Enhancement: Helper colors & draft mode for proper ISOM/ISSprOM integration

[mlerjen]

State of the art

Our symbol sets of ISOM and ISSprOM do not represent the entire content of these specifications. While the symbols graphical dimensions are represented properly and the description is added, we are somehow sloppily in regard to minimum gaps, minimum lengths as widths and minimum areas.
For illustration 108 Small erosion gully represented in our symbol set ISOM 2017-2 (left) and how it is actually described in ISOM2017-2 ( with buffer 0.15mm and minimum length of 17 meters)

Actual behaviour

The regard of these additional rules is crucial for good orienteering mapping. They assure decent legibiltiy and work as a repellent towards over-mapping. Aware mappers can modify their symbol set accordingly by adding these so called halos (graphical aids to help meeting these rules), to get graphical aid in this regards. This workaround has two weak points: 1) In case you worked with colored buffers, you had to switch them on and off by changing their color to white by the color table. 2) For the final map you had to remove all the buffer symbols by the according symbol definition.

Expected behaviour

I think it is crucial, that this approach of mapping is not just something for the pros and the geeks but should be part of the standard workbench. I thus propose the following:

1) Introduce the concept of helper colors: Alike the "helper symbol" these colors would only be visible in "draft" mode but not on the "final map". The big advantage would be that graphical aids could directly be integrated into the symbol without having to clean up before finalizing the map. 2) Discuss the introduction of a "draft mode". Therein helper colors and -symbols are visible, but can altogether be toogled off by change over to "final mode". 3) Think about ways to solve the minimal area issue. Ideally would be a "live"-marking if to small. Basic would be a "find by property"-functionality integrated to the find function. 4) Make these "draft" aids part of the standard ISOM/ISSprOM symbol sets.

Configuration

Mapper Version: Operating System:

[yevhenmazur]

• 1 for "helper graphical elements" and "draft mode" Just add extra colors and helper graphical elements to basic symbol sets is bad option. The user must clearly indicate that he want to use this feature (enable special mode). Only then it will be clear and useful to him.

[dg0yt]

While the extra map color is great for the ad-hoc implementation, I wonder if this kind of visual feedback shouldn't better be realized only by adding (and using) explicit distance information to symbols and/or colors, instead of adding graphical features to symbols. The software may still use this information to dynamically create the proposed visualization.

[mlerjen]

related #610 related #1004

[eolmapper]

Using an additional map color is unsatisfaying, because it can't be used with templates in basckground (masking). What we need is a halo that appears when editing objects so we can draw things directly with the correct gaps, then disappears once the symbol is no longer selected. Correcting things afterwards with a permanent halo is a big waste of time.