It is the metaphor for the tool am creating to help other disabled folks use MMA well. A 11 yr long project. A curb cut is made so wheelchairs can get onto a sidewalk without struggling over a 3 inch curb. The cool Code Assist is good but has limitations for me and other disabled folks. Instead of waiting for WRI to make the curb cut I have been requesting for a long time, am decided I was going to do it. You great help with me is going to help others. Thank you!

" I would also suggest that the last SelectionMove not go after the created cell but leave the cursor in the new cell ready to type the next input. " That does not seem to be happening; I suspect the CodeAssist UI interfering. Can I turn off the floating CodeAssist for that Cell?? Thanks

Andrew,

this behaves as you asked. It is difficult to understand because it dives into the deep depths of how Mathematica constructs Boxes and Cells.

foo[symb1_Symbol] := 
  Module[{ sym = SymbolName[Unevaluated[symb1]]}, 
   foo[Evaluate[sym]]];
foo[symb1_String] := 
 Module[{ obj = EvaluationCell[], nb = EvaluationNotebook[]},
  SelectionMove[obj, All, Cell];
  NotebookDelete[nb]; 
  RawBoxes[
   ButtonBox[symb1, Appearance -> Automatic, 
    ButtonFunction :> Speak[symb1], Evaluator -> Automatic, 
    Method -> "Preemptive"]]]
SetAttributes[foo, HoldAll]

I have not figured out how to leave the cursor on the line after it evaluates but maybe someone else can figure it out or I can look at it later.

Regards

Neil

Andrew,

When you print the button it is clickable. There is no need to change any code from what I posted.

Did you try it?

Regards

wow, thank you; learning even more.... Ok, I assume since you are printing the Button, the Cell no longer can accept input code unless the Cell style is restored to Input...I want to either 1. enter another foo@Symbol after the button when Cell style is Input; 2 when the Button is made foo@ is placed. See attached code.

foo3[symb1_] :=
  Module[{symb12, obj, nb},
   symb12 =
    Switch[Head@symb1,
     Symbol, SymbolName[Unevaluated[symb1]],
     String, symb1]; 
   foo2[symb12a_String] := Button[symb12a, Speak@symb12a];
   obj = EvaluationCell[];
   SelectionMove[obj, All, Cell]; nb = EvaluationNotebook[];
   Print[foo2@symb12 Defer[foo3[\[SelectionPlaceholder]]]; 
    NotebookDelete[nb];
    SelectionMove[nb, Next, Cell]; SelectionMove[nb, After, Cell]]];

Andrew,

Several comments:

The SetAttributes[foo, HoldAll] makes foo accept Symbols that are defined in the Kernel. This might never be an issue for your code but it is generally a good idea.

Modifying your latest post to put the button in place of what the user typed you can do:

foo[symb1_] := 
  Module[{symb12, obj, nb}, 
   symb12 = 
    Switch[Head@symb1, Symbol, SymbolName[Unevaluated[symb1]], String,
      symb1]; foo2[symb12a_String] := Button[symb12a, Speak@symb12a]; 
   obj = EvaluationCell[];
   SelectionMove[obj, All, Cell]; nb = EvaluationNotebook[]; 
   Print[foo2@symb12]; NotebookDelete[nb]; 
   SelectionMove[nb, Next, Cell]; SelectionMove[nb, After, Cell]];

This code uses Notebook Manipulation commands to select the current cell, print the button, delete the input that was typed by the user and move after the button so it looks like what you asked for.

Next it is a good idea to localize variables in a Module[]. You should not be creating global variables here. (symb12, obj, nb, and anything else you add)

Lastly, I Don't like using Switch[] in functions like this. Mathematica is suited to operator overloading and it makes for better code although this is a matter of programming style.

I would do:

foo[symb1_Symbol] := 
  Module[{ sym = SymbolName[Unevaluated[symb1]], obj, nb}, 
   obj = EvaluationCell[]; nb = EvaluationNotebook[];
   SelectionMove[obj, All, Cell]; Print[Button[sym, Speak@sym]]; 
   NotebookDelete[nb]; SelectionMove[nb, Next, Cell]; 
   SelectionMove[nb, After, Cell]];
foo[symb1_String] := 
  Module[{ obj, nb}, obj = EvaluationCell[]; nb = EvaluationNotebook[];
   SelectionMove[obj, All, Cell]; Print[Button[symb1, Speak@symb1]]; 
   NotebookDelete[nb]; SelectionMove[nb, Next, Cell]; 
   SelectionMove[nb, After, Cell]];
SetAttributes[foo, HoldAll]

This code defines a foo function for Symbols and a foo function that take strings. The appropriate function is used for the appropriate input. (operator overloading).

Regards

Neil

Ok discovered if I increased the Text zoom in Safari much higher than I usually have it, I see code formatting button! At a moderate zoom level, the Add Notebook btn hides the code formatting button! Your code for laying out the toolbar buttons has a bug. ;-p

Attachments:

Screen Shot 2022...png

Ok, It works well without the SetAttributes; So will something break not using the SetAttributes?? Thanks for the elegant solution for the str = SymbolName[Unevaluated[sym]]. Thanks.

So SetAttributes[foo2, HoldAll] is placed after I defined foo using Module?

Hummm...I will try again... Correct you are misunderstanding.

Ignore the speaking bit; its not my goal. The Button being created was with its functionality shaped by using a String passed to it from a System`Symbol.

Let me walk you through what am seeking...

I have a complex function, mkFoo, that creates a complex ActionMenu widget using the single argument of a Symbol -- many months of coding.

I want to use this function in this manner: you type mkFoo@SymbolName inside a Cell, note this a free standing code fragment NOT inside any other code. I want to hit enter at the end of the SymbolName so the function mkFoo uses the Symbol to make the ActionMenu. Of course it works when I put quotes around the Symbol name. Hence my need to convert that Symbol name into a String. From you comment on Protection/Side effects, I should use another variable name instead and use that for the rest of the code having now the SymbolName a proper String, "SymbolName". So, I rewrote the code, which does want the way I want to use it.

foo[symb1_] :=   Module[    {},    symb12 = Switch[Head@symb1,
Symbol, ToString@symb1,
String, symb1];
foo2[symb12a_String] := Button[symb12a, Speak@symb12a];    foo2@symb12    ];

Neil, yes a more elegant answer, thanks; now my code should be (btw, how do I get my code to look like the proper version in a box like others do?):

foo[symb1_] :=   Module[    {},    symb12 = Switch[Head@symb1,
Symbol, SymbolName[Unevaluated[symb1]],
String, symb1];    foo2[symb12a_String] := Button[symb12a, Speak@symb12a];
foo2@symb12    ]; foo@Activate

However I also want the code fragment be replaced by the Button created; doable??