on screen node paste

[jamesbass]

Somewhere in the last few revisions I think the logic behind copying and pasting nodes got changed.

Before a pasted node would appear in the center of the currently viewed network region. Now the boxes are pasted below the copied nodes. So if I copy a node and then pan down to a blank area in the network with the idea of pasting a new copy of the nodes I have to pan back to the original node and then drag it to the spot that I want to put it. Can be a little tedious when building out a network.

[selina]

if you are pasting in the same network, nodes are always pasted below the originals plus an offset. if you are pasting to a different network, then the nodes are placed at your cursor.

Selina

[jamesbass]

Thanks for the clarification. I'm having a tough time coming up with a scenario where it would be preferable to paste offscreen rather than in the currently focused area. That would be kind of like copying and pasting text in a document but it always pastes right next to the copied location rather than at the current cursor location.

[selina]

well, I'll have to say I debug networks more often than I create them, so I often cut & paste groups of nodes and tweak parameters to compare output, or copy & paste info/panel CHOPs to look at values. most of the time I just want the nodes paste right under the current group.

however, I do see why you might want nodes to paste under your cursor, even in the same network, so I've added an option to do that. if you use ctrl-shift-v instead of ctrl-v in the next experimental, it'll paste nodes right under your mouse. ctrl-v will continue to paste under the copied or newly pasted nodes if any, or under the mouse if it is the first paste in a new network.

hope this helps.

[jamesbass]

Thanks. Without having put too much thought into it I would say my preferred behavior would be for the pasting to occur beneath the absolute screen position of where it was copied. Then the behavior would be identical whether you copy and paste without moving the network view, move the network view or enter another network. It would remember the screen position of the node when it was copied and put it in the absolute position below that node in the new view area. I think that would reduce potential mode errors by the user.