I’m excited to announce a nice enhancement to variable input fields in the SharpTools Rule Engine! Building on our popular Expression Autocomplete feature, we’ve brought the same $ triggered autocomplete experience to all text input fields that support variables throughout the platform.
What’s New
Previously, the $ triggered autocomplete was only available in the main expression editor. Now, every text input field that supports variables gets this enhanced editing experience, including:
- HTTP Actions URLs and payloads
- Notification message templates
- Device command arguments
- And many more throughout the platform!
Key Features
Inline Autocomplete
Just like in the expression editor, type $ in any variable input field and you’ll see an immediate dropdown with available variables, functions, and context variables. No more opening separate modals to browse and insert variables!
Smart Visual Feedback
- Expression Pills: Variables appear with a subtle gray background as you type
- Variable Highlighting: Valid variables are highlighted in blue for easy identification
- Real-time Validation: Invalid variables appear in red with an underline, giving you instant feedback
- Smart Brackets: Variable brackets
{{ }}are hidden for a clean look, but appear when you hover or focus for editing
Context Variable Discovery
Type $context and navigate through the hierarchical structure with progressive disclosure. The autocomplete intelligently shows you available properties and sub-properties, making it easier than ever to access device states, rule context, and system variables.
Seamless Experience
The enhanced input works exactly like the previous variable inputs - same familiar + VARIABLE button, same variable modal access, and the same underlying functionality you’re used to. This is purely an enhancement to the editing experience.
Better Editing Flow
Instead of the old workflow:
Type text → blur field → check if variables look right → refocus → edit
You now get:
Type text → immediate visual feedback
→ autocomplete suggestions
→ real-time validation
This creates a much more fluid editing experience, especially when working with expressions or multiple variables.
Backward Compatibility
All existing rules, dashboards, and configurations continue to work exactly as before. This enhancement doesn’t change how variables are stored or processed - it simply provides a better way to input and edit them.
Where You’ll See It
This enhanced variable input is now available in beta across the platform wherever you see text input fields that support variable insertion, including:
- HTTP Actions
- Notification Actions
- Device command parameters
- And more!
I would love to hear your feedback on this enhanced editing experience! Let me know how it works for you in the comments below.