A page to collect ideas for improving Tk's text widget, and to list current limitations.

   * Foremost amongst these is the 'scrollbar problem' when there are wrapped lines of varying lengths.  As you scroll, the length of the scrollbar changes!

   * Add a 'blockcursor' option to present a flashing block rather than thin line.

   * Add a method to count the number of characters between two index positions (currently the only way to do this is ''string length [[.text get $idx1 $idx2]]'')

   * Add helper code to implement a text replace operation which doesn't mess with the current insertion position or the current scroll position, unless such changes are actually required.  (the naive use of ''delete'' followed by ''insert'' really isn't very satisfactory).

   * Add the ability to find the index at the beginning or end of any display line, whether that line is actually currently displayed or not.

[Vince] has placed a work-in-progress patch at http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=791292&group_id=12997&atid=312997 which addresses many of these issues.

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''My biggest (and only) frustration with the text widget is that it is too slow or weak. Loading really large files into it is very slow and painful. That renders apps like Tkdiff or Tkgrep practically useless.'' -- [RS]: Well, comparing with Notepad, Word or such, [text] still loads quite acceptably, if you load the file line by line with [update]s in between - start reading on top, while bottom still loads. Even on a slow [iPaq], [iRead: a Gutenberg eBook reader] is usable for files of say 400 KB (where PocketWord bails out at about 180KB)

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''[MGS]'' [[2003/08/22]] - I would like to see [Move cursor by display line in a text widget] a standard feature. I guess it should be optional (and keep the current default method of cursor control for backwards compatibility).


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