Add support for Customize Perspective

[GoogleCodeExporter]

This is an enhancement request for a task to implement updates to "customize 
perspective".  One of the tedious tasks that I do once I get a new workspace up 
and running is customize two things:
1) Which views are present on which docks, including making "fast views" for 
some views 
2) Customize the "new" menu so that alt+shift+N will give me reasonable results 
for Class, Interface, etc. instead of the plethora of New Web Service, etc. in 
the default JEE eclipse installation.

I haven't looked in to how this preference information is stored, but I notice 
that when I try to record with preference recorder, it doesn't seem to pick up 
any of these changes.  These two activities might be completely unrelated w.r.t 
how Eclipse implements the storage.

Have you guys put any thought into this?  Or know anything about how that works 
in Eclipse?  I will volunteer to take a stab at an implementation.

Few considerations:
- I like how the keyboard bindings are recorded i.e. Add xyz, remove abc., and 
that probably makes sense for this as well where the entries in the list and 
various views and toolbars are different depending on plugins, etc. Thoughts?

- Currently the keyboard bindings are "recorded" using the "dump" option under 
WM icon.  I don't know how well this will "Scale" as more and more specific 
preference recorders are natively supported in WM.  I.e. should there be a 
separate recorder for Customize perspective?  I think the user just wants to 
"record", do stuff, and "stop".  Seems like ideally the fact that this produces 
n different task files is an implementation detail.  However, I think I 
understand for how much this mucks with the current recorder implementation.  
Thoughts?

Original issue reported on code.google.com by stevemash on 18 Dec 2011 at 8:39

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I think you're right that this is implemented separately. Much of it, IIRC, is 
done via extension points, but I'm sure the customization is also stored 
elsewhere.

We've customized perspectives with extension points, but I'm really not sure. I 
bet someone in the Eclipse Forums could help. Alternatively, it's the 
ubiquitous "search through the code base" process of learning how something 
works.

I agree that the many menus / recorders / dumpers doesn't scale, but I figure 
that's something we can deal with as time goes on.

Having a general-purpose "behavior recorder" is possible but I think to do it 
right requires a layer inside Eclipse that doesn't exist. Not sure it's worth 
the effort, though.

Original comment by konigsb...@gmail.com on 28 Dec 2011 at 4:45

[GoogleCodeExporter]

A quick search found something called CustomizedPerspectiveDialog at 
o.e.ui.internal.dialogs. So, that's a good start. Also, Perspective.java seems 
to have methods saveState(IMemento) and restoreState(IMemento). I think those 
are your best clues.

Original comment by konigsb...@gmail.com on 28 Dec 2011 at 4:57

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Any news about this ? I'm seeking for this feature as well.

Original comment by hedonp...@gmail.com on 1 Dec 2012 at 2:35

[GoogleCodeExporter]

As I've had to recently mention, workspace mechanic is not being actively 
developed at this time. If you would like to submit a fully-featured patch, 
along with comprehensive tests, I am willing to consider it.

Original comment by konigsb...@gmail.com on 1 Dec 2012 at 2:41

• Added labels: Type-Enhancement
• Removed labels: Type-Defect