roseman@cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Mark Roseman) (06/25/91)
We're looking at ways to limit the hassle of switching modes in object-based
drawing packages such as MacDraw. The constant hassle, in particular
between drawing a line and grabbing that line (i.e. the switch between
the arrow tool and the line tool) is getting to be a real pain. Less of
a pain, though still ugly is choosing different drawing tools (line,
rectangle) from a pallette.
In an application we want to support fluidity of drawing, we need some
solutions to this. Pop-up menus rather than pallettes seem to make sense
at least for changing between different tools.
However, it seems a better solution should exist for choosing between
drawing (with whatever tool) and selecting an object. With a multi-button
mouse this is less of a problem than on a Mac I suppose. We're considering
the use of special keys (option or whatever).
Are there any alternatives out there? Has anyone done anything in this
direction?
--
==============================================================================
Mark Roseman
Dept. of Computer Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. T2N 1N4
(403) 220-5769 roseman@cpsc.ucalgary.ca {ubc-cs|alberta}!calgary!rosemandsmall@mitre.org (Duane Small) (06/26/91)
>We're looking at ways to limit the hassle of switching modes in object-based >drawing packages such as MacDraw. The constant hassle, in particular >between drawing a line and grabbing that line (i.e. the switch between >the arrow tool and the line tool) is getting to be a real pain. (more text deleted) FrameMaker for the Mac uses the option key to change between treating text as editable and treating the frame of the text as an object to be moved or adjusted in size. The mouse cursor changes to show which mode you are in. I personally find it convenient.
sandy@snoopy.cs.umass.edu (& Wise) (06/27/91)
>We're looking at ways to limit the hassle of switching modes in object-based >drawing packages such as MacDraw. The constant hassle, in particular >between drawing a line and grabbing that line (i.e. the switch between >the arrow tool and the line tool) is getting to be a real pain. (more text deleted) Not exactly the same, but Corel Draw has an interesting "pencil" tool: The tool is capable of drawing both curves and straight lines. I don't remember exactly how it works (I'm a Mac-type myself) but basically, if you draw a mostly straight line it infers that it was what you wanted, and switches to rubberbanding. I think it may also have been able to infer horizontal/vertical constraints... Similarly, Ashlar Vellum (a Mac CAD package) has something called "intelligent assistants" that can infer corner constraints and the like... /s -- Alexander Erskine Wise /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Software Development Laboratory /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ WISE@CS.UMASS.EDU /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ \/\/\ This situation calls for large amounts of unadulterated CHOCOLATE! /\/\/\
acl3k@agate.cs.Virginia.EDU (Allan Christian Long) (06/27/91)
In article <1991Jun24.172022.15695@cpsc.ucalgary.ca> roseman@cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Mark Roseman) writes: >We're looking at ways to limit the hassle of switching modes in object-based >drawing packages such as MacDraw. The constant hassle, in particular >between drawing a line and grabbing that line (i.e. the switch between >the arrow tool and the line tool) is getting to be a real pain. Less of >a pain, though still ugly is choosing different drawing tools (line, >rectangle) from a pallette. [stuff deleted] >Are there any alternatives out there? Has anyone done anything in this >direction? >-- >============================================================================== >Mark Roseman >Dept. of Computer Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. T2N 1N4 >(403) 220-5769 roseman@cpsc.ucalgary.ca {ubc-cs|alberta}!calgary!roseman One solution to this problem that I've seen is to use the space bar to toggle between the current drawing tool and selection mode. That is, if you are drawing and press the space bar, you go into selection mode. If you press it again you go back to the drawing tool that you were using. I can't remember what program I saw that used this, but I liked it. It would be better than holding down option or shift if the user often spends a long time in selection mode. A. Chris Long, Jr. acl3k@virginia.edu "You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" - Steven Wright
de5@ornl.gov (Dave Sill) (06/27/91)
In article <1991Jun24.172022.15695@cpsc.ucalgary.ca>, roseman@cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Mark Roseman) writes: > >However, it seems a better solution should exist for choosing between >drawing (with whatever tool) and selecting an object. With a multi-button >mouse this is less of a problem than on a Mac I suppose. We're considering >the use of special keys (option or whatever). > >Are there any alternatives out there? Has anyone done anything in this >direction? Dean Rubine, Dean.Rubine@cs.cmu.edu, just presented a paper at the Nashville USENIX called "Integrating Gesture Recognition and Direct Manipulation". Here's an excerpt from the abstract: "A gesture-based interface is one in which the user specifies commands by simple drawings, typically made with a mouse or stylus. A single intuitive gesture can simultaneously specify objects, an operation, and additional parameters, making gestures more powerful than the "clicks" and "drags" of traditional direct manipulation interfaces." He showed videotapes of his work, including a draw program. It was pretty slick. As soon as the gesture was unique, e.g., an "L" for a rectangle, the freehand "L" was replaced with a resizable rectangle the same size and location as the "L". -- Dave Sill (de5@ornl.gov) Tug on anything in nature and you will find Martin Marietta Energy Systems it connected to everything else. Workstation Support --John Muir
consp04@bingsuna.bingsuns.cc.binghamton.edu (Dan Boyd) (06/28/91)
In article <1991Jun24.172022.15695@cpsc.ucalgary.ca> roseman@cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Mark Roseman) writes: >We're looking at ways to limit the hassle of switching modes in object-based >drawing packages such as MacDraw. The constant hassle, in particular >between drawing a line and grabbing that line (i.e. the switch between >the arrow tool and the line tool) is getting to be a real pain. I suggest you get a copy of Adobe Illustrator and work with it for a while (say, ten or so half-hour sessions). Note, in particular, that no matter what tool you're using, holding down the command key gives you the selection arrow, and the space bar gives you the 'hand' (which moves things around). Also, on Studio/8, most of the alphanumeric keys switch drawing tools (I think it's A for airbrush, P for pencil, and a host of others.) I strongly suggest you try out Adobe Illustrator and Studio/8 for ideas. -- Dan -- Daniel F. Boyd consp04@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu CONTACT ALIENS BOTH BENEVOLENT AND EVIL! DON'T STIR OR DISTURB THE RICE! 210526315789473684 Also, if you wait too long, the pumpkin comes. -- mdchaney@iubacs
aarsten@idt.unit.no (Amund Aarsten) (06/30/91)
As a part of a larger project (system development environment) I once hacked a simple graph editor where the same (left) mouse button was used for both insertion, selection and moves. The idea was that if you click on an extisting object, you probably want to select it; if you drag while having a selection you probably want to move it; if you click outside exsisting objects you probably want to insert a new one (the tool palette could be on another mouse button). This worked great except for the arcs in the graph (which are drawn between the nodes; you drag a line from one node to another). If the above scheme is used the tool would assume you wanted to select the node when you started to draw the arc. I can't remember how I worked around it but it wasn't totally satisfactory (involving shift-buttonpresses etc.). Amund