Dear all,

A new pug version 091c is available if you would like to try it: Click to Download

( Just a reminder that Templot needs a default local printer -- not a network printer -- to be able to run. A physical printer is not necessary, only the printer driver is needed. A virtual printer such as a fax driver or PDF generator will do fine. A free PDF printer driver can be downloaded from:  http://www.pdf995.com/download.html )

n.b. After installing 091c on Windows 7 you may see a message "This program may not have installed correctly". Please ignore this and click the "Cancel" button below the message.

This pug includes two new usability features which you may find very handy -- drag panning, and pad views history (see below).

If you are upgrading from version 074b or 078e, note that 091c also contains all the many changes in the previous pug version 082d, which you should be sure to read about at: 082d pug changes

And the new features introduced in 091b, which you should read about at: 091b pug changes

New in 091c:

1. Drag panning.

You can now move the pad view simply by dragging it with the mouse. This is essentially the same as using the existing CTRL-F2 (or 2 key) mouse action. But now there is no need to select the mouse action first, you can just grab the pad and move it.

A few notes:

You can use either the left mouse button, or the middle button (wheel button).

If you use the left mouse button you must grab the pad somewhere clear of a background template. And you can't use this method while a mouse action is in force. If you would prefer to disable this feature, untick the pad > zoom/pan options > allow left-button drag panning menu item.

If you use the middle mouse button (wheel button) there are no such restrictions. You can grab the pad anywhere you like, which makes this usable even when zoomed in close over a template. And you can use this method to move the pad while your are using a mouse action -- which is very handy. Middle-button drag panning can't be disabled.

Dragging with the middle button means pressing the mouse wheel down into the body of the mouse and holding it there while you move the mouse. You can if you wish at the same time roll the wheel to zoom the pad simultaneously while moving it. Note however that zooming cancels any mouse action in force, so if you are in a mouse action, take care not to inadvertently roll the wheel while drag panning.

Note that these are conventional button-down drags, unlike the click-move-click CAD-style action for the mouse actions.

If you have a programmable mouse, for any of the above to work you need to have the wheel button set for "Middle Click" or "AutoScroll". 

All the other panning functions are retained, which means that there are now a dozen different ways to pan across the pad, but in testing I've found this new way to be very convenient. The left button is the more intuitive, but the middle button gives you greater flexibility.

(The previous wheel panning functions remain available if you prefer -- hold down the CTRL key for that, and click the wheel button to change direction from horizontal to vertical movement.)

2. Pad views history.

A "pad view" is a combination of your position on the pad and the zoom setting. Moving about on the pad, or zooming in or out, creates a new view. Templot can now remember pad views, so that you can conveniently return to a previous view. This is very useful when you are working in two places at once, or you want to return to where you were before zooming in.

There are two completely independent new mechanisms, both available on the zoom/pan controls dialog:
 


The 4 numbered buttons are fixed pre-sets which you can set up and return to at any time.

Independently of those, Templot automatically keeps a rolling record of the 8 most recent views you have been using. A view is regarded as in use after it has remained static for 5 seconds. You can return to these recent views by clicking the previous view button repeatedly. When you do that, the next view button becomes temporarily enabled, so that you can click back and forth through the recent views. When the view has again remained unchanged for 5 seconds, the current view will be added to the recorded views and the next view button becomes disabled again.

While the view is changing, the views panel is displayed in a darker orange colour. When the view becomes static for 5 seconds, the colour returns to normal. If the colour is showing normal, you know that you will be able to return to the current view later (if needed).

If the roll box is ticked, you can also move back and forth through the recent views by holding down the SHIFT key and rolling the mouse wheel.

If the roll box is unticked, the SHIFT key works as before to make wheel zooming much faster.

You may want to read the above explanation carefully again. I doubt much would become clear by the usual "click it and see" method!  Being able to return to recent views is extremely handy, so it's worth getting the hang of it.

Comments welcome, as always. I would be grateful if you would give the above new features a good bashing and report any problems.

Here's the 091c download link again: Click to Download

regards,

Martin.