags in it.

The next question is how does the user maintain that file structure position as the anchor of the project, if the add-on is responsive to the path of the current open file.
What happens if the user opens subsequently a file at the bottom of his source tree.
Is a new tree created there ?

By the way, where are these variables like $FileDir defined/explained ?
Initial Folder is set to $FileDir in the instructions, as I said I followed.

And what does error message "DDE Connection failed!" mean ?
When the program transfers to a Tag, rather than create a new tab inside the same invocation of Textpad, it instead spawns a completely new execution of the Textpad program. These add up over a period of time.

ak47wong · Post by **ak47wong** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 2:11 pm

Aeneas wrote:By the way, where are these variables like $FileDir defined/explained?

I can't help you with your other questions, but $FileDir and others are explained in the help under Reference Information > Tool Parameter Macros.

woho · Post by **woho** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 3:38 pm

1) I had written

=> the directory determines the 'root' for ctags; in my case I start 2 levels above my file

before

2) You do not have to use $FileDir you can input a fixed string like C:\MyProjs\No7

3) $FileDir et alii are TextPad Macros for Tools => search the TextPad Help for $File

4) My Settings are:
- Textpad/Configure/Preferences/General
[ ] (unchecked) Allow multiple instances to run
=> files are opened in the same Instance of TextPad
- In my Windows Shortcut to TextPad I use commandline option -m ('Multiple') so this forces a new instance independent on the preferences

- Find Tag/Options:
[ ](unchecked) Use DD
=> no more error message

Aeneas · Post by **Aeneas** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:47 pm

ak47wong wrote:
Aeneas wrote:By the way, where are these variables like $FileDir defined/explained?
I can't help you with your other questions, but $FileDir and others are explained in the help under Reference Information > Tool Parameter Macros.

I see now.
I was looking in Preferences/Macros.