Re: [udig-users] advanced editing tool preference -- what "advanced" fun

[Bishop Bettini <bishop@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Jesse,

Thanks for the quick response.  Comments follow below:

Quoting Jesse Eichar <jeichar.w@xxxxxxxxx>:

> I'm working on a response.  The advanced mode basically allows you to
> not need to change tool as much.  For example the polygon tool can
> create and edit polygons.  For example you can layout a polygon and
> add/remove and edit its verticies without having to change tools.  For
> the Edit tool it allows you to also add verticies by clicking on an
> edge or line.

From a user experience perspective, it seems like you would always  
want this functionality engaged.  As you mention below, sadly, all the  
documentation related to the advanced tool in the wiki has been blown  
away and just left with stubs, but dropping in your response to me  
would probably benefit subsequent info hunters.


> With regards to the previous email of moving multiple features.  I am
> checking to see if you can do it.  No you can't.  I could add a new
> tool to do this quite easily though. It could work a couple ways:
>
> 1.   You select with the tool all the features you want to move and
> then drag them
> 2.   When the tool is activated it imports all selected features(But
> this is dangerous as it could fill all the memory of the application
> which is why the other tools do not do this)  and then the tool could
> move the features.  To reduce the change of memory problems there could
> be a "first x features are imported" setting...  but this would likely
> lead to confusing behaviour.

I'm currently investigating how AutoCAD MAP 3D does it.  My guess is  
ACADM3D uses method 1, which I don't think is as useful as method 2.   
In my case, specifically, method 1 would be quite tedious as there are  
many, many features to select.

It seems like "select the features you want then choose the tool to  
operate on those features" would be a good, standard model to follow.   
That way you can precisely specify the features you want by using as  
complicated an expression as needed, then do the graphical deed with  
the right tool.

From the user experince perspective, I fail to see the difference  
between selecting by hand all the features you want to include (method  
1) and selecting them a priori with an expression (method 2).   
However, I can understand the difference code paths may take, so if  
potential memory consumption is a problem, why not precompute the  
needed memory and prompt the user of the impact of the effect, and let  
him decide?  If it brings the machine down, so be it.

I would not support a "first x features" function, beacuse - as you  
rightly point out - this will cause user experience issues.


> The standard tool has all the plumbing to do this.  I could add an
> advanced feature that does this.

I would much rather use udig than AutoCAD Map 3D!  Windows requirement  
aside, uDig is more intuitive, IMHO.


Thanks again for your time and your efforts with such a stellar tool.

Regards,
bishop


--
Bishop Bettini
ideacode, Inc.
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