Some problems with list scrolling and menu selection

["Andrej Borsenkow" <Andrej.Borsenkow@mow.siemens.ru>]

1. The default for starting menu selection is less than user friendly.
Normally, menu selection is started on the second TAB (assuming more or
less standard config; zstyle output follows). With list scrolling TAB
first pages to the end of list and only then starts selection. I think,
TAB should behave the same way here as well. Probably, "least surprise"
for user would be, when TAB in list scrolling jumps to the first shown
match (and not to the very first item in the list). Consider usage - you
first find needed page and then select needed item there.

2. There are problems with scrolling back in menu selection. Try GNU
diff (with verbose on). I did it on dtterm from TriTeal TED 4.2 with
24x80 size.

bor@itsrm2% gdiff -TAB
Completing option
--brief                   -- output only whether files differ
--changed-group-format    -- set changed group format
--changed-line-format     -- set changed line format
--context                 -- context diff
--ed                      -- output an ed script
--exclude                 -- exclude files matching pattern
--exclude-from            -- exclude files matching pattern in file
--expand-tabs             -- expand tabs to spaces
--help                    -- help text
--horizon-lines           -- set number of lines to keep in prefix and
suffix
--ignore-all-space        -- ignore all white space
--ignore-blank-lines      -- ignore lines that are all blank
--ignore-case             -- case insensitive
--ignore-matching-lines   -- ignore lines that match regex
--ignore-space-change     -- ignore changes in the amount of white space
--initial-tab             -- prepend a tab
--label                   -- set label to use instead of file name
--left-column             -- output only left column of common lines
--line-format             -- set line format
--mininal                 -- try to find a smaller set of changes
--new-file                -- treat absent files as empty
--new-group-format        -- set new group format
Showing 23/74

... now some TABs to start menu selection ...

bor@itsrm2% gdiff --brief
Completing option
--brief                   -- output only whether files differ
--changed-group-format    -- set changed group format
--changed-line-format     -- set changed line format
--context                 -- context diff
--ed                      -- output an ed script
--exclude                 -- exclude files matching pattern
--exclude-from            -- exclude files matching pattern in file
--expand-tabs             -- expand tabs to spaces
--help                    -- help text
--horizon-lines           -- set number of lines to keep in prefix and
suffix
--ignore-all-space        -- ignore all white space
--ignore-blank-lines      -- ignore lines that are all blank
--ignore-case             -- case insensitive
--ignore-matching-lines   -- ignore lines that match regex
--ignore-space-change     -- ignore changes in the amount of white space
--initial-tab             -- prepend a tab
--label                   -- set label to use instead of file name
--left-column             -- output only left column of common lines
--line-format             -- set line format
--mininal                 -- try to find a smaller set of changes
--new-file                -- treat absent files as empty
Scrolling active: current selection at Top

... now move to the bottom and scroll one line down ...

bor@itsrm2% gdiff --new-group-format=
--brief                   -- output only whether files differ
--changed-group-format    -- set changed group format
--changed-line-format     -- set changed line format
--context                 -- context diff
--ed                      -- output an ed script
--exclude                 -- exclude files matching pattern
--exclude-from            -- exclude files matching pattern in file
--expand-tabs             -- expand tabs to spaces
--help                    -- help text
--horizon-lines           -- set number of lines to keep in prefix and
suffix
--ignore-all-space        -- ignore all white space
--ignore-blank-lines      -- ignore lines that are all blank
--ignore-case             -- case insensitive
--ignore-matching-lines   -- ignore lines that match regex
--ignore-space-change     -- ignore changes in the amount of white space
--initial-tab             -- prepend a tab
--label                   -- set label to use instead of file name
--left-column             -- output only left column of common lines
--line-format             -- set line format
--mininal                 -- try to find a smaller set of changes
--new-file                -- treat absent files as empty
--new-group-format        -- set new group format
Scrolling active: current selection at 31%

... now move cursor one line up ...

bor@itsrm2% gdiff --new-file

--changed-group-format    -- set changed group format
--changed-line-format     -- set changed line format
--context                 -- context diff
--ed                      -- output an ed script
--exclude                 -- exclude files matching pattern
--exclude-from            -- exclude files matching pattern in file
--expand-tabs             -- expand tabs to spaces
--help                    -- help text
--horizon-lines           -- set number of lines to keep in prefix and
suffix
--ignore-all-space        -- ignore all white space
--ignore-blank-lines      -- ignore lines that are all blank
--ignore-case             -- case insensitive
--ignore-matching-lines   -- ignore lines that match regex
--ignore-space-change     -- ignore changes in the amount of white space
--initial-tab             -- prepend a tab
--label                   -- set label to use instead of file name
--left-column             -- output only left column of common lines
--line-format             -- set line format
--mininal                 -- try to find a smaller set of changes
--new-file                -- treat absent files as empty
--new-group-format        -- set new group format
Scrolling active: current selection at 29%

Note, that the line just under the prompt disappears.

3. Is it possible to retain current Zle line (prompt) at the top when
listing completions? Like menu selection does it. I find it somewhat
confusing as it is.

4. And, of course, scrolling back in completion listing :-)

-andrej

Have a nice DOS!
B >>