Sonic Flow

Graphical User Interface

This page is intented for the illustration of what Sonic Flow is about.

This page contains a proposal and an initial list of requirements for a graphical user interface (GUI) to the Sonic Flow library.

NOTE: the Sonic Flow project (of Seppänen and Kananoja) doesn't currently plan to implement a GUI.

Screenshots

An informal example of the network editing window (network.xcf):

The toolbox window (toolbox.xcf):

Requirements

Actions

1. add new blocks (from a "block library")
2. delete existing blocks
3. browse a hierarchic library of blocks
4. create a new network (a window)
5. one graphical window contains one network (see the above screenshot)
6. delete (close) an existing network (window)
7. Open/Save/Save As a network from/to disk
8. the layout of the network must be saved as well as the logical connections (topology)
9. move blocks around on the screen
10. the wires connected to the block must move along with the block
11. change the name and other parameters of blocks: a parameter dialog window is needed. The window would open e.g. by doubleclicking the left mouse button on top of the block or pressing the right mouse button down on top of the block and selecting "Properties..." from a menu.
12. make connections (wires) between blocks
13. remove connections (wires) between blocks
14. start/stop the simulation of the network
15. have a progress indicator for the (asynchronous) simulation
16. select a number of blocks
17. copy/cut/paste selected blocks (and the wires in between)
18. catch the exceptions from the library and display error/warning dialogs of them
19. there may be edges in wires
20. blocks are represented as rectangles
21. the rectangle contains the name of the block (alternatively a graphical icon) and graphical symbols for the input and output terminals
22. names of all blocks have the same text font and text size
23. all terminal names have the same text font and text size
24. there is a separate tool for adding the wires
25. so there must be a separate tool for the other operations (moving etc.)
26. input terminals are mainly on the top and left sides of the block rectangle
27. output terminals are mainly on the right and bottom sides of the block rectangle
28. the terminals are represented with a graphical symbol
29. the terminal names are displayed in a `tooltip' when the user moves the mouse pointer on top of the graphical symbol of a terminal
30. blocks may not overlap
31. the color of the window background may be changed
32. the color of the block rectangle background may be changed

Menu hierarchy

Sonic Flow

http://sonicflow.sourceforge.net/gui/
Last modified: Tue Dec 15 10:40:20 1998
jams@users.sourceforge.net