Improve Paste Expressions context

Enhance Expressions View paste functionality with context menu entry,
multi-line paste prompt, and a Run/Debug preference for paste behavior

Author: SougandhS

debug/org.eclipse.debug.ui/plugin.xml

@@ -1584,15 +1584,15 @@
                icon="$nl$/icons/full/elcl16/rem_all_co.svg"
                helpContextId="remove_all_expressions_action_context"
                class="org.eclipse.debug.internal.ui.actions.expressions.RemoveAllExpressionsAction"
-               menubarPath="expressionGroup"
+               menubarPath="expressionRemoveGroup"
                id="org.eclipse.debug.ui.debugview.popupMenu.removeAllExpressionsAction">
          </action>
          <action
                label="%RemoveAction.label"
                icon="$nl$/icons/full/elcl16/rem_co.svg"
                helpContextId="remove_expression_action_context"
                class="org.eclipse.debug.internal.ui.actions.expressions.RemoveExpressionAction"
-               menubarPath="expressionGroup"
+               menubarPath="expressionRemoveGroup"
                id="org.eclipse.debug.ui.debugview.popupMenu.removeExpressionAction">
             <selection
                   class="org.eclipse.debug.core.model.IExpression">

debug/org.eclipse.debug.ui/ui/org/eclipse/debug/internal/ui/DebugUIPreferenceInitializer.java

@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ public void initializeDefaultPreferences() {
 		prefs.setDefault(IDebugPreferenceConstants.PREF_PROMPT_DISABLE_ALL_BREAKPOINTS, true);
 		prefs.setDefault(IDebugPreferenceConstants.PREF_PROMPT_ENABLE_ALL_BREAKPOINTS, true);
 		prefs.setDefault(IInternalDebugUIConstants.PREF_SKIP_ALL_BREAKPOINTS_PROMPT, true);
+		prefs.setDefault(IDebugPreferenceConstants.PREF_PROMPT_PASTE_MULTILINE_EXPRESSIONS,
+				IInternalDebugUIConstants.EXPRESSION_PASTE_PROMPT);
 
 		/**
 		 * Context launching preferences. Appear on the the Launching preference page

debug/org.eclipse.debug.ui/ui/org/eclipse/debug/internal/ui/IInternalDebugUIConstants.java

@@ -465,4 +465,22 @@ public interface IInternalDebugUIConstants {
 	 */
 	String PREF_SKIP_ALL_BREAKPOINTS_PROMPT = IDebugUIConstants.PLUGIN_ID + ".DisableSkipAllBreakpointsOnLaunch"; //$NON-NLS-1$
 
+	/**
+	 * String indicating always prompt on pasting multi-line expression
+	 *
+	 */
+	String EXPRESSION_PASTE_PROMPT = "org.eclipse.debug.ui.expression.paste.prompt"; //$NON-NLS-1$
+
+	/**
+	 * String indicating always paste as combined single expression
+	 *
+	 */
+	String EXPRESSION_PASTE_AS_SINGLE = "org.eclipse.debug.ui.expression.paste.single"; //$NON-NLS-1$
+
+	/**
+	 * String indicating always paste as multiple expressions
+	 *
+	 */
+	String EXPRESSION_PASTE_AS_MUTLY = "org.eclipse.debug.ui.expression.paste.multi"; //$NON-NLS-1$
+
 }

debug/org.eclipse.debug.ui/ui/org/eclipse/debug/internal/ui/actions/ActionMessages.java

@@ -254,5 +254,11 @@ public class ActionMessages extends NLS {
 	public static String EnableAllBreakpointsAction_3;
 	public static String BreakpointLabelDialog;
 	public static String RemoveFromFavoritesAction;
+	public static String PasteWatchExpressionsActionLabel;
+	public static String ExpressionPasteTitle;
+	public static String ExpressionPasteMultiButton;
+	public static String ExpressionPasteSingleButton;
+	public static String ExpressionPasteDialog;
+	public static String ExpressionPasteRemember;
 
 }

debug/org.eclipse.debug.ui/ui/org/eclipse/debug/internal/ui/actions/ActionMessages.properties

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #  https://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-2.0/
 #
 #  SPDX-License-Identifier: EPL-2.0
-# 
+#
 #  Contributors:
 #     IBM Corporation - initial API and implementation
 #     Mike Morearty - Bug 271411
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ RelaunchLastAction_Error_encountered_attempting_to_relaunch_4=Error encountered
 # @see Bug 105733 TVT 3.1 - TCT 531 - Poor grammar in "Run Eclipse Application" and "Profile Eclipse Application"
 #   - the following string is used to display the tooltip for run/debug/profile buttons and is
 #     the concatenation of "{mode} {configuration name}", for example "Run HelloWorld". In some languages
-#     this may need to be reversed to be translated properly. 
+#     this may need to be reversed to be translated properly.
 ##
 AbstractLaunchHistoryAction_0={0} {1}
 AbstractLaunchHistoryAction_1=Run
@@ -164,8 +164,8 @@ ModifyWatchpointAction_0=Error
 ModifyWatchpointAction_1=Failed to modify watchpoint
 LaunchShortcutsAction_1=(none applicable)
 ##
-# The following string is used to display launch histories using an integer mnemonic - i.e. 
-# "{number} {configuration name}". For example "1 HelloWorld". 
+# The following string is used to display launch histories using an integer mnemonic - i.e.
+# "{number} {configuration name}". For example "1 HelloWorld".
 ##
 LaunchConfigurationAction_0=&{0} {1}
 FindDialog_1=&Specify an element to select (? = any character, * = any String):
@@ -227,8 +227,9 @@ RunLastAction_0=&Run Last Launched
 RunLastAction_1=&Run
 RunLastAction_2=Run the selected resource or active editor
 RunLastAction_3=Run the previously launched application
+PasteWatchExpressionsActionLabel=Paste Expressions
 ##
-# The following string is used to display actions to open the launch dialog for 
+# The following string is used to display actions to open the launch dialog for
 # a specific mode - for example "Debug Configurations..."
 ##
 OpenLaunchDialogAction_1={0} Configurations...
@@ -237,4 +238,10 @@ VirtualFindAction_1=Unable to locate {0} in viewer
 
 ToggleBreakpointsTargetManager_defaultToggleTarget_name = Default
 ToggleBreakpointsTargetManager_defaultToggleTarget_description = Default
-BreakpointLabelDialog=Provide a custom label, or blank for the default label
+BreakpointLabelDialog=Provide a custom label, or blank for the default label
+
+ExpressionPasteMultiButton=Multiple Expressions
+ExpressionPasteSingleButton=Single Expression
+ExpressionPasteTitle=Paste Multiline Expression
+ExpressionPasteDialog=You are pasting a multiline expression. Choose whether to paste it as a single combined expression or as separate multiple expressions.
+ExpressionPasteRemember=Remember my preference next time

debug/org.eclipse.debug.ui/ui/org/eclipse/debug/internal/ui/actions/expressions/PasteWatchExpressionsAction.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*******************************************************************************
- * Copyright (c) 2009 Adobe Systems, Inc. and others.
+ * Copyright (c) 2009, 2025 Adobe Systems, Inc. and others.
  *
  * This program and the accompanying materials
  * are made available under the terms of the Eclipse Public License 2.0
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
  *
  * Contributors:
  *     Adobe Systems, Inc. - initial API and implementation
+ *     IBM Corporation - Improve paste expressions
  *******************************************************************************/
 package org.eclipse.debug.internal.ui.actions.expressions;
 
@@ -27,8 +28,6 @@ public class PasteWatchExpressionsAction extends SelectionListenerAction {
 	public PasteWatchExpressionsAction(ExpressionView expressionView) {
 		super(ActionMessages.PasteWatchExpressionsAction_0);
 		fExpressionView = expressionView;
-//        setToolTipText(BreakpointGroupMessages.PasteWatchExpressionsAction_1);
-//        PlatformUI.getWorkbench().getHelpSystem().setHelp(this, IDebugHelpContextIds.PASTE_WATCH_EXPRESSIONS_ACTION);
 	}
 
 	@Override
@@ -43,6 +42,10 @@ public boolean isEnabled() {
 		return fExpressionView.canPaste();
 	}
 
+	@Override
+	public String getText() {
+		return ActionMessages.PasteWatchExpressionsActionLabel;
+	}
 
 
 }

debug/org.eclipse.debug.ui/ui/org/eclipse/debug/internal/ui/preferences/DebugPreferencePage.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*******************************************************************************
- *  Copyright (c) 2000, 2020 IBM Corporation and others.
+ *  Copyright (c) 2000, 2025 IBM Corporation and others.
  *
  *  This program and the accompanying materials
  *  are made available under the terms of the Eclipse Public License 2.0
@@ -17,11 +17,14 @@
 import org.eclipse.debug.internal.ui.IDebugHelpContextIds;
 import org.eclipse.debug.internal.ui.IInternalDebugUIConstants;
 import org.eclipse.debug.internal.ui.SWTFactory;
+import org.eclipse.debug.internal.ui.actions.ActionMessages;
 import org.eclipse.debug.ui.IDebugUIConstants;
 import org.eclipse.jface.preference.BooleanFieldEditor;
 import org.eclipse.jface.preference.ColorFieldEditor;
+import org.eclipse.jface.preference.FieldEditor;
 import org.eclipse.jface.preference.FieldEditorPreferencePage;
 import org.eclipse.jface.preference.IPreferenceStore;
+import org.eclipse.jface.preference.RadioGroupFieldEditor;
 import org.eclipse.swt.SWT;
 import org.eclipse.swt.widgets.Composite;
 import org.eclipse.ui.IWorkbench;
@@ -70,6 +73,18 @@ protected void createFieldEditors() {
 		addField(new BooleanFieldEditor(IInternalDebugUIConstants.PREF_SKIP_ALL_BREAKPOINTS_PROMPT,
 				DebugPreferencesMessages.DebugPreferencePage_PromptSkipBreakpoints, SWT.NONE, getFieldEditorParent()));
 
+		FieldEditor edit = new RadioGroupFieldEditor(IDebugPreferenceConstants.PREF_PROMPT_PASTE_MULTILINE_EXPRESSIONS,
+				DebugPreferencesMessages.DebugPreferencePage_PromptMultiExpressions, 3,
+				new String[][] {
+						{ ActionMessages.ExpressionPasteMultiButton,
+								IInternalDebugUIConstants.EXPRESSION_PASTE_AS_MUTLY },
+						{ ActionMessages.ExpressionPasteSingleButton,
+								IInternalDebugUIConstants.EXPRESSION_PASTE_AS_SINGLE },
+						{ DebugPreferencesMessages.LaunchingPreferencePage_5,
+								IInternalDebugUIConstants.EXPRESSION_PASTE_PROMPT } },
+				getFieldEditorParent(), true);
+		addField(edit);
+
 		SWTFactory.createHorizontalSpacer(getFieldEditorParent(), 2);
 		ColorFieldEditor mem= new ColorFieldEditor(IDebugUIConstants.PREF_CHANGED_DEBUG_ELEMENT_COLOR, DebugPreferencesMessages.DebugPreferencePage_4, getFieldEditorParent());
 		addField(mem);

debug/org.eclipse.debug.ui/ui/org/eclipse/debug/internal/ui/preferences/DebugPreferencesMessages.java

@@ -230,4 +230,6 @@ public class DebugPreferencesMessages extends NLS {
 
 	public static Object ConsoleDisableElapsedTime;
 
+	public static String DebugPreferencePage_PromptMultiExpressions;
+
 }

debug/org.eclipse.debug.ui/ui/org/eclipse/debug/internal/ui/preferences/DebugPreferencesMessages.properties

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ ConsolePreferencePage_12=Displayed &tab width:
 ConsolePreferencePage_13=Tab width must be between 1 and 100 inclusive.
 ConsolePreferencePage_11=Back&ground color:
 ConsolePreferencePage_Interpret_control_characters=Interpret ASCII &control characters
-ConsolePreferencePage_Interpret_cr_as_control_character=Interpret Carriage &Return (\\r) as control character 
+ConsolePreferencePage_Interpret_cr_as_control_character=Interpret Carriage &Return (\\r) as control character
 ConsolePreferencePage_Enable_Word_Wrap_text=E&nable word wrap
 ConsoleElapsedTimeLabel=Elapsed Time Format (Choose 'None' to disable)
 ConsoleDefaultElapsedTimeFormat=%d:%02d:%02d
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ DebugPreferencePage_32=&Prompt for confirmation when disabling all breakpoints
 DebugPreferencePage_5=Prompt for confirmation when deleting all e&xpressions
 DebugPreferencePage_showValuesInline=Show debug values &inline on text editors (Experimental)
 DebugPreferencePage_PromptSkipBreakpoints=Prompt when launching application in debug mode with 'Skip Breakpoints' enabled
+DebugPreferencePage_PromptMultiExpressions=Select how multi-line expressions should be pasted in the 'Expressions View'
 
 LaunchingPreferencePage_1=&Build (if required) before launching
 LaunchingPreferencePage_2=Save required dirty editors before launching

debug/org.eclipse.debug.ui/ui/org/eclipse/debug/internal/ui/preferences/IDebugPreferenceConstants.java

@@ -336,6 +336,12 @@ public interface IDebugPreferenceConstants {
 	 */
 	String DEBUG_VIEW_TOOLBAR_HIDDEN_PERSPECTIVES = "org.eclipse.debug.ui.Debug_view.debug_toolbar_hidden_perspectives"; //$NON-NLS-1$
 	String CONSOLE_ELAPSED_FORMAT = "org.eclipse.console.elapsedTimeFormat"; //$NON-NLS-1$
+
+	/**
+	 * Stores the boolean preference of whether to prompt when pasting multi-line
+	 * expressions
+	 */
+	String PREF_PROMPT_PASTE_MULTILINE_EXPRESSIONS = IDebugUIConstants.PLUGIN_ID + ".paste_multiline_exp_prompt"; //$NON-NLS-1$
 }