## GtkEntryCompletion

GtkEntryCompletion — Completion functionality for GtkEntry

## Synopsis

    #include <gtk/gtk.h>

                GtkEntryCompletion;
    gboolean    (*GtkEntryCompletionMatchFunc)  (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 const gchar *key,
                                                 GtkTreeIter *iter,
                                                 gpointer user_data);
    GtkEntryCompletion* gtk_entry_completion_new
                                                (void);
    GtkWidget*  gtk_entry_completion_get_entry  (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);
    void        gtk_entry_completion_set_model  (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 GtkTreeModel *model);
    GtkTreeModel* gtk_entry_completion_get_model
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);
    void        gtk_entry_completion_set_match_func
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 GtkEntryCompletionMatchFunc func,
                                                 gpointer func_data,
                                                 GDestroyNotify func_notify);
    void        gtk_entry_completion_set_minimum_key_length
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 gint length);
    gint        gtk_entry_completion_get_minimum_key_length
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);
    void        gtk_entry_completion_complete   (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);
    void        gtk_entry_completion_insert_prefix
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);
    void        gtk_entry_completion_insert_action_text
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 gint index_,
                                                 const gchar *text);
    void        gtk_entry_completion_insert_action_markup
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 gint index_,
                                                 const gchar *markup);
    void        gtk_entry_completion_delete_action
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 gint index_);
    void        gtk_entry_completion_set_text_column
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 gint column);
    gint        gtk_entry_completion_get_text_column
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);
    void        gtk_entry_completion_set_inline_completion
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 gboolean inline_completion);
    gboolean    gtk_entry_completion_get_inline_completion
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);
    void        gtk_entry_completion_set_popup_completion
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 gboolean popup_completion);
    gboolean    gtk_entry_completion_get_popup_completion
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);

## Object Hierarchy

      GObject
       +----GtkEntryCompletion

## Implemented Interfaces

GtkEntryCompletion implements GtkCellLayout.

## Properties

      "inline-completion"    gboolean              : Read / Write
      "minimum-key-length"   gint                  : Read / Write
      "model"                GtkTreeModel          : Read / Write
      "popup-completion"     gboolean              : Read / Write
      "text-column"          gint                  : Read / Write

## Signal Prototypes

    "action-activated"
                void        user_function      (GtkEntryCompletion *widget,
                                                gint index,
                                                gpointer user_data);
    "insert-prefix"
                gboolean    user_function      (GtkEntryCompletion *widget,
                                                gchar *prefix,
                                                gpointer user_data);
    "match-selected"
                gboolean    user_function      (GtkEntryCompletion *widget,
                                                GtkTreeModel *model,
                                                GtkTreeIter *iter,
                                                gpointer user_data);

## Description

GtkEntryCompletion is an auxiliary object to be used in conjunction with GtkEntry to provide the completion functionality. It implements the GtkCellLayout interface, to allow the user to add extra cells to the GtkTreeView with completion matches.

"Completion functionality" means that when the user modifies the text in the entry, GtkEntryCompletion checks which rows in the model match the current content of the entry, and displays a list of matches. By default, the matching is done by comparing the entry text case-insensitively against the text column of the model (see `gtk_entry_completion_set_text_column()`), but this can be overridden with a custom match function (see `gtk_entry_completion_set_match_func()`).

When the user selects a completion, the content of the entry is updated. By default, the content of the entry is replaced by the text column of the model, but this can be overridden by connecting to the ::match-selected signal and updating the entry in the signal handler. Note that you should return `TRUE` from the signal handler to suppress the default behaviour.

To add completion functionality to an entry, use `gtk_entry_set_completion()`.

In addition to regular completion matches, which will be inserted into the entry when they are selected, GtkEntryCompletion also allows to display "actions" in the popup window. Their appearance is similar to menuitems, to differentiate them clearly from completion strings. When an action is selected, the ::action-activated signal is emitted.

## Details

### GtkEntryCompletion

    typedef struct _GtkEntryCompletion GtkEntryCompletion;

The GtkEntryCompletion struct contains only private data.

### GtkEntryCompletionMatchFunc ()

    gboolean    (*GtkEntryCompletionMatchFunc)  (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 const gchar *key,
                                                 GtkTreeIter *iter,
                                                 gpointer user_data);

A function which decides whether the row indicated by `iter` matches a given `key`, and should be displayed as a possible completion for `key`. Note that `key` is normalized and case-folded (see `g_utf8_normalize()` and `g_utf8_casefold()`). If this is not appropriate, match functions have access to the unmodified key via `gtk_entry_get_text (GTK_ENTRY (gtk_entry_completion_get_entry ()))`.

`completion` : | the GtkEntryCompletion
`key` : | the string to match, normalized and case-folded
`iter` : | a GtkTreeIter indicating the row to match
`user_data` : | user data given to `gtk_entry_completion_set_match_func()`
Returns : | `TRUE` if `iter` should be displayed as a possible completion for `key`

### gtk_entry_completion_new ()

    GtkEntryCompletion* gtk_entry_completion_new
                                                (void);

Creates a new GtkEntryCompletion object.

Returns : | A newly created GtkEntryCompletion object.

Since 2.4

### gtk_entry_completion_get_entry ()

    GtkWidget*  gtk_entry_completion_get_entry  (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);

Gets the entry `completion` has been attached to.

`completion` : | A GtkEntryCompletion.
Returns : | The entry `completion` has been attached to.

Since 2.4

### gtk_entry_completion_set_model ()

    void        gtk_entry_completion_set_model  (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 GtkTreeModel *model);

Sets the model for a GtkEntryCompletion. If `completion` already has a model set, it will remove it before setting the new model. If model is `NULL`, then it will unset the model.

`completion` : | A GtkEntryCompletion.
`model` : | The GtkTreeModel.

Since 2.4

### gtk_entry_completion_get_model ()

    GtkTreeModel* gtk_entry_completion_get_model
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);

Returns the model the GtkEntryCompletion is using as data source. Returns `NULL` if the model is unset.

`completion` : | A GtkEntryCompletion.
Returns : | A GtkTreeModel, or `NULL` if none is currently being used.

Since 2.4

### gtk_entry_completion_set_match_func ()

    void        gtk_entry_completion_set_match_func
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 GtkEntryCompletionMatchFunc func,
                                                 gpointer func_data,
                                                 GDestroyNotify func_notify);

Sets the match function for `completion` to be `func`. The match function is used to determine if a row should or should not be in the completion list.

`completion` : | A GtkEntryCompletion.
`func` : | The GtkEntryCompletionMatchFunc to use.
`func_data` : | The user data for `func`.
`func_notify` : | Destroy notifier for `func_data`.

Since 2.4.

### gtk_entry_completion_set_minimum_key_length ()

    void        gtk_entry_completion_set_minimum_key_length
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 gint length);

Requires the length of the search key for `completion` to be at least `length`. This is useful for long lists, where completing using a small key takes a lot of time and will come up with meaningless results anyway (ie, a too large dataset).

`completion` : | A GtkEntryCompletion.
`length` : | The minimum length of the key in order to start completing.

Since 2.4

### gtk_entry_completion_get_minimum_key_length ()

    gint        gtk_entry_completion_get_minimum_key_length
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);

Returns the minimum key length as set for `completion`.

`completion` : | A GtkEntryCompletion.
Returns : | The currently used minimum key length.

Since 2.4

### gtk_entry_completion_complete ()

    void        gtk_entry_completion_complete   (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);

Requests a completion operation, or in other words a refiltering of the current list with completions, using the current key. The completion list view will be updated accordingly.

`completion` : | A GtkEntryCompletion.

Since 2.4

### gtk_entry_completion_insert_prefix ()

    void        gtk_entry_completion_insert_prefix
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);

Requests a prefix insertion.

`completion` : | a GtkEntryCompletion

Since 2.6

### gtk_entry_completion_insert_action_text ()

    void        gtk_entry_completion_insert_action_text
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 gint index_,
                                                 const gchar *text);

Inserts an action in `completion`'s action item list at position `index_` with text `text`. If you want the action item to have markup, use `gtk_entry_completion_insert_action_markup()`.

`completion` : | A GtkEntryCompletion.
`index_` : | The index of the item to insert.
`text` : | Text of the item to insert.

Since 2.4

### gtk_entry_completion_insert_action_markup ()

    void        gtk_entry_completion_insert_action_markup
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 gint index_,
                                                 const gchar *markup);

Inserts an action in `completion`'s action item list at position `index_` with markup `markup`.

`completion` : | A GtkEntryCompletion.
`index_` : | The index of the item to insert.
`markup` : | Markup of the item to insert.

Since 2.4

### gtk_entry_completion_delete_action ()

    void        gtk_entry_completion_delete_action
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 gint index_);

Deletes the action at `index_` from `completion`'s action list.

`completion` : | A GtkEntryCompletion.
`index_` : | The index of the item to Delete.

Since 2.4

### gtk_entry_completion_set_text_column ()

    void        gtk_entry_completion_set_text_column
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 gint column);

Convenience function for setting up the most used case of this code: a completion list with just strings. This function will set up `completion` to have a list displaying all (and just) strings in the completion list, and to get those strings from `column` in the model of `completion`.

This functions creates and adds a GtkCellRendererText for the selected column. If you need to set the text column, but don't want the cell renderer, use `g_object_set()` to set the ::text_column property directly.

`completion` : | A GtkEntryCompletion.
`column` : | The column in the model of `completion` to get strings from.

Since 2.4

### gtk_entry_completion_get_text_column ()

    gint        gtk_entry_completion_get_text_column
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);

Returns the column in the model of `completion` to get strings from.

`completion` : | a GtkEntryCompletion
Returns : | the column containing the strings

Since 2.6

### gtk_entry_completion_set_inline_completion ()

    void        gtk_entry_completion_set_inline_completion
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 gboolean inline_completion);

Sets whether the common prefix of the possible completions should be automatically inserted in the entry.

`completion` : | a GtkEntryCompletion
`inline_completion` : | `TRUE` to do inline completion

Since 2.6

### gtk_entry_completion_get_inline_completion ()

    gboolean    gtk_entry_completion_get_inline_completion
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);

Returns whether the common prefix of the possible completions should be automatically inserted in the entry.

`completion` : | a GtkEntryCompletion
Returns : | `TRUE` if inline completion is turned on

Since 2.6

### gtk_entry_completion_set_popup_completion ()

    void        gtk_entry_completion_set_popup_completion
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion,
                                                 gboolean popup_completion);

Sets whether the completions should be presented in a popup window.

`completion` : | a GtkEntryCompletion
`popup_completion` : | `TRUE` to do popup completion

Since 2.6

### gtk_entry_completion_get_popup_completion ()

    gboolean    gtk_entry_completion_get_popup_completion
                                                (GtkEntryCompletion *completion);

Returns whether the completions should be presented in a popup window.

`completion` : | a GtkEntryCompletion
Returns : | `TRUE` if popup completion is turned on

Since 2.6

## Properties

### The "`inline-completion`" property

      "inline-completion"    gboolean              : Read / Write

Determines whether the common prefix of the possible completions should be inserted automatically in the entry.

Since 2.6

### The "`minimum-key-length`" property

      "minimum-key-length"   gint                  : Read / Write

Minimum length of the search key in order to look up matches.

### The "`model`" property

      "model"                GtkTreeModel          : Read / Write

The model to find matches in.

### The "`popup-completion`" property

      "popup-completion"     gboolean              : Read / Write

Determines whether the possible completions should be shown in a popup window.

Since 2.6

### The "`text-column`" property

      "text-column"          gint                  : Read / Write

The column of the model containing the strings.

Since 2.6

## Signals

### The "action-activated" signal

    void        user_function                  (GtkEntryCompletion *widget,
                                                gint index,
                                                gpointer user_data);

Gets emitted when an action is activated.

`widget` : | the object which received the signal
`index` : | the index of the activated action
`user_data` : | user data set when the signal handler was connected.

Since 2.4

### The "insert-prefix" signal

    gboolean    user_function                  (GtkEntryCompletion *widget,
                                                gchar *prefix,
                                                gpointer user_data);

Gets emitted when the inline autocompletion is triggered. The default behaviour is to make the entry display the whole prefix and select the newly inserted part.

Applications may connect to this signal in order to insert only a smaller part of the `prefix` into the entry - e.g. the entry used in the GtkFileChooser inserts only the part of the prefix up to the next '/'.

`widget` : | the object which received the signal
`prefix` : | the common prefix of all possible completions
`user_data` : | user data set when the signal handler was connected.
Returns : | `TRUE` if the signal has been handled

Since 2.6

### The "match-selected" signal

    gboolean    user_function                  (GtkEntryCompletion *widget,
                                                GtkTreeModel *model,
                                                GtkTreeIter *iter,
                                                gpointer user_data);

Gets emitted when a match from the list is selected. The default behaviour is to replace the contents of the entry with the contents of the text column in the row pointed to by `iter`.

`widget` : | the object which received the signal
`model` : | the GtkTreeModel containing the matches
`iter` : | a GtkTreeIter positioned at the selected match
`user_data` : | user data set when the signal handler was connected.
Returns : | `TRUE` if the signal has been handled

Since 2.4