# Variable Editing Status Report

## Date: 2025-10-27
## Current Status: ✅ WORKING (with limitations)

## Summary

**Good News:** Variable editing is fully implemented and working in all three UIs!

**Limitation:** Array editing only works for **last accessed element** - cannot choose arbitrary indices.

## Implementation Status by UI

### 1. Tk UI ✅ COMPLETE
**Location:** `src/ui/tk_ui.py:858-1070`

**Simple Variables:**
- Trigger: Double-click variable in Variables window
- Opens: `simpledialog.askstring/askinteger/askfloat`
- Types: String ($), Integer (%), Float (!, #)
- Updates: Runtime via `runtime.set_variable()`
- Feedback: Status bar confirmation

**Array Variables:**
- Trigger: Double-click array in Variables window
- Parses: Last accessed element from display "Array(10x10) [5,3]=42"
- Opens: Dialog for that specific element
- Updates: Runtime via `runtime.set_array_element()`
- **Limitation:** Can only edit element shown in display (last accessed)

**Code References:**
- `_on_variable_double_click()` - Line 858
- `_edit_simple_variable()` - Line 891
- `_edit_array_element()` - Line 972

---

### 2. Curses UI ✅ COMPLETE
**Location:** `src/ui/curses_ui.py:2520-2647`

**Simple Variables:**
- Trigger: Press Enter or 'e' key on selected variable
- Opens: Input dialog in status bar
- Types: String ($), Integer (%), Float (!, #)
- Updates: Runtime via `runtime.set_variable()`
- Feedback: Status bar shows new value

**Array Variables:**
- Trigger: Press Enter or 'e' key on selected array
- Parses: Last accessed element from display
- Opens: Input prompt with subscripts shown
- Updates: Runtime via `runtime.set_array_element()`
- **Limitation:** Can only edit element shown in display (last accessed)

**Code References:**
- `_edit_selected_variable()` - Line 2520
- Key bindings - Lines 1632, 1636

---

### 3. Web UI ✅ COMPLETE
**Location:** `src/ui/web/web_ui.py:1200-1372`

**Simple Variables:**
- Trigger: Double-click row OR click "Edit Selected" button
- Opens: Modal dialog with type-appropriate input
- Types: String ($), Integer (%), Float (!, #)
- Updates: Runtime via `runtime.set_variable()`
- Feedback: Toast notification

**Array Variables:**
- Trigger: Double-click array row OR click "Edit Selected"
- Parses: Last accessed element
- Opens: Modal dialog with subscripts shown
- Updates: Runtime via `runtime.set_array_element()`
- **Limitation:** Can only edit element shown in display (last accessed)

**Code References:**
- `edit_selected_variable()` - Line 1200
- `edit_variable_by_name()` - Line 1215
- `_edit_simple_variable()` - Line 1260
- `_edit_array_element()` - Line 1315

---

## What Works ✅

### All UIs Support:
1. **Simple variable editing** (string, integer, float)
   - Type-appropriate input dialogs
   - Validation of input types
   - Real-time runtime updates
   - Immediate display refresh

2. **Array element editing** (last accessed only)
   - Shows which element is being edited
   - Same type validation as simple variables
   - Updates runtime correctly

3. **Error handling**
   - Invalid type conversions
   - Program not running
   - No variable selected

4. **User feedback**
   - Confirmation messages
   - Error messages
   - Display refresh after edit

## Current Limitation ⚠️

### Cannot Choose Arbitrary Array Indices

**Current Behavior:**
```
Variables window shows: A%(10x10) [5,3]=42
Double-click → Can only edit A%(5,3)
```

**Desired Behavior:**
```
Variables window shows: A%(10x10) [5,3]=42
Double-click → Dialog asks: "Which element? (e.g., 1,2,3)"
User types: 7,8
Dialog then lets you edit: A%(7,8)
```

**Status:** This enhancement is documented in `docs/dev/ARRAY_ELEMENT_SELECTOR_TODO.md`

## How to Use (Current Implementation)

### Tk UI
1. Run program with Ctrl+R
2. Open Variables window with Ctrl+W
3. Double-click any variable to edit

### Curses UI
1. Run program with Ctrl+R
2. Open Variables window with Ctrl+W
3. Select variable with arrow keys
4. Press Enter or 'e' to edit

### Web UI
1. Run program (Run menu or Ctrl+R)
2. Open Variables window (View menu or Ctrl+V)
3. Double-click variable row OR select and click "Edit Selected"

## Testing Done

Manual testing confirms:
- ✅ All three UIs can edit simple variables
- ✅ All three UIs can edit last accessed array element
- ✅ Type validation works (integer, float, string)
- ✅ Error handling works (no program, invalid input)
- ✅ Display updates correctly after edit

## What's Not Implemented

1. **Array Element Selector** (HIGH PRIORITY)
   - Dialog to type arbitrary subscripts like "1,2,3"
   - Documented in: `ARRAY_ELEMENT_SELECTOR_TODO.md`

2. **Array Inspector Window** (FUTURE)
   - Full grid view of entire array
   - Click any cell to edit
   - Navigate with arrow keys
   - Mentioned in: `VARIABLE_EDITING_FEATURE.md` (Phase 2)

3. **Bulk Edit** (FUTURE)
   - Select multiple variables
   - Apply formula: +10, *2, etc.

4. **Watch Expressions** (FUTURE)
   - Add computed expressions: A% + B%
   - Show in variables window

## Runtime Support

The runtime (`src/runtime.py`) has full support:

**Methods Available:**
- `set_variable(name, type_suffix, value, debugger_set=True)` ✅
- `set_array_element(name, type_suffix, subscripts, value, token=None)` ✅

**Features:**
- Type checking and coercion
- Array bounds validation
- Timestamp tracking for debugger
- No statement tracking for manual edits

## Documentation

### Existing Docs:
1. **VARIABLE_EDITING_FEATURE.md** - Original design document
   - Status claims "All UIs complete" ✅ TRUE
   - Documents Approach 1 (last accessed) ✅ IMPLEMENTED
   - Documents Approach 2 (array inspector) ⏸️ FUTURE

2. **ARRAY_ELEMENT_SELECTOR_TODO.md** - Enhancement for arbitrary indices
   - Created 2025-10-27
   - Priority: MEDIUM
   - Full implementation details included

### Help Docs Updated:
- `docs/help/ui/tk/keyboard-shortcuts.md` - Lists variable editing ✅
- `docs/help/ui/curses/quick-reference.md` - Lists 'e' or Enter ✅
- `docs/help/ui/web/keyboard-shortcuts.md` - Lists double-click ✅

## Recommendations

### For Users (Now):
Variable editing is **fully functional** for:
- All simple variables (string, integer, float)
- Array elements that were recently accessed by program

**Workaround for arbitrary array indices:**
Use immediate mode (Ctrl+I) to set values:
```basic
A%(1,2,3) = 100
```

### For Development (Future):
1. **Implement array element selector** (documented in ARRAY_ELEMENT_SELECTOR_TODO.md)
   - Add subscripts input field to edit dialogs
   - Priority: MEDIUM (nice-to-have, not critical)
   - Estimated effort: 8-12 hours across all 3 UIs

2. **Consider array inspector window** (long-term)
   - Full visual grid of array contents
   - Click any cell to edit
   - Priority: LOW (future enhancement)

## Conclusion

**Current state:** Variable editing is **working and complete** for the intended use cases.

**Known limitation:** Array editing limited to last accessed element is documented and has a workaround.

**Next steps:** Enhancement for arbitrary array indices is optional and documented in separate TODO file.

**Bottom line:** ✅ This feature is **done and working** as originally designed. The arbitrary indices enhancement is a **nice-to-have addition** for the future.

## References

- Implementation: `src/ui/tk_ui.py`, `src/ui/curses_ui.py`, `src/ui/web/web_ui.py`
- Runtime support: `src/runtime.py`
- Design doc: `docs/dev/VARIABLE_EDITING_FEATURE.md`
- Enhancement: `docs/dev/ARRAY_ELEMENT_SELECTOR_TODO.md`
- Help docs: `docs/help/ui/*/` directories
