[Geomoose-users] Behaving Properly with Multiple Tools

[Eli Adam]

On Tue, Dec 4, 2012 at 8:05 AM, Jim Klassen <klassen.js at gmail.com> wrote:

> More oddly, how do you tell users which tabs are service tabs and which
> aren't?
>
>

> I would think correct behavior would be for the map to do what is selected
> in the toolbar.
>

I agree with this.  We may also have to differentiate between 'service' and
service 'results' and switching between the two.  Also how you are able to
switch between the two.


>
> Identify
> Draw
> Switch to Identify tab
>
> Should show the previous identify results but not update them on click
> since you are still in draw mode.
>

Agree, they are 'results'.  To active the identify 'service' again, click
the identify button in the toolbar and now map clicks update the
'results'.

Some 'results' would perhaps have to be changed so the tab is not a
'service' too.  For instance look at the identify results and then hit
'back to settings' and the choose 'Draw box' then continue on.  Should that
action deactivate your currently engaged tool and reactivated the identify
tool?  Or should the identify 'results' not let you click 'back to
settings'?

We also have to keep active tool icons propagating through all this so that
the user knows which tool is active.



>
> I'm not saying this is (or isn't) the most useful behavior, just what I'd
> expect given the model of tools are the verbs.
>

Right, but we need some approach to differentiate what is what and this is
the most specific approach articulated so far (and closely matches the
existing behavior?).

Are there cases where we want to allow multiple tools at once?  Like pan or
scroll wheel during layer tools-->add polygon?  What would be the impacts
of that?

On Dec 4, 2012, at 9:25, Brent Fraser <bfraser at geoanalytic.com> wrote:
>
> Dan,
>
>  Can't GeoMoose just stop the Add Polygon operation if another command is
> selected?
>
>
I also like the idea of cancelling half completed actions.


> I don't like having to create a tool (or tools?) for each editable layer.
> What am I missing?
>
> Best Regards,
> Brent Fraser
>
> On 12/4/2012 6:29 AM, Dan Little wrote:
>
>  GeoMOOSE has a problem.  It tries to let users do a lot of things that,
> ultimately, will cause them harm.
>
>  The Scenario
> ---------------------
> A user is going along identifying things.  Then they decide to add a
> Polygon to the map.  Then they want to identify things again, so they
> simply return to the identify tab.
>
>  The application fundamentally breaks here.  It will try to draw polygons
> and identify things at the same time.  This isn't a problem if the user
> were to, once again, click the "Identify" tool from the toolbar.
>
>
>  There are variations on this tune but the underlaying question to it all
> is, how should we be defining the users verb focus?  And how do we do it in
> a consistent predictable manner?
>
>
Yes consistent predictable is important.


>
>  Some thoughts:
> 1. When switching to any tool, any "service tabs" close.  That means, the
> users' ability to add a polygon would close the "identify" tab.  Removing
> the users ability to go after the tab.  This has the negative consequence
> of not being able to refer to your results for as long or allow the results
> to interact with other tools.
>
>
Instead of closing tabs, what about making the tab no longer a 'service'
but 'results' when this happens?  Like Jim brought up above?


>
>  2. The root of these problems seem connected with some lack of
> consistency with drawing.  The vector layers are handled separately from
> the layers that are used as "temp drawing layers" for the services.  We
> could move the drawing and editing tools into a "tab" so that instead of
> doing things like "Add Polygon", the user would click a button like "Edit
> Vector Layer" or "Add Sketches" and it would open a service-like tab that
> would give all of the layer editing options.  The may mean creating a tool
> for each vector layer the user wants to have editable.
>
> If we go the route where the user can reactivate a 'service' by clicking
on the tab, then we would probably need a tab for everything.  Perhaps in
the case of vector layers, it would just be a tab with a button that says
'reactive vector tools'?

Eli


>
>  Anyone with other thoughts? Solutions? Patches?
>
>  PS: I'm sorry if this shows up as a duplicate, I sent this email
> yesterday afternoon and it didn't appear to show up on the list.
>
>
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