v15.2 – Layout tools, allow sorting by Alias

[Paolo F Cantoni]

The Layout tools are very useful, but they would be more useful if they could also sort on the Alias field.  Unfortunately, unlike many other (but not all) parts of EA, they don't respond to [X] Use Alias if available setting on the diagram.

Can this be added, please?

Reported,
Paolo

[MichaelJ]

Good suggestion.

Not suprised about this obvious disconnect between "what's paying customers think the product can/should do" and "what it actually does". Assumption is that introduction of new features (whenever this little check box was birthed from idea to incarnation) would perform impact assessments to ensure the feature works across the product -- and that paying customers are not left wasting time to request system coherence.
Thanks for reporting. Hopefuly the development manager (if they even have such a role at Sparx) agrees with the value of this request.

[qwerty]

I'm pretty sure it's the marketing driving the development :-/

q.

[MichaelJ]

I'm pretty sure it's the marketing driving the development :-/

Ha ha ha! You words are true in this. I don't know how you know these hidden matters, but you just... do.

[qwerty]

I've not seen anything, but a lot. So I can choose from my experience what seems to fit most. Sometimes that makes me despaired. But anytime I find a laugh or two which makes me go on. Also it's nice to see some brothers in arms :-)

q.

[skiwi]

"what's paying customers think the product can/should do"

Actually, back in the mists of thread history you'll find reference to the fact that its the trainers/vendors/distributors that have influence, less so for users/paying customers/forum users

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Thinking further - dangerous, I know!

We are making increasing use of the "Label" shape in our Shapescript.  If the tools are to be modified, can we also have sort by "Label"?

We use "label" to allow us to render diagram specific names for items.

Paolo

[Eve]

You can achieve the same effect by changing the diagram z-order of the elements and then using a layout without sorting. That way you can use any sort you care to imagine.

[Paolo F Cantoni]

You can achieve the same effect by changing the diagram z-order of the elements and then using a layout without sorting. That way you can use any sort you care to imagine.

Try that with 300 elements...  It's not an issue with small diagrams (almost by definition). However, when it gets too cumbersome, it needs support.  To have to write a script to do what might be seen as (putatively) native functionality is tiresome (literally).

Paolo

[Eve]

When it comes to alias I concede that it could be. But there are a lot of other properties that are equally significant.

My point is that no matter what type of sorting you want to use, you can. There's no reason to expect that some arbitrary computed field in your customized workflow should be something that the UI gives you the ability to sort things from.

[Paolo F Cantoni]

When it comes to alias I concede that it could be. But there are a lot of other properties that are equally significant.

My point is that no matter what type of sorting you want to use, you can. There's no reason to expect that some arbitrary computed field in your customized workflow should be something that the UI gives you the ability to sort things from.

I'm not expecting, I'm asking...   

You know, like the web site says...
Suggest and discuss, with other users, features you would like to see added to Enterprise Architect. It would be helpful to discuss only one feature per thread. To submit a feature request directly to Sparx Systems, please use the Feature Request link provided.

As to "Label", It's not a value available in the API nor in the DB, so we users are unable to do anything with it.  BUT it IS a property of the item on the diagram.  That's why I asked for it to be surfaced!
We use USDPs to manage the label - more stuff we can't get at...

You don't ask, you don't get.

Paolo

[MichaelJ]

I'm not expecting, I'm asking...   

You know, like the web site says...
Suggest and discuss, with other users, features you would like to see added to Enterprise Architect. It would be helpful to discuss only one feature per thread. To submit a feature request directly to Sparx Systems, please use the Feature Request link provided...

Spot on! Your response highlights the sense of despair users experience when dealing with Sparx: make requests (here or via Feature Request) and the response is "Stop expecting a quality product!". Despite the public website encouraging all users (as pointed out) to engage and discuss new features... to no avail (it seems).

What skiwi mentioned is quite valid in your original request/response interaction you've experienced

... Actually, back in the mists of thread history you'll find reference to the fact that its the trainers/vendors/distributors that have influence, less so for users/paying customers/forum users

Nevertheless, hopefully the winds of change open up the stale team at Sparx and they cease being so hostile to ordinary customers' requests. It can only be of benefit to the product and the users, and I'm sure we all want the product to succeed and be the best it can be.