Property Dialog or Property Grid

[scruffyduck]

So far ADE has used a property dialog - similar to programs such as AFCAD, AFX and SBuilder. The new version will, however, have a Property Grid.

There are some advantages to using the grid. For example it does not get in the way of the display and changes made to the properties are reflected immediately in the display.
It is also faster to use since there is not need to tell ADE to edit the object first.


On the other hand it there is much less opportunity to create a nice layout since it is essentially a list. It is also not so easy to include things like images.

It can be hidden when not in use but when open it does take up some real estate.

ADE uses a property grid in Approach Design Mode now.

The next version of ADE will have both although some of the newer elements may only be modifiable via the property grid. However it seems likely over time that the property dialog will be phased out.

So the question is whether or not you would like to see the property dialog stay in future versions. The image below shows the dialog (on the left) and grid (on the right) for the same object:

[chris]

Drawing Layer

[tgibson]

While it will take some getting used to, I don't mind the grid in Approach Mode so I'm sure I'll get used to this. Phase it out.

Hope this helps,

[glottis]

I agree with Tom,
like all changes they take awhile to get used to.......

Jon,
does the grid have to be on the right/left side or can we have the option
to have it anywhere like top or bottom somehow?

[scruffyduck]

Originally Posted by chris

Drawing Layer

Yes - well you are looking at the next major release for ADE and that includes the ability for users to define the order in which objects are drawn in the ADE display (Drawing Layer)

[scruffyduck]

Originally Posted by tgibson

While it will take some getting used to, I don't mind the grid in Approach Mode so I'm sure I'll get used to this. Phase it out.

Hope this helps,

Thanks Tom

[scruffyduck]

Originally Posted by glottis

I agree with Tom,
like all changes they take awhile to get used to.......

Jon,
does the grid have to be on the right/left side or can we have the option
to have it anywhere like top or bottom somehow?

Ray

You can move it to the top, bottom, left side or right side. And if you really want to you can make it float just like the current Property Dialog

[n4gix]

Originally Posted by scruffyduck

Ray

You can move it to the top, bottom, left side or right side. And if you really want to you can make it float just like the current Property Dialog

Hopefully, it can be moved to a 2nd monitor...

[scruffyduck]

Originally Posted by n4gix

Hopefully, it can be moved to a 2nd monitor...

I would expect so Bill

[mdm248111]

I personally find the dialog box much more simple and quite frankly (IMHO) easier on the eyes, but that's my opinion. Whatever the majority decides is fine with me but that is my personal preference.

[DanM]

I like the Property Grid. I'm wondering, though, if it might be easier on the eyes if the background for the property names column on the Property Grid were light grey as it is on the property dialog?

Dan Mesmer

[scruffyduck]

Originally Posted by DanM

I like the Property Grid. I'm wondering, though, if it might be easier on the eyes if the background for the property names column on the Property Grid were light grey as it is on the property dialog?

Dan Mesmer

That can probably be arranged - I will need to check

[odog1999]

I don't mind the property grids in approach mode, but if the switch is made I would like to see the tab order corrected.

I were at, say, the Test Radius field, hitting tab would move the cursor to the Traffic Scalar text entry field instead of shifting focus outside of the property grid as the current version does.

[Helli]

Originally Posted by scruffyduck

The next version of ADE will have both although some of the newer elements may only be modifiable via the property grid.

Oh no Jon, please don't do that.
As it is now, the property windows and the explanation of their content constitutes a major part of the manual. Adding alone the pictures of all the grids would boost the page number tremendously.
Probabely we would have to find a new method to present all this in an as short as possible way.

I like both presentations, as a user coming from GMax the grid is more familiar to me.

Helli

[Pyscen]

Originally Posted by Helli

Oh no Jon, please don't do that.
As it is now, the property windows and the explanation of their content constitutes a major part of the manual. Adding alone the pictures of all the grids would boost the page number tremendously.
Probabely we would have to find a new method to present all this in an as short as possible way.

I like both presentations, as a user coming from GMax the grid is more familiar to me.

Helli

Helli

One way to Help in the writing of the manual in this case, Have reference number or better yet... appendixes just of the menus etc,... I know it can be drag to have the reader flip back and forth but,... that's part of the learning curve. So only using a picture of the menus once. Good answer?

[Helli]

Originally Posted by Pyscen

Good answer?

Yes, Doug.
Jon's hints go a little bit in the same direction. This would mean a major reshuffle of the manual , but so will the new version as it seems.

thanks for your input

Helli

[danfoster]

Originally Posted by Pyscen

Helli

One way to Help in the writing of the manual in this case, Have reference number or better yet... appendixes just of the menus etc,... I know it can be drag to have the reader flip back and forth but,... that's part of the learning curve. So only using a picture of the menus once. Good answer?

If the document can contain "hyper-links" to the relevant picture, I don't see that as a drag...

[Helli]

Originally Posted by danfoster

If the document can contain "hyper-links" to the relevant picture, I don't see that as a drag...

The German Manual has those hyper links all over the place. They work fine.
Bob did not use them in the English Manual and I was too lazy to introduce them there.
But the new Manual will have them..cross my heart

Helli

[scruffyduck]

Well we have decided to 'bite the bullet' and remove the property dialog. To be honest the overhead in coordinating the code between the grid and the dialog is worse than I expected and having to create the dialog pages for the new object types that we are adding is overloading the dialog itself. Plus Helli's very real concerns about the manual with two different method of edit existing side by side.

The grid provides for real time feedback of property changes (providing the user has a ProKey) and that is something that cannot be done with the dialog.

Having said that it is possible that the dialog may be re-surrected in a new guise at a later date.

Apologies to those of you who voted for the dialog but I hope that the advantages of the grid will make up for the loss of the dialog

[mdm248111]

Originally Posted by scruffyduck

The grid provides for real time feedback of property changes (providing the user has a ProKey) and that is something that cannot be done with the

Just curious...how much will the Prokey cost?