[etoys-dev] graphing and watching enhancements

[Scott Wallace]

On Mar 5, 2012, at 12:36 PM, karl ramberg wrote:

> I think we should turn on the propertySheetFromHalo preference so it is easier to get to the graph paper settings. 
> It will also be easier to get the graph paper settings back if you accidentally delete them. 

Switching to a graph-paper fill seems to me to be directly comparable to switching to a gradient fill.  It's something that's needed much less often than simply setting a solid color with the small color-picker, so IMO it's still a good idea to put up the straightforward and much-less-intimidating small color picker.

As when switching from a solid color to a gradient fill, the user has three ways to get a graph-paper fill, namely:

(1)  use the "fill style" item from the halo menu, and choose "graph paper" (or "gradient fill") from the ensuing submenu.

(2)  bring up the small color picker by clicking on the "change color" halo handle (purple eyedropper) and then click on the + icon in it to bring up the full property sheet, which offers, among other things, the opportunity to switch to graph paper (to a gradient fill).

(3)  shift-click on the "change color" halo handle to bring up the full property sheet directly, then choose graph paper (or gradient fill) from there.

(And there's even a fourth way, because the old "make graph paper" item in the "playfield options" menu, which has been available all these years, is still available.)


Educators, please speak up on this issue -- this should really be your decision.  Do you think we should continue to have a simple click on the change-color halo handle bring up the small color picker, or do you think we should switch to having that click always bring up the big "property sheet"?

  -- Scott