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When you click on external tool toolbar button it is executed the last ant build.xml script. You can get the name of the last script from the hint and see the list of recent executed ant scripts from the button drop down. However it is pretty useless since it is important to know the current ant script target as well. So to be sure now, you have to open the drop down, click and wait(usually not fast) for the External Tool Configuration dialog, then switch the Target tab and sometimes(when all targets do not fit the widget) scroll down to be sure you are using the right target. Please additionally to the Project script name add the target. E.g. Current text: Run MyProject build.xml Should be: Run MyProject build.xml: buildAll And same please for the recent scripts drop down. Thank you.
What if there are multiple targets? Hint can become too long.
There are at least 2 options: 1)Put at least one or two target(s) and if there are more ones then just add the ellipsis. E.g. Run MyProject build.xml: cleanSomthingWithLongName, buildAll, ... If there is ... at the end it will mean there are more targets. User use to be identifies which is full set of targets by the first ones. Anyway in worse case he/she still are free to use current way to find out which targets will be used. However in most cases it will be enough and very useful. Although for drop down menu it should be either the target name or ... for multiple targets to keep the menu width with reasonable size. 2)Use multiline hint. Something like: Run MyProject build.xml with Target(s): cleanSomthingWithLongName, buildAll, target3, target4, target5, target6, target7, and others... #2 does not fit for the drop down menu. Anyway the drop down menu contains just # and the project name. Also it could be good idea to add the preference to turn on and off such feature if somebody will be annoyed with this additional info. I'm really losing too many time guessing which target is currently set. And mostly I'm using just one target. Guess many people does the same.
Will you be interested in working on this ? We don't have much resources to work on this right now.
Sure I'm interested. Had some experience writing simple RCP plugins before. What and how can I help with?
You can check the details in the wiki page https://wiki.eclipse.org/Ant/Developers You can get the source, set up gerrit, debug the problem and create a gerrit patch associated to this bug. We can review and provide the feedback on gerrit patches. Also go through the legal page which describes the rule for contribution and sign the agreement. https://www.eclipse.org/legal/ECA.php
Ok. Thank you. I will try.
