how can i make a "Surround" type Delphi Template?

delphi, delphi-2009, live-templates

Solution

This should do it:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<codetemplate   xmlns="http://schemas.borland.com/Delphi/2005/codetemplates"
                version="1.0.0">
    <template name="das" surround="true" invoke="auto">
        <description>
            MP: TDeviceAnsiString
        </description>
        <author>
            Mike rev François
        </author>
        <code language="Delphi" delimiter="|"><![CDATA[TDeviceAnsiString(|end||selected|)]]>
        </code>
    </template>
</codetemplate>

Added: You can find more info on the Delphi Wiki with the LiveTemplates Technical Infos

Problem

i'm migrating my app to delphi 2009. my app must still use a lot of AnsiString. during migration, i find myself always converting: ``` abc := def; ``` into: ``` abc := string(def); ``` or ``` abc := TDeviceAnsiString(def); ``` i know i should be able to do this with templates but i find templates--although powerful--are not so easy to get working. here's what i've been trying: ``` <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> <codetemplate xmlns="http://schemas.borland.com/Delphi/2005/codetemplates" version="1.0.0"> <template name="das" invoke="auto"> <point name="expr"> <script language="Delphi"> InvokeCodeCompletion; </script> <hint> MP: TDeviceAnsiString </hint> <text> True </text> </point> <description> MP: TDeviceAnsiString </description> <author> Mike </author> <code language="Delphi" context="any" delimiter="|"><![CDATA[TDeviceAnsiString(|selected|)|end|]]> </code> </template> </codetemplate> ``` it doesn't appear in the Surround menu and it doesn't activate whenever i want. i'd like to be able to ``` abc := **das***[tab]*def; ``` or select the "def" and use "surround" to get: ``` abc := TDeviceAnsiString(def); ``` thank you for your help!

Original source