Version 23.7 Blocks

[Acorn]

What fun.

Appreciated.

Acorn

[Chris M]

19 moans I have had over the past 4 months and 3 updates. 10 whinges down, 9 to go!

Post #1:
1) ctrl+shift+v from layer to MouseOff doesn't work - It does, but isn't placed in the FlexiBlock. ctrl+shift+v+alt still ruins your day, but Xara never said that was a valid command. It was just me trying things out. Result - No longer a problem.
2) Objects and text not transferring to the variant properly - they DO, but I still have random problems when I edit said objects. Result - No longer a problem.
3) I can't Repeat On All Pages - Still can't, but copy/past an entire block is so quick and easy, I now prefer it to ROAP - Result - No longer a problem.

Post #3:
4) Create a layer, place a 2 rectangles on the layer. Everything is fine. Make one of the rectangles Stretch full width, it disappears. - Result - Still a problem.
5) Objects disappearing from variant when being moved. - Result - No longer a problem.
6) Moving multiple objects makes some disappear, or multiply, or appear not to move. - Result - Still a problem.
7) Not able to Marquee select - Result - Still a problem.
8) Not able to input Block height by typing directly into toolbar. - Result - No longer a problem, but it causes other problems.

Post #17:
9) Weird SVG behaviour. This was quite a specific problem, and I couldn't pinpoint the cause, but I can't replicate it now. - Result - No longer a problem.

Post #19:
10) Objects marking themselves invisible in the Page & Layer Gallery. - Result - No longer a problem.
11) Create a rectangle in the Main variant that is wider than the Mobile variant. Make it multicoloured using the Fill Tool. The fill isn't the same in both variants. If you had red on the left and green on the right, you wouldn't see that in the Mobile variant. The same applies to the Transparency Tool. I don't think this was a problem in the first place. After a climb up the learning curve, all I need to do is select the Fill Tool, or Transparency Tool and adjust independently...probably a good thing. - Result - No longer a problem.

Post #30:
12) The Flexgroup becomes wider than the FlexiBlock. I still don't know how to recover from this, but I now find it quick and simple to drag everything out of the offending block, delete it, and import a new one. Result - Still a problem.

Post #40:
13) Snap to objects - Result - Still a problem

Post #66:
14) Moving objects in groups with shadows. - Result - No longer a problem.

Post #71:
15) A twofold problem that I can't replicate at will, but has happened 4 or 5 times. A Block will randomly jump to some ridiculous position, usually minus several thousand on the Y coordinate. Bringing the Block back into place causes it to be out of placement order with the variant. - Result - Not sure.

Post #78:
16) ctrl select an object and move it causes the object to leave the group - Result - Still a problem.
17) ctrl select a text area and move it causes the object to leave the group and change font to TNR - Result - Still a problem.

Post #81:
18) Right click and drag to copy an object in a Block. The object doesn't replicate in the variant. Repeat several times, nothing changes in the variant. Edit any one of the duplicates and they all appear in the variant. - Result - Still a problem.

Post #86:
19) Add a button by dragging and alt dropping causes the link to not work. - Result - No longer a problem.

[Chris M]

Well, here we are on version 24.3. Let's see how my whinging and moaning is going.
I shan't repeat the fixes from the above list, just the ones that were not addressed before.

Post #3:
Create a layer, place 2 rectangles on the layer. Everything is fine. Make one of the rectangles Stretch full width, it disappears - Result - No longer a problem.
Moving multiple objects makes some disappear, or multiply, or appear not to move - Result - No longer a problem.

Post #30:
The Flexgroup becomes wider than the FlexiBlock. I still don't know how to recover from this, but I now find it quick and simple to drag everything out of the offending block, delete it, and import a new one - Result - still a problem.

Post #40:
Snap to objects - Result - Still a problem.

Post #78:
ctrl select an object and move it causes the object to leave the group - Result - still a problem...but, remove the group from the Block, edit and then return to the Block is fine. Relegated this to a mini-moan.
ctrl select a text area and move it causes the object to leave the group and change font to TNR - Result - partial fix...as above, the group is broken, but the text no longer changes to TNR. A major improvement. I'm nearly tempted to say it's no longer a problem.

Post #81:
Right click and drag to copy an object in a Block. The object doesn't replicate in the variant. Repeat several times, nothing changes in the variant. Edit any one of the duplicates and they all appear in the variant - Result - partial fix. A bit of a cop out here. The not replicating when right-click dragging is certainly fixed, because right-click dragging has been disabled. My left leg hurts when I walk. Remove the leg. Problem solved.

Drag and dropping an object from File Explorer, or pasting from the Clipboard, puts the object in a selected Block. A very welcome time saver.
Marquee select and moving multiple objects are the stars of this update, in my opinion.

My list of whinges and moans is nearly empty, with snap to objects being the only big moan left. I shall have to find some more.

[Acorn]

@Chris, I do appreciate your running commentary.

Post #30 - I go to the P&L gallery, select the FlexGroup and Alt+drag the right edge back inside. Probably have to drag the bottom down too.

I am not muchly appeased as there are too many things that can go wrong.
You still have to juggle back and forth with the variant.

I have mostly adopted the FlexGroup in a conventional design and eschewed Blocks altogether.

Still not sold.

Acorn

[Chris M]

@Chris, Post #30 - I go to the P&L gallery, select the FlexGroup and Alt+drag the right edge back inside. Probably have to drag the bottom down too.
Acorn

This is the bit that eluded me. It's the FlexGroup that is the problem, not the Block itself. Also, like many things in life, this enlightenment covers the mini moan that I can't select the Block and type in height and width sizes. It's only a mini moan as I can't really see many reasons when I would need that feature, but I must have wanted to use it to notice it in the first place.

I have created 5 sites using nothing but Blocks, admittedly, they are similar in structure, so maybe 3 that are different. The forced variant is something I don't like and would turn off if the option was there, but I have become used to it. Not cramming too much content into each Block and sorting the variant every 5th Block or so, and I find I'm chugging along nicely.

[Chris M]

Drag and dropping an object from File Explorer, or pasting from the Clipboard, puts the object in a selected Block. A very welcome time saver.

Except...

Create a layer and try to drag something from File Explorer onto it. Even though the layer is selected in the Page And Layer Gallery, it still goes into the Block on the MouseOff layer. If you drop the object away from the Block area, you can then drag it to where you want it on the layer. It's as if the Block area is the Bermuda Triangle, drop into the area and you're in trouble.

How about copy and paste onto the layer? Nope the Block devours all. No matter what I do, I can't paste onto the layer.

[Acorn]

Except...
Create a layer and try to drag something from File Explorer onto it. Even though the layer is selected in the Page And Layer Gallery, it still goes into the Block on the MouseOff layer. If you drop the object away from the Block area, you can then drag it to where you want it on the layer. It's as if the Block area is the Bermuda Triangle, drop into the area and you're in trouble.
How about copy and paste onto the layer? Nope the Block devours all. No matter what I do, I can't paste onto the layer.

Chris, I find MouseOver is Locked and that too makes life all the more difficult.

You can also make your pop-up layer Solo then drag or paste directly into it.
You also have to remember to share for the Variant.

For most workarounds, you have to be comfortable with using the Page & Layer gallery as well.

Acorn

[Chris M]

@Acorn. I understand, and appreciate, Xara's ability to be tricked, bent and molded to allow such workarounds. However, we shouldn't have to be finding bodges and fixes for the basics. Pasting into a selected layer is pretty basic.

I started this thread to highlight the problems and shortcomings of the Blocks system, not to seek unofficial answers. The Xara team have fixed most of the problems, although quite a few shouldn't have been there in a polished release in the first place. I intend to wave placards, march in the streets and flip the occasional car to protest the right to have a working piece of software.

Remember, we didn't buy the plus as is, we rent it. Landlords have an obligation to provide what they advertise. You wouldn't rent a house without a roof, or rent a car with 3 wheels, or rent a shop with no doors. We shouldn't have to rent software that doesn't work as expected.

[Acorn]

Chris, I'd swear I have been saying that all along.

By raising the Thread in this forum, you are inviting TG discussion.
WBs are a new method of working that Xara dropped on us all.

All fudges and suggestions are there for Xara to focus on and to fix.

You have been paying rent for the privilege

Acorn

[Chris M]

FlexiBlocks:
Dragging and dropping from File Explorer places the object directly into the Block, which is great. However, copy and pasting drops the object into the Block, but it acts like an ALT drop. You still have to drag the object out of the Block, release it, then drag it back in again.

Twice in a row I have had excess space at the bottom of a variant since 24.3. Once when editing an existing site, and once with a brand new shiny one. Both Xara's and Acorn's fixes work quickly and easily, but that's not the point. Xara disabled manually adjusting the page length for reasons unknown. Quite clearly it's still needed.