Setting large numbers of parameters in a Dialog box?

[Alan Hewat]

I have a Tool button that when left-clicked executes an "action" and
when right-clicked brings up a dialog to set parameters for that
action. The problem is that I have so many parameters that the box
becomes larger than the screen :-) since apparently I need a new line
for each parameter ? (or is there a way to add several strings and
checkboxes on one line?)

Since some of the parameters will change frequently and some only
rarely, I thought to list only the frequent parameters in my dialog
but have some means (a button?) to bring up if required a second
dialog to change the rare parameters.

I don't want dialog boxes popping up whenever the user left-clicks the
action tool, and I don't really want to create a second tool button to
set the various parameters. Yes, I could test if the parameters had
been set when the action is performed, and if not, popup different
dialogs, but then how would I allow the user to reset parameters once
they were set (without popping up dialogs every time?)

To summarise, how do I construct dialogs to allow resetting many
parameters, but only when required, and in an unobtrusive way ?

Alan.
______________________________________________
Dr Alan Hewat, NeutronOptics, Grenoble, FRANCE
<[hidden email]> +33.476.98.41.68
        http://www.NeutronOptics.com/hewat
______________________________________________

[Gabriel Landini]

On Friday 26 Mar 2010  17:04:27 you wrote:

> I have a Tool button that when left-clicked executes an "action" and
> when right-clicked brings up a dialog to set parameters for that
> action. The problem is that I have so many parameters that the box
> becomes larger than the screen :-) since apparently I need a new line
> for each parameter ? (or is there a way to add several strings and
> checkboxes on one line?)
>
> Since some of the parameters will change frequently and some only
> rarely, I thought to list only the frequent parameters in my dialog
> but have some means (a button?) to bring up if required a second
> dialog to change the rare parameters.
>
> I don't want dialog boxes popping up whenever the user left-clicks the
> action tool, and I don't really want to create a second tool button to
> set the various parameters. Yes, I could test if the parameters had
> been set when the action is performed, and if not, popup different
> dialogs, but then how would I allow the user to reset parameters once
> they were set (without popping up dialogs every time?)
>
> To summarise, how do I construct dialogs to allow resetting many
> parameters, but only when required, and in an unobtrusive way ?
>

it might probably be useful to have a look at Jerome's "Action Bar". You can
add as many buttons as you want that trigger other macros or plugins.
http://imagejdocu.tudor.lu/doku.php?id=plugin:utilities:action_bar:start

Cheers,

G.

[Michael Schmid]

Hi Alan,

if you want to stay within the macro language (no plugin), you could use
the isKeyDown function in the options macro.
Right-click without a key pressed could give a dialog with the main
parameters, maybe with an extra message 'Shift-Right-Click the ... Tool
for more options".

Michael
_____________________________________________________________________

On Fri, March 26, 2010 17:17, Alan Hewat wrote:

> I have a Tool button that when left-clicked executes an "action" and
> when right-clicked brings up a dialog to set parameters for that
> action. The problem is that I have so many parameters that the box
> becomes larger than the screen :-) since apparently I need a new line
> for each parameter ? (or is there a way to add several strings and
> checkboxes on one line?)
>
> Since some of the parameters will change frequently and some only
> rarely, I thought to list only the frequent parameters in my dialog
> but have some means (a button?) to bring up if required a second
> dialog to change the rare parameters.
>
> I don't want dialog boxes popping up whenever the user left-clicks the
> action tool, and I don't really want to create a second tool button to
> set the various parameters. Yes, I could test if the parameters had
> been set when the action is performed, and if not, popup different
> dialogs, but then how would I allow the user to reset parameters once
> they were set (without popping up dialogs every time?)
>
> To summarise, how do I construct dialogs to allow resetting many
> parameters, but only when required, and in an unobtrusive way ?
>
> Alan.
> ______________________________________________
> Dr Alan Hewat, NeutronOptics, Grenoble, FRANCE
> <[hidden email]> +33.476.98.41.68
>         http://www.NeutronOptics.com/hewat
> ______________________________________________
>

[Alan Hewat]

That's it ! Many thanks Michael. The isKeyDown function gives me a
simple way to bring up different dialog windows, and with the
suggested hint in the main dialog is user friendly. Gabriel's
suggestion of Jerome's "Action Bar" is also interesting for more
complex situations. Thanks again to both of you.

Alan.

On 26 March 2010 21:05, Michael Schmid <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi Alan,
>
> if you want to stay within the macro language (no plugin), you could use
> the isKeyDown function in the options macro.
> Right-click without a key pressed could give a dialog with the main
> parameters, maybe with an extra message 'Shift-Right-Click the ... Tool
> for more options".
>
> Michael
> _____________________________________________________________________
>
> On Fri, March 26, 2010 17:17, Alan Hewat wrote:
>> I have a Tool button that when left-clicked executes an "action" and
>> when right-clicked brings up a dialog to set parameters for that
>> action. The problem is that I have so many parameters that the box
>> becomes larger than the screen :-) since apparently I need a new line
>> for each parameter ? (or is there a way to add several strings and
>> checkboxes on one line?)
>>
>> Since some of the parameters will change frequently and some only
>> rarely, I thought to list only the frequent parameters in my dialog
>> but have some means (a button?) to bring up if required a second
>> dialog to change the rare parameters.
>>
>> I don't want dialog boxes popping up whenever the user left-clicks the
>> action tool, and I don't really want to create a second tool button to
>> set the various parameters. Yes, I could test if the parameters had
>> been set when the action is performed, and if not, popup different
>> dialogs, but then how would I allow the user to reset parameters once
>> they were set (without popping up dialogs every time?)
>>
>> To summarise, how do I construct dialogs to allow resetting many
>> parameters, but only when required, and in an unobtrusive way ?
>>
>> Alan.
>> ______________________________________________
>> Dr Alan Hewat, NeutronOptics, Grenoble, FRANCE
>> <[hidden email]> +33.476.98.41.68
>>         http://www.NeutronOptics.com/hewat
>> ______________________________________________
>>
>

--
______________________________________________
Dr Alan Hewat, NeutronOptics, Grenoble, FRANCE
<[hidden email]> +33.476.98.41.68
        http://www.NeutronOptics.com/hewat
______________________________________________