How should the user create a new node?

[philipsens]

This discussion got created on behalf of issue #468

It is hard to find a node that gets put somewhere on the canvas.

There are 3 ways to counter this:

1. Place the newly created node in the center of the view or canvas
2. Pan to the newly created node
3. Create the node at the mouse location after the user clicks the canvas

Please vote on one of the answers or add your own.

[philipsens]

Option 3:
Create the node at the mouse location after the user clicks the canvas.
The cursor will change into a crosshair when the user needs to click the canvas, to add a node.

[philipsens]

Option 1:
Place the newly created node in the center of the view or canvas.
Even if the user has moved the canvas, the node will show in the center of the view (or screen), not the canvas itself.

[philipsens]

While at first we where going for option 2 @nielsm5 chose to do this option.

#468 (comment)

[philipsens]

This seemed easy to implement, but is more complicated than the other solutions.
In the meantime I've improved the algorithm a bit so it doesn't generate to low.

[philipsens]

Options 2:
Pan to the newly created node.
User adds a node and the canvas moves so the node is centered.

[jacodg]

In latest Frank!Flow the placing of new nodes has improved a lot, thanks! Currently it is always adding the new element at the end of the pipeline. Would it be an idea to add it just after the selected element? If one of the elements is selected, otherwise add it at the end of the pipeline like it is already done now.