Re: gEDA: user interface issues

[sdb-at-NOSPAMcloud9_dot_net (Stuart Brorson)]

Aaron --

> - Don't use the middle button for hardly anything. Number of reasons 
> here, one of which is linux typically uses this to paste from the 
> clipboard/kill ring, which would be acceptable. Also, if the application 
> was to be run under windows using Cygwin, or whatever, it wouldn't be 
> usable.

Some of these are newbie issues.  You don't need to ever use the
middle mouse button.  See below.

> - Menu options that have command shortcuts should use the form 
> Ctrl+<key> instead of a one-two letter combination.

The two letter combo works great once you get used to it.  This is a
newbie issue -- I felt the same way when I first tried out the
program.  Later I decided that the two letter combo works great.

> - Create standard operating cut/copy/paste (would probably eliminate the 
> buffer menu and the 'copy mode' type usage).

There are architectural reasons for this.

> - Though not critical, I did notice it happening frequently: I would 
> move or resize a component or net, and I'd have to manually go to 
> View/Redraw to redraw a missing line or something. This option should 
> not need to exist at all.

Hmmm, this shouldn't happen.  What version of the program are you using?

> - I found the fairly simple act of moving components and nets difficult. 
> This was primarily due to having to use the middle button. These types 
> of operations should be seamless to anyone that has used a drawing 
> program before.

To move a net or component easily, do:

1.  Select the object my left clicking on it.
2.  Hit the "m" key.  Then the object will follow the cursor as you
move the mouse.   
3.  When you wish to place the component in motion, hit the left mouse
button. 

> - If menu options indicate some current state (like, Options/Net Rubber 
> Band), they should change depending on the state, for example, if the 
> option is on, add a check mark next to the option.
> 
> These are a few of the primary things I noticed that I think can easily 
> turn people away from this program, and if fixed, will have a great 
> value. Depending on how my search for other EDA tools goes, I may 
> download the source and start fixing some of these myself.

We welcome developers, and have discussed these user interface issues
off and on over the years.  If you wish to make changes, please feel
free to hack and submit patches.  Personally, I wouldn't mind it if
you could just select a component with the left mouse button, and then
drag it like in most Windoze programs.  This change wouldn't be hard
to implement.  Want to give it a try?  I wouldn't want to remove the
"select, type m, then move" action, but an additional action using the
left mouse button wouldn't hurt.

Stuart