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Difference between revisions of "Menu Contributions"

(Example Matrix)
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 +
{{Warning|This page has been migrated to https://github.com/eclipse-platform/eclipse.platform.ui/blob/master/docs/Menu_Contributions.md}}
 +
 
Placement examples that describe the proposed new way of placing menu items for '''3.3'''.  Please contribute comments and suggestions in the discussion area or on [https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=154130 Bug 154130 -KeyBindings- Finish re-work of commands and key bindings].  
 
Placement examples that describe the proposed new way of placing menu items for '''3.3'''.  Please contribute comments and suggestions in the discussion area or on [https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=154130 Bug 154130 -KeyBindings- Finish re-work of commands and key bindings].  
  
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The 4 extension points that deal with menus now org.eclipse.ui.actionSets, org.eclipse.ui.viewActions, org.eclipse.ui.editorActions, and org.eclipse.ui.popupMenus specify both menu placement and their visibility criteria.  In the new menu mechanism they are separate concepts, placement and visibility.
 
The 4 extension points that deal with menus now org.eclipse.ui.actionSets, org.eclipse.ui.viewActions, org.eclipse.ui.editorActions, and org.eclipse.ui.popupMenus specify both menu placement and their visibility criteria.  In the new menu mechanism they are separate concepts, placement and visibility.
 
= Work =
 
 
This is a work list Eric and I threw together.
 
 
== Available in 3.3M4 ==
 
 
The basic menu API will be available in 3.3M4.  It includes both declarative '''org.eclipse.ui.menus''' extension point with core expression support for visibility, and a programmatic interface accessed through the <code>IMenuService</code>.
 
 
 
We support contributing to the main menu, and the view menu, view toolbar, and any IDed context menu.  We support contributing to existing toolbars in the main coolbar, and contributing trim widgets.
 
 
Programmatically we support the following types of contributions:
 
*MenuManager
 
*CommandContributionItem
 
*CompoundContributionItem
 
*ControlContribution (in 3.3M5)
 
*Separator
 
*GroupMarker
 
 
There are some specific mappings of elements and attributes on [[Menus Extension Mapping]].
 
 
== Available in 3.3M5 ==
 
 
There is an example of the RCP Mail application template updated for 3.3M5 and converted to use the org.eclipse.ui.menus extension point as much as possible at [http://dev.eclipse.org/viewcvs/index.cgi/platform-ui-home/R3_3/contributions-proposal/ Contribution Example].
 
 
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_check.gif changing the menu item or tool item state from a handler, like updating the label or tooltip or checked state.  Commands can contain <state/> elements, but that is not appropriate to use for providing feedback to the user.  This will be done by adapting a callback provided by the UI element.
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_check.gif the <separator/> element should have a '''name''' not an '''id'''
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_check.gif support creating radio button or checked menu items
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_check.gif creating new toolbars in the main coolbar/trim declaratively
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_check.gif creating new toolbars in the main coolbar/trim programmatically
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_check.gif org.eclipse.ui.popup.any as a context menu contribution
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_check.gif Drop down toolbar items
 
 
We also have action sets activating and de-activating contexts in '''3.3M5''', but we'll need to decide the proper action set story for '''3.3M6'''
 
 
We are still working on the EditorActionBarContributor story.  It seems like we might be able to deprecate it.  Editor instances can instantiate handlers upon creation for each command they support.
 
 
== Work still to be done ==
 
 
 
A list of behaviours not supported or shipped with the '''3.3M5''' API.
 
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_progress.gif the editor action bar contributor solution
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_progress.gif Attributes for <command/>: '''helpContextId''', '''style''' to support radio buttons and check boxes, '''state''' for checkboxes and radio buttons
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_progress.gif action sets as contexts
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_progress.gif validate and possibly optimize the context menu population story and lifecycle.  Many context menus set remove all when shown.
 
* migrate Marker views
 
* How do we give Trim widgets/toolbar widgets "focus" for command and handlers?
 
*
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/glass.gif migrate standard workbench actions
 
* Shortcuts to define reusable core expressions for <activeWhen/>, <enabledWhen/>, and <visibleWhen/>
 
* Check enabled visibleWhen support
 
* the mnemonic field for <command/> elements (decorating)
 
* display any keybinding for <command/> elements (decorating)
 
* Shortcuts placed on submenu items (like CTRL+N) (decorating)
 
* ensure full visibleWhen support in the MenuManagers - i.e. should empty menus display '''(empty)'''
 
* do we want to manage trim with a TrimContributionManager?  This removes the coolbar, but has RCP implications.
 
* the menu override capability - does this tie into the Customize Perspective dialog and action sets
 
* A set of default programmatic core expressions.  For example, ActionContextExpression or ActivePartExpression
 
* toolbar <visibleWhen/> expressions
 
* deprecate the 4 extension: actionSets, viewActions, editorActions, popupMenus
 
* read old extensions in terms of new extension
 
* convert platform UI extensions to new extension
 
* migration guide - what are the most common migration paths for Action and IActionDelegate to Command/IHandler.
 
* possibly provide an plugin.xml converter for actionSets to menus
 
* possibly provide an Action -> Handler converter
 
* ensure expressions can be reused
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_x.gif status manager contributions
 
 
 
Legend:
 
* nothing - TBD
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/glass.gif - investigating
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_progress.gif - in progress
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_check.gif - completed
 
* http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_x.gif - dropped
 
 
 
<!-- to be used when we complete information
 
list at http://dev.eclipse.org/viewcvs/index.cgi/platform-core-home/images/
 
 
complete      = http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_check.gif
 
dropped      = http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_x.gif
 
in progress  = http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/small_progress.gif
 
Investigating = http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/images/glass.gif
 
 
-->
 
  
 
= Example Matrix =
 
= Example Matrix =
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|-
 
|-
 
! Example !! comments
 
! Example !! comments
 +
|-
 +
| [[Menu Contributions/Dropdown Command]] || Dropdown tool items can have their menus filled in using menu contributions
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Menu Contributions/Problems View Example]] || An example showing how the Problems View might be converted
 
| [[Menu Contributions/Problems View Example]] || An example showing how the Problems View might be converted
 +
|-
 +
| [[Menu Contributions/Populating a dynamic submenu]] || A menu contribution to populate a Problems View dynamic submenu
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Menu Contributions/Toggle Mark Occurrences]] || Placing the toggle mark occurrences button
 
| [[Menu Contributions/Toggle Mark Occurrences]] || Placing the toggle mark occurrences button
 +
|-
 +
| [[Menu Contributions/Toggle Button Command]] || Contribute a toggle state menu item thru commands
 +
|-
 +
| [[Menu Contributions/Radio Button Command]] || Similar to updating toggle state, you can create radio buttons using menu contributions
 +
|-
 +
| [[Menu Contributions/Update checked state]] || The active handler can update the checked state (and other attributes) of its button
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Menu Contributions/Search Menu]] || Adding the Java Search options to the Search menu
 
| [[Menu Contributions/Search Menu]] || Adding the Java Search options to the Search menu
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|-
 
|-
 
| [[Menu Contributions/TextEditor viewerContribution]] || A menu contribution for the text editor context menu
 
| [[Menu Contributions/TextEditor viewerContribution]] || A menu contribution for the text editor context menu
 +
|-
 +
| [[Menu Contributions/Widget in a toolbar]] || A menu contribution adding a control into the main toolbar
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Menu Contributions/RCP removes the Project menu]] || An RCP application removes the Project menu.  Note: this will probably not be in 3.3
 
| [[Menu Contributions/RCP removes the Project menu]] || An RCP application removes the Project menu.  Note: this will probably not be in 3.3
 +
|-
 +
| [[Menu Contributions/Workbench wizard contribution]] || Contributing workbench wizards to Menu
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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# You can reference a <menu/> by id.
 
# You can reference a <menu/> by id.
 
# If you are just creating menu items for your commands, you can leave them with only a command id.  You don't have to specify an item id.
 
# If you are just creating menu items for your commands, you can leave them with only a command id.  You don't have to specify an item id.
# You can reference an <command/> for placement options (after, before, etc) by id.
+
# You can reference a <command/> for placement options (after, before, etc.) by id.
 
# <separator/> ids only have to be unique within that menu level.  This is changed to name instead of id in '''3.3M5'''.
 
# <separator/> ids only have to be unique within that menu level.  This is changed to name instead of id in '''3.3M5'''.
# You can provide an <command/> label attribute.  If none is provided, it will take the command name.
+
# You can provide a <command/> label attribute.  If none is provided, it will take the command name.
 
# In this design the item contains most of the same rendering information that <action/> did.
 
# In this design the item contains most of the same rendering information that <action/> did.
 
# <menu/> and <command/> can have <visibleWhen/> clauses.  If a menu's <visibleWhen/> evaluates to false, we will never ask the items contained in that menu.
 
# <menu/> and <command/> can have <visibleWhen/> clauses.  If a menu's <visibleWhen/> evaluates to false, we will never ask the items contained in that menu.
# All of the display-able attributes are translatable.
+
# All of the displayable attributes are translatable.
# The mnemonic is specified as you place your <command/> elements in their respective menus, since it is possible that the same command might need a different mnemonic depending on which menu it is placed.  Also, when defaulting to command names they don't contain any mnemonic information.
+
# The mnemonic is specified as you place your <command/> elements in their respective menus, since it is possible that the same command might need a different mnemonic depending on which menu it is placed.  Also, when defaulting to command names, they don't contain any mnemonic information.
 
+
 
+
  
 
Menus cannot be re-used, and so they have an intrinsic id value.  Separators are unique within one menu level, so they also contain their name.
 
Menus cannot be re-used, and so they have an intrinsic id value.  Separators are unique within one menu level, so they also contain their name.
 
 
  
 
=== Menu URIs ===
 
=== Menu URIs ===
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scheme is about how to interpret the URI path.  For example, <code>menu</code>, <code>toolbar</code>, <code>popup</code>, <code>status</code> (although status may be deprecated).
 
scheme is about how to interpret the URI path.  For example, <code>menu</code>, <code>toolbar</code>, <code>popup</code>, <code>status</code> (although status may be deprecated).
  
 +
==== menu: ====
  
 
For <code>menu:</code> valid root ids will be any viewId for that view's menu, and <b>org.eclipse.ui.main.menu</b> for the main menu.  Then specify the id of the menu this contribution applies to.  The placement modifier helps position the menu contribution.  ex: after=<id>, where <id> can be a separator name, menu id, or item id.  An example of a path: <code>menu:org.eclipse.search.menu?after=contextMenuActionsGroup</code>
 
For <code>menu:</code> valid root ids will be any viewId for that view's menu, and <b>org.eclipse.ui.main.menu</b> for the main menu.  Then specify the id of the menu this contribution applies to.  The placement modifier helps position the menu contribution.  ex: after=<id>, where <id> can be a separator name, menu id, or item id.  An example of a path: <code>menu:org.eclipse.search.menu?after=contextMenuActionsGroup</code>
  
 
Since menu ids must be unique, you can specify your menu location relative to an existing id: <code>menu:org.eclipse.search.menu?after=contextMenuActionsGroup</code>
 
Since menu ids must be unique, you can specify your menu location relative to an existing id: <code>menu:org.eclipse.search.menu?after=contextMenuActionsGroup</code>
 +
 +
==== toolbar: ====
  
 
For <code>toolbar:</code> valid root ids will be any viewId for that view's toolbar, <b>org.eclipse.ui.main.toolbar</b> for the main toolbar, and any toolbar id that is contained in the main toolbar.  Toolbars can support <b>invisible</b> separators.  Toolbars in the main toolbar (technically a coolbar) can have ids as well as separators, but only one level.  For example: <code>toolbar:org.eclipse.ui.edit.text.actionSet.presentation?after=Presentation</code>
 
For <code>toolbar:</code> valid root ids will be any viewId for that view's toolbar, <b>org.eclipse.ui.main.toolbar</b> for the main toolbar, and any toolbar id that is contained in the main toolbar.  Toolbars can support <b>invisible</b> separators.  Toolbars in the main toolbar (technically a coolbar) can have ids as well as separators, but only one level.  For example: <code>toolbar:org.eclipse.ui.edit.text.actionSet.presentation?after=Presentation</code>
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The use of <b>org.eclipse.ui.main.toolbar</b> might change if all "main" toolbars have ids anyway, so the only options for interpretting the toolbar root is 1) the view toolbar or 2) an IDed main toolbar.
 
The use of <b>org.eclipse.ui.main.toolbar</b> might change if all "main" toolbars have ids anyway, so the only options for interpretting the toolbar root is 1) the view toolbar or 2) an IDed main toolbar.
  
 +
==== popup: ====
  
 
For <code>popup:</code> valid root ids are any registered context id (which defaults to the part id if no context menu id was given at registration time) and <b>org.eclipse.ui.popup.any</b> for all registered context menus.  For example, to add to the default Text Editor context menu: <code>popup:#TextEditorContext?after=additions</code>
 
For <code>popup:</code> valid root ids are any registered context id (which defaults to the part id if no context menu id was given at registration time) and <b>org.eclipse.ui.popup.any</b> for all registered context menus.  For example, to add to the default Text Editor context menu: <code>popup:#TextEditorContext?after=additions</code>
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Popup submenus are treated like menu submenus, except the form continues to be <code>popup:submenuId</code>.
 
Popup submenus are treated like menu submenus, except the form continues to be <code>popup:submenuId</code>.
  
There will be constants defined for the ids that the eclipse workbench provides.
+
There will be constants defined for the ids that the eclipse workbench provides, probably in <code>org.eclipse.ui.menus.MenuUtil</code>.
 +
 
 +
=== Using Expressions in &lt;visibleWhen/&gt; ===
 +
 
 +
In '''3.3M6''' an org.eclipse.core.expressions.definitions extension point was added. Used to define a [[Platform Expression Framework|core expression]], the definition can then be referenced from other locations.
  
=== Menu - JSR198 ===
+
<source lang="xml">
 +
<extension point="org.eclipse.core.expressions.definitions">
 +
  <definition id="com.example.context">
 +
    <with variable="activeContexts">
 +
      <iterate operator="or">
 +
        <equals value="org.eclipse.ui.contexts.actionSet"/>
 +
      </iterate>
 +
    </with>
 +
  </definition>
 +
</extension>
 +
</source>
 +
 
 +
This can be called in a core expression like activeWhen, enabledWhen, visibleWhen, etc using the reference element:
 +
 
 +
<source lang="xml">
 +
<reference definitionId="com.example.context"/>
 +
</source>
 +
 
 +
=== Ideas that were considered but not implemented ===
 +
 
 +
These ideas were considered but not implemented.
 +
 
 +
==== Menu - JSR198 ====
  
 
'''Note:''' for novelty purposes only.
 
'''Note:''' for novelty purposes only.
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* org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.resolveMarker.item from popup:org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView
 
* org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.resolveMarker.item from popup:org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView
  
  <menu-hook>
+
<source lang="xml">
    <actions>
+
<menu-hook>
      <action id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting.item">
+
  <actions>
        <label>Sorting...</label>
+
    <action id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting.item">
        <mnemonic>S</mnemonic>
+
      <label>Sorting...</label>
        <tooltip>Change the Sort order</tooltip>
+
      <mnemonic>S</mnemonic>
        <invoke-class>org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting</invoke-class>
+
      <tooltip>Change the Sort order</tooltip>
      </action>
+
      <invoke-class>org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting</invoke-class>
      <action id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.resolveMarker.item">
+
    </action>
        <label>Quick Fix</label>
+
    <action id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.resolveMarker.item">
        <mnemonic>Q</mnemonic>
+
      <label>Quick Fix</label>
        <iconpath>$nl$/icons/full/elcl16/smartmode_co.gif</iconpath>
+
      <mnemonic>Q</mnemonic>
        <invoke-class>org.eclipse.jdt.ui.edit.text.java.correction.assist.proposals</invoke-class>
+
      <iconpath>$nl$/icons/full/elcl16/smartmode_co.gif</iconpath>
        <update-class>org.eclipse.jdt.ui.edit.text.java.correction.assist.proposals</update-class>
+
      <invoke-class>org.eclipse.jdt.ui.edit.text.java.correction.assist.proposals</invoke-class>
      </action>
+
      <update-class>org.eclipse.jdt.ui.edit.text.java.correction.assist.proposals</update-class>
    </actions>
+
    </action>
    <menus>
+
  </actions>
      <menubar id="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView">
+
  <menus>
        <menu id="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView">
+
    <menubar id="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView">
          <section id="problem.view.section">
+
      <menu id="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView">
            <command action-ref="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting.item" />
+
        <section id="problem.view.section">
            <menu id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.groupBy.menu">
+
          <command action-ref="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting.item" />
              <label>Group By</label>
+
          <menu id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.groupBy.menu">
              <mnemonic>G</mnemonic>
+
            <label>Group By</label>
            </menu>
+
            <mnemonic>G</mnemonic>
           </section>
+
           </menu>
        </menu>
+
      </menubar>
+
      <popup id="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView">
+
        <section id="group.resolve">
+
          <command action-ref="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.resolveMarker.item" />
+
 
         </section>
 
         </section>
       </popup>
+
       </menu>
     </menus>
+
    </menubar>
   </menu-hook>
+
    <popup id="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView">
 +
      <section id="group.resolve">
 +
        <command action-ref="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.resolveMarker.item" />
 +
      </section>
 +
     </popup>
 +
   </menus>
 +
</menu-hook>
 +
</source>
  
 
Some thoughts:
 
Some thoughts:
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* the menus can't specify dynamic submenus
 
* the menus can't specify dynamic submenus
  
=== Menu - XUL ===
+
==== Menu - XUL ====
  
 
'''Note:''' for novelty purposes only.
 
'''Note:''' for novelty purposes only.
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For comparison, with Mozilla everywhere there is the probability eclipse will include xulrunner.  Menu definitions that are consistent with XUL look like:
 
For comparison, with Mozilla everywhere there is the probability eclipse will include xulrunner.  Menu definitions that are consistent with XUL look like:
  
  <keyset>
+
<source lang="xml">
    <key id="paste-key" modifiers="accel" key="V" />
+
<keyset>
  </keyset>
+
  <key id="paste-key" modifiers="accel" key="V" />
  <menubar id="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView">
+
</keyset>
    <menupopup id="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView">
+
<menubar id="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView">
      <menuitem id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting.item"
+
  <menupopup id="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView">
                accesskey="S"
+
    <menuitem id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting.item"
                key="paste-key"
+
        accesskey="S"
                label="Sorting..."
+
        key="paste-key"
                oncommand="invokeCommand('org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting')" />
+
        label="Sorting..."
      <menu id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.groupBy.menu"
+
        oncommand="invokeCommand('org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting')" />
            label="Group By"
+
    <menu id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.groupBy.menu"
            accesskey="G">
+
        label="Group By"
        <menupopup id="groupby.popup">
+
        accesskey="G">
          <!-- this is where submenu items would go -->
+
      <menupopup id="groupby.popup">
        </menupopup>
+
        <!-- this is where submenu items would go -->
      </menu>
+
      </menupopup>
    </menupopup>
+
    </menu>
  </menubar>
+
  </menupopup>
 
+
</menubar>
 +
</source>
  
 
XUL supports everything as a flavour of a DOM, and javascripting can drive your buttons to perform commands.  I suspect the scripting would allow you to dynamically update menus (dynamic menus) on popup, depending on what events the DOM would report to you.
 
XUL supports everything as a flavour of a DOM, and javascripting can drive your buttons to perform commands.  I suspect the scripting would allow you to dynamically update menus (dynamic menus) on popup, depending on what events the DOM would report to you.
  
  
=== Expression Sidebar ===
+
==== Expression Templates original suggestion ====
 +
 
  
 
You can see that the <activeWhen/>, <enabledWhen/>, and probably the <visibleWhen/> are likely to be replicated over and over again.  A possible option is some kind of expression template markup ... either in its own extension or supported by our UI extensions that can use core expressions.
 
You can see that the <activeWhen/>, <enabledWhen/>, and probably the <visibleWhen/> are likely to be replicated over and over again.  A possible option is some kind of expression template markup ... either in its own extension or supported by our UI extensions that can use core expressions.
Line 256: Line 213:
 
Here's an example of using expression templates in its own extension point.
 
Here's an example of using expression templates in its own extension point.
  
  <extension point="org.eclipse.core.expression.templates">
+
<source lang="xml">
    <expression id="isPartActive">
+
<extension point="org.eclipse.core.expression.templates">
      <parameter id="partId" />
+
  <expression id="isPartActive">
      <with variable="activePartId">
+
    <parameter id="partId" />
        <equals value="$partId" />
+
    <with variable="activePartId">
      </with>
+
      <equals value="$partId" />
    </expression>
+
    </with>
    <expression id="isActionSetActive">
+
  </expression>
      <parameter id="actionSetId" />
+
  <expression id="isActionSetActive">
      <with variable="activeContexts">
+
    <parameter id="actionSetId" />
        <iterator operator="or">
+
    <with variable="activeContexts">
          <equals value="$actionSetId" />
+
      <iterator operator="or">
        </iterator>
+
        <equals value="$actionSetId" />
      </with>
+
      </iterator>
    </expression>
+
    </with>
    <expression id="isContextActive">
+
  </expression>
      <parameter id="contextId" />
+
  <expression id="isContextActive">
      <with variable="activeContexts">
+
    <parameter id="contextId" />
        <iterator operator="or">
+
    <with variable="activeContexts">
          <equals value="$contextId" />
+
      <iterator operator="or">
        </iterator>
+
        <equals value="$contextId" />
      </with>
+
      </iterator>
    </expression>
+
    </with>
    <expression id="isSelectionAvailable">
+
  </expression>
      <not>
+
  <expression id="isSelectionAvailable">
        <count value="0" />
+
    <not>
      </not>
+
      <count value="0" />
    </expression>
+
    </not>
  </extension>
+
  </expression>
 
+
</extension>
 +
</source>
  
 
This could be used to simplify the handler definitions:
 
This could be used to simplify the handler definitions:
  
  <extension point="org.eclipse.ui.handlers">
+
<source lang="xml">
    <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.copy"
+
<extension point="org.eclipse.ui.handlers">
            class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.CopyMarkerHandler">
+
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.copy"
      <enabledWhen>
+
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.CopyMarkerHandler">
        <evaluate ref="isSelectionAvailable" />
+
    <enabledWhen>
      </enabledWhen>
+
      <evaluate ref="isSelectionAvailable" />
      <activeWhen>
+
    </enabledWhen>
        <evaluate ref="isPartActive">
+
    <activeWhen>
          <parameter id="partId" value="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView" />
+
        </evaluate>
+
      </activeWhen>
+
    </handler>
+
  </extension>
+
 
+
 
+
If we allow recursive template definitions, that would allow you to specify the concrete expression once and then reference it throughout your view.
+
 
+
  <extension point="org.eclipse.core.expression.templates">
+
    <expression id="isProblemViewActive">
+
 
       <evaluate ref="isPartActive">
 
       <evaluate ref="isPartActive">
 
         <parameter id="partId" value="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView" />
 
         <parameter id="partId" value="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView" />
 
       </evaluate>
 
       </evaluate>
     </expression>
+
     </activeWhen>
   </extension>
+
   </handler>
  <extension point="org.eclipse.ui.handlers">
+
</extension>
    <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.copy"
+
</source>
            class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.CopyMarkerHandler">
+
 
      <enabledWhen>
+
If we allow recursive template definitions, that would allow you to specify the concrete expression once and then reference it throughout your view.
        <evaluate ref="isSelectionAvailable" />
+
      </enabledWhen>
+
      <activeWhen>
+
        <evaluate ref="isProblemViewActive" />
+
      </activeWhen>
+
    </handler>
+
  </extension>
+
  
 +
<source lang="xml">
 +
<extension point="org.eclipse.core.expression.templates">
 +
  <expression id="isProblemViewActive">
 +
    <evaluate ref="isPartActive">
 +
      <parameter id="partId" value="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView" />
 +
    </evaluate>
 +
  </expression>
 +
</extension>
 +
<extension point="org.eclipse.ui.handlers">
 +
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.copy"
 +
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.CopyMarkerHandler">
 +
    <enabledWhen>
 +
      <evaluate ref="isSelectionAvailable" />
 +
    </enabledWhen>
 +
    <activeWhen>
 +
      <evaluate ref="isProblemViewActive" />
 +
    </activeWhen>
 +
  </handler>
 +
</extension>
 +
</source>
  
 
This reduces the handler definition even more.
 
This reduces the handler definition even more.
Line 331: Line 291:
 
A similar option to reuse expressions as much as possible without turning them into their own procedural language would be to allow global definitions and then reuse them.  No parameters and no expression composition:
 
A similar option to reuse expressions as much as possible without turning them into their own procedural language would be to allow global definitions and then reuse them.  No parameters and no expression composition:
  
  <extension point="org.eclipse.core.expression.templates">
+
<source lang="xml">
    <expression id="isProblemViewActive">
+
<extension point="org.eclipse.core.expression.templates">
      <with variable="activePartId">
+
  <expression id="isProblemViewActive">
        <equals value="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView" />
+
    <with variable="activePartId">
      </with>
+
      <equals value="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView" />
    </expression>
+
    </with>
    <expression id="isSelectionAvailable">
+
  </expression>
      <not>
+
  <expression id="isSelectionAvailable">
        <count value="0" />
+
    <not>
      </not>
+
      <count value="0" />
    </expression>
+
    </not>
  </extension>
+
  </expression>
  <extension point="org.eclipse.ui.handlers">
+
</extension>
    <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.copy"
+
<extension point="org.eclipse.ui.handlers">
            class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.CopyMarkerHandler">
+
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.copy"
      <enabledWhen ref="isSelectionAvailable" />
+
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.CopyMarkerHandler">
      <activeWhen ref="isProblemViewActive" />
+
    <enabledWhen ref="isSelectionAvailable" />
    </handler>
+
    <activeWhen ref="isProblemViewActive" />
  </extension>
+
  </handler>
 +
</extension>
 +
</source>
  
=== Another Alternative: Specify Context at Extension Level ===
+
==== Another Expression Alternative: Specify Context at Extension Level ====
  
  
 
Since <code>enabledWhen</code> and <code>activeWhen</code> specify context and the simple way to specify context in XML is enclosure, how about scoping context to the extension point rather than the handler:
 
Since <code>enabledWhen</code> and <code>activeWhen</code> specify context and the simple way to specify context in XML is enclosure, how about scoping context to the extension point rather than the handler:
  
  <extension point="org.eclipse.ui.handlers">
+
<source lang="xml">
      <enabledWhen>  <!-- context of all  handlers in this extension -->
+
<extension point="org.eclipse.ui.handlers">
        <not>
+
  <enabledWhen>  <!-- context of all  handlers in this extension -->
          <count value="0" />
+
    <not>
        </not>
+
      <count value="0" />
      </enabledWhen>
+
    </not>
      <activeWhen>
+
  </enabledWhen>
        <with variable="activePartId">
+
  <activeWhen>
          <equals value="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView" />
+
    <with variable="activePartId">
        </with>
+
      <equals value="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView" />
      </activeWhen>
+
    </with>
      <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.copy"
+
  </activeWhen>
            class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.CopyMarkerHandler" />
+
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.copy"
      <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.paste"
+
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.CopyMarkerHandler" />
            class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.PasteMarkerHandler" />
+
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.paste"
      <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.delete"
+
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.PasteMarkerHandler" />
            class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.RemoveMarkerHandler" />
+
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.delete"
      <handler commandId="org.eclipse.jdt.ui.edit.text.java.correction.assist.proposals"
+
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.RemoveMarkerHandler" />
            class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.ResolveMarkerHandler" />
+
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.jdt.ui.edit.text.java.correction.assist.proposals"
      <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.selectAll"
+
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.ResolveMarkerHandler" />
            class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.SelectAllMarkersHandler" />
+
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.selectAll"
      <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.file.properties"
+
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.SelectAllMarkersHandler" />
            class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.ProblemPropertiesHandler" />
+
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.file.properties"
  </extension>
+
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.ProblemPropertiesHandler" />
 +
</extension>
 +
</source>
  
 
This gives compact markup without inventing a new language.  Elements nested in the handler element could override the extension-wide settings.
 
This gives compact markup without inventing a new language.  Elements nested in the handler element could override the extension-wide settings.
Line 392: Line 356:
 
#setting the item state (like checked state)
 
#setting the item state (like checked state)
  
In 3.3 the enablement is tied to the command, and for the other behaviours we've decided to go with option 1.
+
In 3.3 the enablement is tied to the command, and for the other behaviours we've decided to go with UIElements approach.
  
Option 1:
+
== UIElements represent each UI visible instance of a command ==
  
The command service keeps a list of registered UI elements, which can be updated by the active handler.  The checked state can be updated through UIElement#setChecked(boolean);
+
The command service keeps a list of registered UI elements, which can be updated by the active handler.  The checked state can be updated through <tt>UIElement#setChecked(boolean);</tt> (note that <tt>updateElement</tt> below is from <tt>IElementUpdater</tt>):
  
private boolean isChecked() {
+
<source lang="java">
return getStore().getBoolean(
+
private boolean isChecked() {
PreferenceConstants.EDITOR_MARK_OCCURRENCES);
+
    return getStore().getBoolean(
}
+
            PreferenceConstants.EDITOR_MARK_OCCURRENCES);
 +
}
 
   
 
   
public void updateElement(UIElement element, Map parameters) {
+
public void updateElement(UIElement element, Map parameters) {
element.setChecked(isChecked());
+
    element.setChecked(isChecked());
}
+
}
 +
</source>
  
When the toggle handler runs, it can request that any UI elements have their appearance updated from its execute(*) method:
+
When the toggle handler runs, it can request that any UI elements have their appearance updated from its <tt>execute(*)</tt> method:
  
ICommandService service = (ICommandService) serviceLocator
+
<source lang="java">
.getService(ICommandService.class);
+
ICommandService service = (ICommandService) serviceLocator
service.refreshElements(
+
        .getService(ICommandService.class);
IJavaEditorActionDefinitionIds.TOGGLE_MARK_OCCURRENCES,
+
service.refreshElements(IJavaEditorActionDefinitionIds.TOGGLE_MARK_OCCURRENCES, null);
null);
+
</source>
  
 
+
== State associated with the command is propogated to UI visible elements ==
 
+
Option 2:
+
  
 
First define the toggle mark occurrences command.  Pretty straight forward,
 
First define the toggle mark occurrences command.  Pretty straight forward,
Line 423: Line 387:
 
update the label for the menu/toolbar items, we also add the "NAME" state.
 
update the label for the menu/toolbar items, we also add the "NAME" state.
  
  <extension point="org.eclipse.ui.commands">
+
<source lang="xml">
    <command categoryId="org.eclipse.jdt.ui.category.source"
+
<extension point="org.eclipse.ui.commands">
            description="%jdt.ui.ToggleMarkOccurrences.description"
+
  <command categoryId="org.eclipse.jdt.ui.category.source"
            id="org.eclipse.jdt.ui.edit.text.java.toggleMarkOccurrences"
+
      description="%jdt.ui.ToggleMarkOccurrences.description"
            name="%jdt.ui.ToggleMarkOccurrences.name">
+
      id="org.eclipse.jdt.ui.edit.text.java.toggleMarkOccurrences"
      <state id="NAME" class="org.eclipse.jface.menus.TextState" />
+
      name="%jdt.ui.ToggleMarkOccurrences.name">
      <state id="STYLE" class="org.eclipse.jface.commands.ToggleState:true" />
+
    <state id="NAME" class="org.eclipse.jface.menus.TextState" />
    </command>
+
    <state id="STYLE" class="org.eclipse.jface.commands.ToggleState:true" />
  </extension>
+
  </command>
 +
</extension>
 +
</source>
  
 +
= Work =
  
 +
Progress in 3.3.
  
 +
== Available in 3.3 ==
  
 +
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]] the editor action bar contributor solution.  EditorActionBarContributor will not be deprecated, but is not used in the commands/handler story.  Menu Contributions have visibility tied to an active editor id, and editor specific handlers can be created in the editor init(*) or createPartControl(*) method using the handler service from getPartSite().getService(IHandlerService.class).
 +
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]] Attributes for <command/>: '''helpContextId''', '''style''' to support radio buttons and check boxes
 +
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]] action sets as contexts - action sets are still defined using org.eclipse.ui.actionSets, and each actionSet generates an equivalent context.  showing/hiding actionSets activates/deactivates the equivalent context.
 +
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]] How do we give Trim widgets/toolbar widgets "focus" for command and handlers?  There was an IFocusService added in 3.3 that allows a trim control to register itself.  When that control has focus, the control and the ID it registered with are provided in the global application context to core expressions and handlers.  This is available, but might not be the optimal solution if you just want cut, copy, and paste to work.
 +
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]] Shortcuts to define reusable core expressions for <activeWhen/>, <enabledWhen/>, and <visibleWhen/>. This has been added as the org.eclipse.core.expressions.definitions extension point and the core expression <reference/> element.
 +
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]] the mnemonic field for <command/> elements (decorating)
 +
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]] display any keybinding for <command/> elements (decorating)
 +
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]] toolbar <visibleWhen/> expressions
  
 +
== Available in 3.3M5 ==
  
 +
There is an example of the RCP Mail application template updated for 3.3M5 and converted to use the org.eclipse.ui.menus extension point as much as possible at [http://dev.eclipse.org/viewcvs/index.cgi/platform-ui-home/R3_3/contributions-proposal/ Contribution Example].
  
= Product removes the Project menu =
+
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]]  changing the menu item or tool item state from a handler, like updating the label or tooltip or checked state.  Commands can contain <state/> elements, but that is not appropriate to use for providing feedback to the user.  This will be done by adapting a callback provided by the UI element.
 +
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]] the <separator/> element should have a '''name''' not an '''id'''
 +
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]] support creating radio button or checked menu items
 +
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]] creating new toolbars in the main coolbar/trim declaratively
 +
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]] creating new toolbars in the main coolbar/trim programmatically
 +
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]] org.eclipse.ui.popup.any as a context menu contribution
 +
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]] Drop down toolbar items
  
'''Note:''' this might not make it into 3.3
+
We also have action sets activating and de-activating contexts in '''3.3M5''', but we'll need to decide the proper action set story for '''3.3M6'''
  
An RCP product wishes to remove the Project menu.  It should be possible to override the visibility of menu contributions.
+
We are still working on the EditorActionBarContributor story.  It seems like we might be able to deprecate it.  Editor instances can instantiate handlers upon creation for each command they support.
  
    public void addOverride() {
+
== Available in 3.3M4 ==
        // the RCP app would already have its product key
+
        Object productKey = null;
+
+
        IMenuService menuServ = (IMenuService) PlatformUI.getWorkbench()
+
                .getActiveWorkbenchWindow().getService(IMenuService.class);
+
        menuServ.addOverride(productKey, "menu:project", new OverrideAdapter() {
+
            public Boolean getVisible() {
+
                return Boolean.FALSE;
+
            }
+
        });
+
    }
+
  
 +
The basic menu API will be available in 3.3M4.  It includes both declarative '''org.eclipse.ui.menus''' extension point with core expression support for visibility, and a programmatic interface accessed through the <code>IMenuService</code>.
  
  
The idea is to provide this ability at the product level.  For example, an RCP app should be able to hide any menu items that it doesn't want but picked up through the inclusion of a plugin.
+
We support contributing to the main menu, and the view menu, view toolbar, and any IDed context menu.  We support contributing to existing toolbars in the main coolbar, and contributing trim widgets.
  
That implies that it might not be part of the general IMenuService interface. Or (taking a page from the IExtensionRegistry) it might use a token that's available from the WorkbenchWindowAdvisor so that products can use the interface, or even expose the ability to their users.
+
Programmatically we support the following types of contributions:
 +
*MenuManager
 +
*CommandContributionItem
 +
*CompoundContributionItem
 +
*ControlContribution (in 3.3M5)
 +
*Separator
 +
*GroupMarker
  
If it returns <code>null</code> the next level of visibility is evaluated.  The <code>null</code> case is to keep it consistent with other overrides.
+
There are some specific mappings of elements and attributes on [[Menus Extension Mapping]].
  
The override service is ID based.  For items which haven't specified their ID, the override will be applied to the commandId (which is required on every item).
 
  
 +
== Work still to be done ==
  
  
= Widget in the main toolbar =
+
A list of behaviours not supported or shipped with '''3.3'''.
  
You can use the extension point to contribute a control to the toolbarYou use the <control/> element instead of the <command/> element.
+
* validate and possibly optimize the context menu population story and lifecycle.  Many context menus set remove all when shown.
 +
* migrate Marker views
 +
* migrate standard workbench actions - a few were done
 +
* Check enabled visibleWhen support
 +
* Shortcuts placed on submenu items (like CTRL+N) (decorating)
 +
* ensure full visibleWhen support in the MenuManagers - i.e. should empty menus display '''(empty)'''
 +
* do we want to manage trim with a TrimContributionManager?  This removes the coolbar, but has RCP implications.
 +
* the menu override capability - does this tie into the Customize Perspective dialog and action sets
 +
* A set of default programmatic core expressionsFor example, ActionContextExpression or ActivePartExpression
 +
* deprecate the 4 extension: actionSets, viewActions, editorActions, popupMenus
 +
* read old extensions in terms of new extension
 +
* convert platform UI extensions to new extension
 +
* migration guide - what are the most common migration paths for Action and IActionDelegate to Command/IHandler.
 +
* Attributes for <command/>:  '''state''' for checkboxes and radio buttons
 +
* possibly provide an plugin.xml converter for actionSets to menus
 +
* possibly provide an Action -> Handler converter
 +
* [[Image:Error.gif]] status manager contributions
  
  <extension point="org.eclipse.ui.menus">
 
    <menuContribution locationURI="toolbar:org.eclipse.search.toolbar">
 
      <control id="org.eclipse.ui.examples.menus.searchBar"
 
              class="org.eclipse.ui.examples.menus.internal.SearchBar">
 
        <visibleWhen>
 
          <with variable="activeContexts">
 
            <iterator operator="or">
 
              <equals value="org.eclipse.jdt.ui.SearchActionSet" />
 
            </iterator>
 
          </with>
 
        </visibleWhen>
 
      </control>
 
    </menuContribution>
 
  </extension>
 
  
 +
Legend:
 +
* nothing - TBD
 +
* [[Image:Glass.gif]] - investigating
 +
* [[Image:Progress.gif]] - in progress
 +
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]] - completed
 +
* [[Image:Error.gif]] - dropped
  
The control class must implement WorkbenchWindowControlContribution as of '''3.3M5'''.
+
[[Category:Eclipse Project]]
 
+
 
+
I'm not sure how far to go with IWorkbenchWidget.  We already use this interface for adding controls to the trim, and there are open bug requests about adding arbitrary controls to the toolbars.  It looks like we'll deprecate it in favour of WorkbenchWindowControlContribution.
+
 
+
Also, there are risks associated with this like eager plugin activation.  Maybe we allow widget activation but restrict it to programmatic API only (after the plugin has been instantiated) or still allow declarative contributions but only with certain types of <visibleWhen/> clauses.
+
 
+
--[[User:Hudsonr.us.ibm.com|Hudsonr.us.ibm.com]] 09:02, 13 February 2007 (EST)
+
There are two separate reasons to use an extension point to contribute to the toolbar. One reason is to defer plug-in activation. But the other, is to allow a plug-in to contribute to another plug-in even though it depends on that plug-in, or it ships as additional, add-on function.  In either case, the plug-in owning the toolbar can not depend on the contributing plug-in. While in general, one wants plug-in activation to occur as late as possible, there are cases where you just don't care. It's great to see that I can now contribute anything I want to another plug-in's toolbar.
+
 
+
I think this flexibility needs to be supported. Isn't it possible for a bundle to specify exceptions that would prevent the bundle from being started even though the contribution's classes are loaded to create the Control?
+
 
+
:While we're still looking at this in '''3.3M6''' the preliminary implementation will probably be our standard proxy pattern.  That means that contributing a control to the main toolbar will just start the contributing plugin (so we'll just ask people to be careful :-).  But as an aside, I'm pretty sure that an exception that prevents a bundle from being started will also prevent us from getting the plugin control contribution from IConfigurationElement#createExecutableExtension(*)
+
:--[[User:Pwebster.ca.ibm.com|Pwebster.ca.ibm.com]] 10:34, 13 February 2007 (EST)
+
 
+
= Edit-&gt;Undo relabel action =
+
 
+
The active handler can update any UI elements registered against the its command.  It does this by requesting the ICommandService to refresh any registered UIElements.
+
 
+
Like the Undo action, sometimes menu items would want to allow their label to be updated.  The active handler can update the menu item.
+
 
+
<extension
+
      point="org.eclipse.ui.commands">
+
  <extension point="org.eclipse.ui.menus">
+
    <menuContribution locationURI="menu:edit?after=undo.ext">
+
      <command commandId="org.eclipse.ui.examples.menus.targettedUndo"
+
            mnemonic="%TargettedUndo.mnemonic" />
+
    </menuContribution>
+
  </extension>
+
 
+
As a handler becomes active and implement IElementUpdater like org.eclipse.ui.tests.menus.ToggleContextHandler, the command service calls <code>public void updateElement(UIElement element, Map parameters)</code> for every UIElement registered against the command.
+
 
+
public class ToggleContextHandler extends AbstractHandler implements
+
IElementUpdater {
+
private static final String TOGGLE_ID = "toggleContext.contextId";
+
// ...
+
public void updateElement(UIElement element, Map parameters) {
+
// the checked state depends on if we have an activation for that
+
// context ID or not
+
String contextId = (String) parameters.get(TOGGLE_ID);
+
element.setChecked(contextActivations.get(contextId) != null);
+
}
+
}
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
= Adding programmatic menus and handlers tied to an editor =
+
 
+
In '''3.3M6''' we'll be investigating deprecating EditorActionBarContributors.  The command and menu contributions are declared (and the handler can be as well).
+
 
+
But each editor could instantiate handlers with specific editor instance knowledge and activate them through the part site handler service.  This would take care of activating them and cleaning them up when the part goes away.
+
 
+
 
+
= Add a dynamic submenu to the ProblemView menu =
+
 
+
In [[#Add ProblemView menus|Add ProblemView menus]] we added 2 dynamic menus.  You then have to implement CompoundContributionItem in your provided class.
+
 
+
      <menu id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.groupBy.menu"
+
            label="%ProblemView.GroupBy.label"
+
            mnemonic="%ProblemView.GroupBy.mnemonic">
+
        <dynamic class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.GroupByItems"
+
                id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.groupBy.items"/>
+
      </menu>
+
 
+
 
+
When your menu is populated, you'll have your getContributionItems() method called:
+
 
+
 
+
protected IContributionItem[] getContributionItems() {
+
      IContributionItem[] list = new IContributionItem[2];
+
      Map parms = new HashMap();
+
      parms.put("groupBy", "Severity");
+
      list[0] = new CommandContributionItem(null,
+
              "org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.grouping",
+
              parms, null, null, null, "Severity", null,
+
              null, CommandContributionItem.STYLE_PUSH);
+
+
      parms = new HashMap();
+
      parms.put("groupBy", "None");
+
      list[1] = new CommandContributionItem(null,
+
              "org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.grouping",
+
              parms, null, null, null, "None", null, null,
+
              CommandContributionItem.STYLE_PUSH);
+
      return list;
+
}
+
 
+
 
+
= Dynamic item replacement =
+
 
+
See [[#Add_a_dynamic_submenu_to_the_ProblemView_menu|Add_a_dynamic_submenu_to_the_ProblemView_menu]]
+
 
+
A dynamic contribution item is expanded in place.  It disposes the provided IContributionItems and requests new ones on every show.
+
 
+
= Example Matrix =
+
 
+
This will be updated later.
+
 
+
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
+
|-
+
! Example !! Location !! visible when !! enabled when !! defined by !! placed by !! handled by !! comments
+
|-
+
| [[#Add ProblemView menus|Add ProblemView menus]] || view menu || always || always || ViewPart & IActionBars || ViewPart & IActionBars || SampleViewAction
+
|-
+
|}
+

Latest revision as of 13:07, 7 February 2024


Placement examples that describe the proposed new way of placing menu items for 3.3. Please contribute comments and suggestions in the discussion area or on Bug 154130 -KeyBindings- Finish re-work of commands and key bindings.

Placement and visibility

The 4 extension points that deal with menus now org.eclipse.ui.actionSets, org.eclipse.ui.viewActions, org.eclipse.ui.editorActions, and org.eclipse.ui.popupMenus specify both menu placement and their visibility criteria. In the new menu mechanism they are separate concepts, placement and visibility.

Example Matrix

A (hopefully) growing list of menu contribution examples.

Example comments
Menu Contributions/Dropdown Command Dropdown tool items can have their menus filled in using menu contributions
Menu Contributions/Problems View Example An example showing how the Problems View might be converted
Menu Contributions/Populating a dynamic submenu A menu contribution to populate a Problems View dynamic submenu
Menu Contributions/Toggle Mark Occurrences Placing the toggle mark occurrences button
Menu Contributions/Toggle Button Command Contribute a toggle state menu item thru commands
Menu Contributions/Radio Button Command Similar to updating toggle state, you can create radio buttons using menu contributions
Menu Contributions/Update checked state The active handler can update the checked state (and other attributes) of its button
Menu Contributions/Search Menu Adding the Java Search options to the Search menu
Menu Contributions/IFile objectContribution A menu contribution for context menus when the selection is an IFile
Menu Contributions/TextEditor viewerContribution A menu contribution for the text editor context menu
Menu Contributions/Widget in a toolbar A menu contribution adding a control into the main toolbar
Menu Contributions/RCP removes the Project menu An RCP application removes the Project menu. Note: this will probably not be in 3.3
Menu Contributions/Workbench wizard contribution Contributing workbench wizards to Menu

Menu XML

Declarative information ... this needs to be cleaned up.

Declarative menus - some constraints

Some constraints on the system:

  1. Identifiers (id) for <menu/> elements must be globally unique.
  2. Identifiers (id) for <command/> elements must be globally unique if they are specified.
  3. You can reference a <menu/> by id.
  4. If you are just creating menu items for your commands, you can leave them with only a command id. You don't have to specify an item id.
  5. You can reference a <command/> for placement options (after, before, etc.) by id.
  6. <separator/> ids only have to be unique within that menu level. This is changed to name instead of id in 3.3M5.
  7. You can provide a <command/> label attribute. If none is provided, it will take the command name.
  8. In this design the item contains most of the same rendering information that <action/> did.
  9. <menu/> and <command/> can have <visibleWhen/> clauses. If a menu's <visibleWhen/> evaluates to false, we will never ask the items contained in that menu.
  10. All of the displayable attributes are translatable.
  11. The mnemonic is specified as you place your <command/> elements in their respective menus, since it is possible that the same command might need a different mnemonic depending on which menu it is placed. Also, when defaulting to command names, they don't contain any mnemonic information.

Menus cannot be re-used, and so they have an intrinsic id value. Separators are unique within one menu level, so they also contain their name.

Menu URIs

For location placement we need a path and placement modifier, and to specify how the paths are built. First pass we are going to look at URIs.

  • <scheme>:<menu-id>[?<placement-modifier>]

scheme is about how to interpret the URI path. For example, menu, toolbar, popup, status (although status may be deprecated).

menu:

For menu: valid root ids will be any viewId for that view's menu, and org.eclipse.ui.main.menu for the main menu. Then specify the id of the menu this contribution applies to. The placement modifier helps position the menu contribution. ex: after=<id>, where <id> can be a separator name, menu id, or item id. An example of a path: menu:org.eclipse.search.menu?after=contextMenuActionsGroup

Since menu ids must be unique, you can specify your menu location relative to an existing id: menu:org.eclipse.search.menu?after=contextMenuActionsGroup

toolbar:

For toolbar: valid root ids will be any viewId for that view's toolbar, org.eclipse.ui.main.toolbar for the main toolbar, and any toolbar id that is contained in the main toolbar. Toolbars can support invisible separators. Toolbars in the main toolbar (technically a coolbar) can have ids as well as separators, but only one level. For example: toolbar:org.eclipse.ui.edit.text.actionSet.presentation?after=Presentation

In this example, Presentation is an invisible separator in the org.eclipse.ui.edit.text.actionSet.presentation toolbar.

The use of org.eclipse.ui.main.toolbar might change if all "main" toolbars have ids anyway, so the only options for interpretting the toolbar root is 1) the view toolbar or 2) an IDed main toolbar.

popup:

For popup: valid root ids are any registered context id (which defaults to the part id if no context menu id was given at registration time) and org.eclipse.ui.popup.any for all registered context menus. For example, to add to the default Text Editor context menu: popup:#TextEditorContext?after=additions

Popup submenus are treated like menu submenus, except the form continues to be popup:submenuId.

There will be constants defined for the ids that the eclipse workbench provides, probably in org.eclipse.ui.menus.MenuUtil.

Using Expressions in <visibleWhen/>

In 3.3M6 an org.eclipse.core.expressions.definitions extension point was added. Used to define a core expression, the definition can then be referenced from other locations.

<extension point="org.eclipse.core.expressions.definitions">
  <definition id="com.example.context">
    <with variable="activeContexts">
       <iterate operator="or">
         <equals value="org.eclipse.ui.contexts.actionSet"/>
       </iterate>
    </with>
  </definition>
</extension>

This can be called in a core expression like activeWhen, enabledWhen, visibleWhen, etc using the reference element:

<reference definitionId="com.example.context"/>

Ideas that were considered but not implemented

These ideas were considered but not implemented.

Menu - JSR198

Note: for novelty purposes only.

For comparison, there is a JSR describing how IDEs can contribute menus. Below is a sample for 2 items:

  • org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting.item from menu:org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView
  • org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.resolveMarker.item from popup:org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView
<menu-hook>
  <actions>
    <action id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting.item">
      <label>Sorting...</label>
      <mnemonic>S</mnemonic>
      <tooltip>Change the Sort order</tooltip>
      <invoke-class>org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting</invoke-class>
    </action>
    <action id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.resolveMarker.item">
      <label>Quick Fix</label>
      <mnemonic>Q</mnemonic>
      <iconpath>$nl$/icons/full/elcl16/smartmode_co.gif</iconpath>
      <invoke-class>org.eclipse.jdt.ui.edit.text.java.correction.assist.proposals</invoke-class>
      <update-class>org.eclipse.jdt.ui.edit.text.java.correction.assist.proposals</update-class>
    </action>
  </actions>
  <menus>
    <menubar id="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView">
      <menu id="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView">
        <section id="problem.view.section">
          <command action-ref="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting.item" />
          <menu id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.groupBy.menu">
            <label>Group By</label>
            <mnemonic>G</mnemonic>
          </menu>
        </section>
      </menu>
    </menubar>
    <popup id="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView">
      <section id="group.resolve">
        <command action-ref="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.resolveMarker.item" />
      </section>
    </popup>
  </menus>
</menu-hook>

Some thoughts:

  • the actions can only specify one icon
  • the actions can't *quite* link to our commands
  • the menus can't specify dynamic submenus

Menu - XUL

Note: for novelty purposes only.


For comparison, with Mozilla everywhere there is the probability eclipse will include xulrunner. Menu definitions that are consistent with XUL look like:

<keyset>
  <key id="paste-key" modifiers="accel" key="V" />
</keyset>
<menubar id="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView">
  <menupopup id="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView">
    <menuitem id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting.item"
        accesskey="S"
        key="paste-key"
        label="Sorting..."
        oncommand="invokeCommand('org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.sorting')" />
    <menu id="org.eclipse.ui.views.problems.groupBy.menu"
        label="Group By"
        accesskey="G">
      <menupopup id="groupby.popup">
        <!-- this is where submenu items would go -->
      </menupopup>
    </menu>
  </menupopup>
</menubar>

XUL supports everything as a flavour of a DOM, and javascripting can drive your buttons to perform commands. I suspect the scripting would allow you to dynamically update menus (dynamic menus) on popup, depending on what events the DOM would report to you.


Expression Templates original suggestion

You can see that the <activeWhen/>, <enabledWhen/>, and probably the <visibleWhen/> are likely to be replicated over and over again. A possible option is some kind of expression template markup ... either in its own extension or supported by our UI extensions that can use core expressions.

Here's an example of using expression templates in its own extension point.

<extension point="org.eclipse.core.expression.templates">
  <expression id="isPartActive">
    <parameter id="partId" />
    <with variable="activePartId">
      <equals value="$partId" />
    </with>
  </expression>
  <expression id="isActionSetActive">
    <parameter id="actionSetId" />
    <with variable="activeContexts">
      <iterator operator="or">
        <equals value="$actionSetId" />
      </iterator>
    </with>
  </expression>
  <expression id="isContextActive">
    <parameter id="contextId" />
    <with variable="activeContexts">
      <iterator operator="or">
        <equals value="$contextId" />
      </iterator>
    </with>
  </expression>
  <expression id="isSelectionAvailable">
    <not>
      <count value="0" />
    </not>
  </expression>
</extension>

This could be used to simplify the handler definitions:

<extension point="org.eclipse.ui.handlers">
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.copy"
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.CopyMarkerHandler">
    <enabledWhen>
      <evaluate ref="isSelectionAvailable" />
    </enabledWhen>
    <activeWhen>
      <evaluate ref="isPartActive">
        <parameter id="partId" value="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView" />
      </evaluate>
    </activeWhen>
  </handler>
</extension>

If we allow recursive template definitions, that would allow you to specify the concrete expression once and then reference it throughout your view.

<extension point="org.eclipse.core.expression.templates">
  <expression id="isProblemViewActive">
    <evaluate ref="isPartActive">
      <parameter id="partId" value="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView" />
    </evaluate>
  </expression>
</extension>
<extension point="org.eclipse.ui.handlers">
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.copy"
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.CopyMarkerHandler">
    <enabledWhen>
      <evaluate ref="isSelectionAvailable" />
    </enabledWhen>
    <activeWhen>
      <evaluate ref="isProblemViewActive" />
    </activeWhen>
  </handler>
</extension>

This reduces the handler definition even more.


A similar option to reuse expressions as much as possible without turning them into their own procedural language would be to allow global definitions and then reuse them. No parameters and no expression composition:

<extension point="org.eclipse.core.expression.templates">
  <expression id="isProblemViewActive">
    <with variable="activePartId">
      <equals value="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView" />
    </with>
  </expression>
  <expression id="isSelectionAvailable">
    <not>
      <count value="0" />
    </not>
  </expression>
</extension>
<extension point="org.eclipse.ui.handlers">
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.copy"
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.CopyMarkerHandler">
    <enabledWhen ref="isSelectionAvailable" />
    <activeWhen ref="isProblemViewActive" />
  </handler>
</extension>

Another Expression Alternative: Specify Context at Extension Level

Since enabledWhen and activeWhen specify context and the simple way to specify context in XML is enclosure, how about scoping context to the extension point rather than the handler:

<extension point="org.eclipse.ui.handlers">
  <enabledWhen>  <!-- context of all  handlers in this extension -->
    <not>
      <count value="0" />
    </not>
  </enabledWhen>
  <activeWhen>
    <with variable="activePartId">
      <equals value="org.eclipse.ui.views.ProblemView" />
    </with>
  </activeWhen>
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.copy"
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.CopyMarkerHandler" />
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.paste"
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.PasteMarkerHandler" />
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.delete"
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.RemoveMarkerHandler" />
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.jdt.ui.edit.text.java.correction.assist.proposals"
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.ResolveMarkerHandler" />
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.edit.selectAll"
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.SelectAllMarkersHandler" />
  <handler commandId="org.eclipse.ui.file.properties"
      class="org.eclipse.ui.views.markers.internal.ProblemPropertiesHandler" />
</extension>

This gives compact markup without inventing a new language. Elements nested in the handler element could override the extension-wide settings.

Updating the menu and toolbar appearance

It was suggested in 3.2 that state on the command could be used to implement the old contribution story behaviours:

  1. changing label text and tooltips
  2. changing icons
  3. changing enablement
  4. setting the item state (like checked state)

In 3.3 the enablement is tied to the command, and for the other behaviours we've decided to go with UIElements approach.

UIElements represent each UI visible instance of a command

The command service keeps a list of registered UI elements, which can be updated by the active handler. The checked state can be updated through UIElement#setChecked(boolean); (note that updateElement below is from IElementUpdater):

private boolean isChecked() {
    return getStore().getBoolean(
            PreferenceConstants.EDITOR_MARK_OCCURRENCES);
}
 
public void updateElement(UIElement element, Map parameters) {
    element.setChecked(isChecked());
}

When the toggle handler runs, it can request that any UI elements have their appearance updated from its execute(*) method:

ICommandService service = (ICommandService) serviceLocator
        .getService(ICommandService.class);
service.refreshElements(IJavaEditorActionDefinitionIds.TOGGLE_MARK_OCCURRENCES, null);

State associated with the command is propogated to UI visible elements

First define the toggle mark occurrences command. Pretty straight forward, although it needs a "STYLE" state since it can be toggled. To allow handlers to update the label for the menu/toolbar items, we also add the "NAME" state.

<extension point="org.eclipse.ui.commands">
  <command categoryId="org.eclipse.jdt.ui.category.source"
      description="%jdt.ui.ToggleMarkOccurrences.description"
      id="org.eclipse.jdt.ui.edit.text.java.toggleMarkOccurrences"
      name="%jdt.ui.ToggleMarkOccurrences.name">
    <state id="NAME" class="org.eclipse.jface.menus.TextState" />
    <state id="STYLE" class="org.eclipse.jface.commands.ToggleState:true" />
  </command>
</extension>

Work

Progress in 3.3.

Available in 3.3

  • Ok green.gif the editor action bar contributor solution. EditorActionBarContributor will not be deprecated, but is not used in the commands/handler story. Menu Contributions have visibility tied to an active editor id, and editor specific handlers can be created in the editor init(*) or createPartControl(*) method using the handler service from getPartSite().getService(IHandlerService.class).
  • Ok green.gif Attributes for <command/>: helpContextId, style to support radio buttons and check boxes
  • Ok green.gif action sets as contexts - action sets are still defined using org.eclipse.ui.actionSets, and each actionSet generates an equivalent context. showing/hiding actionSets activates/deactivates the equivalent context.
  • Ok green.gif How do we give Trim widgets/toolbar widgets "focus" for command and handlers? There was an IFocusService added in 3.3 that allows a trim control to register itself. When that control has focus, the control and the ID it registered with are provided in the global application context to core expressions and handlers. This is available, but might not be the optimal solution if you just want cut, copy, and paste to work.
  • Ok green.gif Shortcuts to define reusable core expressions for <activeWhen/>, <enabledWhen/>, and <visibleWhen/>. This has been added as the org.eclipse.core.expressions.definitions extension point and the core expression <reference/> element.
  • Ok green.gif the mnemonic field for <command/> elements (decorating)
  • Ok green.gif display any keybinding for <command/> elements (decorating)
  • Ok green.gif toolbar <visibleWhen/> expressions

Available in 3.3M5

There is an example of the RCP Mail application template updated for 3.3M5 and converted to use the org.eclipse.ui.menus extension point as much as possible at Contribution Example.

  • Ok green.gif changing the menu item or tool item state from a handler, like updating the label or tooltip or checked state. Commands can contain <state/> elements, but that is not appropriate to use for providing feedback to the user. This will be done by adapting a callback provided by the UI element.
  • Ok green.gif the <separator/> element should have a name not an id
  • Ok green.gif support creating radio button or checked menu items
  • Ok green.gif creating new toolbars in the main coolbar/trim declaratively
  • Ok green.gif creating new toolbars in the main coolbar/trim programmatically
  • Ok green.gif org.eclipse.ui.popup.any as a context menu contribution
  • Ok green.gif Drop down toolbar items

We also have action sets activating and de-activating contexts in 3.3M5, but we'll need to decide the proper action set story for 3.3M6

We are still working on the EditorActionBarContributor story. It seems like we might be able to deprecate it. Editor instances can instantiate handlers upon creation for each command they support.

Available in 3.3M4

The basic menu API will be available in 3.3M4. It includes both declarative org.eclipse.ui.menus extension point with core expression support for visibility, and a programmatic interface accessed through the IMenuService.


We support contributing to the main menu, and the view menu, view toolbar, and any IDed context menu. We support contributing to existing toolbars in the main coolbar, and contributing trim widgets.

Programmatically we support the following types of contributions:

  • MenuManager
  • CommandContributionItem
  • CompoundContributionItem
  • ControlContribution (in 3.3M5)
  • Separator
  • GroupMarker

There are some specific mappings of elements and attributes on Menus Extension Mapping.


Work still to be done

A list of behaviours not supported or shipped with 3.3.

  • validate and possibly optimize the context menu population story and lifecycle. Many context menus set remove all when shown.
  • migrate Marker views
  • migrate standard workbench actions - a few were done
  • Check enabled visibleWhen support
  • Shortcuts placed on submenu items (like CTRL+N) (decorating)
  • ensure full visibleWhen support in the MenuManagers - i.e. should empty menus display (empty)
  • do we want to manage trim with a TrimContributionManager? This removes the coolbar, but has RCP implications.
  • the menu override capability - does this tie into the Customize Perspective dialog and action sets
  • A set of default programmatic core expressions. For example, ActionContextExpression or ActivePartExpression
  • deprecate the 4 extension: actionSets, viewActions, editorActions, popupMenus
  • read old extensions in terms of new extension
  • convert platform UI extensions to new extension
  • migration guide - what are the most common migration paths for Action and IActionDelegate to Command/IHandler.
  • Attributes for <command/>: state for checkboxes and radio buttons
  • possibly provide an plugin.xml converter for actionSets to menus
  • possibly provide an Action -> Handler converter
  • Error.gif status manager contributions


Legend:

  • nothing - TBD
  • Glass.gif - investigating
  • Progress.gif - in progress
  • Ok green.gif - completed
  • Error.gif - dropped

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