lineto behaves differently for main than endshapes

[Paolo F Cantoni]

In the main shape the X value appears to be a percentage of the line, the Y value is some offset (but not to same scale - seems to be approximately 1/10th scale).

In the subshape, both x and y are absolute values.

shape main
{
    lineto(75,75);
}
shape target
{
    lineto(75,75);
}

Observe the inconsistent behaviour.

NOTE: this percentage stuff also seems to apply to shapes drawn in the main shape for the connector - try drawing some and see...

Paolo

[«Midnight»]

Ouch! That might explain a few strange results over the past while.

[Of course, another explanation would be my rather poor drawing talents, whether automated or not...]

Even if there is a reason for this, there should be a set of consistent options that can be applied to either end (individually). [IMHO of course.]

[KP]

In the main shape the X value appears to be a percentage of the line, the Y value is some offset (but not to same scale - seems to be approximately 1/10th scale).

In the subshape, both x and y are absolute values.

Well, yes. You wouldn't want an arrowhead to resize in proportion to the length of the relationship, so x and y in the source and target shapes need to be absolutes. You wouldn't want the width of a line to resize in proportion to its length, so y in the main shape needs to be absolute. You can't know how long a line is going to be when defining the shape script, so x in the main shape can't be absolute. This probably needs to be documented if it isn't already...

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Well, yes. You wouldn't want an arrowhead to resize in proportion to the length of the relationship, so x and y in the source and target shapes need to be absolutes. You wouldn't want the width of a line to resize in proportion to its length, so y in the main shape needs to be absolute. You can't know how long a line is going to be when defining the shape script, so x in the main shape can't be absolute. This probably needs to be documented if it isn't already...

I'm not disagreeing with the behaviour - just the non-documentation AND the naming.

There needs be two methods.  The lineto - which works identically in both situations and percentlineto which only works on the main shape.  The semantic signatures of the two methods are different - consequently they should NOT have the same name.

Also, it's not clear what the Y value is there for...

PLUS there is the implication for the drawing of shapes...  There's NO Way that I can tell to draw a shape (for example in the centre of the line).  My example - where I discovered all these anomalies was:  trying to draw the Assembly connector using shape scripts.  (Leaving aside the other bug that you can't override the nativeshape of the assembly).

Can anyone show me how to draw the Assembly connector (say, using an Association since the bug above) using a shape script?

Paolo

[«Midnight»]

...
Can anyone show me how to draw the Assembly connector (say, using an Association since the bug above) using a shape script?
...

Don't you already have enough pain in your life?

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Don't you already have enough pain in your life?

Obviously not...

Paolo

[Eve]

I haven't really done a lot with shape scripts, but from looking at the documentation I've come up with the following.  (Which I admit isn't perfect)

Code: [Select]

shape main
{
  // draw a dashed line
  noshadow=true;
  setlinestyle("SOLID");
  moveto(0,0);
  lineto(100,0);

  setorigin("CENTER",0,0);
  addsubshape("assembly", 15, 15);
            
  shape assembly
  {
    scalable="false";
    ellipse(3,3,12,12);
    arc(0,0,15,15,7,0,7,15);
  }
}

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Thanks Simon!

It was the scalable attribute I was missing...

Paolo

[«Midnight»]

This brings up an old point.

To say it once again...

We need additional documentation. This should include a new set of examples. The ones we have are limited, dated, and not well related to specific drawing tasks. What's there is not wrong, but it is simply to thin.

[Paolo F Cantoni]

I haven't really done a lot with shape scripts, but from looking at the documentation I've come up with the following.  (Which I admit isn't perfect)

Hi Simon,

I couldn't make it work...

It seems to me that subshapes don't work in edges (lines).

Before I report a bug can anyone confirm that subshapes DO work for lines and therefore I'm doing something wrong?

Again, can anyone show me how to use shape scripts to make an Association look like an Assembly?  (Not that this makes sense, it's just illustrate how to do this kind of stuff).

TIA,
Paolo

[Paolo F Cantoni]

I haven't really done a lot with shape scripts, but from looking at the documentation I've come up with the following.  (Which I admit isn't perfect)

Code: [Select]

[Removed]

This version is a bit closer.   The problem is that the subshapes are not automatically rotated with the angle of the connector.  This version looks close enough and will "rotate" correctly.

Code: [Select]

shape main
{
      noshadow=true;
      setlinestyle("SOLID");
      lineto(100,0);

      setorigin("CENTER",0,0);
      addsubshape("socket", 15, 15);
      setorigin("CENTER",2,-15);
      addsubshape("ball", 15, 15);
                  
      shape ball
      {
            scalable="false";
            ellipse(1,1,14,14);
      }
      shape socket
      {
            scalable="false";
            ellipse(0,0,15,15);
      }
 }I'll report the shapescript non-rotation as a bug...

Paolo