Replace current line without inserting a new line

[Yaron]

Hello,

A Python script to replace the current line with the clipboard content:

editor.lineEnd()
editor.homeExtend()

editor.paste()

I’d like to avoid inserting a new line on pasting.
The following code works but there’s probably a better way.

currentLine = editor.lineFromPosition(editor.getCurrentPos())

editor.lineEnd()
editor.homeExtend()

editor.paste()

currentPos = editor.getCurrentPos()

if currentLine != editor.lineFromPosition(currentPos) and editor.getColumn(currentPos) == 0:
	editor.lineDelete() 

I’d appreciate your help.

[Scott Sumner]

We’re not playing Golf here, but how about this:

editor.deleteLine(editor.lineFromPosition(editor.getCurrentPos()))
editor.paste()

This may be obvious, but if what you have in the clipboard has a “line ending” at its end, you’ll get it in your paste into Notepad++. Just be sure that you know where the line-ending you’re trying to avoid is coming from! :)

[Yaron]

Hello Scott Sumner,

Thanks for your suggestion. I appreciate it.

But if there isn’t an EOL in the clipboard you’re pasting into the wrong hole. :)

Best regards.

[Scott Sumner]

@Yaron

I guess I misunderstood the requirements, but hopefully it got you farther along in what you’re doing. You can do an editor.addText(‘\r\n’) [if using Windows file format] after the paste, but then there is the question of where do you want your caret to end up, which I don’t know.

Here’s a semi-related problem I haven’t been able to solve well: You can’t tell what is in the clipboard before you paste it. So, perhaps there is a line-ending at the end of it, perhaps not. You have to paste it and then you can find out by what ends up in your document and maybe delete (programmatically) what you don’t want, but you have to figure out how long the pasted text was, etc,. and it is all just seemingly over-complicated. There should be .getClipboardText() and .setClipboardText(txt) functions…which would make life easier.

Happy Scripting!

[Yaron]

Hello Scott,

You can’t tell what is in the clipboard before you paste it.

This confirmation is important.
Indeed, the easiest way would be checking for an EOL in the clipboard content.
(Actually it would be better to make sure it’s text but I wanted a simple practical solution.
And there’s Undo as well…).

You’ve been helpful. Thanks again.

Best regards.

[Yaron]

Slightly better. :)

oldLine = editor.lineFromPosition(editor.getCurrentPos())

editor.beginUndoAction()

editor.lineEnd()
editor.homeExtend()

editor.paste()

newPos = editor.getCurrentPos()

if oldLine != editor.lineFromPosition(newPos) and editor.getColumn(newPos) == 0:
	editor.lineUp()
	editor.lineEnd()	# Always position the carret at the end of the pasted string.
	notepad.menuCommand(MENUCOMMAND.EDIT_DELETE)	# Remove inserted new line even if the replaced line is last in the file.

editor.endUndoAction()

[Claudia Frank]

Yaron, are you sure your logic is correct?

if oldLine != editor.lineFromPosition(newPos) and editor.getColumn(newPos) == 0:

You compare a number against boolean result.
If there is a need to check if the clipboard has text and an eol added you might think of
using ctypes and openclipboard api function. But don’t know if this isn’t overkill.

Scott, curious, what does this mean?

We’re not playing Golf here

Thanks and cheers
Claudia

[Scott Sumner]

@Claudia-Frank ,

My reference to “golf” was because my reply to Yaron (which apparently wasn’t quite what he needed) was a very short one-liner…“golf” is a game where someone proposes a programming task, and then people reply with their shortest versions. Here’s a better explanation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_golf

I’ve had difficulty getting clipboard functionality into my pythonscripts. I tried the advice found in the early part of the thread found here (https://sourceforge.net/p/npppythonscript/discussion/1188886/thread/bafe5a3a/), and actually had it working at one point, then got a new job and a different computer, and I could never get it working again (as you can see at the end of the thread).

[Claudia Frank]

@Scott-Sumner
:-) I see, thanks.
In regards to clipboard, gimme a second …

Cheers
Claudia

[Scott Sumner]

Also, Claudia, how is Yaron comparing a number against a boolean? His line you reference appears to be okay to me, syntax-wise.

[Yaron]

Hello Claudia and Scott,

@Claudia,
Scott has already asked it: where is the boolean?

But don’t know if this isn’t overkill.

I’m afraid it would. :)

@Scott,
As I’ve mentioned before - your statement regarding the clipboard was helpful indeed.

Thank you both very much.
Best regards.

[Claudia Frank]

Hello Yaron and Scott,

a quick script to get the clipboard data using ctypes and windows api.
Tested on Ubuntu (Linux) with wine - hopefully this works on real windows as well.

import ctypes

def Get():
    if ctypes.windll.user32.OpenClipboard(None):
        clipboard_handle = ctypes.windll.user32.GetClipboardData(1)
        if clipboard_handle:
            pointer_to_content = ctypes.windll.kernel32.GlobalLock(clipboard_handle)
            clipboard_data = ctypes.c_char_p(pointer_to_content).value
            ctypes.windll.kernel32.GlobalUnlock(clipboard_handle)
        else:
            return 'invalid handle'
        ctypes.windll.user32.CloseClipboard()
        return clipboard_data
    else:
        return 'ERROR'

print Get()

In reality you would make sure that the openclipboard would be called more often
if it fails on the first try, as it might be that another application currently has opened it
and therefore your app doesn’t get access.

if oldLine != editor.lineFromPosition(newPos) and editor.getColumn(newPos) == 0:

execution in order (afaik)
First, both functions get executed
Second result from getColumn get compared against 0 ->returns boolead
Third result from lineFrom… gets ANDed with boolean -> retruns boolean
Last oldLine(number) gets checked against boolean -> which means a boolean
compare at all. All oldLine numbers are True execept the first line which is 0 and treaten
as False.

As said, afaik. Maybe I’m wrong.

Cheers
Claudia

[Yaron]

Hello Claudia,

Thank you very much for the script.
I won’t be by a PC until Monday or Tuesday. I’ll try it then.

And as I’ve written to Scott: it’s good to know I haven’t missed anything too simple. :)
I appreciate it.

First, both functions get executed

I think there’s no need to execute the second function if the first condition is not true.
So, the order is:
Execute first function.
Check first condition.
Execute second function.
Check second condition.

What do you think?

BR.

[Claudia Frank]

@Yaron and Scott,

of course, you are right.
Phew - one of these days …
Please forgive and forget what I said.
Recently I was reading something about precedence and that If statement
has one of the lowest rating, but of course != get executed before.
I guess now its time to go to bed. ;-)

Cheers
Claudia

[Claudia Frank]

Btw… here the confirmation that you are right.

  2           0 LOAD_GLOBAL              0 (oldLine)
              3 LOAD_GLOBAL              1 (editor)
              6 LOAD_ATTR                2 (lineFromPosition)
              9 LOAD_GLOBAL              3 (newPos)
             12 CALL_FUNCTION            1
             15 COMPARE_OP               3 (!=)
             18 POP_JUMP_IF_FALSE       50
             21 LOAD_GLOBAL              1 (editor)
             24 LOAD_ATTR                4 (getColumn)
             27 LOAD_GLOBAL              3 (newPos)
             30 CALL_FUNCTION            1
             33 LOAD_CONST               1 (0)
             36 COMPARE_OP               2 (==)
             39 POP_JUMP_IF_FALSE       50

  3          42 LOAD_CONST               2 ('y')
             45 PRINT_ITEM          
             46 PRINT_NEWLINE       
             47 JUMP_FORWARD             5 (to 55)

  5     >>   50 LOAD_CONST               3 ('n')
             53 PRINT_ITEM          
             54 PRINT_NEWLINE       
        >>   55 LOAD_CONST               0 (None)
             58 RETURN_VALUE

Cheers (shamy)
Claudia

[Yaron]

Hello Claudia,

In “one of these days” you’ve written such a beautiful script (I’m sure it is even before testing it).
My esteem has not been diminished at all by that trifle. :)

Thanks again. I appreciate your help.

Have a great night.

[Scott Sumner]

@Claudia-Frank said:

if oldLine != editor.lineFromPosition(newPos) and editor.getColumn(newPos) == 0:

I was always taught that if YOU have some question or doubt, somebody reading your code later would also have the same concern, so better to make it explicit with parentheses:

if (oldLine != editor.lineFromPosition(newPos)) and (editor.getColumn(newPos) == 0):

I look forward to trying out the clipboard routine! Thank you, Claudia.

[Scott Sumner]

The clipboard routine works well, Claudia, this is so great! Now I just have to write the corresponding ‘set’ version.

[guy038]

Hello Yaron, Scoot and Claudia,

I don’t want to disturb, in any way, your interesting discussion, about Python operators precedence ( and other goodies, that I can’t understand, yet ! ) but I, simply, created three macros, that seem to emulate the behaviour that you prefer, Yaron, AFAIK !!

So :

• Close any instance of Notepad++

• Start an OTHER editor than notepad++

• Open, in that editor, the Shortcuts.xml file

• Insert, at the beginning of this file, inside the <Macros> section, the XML text below :

    <Macro name="Cut        Current Line w/o EOL" Ctrl="yes" Alt="yes" Shift="no" Key="88">
        <Action type="0" message="2453" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2453" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2345" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2452" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2452" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2177" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2180" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
    </Macro>
    <Macro name="Copy     Current Line w/o EOL" Ctrl="yes" Alt="yes" Shift="no" Key="67">
        <Action type="0" message="2453" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2453" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2345" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2452" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2452" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2178" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2304" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
    </Macro>
    <Macro name="Replace Current line by Clipboard" Ctrl="yes" Alt="yes" Shift="no" Key="86">
        <Action type="0" message="2453" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2453" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2345" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2452" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2452" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2179" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2453" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2453" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
        <Action type="0" message="2345" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
    </Macro>
  

• Save the changes, done in the Shortcuts.xml file

• Re-start Notepad++

=> In the macros list, you should have three additional entries :

Cut     Current Line w/o EOL       Ctrl + Alt + X

Copy    Current Line w/o EOL       Ctrl + Alt + C

Replace Current Line by Clipboard  Ctrl + Alt + V

---

Hypotheses :

• I suppose that the Scintilla commands : Home, Alt + Home, Shift + End, Left Arrow and Suppr are the default ones !

• I, also, suppose that the classical Ctrl + X , Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V commands are the default ones, too.

• Finally, the three shortcuts Ctrl + Alt + X, Ctrl + Alt + C and Ctrl + Alt + V should not be used, yet

Notes :

• After execution of the two macros Copy Current Line w/o EOL and Replace Current Line by Clipboard, the caret is moved back, at the very beginning of the current line

• After execution of the macro Cut Current Line w/o EOL, the caret is located, of course, at the very beginning of the next line

• These macros work nice, whatever :

  • The current logical line Begins, or not, by some blank characters

  • The current logical line is wrapped, or not

  • The current logical line is split on several physical lines, preceded, or not, by any indentation

  • The present cursor location, in this current logical line

  • The EOL characters of the current logical line ( CRLF, LF or CR )

  • The current logical line is not terminated by any EOL characters ( case of the very last line of the file ! )

---

So, let’s consider the simple text, of five lines, below :

First  line to copy
Second line to cut
Third  line to be replaced by the first line
Fourth line to be replaced by the second line
Fifth  line to end

• Put the cursor, anywhere, in the First line

• Select the macro Macros - Copy Current Line w/o EOL OR hit the Alt + Ctrl + C shortcut

• Put the cursor, anywhere, in the Third line

• Select the macro Macros - Replace Current Line by Clipboard OR hit the Alt + Ctrl + V shortcut

=> You should get the modified text, below :

First  line to copy
Second line to cut
First  line to copy
Fourth line to be replaced by the second line
Fifth  line to end

• Now, put the cursor, anywhere, in the Second line

• Select the macro Macros - Cut Current Line w/o EOL OR hit the Alt + Ctrl + X shortcut

• Put the cursor, anywhere, in the Fourth line

• Select the macro Macros - Replace Current Line by Clipboard OR hit the Alt + Ctrl + V shortcut

=> The final result should be :

First  line to copy
First  line to copy
Second line to cut
Fifth  line to end

---

Remarks :

• If you use the macro Copy Current Line w/o EOL then put the cursor inside any other line and, finally, use the default CTRL + V command, the current line, while executing the macro, is just inserted, at the new cursor location

• Inversely, if you use the default CTRL + C, to select some lines, then put the cursor inside any other line and, finally, use the macro Replace Current Line by Clipboard, the copied lines will replace the current line, while executing the macro !

• Note, also, that executing, consecutively, several times, any of the two macros Copy Current Line w/o EOL AND/OR Replace Current Line by Clipboard does NOT change the current line at all !!

• However, executing, several times, the macro Cut Current Line w/o EOL deletes the consecutive current lines, keeping the last one, only, in the clipboard, in order to replace any other current line, while executing the Replace Current Line by Clipboard macro

• To end, a very nice trick : if, after using the Copy Current Line w/o EOL OR the Cut Current Line w/o EOL macro, you’re wrong, using the normal paste command ( Ctrl + V ), no panic ! Just execute the Replace Current Line by Clipboard macro ( or Ctrl + Alt + V ), just after :-))

Best Regards,

guy038

P.S. :

You’ve , certainly, noticed that I used, sometimes, in macros, two identical consecutive commands, as Home or Shift + End. These forms are necessary, when the lines are wrapped, in several physical lines and, even more, when a wrapped line is preceded by some leading blank characters !

[Claudia Frank]

Hello guy,

what took longer, finding out how to get this solved using macros
or writing this?? ;-)))

Another goody

Cheers
Claudia