Vertical Modeling through Shape Menu (create new model elements below current element)

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Currently the right shape menu can be used to pull new model elements out 
of existing ones. They will automatically appear to the right of the 
current element, which is great for BPMN modeling. However, for other 
modeling languages, e.g. Petri nets or EPCs, it is more suitable to 
create new model elements below the current element.

I would propose to add a shape menu at the bottom of a shape with the 
same content as the one on the right.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by falko.me...@gmail.com on 17 Jun 2008 at 3:36

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I implemented the feature against revision 554, to see how it works. It is 
configurable to show the stencil menu on all four borders of a shape.

I think it might be a valuable enhancement which even helps for BPMN modeling, 
e.g. 
for message flows. However, I hesitated to directly commit the change to svn, 
in 
order to hear some other opinions.

To try the feature, just copy the attached file into you plugins directory.

Original comment by falko.me...@gmail.com on 18 Jun 2008 at 7:21

• Changed state: Implemented
• Added labels: PatchAttached

Attachments:

• shapemenu.js

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Original comment by NicoPete...@gmail.com on 23 Jun 2008 at 7:10

[GoogleCodeExporter]

falko, are you aware of the possibility to drag the new element from the 
shapemenu to
the wanted position? I know that in the past, some people often only clicked on 
the
buttons, but never dragged it. probably, it is not intuitive to show buttons 
when you
also have the possibility to drag.

Original comment by NicoPete...@gmail.com on 23 Jun 2008 at 7:17

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Yes, I am aware of the drag and drop feature. But, through this it is very hard 
to 
create the new element in the same distance and correctly aligned to other 
elements.

I tested the patch with having the shape menu attached to all four borders and 
it 
eases and speeds up modeling especially for models which have no well defined 
start 
and end like UML or FMC models. For EPCs it might be also very helpful, since 
there 
the typical modeling direction is from top to bottom and not from left to right.

Original comment by falko.me...@gmail.com on 26 Jun 2008 at 5:28