These are nuanced topics worthy of their own post, so I’ll explain them at a very high level, with links to the documentation to fill in the gaps: To fully leverage the power of scopes, you need to have a little understanding of syntax, scopes and scope selectors. If you tried to invoke the snippet in a blank JavaScript file, nothing would happen.
#Auto text expander import from json code#
The inclusion of on line 8 means that the snippet is only valid in situations where the source code file being edited is a JavaScript file, and the cursor is “within” a class definition. As an example, a method such as componentWillUpdate typically only makes sense within a component (class) definition, which the following snippet definition makes explicit: We’ve talked about limiting snippets to certain source code files, but snippets often have more granular contexts in which they are valid. This allows you to create “wrapping” snippets, which wrap selected text with an if clause, for example.Įxpand selection shortcuts are great for quickly selecting text to wrap with snippets like the one above. This roundabout approach has one major benefit - it is possible to invoke a snippet with a block of text selected, and for that text to be included as part of a snippet’s content. On Mac, hit cmd+shift+p to bring up the Palette, type ‘Snippet’ and select the desired snippet from the drop-down. Remember how I mentioned there was an alternative way of invoking snippets? Instead of keying the trigger word and hitting tab, you can also invoke snippets through the Command Palette. The $TM_SELECTED_TEXT or $SELECTION environment variable serves a more general purpose. The component file can then leverage this convention with a snippet using the $TM_FILENAME environment variable. However, it is possible to create dynamic snippets through the use of environment variables, which contain references to the context in which a snippet was invoked.Ĭontext is a vague term, so see the Sublime Text Snippet Documentation for a table of environment variables and their exact meanings.įor an example of how environment variables can be used, my team follows a convention where a component’s stylesheet is saved under the same file name as the component, and given a. We’ve covered the four aspects of creating a static snippet. On Mac, user created snippets are saved at: ~/Library/Application Support/Sublime Text 3/Packages/UserĬreating a new snippet through the menu item or keyboard shortcut automatically prompts this location on save. This optional markup specifies a Field Marker, which controls the cursor position after the snippet is invoked.Īfter content is expanded, the cursor moves automatically to the first field marker ( $ Saving SnippetsĪfter creating your snippet, make sure to save it in a file ending in sublime-snippet. You’ll notice the presence of words surrounded by a dollar sign, braces, numbers, and prefixed by a number. (From now on, the block of text that is expanded after the snippet is invoked will be referred to as the snip pet’s c ontent). 1) The Content (Line 3): Required ĭefine the block of text to be expanded by the snippet by editing the line(s) between the tags. Although only one part is required, defining all four is recommended. This opens a new window containing a new snippet template, which looks like this: To create a new snippet in Sublime Text 3, go to: Tools -> Developer -> New Snippet. Note: The examples given below apply mostly to JavaScript and React, but the information about snippets can be applied to any programming language or framework. This simple action expands the trigger word into the mapped block of text - replete with as many brackets, parentheses, and semi-colons as necessary, always matching and in the correct order. To invoke the snippet, type the trigger word and press tab. They are both easy to understand and straightforward to write, making them a great tool for saving time and eliminating errors while developing.Ī snippet maps a trigger word to a pre-defined block of text, both of which you define.
Sublime Text Snippets expedite the act of writing code by providing a quick way to insert blocks of text that show up repeatedly in a project. I love Sublime Text Snippets because they reduce cumbersome definitions to a few keystrokes, like this: Overview
But most of all, the switch came with a change in programming languages, away from the tidy aesthetic of Python, and straight into the angled and curly world of JavaScript.Īs I continued to misplace brackets and omit parenthesis, I searched for something that would help me navigate the unfamiliar territory. I recently switched jobs, which involves a lot of acclimation: new coworkers to befriend, new terms to learn, a new development environment to internalize. By Jimmy Zhang A Guide to Sublime Text Snippets Photo by Chris Peeters from Pexels