SQL Power Software Forum

After creating lots of queries with Wabit and often using the zoom function because there were too many tables (or columns) I thought about a few enhancements:

- Zoom to fit: Reports have the button zoom to fit, queries could use it too.

- Right click menu on tables with the following items
-- Show all columns (Shows table and all columns in the playpen, the results won't be affected)
-- Show only selected columns (shows table name + selected columns in the playpen, the results won't be affected)
-- Hide all columns (would minimize the table in the playpen and only show the table name, the results won't be affected)
-- Explore table (would open a popup with where you can only query the single table)
[-- Profile table] <- Just because we can

I haven't really had a need for the profiler in Wabit yet
-- Delete table

You could use different colors for the tables if only some or none of the columns are shown in the playpen.

What do you think about it?

Benjamin

PS: Maybe I should start programming myself to help you working on the list of all my suggestions

Hi Benjamin,

Thanks for the suggestions. I think all of them are good and I've added two bugs to track them, bug 2246 and bug 2248.

For the show selected columns idea I like the idea of a "hide unused columns" option better. This option would hide all of the columns that are not selected, don't have their where field filled or used in a join. If only the selected columns are shown the columns used in a join or filter conditions in the where field would not be visible. This could make it harder to understand where filters are in a query.

I've also been thinking of how to let users know that there is still information in a table that has been collapsed. We could make it obvious that the table contains specific filters on columns by making the "where" column header bold (or italicized?).
Instead of using different colours for the table headers it may be better to take a button on the table that can show/hide these columns as well. I am thinking of the up/down and left/right arrows that are placed on split panes when they are set to be one touch expandable. With a button/buttons we could show users, through icons, the state of the table.
Another option would be to add a "..." column to the bottom of the table that when clicked would expand the entire table.
Another option again would be to let users grab the edge of a table and resize it. As the table's resized add a scroll bar, which may get messy, or hide unused columns as the table shrinks then start hiding columns in use until the table cannot be reduced in size.

Thomas

PS: Feel free to send us a patch.

For the show selected columns idea I like the idea of a "hide unused columns" option better.

I agree with you, it is important to see all used columns, even if they are not selected.

I've also been thinking of how to let users know that there is still information in a table that has been collapsed. We could make it obvious that the table contains specific filters on columns by making the "where" column header bold (or italicized?).
Instead of using different colours for the table headers it may be better to take a button on the table that can show/hide these columns as well. I am thinking of the up/down and left/right arrows that are placed on split panes when they are set to be one touch expandable. With a button/buttons we could show users, through icons, the state of the table.

I would probably prefer having the table header bold/italic because you might not even see the where column when you only show the table name.
Arrows or +/- could work, as long as they don't confuse user and take up to much space. We could also use a double mouse click on a table to expand it and to minimize it.

Another option would be to add a "..." column to the bottom of the table that when clicked would expand the entire table.

We could also call it "Show all" or "Expand".

Another option again would be to let users grab the edge of a table and resize it.

I'm not sure if that would make it easier to use the querypen, a scrollbar in a table could be a bit confusing.

I don't know if I'll ever have that much time to program, but i would love to.

We could also use a double mouse click on a table to expand it and to minimize it.

That's my favourite option so far. It's an expert feature. I'm not convinced advertising it visually would achieve anything but to add visual noise to the GUI. (but once a table is rolled up/collapsed/condensed, it is then important to indicate that state visually)

I don't know if I'll ever have that much time to program, but i would love to.

As the charities are so fond of saying, "every little bit helps." You don't have to tackle the big items, but it would be a huge help if you could implement some of the smaller changes you've suggested. You're already a project member, so no need for sending patches. Just commit. If we dislike something or find a problem, we'll be sure to let you know.

-Jonathan