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After updating to version 9, I found the predict interface very helpful except there is a small problem always annoying me:

Consider this:

I have a list abc = Range[1, 10]; and I want to take part of it abc[[2]].

For the [[ and ]], I like to use the closer version of the bracket (\[RightDoubleBracket]) by press key Esc+[+[+Esc and Esc+]+]+Esc.

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In version 9, when I type abc I get this drop list of predictions, and the first Eec key goes to remove the drop list and the [[ is not correctly typed:

enter image description here

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So it is possible to make the drop list automatically disappear once what I typed matches the exists variable, so that the first Esc key is not eaten by the drop list?

rm -rf
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xslittlegrass
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    You could uncheck the "Enable autocompletion..." box in Preferences, Interface. Then use Ctrl+K or Shift+Ctrl+K when you want it. My personal opinion is that the automatic autocompletion is a nuisance. – David Park Aug 03 '13 at 22:42
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    You could use an alternative method for entering the [[/]] characters; it's faster, too. – Mr.Wizard Aug 03 '13 at 22:49
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    Just form the habit of hitting the first escape twice when in this situation. – m_goldberg Aug 04 '13 at 06:24
  • @m_goldberg that's what I've done :) – P. Fonseca Aug 04 '13 at 07:35
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    @DavidPark The predictive interface is actually a very useful thing and if I turned it off, I would really miss it ... At the same time these types of issues (described in this question) are extremely frustrating. I assume you (or xslittlegrass) did describe the issue to WRI support in the hope of getting some attention? – Szabolcs Oct 30 '13 at 21:10
  • @Szabolcs To each their own. My preference is to have a clean interface - like a blank piece of paper that one is writing on. Mathematica should only write in a notebook what you have asked it to write. It is fine to provide help when it is asked for, say with a context menu item, another thing to push it in your face so you have to swat it away. I liked the completion in Version 8 much better than in 9. It is also a matter of whether you are using Mathematica as a super graphical calculator, or whether you are writing polished documents. – David Park Oct 31 '13 at 02:03
  • @Szabolcs Continuing... Polished documents, for which Mathematica has tremendous capabilities, require detailed specification that is beyond the rather shallow suggestions provided by WRI. If it is a matter of obtaining information on related routines, then learn better how to use the DC. It is also possible to design palettes that give quick access to a group of a few hundred commands, seeing what they are, pasting templates and linking to help pages. Presentations also has two such palettes for math functions and programming. A clean interface is possible and still give help. – David Park Oct 31 '13 at 02:13

1 Answers1

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[This late "answer" or work-around is based on comments I made on a duplicate to this question which I just revisited.]

To get around this annoyance I have increased the autocompletion popup delay to 0.6 seconds. This enables me finish typing an existing symbol name and hit the Esc key before the autocompletion popup appears to "eat" the key-press.

This has greatly reduced the number of times I end-up having to backtrack to insert escapes.

The popup delay is found in the Interface tab of the Preferences dialog, where you enable or disable autocompletion.

You can of course change the value to accommodate your own typing speed.

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MikeLimaOscar
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