Description Fran Tonello 2003-03-05 14:17:25 EST

This problem is similar to the one described in bug 33795, but has an added 
dimension.

During 'import' statement recognition, Eclipse brings up a combobox 
containing a list of members of that package.  As the user types 
additional characters, the list is refined.  However, as soon as the user types 
a character that results in no matches, the combobox is dismissed.  This leaves 
the partially-recognized string in the editor and the user must remove it and 
start the whole process over again.  I believe this should instead work as 
comboboxes normally do.  That is, that if there are no matching elements in the 
list for what the user typed, the combobox should just ignore those keystrokes 
and stay open.

The second part of this issue is that when the user presses <Enter> on a 
package name, instead of simply adding the recognized package name to 
the 'import' statement, the package name AND ".*;" is entered instead and the 
combobox is dismissed.  To import a specific class, the user must then edit the 
line, get rid of the ".*;", type a "." to start recognition again, and then 
finally select the matching class.  -Or additional path component, in which 
case the whole process must be repeated.  In other words, if the user wishes to 
import a fully-specified class, s/he must manually type the entire path to the 
class first.

I think a more natural way for package member recognition to work here would be 
for a "*" item to be added to the top of the combobox list.  If the user wishes 
to include all the members of the package, s/he would simply (and explicitly) 
select that item.  If not, the user would keep drilling down until either "*" 
or a class name is selected.  So at the end of all this, the user would be able 
to do the following (new functionality is indicated with asterisks):

o Type "import"
o See a combobox with all the top-level package names (java, javax, com, etc.)
o Select a package, or type part or all of one, then press <Enter>
  * If there are no matching packages, leave the combobox open
* See the selected package's contents, which now include the "*" item
* Repeat the previous two steps until either "*" or a class name is selected