Precision editing and hiding tabs

[oldgearguy]

Didn't think two separate topics would be useful/needed.

First question - if I have a set of tabs and some are conditional, is there a way to hide the tab (or at least have no response if a user tries to click on it)?

Second question - what do people do to provide precise selection of values when a parameter has a wide range? Does the size and/or type of control make a difference? Is there some accepted shift/alt/ctrl combo people use when moving a control for more precise selection?

I have some parameters ranging from 0 to 400 or 800 or 1500 and a small rotary uiSlider control doesn't seem to allow me to select individual values even though the step size is set to 1.

thanks for any info on these two.

[Tonfisch]

For the second question:
I use two fader for those. One with big steps, 0, 100, 200, 300 ... and one for 0 to 99. I use the custom name for communication with each other.

for the first fader i use something like:

`chMod3 = function(--[[ CtrlrModulator --]] mod, --[[ number --]] value, --[[ number --]] source)

if is_panel_ready() == true and source ~= 5 then
	local DevCode = string.format('F0 4C 0%.1x 15 01', MidiChannel)	
	local v = string.format("%.2x", (mod:getProperty("modulatorCustomIndexGroup")))
	local w = string.format("%.2x", (tonumber(mod:getProperty("modulatorCustomIndex"))))
	local name = mod:getProperty("modulatorCustomName")
	local LabelValue = 0
	local SendValue = 0
	local paramValue_1 = '00'
	local x = tonumber(mod:getValueMapped())

	panel:getComponent(name):setValue(0, false)
	local Test = mod:getProperty("name")
	local Disp = panel:getComponent(Test..'Disp')

	if x <= 1000-1 then
		LabelValue=x*(1/10)
		SendValue = x
		local message = table.concat({DevCode, paramValue_1, v, w, nibbles2or4(SendValue, 16), 'F7'}, ' ')   
		panel:sendMidiMessageNow(CtrlrMidiMessage(message))

--dump(message)
Disp:setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')

	elseif x<=1500-1 and x>=1000 then
		LabelValue=100+(x-1000)*(1/5)
		SendValue = x
		local message = table.concat({DevCode, paramValue_1, v, w, nibbles2or4(SendValue, 16), 'F7'}, ' ')   
		panel:sendMidiMessageNow(CtrlrMidiMessage(message))
		Disp:setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')

	elseif x<=2100-1 and x>=1500 then
		LabelValue=200+(x-1500)*(1/2)
		SendValue = x
		local message = table.concat({DevCode, paramValue_1, v, w, nibbles2or4(SendValue, 16), 'F7'}, ' ')   
		panel:sendMidiMessageNow(CtrlrMidiMessage(message))
		Disp:setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')

	elseif x<=2600-1 and x>=2100 then
		LabelValue=500+(x-2100)*(1/1)
		SendValue = x
		local message = table.concat({DevCode, paramValue_1, v, w, nibbles2or4(SendValue, 16), 'F7'}, ' ')   
		panel:sendMidiMessageNow(CtrlrMidiMessage(message))
		Disp:setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')

	elseif x<=4000 and x>=2600 then
		LabelValue=1000+(x-2600)*(10)
		SendValue = x
		local message = table.concat({DevCode, paramValue_1, v, w, nibbles2or4(SendValue, 16), 'F7'}, ' ')   
		panel:sendMidiMessageNow(CtrlrMidiMessage(message))
		Disp:setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')
	elseif x>=64536 and x<=65535 then
		LabelValue=((65536-x)*-1)/10
		SendValue = x
		local message = table.concat({DevCode, paramValue_1, v, w, nibbles2or4(SendValue, 16), 'F7'}, ' ')   
		panel:sendMidiMessageNow(CtrlrMidiMessage(message))
		Disp:setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')
	else end
end

end`

for the second, i use:
`chMod3Fine = function(--[[ CtrlrModulator --]] mod, --[[ number --]] value, --[[ number --]] source)

if is_panel_ready() == true and source ~= 5 then
	local DevCode = string.format('F0 4C 0%.1x 15 01', MidiChannel)
	local paramValue_1 = '00'
	local name = mod:getProperty("modulatorCustomName")
	local a = tonumber(mod:getValueMapped())
	local z = panel:getModulatorByName(name):getValueMapped()
	local v = string.format("%.2x", (tonumber(mod:getProperty("modulatorCustomIndexGroup"))))
	local w = string.format("%.2x", (tonumber(mod:getProperty("modulatorCustomIndex"))))
	local LabelValue = ""
	local Disp = panel:getComponent(name..'Disp')
	local x = z+a
	local y = z-a
	if z <=12000 then
		local message = table.concat({DevCode, paramValue_1, v, w, nibbles2or4(x, 16), 'F7'}, ' ')
		panel:sendMidiMessageNow(CtrlrMidiMessage(message))

		if x <= 1000-1 then
			LabelValue=x*(1/10)
			Disp:setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')
		elseif x<=1500-1 and x>=1000 then
			LabelValue=100+(x-1000)*(1/5)
			Disp:setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')
		elseif x<=2100-1 and x>=1500 then
			LabelValue=200+(x-1500)*(1/2)
			Disp:setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')
		elseif x<=2600-1 and x>=2100 then
			LabelValue=500+(x-2100)*(1/1)
			Disp:setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')
		elseif x<=2773 and x>=2600 then
			LabelValue=1000+(x-2600)*(10)
			Disp:setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')
		else end
	end
	if z >=64000 then
		local message = table.concat({DevCode, paramValue_1, v, w, nibbles2or4(y, 16), 'F7'}, ' ')
		panel:sendMidiMessageNow(CtrlrMidiMessage(message))

		LabelValue=((-65536+y))*(1/10)
		Disp:setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')
	end
end

end`

This is not elegant, and needs additional attention for the received midi:

`function assignTimeFader(Time, TimeFine, Disp, paraTyp, FxPara)
--local Time = FxATime2 --Time/Rate
--local TimeFine = FxATime2Fine --Fine
--local Disp = FxATime2Disp --value-display
--local paraTyp = ParaTypFxA2 --shortcut for submitting stuff to component
local y = tostring(FxPara, "%W") --substring did not work with numbers...
local z = FxPara --number-(value) also needed
local var1 = 0 --reset var1, for later fillup
local var2 = string.sub(y, -1)*1 --get the last digit for the Fine-Fader
if z <=10-1 then --truncate the last digit, for the Rough-Fader
var1 = 0
elseif z <=100-1 and z >=10 then
var1 = string.sub(y, 1, 1)*10
elseif z <=1000-1 and z >=100 then
var1 = string.sub(y, 1, 2)*10
elseif z <=10000 and z >=1000 then
var1 = string.sub(y, 1, 3)*10
else end
Time:getComponent():setProperty("uiFixedSliderContent", slidercontent[paraTyp["SubTypeIndex"]], false)
Time:getComponent():setProperty("componentVisibleName", paraTyp["shortName"], false)
TimeFine:getComponent():setProperty("componentVisibleName", paraTyp["shortName"].."Fine", false)
Time:getComponent():setVisible(true)
TimeFine:getComponent():setVisible(true)
Disp:getComponent():setVisible(true)
Time:setValueMapped(var1, false, false)
TimeFine:setValueMapped(var2, false, false)
local var3 = var1+var2

	if var3 <= 1000-1 then						--generate the Parameterdisplayvalue
		LabelValue=var3*(1/10)
		Disp:getComponent():setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')
	elseif var3<=1500-1 and var3>=1000 then
		LabelValue=100+(var3-1000)*(1/5)
		Disp:getComponent():setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')
	elseif var3<=2100-1 and var3>=1500 then
		LabelValue=200+(var3-1500)*(1/2)
		Disp:getComponent():setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')
	elseif var3<=2600-1 and var3>=2100 then
		LabelValue=500+(var3-2100)*(1/1)
		Disp:getComponent():setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')
	elseif var3<=2773 and var3>=2600 then
		LabelValue=1000+(var3-2600)*(10)
		Disp:getComponent():setPropertyString ("uiLabelText", LabelValue..' '..'msec')
	else end

end`

In this example i use a lagel to display the value. That is not needed in all situations.
If you want to go deeper? I used this in the Sony DPS-V77 (https://github.com/Tonfisch/Editor-for-Sony-DPS-V77) and in a simpler way in the Lexicon MPX1 (https://github.com/Tonfisch/MPX1).
As i said: that is not the best way! But works for me.
good luck
Toni

[oldgearguy]

Thank you for that complete example. I was thinking of a similar approach; good to know it works for you.

[dnaldoog]

The only way I can think of blocking a user from clicking on a tab in uiTabs is to block it with a transparent uiComponent in a layer above the uiTab then move the uiComponent over the tab you wish to block using componentRectangle:
To unblock all set the uiComponent to somewhere off the panel using say negative x index.

I don't think JUCE supports it.

setMaskPosition = function(--[[ CtrlrModulator --]] mod, --[[ number --]] value, --[[ number --]] source)
local t={"-200 0 0 0","104 63 50 26","151 63 50 26","200 63 50 26"}
panel:getComponent("maskComponent"):setProperty("componentRectangle",t[value+1],false)
end

• See Demo panel

[dnaldoog]

I found a way to increase sensitivity for uiSliders

By clicking on the shift key or perhaps another modifier + onMouseDown the sensitivity is changed to a higher value - the default is 250.
On onMouseUp the mouseDragSensitivity is reset to 250. A sensitivity value of 1200 seems to work.

mouseDown

setMouseDragSensitivity = function(--[[ CtrlrComponent --]] comp --[[ MouseEvent --]], event)
    local sensIncrease = panel:getModulatorByName("setSens"):getModulatorValue()
    if event.mods:isShiftDown() then
        sensDetect.set = true
        panel:getSlider("nameOfSlider"):getOwnedSlider():setSliderSnapsToMousePosition(false)
        panel:getSlider("nameOfSlider"):getOwnedSlider():setMouseDragSensitivity(sensIncrease)
    end
    local send = panel:getSlider("nameOfSlider"):getOwnedSlider():getMouseDragSensitivity()
    panel:getLabelComponent("debugL"):setText(String(send))
end

mouseUp

resetMouseDragSensitivity = function(--[[ CtrlrComponent --]] comp --[[ MouseEvent --]], event)
    if sensDetect.set == false then
        panel:getSlider("nameOfSlider"):getOwnedSlider():setMouseDragSensitivity(sensDetect.default)
        local send = panel:getSlider("nameOfSlider"):getOwnedSlider():getMouseDragSensitivity()
        panel:getLabelComponent("debugL"):setText(String(send))
    end

    sensDetect.set = false
end

sensDetect=setmetatable({default=250},{__index=function(t,k) t[k]=false return t[k] end}) -- global

DEMO panel here.

[oldgearguy]

Thanks for all the suggestions.
re: hiding tabs - with my limited knowledge (and the fact there's no hide/inactive property) I was going to create a blank label and just move it to cover the tab(s) that are not available. I think that blocks any clicks from getting through to the tab.

re: precision - in hardware, there's often a coarse/fine set of controls or a range switch+knob to allow a user to get more precise.
I did find that the default behavior of a mouse hovering over a control is that the wheel will increment/decrement by the unit step size set for that control. It's the universal struggle of determining the size of a control that will allow a user to change things quickly while balancing the full range of values and limited screen real estate.

I think a combination of a decent sized control plus the mouse wheel plus maybe implementing a quick jump via double-clicks might cover things. I know the default double click is a single value, but for large range parameters, maybe an override method that increments by 100 (or 500 or ...) for each double-click (with wrap around) might be useful. I'm hoping to be able to have a small but consistent approach for editing the set of parameters with wide-ranging values as well as those with a smaller, more defined set of choices.