Case Structure Controls

[THX108]

Add controls for the most commonly used case structure functions (example is add case, delete case, duplicate case). The controls would be an option under "Visible Items" when right clicking on a case structure.

This would especially be useful when editing/deleting states in a new state machine that has been copied from another VI.

[THX108]

I did get the idea from this post and took it one step further.

[JackDunaway]

1. Interesting idea, I want to think about this one. I can say this for sure right now: I want these controls to ONLY be in one place - either the Context Menu or as a "button strip". 

2. Maybe the button strip could be collapseable? 

3. Of course, would also apply to Event Structure.

4. Currently, deleting a case is a deliberate two-click procedure. There would need to be a way to make this process more difficult to accidentally do, like collapseable #2?

Message Edited by JackDunaway on 03-26-2010 01:31 PM

[THX108]

I like the collapsible idea. I didn't make it clear above, but I was actually thinking the buttons wouldn't be visible by default and one would have to try to turn them on by going to the "Visible Items" sub menu.

[JackDunaway]

Oh, you did make it clear, I did not read carefully enough the first time. Well, I would not want to toggle "permanent" visibility via the RC context menu - it would have to be a "quick show" button menu (for instance, the zoom tools on a Graph Palette) that gave a quick selection of all the buttons and disappeared once one was selected. If the button strip was permanently on, you run the risk of one stray click waxing or duplicating a case.

That being said, a quick-show button strip is virtually just like the RC context menu on the case structure with glyphs. The idea of having these "quick controls" for the oft-used case structure methods (add case, delete case, rearrange cases) is enticing, but right now I can't see a clear benefit of the quick button over the RC quick menu.

Good Idea, still, it's gotten me to thinking...

[Dragis]

i like the small adornments in the top-right of the case structure, i think they would be very handy since i do those operations quite frequently with case structures. i actually wouldn't want any additional 'clicks' for duplicating or deleting a case because ctrl-z will fix me up if i accidentally hit it (which i think won't happen very since i don't click the top-right portion of a case structure very often anyway).

[muks]

Nice idea. One suggestion. Wouldnt it be even better if the control is place in the outer frame instead of inside the case structure?

[GregSands]

My suggestion would be for them to appear/fade in when the mouse is over the frame, but not otherwise.

[Scott.Menjoulet]

I'm guessing you're not aware that you can quickly add/duplicate cases with a key combination (sorry, can't help with delete)

If you are editing the case name in the case selector with the text tool:

• Shift-Enter will give you a new blank case.
• Ctrl-Shift-Enter will give you a duplicate of the case you were on.

The new case becomes the active displayed case with the text tool still active in the case selector. Type a new name and hit the key combo again.  This allows you to quickly stub out new cases without ever leaving the keyboard.  Much faster than switching to the mouse and clicking or right-clicking then switching back to the keyboard to type.