SIMPOL Documentation

This is activated whenever the we append the SIMPOL property (dot) operator after an object name in the code. A list is then displayed with the properties of the object. We can use the up and down arrow keys to move through the list, or the mouse cursor to select another list property name. Another way is to begin to write the name of the property so that the property name closest to what has been written will be shown selected in the list. If we press the tab key on the keyboard, the whole property name will be appended after the dot operator.

This feature works with types nested at any level within other types. See the example below:

type MyType
  embed
  string s1
  integer i1
end type


function main()
  MyType t

  t.

end function "OK"

Function prototype help is activated when the open parenthesis character is appended after a function name in the code. A list is then displayed with the parameters of the function. Each entry in the list shows the parameter data type, its name, and even its default value (if it has one). As we add parameters to the function, the list entry selected will be moved one position down, so that the parameter that is selected in the list is the same as the one that we are currently typing. The list will be closed when we type the close parenthesis, that means that the function is not going to receive any more parameters. If the parameter list is still active, we can use the the left and right arrow keys to move to another parameter position. The parameter selected in the list will be the parameter the caret is over in that moment. If we are in a function and one of the parameters we type is another function call, the editor will show the new function parameter list, and after typing all the parameters the new function needs, the editor will show the previous function parameter list in order to continue to support the entering of parameters.

There is another way this feature can be used. If we set the cursor at any position inside a function parameter list in our program and press at the same time the keys Ctrl+Tab, a list with the parameters of the function will be displayed. The parameter entry selected will be the parameter that the cursor points to in the text. This can be very useful if there is a line in the program with many nested functions. For example:

function MyFunction(string s1, integer i1)
end function "OK"

function main()

    MyFunction(


end function "OK"

This functionality is always active. If the mouse cursor is positioned over an item in the function body of the source code, a tooltip will be shown, containing information relevant to the item below the mouse pointer if the item is a function, a type, or a variable. It is a very powerful feature and when debugging the SIMPOL program, if the mouse cursor is positioned over a variable, the value of the variable will be shown.

function main()
    string s1, s2

    s1 = "Hello"
    s2 = s1

end function "OK"

function MyFunction(string sArg, integer iArg)
end function "OK"


function main()
    string s

    s = MyFunction("Hi", 1)

end function

A list is displayed of either functions or types at the current cursor position when the appropiate keys are pressed.