Line completion
Encyclopedia
Line completion is a text editor feature similar to word completion
, first introduced by Juraj Simlovic in TED Notepad
, in July 2006. When a user begins a line that starts with a frequently-used phrase, the computer automatically completes the first part of it, up to the position where all similar lines differ, or proposes a list of common continuations.
Compared to word completion, word completion can be used only for words and it is usually not very effective when invoked for blank word. Line completion, on the other side can be used to complete any characters, including punctuation, and may be effective even on empty lines, when the previous line starts with the same phrase. Most effective is usually the combined usage of both, as they are efficient each in different cases.
As an example of effective usage, items on lists usually starts with similar phrases or words like "I would like to" or "There is need for". In these cases, instead of typing the entire phrases, the user needs to type only a few characters of the beginning and the rest is then completed automatically. In this case, line completion is faster and also more comfortable than word completion.
In software development, this technique can be effectively used to start frequent blocks of code (e.g. declarations of functions and class
es, conditions
or loops) as the line completion is sensitive to the current indentation
and large amount of source code
s can use this sensitivity for faster completion than with word completion.
Word completion
Word completion is a common feature in web browsers and similar text entry contexts. When a user begins the entry of a frequently-used word, the computer automatically completes it, or proposes a list of choices....
, first introduced by Juraj Simlovic in TED Notepad
TED Notepad
TED Notepad is a freeware portable text editor for Microsoft Windows. The software has been developed by Juraj Šimlovič since 2001, originally as a school project. It has a similar cosmetic look to Notepad, but provides variety of features for advanced plain-text editing...
, in July 2006. When a user begins a line that starts with a frequently-used phrase, the computer automatically completes the first part of it, up to the position where all similar lines differ, or proposes a list of common continuations.
Compared to word completion, word completion can be used only for words and it is usually not very effective when invoked for blank word. Line completion, on the other side can be used to complete any characters, including punctuation, and may be effective even on empty lines, when the previous line starts with the same phrase. Most effective is usually the combined usage of both, as they are efficient each in different cases.
Usage and efficiency
Similar to word completion, when a line completion is invoked, only the part of the line is completed, where all similar lines are the same. The completion stops at the position where the similar lines differ, encouraging the user to type more hints for further completion or letting him finish the rest of the line.As an example of effective usage, items on lists usually starts with similar phrases or words like "I would like to" or "There is need for". In these cases, instead of typing the entire phrases, the user needs to type only a few characters of the beginning and the rest is then completed automatically. In this case, line completion is faster and also more comfortable than word completion.
In software development, this technique can be effectively used to start frequent blocks of code (e.g. declarations of functions and class
Class (computer science)
In object-oriented programming, a class is a construct that is used as a blueprint to create instances of itself – referred to as class instances, class objects, instance objects or simply objects. A class defines constituent members which enable these class instances to have state and behavior...
es, conditions
Conditional statement
In computer science, conditional statements, conditional expressions and conditional constructs are features of a programming language which perform different computations or actions depending on whether a programmer-specified boolean condition evaluates to true or false...
or loops) as the line completion is sensitive to the current indentation
Indentation
An indentation may refer to:* A notch, or deep recesses; for instance in a coastline, or a carving in rock* The placement of text farther to the right to separate it from surrounding text....
and large amount of source code
Source code
In computer science, source code is text written using the format and syntax of the programming language that it is being written in. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source...
s can use this sensitivity for faster completion than with word completion.