gEDA-user: Re: New features in gattrib

[Stuart Brorson]

>> Meanwhile, what features does gattrib lack which you can get with a
>> "full blown spreadsheet"?  Besides printing (a more immediate need),
>> that is . . . .
>
> My short list:
>
> * select a group of cells and "paste" = fills all cells with the same value.
>
> * cut or copy blocks of cells.
>
> * middle mouse paste should keep working after the first cell.  Also,
>  you can't middle-mouse a different cell if another is in edit mode.

What does the middle mouse button do?  Do you mean unix-style
copy/paste?  Right now you can do copy/paste using <ctrl>-C/<ctrl>-V.

> * ability to rearrange columns, hide columns.  This goes along with
>  the "remember the column layout" request.

Rearranging things  might be hard, or at least a PITA.  As for
remembering settings, see below.

> * sort rows by a column.
>
> * automatic "best fit" width of columns.

Hardish to do.  I don't fully understand how the GtkSheet widget is
supposed to set its width in the first place.  I need to look at this.

> * ESC to cancel a cell edit.

This should be easy.

> * headers should be centered.

This should be easy.

> Niceties:
>
> * column headers should have left-mouse popup menu to change
>  visibility of attribute, visibility of column, perhaps a "sort by
>  this", etc.

A very good list.  I like these suggestions.  Thanks.

Here's my thoughts about my next project with gattrib:

-- Right mouse over a cell or selected region to set visibility.
(Right now you can only do this through the top menu).  This should be
easy.

-- Have a .gattrib.sav file which remembers your settings (column
width and the like).

-- Fix the way arrow keys work, so they are more MS E*cel like.

-- Implement lock files between gattrib and gschem, so you can't
inadvertantly save from one and overwrite newer changes made by the
other.  Ultimately, a gEDA-wide lockfile system would be a good thing
for interoperation with PCB's yet-to-be developer backannotation tool,
since it will also be writing .sch files, like gschem and gattrib do
now.

These have been on my mind for a while, and I will probably do them
first the next time I have some free time to work on gattrib (i.e. in
many, many months).   Meanwhile, I am always ready to accept patches!

Stuart