Re: gEDA-user: xaw vs. gtk future?

[sdb@xxxxxxxxxx (Stuart Brorson)]

> Em S=E1b 03 Dez 2005 15:11, don escreveu:
> > On Sat, Dec 03, 2005 at 07:53:45AM -0500, Stuart Brorson wrote:
> > > To cite an example of recent interest to me:  I would like to edit
> > > text I have previously put on the silkscreen layer.  Specifically, I
> > > want to change its size.
> 
> S over it doens change her size? And N over it to edit it...

Aaaah, thank you!  I will try that, and put in in the Wiki also.

Nonetheless, my point still stands:  For the clueless newbie, hitting
S or N over an element to modify it is not obvious.  I like the way
gschem works:  The point and click menu system is there for the
newbies, and then later when you learn the program you start using the
keyboard shortcuts.

> > This close to what I have been wanting.  I would like to be able to edit
> > any type of object.  Actually I can do it now (and do), but I have to
> > save the file, exit pcb, and use a text editor :-(.
> 
> What kind of edit you cant do in pcb that you need an text editor?

This is very valid point.  There are all kinds of things which aren't
possible in PCB, and must be done using a text editor.  For example,
if I want to create a pad -- or a metal rectangle -- of a particular
width and length, there is no size entry box available from within
PCB.  Another example:  I can't place a hole of an arbitrary dimension
at an aribtrary x, y point from within PCB.  These are standard
features, however, on most PCB layout programs.  The new user expects
them.  I think they should be there.  I'm willing to implement them --
if I can figure out how to do it, of course. . . .

> > My idea is to have a "properties" dialog for each type of object.
> > For example the Via one would show the X & Y location, size, drill size,
> > and have a check box for flags like hole and thermal.  You could change
> > these to fine tune the drill size etc.

Perfect!   That's exactly what is needed.

> Well, control+r do it, but only to show. You need to use the tools s and al=
> t+s=20
> to change them...

No need to do away with the keyboard shortcuts -- they are also
valuable.  But the newbie generally needs to use menus when he is
learning the program.  As an aside, one of the common complaints about
PCB is that the learning curve is very steep.  Introducing menus which
work according to the way people expect these days would go a long way
towards answering that complaint.

Stuart