Working with topic tables

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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 cell representing a single topic. Typically table cell contains topic's base name. If you are familiar with any spreadsheet application such as Microsoft Excel you may find it practical to think topic table as a limited spreadsheet where each cell contains topic instead of a number, formula, string etc. Below is a simple example of single column topic table with six topics. Two topics are selected.


Topictable example 01.gif


Topic tables of search results, instances, and classes have always single column. Association tables usually contain at least two columns. Below is an example of topic table representing four separate associations.


Topictable example 04.gif


All associations in the example above have same type and roles. Association table is a specific topic table. It carries association's type in left upper corner. Roles locate directly below the association type. Player rows locate below the role row. Each player row represents one association. This kind of representation of associations are very economic and intuitive if associations are similar. Unfortunately the picture is not pretty if associations don't share a type and roles.


Selecting in topic tables

Topic table allows you to select one or more cells in the table. This feature is extremely powerful 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 distinct cells. Selected cells are colored light blue. Another and maybe more intuitive method to create continuous selections beyond single topic is to drag mouse while mouse button is pressed down. Wandora has also more sophisticated selection methods. These methods locate in Edit > Select top-menu or Select context menu and are

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

Topic tables representing associations contain also header cells. Header cell holds a role topic of underlying player topic. Header cell has also some extra features 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, table rows are sorted. If you click the cell again the order is inverted. Third click restores initial order. Small arrow near the header name indicates table's current sort status. Column order changes dragging and dropping the header horizontally to a new location. Column widths change dragging and dropping the header mid-line to a new location. Header mid-line is a line between two header cells. Mouse cursor changes to a horizontal two head arrow when you can adjust column widths.

As I mentioned above, topic tables enable Wandora user to specify tool's context. Tool's context in the other hand is important as it specifies target topics of tool actions. If you right click on the topic table, a context menu is revealed. Context menu contains wide variety of tools you can use to modify selected topics.

etc.

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