[OSM-dev] Contest for the best UI: Howto enter ways in the applet?

[Graham Wall]

On 23/02/06, Immanuel Scholz <immanuel.scholz at gmx.de> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> how would you like to have the ways (streets) entered within the user
> interface of the applet?

I think the applet is going to need a major overhaul to deal with
'ways.' I know osm-editor has some support for the sort of thing we'll
need, so it might be best to use the offline editors as proving
grounds before altering the applet. The introduction of 'ways' would
also be best accompanied by a good method to set the attributes of the
way; naming etc.

One problem I can foresee is adding new segments to existing 'ways.' I
don't imagine it will be too difficult to do when the existing 'way'
is already in the view, but if it lies outside, it might be
troublesome. Presumably each 'way' will have an ID unique amongst all
the 'ways.' So if one person started marking up a motorway from one
end with one ID, and another user started from the other end with a
different ID, then where they meet up, there must be a way to merge
too.

As for the UI: I think the osm-editor method of selecting all segments
between two nodes would be efficient, better than selecting all the
line segments separately. Obviously we will have to come up with some
cunning logic around junctions, or just refuse to select if the way
splits.

All 'ways' on the display could be displayed in one line style (say
colour), whilst all segments not belonging to any 'ways' could be in
another. Multiple 'ways' along a segment, could perhaps be represented
by the line width (in the editor.) The currently selected 'way' would
need a different colour, obviously.

Sorry for the rambling, just throwing in some of my thoughts.

Graham