Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!bu.edu!m2c!risky.ecs.umass.edu!dime!sandy From: sandy@snoopy.cs.umass.edu (& Wise) Newsgroups: comp.human-factors Subject: Re: modes in object-oriented graphics packages Message-ID: Date: 26 Jun 91 17:40:14 GMT References: <1991Jun24.172022.15695@cpsc.ucalgary.ca> <1991Jun26.124935.3771@linus.mitre.org> Sender: news@dime.cs.umass.edu Reply-To: wise@cs.umass.edu Organization: Organization? I thought entropy would take care of that... Lines: 24 In-reply-to: dsmall@mitre.org's message of 26 Jun 91 12:49:35 GMT >We're looking at ways to limit the hassle of switching modes in object-based >drawing packages such as MacDraw. The constant hassle, in particular >between drawing a line and grabbing that line (i.e. the switch between >the arrow tool and the line tool) is getting to be a real pain. (more text deleted) Not exactly the same, but Corel Draw has an interesting "pencil" tool: The tool is capable of drawing both curves and straight lines. I don't remember exactly how it works (I'm a Mac-type myself) but basically, if you draw a mostly straight line it infers that it was what you wanted, and switches to rubberbanding. I think it may also have been able to infer horizontal/vertical constraints... Similarly, Ashlar Vellum (a Mac CAD package) has something called "intelligent assistants" that can infer corner constraints and the like... /s -- Alexander Erskine Wise /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Software Development Laboratory /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ WISE@CS.UMASS.EDU /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ \/\/\ This situation calls for large amounts of unadulterated CHOCOLATE! /\/\/\