[UI] Modality and hanging UI [was: Re: Transcript>>show: slowness.]

[Igor Stasenko]

There is a good mechanism missing in current morphic code - a modality.
Because everything is modeless, its impossible to disable some
morph(s) until some other will not return. Or at least prevent it from
receiving any events from user.

As in case of MC, a good way would be: when i pressing 'Load', a
window becomes gray (disabled), so i can't press anything , only move
it, and progress bar appears showing downloading/installing progress
(with cancel button).
Canceling in progress bar can be done easily - if we using separate
process which progress we showing, then 'cancel' action could simply
terminate this process and then execute clean-up code, which can be
provided as well.

Meanwhile, while MC window is disabled i should be able to do anything
else i like: browsing/coding/chatting..
Why user must wait for completion of single operation, when he can
spend his time more productive?

On 10/09/2007, Gary Chambers <gazzaguru2 at btinternet.com> wrote:
> Not just the obvious cases. I don't like the way that "popup menus", in
> general, co-opt the event mechanism.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ui-bounces at lists.squeakfoundation.org
> > [mailto:ui-bounces at lists.squeakfoundation.org] On Behalf Of
> > Igor Stasenko
> > Sent: 09 September 2007 10:59 pm
> > To: Squeak's User Interface
> > Subject: Re: [UI] Re: Transcript>>show: slowness.
> >
> >
> > Just think about it: hang UI is simply scares off potential
> > users. "I pressed something and now its not responsible..."
> > - what is first reaction of user in such situation?
> > He makes a right conclusion, that program is malfunction, or
> > he is doing something wrong, or there a bug. He can suppose
> > anything , and less probably that 'i must wait until command
> > complete'.
> >
> > Here is a small fix, which makes me happy with Transcript (i removed
> > #refreshWorld) . We may use it or not and stay with UI
> > inconsistencies and defend them to the death.
> >
> > But in general, i'd like all senders of #refreshWorld to be
> > reviewed because this indicates that something wrong with
> > code, which using it, which requires immediate world update.
> >
>
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-- 
Best regards,
Igor Stasenko AKA sig.