Isolated Text Inputs

[blockpointstudios]

Hello, everyone. I was recently looking into Python since I had never touched it before, and I was contemplating the benefits of text-based programming in relation to Snap!'s block-based paradigm. While I prefer the latter, one of the most basic concepts in the former is the ability to manipulate scripts as you would text. You can copy, paste, cut, search, replace, and more.

That got me thinking about how Snap! manages its text, number, and Boolean input slots. I thought it would be nice if we could shift-click and drag those slots out of their host block to make text editing more convenient. If one is testing list or procedure inputs, they can just remove the input and add it back when necessary. If dragging text (or numbers) out of their slots could create isolated text inputs, then a similar workflow could be produced. (These isolated inputs would be duplicates, preserving the text inside the block.)

$Hello-1-0-0-0 $World-1-0-0-0 :: reporter #fff

Shift-clicking and dragging Boolean inputs would create Boolean predicates, which are already present in the editor.

There could also be a new option in the right-click menu of blocks that could get the blocks' labels as text inputs.

Thank you!

[ego-lay_atman-bay]

I'm not so sure how much more convenient this would be over just regular copy/pasting. The only times I think something like this would make sense is with larger text inputs, which you can just copy/paste into a comment.

[mr_owlssssnap2]

@blockpointstudios

There could also be a new option in the right-click menu of blocks that could get the blocks' labels as text inputs.

why?
Also I'm reading this in Python class, lol

[qw23]

Do you mean something like this … ?

You can move, edit, copy the grey box, including its contents, any way you like. It supports multiline text, numbers, booleans. As for scripts, use ringify:

[dardoro]

@blockpointstudios

thought it would be nice if we could shift-click

input has Copy/Paste keyboard shortcut for the text cursor selection and "Duplicate" of block/script from the context menu.

@blockpointstudios

There could also be a new option in the right-click menu of blocks that could get the blocks' labels as text inputs.

There is a codification, i.e., conversion of the blocks to text, possibly a program in another language.