Re: [Gerbv-devel] Selection is now in CVS

[Stuart B. <sd...@cl...>]

>> * Display object properties
>> * Edit object properties.
>
> I wonder if it would be able to combine these into one dialog?  Upon
> opening, it could have the current values visible, but then allow you to
> change any of them if you wanted.

I thought about doing it this way.  My reasons to go for two dialogs
were these:

*  Honestly, I will probably do the "display" capability fairly soon
since it's pretty easy.  However, the "edit" capability might take
longer.  Therefore, why delay one for the other?

*  The things I would display are different from the things I would
offer the user to edit.  For example, the exact line of the Gerber
file would not be editable.  If the user changes the assocated
aperture, then do I do an auto-update of the Gerber line?  Naw....

Also, I
haven't thought through the difference between what is displayed and
what may be edited.  That is, if I select a portion of a track, I can
see all its properties, including what aperture was used to draw it.
However, I can't edit the track's width directly.  Rather, I must edit
the associated aperture.

Maybe what I need is a only a "display object properties" menu on the
right mouse button, and a "edit apertures" under "modify" on the the
main menu bar as you suggest below....

>>    -- Maybe the ability to re-define the size, etc. of the aperture
>>       used to draw this (and other) object.  I need to think about how
>>       that will work for users....  It need to be clear to the user
>>       that he is redfining the aperture definition, and not just the
>>       size of this particular object.
>
> We may even want to do a separate dialog for an "aperture
> editor"...maybe just build off the viewer dialog you already did,
> Stuart.

I agree 1/2 way.  I suggest a right mouse button "display" menu
option, and an "aperture editor" available from the top menubar as you
suggest.  The aperture editor would give you the opportunity to edit
all apertures, using some type of widget in which you can modify the
numerical values of each aperture.

> Then, in the object editor dialog, you could either manually
> edit the attributes for this object only (in actuality, I guess we'd
> make a new aperture and switch the object over to use it instead), and
> also provide a link to let the user open up the aperture editor and edit
> the attributes for whatever aperture the object uses (and effecting all
> objects using that aperture).

I like it.


>> BTW:  If multiple objects are selected, and you right click, then a
>> dialog box pops up and says "you may only analyze/edit one object at a
>> time."
>
> If we're slick, we could could just show the properties that are in
> common between the selected objects, and a "*" or something for ones
> that are different.  This would allow the user to still change the
> properties for a bunch of elements at one time, possibly saving a ton of
> time in some cases.

Sounds slick indeed, and would be very nice.  Maybe too slick for my
available talent....

Cheers,

Stuart