Inserting/adding components to ladder logic (LD) is annoying and tedious

[alexchandel]

Adding components like contacts or coils to a wire is annoying and tedious.

PLC programmers expect either to:

1. click or right-click a wire and choose a new component to insert in that wire, or
2. choose a component from the toolbar, and click a wire to insert it

Neither works. In the first case, there are almost no useful options (neither to insert a component inline, nor to break the wire, nor to connect the wire to a free component). In the second case, the wire turns blue, but instead a free unconnected component is dropped on top of it.

Moreover, actually connecting a free component into an existing wire is also tedious. It requires deleting the wire, and carefully dragging from the pins.

[thiagoralves]

I'm aware of this. The ladder diagram editor source code was repurposed from the function block diagram editor source code - they are essentially the same, except that the ladder editor includes contacts, coils, and rails. That's why it allows elements to be freely placed on the screen. I know it is not ideal, but it is what we have for now. In the future it will be refactored to have a better user experience.