Re: [9fans] Acme column layout box and buttons

[Balwinder S Dheeman <bdheeman@gmail.com>]

On 04/27/2009 06:23 PM, yy wrote:
> 2009/4/27 Balwinder S Dheeman <bsd.SANSPAM@cto.homelinux.net>:
>> That's a lot of good actions attached to all the three buttons for
>> handling vertical layouts. How about adding similar actions to all the
>> three buttons for managing horizontal layouts to a column /layout box/.
>>
>
> I had a patched version of acme to do this. It is not such a trivial
> thing as it looks like, but it is not difficult. However, it doesn't
> work so good in practice as in theory. I found disturbing that after
> pressing the right button the column was moved to the first place, and
> doing it without moving the column was a mess because of the mouse
> events (at the end I think I just moved the column to the first place
> and then back to its previous position). Other problem I had was that
> I didn't have very clear what to do with the middle button (taking the
> maximum space and having small columns is not a practical thing). On
> the other hands, growing columns with the left button is an easier
> thing (once you decide all your heuristics).

That's what I wished. Perhaps, it the heuristics which seems to harder
and taken care of. Let us wait for a few more responses and, or ideas.

> Anyway, it was my first look into acme code and there probably are
> better ways to do it.
> What did you have in mind?

While editing code and, or other documents, I think, one mostly need to
concentrate more on content or the column containing body of the code or
text, hence maximizing a column with a single click seems in-line with
the philosophy behind Acme. Whereas, Acme with the help of appropriate
heuristics can open new window for related +Errors etcetera when needed
in bottom half or quarter of the same column.

Same is true for columns containing directory listings where one is
looking for a file or directory. IMHO, better open the file in a new or
other hidden column and un-hide it on a right click on file. Whereas,
the the directories can be opened in bottom half of the same column.

I think and hope that this or similar kinds of actions attached to all
the three buttons for columns or horizontal layout management will
improve the productivity of Acme users.

--
Balwinder S "bdheeman" Dheeman        Registered Linux User: #229709
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