Disable function tips, suggestions, help pop-up in Editor R2021b macOS

I would like to turn off the function suggestions that pop up while typing in the editor. This used to be accomplished in Preferences>Keyboard> and deselecting Function Hints, but that is no longer there. Did not seem like a logical place for that preference, I will admit, but I cannot find it anywhere now.

Answer 1

[Jacky Tsai]

@Dirk, would you mind trying this:

1. Go to Preferences
2. In the menu on the left, click into MATLAB > Editor/Debugger > Automatic Completions
3. Under Suggestions and completions, check Show on tab
4. Click OK

This will stop the function suggestions from popping out automatically while typing, unless you explicitly hit <tab> key.

[Dirk]

Yes, of course. Thank you for the suggestion, but automatic completions are not the problem here.

I like automatic completions, and I appreciate the grayed-out preview for autocompletions prior to hitting tab to commit. Without the preview, how would you know what the editor thinks is appropriate? Just tab and find out (and then have to go back and delete it all most likely)?

What I mind is the function syntax widget. This is what I find disruptive:

Note the pop-up widget, and the compound connected pop-up widget. "Enter a value for Y" adds no value here, only clutter, and even the primary pop-up is (forgive me, but) akin to having Office 98 Clippy jump up out of your manuscript and ask, "Do you need help? It looks like you're trying to..."

Note the relavent code covered up and the "stickiness" that locks out normal arrowing motion. There are innumerable ways to access the information about how to use datetime, and while I understand that this pop-up might be helpful to some folks, one should be able to deactivate it without deactivating tab completions (with automatic preview before commiting).

[Nidhi Jain]

Hello @Dirk

Thank you for the very helpful feedback. As Srijith and Jacky mentioned, unfortunately there is no way to only disable the function hints in the editors. I have captured your feedback.

I do have a follow-up question for you - Is there ever a case where you would like to see the function hints? I see that in the screenshot above you are editing an exisitng line of code and I can see how the function hints interfere with that. But, if you were typing a function call from scratch, would you still want it to not show?

As a temporary workaround, you could hit escape and function hints will not show up while you are editing that function call at least.

[Dirk]

Hi Nidhi,

For my part, no. I find it equally disruptive when I am composing and editing.

Consider, how many functions do you type per hour when composing code, and how many of those -- what proportion -- do you need context help with? Yet the editor has become an experience like accidentally clicking on a HuffPo article where every few seconds animated advertising is distracting your attention from the article. It's like driving down the road and having your car ask you at every street you pass, "Do you want to turn here? You can go right or left."

And is the context help in the pop-up even the kind of help you would need to use the function properly, or do you usually have to go to the documentation page or matlab central anyway if you're stumped? "Enter a value for...", "value", "options", these words alone don't usually help without more context (as in the documentation). F1 while typing to pull up the documentation is plenty.

I understand it's just my opinion/preference, so my core complaint here is not the function hints widget itself, but the fact that I can't simply turn it off anymore in preference settings. The rationale behind that decision totally escapes me.

Best,

Dirk

[Michael Bowles]

@Nidhi Jain Hi Nidhi, I would like to echo my deep frustration and to answer your question

• "Is there ever a case where you would like to see the function hints?"

Only in one case would I ever want to see the help: if I have asked for it (i.e. activiated it in my preferences). This may change daily (I don't suspect I would ever want this, but.. granting that someone might) it should be up to the user.

Why try to predict when people want it? First version of this should be a simple "on/off" button.

[Andre]

It is indeed very disruptive. I have tried many ways to disable these suggestions.

[Jordan Pierce]

Agreed, there needs to be a way to turn this off in the editor.

[Matthew Cooper]

Agreed, this is very disruptive to writing functions. Especially if tabs are used to align blocks of code for readability, due to the delay caused by the pop up window. On the other hand, it is nice to have the syntax reminders once a function is finished and a syntax reminder is needed. The ability to add a shortcut to toggle this pref on or off would be ideal.

[Juergen Lisenfeld]

I agree that Matlab became very annyoing in the recent versions due to all the things that pop up or suggest corrections. The function hints are hiding the previous code lines, but I need to see those to come up with the next code line. It took also long time to find this option, as imho a "function hint" has nothing to do with "autocompletion" or "suggestions and completions".

[Seth]

Thanks for this pointer! I find the automatic hints incredibly annoying and distracting, and never helpful. If I want to read the help, I'll read it! Also, they don't have anything to do with "automatic completions".

Answer 2

[Srijith Kasaragod]

Hi @Dirk,

In MATLAB R2021b, the option to disable function syntax hints in the MATLAB editor is no longer supported.

However, you can disable function syntax hints in the MATLAB Command Window. You can also choose Code Suggestions and Completions to only appear after the you press the tab key (which are similar to, but not the same thing as function syntax hints).

Refer this link to know more on how to disable Automatic Suggestions and Completions.

Regards,

Srijith

[Dirk]

Hi Srijith,

The issue is with function syntax hints in the editor, not the other scenarios you describe in your answer.

Why is the option to disable this is no longer supported? Why can one disable it in the command window, but not the editor? Will this option be restored in a future release?

I find these pop-ups while typing to be very disruptive to composing and editing my code, often blocking visability and movement using the keyboard controls (e.g. up/down arrows), requiring use of the mouse, etc. to navigate out of the "sticky" hints widget.

I am also a little puzzled by these repeated "answers" (first via email two months ago, now here) suggesting to do something entirely different. If I bring my car in to the dealer and tell him my front windshield wipers are stuck on all the time, would you expect him to tell me how to turn off my rear wipers or my fog lights? Your first sentence was a clear and accurate answer. Thanks.

Best,

Dirk