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Report From: Delphi-BCB/IDE/Menu Designer [ Add a report in this area ]

Report #: 30821

Status: Open

Collection Editor is cumbersome to use in new docked IDE

Project: Delphi

Build #: 10.0.2288.42451

Version: 10.0

Submitted By: Ray Konopka

Report Type: Minor failure / Design problem

Date Reported: 6/30/2006 1:46:17 PM

Severity: Commonly encountered problem

Last Updated: 3/20/2012 2:24:39 AM

Platform: All platforms

Internal Tracking #: 241935

Resolution: None (Resolution Comments)

Resolved in Build: : None

Duplicate of: None

Voting and Rating

Overall Rating: (2 Total Ratings)

4.50 out of 5

Total Votes: None

Description

The collection editor (including the Action List Editor) is very cumbersome to use in the docked style IDE. The editor dialog cannot be docked and is a stay-on-top window, which means that is covers other parts of the IDE that you are currently working with. Working on multiple collections only emphasizes the problem. A better approach would be to enhance the collection editor so that it can be docked as a tool window and allow the user to switch between different collections (action lists).

Steps to Reproduce:

None

Workarounds

None

Attachment

None

Comments

Leo Siefert at 7/13/2006 9:02:52 AM -

This looks like it should be an enhancement request.

Suggestion - undock the IDE, then size the panes to fill the screen - IMO, it works much better this way.

Ray Konopka at 9/4/2006 11:44:39 PM -

This is not an enhancement request. I am running with the docked IDE, which is the default layout for the IDE as well. The way the collection editor is currently designed is not consistent with the docked metaphor.

As for your suggestion, I happen to prefer the docked style as it provides much better managment of the various tool windows than the undocked layout. That is, all except for the collection editor. Suggesting me to change the layout that I am using is unacceptable, and frankly, I find this response to be lacking in respect for the customer and inappropriate.

Leo Siefert at 9/5/2006 6:46:55 AM -

Ray Konopka said - "Suggesting me to change the layout that I am using is unacceptable, and frankly, I find this response to be lacking in respect for the customer and inappropriate."

The reason I suggested that you try a different layout is that you seem to find the one you are using unacceptible.  Not sure why you find such a suggestion inappropriate - I was just sharing my own experience with BDS.

BTW - I am just a Borland customer too.

After looking at the report again, I have some questions about how you think this could work.

Would the collection editor remain docked as part of the screen layout at all times - even while editing code for example? Or would you prefer that you have to dock it every time you open one?  Would you allow only one or multiple collection editors to be docked?  One of each type or one spot for any collection editor?

As your report is currently formatted, it does appear to be an enhancement request.  If you prefer that it be opened as a bug report, then you should provide a set of steps showing a failure of the current configuration - something like opening the editor and having it disappear inappropriately or having it block other work in the ide. The steps page of this report is currently blank.

Ray Konopka at 2/15/2007 8:46:29 AM -

The collection editor would operate like the object inspector or structure pane. A single tool window could be used to edit the active collection. Of course, this would mean that the editor itself would need a selector control on the top to allow switching to different collections.

As for type for this issue, yes, I could see it as an enhancement request, but I really do think it is a design issue given the way the rest of the IDE has been re-designed. The collection editor was essentially skipped in the re-design.

Leo Siefert at 2/15/2007 9:21:31 AM -

Well, I hate some things about the way various collection editors work, but I don't necessarily see docking them as the answer (I work with an undocked desktop on two monitors). One thing I really hate is that they seem to go away spontaneously and revert to default size and shape when I reopen them

At any rate, this report is now open.

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