Open Declaration

Open Declaration helps you quickly see the definition of a selected routine (procedure, function, or object method) in .pro code. This saves you time searching for the correct file or line of the routine definition.

If the routine is defined in the same .pro file, Open Declaration highlights that part of the file. If the routine is defined in another file or in the IDL library, Open Declaration not only opens the file where the routine is declared, but also highlights the line of the routine definition.

The best way to understand this functionality is to make a simple .pro file that calls an IDL function, such as DIST.

In the IDL Workbench, open a new Editor by clicking on the

icon or selecting File → New → Untitled Text File.

Copy the following program into the Editor:

; Display the results of DIST as an image:  
   TVSCL, DIST(100) 
   end

Press the Ctrl key and click on the routine.

The dist.pro file opens in another Editor, with the DIST function definition highlighted.

You can access the Open Declaration feature in any of the following ways:

Press the Control key and hover the mouse pointer over the routine whose declaration you wish to open. If a declaration is available, the routine name will be underlined. Click on the underlined term to display the declaration.

Place the cursor in the routine whose declaration you wish to open and press Ctrl+F3

Place the cursor in the routine whose declaration you wish to open, right-click on it, and select Open Declaration from the pop-up menu.

Place the cursor in the routine whose declaration you wish to open and select Navigate → Open Declaration