Working with topic tables

Revision as of 23:10, 22 November 2006

Topic table is perhaps the most general GUI element in Wandora. Wandora uses topic tables to view topic collections such as search results, classes, instances and associations. Topic table contains a set of topic cells each representing single topic. Typically a topic is represented as a base name in the table cell. If you are familiar with any spreadsheep application such as Microsoft Excel you may find it useful to think topic table similar to limited spreadsheet where each cell does not contain number, formula, string etc. but a topic.

Topic table allows you to select one or more cells in the table. This feature is extremely powerfull as it enables Wandora user to specify what topics are subject to change if a tool is executed. Topic table selection is created clicking the cells in table. Selection with multiple topics is created holding SHIFT or CONTROL key down while clicking the cells. SHIFT key creates continuous selections while CONTROL allows to select distict cells. Another and maybe more intuitive method to create selections beyond single topic is to drag mouse while mouse button is pressed down. Wandora has also more sopisticated selection methods. These methods locate in Edit > Select top-menu or Select context menu and are

• Select all
• Select row(s)
• Select column(s)
• Deselect
• Invert selection
• Select topics without associations
• Select topics without text datas
• Select topics without base names
• Select topics without classes
• Select topics without instances
• Select topics without A+I
• Select topics with SL
• Select topics with typed associations
• Select topics with clipboard identifiers
• Select topics with clipboard regexes
• Select topics with clipboard regex finders

All selection tool assume you have somehow indicated the topic table in which the selection is created. Indication is implicit if you intend to use context menu tools. Explicit indication such as clicking the table with mouse pointer is required if you intend to use top menu tools.

Topic tables used to represent associations contains also header cells. Header cell contains also a topic. In case of association tables header contains role topics of underlying player topics. Header cell has also some extra functions beside representing a topic. Header cell can be used to sort table rows, switch table column order and change column widths. If you click the header cell with mouse pointer, rows in the table are sorted. If you click the cell again the order is inverted and if you click the cell third time the initial order is restored. Table column order is changed with mouse, dragging and dropping the header horizontally to a new header location. Column widths are changed dragging and dropping the header mid-line to a new location. Header mid-line is the line between two header cells.