Tooltip for groups

[Scott Rossi]

>> I haven't been following this discussion in detail, but will the individual
>> objects in the group have tooltips separate from the group?  If so, how will
>> the user know when a tooltip applies only to an object versus the group?  I
>> would say, from a usability standpoint, it would be effective to use
>> Jacqueline's technique since mousing *near* the group could provide a
>> tooltip separate from the individual objects.

> I don't think this is an issue. Or better said : one should not confuse the
> logic behind programing vs the logic behind using an app...
> I mean : there's a logic behind any user interface, and in a specific context,
> when end users point at an object, it should be clear what the tooltip applies
> to.
> OTOH, from a programer's point of view, groups can be used for many
> tricks, like gathering several objects that will be viewed by end users as
> 1 single entity, whose content may vary slightly over time... In that case,
> using a single tooltip will save quite a lot of time and scripting...

Do you have an example of a specific situation you're trying address?  So
far I can't envision one.


 
>> If you really wanted to get "regional" you could create a transparent image
>> as your group tooltip object that contained opaque regions corresponding to
>> the locations of all objects in the real group.  If you then enlarged those
>> opaque regions all around (similar to applying a 20 pixel stroke to draw
>> graphic) and placed this image behind your group, the group tooltip would
>> respond only when the mouse came within 10 pixels of any object, not just
>> when entering the overall rect of the group.
>> 
> 
> OK. But honestly, don't you think that being able to toggle between group
> tooltip and individual objects tooltips (by changing a single property) would
> make things A LOT easier ?

I never said it wouldn't.  All I was trying to do was offer a solution you
could now as opposed of waiting until a feature is added to the engine.

Regards,

Scott Rossi
Creative Director
Tactile Media, Multimedia & Design
-----
E: scott at tactilemedia.com
W: http://www.tactilemedia.com