External editor command: more flexibility wanted

MKairys · Post by **MKairys** » 2008 Mar 24, 16:56

The editor I use for my external editor (UltraEdit, a superb product BTW) will open multiple tabs if multiple files are given on the command line. However if I select multiple files in an X2 window and hit F4, what I get is multiple instances of UltraEdit each with one file. From this I assume (and of course I could be wrong) that X2 is firing off a command for each file, when what I want it to do is fire off one command with all the files.

wasker · Post by **wasker** » 2008 Mar 24, 17:15

I think it's more of your editor settings. Say, Twistpad opens all files in one window w/o any tweaking. I'd suggest to check UE settings.

Although, this could be useful if the one could configure editor/viewer command line arguments. Something like "Editor\Path.exe" /args $file.

MKairys · Post by **MKairys** » 2008 Mar 24, 20:11

wasker wrote:I think it's more of your editor settings. Say, Twistpad opens all files in one window w/o any tweaking. I'd suggest to check UE settings.

Well, I also have a shortcut to UE in my SendTo folder, and if I select several files in an X2 window, right-click, and send them to UE it works as I expect. So I think it's something in how X2 invokes UE as an external editor.

snakebyte · Post by **snakebyte** » 2008 Mar 24, 20:51

Open SendTo folder. See the properties of UE shortcut. See if any additional parameter is being passed in the Target field.

Also try this: Instead of using F4 to launch UE, try creating an User command and try passing parameter $A to UE.
eg: >"Path_to_UltraEdit_exe" $A

If above doesn't work, experement with few other tokens.

MKairys · Post by **MKairys** » 2008 Mar 24, 21:54

snakebyte wrote:Open SendTo folder. See the properties of UE shortcut. See if any additional parameter is being passed in the Target field.

No, the shortcut contains only the path to UE.

snakebyte wrote:Also try this: Instead of using F4 to launch UE, try creating an User command and try passing parameter $A to UE.

Yes, that works. It doesn't really buy me anything, though. What I want is for the View and Edit builtins to work the way I want them to.

FrizzleFry · Post by **FrizzleFry** » 2008 Mar 24, 22:07

You should be able to configure UE to open all files in one instance.

Since Editor2 only loads one file at a time, multiple files have to be loaded with multiple commands.

MKairys · Post by **MKairys** » 2008 Mar 25, 12:45

FrizzleFry wrote:Since Editor2 only loads one file at a time ...

Exactly my point. I would like to see more flexibility in specifying the external editor command so as to accomodate editors with more capabilities than the venerable Editor2.

robwg · Post by **robwg** » 2008 Mar 26, 10:28

This mostly works for me using UltraEdit ver 14 and I don't remember doing anything special to make it happen. Selecting multiple files and pressing F4 opens UltraEdit with each file in a tab. Occasionally if a large file was selected first it ends up in its own window, although that doesn't seem to happen if it was selected last.

I agree that more flexibility in specifying the external editor/viewer would be useful.

Post by **nikos** » 2008 Mar 26, 13:14

there's no difference between "external editor" and assigning a user command. You press F4 for the one and any keyboard shortcut you fancy for the other

MKairys · Post by **MKairys** » 2008 Mar 26, 17:38

Sure there are differences.

1. External Editor appears in the File menu
2. External Editor is an available toolbar button
3. External Editor command is less customizable!

FrizzleFry · Post by **FrizzleFry** » 2008 Mar 26, 18:17

Try adding /foi to the external editor command line.

MKairys · Post by **MKairys** » 2008 Mar 27, 16:55

FrizzleFry wrote:Try adding /foi to the external editor command line.

Thank you!
Okay Nikos, never mind