More info on status bar, etc.

[Elvis]

[I just wrote a long list and lost it because I was logged out without warning. So that's a wish list for the forum.)

1. When clicking on track, put as much info as possible on the status bar. Slope, height, angle, end points, etc.

2. When clicking on one endpoint, then hovering over another endpoint, the status bar shows distance. It would be nice if you could right click on the other endpoint and get distance, angle off, elevation difference, slope required, etc. in a non-modal window so I don't have to write it all down.



3. Move on angle -- maybe shift-drag? or 7, 9, 1, 3 number pad keys? Track would move along its current angle. In the above drawing the selected section would stay aligned and moved closer by pressing "1" on keypad or further away by pressing 9 on the keypad.
4. Optional snap to align. See attachment. When a piece of track gets close to aligning (x axis, y axis, or axis of shared angle) snap into position and show a red line indicating what it snapped to. (Several apps do this when moving objects.)

5. Benchwork lumber library. The lumber in the library would be extensible but not flexible. Edges would snap together anywhere, not just at the ends.

[David]

I've read some good ideas!
I can't promise anything yet, as our first user interface goal is always to make everything simple and obvious.

So we usually collect ideas for useful new functionality, and then decide if and how to extend the current program to include these.

[railroads2005]

I like the idea Elvis has in number 3 & 4 above. Several cad programs have a feature where you can select an object, hold down CTRL and slide and object along the plane of whatever angle it is on. This saves tremendous time and improves accuracy in placing track (or objects) when you are not on perfectly horizontal and vertical angles. It is also very helpful in keeping objects on a plane perfectly when moving vertically or horizontally.