Multi-line attribs. Re: gEDA: New dialog for editing attributes

[sdb-at-NOSPAMcloud9_dot_net (Stuart Brorson)]

Hi Guys --

> >Actually I was not aware that multi-line attributes were allowed. I do
> >not see the point in making it possible to have an attribute value
> >on more than a single line.
> 
> 	I would agree with you 100% however, I have seen people create and
> use multi-line attributes, so they are permitted.

I am probably the guilty one here.  I believe that I agitated for
multi-line attribs a couple of revs ago. 

Multi-line attribs are useful in SPICE.  In spice-sdb, one way you can
enter a .model is via a .model symbol (or maybe a SPICE
directive. . . . I forget now); the SPICE model itself is
entered as the attribute.  Vendor models for transistors commonly span
many lines; a "+" symbol in the first position of each line signifies
a continuation.  Here's an example:

.model 2n3904 NPN (Is=6.734f Xti=3 Eg=1.11 Vaf=74.03 Bf=416.4 
+ Ne=1.259 Ise=6.734 Ikf=66.78m Xtb=1.5 Br=.7371 Nc=2
+ Isc=0 Ikr=0 Rc=1 Cjc=3.638p Mjc=.3085 Vjc=.75 Fc=.5 Cje=4.493p
+ Mje=.2593 Vje=.75 Tr=239.5n Tf=301.2p Itf=.4 
+ Vtf=4 Xtf=2 Rb=10)

All the stuff after .model is the attrib.

Therefore, please leave support for mulit-line attribs in gEDA.

> >
> >The question is: are they legitimate, documented, desired, or should
> >we add some checks to avoid them?
> 
> 	I don't think we should do anything to disallow them.  If a user
> wants to edit a multi-line attribute (something that is slightly more
> unusual), then they should just edit them via Edit/Text...

I think that's what we do now, right?

> > > 	Patrick, if it is easy to implement the "edit multi-line attributes"
> > > in your new dialg box, then by all means, but if it is too much pain, then
> > > it can wait till a future release.
> >
> >Right now I do not see a way of editing them from the attribute list
> >but I will have a look at that.
> 
> 	Okay.  Fine with me.  Thanks.

Thanks,

Stuart