PyScripter v5.1.0 released

PyScripter v5.1.0 is now available at Sourceforge.  This release features very significant improvements in the PyScripter editor.

• New Features
• Multi-caret and multi-selection editing
• Annotated scrollbars
• Colored code structure highlight
• Display of program flow control symbols
• Support for TOML files
• Issues addressed
• #1307, #1321, #1329, #1336

Teaser: Colored highlight of program structure is coming to PyScripter

The PyScripter editor had the option to show indentation guides (thin vertical lines that help you visualize blocks of python code).  This feature has been enhanced and it is now using colors to help you better understand the python code structure.  See the picture below:

The option is enabled by the default.  You can disable by unchecking the option using Tools, Options, IDE Options, Editor, "Indentation Guides", "Highlight Structure".

Teaser: Display of program flow control symbols is coming to PyScripter

The next version of PyScripter will be able to display program flow control symbols (small arrows next to return/continue/break/yield statements), that help you visualize and better understand the flow of execution:

See the picture below:

You can enable/disable this feature through, Tools, Options, IDE Options, Editor, "Display flow control symbols".  You can also customize their color.
 

Teaser: Annotated scrollbars are coming to PyScripter

 

In this screenshot you can see in the scrollbar:

• the position of the multiple carets (full blueish line)
• lines with errors (full red line)
• the position of the bookmarks (mini bluish marks on the left)
• line modification info (on the right side)
• alpha-blended slider

PyScripter on Windows 7

Windows 7 share of the Windows market is under 3% and declining.Microsoft stopped support for Win 7 on January 2020.  Python no longer supports Win7 since version 3.9.  However there are still quite a few PyScripter users on Win 7.  

I recently  got an issue report that the latest versions 5.x do not paint well on Windows 7.  The problem was resolved when the user activated an Aero theme instead of a classic one.  So, if you are on Windows 7 and want to use PyScripter you still can.

If you have trouble activating an Aero theme please have a look a this troubleshooting guide.

Teaser: Multi-caret editing is coming to PyScripter

The series of short videos that follow, introduce the forthcoming new multi-caret and multi-selection editing capabilities of PyScripter. They can also serve as a tutorial on how to effectively use them for more productive code editing.

Multiple carets and selections using the mouse

Takeaways:

• Alt + Mouse click:  Adds new caret
• Alt + Mouse move: Adds new selection
• Alt + Shift + Mouse click/move: Selects column mode

Multiple carets and selections using the keyboard

Takeaways:

• Alt + Shift + Left/Right/Up/Down/PgUp/PgDown: Selects column mode
• Alt + End: Adds carets to the end of the lines in the current selection

Editing with multiple carets and selections

Takeaways:

• Most editing commands work with multiple carets and selections

Copying and pasting with multiple selections

Takeaways:

• If the number of carets when you copy, is equal to the number of carets when you paste, copying is taking place on a one-to-one basis.  Otherwise, the full selected text is copied.

Selecting matching words and text

Takeaways:

• Ctrl + W: Adds the next matching word as a new selection
• Shift +Ctrl + W: Selects all matching occurrences of the current selection