Code assist for non-free-form programming

A method for entering data in a computer system, the method comprising:

• receiving input of a cursor position where data is to be entered;
• determining the range of the column in which the cursor is positioned;
• obtaining data that may be and/or has been entered by a user;
• retrieving and displaying possible completions of the data to be entered;
• receiving input from the user of the selected completion;
• determining the length of the selected completion;
• and
• obtaining a range of the column in which the data is to be entered.

A computer program product for entering data into a computer system, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising:
• computer readable program code configured to capture the position of a cursor in a data entry field into which to enter data;
• computer readable program code configured to determine the row and the column of the position of the cursor;
• computer readable program code configured to capture the data entered by a user into the entry field;
• computer readable program code configured to retrieve and display possible completions based on the data entered;
• computer readable program code configured to capture the completion selected by the user;
• computer readable program code configured to determine the length of the selected completion;
• and
• computer readable program code configured to obtain a range of the column into which the selected completion will be entered.

A computer program product for transmission of a column-sensitive content-assist widget to be implemented on a processing device, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising:
• computer readable program code configured to receive input of a cursor position where data is to be entered in a computer object system;
• computer readable program code configured to determine the range of the column in which the cursor is positioned;
• computer readable program code configured to obtain data that may be and/or has been entered by a user;
• computer readable program code configured to retrieve and display possible completions of the data to be entered;
• computer readable program code configured to receive input from the user of the selected completion;
• computer readable program code configured to determine the length of the selected completion;
• and
• computer readable program code configured to obtain a range of the column in which the data is to be entered.

A code-assist widget for use in a computer system executing applications having both fixed-format and free-format data entry fields, comprising:

• a determinator of whether a data entry field is a fixed-format data entry field or a free-format data entry field;
• a replacement mode wherein a first completion proposed by the code-assist widget is appended with at least one space if necessary to fill the fixed-format data entry field, and any data entered in the fixed-form data entry field is replaced by the first completion and any appended spaces;
• and
• an insertion mode wherein data entered in the free-form data entry field is removed from a second completion proposed by the code-assist widget and the modified second completion is inserted at a cursor position in the free-form data entry field.

A column-sensitive content-assist for use inputting data into a computer system, comprising:

• means for positioning a cursor for data entry in a data entry field;
• means for determining the row and the column of the cursor position;
• means for determining the size of the field in which the data is to be entered;
• means for determining if a programming language used to enter data is a fixed-form programming language;
• means for retrieving and informing the user of possible completions for data entry into the data entry field;
• and
• means for retrieving the selected completion of the user.