Re: Issues & requests - basic connector/snap/grid issues

[Michael Ross <michael e ross gmail com>]

I don't develop Dia but, from prior comments, I think you should be using Bugzilla for all this stuff.  A complex set of requests and discussion are better tracked in Bugzilla.  This list list is more for user help and less involved complaints about function.  Steffen or someone else may wish to clarify.

On Sat, Jan 1, 2011 at 11:46 PM, <dg1727 hushmail com> wrote:

Hello,

All of the following were noticed on Dia 0.97.1 on Vista SP2.

In the following, "connector" means any of the 5 types of line
objects in the standard toolbox:  line, arc, zigzag line, polyline,
Bezierline

connection points of any 2 objects should snap to each other
without a connector needing to be drawn

Can Dia be modified so that all connectors have connection points
at their ends, in addition to any connection points that are
present now?

 

Symbols and lines can be attached for example a zzline - if I move the symbol it is attached to the segment stays attached, if I move the zzline it moves but detaches.  I can also attach a line to the corner of a rectrangle.  There connctions to elipses, and polygons.  You can attach to the segment end points of bezier regions (but not bezier lines)

Some entities require the use of a connection point (Electric palette) which covers just about every case.  You CAN attach any line, zzline, etc.to a connection point. You can make a connection point as large or as small as you care to make it.  If you group a connection point with other geometry, then the group has that as a point of connection.  This works for bezier lines.

You can also make any pallet symbol that suits you, just as complicated as you like it, with as many connections as you like.

Moving a connector endpoint should move the endpoints of other
connectors that are snapped to the endpoint being moved.  This
would then require a modifier (SHIFT?) to separate the connector
being moved from others that are snapped to it.

Text objects should have the same kind of connection points that a
rectangle has.

You can create a bit of geometry that has endpoint and grips where you like them and group it with text, then you can attach lines to that geometry and if you move the group the line tracks it.  If the geometry is the same color as the background it is just as if there were attachment points on the text.

 

Moving one or more connectors should snap the connection points
that are within the items being moved, to the connection points
SNIP

Grid pitch (the distance between adjacent parallel lines) should be
shown in status bar (because of File > Preferences > Grid Lines >
"Dynamic grid resizing")

You can look at the ruler and tell grid pitch. I am not sure why an exact grid pitch is needed.  This isn't a CAD package. and that is good it is freer in all the senses of the word. You can easily draw things in Dia that would be annoying at best in a CAD software.

That said I have screwed around with grid sizing a lot and it is cryptic at times. I never bother with Dynamic grid sizing.  I like the grid to stay the way I set it.

option to force dynamically resized grid to be multiple of user-
entered value

This might make it more useful to me.  But I am OK with a static grid for most work.

 

-- 
                    Michael E. Ross
      NC Solar Center Test Laboratory
=================================
               (919) 576-0824 best

               (919) 631-1451 cell
              (919) 513-0418 desk
           michael_ross ncsu edu
         michael e ross gmail com
   =============================


NC Solar Center : www.ncsc.ncsu.edu
Professional Directory : www.greenprofessionals.org

"The information in this email is provided by the NC Solar Center at NCSU as a public service. The Solar Center strives to provide accurate information, but does not warrant or represent the accuracy, usefulness or reliability of this information. For specific advice, we always recommend that you consult with a professional in the appropriate profession for your needs." Email correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Record Law NCGS, Ch 132 and may be disclosed to third parties