basic using icicels

basic using icicels

[tomer]

Is it possible to complete zero length string with icicles
in other words , is it possible to have in the completion buffer ALL
the words avaialbe in ALL buffers
and from there starting filtering ?
Thanks
Tomer

RE: basic using icicels

[Drew Adams]

> Is it possible to complete zero length string with icicles
> in other words , is it possible to have in the completion buffer ALL
> the words avaialbe in ALL buffers and from there starting filtering ?

Not sure what you mean, exactly. 

But yes, if you type nothing in the minibuffer when it asks for completion
input, and you then hit TAB or S-TAB, you should get all available completion
candidates. This is a common action - it's how you see all possible candidates.
If you type something, then what you type filters the possible candidates;
otherwise, you see them all.

However, I don't know what you mean by the last part: "ALL the words available
in ALL buffers".  Minibuffer completion is available for lots of different kinds
of object (buffer name, file name, function name, search hit,...). What is the
context here? What command are you using?

It sounds like you want to complete a word (in a buffer other than the
minibuffer), using the words that are present in all buffers as candidates. Is
that correct? Are you referring to `C-M-/', which (in Icicle mode) is
`icicle-dabbrev-completion'? If so, use `C-h k C-M-/' to see the description of
this command. In that description, you see that `C-u C-u C-M-/' uses all words
from all buffers as candidates. (`C-h k' is your friend.)

Re: basic using icicels

[tomer]

On Sep 1, 8:23 pm, "Drew Adams" <drew.ad...@oracle.com> wrote:
> > Is it possible to complete zero length string with icicles
> > in other words , is it possible to have in the completion buffer ALL
> > the words avaialbe in ALL buffers and from there starting filtering ?
>
> Not sure what you mean, exactly.
>
> But yes, if you type nothing in the minibuffer when it asks for completion
> input, and you then hit TAB or S-TAB, you should get all available completion
> candidates. This is a common action - it's how you see all possible candidates.
> If you type something, then what you type filters the possible candidates;
> otherwise, you see them all.
>
> However, I don't know what you mean by the last part: "ALL the words available
> in ALL buffers".  Minibuffer completion is available for lots of different kinds
> of object (buffer name, file name, function name, search hit,...). What is the
> context here? What command are you using?
>
> It sounds like you want to complete a word (in a buffer other than the
> minibuffer), using the words that are present in all buffers as candidates. Is
> that correct? Are you referring to `C-M-/', which (in Icicle mode) is
> `icicle-dabbrev-completion'? If so, use `C-h k C-M-/' to see the description of
> this command. In that description, you see that `C-u C-u C-M-/' uses all words
> from all buffers as candidates. (`C-h k' is your friend.)

Thanks for the detailed answer.

first off all, thanks for this amazing extention.

it is dream come true .



you are correct for my intention but i didnt understand the solution.

i want to use dabbrev of icicle and also to see ALL words in ALL
buffers in the completion list.

the use for this is obvious , suppose i do remeber only the middle of
word that exist in other buffer.

in my current situation i dont know how to "tell" icicle to show all
words in all buffers without a prefix.

if i use icicle-dabbrev-completion with no prefix i get the message "
no dynamic exit"

the same message occur with c-u c-u icicle-dabbrev-completion.


hope i was clear

thanks a lot

in advance.

RE: basic using icicels

[Drew Adams]

> > > Is it possible to complete zero length string with icicles
> > > in other words , is it possible to have in the completion 
> > > buffer ALL the words avaialbe in ALL buffers and from there
> > > starting filtering ?
> >
> > Not sure what you mean, exactly.
> > But yes, if you type nothing in the minibuffer when it asks 
> > for completion input, and you then hit TAB or S-TAB, you
> > should get all available completion candidates. This is a
> > common action - it's how you see all possible candidates.
> > If you type something, then what you type filters the 
> > possible candidates; otherwise, you see them all.
> >
> > However, I don't know what you mean by the last part: "ALL 
> > the words available in ALL buffers".  Minibuffer completion
> > is available for lots of different kinds of object (buffer
> > name, file name, function name, search hit,...). What is the
> > context here? What command are you using?
> >
> > It sounds like you want to complete a word (in a buffer 
> > other than the minibuffer), using the words that are present
> > in all buffers as candidates. Is that correct? Are you
> > referring to `C-M-/', which (in Icicle mode) is
> > `icicle-dabbrev-completion'? If so, use `C-h k C-M-/' to see
> > the description of this command. In that description, you see
> > that `C-u C-u C-M-/' uses all words
> > from all buffers as candidates. (`C-h k' is your friend.)
> 
> Thanks for the detailed answer.
> first off all, thanks for this amazing extention.
> it is dream come true .
> 
> you are correct for my intention but i didnt understand the solution.
> 
> i want to use dabbrev of icicle and also to see ALL words in ALL
> buffers in the completion list. 
> the use for this is obvious , suppose i do remeber only the middle of
> word that exist in other buffer.
> 
> in my current situation i dont know how to "tell" icicle to show all
> words in all buffers without a prefix.
> 
> if i use icicle-dabbrev-completion with no prefix i get the message "
> no dynamic exit"
> the same message occur with c-u c-u icicle-dabbrev-completion.

I understand now. The Icicles version of `C-M-/', like the vanilla Emacs
version, required you to have a non-empty prefix as a starting point, even
though you could then use apropos (e.g. substring) completion to choose among
the candidate completions.

I've changed this to accommodate your expectation, which was reasonable. You can
now complete immediately even from an empty string (e.g. at the beginning of a
buffer). Try the latest version. HTH.

Re: basic using icicels

[tomer]

On Sep 2, 7:46 pm, "Drew Adams" <drew.ad...@oracle.com> wrote:
> > > > Is it possible to complete zero length string with icicles
> > > > in other words , is it possible to have in the completion
> > > > buffer ALL the words avaialbe in ALL buffers and from there
> > > > starting filtering ?
>
> > > Not sure what you mean, exactly.
> > > But yes, if you type nothing in the minibuffer when it asks
> > > for completion input, and you then hit TAB or S-TAB, you
> > > should get all available completion candidates. This is a
> > > common action - it's how you see all possible candidates.
> > > If you type something, then what you type filters the
> > > possible candidates; otherwise, you see them all.
>
> > > However, I don't know what you mean by the last part: "ALL
> > > the words available in ALL buffers".  Minibuffer completion
> > > is available for lots of different kinds of object (buffer
> > > name, file name, function name, search hit,...). What is the
> > > context here? What command are you using?
>
> > > It sounds like you want to complete a word (in a buffer
> > > other than the minibuffer), using the words that are present
> > > in all buffers as candidates. Is that correct? Are you
> > > referring to `C-M-/', which (in Icicle mode) is
> > > `icicle-dabbrev-completion'? If so, use `C-h k C-M-/' to see
> > > the description of this command. In that description, you see
> > > that `C-u C-u C-M-/' uses all words
> > > from all buffers as candidates. (`C-h k' is your friend.)
>
> > Thanks for the detailed answer.
> > first off all, thanks for this amazing extention.
> > it is dream come true .
>
> > you are correct for my intention but i didnt understand the solution.
>
> > i want to use dabbrev of icicle and also to see ALL words in ALL
> > buffers in the completion list.
> > the use for this is obvious , suppose i do remeber only the middle of
> > word that exist in other buffer.
>
> > in my current situation i dont know how to "tell" icicle to show all
> > words in all buffers without a prefix.
>
> > if i use icicle-dabbrev-completion with no prefix i get the message "
> > no dynamic exit"
> > the same message occur with c-u c-u icicle-dabbrev-completion.
>
> I understand now. The Icicles version of `C-M-/', like the vanilla Emacs
> version, required you to have a non-empty prefix as a starting point, even
> though you could then use apropos (e.g. substring) completion to choose among
> the candidate completions.
>
> I've changed this to accommodate your expectation, which was reasonable. You can
> now complete immediately even from an empty string (e.g. at the beginning of a
> buffer). Try the latest version. HTH.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

where can i find the latest version . (could you give a link)?

RE: basic using icicels

[Drew Adams]

> where can i find the latest version . (could you give a link)?

Same place, I assume, that you found the version you have. ;-)

To download the individual libraries:
http://www.emacswiki.org/cgi-bin/wiki/Icicles_-_Libraries

To download all libraries together:
http://www.emacswiki.org/cgi-bin/wiki/Icicles_-_Libraries#BulkIciclesDownload

Re: basic using icicels

[tomer]

On Sep 3, 4:54 pm, "Drew Adams" <drew.ad...@oracle.com> wrote:
> > where can i find the latest version . (could you give a link)?
>
> Same place, I assume, that you found the version you have. ;-)
>
> To download the individual libraries:http://www.emacswiki.org/cgi-bin/wiki/Icicles_-_Libraries
>
> To download all libraries together:http://www.emacswiki.org/cgi-bin/wiki/Icicles_-_Libraries#BulkIcicles...

Thanks, I have tried it it works only in start of buffer.
when i use it in the middle of of bufffer the icicles tries to
complete the word backwords to the cursor.
Is there an option to 'tell" icicles that if there is space before the
cursor and exeucte completion , then the  icicles would give me ALL
words in ALL buffers ?
in other words Is possible the use ALL words in ALL buffer not just in
the start of buffer ?
Thanks
Tomer

RE: basic using icicels

[Drew Adams]

Hi Tomer,

> Thanks, I have tried it it works only in start of buffer.
> when i use it in the middle of of bufffer the icicles tries to
> complete the word backwords to the cursor.

Sorry, I have no idea what you mean by "complete the word backwards to the
cursor".

If you feel you've found a bug, please report it: `M-x icicle-send-bug-report'.
Please give a precise, step-by-step recipe, starting with emacs -Q. FYI: Read
node "Bugs" in the Emacs manual, particularly subnode "Understanding Bug
Reporting".

This is the intended behavior:

1. If the text before point can be completed as a prefix, it is. Completion
candidates are provided in *Completions*. The candidates are those determined by
dabbrev.

2. Otherwise, if your minibuffer input is empty, then all words are presented as
candidates. (All words in all buffers, if you use `C-u C-u'.)

3. Otherwise (your input is not empty, and there are no matching candidates), a
message tells you there are no completions.

#1 and #3 are the same as for vanilla Emacs command `dabbrev-completion'. In
particular, wrt #1, whenever text before point can be completed, it is. See the
dabbrev doc for how it determines whether the text before point can be completed
and which words are chosen as candidates.

This is where `icicle-dabbrev-completion' differs from vanilla
`dabbrev-completion':

* In #2 above - vanilla dabbrev just raises an error saying sorry, no
completion.

* You can use minibuffer completion to choose a candidate in *Completions*.
Vanilla dabbrev does not use the minibuffer for completion.

* You can use all Icicles completion enhancements to choose a candidate: apropos
completion, progressive completion, chipping away stuff you don't want, etc.

> Is there an option to 'tell" icicles that if there is space before the
> cursor and exeucte completion , then the  icicles would give me ALL
> words in ALL buffers ?

No. See #1 above. Icicles uses the same criteria as vanilla dabbrev for deciding
whether the text before point can be completed. And it uses the same initial set
of candidates. 

My guess is that this is what you are running into. You seem to be expecting
that a space before point means there can be no matching completions. Dabbrev
thinks differently - it often lets you complete text before point even when
there is a space.

This is by design (feature, not bug), and it is unrelated to Icicles. That is,
Icicles (at least so far) does not try to be smarter than dabbrev in this
regard. I've assumed that dabbrev's determination of whether a completion is
possible is pretty good. Icicles only provides you additional completion
features, once dabbrev has determined that completion is possible.

Nevertheless, there are some dabbrev user options that might affect this
determination (what gets completed, in which contexts). Please take a look: `M-x
customize-group RET dabbrev'.

> in other words Is possible the use ALL words in ALL buffer not just in
> the start of buffer ?

Yes, but only when there is no completion for the text at point. And the vanilla
dabbrev design is used for that determination.

There are many contexts in "the middle of of bufffer" where, if your input is
empty, (a) vanilla Emacs raises a no-match error and (b) Icicles provides all
completions (from all buffers, if you use C-u C-u) as candidates. Experiment a
bit and you will see this.

But there are other contexts in the middle of the buffer, including sometimes
after a space, where dabbrev (and Icicles) determines that completions are
available for the text preceding point, and it presents only those completions
as candidates.

Suggestion: Play with vanilla `dabbrev-completion' a while, to get to know what
it does, how it works, and what its limitations are. Then play with
`icicle-dabbrev-completion'. Then, if you think you have a useful concrete
suggestion, please send it along. Or if you find a bug, send that along. 

But please let yourself get to know the existing design a bit first. That will
inform any suggestion or bug report you send, helping you to keep it specific.

`icicle-dabbrev-completion' was not intended as a completely different way to
complete words in a buffer. The idea was just to improve on the completion
mechanism. But I'm open to suggestions.