Is code completion playing dice?

[WooBean]

When I use in code editor a dot to see available record fields/functions I see unstable behavior of code completion mechanism. Is it by design?

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. //Lazarus 2.2.4 (rev lazarus_2_2_4) FPC 3.2.2 x86_64-win64-win32/win64
2. program project1;
3. {$mode objfpc}{$H+}
4. {$modeswitch advancedrecords on}
5. //{$mode delphi}
6.  
7. uses sysutils;
8.  
9.  
10. type
11.   myRec = record
12.     a:byte;
13.     x,y:double;
14.     b:word;
15.     function foo:string;
16.     function afoo:string;
17.     case byte of
18.     0:(cc:byte);
19.     1:(dd:int64);
20.   end;
21.  
22.   function myRec.foo:string;
23.   begin
24.     result:=self.dd.ToString;
25.     //after writing a dot after "self" I can see an order in code completion "offer":
26.     //dd
27.     //cc
28.     //y
29.     //x
30.     //a
31.     //afoo
32.     //b
33.     //foo
34.  
35.     //it was before writing main program code, after second attempt to enter a dot here set an order is as below
36.     //foo
37.     //dd
38.     //cc
39.     //y
40.     //x
41.     //a
42.     //afoo
43.     //b
44.  
45.     //after reloading Lazarus  attempt to enter a dot here makes an order as below
46.  
47.     //a
48.     //afoo
49.     //b
50.     //cc
51.     //dd
52.     //foo
53.     //x
54.     //y
55.    
56.   end;
57.  
58.  
59.   function myRec.afoo:string;
60.   begin
61.     result:=self.cc.ToString;
62.   end;
63.   var rec:myRec;
64. begin
65.  
66.   rec.a:=1;
67.   //after writing a dot after "rec" I can see the same order in code completion "offer"
68.   //foo
69.   //dd
70.   //cc
71.   //y
72.   //x
73.   //a
74.   //afoo
75.   //b
76.  
77.   //after reloading Lazarus order is
78.   //a
79.   //afoo
80.   //b
81.   //cc
82.   //dd
83.   //foo
84.   //x
85.   //y
86.  
87.   rec.b:=2;
88.   rec.x:=pi;
89.   rec.y:=2*pi;
90.   rec.cc:=5;
91.   writeln(rec.foo);
92.  
93.   readln;
94. end.
95.  

I would like to control a way how fields of a record are presented in code completion (at least to choose between order by name or by declaration sequence as it was in Delphi IDE - by popup menu). Is it possible?

[Martin_fr]

Tools > Options: Codetools > Identifier Completion

There are 2 options about "sorting"
- recently used at top
- sort for scope

Try adjusting them. You may not like the "recently used" to be sorted to the top.

Scope likely means: locals first, then class, then unit, ....

As for alphabetic/declaration => no idea.

[WooBean]

Tools > Options: Codetools > Identifier Completion

There are 2 options about "sorting"
- recently used at top
- sort for scope

Try adjusting them. You may not like the "recently used" to be sorted to the top.

Scope likely means: locals first, then class, then unit, ....

As for alphabetic/declaration => no idea.

Tried all the combinations - now all is sorted by name in each setting - ignoring my intentions, what a pity.
Archaic version of Delphi managed to do it - see a picture.

[Blaazen]

If you set - [X] Show recent identifier at top - it is forgotten when you restart Lazarus.

Lazarus probably cannot order items by declaration, only alphabetically + by scope.

[WooBean]

Regarding "Scope likely means: locals first, then class, then unit, ...." I think that code completion during writing code in IDE with variable identifier of a record (which always starts by pressing "." ie. "recName.") should work only with two options - ordered by name or by declaration/definition. Order by scope in that case should mean definition order. Such approach I can see in Delphi and it is good.

What is the aim to propose idenitifiers for fields (and functions/procedures) of record in that situation in an order based on previous actions of a programmer during writing code? Pure playing dice? 

[Martin_fr]

"scope ..." was an assumption on my side. I did not check if it is so.

But that aside.

Currently there is simply no option how to sort identifiers that are in the same group by "sort for scope". Or at least I haven't seen it.
IMHO both alphabetically and by-declaration are valid ideas.

I have no idea how much work it would be though. You can add a feature request on the issue tracker, but that might only be for the long term....

You could look at code completion (IIRC ide/sourceeditor.pp is a good start point for the search). The list is retrieved from codetools (package). I don't know if the sorting can be skipped, and if in that case maybe they come in the desired order.... If not, it will be a lot of work.