Allow users to save dot code from browser

[mstefaniuk]

What do you mean exactly? Using copy / paste is not enough?

[DrQz]

Like saving the image to a local file is a nice button option, it seemed saving the text locally would be simple. It's a bit confusing from the current GUI as to what the Save options really are. Copy/paste is like saying, why not just do a local screen capture?

[mstefaniuk]

Ok, I would extend site.

[DrQz]

Cool. It might make things a bit clearer for a user if the "Update diagram" drop-down menu was labeled as "Save options" with the menu items: "Save PNG to disk" and "Save dot to disk" (or similar). I know I found "Update diagram" confusing since the graph canvas gets updated automatically with each edit in the text pane, so no other physical action is required.

[mstefaniuk]

Idea is to provide button with default action saving graphviz fiddle in the cloud and optional actions like saving as png, as dot source (as you requested) and maybe as SVG. Maybe naming should be improved "Update diagram fiddle" or "Save diagram to the cloud".

[DrQz]

When I first saw GV.it, I thought that it would be a good way to show the result to multiple people by sending a link to that page, as opposed to using the conventional GV app locally and sending the resulting image via email or Twitter, or whatever. Although GV.it doesn't work that way right now (does it?), it might be part of your plan with the cloud and so on. GV.it could also be used collaboratively, where 2 or more ppl update the diagram iteratively as part of a discussion or some other collaborative effort. That's why saving both the dot text and the image is important. In fact, I could use such a feature right now, if it existed. Point being, these things would clearly differentiate GV.it from vanilla GV. Just some random thoughts.

[mstefaniuk]

Thanks for pointing this out. It was one of my original idea for that project but lack of time slows me down. Please add another issue for that.

What do you think about naming button?

[DrQz]

No worries. I realize GV.it isn't providing your livelihood. :)

What do you think about naming button?

As I mentioned previously, for the drop-down menu title (if that's what you're referring to), I believe relabeling Update diagram to Save options would present the clearest meaning to any user. The word options suggests to the user that they should click the down arrow to see the option items (of which there's only one at the moment).

[mstefaniuk]

But it would make harder to save / update diagram fiddle to a cloud (two clicks instead of one). Currently it is main feature and saving PNG / DOT / SVG is secondary.

[DrQz]

The ability to "update diagram fiddle to a cloud is currently the main feature" had completely escaped me. That I can leave GV.it, come back to it and see the most recent state is not at all obvious, and I didn't notice it while playing around originally. Am I the only one? I just now see what you mean by doing some very explicit tests. But that's b/c I was totally confused about what you were saying. If this is the main feature, I think it really needs to spelled out very clearly for any new user, including (what I regard as) the mixed semantics of the "Update" button.

[mstefaniuk]

If you don't click on down arrow then diagram would be saved to the cloud with permanent link. Then you can share it or return to it later.

[DrQz]

Right. I understand that now, but those semantics are not obvious at all, IMHO.