kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Dick Hollenbeck <dick@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 03/07/2011 02:56 PM, Wayne Stambaugh wrote:
> I ran into some unexpected behavior of the PCBNew auxiliary toolbar while
> converting the control update handling over to wxUpdateUIEvent.  When selecting
> a trace or via, the net class edit box (which is read only), clearance edit box
> (also read only), trace width choice box, and via size choice box values where
> changed to the selected object's net class value.  This is a departure from
> normal object information display which is to display all of the object
> information in the message panel at the bottom of the screen.  Since I broke
> the old behavior, I want some input before I make any more changes.
>
> I propose removing the net class name and clearance read only edit boxes


Intuitively, "read only edit boxes" gives a hint of an oxymoronic problem
doesn't it?


One could wish that

1) toolbars offer choices, and
2) a message panel shows things, including choices made.


One is a chooser, the other an indicator.

But in the real world however, there are situations where you have to give
indication and control/manipulation, both, from the same metaphor.

So I don't have a strong opinion, on this, until I get back into using the
software again, at which point my opinion might get stronger.

It is unfortunate that "ease of programming" is having such a large role in
this decision, rather than ease of use.   Ideally ease of use rules, in any
case, and ease of programming happens because the code is designed to
facilitate ease of use.


>  and
> display all of the net class information when a trace or via has a net class in
> the message panel.  This behavior is consistent with selecting all other
> objects in PCBNew and prevents the current selected track and via size from
> being changed when the user (at least this user) doesn't expect them to be
> changed.  I have already discussed this with JP and if no one else objects, I
> will make it so.
>
> That being said, what I really would like to see happen is to make the net
> class control a choice box with a list of all the defined net classes so that
> drawing a net without a assigned net class will be assigned and drawn with the
> currently selected net class.  That seems like something that would be useful
> instead of having to open the DRC dialog whenever I need to set the net class
> for net.  I am not volunteering to do this.  But it's one of those improvements
> that I think would be a time saver.


It should be easy to use, is what you are saying.    Do we ask the user to
specific the netclass for each net up front?  If so, then why is there any
choice to be made this late in the game?

If that decision was deferred, is it really enough to give a netclass name
drop down combobox, without also showing what it means?


Others have pointed out that eventually the netclass editor should be moved
into EESCHEMA, so that the layout person's job becomes more mindless.

I am always arguing for features which will bring in a corporate user  (the
hobbyists are not my intended audience anymore, no offense). 

Yes, we all get to chose where and how we would spend our time.  If
hobbyists benefit, that is only accidental from my point of view, and I am
serious about this.

In the corporate world, the engineer does the schematic, and probably
assigns the netclasses up front.  So less support for late binding of
netclasses is needed in my opinion to make this audience happy.


Dick





> Wayne
>
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