Integer and number display

How about an option in the "number" and "integer" primitives to display the current values, instead of having to connect them to a string panel ?
They could look like string panels with the name displayed as a banner on top, and the values listed underneath.
I bet that would tidy up a bunch of definitions out there...
Also, double-clicking on such a primitive could bring up a table in which to enter values.
Quite a bit more snappy than "right-click" + "set number"...

Another way of doing this would be simply using string panels as a container for numbers and integers.
In that case, it should be made possible to use values coming from string panels in expressions, which is not the case right now.

Cheers,

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Olivier Suire on August 11, 2009 at 6:42am

...a more visual explanation of what I mean :

Permalink Reply by Miguel Villegas on August 11, 2009 at 6:56am

Hi Olivier.

I had the same problem with panels, and just know i think I got the solution (iwch is no solution BTW).

Type a column of numbers and use it as a serie of values, it will give you the "string to number conversion error" won't it?

Open the panel and "uncheck" the multiline data box. It should work fine...

Permalink Reply by Olivier Suire on August 11, 2009 at 8:38am

What I find strange is that operators seem to deal well with string panels containing numbers, but with functions, they are interpreted as strings and stubbornly refuse to calculate...

Permalink Reply by Olivier Suire on August 31, 2009 at 10:16am

David ?
Any plans to make the numerical data input more straight-forward ?

Permalink Reply by David Rutten on August 31, 2009 at 3:18pm

No plans yet, but I'll happily add a numeric version of the Textpanel.

Have you tried using the Manage Collection... option on Number and Integer params?

--
David Rutten
david@mcneel.com
Seattle, WA

Permalink Reply by Olivier Suire on August 31, 2009 at 3:38pm

Hi David,

A numeric version of the Textpanel would make me happy too.
I've seen the Manage Collection thing. Pretty cool.
How about trigerring this by a double-click ?
The right-click+Set (multiple) Number(s) feels a bit clunky...

Permalink Reply by David Rutten on September 1, 2009 at 10:31am

I'm replacing all the command line UIs for basic parameters (integers, numbers, booleans etc) with this:

I'll also set the Manage Collection dialog to pop up on double click (but only on free floating parameters, double clicking won't work on input parameters).

Permalink Reply by diego on September 1, 2009 at 4:27pm

Great!!!!, Thanks again david I always try to double click parameters, i don't even know why, but this will be a real time saver awesome

Permalink Reply by Vicente Soler on August 31, 2009 at 11:06am

Data in a text panel is always a string, but when connected to another component it tries to transform itself into the destination's data type. Expression components accept strings as well as numbers, you can create new strings out of them, not only numbers, so the string data is left in its original state, since it doesen't know that you want to use it as numbers.

Just a random thought, maybe the text panel could have have an option to output it's content into a specific data type. Like the 'type hint' menu of a script input, but affecting the output.

Permalink Reply by Olivier Suire on August 31, 2009 at 11:17am

Vicente,

I don't want to use a text panel at all cost.
I would just want the Integer and Number panels to have the same characteristics :
-Value is displayed
-Value can be edited by double-click on the panel
(see my first screen captures)

I tried using Text panel only because I found them more practical to this regard.

Cheers,

Permalink Reply by Vicente Soler on August 31, 2009 at 11:29am

Then you want to use the text panel. :P
I think it would be easier/better to beef up the text panel than the individual parameters.

Permalink Reply by Olivier Suire on August 31, 2009 at 11:48am

Vicente, I can't see any valid reason why an Integer or Number could not benefit from displaying it's content and making it easily editable, but I find the idea of a "Uber-parameter" panel interesting.
In fact, "beefing-up" the text panel would probably make the Integer and Number panels superfluous.

I might not have enough experience on GH to see all the implications of this though...