Plugin development: how to insert parameterized content into the editor similar to Live Templates?
I am developing a domain-specific custom language as an Intellij IDEA plugin.
I created an intention that allows the user to fix an error in the code.
I am able to make updates to the content in the editor, and then place the caret where I want the user to add some text. However, there are multiple places the user needs to add text at, and I would like to automatically have the caret placed in all of them, one after the other, similar to how it's done when using the Live Templates feature, when adding a Live Template with parameters in it.
When using Live Templates, it looks like this:
Notice the red box. The caret gets there automatically, and when I finish typing and click enter - it moves to the next parameter and the red box appears there.
Note that in the scenario I'm implementing the text is completely dynamic. If creating temporary ad-hoc Live Templates on the fly is possible then that might be a viable solution, but otherwise I need another way to control this mechanism.
Does anyone know how to pull it off?
It's possible to create live templates on the fly. The most convenient API for that is TemplateBuilder, see its javadoc. If you don't have PSI available, you can assemble a template manually by carefully constructing TemplateImpl object and then using TemplateManager#startTemplate. There are numerous examples for both cases in IntelliJ IDEA Community edition codebase.