Create Space in One Direction Only

[Jarrod_S.]

I very commonly use the Ctrl-Drag shortcut across empty block diagram space to create new space on the diagram. When I do this, it is almost ALWAYS intended to just create space in one dimension, horizontally or vertically. If you dare try to create space in both directions at once, this invariably disrupts the arrangement of the diagram. You end up with objects that were nicely aligned being a few pixels off, or worse.

To create space in one direction, I have to very carefully make sure when I Ctrl-Drag that I stay exactly in a straight line, making the process tedious and error-prone. I often have to undo the operation and start over because I'm one pixel off. (One pixel is a lot in LabVIEW!)

It would be very very beneficial to have a similar shortcut that only operates in one direction, or to be able to specify in Tools>>Options to modify the existing behavior, because the default is never what I want.

[hfettig]

I have the same problem all the time. It would be perfect if Ctrl-Shift-Drag would resize horizontally or vertically just like Ctrl-Shift-Drag for copying items. Unfortunately Ctrl-Shift on empty space already activates the Pan tool. Maybe that coud be moved to a different combination?

[Jarrod_S.]

That was my first thought too.

[gsussman]

I really can't ever recall a time when adding space in 2 dimensions at the same time was a good idea. If the current functionality of the Ctrl+Shift+Drag went away in lieu of a purely 1 dimensional space add I would be fine with it.

How about simply making the Ctrl+Shift+Drag on empty space add space only in the axis with the largest delta in mouse position since the drag started.

[PJM_Labview]

If you use grid on your BD (I know that almost nobody does) you can control this after a fashion.

The grid size become your minimum increment that will generate horizontal or vertical space.

Note: I do have "snap to grid" enabled too.

[parthabe]

Not to oppose this idea, but I ve never felt difficulty with this option, even when I want to expand the diagram space inside structures like For & While loops & Case.

What I do is hold the Ctl key & drag the mouse a bit carefully till I DONT see the dotted line, this means I m in the same line of axis (horizontal/vertical) as I want to, then leave then mouse & Ctl key. Ahah! It stretches neatly, giving/creating more space in that particular axis only.

Try it out, you folks will definitely feel easy.

Message Edited by parthabe on 11-25-2009 06:27 AM

[Jarrod_S.]

parthabe, this is what I do as well. However, I find it tedious and error prone. I often end up having to undo and redo it just to get it just right.

[St3ve]

Jarrod S, Likewise!

[SteveP]

Is there a corresponding remove block diagram space operation available to get rid of empty space as a result of say deleting items ?

[Jarrod_S.]

I know it's been a long requested feature that for some technical reasons seemed unsound. But LabVIEW definitely needs something that allows you to collapse the space down to a reasonable size.

Block Diagram cleanup can kind of handle this situation, but personally I am not a fan of the diagram structures this tool creates. But perhaps a simple right-click option on a structure to shrink to fit contents would suffice in most cases, especially if it recursively handled any sub-structures as well? I think a QuickDrop plugin or a JKF Right-Click Framework plugin would be a nice, easy tool that could handle this situation effectively.

[RandyP]

@PJM_Labview:

Until recently, I had never realized how easy it is to toggle "snap to grid"! Just Ctrl-Shift-3 (Ctrl-#). It makes me much more willing to use a grid on my BD.