Set Visible Relations dialog difficult

[Paolo F Cantoni]

If you have a large number of possible edges on a diagram the Set Visible Relations [Ctrl+Shift+I] dialog is very hard to use and doesn't appear to use any common metaphors for multiple selection.

As you click in the checkbox, the selection is increased.  Now this seems innocuous enough, but if you toggle one of the already actioned entries, ALL the previously actioned entries ALSO toggle!

This is quite confusing to the user.  But the real problem is that the user can't change their mind and unaction one of the previously selected edges.

It allows mistakes to be easily made.  You often need to exist and reenter the dialog many times to achieve the desired outcome.

The dialog would be significantly improved if it used a more common metaphor.

Firstly, the selection mechanism should use the Ctrl and Shift keys only (as per normal).

There should be a select all check box with the usual function.

There should be an apply button to allow the application of the current state without leaving the dialog.

Finally, the dialog edges are sorted in a specific order.  Often it is useful to be able to group the edges you intend to action by a number of factors.  Being able to sort on: edge type (current), origin type, destination type, origin name, destination name, edge name.  It's a lot easier to locate the edges you want to action among possibly a very large number of edges that are potentially visible on the diagram.

[«Midnight»]

I agree, throughout.

[skiwi]

bump

[Paolo F Cantoni]

bump

If this gets fixed it will be my record for the longest time the bug is outstanding.  My current record is a rather serious issue with Microsoft Word which took Microsoft 9 years to fix.

Paolo

[qwerty]

I recently checked my old bug tracker (started 2010). The first one is poked still is not fixed. I did not look into any other of them (too frustrating likely). I guess there are more of them from times before I started that bug tracker. (I wrote a rant for that MDG thread but then dumped it before sending.)

q.

[Paolo F Cantoni]

In addition to the issues previously advised, the Set Visible Relations [Ctrl+Shift+I] dialog, needs to respond to the [X] Use Alias if Available checkbox state.  We use the Alias field extensively for a user-friendly name for an item.  The Name field is the normative name and is unique in its namespace.  The Alias need not be (unique).  Thus many diagrams have the [X] Use Alias if Available marked. It is quite confusing to the user to try to determine which relationships to manipulate in the Set Visible Relations [Ctrl+Shift+I] dialog when the names of the endpoints in the diagram DON'T match those in the dialog!


Please rectify,
Reported,
Paolo