Building a Custom Text Editor Control with Actipro Software Code Writer

As developers, we often find ourselves faced with complex tasks that require innovative solutions. One such task is building a custom text editor control in WPF, similar to the one found in Visual Studio. In this article, we will explore some of the challenges and approaches to achieving this goal using Actipro Software's code writer.

Understanding the Editor

The Editor, as implemented in the blog, is essentially a RichTextBox with additional GUI elements that provide access to its various functions. To better understand how to approach this project, it would be helpful to gain insight into the relationship between TextPointer and TextSource. Should we use a DrawingVisual instead? The answer lies in understanding the requirements of our text editor control.

Hit Testing and Character Hit Structure

Another critical aspect of building a text editor is hit testing, which involves identifying the TextPosition under the mouse cursor. This requires linking the CharacterHit structure with a Point class to accurately determine the Text Position. Alternatively, we could utilize the Text Capabilities from the namespace, but this approach may not provide the best performance.

Text Formatting and Performance

When it comes to text formatting, there are various approaches that can be taken. However, for the best performance, we need to consider factors such as memory usage and rendering speed. For example, the sample code provided in the Windows SDK is not necessarily the most efficient approach. Instead, we may want to consider using classes like TextFormatter, TextSource, and TextRunProperties from Actipro Software's code writer as a basis for our control.

Lexer Algorithm and Colorize

To take it a step further, I have implemented a Lexer algorithm that can perform colorization on the text. This will be essential in creating a SQL editing tool with multiple text selection capabilities similar to Ultra Edit. With this foundation in place, we can now focus on implementing the Text Editor control.

In conclusion, building a custom text editor control using Actipro Software's code writer requires careful consideration of various challenges and approaches. By understanding the relationship between TextPointer and TextSource, hit testing, and text formatting, we can create an efficient and effective text editor control that meets our requirements. Whether it's for a SQL editing tool or any other purpose, this article has provided valuable insights into how to approach this complex task.

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