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

["Frank Dyck" <notmymail@xxxxxxxx>]

> "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.

IsnÂt that what the ManhattanRouter is?


> > possible to improve the display with say thicker lines, anti-aliasing,  
> > and
> > maybe even rounded corners, for example?
>
> We use what SWT gives us.

Check out this site:
http://www.holongate.org/holongate-2.0/gef/dev_docs.html
SCroll down to "Converting GEF applications"


> > 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.

Check out the example extension for MultiPageEditor.
In the IBM Webtools Examples.The XSD-Editor is a navigator style gef  
editor,
while the xml editor is tabbed. (as is the plugin maifest editor for  
example)