[news.eclipse.tools.gef] Re: GEF right for block editor?

["Randy Hudson" <none@xxxxxxxxxx>]

"Scott Thibault" <sathibault@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:cofl1v$dud$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Hello,
>
> I need a block editor, and I'm wondering if GEF is the right way to go.
>
> Looking at the examples, I notice that the routing is not that good (or
> non-existant) and the display is not that nice.  These may be problems
> with the exmamples though, and not GEF.  So, 1) Does GEF providing any
> auto-routing (and specfically 90 degree only routing).  2) Is it easily

See ShortestPathRouter. It is NOT orthogonal.

> possible to improve the display with say thicker lines, anti-aliasing, and
> maybe even rounded corners, for example?

We use what SWT gives us.

> The second problem I'm seeing is the eclipse platform itself seems to
> support only one window per file.  When working on a hierarchy of block
> diagrams, one needs to be able to double-click on a block to open up its
> sub-block in a second window and be able to alternate between the two
> editing both the top block and sub-block.  Is this possible?  The only
> solution I see is to used a tabbed widget in a single window, but I think
> this would be really non-standard for a hierarchical block editor and not
> well liked by the user.

You can do tabs or browser-style navigation.

>
> Also, please let me know if there are any other frameworks that maybe I
> should be considering as alternatives.
>
> Thanks,
> --Scott Thibault
>
>