Add spaces to Mathematica comment delimiters?

Question

Not exactly the world's most pressing problem, but one that has now exceeded my tolerance level. If I comment out a line of input such as

f[x_]:=x+1;

with Alt-/ (Windows), I get

(*f[x_]:=x+1;*)

But, as a believer in typographical as well as programmatic neatness what I really want is...

(* f[x_]:=x+1; *)

Just a space after the opening and before the closing...

How can that be done? Or would it spoil some vast eternal plan...?

Answer 1

New answer:

I updated my package to support not only templates but a menu with arbitrary actions so making an un/comment shortcut should be easier now.

Follow those steps:

1. Install/update DevTools` v0.10.0+

2. Actions are available in DevPackageDark.nb stylesheet but you can make them work in any notebook by:

   Needs @ "DevTools`";
      (*Keep in mind it hijacks "Ctrl+," which stands for NewColumn *)
   NotebookActionsEnable[] 
   

3. Open user actions file with EditNotebookActions[]

4. Put there a new item:

   <|"Label" -> "Un/Comment", 
     "ShortKey" -> "c", 
     "Action" :> Module[{foo, nb = EvaluationNotebook[]},
       foo[RowBox[{"(*", " ".., content_, " ".., "*)"}]]:=NotebookWrite[
         nb, content, All
       ];
       foo[RowBox[{"(*",  content_, "*)"}]]:=FE`toggleComment[];
       foo[boxes_]:= NotebookWrite[
         nb, RowBox[{"(*", " ",boxes, " ", "*)"}], All
       ];
       foo[$Failed|_CurrentValue]={};  
   
       foo @ CurrentValue[nb, "SelectionData"]
     ]
   
   |>
   

5. Click 'Save&Test'

6. You are ready to go with Ctrl+, (NewColumn hijacked) followed by c

OldAnswer:

You can use LiveTemplates Live code templates.

• Go to a toolbar menu CodeTemplates > Edit User templates

• Add a new template:

  <|"Label" -> "(* ... *)", "Template" -> "(* `sel` *)", "ShortKey" -> "c"|>
  

• Save changes

• Use it with ctrl+1 followed by c

---

Alternatively you can create a palette with something like this:

Button["c"
, NotebookApply[InputNotebook[]
  , RowBox[{"(*", RowBox[{" ", "\[SelectionPlaceholder]", " "}], "*)"}]
  ]
]

Or try to edit KeyEvenTranslations.tr file. Search around for guidelines but I find this method the least user friendly.