[Sketcher] Feature Idea (UX related?)
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2022 6:26 pm
@abdullah @paddle
First off, I think sketcher in FC is a really powerful implementation. I have used some other software in the past which have little features that I think could further enhance the experience in Sketcher. I have tagged you both due to your direct involvement in developing this workbench and I hold your opinions in this area with high regard. Since it is my understanding that you have been performing a lot of refactoring, perhaps now would be a good time to experiment with some new ideas. Here are two features/enhancements I would like to propose for consideration by the community and developers. Of course everything should be entirely optional and not forced on anyone by default if potentially contentious.
1. I would like to see the ability to control the line-weight in preferences. Specifically, I believe it would be beneficial to control line thickness of both constructive (normal lines, arcs, and splines)and reference geometry (construction, external reference etc) independently. ie this could allow to not only set different colors for the various wire types, but also make reference geometry visually pronounced (ie thinner).
---The ability to make construction lines patterned (dashed or dotted) would be an added plus but I believe that I have read in previous forum posts that this is not reasonably simple to implement in sketcher at this time. Patterns and line-width differentiation would help users who have color impaired vision as an added bonus.
2. Add a checkbox for the following "Hide Non-Dimensional Constraints", with the current behavior it requires a bit of fiddling (clicking) around in order to see only the dimensional constraints in more complex sketches. While simpler sketches are always preferred, sometimes they are unavoidable and geometric constraint symbols can quickly clutter up the display and obscure the work being performed. Perhaps consideration could be given to using the spacebar to toggle geometric constraint display similarly to it's current behavior with bodies in Tree-View.
---Additionally, if this is implemented or at least considered, I would like to see the following behavior be associated with this setting, when geometric constraints are 'hidden' have the specific constraints associated with any selected elements display. I guess a sort of 'contextual' display of geometric constraint symbology.
I hope we can have a nice constructive conversation of both the merits and technical feasibility of these items.
Regards,
Obelisk
First off, I think sketcher in FC is a really powerful implementation. I have used some other software in the past which have little features that I think could further enhance the experience in Sketcher. I have tagged you both due to your direct involvement in developing this workbench and I hold your opinions in this area with high regard. Since it is my understanding that you have been performing a lot of refactoring, perhaps now would be a good time to experiment with some new ideas. Here are two features/enhancements I would like to propose for consideration by the community and developers. Of course everything should be entirely optional and not forced on anyone by default if potentially contentious.
1. I would like to see the ability to control the line-weight in preferences. Specifically, I believe it would be beneficial to control line thickness of both constructive (normal lines, arcs, and splines)and reference geometry (construction, external reference etc) independently. ie this could allow to not only set different colors for the various wire types, but also make reference geometry visually pronounced (ie thinner).
---The ability to make construction lines patterned (dashed or dotted) would be an added plus but I believe that I have read in previous forum posts that this is not reasonably simple to implement in sketcher at this time. Patterns and line-width differentiation would help users who have color impaired vision as an added bonus.
2. Add a checkbox for the following "Hide Non-Dimensional Constraints", with the current behavior it requires a bit of fiddling (clicking) around in order to see only the dimensional constraints in more complex sketches. While simpler sketches are always preferred, sometimes they are unavoidable and geometric constraint symbols can quickly clutter up the display and obscure the work being performed. Perhaps consideration could be given to using the spacebar to toggle geometric constraint display similarly to it's current behavior with bodies in Tree-View.
---Additionally, if this is implemented or at least considered, I would like to see the following behavior be associated with this setting, when geometric constraints are 'hidden' have the specific constraints associated with any selected elements display. I guess a sort of 'contextual' display of geometric constraint symbology.
I hope we can have a nice constructive conversation of both the merits and technical feasibility of these items.
Regards,
Obelisk