Per this question, I have created a custom graphical control object which evaluates to a list of values. I would like to be able to create such an object quickly, rather than typing some command, pressing shift+enter, then copying the resulting object into wherever I want to use it. For example, something like typing \[Theta] which turns into θ... is it possible to create such a custom shorthand notation? (Even better, is it possible that when I start to type in a function which takes such a list as arguments, it pops up this control object for me to type the values in?)
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Assuming you are referring to this control. You can
- Evaluate in a separate cell each time and copy paste (you don't like this)
- Write the command and evaluate in place
- Copy the control once and paste it several times: remember the variables were localized so each will have its own copy and they won't interfere
Create a palette
CreatePalette@PasteButton["Paste control", myControl["a"~CharacterRange~"g"]];Create a toolbar
AppendTo[CurrentValue[InputNotebook[], DockedCells], Cell@BoxData@ ToBoxes@PasteButton["Paste control", myControl["a"~CharacterRange~"g"]]]Create an input alias, or an input auto replacement. Example of input alias (the other one is the same)
AppendTo[CurrentValue[InputNotebook[], InputAliases], "control" -> ToBoxes@myControl["a"~CharacterRange~"g"]]
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$\begingroup$ Thanks, this lead me to find
InputAutoReplacementswhich was what I wanted. Do you have any idea why it selects a random field/object in the box instead of highlighting the first text field when the replacement happens? $\endgroup$ – jtbandes Nov 24 '12 at 1:05 -
$\begingroup$ @jtbandes not off the top of my head. Generally
\[SelectionPlaceholder]s are used to represent where the selection will go so you could try initializing the control with that character $\endgroup$ – Rojo Nov 24 '12 at 19:12
