mailing-list for TeXmacs Users

[Alvaro Tejero Cantero <address@hidden>]

> A simple and doable solution would be to add a message showing what each
> button function in the status line. For example:
> 
> l: move | m: copy | r: delete

maybe an extra line in the minibuffer when graphics are activated, if
there is no place.  Or might be just change the icons in the icon bar to
bear the l, m, r superimposed.

Another solution (partially used by Inkscape) is to display the
functionality of a button/key whenever it is pressed). Less screen-space
consumption, but allows to discover the interface by experimentation.

> This is the solution used by Jfig:
> http://tech-www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/applets/jfig/images/screen-editor-annotated.png

XFig is amongst the worst interfaces I've ever seen. Most people excuse
it by saying that is rather old, or limited by the toolkit, or that it
works as it works for historic reasons. Why not doing the standard and
efficient thing, Inkscape for example:

have succesive clicks over an object trigger the different modes


   scaling & moving: use handlers, aspect ratio preservation via the use of   
  
            control, scaling wrt the gravity center with shift. The
            center of gravity is user settable by dragging the small 
            crosshair in the middle. Move just by clicking an anonymous point 
            of the object.

   the turning/shearing mode: control again for discrete rotation steps, etc.


There is no need to invent anything new here: the inkscape interface
(with a long history) is proven and efficient.


-- 
Alvaro.Tejero[at]physik.lmu.de
Theoretical Quantum Optics
Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics
phone:  +49 (0)89 2180 - 4557
fax:    +49 (0)89 2180 - 4517