Default Initial Position of New Objects

[GMuys]

Hello,

When adding an object to a diagram, the object is positionned in the top left corner of the page. This is fine on small diagram where everything can be displayed within the working area. However, on large diagram where working with the zoom is required, this default positioning is really a pain: I need to scroll all the way back to the top left corner to pick my newly created object and move it back, scrolling again, to where it is supposed to appear.

Is there any way to change this behaviour so that a newly created object appears in the top left corner of the displayed area (instead of the top left corner of the entire page), taking into account my current scrolled position and zoom factor?

Thanks to let me know!

Gilles

[frank]

Instead of simply clicking on the object on the toolbar, drag it to where you want it to be.

(Personally I would eliminate the click functionality in favour of drag and drop - less confusing.)

Frank.

[GMuys]

Thanks Frank. I can't believe I did not even think about the drag-and-drop approach... Shame on me!  

I agree with you about abandonning the click feature as it is implemented today. Actually, I think its behavior should be dramatically changed: when clicking in the outlook bar to pick an object, we should get a special cursor mode with a shadowed or outlined object. Then by clicking anywhere in the work area, the object would be positionned automatically where we click, at the exact place where the shadow or outline is when we click.

This would satisfy users who do not like to drag-and-drop, but who want to position quickly their object at the right place. Those preferring drag-and-drop can still use that feature, so they would not be penalized...

Hope Geoffrey will modify EA with such a great feature...

Gilles

[James]

Gilles,

There's also one trick/irritation that Frank didn't mention and you may not have found yet - putting boundaries on a diagram.  Boundaries don't drag onto the diagram so when clicking the button you get one on the top left of the drawing which you rightly state is less than useful (and it also captures any element inside the boundary so that when you drag it to the right place it takes the element(s) with it).

There is the option to right-click in a blank part of the drawing and the menu includes "add element at cursor" - use this to place a boundary where you need it.

James

[MartinP]

The boundaries thing is annoying - but you can stop boundaries capturing diagram objects by bringing the boundary to the top (R-click on boundary and select Z-order then Bring To Top).  Drag the boundary to where you want it, then capture the objects underneath it again using Z-order->Bring to Bottom.

Martin.