Hi all, I have implemented the first refactoring tool for lazarus: Edit -> Export Proc.

Although Export Proc would also be a good name, I ment Extract Procedure.

Mattias

Hi all,

I have implemented the first refactoring tool for lazarus: Edit -> Export Proc.

Abstract:
Export Proc takes some selected pascal statements and creates a new procedure/method from this code.
This tool is useful to split big procedures or to easily create a new procedure from some code.

Basic example:

procedure DoSomething;
begin
  CallSomething;
end;

Select the line "CallSomething;" and do Extract Proc. A dialog popup ups and you can select the type and name of the procedure to create. For example: procedure, "NewProc". Result:

procedure NewProc;
begin
  CallSomething;
end;
procedure DoSomething;
begin
  NewProc;
end;

You can see, that the new procedure "NewProc" was created with the selection as body and the old code was replaced by a call.

Local Variables and Parameters:

"Extract Proc" scans for used variables and automatically creates the parameter list and local variables. Example:

procedure TForm1.DoSomething(var Erni, Bert: integer);
var
  i: Integer; // Comment
begin
  Erni:=Erni+Bert;
  for i:=Erni to 5 do begin
  end;
end;

Select the for loop and create a new Procedure "NewProc". The local variable i is only used in the selection, so it will be moved to the new procedure. Erni is also used in the remaining code, so it will become a parameter. Result:

procedure NewProc(const Erni: integer);
var
  i: Integer; // Comment
begin
  for i:=Erni to 5 do begin
  end;
end;
procedure TForm1.DoSomething(var Erni, Bert: integer);
begin
  Erni:=Erni+Bert;
  NewProc(Erni);
end;

You can see "i" was moved to the new procedure (Note: including its comment) and Erni .

Limitations:
Pascal is a very powerful language, so don't expect it will work with every code. Current limits/ToDos:
- check if selection bounds on statement bounds
- heuristic for parameter specifiers 'var'.
At the moment all parameters are "const".
If you need "var", you have to edit it manually.
- "with" statements

I think, even with these limits, the tool will be useful.

Mattias

Mattias Gaertner wrote

Hi all,

[snip]

I think, even with these limits, the tool will be useful.

wooow !