IMPORTANT: Author of this plugin might not get alerted for any comments made here on this blog’s comments section. I request you all to directly raise issue on the github repository for this product here : https://github.com/ajayhada/Rich-VisualForce-Editor/issues
We all miss content assist support in Force.com IDE Visualforce editor. My previous attempt of using eclipse code templates was a patch to fill this gap. Good news now is, my colleague @AjayHada is creating a Visualforce editor, that will give decent code assistance support on typical “CTRL + SPACE” hit.
Meet @AjayHada !
Before we go any further, let me introduce you all with @AjayHada. He is a J2EE champ with a decade of experience in developing applications ranging from Supply chain management, ERP and Social Event management.
AjayHada’s experiences with Force.com IDE :-/
Ajay recently started learning and developing on Force.com platform. After a few days of flying in clouds, his major point of frustration was Force.com IDE, because of its well known limited capabilities. Being a Java guy by heart, he decided to write an Eclipse plugin to fill this long void, and he started an open source project for visualforce editor. After a few hours of research and RnD he was able to come up with an alpha version of this editor.
This editor is available on github here : https://github.com/ajayhada/Rich-VisualForce-Editor
Rich Visualforce Editor Plugin for Force.com IDE
This editor in its infant stage is supporting content assist for most commonly used visualforce tags.
How to launch ?
Right click on any Visualforce page, to launch the popup menu.
Select “Open With” menu item.
In the sub menu select “Rich Visualforce Editor”.
Content assist in action !
CTRL + SPACE in action for tags
CTRL + SPACE assistance for tag specific attributes
Liked it, How to install ?
You can download this zip “rich.visual.force.editor.plugin.zip” from here. After download extract the zip and copy “VFEdit_xxxxx.jar” to “eclipse install folder/plugins”. Restart eclipse to reflect the changes.
Rich Visualforce Editor Roadmap & TODOs
Following are the features planned in next release. You are more than welcome, to fork and contribute to any of these.
HTML5 tag support will be added to future versions
Only applicable tags will be visible inside tags like apex:param will only be visible for applicable parent tags
Display validation errors for apex and html tags
Used attributes will be removed from the suggestion box.
Suggestion box will also show some mark to show that tag is related to APEX, or HTML4, or HTML5
Proper Tag, Attribute, Text, Comment color scheme
Context sensitive help within IDE on pressing a hot key for visualforce tags.
Support for “plugin update site” for all known pros.
Support for dynamic update of tags and attributes, as per new Salesforce releases.
Help required from Force.com IDE team !
This plugin can be more awesome, if they can give us XSD/DTD for visualforce tags. This will help a lot in developing this editor in lesser time.
Your views and feedback !
Looking forward to those
Launched in 2015, used by 9000+ worldwide users. It's a suite of tools for Salesforce consultants, architects, admins & developers.
Comments (15)
Anonymoussays:
November 2, 2011 at 4:52 pmGood to see this finally :)Nice work.
Anonymoussays:
November 2, 2011 at 5:00 pmThanks @Aslam, glad you liked it.
Anonymoussays:
November 2, 2011 at 9:02 pmI am not able to see the text editor after copying it to /.metadata/plugins directory.Can you tell how I can see it after downloading
Anonymoussays:
November 3, 2011 at 4:13 amhi @p1-dfs, we need to copy the jar file in zip to “plugins” subfolder under “eclipse installation directory”. Eclipse installation directory is one, where you will find Eclipse binary/executable.
Anonymoussays:
November 4, 2011 at 6:36 amgreat work @ajay and @abhinav…
Anonymoussays:
November 4, 2011 at 6:38 amThanks @Gaurav, I will convey this to Ajay as well 🙂
Anonymoussays:
November 7, 2011 at 2:26 pmI get this error when i press cntrl + space. “Content Assist did not complete normally. Please check log for more information.”java.util.emptystackexceptionHow to receover content assist?
Anonymoussays:
November 8, 2011 at 7:02 amTanujs, I will pass this to Ajay.
Anonymoussays:
November 8, 2011 at 7:19 amTanujs, I never got this error, it might be possible that it occurred because of eclipse version. I am using eclipse 3.6. Also the message you mentioned in your post is from eclipse PDE. I have uploaded a new jar in download section, why dont you delete previous jar from your “[$eclipse+home]/plugin/ folder and copy downloaded jar to plugin folder.
Anonymoussays:
November 9, 2011 at 9:26 amThanks @ abhinav & Ajay. I copied the new jar and it works fine now.
Anonymoussays:
November 9, 2011 at 9:29 amGreat, looking forward for your feedback and views !
Anonymoussays:
June 18, 2012 at 10:17 amI am using Europa Eclipse and installed the plugin as well. But when I click on Open with-> I can't see Rich VisualForce Editor. Any Idea?
Anonymoussays:
June 18, 2012 at 11:24 amSwati I will let Ajay know about this, and he will revert soon.
Anonymoussays:
June 26, 2012 at 6:33 amHi Swati Mishra,This eclipse is create for Eclipse Helios(3.6.1 version). I did not tested on Europa so not sure about that, Why dont you use Eclipse Helios.ThanksAjay
Anonymoussays:
June 27, 2012 at 1:27 pmHi Ajay,In my system the eclipse installed was Europa. Thus, trying to install it there. Anyways thanks for your reply. I will use Helios or upper version where it is working.