Rack Planner Update 1.18

Tonight's work included several bug-fixes, some subtle cosmetic changes, changes to the clear/delete rack routines and right click drag to select racks for horizontal alignment. In the picture below, right-click-dragging from the top-left corner of the pink rectamgle to the bottom right and releasing left-aligned the racks. Come at it from the other side and they right-align. The module chooser now defaults to whatever format the currently selected rack is rather than having to explicitly choose 'EURO' for instance each time.

Rack Planner Update - Wiard

Tonight I added the following:

1) Definitions for what a module width is called per format (HP, U, MU etc.). These are used in the rack data (currently shown to the right of each rack) and in the 'Add Rack' dialog box.

2) Definitions for a default rack width per format (84HP for Euro, 6U for Wiard, 8MU for Dotcom etc.)

3) Beginnings of rack overlap detection and auto-relocation to free space.

4) A couple of little nice touches that (probably) nobody except me will ever notice, but would bug me if I didn't add them!

5) 6U/Wiard format is now catered for:

 

Rack Planner Update 1.16

Tonight I added a power overview mode that shows the current drawn by each module as well as total current used for the whole rack. (if the current draw is unknown or not specified in the module's XML file the module will be highlighted in red so you know your overall power figure is missing this module - see the Mutamix in the image below). Also displayed are space usage stats and the space used by each module.

Rack Planner Update

The 'add rack' code now allows you to select the format, number of 'module units' wide and number of rows for the rack you want to add to the plan. It then creates a new rack to those specs. The screenshot shows 4 racks created very quickly in succession. Some more error checking code is required around this, but this is a key chunk of work done (there's no use having a rack planner that you can't add a rack to!). 'Show Rack Feet' will be an option :-)

Rack Planner Update

Some further work on the Add Rack routines, adding hp per row and number of rows controls:

Rack Planner Update 1.15

Just starting work on the 'Add Rack' routines. You'll be able to choose rack format, width, number of rows and various other properties:

Rack Planner Update - OSX

It took quite a bit of work rejigging the way paths to files were held, but it now works on my iMac. I have to admit to being rather pleased with this.

Rack Planner Update

Some work has been done on the row of menu buttons at the top of the main view:

• Delete Module - This replaces pressing 'D' on the keyboard to delete selected modules. It requires at least one module to be selected before it is enabled.
• Add Rack - This currently adds a 2 row, 84HP Euro rack to the plan. It will eventually display an interface to choose a rack format and size. It is always enabled.
• Clear Rack - This deletes all modules and their attached patch cables from the currently selected rack. It requires the current rack to have at least one module in it for it to be enabled.
• Delete Rack - This deletes the currently selected rack. It requires the rack to be empty before being enabled.

Rack Planner Update

You can now keep selecting and adding modules from the 'Module Tree' until you click away from it when you are taken back to the main plan screen. This makes building up a rack so much quicker. In the picture below I had just clicked repeatedly on the A-160 list entry:

 

I've also added a 'Clear Rack' button which clears the currently selected rack.

Rack Planner Update

Further enhancements to the 'Add Module' code. You can now scroll the manufacturer and module lists vertically (by dragging them up/down with the mouse) if they don't fit on the screen (great for the long list of Doepfer modules). It also remembers where you last added a module from and takes you straight back there the next time you click 'Add'. Format and manufacturer remain highlighted while you choose the module.

Modules no longer stack up in the top left corner of the rack as they are added. They start at the top left, moving across each row in turn looking for a space big enough for the chosen module. If such a a space is found then the module is put there. If not it reverts to top left as before. This works really nicely and saves alot of dragging around when first building up a plan. It'll be an option in the final version (for those of you that want a stack of modules in the top left corner).