I see following "problems" with current Map editor: 1. Map editor is not WYSIWYG and for real map preview export is needed. It could be very annoying especially for new users. Questions for therion authors: Is it doable (with some "preffered symbol set" settings in Xtherion) to display real symbols in map editor? Then there will remain some fighting with clip -on/off etc. but for that export is needed. 2. UI for entity options is not very user friendly. Some traditional "Properties" dialog box with allowed options after right click on entity is right solution. Yes, splitting into scraps needs some thinking but personally I don't see this as big problem. What can be improved is joining (problems with passage fills). So still no reason for completelly new UI. PS: I am only occasional programmer so I don't think I am able to really help with mentioned things. Just my thoughts. Otherwise I am happy therion user :-) L. On Sun, Jun 29, 2008 at 10:32 AM, Andrew Atkinson <andrew@wotcc.org.uk> wrote:
I am not sure it is the entering of data that people find hard, (although they do, but it can be set up by someone else, so all they have to do is enter the figures.)
It is the drawing that is the problem, not to mention the real difficulties of linking scraps, but again others can do that. The input of the drawing, and splitting into scraps is the real donkey work that I would like to be able to let the people that did the survey input. Nothing like the direct feedback of doing it yourself to teach people what they need to do. Unfortunately it is the UI that turns most people on or off from using a program, the background validity, power of advanced features, never really bother them, which is a shame. For example quiet often people are put off survex, as there is not a simple start so they use compass, loosing all the original data, sigh, then realise they need more power so move to survex (sorry I'll stop this rant, just a happened in a project I am involved in, and I get all the extra work to do) Another example is a cave on Mendips has just been resurveyed in detail (for archaeological reasons) but the person looked at therion but decided that it was easier to buy and learn illustrator than work out Therion...... Then I found a blunder in one of the legs, Therion would have dealt with most of this, but no he is now redrawing it, maybe he is a lost case, but there are many others doing similar things, ie the whole of the HMG china survey, wit the exception of the bit Julian Todd has done in Tunnel. As I said I believe that the UI is key, but good background work is essential.
Andrew
Ladislav Blažek wrote:
On Sat, Jun 28, 2008 at 7:16 PM, Martin Sluka <martinsluka@mac.com> wrote:
On 28.6.2008, at 10:09, Andrew Atkinson wrote:
possibly the front end can be made more friendly for users that cannot think in a representational manner? The th2 format is plain text - quite easy readable. There is no any reason to make another map editor or interpreter.
The only problem is to find somebody who does it.
The biggest problem is how to simplify UI and keep current flexibility. Traditional approach used in other cave surveying software - using tables for entering data is maybe more user friendly but also pretty constraining. And it can have impact on whole workflow because then you will probably not be able to use more survey methods in one survey etc. So new UI is huge task in comparison to learning therion basics - IMHO new UI is waste of time.
Lada
Martin _______________________________________________ Therion mailing list Therion@speleo.sk http://www.speleo.sk/mailman/listinfo/therion
_______________________________________________ Therion mailing list Therion@speleo.sk http://www.speleo.sk/mailman/listinfo/therion
_______________________________________________ Therion mailing list Therion@speleo.sk http://www.speleo.sk/mailman/listinfo/therion