Re: Crash report / feature request

[Lars Clausen <lars raeder dk>]

On Fri, 2004-04-30 at 13:42, Martin Gisser wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I´m new to Dia & this list.  I´d like to use Dia for DB documentation, 
> and later perhaps even integrate it into our project.
> However I found 2 minor hooks that renders it almost useless:
> 
> 1) I´d like to start with a diagram generated by postgresql_autodoc.pl ( 
> http://www.rbt.ca/autodoc/ ).  The script generates various outpu 
> formats, including 2 styles of dia diagrams:  They use UML - class 
> objects connected by UML - Constraint lines, resp. by UML - Dependency 
> lines.  postgresql_autodoc.pl places everything into the l.u. canvas 
> corner, and I have to arrange things by hand.  That´s not the problem - 
> but it causes my first problem:  The UML - Constraint variant looks 
> ugly, since the lines have no zig-zag. The UML - Dependency variant 
> makes /Dia crash/ as soon as I start dragging things apart. (0.92 & 
> 0.93-pre3. I can send sample .dia files to illustrate.)

I'm guessing the lines are being given start and end point only, which
is not enough to define a zig-zag line.  Thus, when they try to do their
normal things with too few points, it crashes.  It ought to at least
check that it gets what it needs, and take some reasonable action if it
doesn't.  An example diagram would be nice.

> 2) I´d like to insert text from non-hand-typed other source. Under 
> Linux, I use the middle mouse button for such purpose. Please note that 
> this is extremely practical and a long-time standard use of the middle 
> mouse button (no need for Ctrl-C/Ctrl-V).  Nowadays, folks put that 
> microsofty scroll-wheel on this button (which feels like having a wheel 
> on the trigger of your Kalashnikow AK47 text-firing gun...). And the Dia 
> programmers jumped the bandwagon & did some other scroll-bar Ersatz...

> Perhaps there´s a way to fix 1) by changing postgresql_autodoc.pl. I´d 
> love to try that - if I could find some documentation of the Dia´s xml 
> format.

The dtd is in the source, and there's some info on the Dia TWiki.

> For now, I paste my text into the .dia xml.  That´s ridiculous, of 
> course, and my coworkers won´t like to do that.
> 
> /Feature request/:
> Is there any chance for having a text-entry field (middle-mouse-button 
> capable!) in the Standard - Text property box soon?  In some months I 
> might find time&resources to try that myself . But please don´t wait for 
> that.

The right-mouse Edit menu has Cut/Copy/Paste text which does this.  It's
not middle button pasting, but it is pasting.  I'm working on a revamp
of the text editing system which would allow proper cut and paste, but
it's no trivial task.

-Lars