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Bug 15050 - [Class Wizard] Should show the entire declaration in the Create Fields pane of the New wizard
Summary: [Class Wizard] Should show the entire declaration in the Create Fields pane o...
Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX
Alias: None
Product: java
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Unsupported (show other bugs)
Version: 3.x
Hardware: PC Windows 95/98
: P3 blocker (vote)
Assignee: Jiri Mzourek
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks: 15051
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Reported: 2001-09-01 19:49 UTC by eadams
Modified: 2007-09-26 09:14 UTC (History)
0 users

See Also:
Issue Type: ENHANCEMENT
Exception Reporter:

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Description eadams 2001-09-01 19:49:29 UTC 
The Fields box in this pane show an icon and the fields name.  It would
be much, much more useful if the entire declaration, exactly as it will be
written to the file, were shown.  Given the that box is wide, there is
plenty of space to do so.

For example, the box might show:

   int foo;
   private int foo;
   private static final int foo = 12;
   ...

This allows the user to visually scan to see if the declarations are correct.  
As it is now, I must click on a field in order to see it type, or I must use 
the tool tip.

  The box is 
very wide, names tend to be somewhat short and
In the text box, only the field name and an icon are shown.  I think 
   it would be better to show the entire declaration as it will be in
   inserted into the code.  Something like "private static final int foo = 10".
Comment 1 Svata Dedic 2001-09-04 10:53:50 UTC 
Changing to an enhancement (keeping milestone).
Is it OK from the UI/HIE point of view ?
Keeping type of the field in the list may be confusing because the 
field's name won't start the line and the user will have to look for 
it explicitly.
We can use TreeTable to implement it as two-column display, or have 
the field's type appear after the name - but that's unnatural to 
java programmers, I'm afraid.
Comment 2 jrojcek 2001-09-04 12:06:04 UTC 
Agree. I think we should leave it in current state. We present field
(method, constructor) icons also in explorer and object browser. Icons
are intuitive and save space. Maybe there is enough space to show full
field declaration in New field panel but not in New method panel. So,
we shouldn't change it for consistency reason.
Comment 3 eadams 2001-09-04 21:46:59 UTC 
I agree that the HIEs should be consulted.

My reasoning is that programmers are using this wizard and programmers
are very familiar and comfortable with declarations.  Programmers 
definitely know how to read and scan declarations.  As it is now,
I must do extra work in order to find out more about a field.  I must
either use the tooltip to see everything EXCEPT the initial value, or
I must click on it to see everything.

The icon adds no value at all.  It is the generic icon for a field.
Since I'm in the Create Fields pane I know that I'm dealing with fields.
The icon would only help me if I somehow forgot if I was adding fields
or methods (very unlikely).

Regarding consistency with Create Methods, I believe that the full method
declarations should be shown there as well.  I don't see any reason or
advantage to hiding this information.  This is information that programmers 
use all the time.  I experimented with Create Methods and most methods will
fit (unless people use full package names for types).  Currently, the types
of the arguments, but not their names, are shown but neither the return value
or the thrown exceptions are shown.  When the method is long, a horizontal
scrollbar or wrapping makes sense.

If you strongly believe that the field names should appear by themselves,
then Svata's suggestion of a two column table makes sense.  As does simple
text like:

    field22 -- private int field22 = 67;
Comment 4 Jan Chalupa 2001-11-27 12:50:19 UTC 
Target milestone -> 3.3.1.
Comment 5 Marek Grummich 2002-07-22 10:07:51 UTC 
Set target milestone to TBD
Comment 6 Martin Matula 2004-11-12 08:12:05 UTC 
No longer relevant (class wizard does not allow to add fields anymore)
Comment 7 Quality Engineering 2007-09-20 09:49:21 UTC 
Reorganization of java component