Organize all blocks

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Right now 'Organize all Blocks' in Block's editor doesn't let the user choose 
which criteria to organize the blocks in. Sort by function, assemble related 
functions and variables together, sort by Name.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by Gemeniano on 9 Sep 2010 at 5:07

[GoogleCodeExporter]

This would be a handy and usability feature. Being able to click 
Organize>Variables. Have have all the variables jump to mouse position and 
stack would just be gravy man. 

Original comment by jwty...@gmail.com on 22 Sep 2010 at 11:17

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I'd just be happy if the organize feature grouped things instead of just 
randomly lining things up in columns... smart sorting would be even better (all 
global variables first, the the screen1 initialize routine, then others)

Original comment by jim.stephen@gmail.com on 29 Sep 2010 at 5:41

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Even making the blocks snap to positions from their current positions would be 
helpful (I hate having to find a block after cleaning up with an "Organize")

Original comment by kicktheb...@gmail.com on 6 Oct 2010 at 10:13

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Not sure exactly what we'll do here but agree that something better than the 
current functionality should be possible.

Original comment by sha...@google.com on 7 Oct 2010 at 9:32

• Changed state: Accepted

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Heres my suggestion

Create dotted areas for each object that has code associated with it.
Also create a dotted area for globals and procedures
I am not sure if it exists, but ability to minimize all blocks will be helpful
Further, ability to minimize each dotted area will help organize

I have attached a screenshot.  HTH

Original comment by shekari...@gmail.com on 7 Oct 2010 at 9:58

Attachments:

• $1BA7E1F8B4FA3991.jpg

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I would like to see a simple alphabetize feature.  It would at least give you 
an idea where the blocks are in the blocks editor and it would make finding 
calls (etc.) easier in the drawers.  

Not having this feature is really slowing me down in the blocks editor.  In my 
opinion it is essential that a better organization feature be implemented 
quickly.

Original comment by DarrenWP...@gmail.com on 19 Oct 2010 at 7:11

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I am advanced in using Yahoo Pipes and they have worked all this out. Their 
visual programming interface works great!

Original comment by optimizationtutor.com on 19 Oct 2010 at 8:19

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I'd like some organizing feature: perhaps tabbed folders?

Original comment by krow...@gmail.com on 27 Oct 2010 at 4:07

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I'd love a left-side navigation pane with a tree view. Organizing the blocks 
first by type and then by name would make life so much easier. Also, you 
wouldn't have to leave the component type in the name to figure out what it is:

[-] Buttons
     * Screen1ok
     * Screen1cancel 
[-] Procedures
     * DoThis
     * DoThat
[-] Variables
     * Foo
     * Bar
[+] Notifiers

Then when you pick the block in the tree view, it jumps you right to that block 
in the layout.

I just completed my Marriage Proposal app and it turned into a rats nest of 
blocks (see screenshot) - I spent half my time just scrolling around hunting 
for my blocks!

Original comment by jonhodg...@gmail.com on 4 Nov 2010 at 3:03

Attachments:

• BlocksEditorRatsNest.png

[GoogleCodeExporter]

[deleted comment]

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Being able to organize a subset of the blocks would be nice, eg. by selecting 
the subset with a "drag-rectangle".

Original comment by tippor...@gmail.com on 7 Jan 2011 at 9:09

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Advanced sorting would be nice, but I'd settle for any sort "align blocks" 
function where the blocks would all just be snapped to a grid more or less in 
their current position such that the view was cleaner, but your original 
arrangement was maintained.  Also, it would also be nice if the organize block 
feature included some method of direct control of the canvas size.  Currently 
it seems like the canvas will expand horizontally quite nicely given a rats 
nest of blocks, but wont expand vertically very much, meaning several of my 
large blocks expand beyond the viewable area, which is annoying as I have to 
disassemble the large blocks to edit the pieces out of view.

Original comment by tim.atho...@gmail.com on 11 Jan 2011 at 3:13

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Organize block alphabetically and group by procedure and variables. This makes 
the most sense. Also, blocks of code fall off the block editor. Its annoying... 
Then I have to reorganize, which is like letting gravity take over.

Original comment by blogsche...@gmail.com on 19 Feb 2011 at 1:21

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I would love a container to put related blocks into. Just drop them in the 
container, and then click on container to show or hide the blocks inside of it. 
Putting all the UI for each screen in its own container would so help. With a 
100+ blocks its getting really hard to find what I am looking for.

Original comment by trashisf...@gmail.com on 24 Feb 2011 at 1:34

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Use ( and rename ) a horizontal,  vertical or tabular screen arrangement.
Place your controls inside and you should be good.

Sent from my Droid phone.

of

Original comment by davidmca...@gmail.com on 24 Feb 2011 at 2:26

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Dear App Inventor Creators - 

Here is another good idea, in addition to the ones already mentioned.

It would be very nice to have a "find code" feature, with one of those 
smart-search auto-fill search-box doo-hickeys that Google is SO good at making, 
to help one find and jump to a procedure or a variable or an event-handler. 

FWIW, I also must agree and underscore "Comment 9 by jonhodg...@gmail.com Nov 
4, 2010". A tree-view navigator would be great. Furthermore, I strongly agree 
that some kind of built-in sorting is absolutely necessary, such as 
automatically placing clumps into groups by type (procedures-group, 
variables-group, event-handlers-group, etc) and then simply sorting 
alphabetically within each group. 

App Inventor is great as-is but would be MUCH better by adding some kind of 
sorting and grouping, any kind at all, just to help one build faster, etc.

IMHO.

Thank you.

- Mark Kamoski

Original comment by mkamo...@gmail.com on 18 Apr 2011 at 6:00

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I would also like to urge the makers of App Inventor to implement some kind of 
organization to the blocks editor. The post by mkamoski sums up what I wanted 
to say perfectly, I just figured I would add my name to the list.

AI is a brilliant program. Adding the ability to organize and search through 
the block editor would serve to bring it to another level for those who are 
interested in making something more complex than the HelloPurr app.

Original comment by IMPINC...@gmail.com on 11 May 2011 at 4:49

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I just finished my Time Bubbles! app...lots of features lots of blocks.  Most 
of the programming is simple, but I spent my time hunting for code, opening and 
closing procedures...very, (no seriously) very tedious! Please do not update 
program again without including some function to help programmers navigate 
code.  I can create my own procedure or variable name organization, but I need 
to be able to sort alphabetically.  Also, I need to be able to find instances 
of code within procedures...a find feature is needed.  Hmmmm, I see that I am 
very needy here...sorry about that.  1)Sort 2)Find that is all.

Except for the part where I tell you thanks for being here... gods of App 
Inventor. (bows)

Original comment by slasonco...@gmail.com on 24 May 2011 at 4:32

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I would like everything in My Definitions to alphabetize.  Possibly by blocks 
and procedures.

Original comment by phryzt...@gmail.com on 24 Jun 2011 at 3:34

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Organize global variables in a new Symbol Table block (collapsible). Replaces 
the current free-floating def block. All defs now found in one place. Perhaps 
could alphabetize table as well.

Original comment by stephenf...@gmail.com on 11 Jul 2011 at 11:05

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Dear App Inventor Development Team - Just for the sake of prioritization, I 
humbly suggest for your consideration that "fusion table support" is WAY less 
important than "a way to organize the things in the blocks editor to make 
coding more efficient, such as by enhanced grouping by element type, 
alphabetization, etc". Just a thought. Regardless, AI is really nice. Thanks.

Original comment by mkamo...@gmail.com on 12 Jul 2011 at 1:00

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Nice work. Don't blow it.  
A functional decomposition would be nice, and it would even allow for scoping. 
The developer could organize the visual-code elements into a block, which when 
"closed", would be replace by pseudo-code - more compact - and suggest a 
transition to text based paradigm. 

Original comment by gugi...@gmail.com on 6 Aug 2011 at 6:56

[GoogleCodeExporter]

QuizMe (screen print): A modest step regarding organization of the Editor 
screen: allow "local variables" to be associated with (and moved with) the 
procedure that uses them.  

Original comment by gugi...@gmail.com on 6 Aug 2011 at 9:25

Attachments:

• QuizMeScreenPrint2.jpg

[GoogleCodeExporter]

An even more modest step in the right direction would be to define a "grouping" 
variable block, very similar to a procedure block, but for variables, that 
would allow related data items to be kept together, moved together, and perhaps 
minimized.

Original comment by gugi...@gmail.com on 7 Aug 2011 at 7:39

[GoogleCodeExporter]

A still more modest idea: add the little bumps and indentations to variable 
definitions so that the variables can be clicked together into clumps. This 
suggestion may be a little too modest.

Original comment by gugi...@gmail.com on 7 Aug 2011 at 7:45

[GoogleCodeExporter]

A suggestion for shrinking the size of blocks that are not of interest at the 
moment without hiding all the detail. attached. 

Original comment by gugi...@gmail.com on 7 Aug 2011 at 10:18

Attachments:

• CondenseCode.jpg

[GoogleCodeExporter]

All blocks should have the bumps and indentations, so that the coder can stick 
together any blocks for his own reasons, and move them as a group.

Original comment by gugi...@gmail.com on 7 Aug 2011 at 11:10

[GoogleCodeExporter]

All the ideas that have been mentioned for alternate ways of organizing blocks 
deserve great merit. I can't wait to see what the developers come up with to 
make this easier to view and organize code.

Original comment by mdel...@gmail.com on 9 Nov 2011 at 6:06

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Thank you for your suggestions. 

Original comment by ajcol...@gmail.com on 15 Mar 2012 at 6:26

• Changed state: Noted