[Bf-funboard] Re: Layer Manager Redux

[Thorsten Wilms]

On Thu, Nov 27, 2003 at 08:37:30PM -0500, Karim Nassar wrote:
> 
> ...
> So, first thing I did was try to come up with a set of indicators for 
> the different states of Layers that can be clearly distinguished on the 
> tiny (8x8!) shortcut buttons, and that can be stacked without 
> sacrificing their clarity. The states I thought to indicate are:
> 
> Visible
> Locked
> Contains Data
> Active Layer
> No Render
> Contains Sub-layers

I think the last one is too much, and not needed.
And I find the whole idea of sub-layers troublesome.

It might be better to abstract away from layers a little bit.
Having groups, that can contain objects or other groups. Everything 
in such a hierarchy could be optionaly tied to a layer button/shortcut.

I already mentioned the possibility to have checkboxes, with the first 
20 checked objects (layers) associated with the buttons.
Another possibility would be to have 20 gizmos that can be dragged around 
inside their table column. 


> ... 
> Likewise, I thought it would be useful to designate a mouse control to 
> each toggle, so that states can be toggled interactively on the shortcut 
> buttons.
> ...

Such MB and modifier key combos are hard to learn and totaly unobvious.
How about using LMB like now and have everything else in a RMB context 
menu?


> Now... Having done this, I started to develop some ideas for the Layer 
> Manager. I thought that a good place for the Manager would be on the "M" 
> hotkey, replacing the "Move to Layer" control. Of course, that control 
> would be subsumed into the Layer Manager.

Current "Move to Layer" is simple and fast. Can't reach that with an 
integrated approach.
A RMB context menu for the buttons could also include a "move (selected 
objects) to this layer" command.

 
> http://www.karimnassar.com/phoenix/images/layer_manager.jpg
> 
> ...
>
> Each layer entity has the following attributes, from left-to-right:
> 
> * Expand Sub-Layers Arrow
> * Handle (grey box) to allow dragging of layers to change order
> * Layer Number & Name Box (text field)
> * Detail Button (arrow) expands Layer details
> * Content Indicator & Move to button: Click a button to move selected 
> objects to new layer. Selected object indicated by the Pink triangle.

If I understand the last one right, it's the basicaly the same control 
as in the button array, but with different functionality. That would be 
very bad!
Instead of cramming all options into one button like in the array, every 
option could have it's own space here!
 

> In the Layer Detail Window (one for each layer) We have the following 
> controls, again from L-R:
> 
> * Keyboard Shortcut control: Determines what action the keyboard 
> shortcut for that layer will toggle.

Please think of an actual usage scenario. I think this is not of 
much use, but might be very confusing.


What I realy like about your new stuff:
The concept of stacked indicators for the buttons.
Draggable layers to change order.


---
Thorsten