Re: Proportional line width, precise anchor points

At 11:57 AM -0400 8/5/09, Sean Ahern wrote:
>Kenneth Prager wrote:
>>This doesn't help you but line magnets (as opposed to point 
>>magnets) are what is called for here.  They are a feature that I've 
>>been asking for for years.
>
>I guess I don't know what line magnets are.  I'm guessing that they 
>are an ability to have lines "snap" to each other along their 
>lengths.


Here is what I wrote about line magnets back in 2002 (yikes):

At 6:39 AM -0700 5/24/02, Kenneth Prager wrote:
>I would like to see a mode where there is automatic distribution of 
>connections along a selected side of a box (or group)--without 
>having to manually add each individual magnet.  Under the current 
>method, if I add a new line, I have to go back and re-distribute the 
>magnets (which can be tedious).
>
>I think I have figured out a paradigm in which this feature can be 
>added without disrupting the logic of magnets: have both point 
>magnets and *line magnets*.
>
>Here is a partial list of features/behaviors of line magnets (LM)...
>
>o Lines attached to a LM would be distributed equally along the 
>line. For example, one line attached to a LM would connect to the 
>center. Two lines would be distributed at 1/3 and 2/3.  Three lines 
>at 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4.  etc..  See the ASCII picture below for an 
>example.
>
>o LMs can be added to any shape, just like PMs.
>
>o LMs can be lengthened or shortened.
>
>o LMs can be rotated
>
>
>Here is an example...
>
>
>(a) 1 connection
>                          +----------+
>                          |          |
>                          |          |
>                          |          |
>     +--------+           |          |
>     |  (PM) o|---+       |          |
>     |        |   |       |          |  PM = Point Magnet
>     |        |   |       |          |  LM = Line Magnet
>     +--------+   |       |          |
>                  |       |          |
>                  |       ||         |
>     +--------+   |       ||         |
>     |        |   +-------|| (LM)    |
>     |        |           ||         |
>     |        |           ||         |
>     |        |           |          |
>     |  (PM) o|           |          |
>     |        |           +----------+
>     |        |
>     +--------+
>
>
>(b) 2nd connection added
>                          +----------+
>                          |          |
>                          |          |
>                          |          |
>     +--------+           |          |
>     |  (PM) o|---+       |          |
>     |        |   |       |          |  PM = Point Magnet
>     |        |   |       |          |  LM = Line Magnet
>     +--------+   |       |          |
>                  |       |          |
>                  |       ||         |
>     +--------+   +-------||         |
>     |        |           || (LM)    |
>     |        |   +-------||         |
>     |        |   |       ||         |
>     |        |   |       |          |
>     |  (PM) o|---+       |          |
>     |        |           +----------+
>     |        |
>     +--------+