Master's Thesis - Computer Graphics and Visualization - TU Delft

4) The row which is focused by the cursor should be highlighted. It is useful when
a user pastes a
module, because the highlighted row shows him which row is active now.
4.5.3 The Concept View
The basic idea of the concept model of the Culgi GPE is to provide several templates of different kinds
of simulation programs to users. This prototype implements “DPD simulation” template for the users.
As described in section 3.3 , a template contains a pipeline for some kind of simulation program. And
each step in the pipeline integrates the necessary modules, which are the modules that appear in almost
all the DPD simulation programs. This template shows not only the basic steps on building a simulation
program to the users, but also the necessary modules in each step. It leaves the space in each step for
users to fill in the right modules in the right position (see Figure 3-3).
The
first problem of implementation is about how to present a step in a pipeline. A new component,
Macro Node, is designed to present a step. In principle, the Macro Node is a composite module which
contains several primitive modules. And in the concept module, the Macro Node should support the
following features.
• It should contain a list of default primitive modules. The modules in this list are the necessary
modules of each step. For each Macro Node, this list cannot be changed by users.
• It should contain a list of user’s modules. The users can add modules and delete modules
in this
list.
• The operations
like add modules, delete modules should be implemented.
• At least two views are needed to show a Macro Node. One is just to show the
name of this module.
The other can show all modules inside. Particularly, the second view should clearly show which
modules are default modules, and which modules are user’s modules. Figure 4-6 shows the
interface of a macro module.
• In the second view, the borders of the macro module should enlarge or shrink if the appearance of
primitive modules changes.
(a) View1 (b) View2
Figure 4-6 The interface of a macro node
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