Does WeBuilder work with Zen-Coding ??

bwdude · Post by **bwdude** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:13 pm

Hi,

I found this beautiful timesaver for coding that I'd like to use: Zen-Coding.
They offer Versions for different editors, like Textmate and Topstyle, but not specifically for WeBuilder.

I was wondering if any one of those versions would work with WeBuilder (2007 currently ...) and what I would have to do to install it?

If it's not possible at the moment, is there a chance you can implement it in the future?
I watched the screencasts and I am amazed of what this Zen-Coding can do ... and it's free!

I don't know if I am allowed to publish the link here, if not please remove it:
http://code.google.com/p/zen-coding/

Thanks!

Post by **Karlis** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:08 pm

As I understand the Zen-Coding simply is a set of code snippeds or pieces of code where by typing a shortcut word and pressing some key, it is replaced with full text.

So e.g. you enter html and press tab and it is replaced by <html></html>.

Well, the machinery for this IS already in place in WeBuilder 2008 and 2010. You can implement this in two ways:

1) Create code snippet in Library for each element and assign it a "callword" (short phrase that you would type). Entering callword and pressing Ctrl+J would replace it with the full code snippet. You can enter not only Zen-coding but create a set of your own snippets/templates/plugins. Ok, the only difference is that instead of Tab you have to press Ctrl+J.

2) This can be done also using Auto Replace, but currently multi-line texts are not supported.

bwdude · Post by **bwdude** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:14 pm

Hi,

thanks for the answer.

So I take that as a "no" for the implementation of Zen-Coding ??

Because it really is SO much mure than just code snippets.
Please do what I did and watch the two videos on their site and you'll see how powerful it really is. I am sure after a short learning curve I could write code twice as fast with it.

If it's not possible to use with WeBuilder now, is this something that is hard to implement and could you think of doing that in the future?

Thanks!

Post by **MikeyB** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:53 am

It does look good, but I think the Zen-Coding people have gone about it the wrong way.

Rather than trying to integrate it with individual editors which must be a lot of work, I think it should be a stand-alone program that intercepts the keyboard and then can be used with any program you have.

I use a program called AutoHotkey which does just that, and I have setup a lot of common snippets I use in the various editors I use, can use the same shortcut keyword what ever program I'm in.

Just my thoughts.

bwdude · Post by **bwdude** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:13 am

While it's true that a lot of Zen-Coding's functionality can be "simulated" by snippets and macros, what I am really after is the "intelligence" it has.

Sure I can type

Code: Select all

<LI>

and have it auto completed to

Code: Select all

<LI></LI>

But in Zen I type something like

Code: Select all

li:.mylist*5

(I am just making this up here, but the actual command is quite similiar)
and I end up with:

Code: Select all

<LI class="mylist">
<UL></UL>
<UL></UL>
<UL></UL>
<UL></UL>
<UL></UL>
</LI>

And THATS a real timesaver, since it works for almost all tags!

If it would be possible to have it "stand alone" and intercept keystrokes is beyond me since I do only HTML and PHP. It sure would be handy though ...

bwdude · Post by **bwdude** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 4:35 pm

Karlis?
Any answers?

Post by **syrupcore** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:35 pm

moving to feature requests.

carlosmossman · Post by **carlosmossman** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 12:25 am

voting for it.

Post by **Karlis** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 1:16 pm

You can still type li press Ctrl+J and have <li></li> inserted or type li5 press Ctrl+J and have the full list inserted (if you have set it up to happen this way).

notuo · Post by **notuo** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:18 pm

Karlis or anyone.

What is this Ctr-J? I verified my rapidphp and is not defined but if I apply as mentioned something appeared (something I sometime ago I defined and I not remember now when nor where). This lead me to 2 things:

1) Can you elaborate about this li5 thing you mentioned please?
2) Is there a way (maybe a new feature) to produce a list of all the shorcuts defined? showing if the are "fixed" (not able to be modified) and what are default by you and what are defined by user? I think this can be useful.

Regards

Post by **syrupcore** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 12:44 am

ctrl+j triggers the 'callword' on any snippet. if you make a snippet to produce <li></li> and assign the callword "li" to it (in the snippet window), you'd type li in the editor and hit ctrl+j and it would be replaced by the snippet.

you could make another with the callword 'li5' that had

Code: Select all

<ul>
	<li></li>
	<li></li>
	<li></li>
	<li></li>
	<li></li>
</ul>

in it. where typing 'li5' and hitting ctrl+j would replace li5 with the above code. not quite zen coding but you can get a lot done this way.

I love this feature but ctrl+j just does not do it for me.

notuo · Post by **notuo** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:19 pm

Hi syrupcore.

Thanks for the answer. I just reviewed all my snippets and got this covered.

Also I may found a bug. I'll post in the proper forum.

Regards

se7h · Post by **se7h** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 6:07 pm

Zen Coding - excellent idea! I for it!

chemist · Post by **chemist** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 2:42 pm

+1. Very useful feature.

WebDevelop · Post by **WebDevelop** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 6:05 pm

and +1 from Me!

Blumentals Software Community

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