Connecting Cues, Patterns, Methods and Timers

[gbishop]

We have Cues that can be static (e.g. overlay) or animated (e.g. fill). The animated Cues need to know the desired interval for the animation. Should the Cue specify the Timer? Why shouldn't you be able to use the same Cue with different Timers? On the other hand, why would I? How often would I want a fast "fill" and a slow "fill" for the same interface?

Patterns specify the Cue to use for each group and button.

Methods activate Cues and Timers. I'd like to avoid specifying the Cue in the Method; that belongs to the Pattern.

Methods might need Timers for things other than Cues. Most applications of Timers should be accompanied with some sort of Cue but maybe you've got some sort of "Idle" timer that does something after a long interval and didn't want a visual indication?

I think we have some default Cues, Patterns, and Methods that come built-in. Perhaps they are read-only; you make a copy if you want to change it.

Suppose the Cue specifies the Timer: To add a new Cue and Timer. You would need to first create the Timer. Then you could create the new Cue referencing that Timer. Now over in your Pattern you could link to your new Cue. In this model, activating the Cue could automatically activate the Timer. That seems nice.

Suppose the Cue has the Timer as a free parameter: It would have to be specified in the Method. But I'd prefer not to specify the Cue in the Method. So the Cue response specifies the Timer but not the Cue? I guess if the Cue that gets used (specified by the Pattern) is static, the Timer gets ignored? Lots of room for confusion here...

I think I have convinced myself that animated Cues are linked to specific Timers.

Any thoughts?

[gbishop]

Timers are currently children of Methods of which there may be many. I've been avoiding requiring names to be unique by using UIDs to link things.

So, I creating a Cue that needs a Timer, how do I link to it? Doh!

Perhaps Timers need to live outside Methods. Be globals of a sort?

[gbishop]

Further review leads me to think that the Method specifies the Timer but not the Cue. If the Cue ignores the timer it'll be fine.