Updated Design: subflows (markdown)

knolleary 2014-10-28 16:17:02 -07:00
parent ecd0386fdc
commit b8758dd2ef
1 changed files with 16 additions and 22 deletions

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A subflow is a set of connected nodes that can be easily referenced and reused within a larger flow.
A subflow is a set of connected nodes that can be easily reused within a larger flow.
A subflow is represented as a single node in the workspace which can be opened up in a tab to see the underlying flow.
A subflow can be used in one of two modes: (this is tbd. Might just stick with singleton for v1)
1. Singleton : only one copy of the flow exists.
2. Instance : each reference to the subflow is its own copy.
### Creating a subflow
#### An empty subflow
1. Selects 'Create subflow' option.
2. Creates a new subflow with a default name, added to palette
3. Opens the subflow tab
#### From existing nodes
1. User selects some existing nodes.
2. Selects 'convert to subflow' option.
2. Selects 'Convert to subflow' option.
3. Nodes are removed from workspace and replaced by a subflow node.
4. Subflow node given a default name and added to palette
**Questions:**
* how to automatically identify the input/output ports to map to
@ -26,18 +28,14 @@ A subflow can be used in one of two modes: (this is tbd. Might just stick with s
### Editing a subflow
1. Double click subflow node.
2. Opens in closeable tab containing the flow.
3. Tab toolbar includes options to name.
**Questions:**
* how to rename the flow? Via subflow sidebar tab?
* how to pick singleton/instance mode?
2. Opens the edit-node dialog for the instance of the subflow
3. Click the 'edit subflow' option in the dialog opens a closeable tab containing the flow.
4. Tab toolbar includes but to open subflow edit dialog (also accessed by dblclicking on tab, or any input/output node in the flow)
### Delete subflow
1. Open a subflow sidebar tab that lists all subflows with usage count (cf config node tab - perhaps combine them...?)
2. ...
1. Open subflow edit dialog
2. Click delete
## Definition
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* `type` : `subflow`
* `id`
* `name`
* `in` - the id of the internal node that provides the flow's input port.
* `in` - an array identifying the internal nodes that are mapped to the flow inputs. It will have zero or one elements.
* `out` - an array identifying the internal nodes and their output ports that are mapped to the flows outputs. Elements are objects of the form: `{id:ID, port:PORT}`.
A node that is part of a subflow has their `z` property set to the `id` of the subflow.
An instance of a subflow has the following properties:
* `type` : `subflow:ID`
* `id`
* `singleton` : true/false
* `name` - if singleton, inherits from parent subflow
* `name`