Feature request: Auto-save lang file after adding string

[FMCorz]

A nice to have would be for the language file to be auto-saved after a string is created in it.

Personally, if there was a setting for this I would turn it on, I would not need a UI option for it.

Thanks!

[marinaglancy]

hi Fred, sorry I did not reply when you created this issue.
MDLCode respects the vscode setting 'files.autoSave' and if it is set to 'onFocusChange' any changes to the string file that is out of focus are saved immediately.

What is your current value for the 'file.autoSave' setting? And how do you usually create strings with mdlcode?

If you don't want to change your file.autoSave setting but still would like MDLCode to automatically save files that it edits, how would you call this setting, and should it apply to the strings only or any files?

[FMCorz]

Hi Marina,

My file.autoSave is off, I don't like files saving automatically. However, when MDLCode does add a string, I always forget that the language file wasn't saved as I'm not expecting that it's only editing the content in place.

My workflow is typically:

• Highlight a string and "Replace with new language string ..." (Often times I don't use the default name)
• "Create string" from a get_string referencing a non-existant string

In any cases, when I create a new string, I never go to the language file afterwards.

I would prefer not changing my autoSave setting, but I can understand that automatically saving the file can lead to unexpected changes in some circumstances.

Here is the scenario I think would work best for most people, and I think can apply more broadly to any file change MDLCode applies on the user's behalf if you wanted to normalise it:

1. If the target file (lang file in this example) is "dirty" and has unsaved changes, do not save.
2. If the file is not dirty, or not opened, save the changes.

You could introduce a setting in MDLCode that allows for this behaviour to be modified, and/or to keep the current behaviour intact. That setting could read "Save changes automatically: When MDLCode modifies files on the user's behalf, the files will be automatically saved after edits are made. However, this does not apply when the file has pending changes that have not been saved."

Maybe this is a bit over the top, and certainly not a big deal, but I thought you'd appreciate the feedback. I guess my whole reasoning is based on the fact that I personally expect MDLCode to make the changes without requiring me to save the files. I believe this is also how VSCode's find & replace works, where the changes are saved automatically.

Thank you!