Request for character wrap (not word wrap) in fields

[richmond62]

Version with charWrap no available: it's not rocket science; it's RUDE and it's CRUDE,

BUT it works!

[netdzynr]

If you can use LiveCode 6.5 or later, you can do this type of wrapping more dynamically using the measureText function. By placing the field within a group, you can wrap instantaneously because the resizeControl message is continuously sent to a group while it is being resized.

[rbeynon]

I'm bringing this up once again. (still a newbie)
The request was for wrapping of a single string of char (e.g. an URL) and the general response was 'why would you want to do that?'

Well, I work with protein sequences - effectively defined by a random string of 20 different characters with no spaces or other separators, sever4al hundred char long, or even more. If I past such a sequence into a field, I don't want to 'read' it (that WOULD be silly) but I do get some feedback about overall length, key features at the start and end etc. A useful check. At the moment, I could have to do a horizontal scroll, say, of 1000 characters, to do this.

Is there are nifty way to force a field to wrap in such a way that when I paste in a character string, it wraps, at say, repeats of 80 char.?

I know it is not normal, but it's still a requirement.

Thanks in advance
Rob

[rbeynon]

OK, I missed the second page. I'm working with the solutions there (neat!) and may have a solution. Please don't waste time on me whilst I am making progress! Thanks
Rob

[rbeynon]

OK, it works until I paste in a new protein sequence. Is there an equivalent within a field to say 'on paste, trigger this script'
thank you

[richmond62]

You could think about trapping the rawKey code for Paste (and this will depend on which OS you are using).

Scrub that.

Try:

Code: Select all

on pasteKey

[rbeynon]

Thanks, I tried to capture pasteKey and trigger a reformat, but no luck.

More seriously, I realised that the dynamic wrapping does so by adding <return>, so this will not work in my application - might be easiest to strip out before using, I suppose.

More thought...

Rob

[richmond62]

Count the characters, and every 80 chars bung in a return character.

Sorry: off to buy chisels, screws, kitchen sink (seriously); otherwise I'd knock a demo together.

[SparkOut]

Code: Select all

on textChanged 
  --formatTheText
end textChanged

The textChanged message should cover what you need, a paste of new text will definitely cause the message to fire.

I understand why you want to do this, but not exactly what it is you want. Do you have an example of how any other text editor does what you want? You want wrapping, but without inserting return chars? Is this by changing the width of the field/tab/viewport to fit the required number of chars and wrap at the edge?

[Thierry]

Do you have an example of how any other text editor does what you want?
You want wrapping, but without inserting return chars?

Hi SparkOut,

here is one example with BBEdit.
First screen without any soft wrap; second with.

the View Menu:

Regards,

Thierry

[SparkOut]

Hi Thierry
Yes, that's what I was thinking, so doesn't Scott Rossi's live_wrap stack do what is needed? (I must admit not having yet been able to try it out, but I believe it's intended to tackle the problem the way Rob wants.)

[Thierry]

Hi Thierry
Yes, that's what I was thinking, so doesn't Scott Rossi's live_wrap stack do what is needed?
doesn't Scott Rossi's live_wrap stack do what is needed?

Sorry, I'm not aware of such a stack... any link to it ?

Thanks,

Thierry

[SparkOut]

A few posts up this thread, by netdzynr (Scott Rossi) from 15th March 2015

[Thierry]

A few posts up this thread, by netdzynr (Scott Rossi) from 15th March 2015

Thanks Sir,

So here is a proof of concept.
Modified code of Scott and using the textChanged message...

Copy the sequence and paste it to the bottom field; that's it.
However, there are side effects,
but I leave that as an exercise for the reader...

HTH,

Thierry

[thatkeith]

Zombie thread alert!

URLs are a great example of strings that are almost always a solid run of chars with no spaces and can be really rather long – or at least long enough to require a rather wide text field, something that's often really unsuitable for the rest of the UI. I'd like to present a field for someone to type or paste in a URL, and I'd like to be able to show it to them in an editable form that wraps into multiple lines if necessary (without throwing in return chars).

Basically, something like allowCharWrap or a logical equivalent would be marvellous, defaulting to off but ready to be invoked when the need arises.

[sigh]

k