Input Assistant

The »Input Assistant« helps to speed up the coding process of formulas. It is also used to avoid syntax errors, typos and other common mistakes while creating and defining formulas used in the cost model.

The »Input Assistant« will support the user while entering property names and operators by suggesting them in a pop-up list. The list corresponds to the letters the user is typing.

The list offers different types of suggestions:

  • keywords (e.g. SELECT, FROM, WHERE)
  • operators (e.g. Contains, Equals, Starts With)
  • methods (e.g. GetText(), JoinText(), ToText())
  • type information (e.g. [Length], [Time], [Money])
  • other values, such as constants (e.g. _pi) or partition values for queries (e.g. resource, calculation)
  • property names which either come from the base solution or that are defined directly in the cost model

The user can either accept the suggestion by typing TAB ↹ or ↵ ENTER , or simply continue typing the name.

Note

The suggestions are currently not context-sensitive, i.e. the »Input Assistant« always displays the same number of possible suggestions.

Use the Input Assistant

  • You are in the Property details / Item Details where the Formula Editor is available.
    Property details Item details
    • Formula
    • Predefined Value
    • Input Range Query
    • Rule
    • BoM Availability Condition
    • Search Specification
  1. To open the input assistant, you can either type the formula or FQL statement in the Details view or in the Formula Editor.

    While typing, the »Input Assistant« opens and the item highlighted in gray is a preselected suggestion.

    If you continue typing characters, the list is filtered to include only the suggestions that begin with those characters or to include any word within the entire name that starts with those characters.

    Alternative: Type ». (period)« or CTRL + Space to open the input assistant.

  2. Double-click on the suggestion to select it from the list.

    Alternative: Click on TAB ↹ or ↵ ENTER or continue typing the name.

     

  3. Optional: To close the input assistant without a selection, click ESC .

    If you press ESC several times, changes that have not yet been saved may be lost.

 

How does filtering and searching works in the suggestion list?

The best match is always preselected as a suggestion. Suggestions remain in the list according to the following criteria:

  • With exact match at the beginning of a word (e.g. »Len« also finds »Length«)
  • With partial match in the text (e.g. »Len also finds »TableLength«)
  • With a match of the first letters (e.g. »SOR« also finds »SumOverResources«)
Hint

To reduce the amount of name memorization and required keyboard input, you can just type in the first letter of an operator or method (see above).

The input assistant is able to preselect it. You have to confirm the preselection with ↵ ENTER .