Select all existing text upon entering Finish field

[PapaJames]

When clicking into either the Finish or Start field, please have the mapping program initially select all existing text, allowing the user to start typing without needing to Backspace or Delete multiple keystrokes to clear any existing text. This has been a really annoying bug for me! The user can simply "Right Arrow" or left arrow" if necessary to get to the end or beginning of the existing text. However, when initially entering either of these fields, it would be delightfully simple and user-friendly if all of the existing text in the field would initially be highlighted and selected!

[Djtentman]

Great idea, I've been annoyed by this too.

[PapaJames]

Street Atlas 2010 has not fixed this bug. Apparently Delorme doesn't feel this suggestion is necessary. Does anyone know? Do Delorme programmers even read these pages?

Universal user interface guidelines have usually required the complete contents of an entry field to selected (high-lighted) upon entering that field. There are a few exceptions but this case doesn't seem to fit any of the typical the exceptions.

I have discovered a way to "work around" this annoying bug: If you click into the Start field and then tab into the Finish field, all the contents of the Finish field are selected. However, it is a no-so-nice user-unfriendly two step process.

[Dan Lawyer]

All you have to do is double click and start typing, takes about 2 nano seconds

I can assure you the programmers read this stuff, but as with most business now days, they don't get to decide what gets done and what doesn't (like we used to back in the good old days). In todays world, managers who don't have a clue how to program, but have the responsibility of deciding, make the decisions. Used to be the managers were ex-programmers and knew what would take time and money and what wouldn't so they could decide.

From what I've seen the last too many years, management is pushed (by other management) to add new features, not fix bugs and properly finish existing features, like the programmers (worth their salt) would want done.

We can complain all day, but that will never change in todays world.

[PapaJames]

Sorry Dan. Didn't mean to complain. I know most programmers are between a rock and a hard place. And yes I do understand the economics involved.

I am a special high speed courier, typing addresses into Delorme on my laptop while driving. For my safety, the "bug" is a definite inconvenience. I am usually programming my Garmin as I enter the thru-way; then Delorme to give me additional options and the over-all map picture.


Regarding...

All you have to do is double click and start typing, takes about 2 nano seconds

My experience with both 2009 Plus and the new 2010 Plus version of Street Atlas is that a double click only selects the entire word your cursor is over when you double click. ( Some programmers allow a double click to select a complete word and a triple click to select more, such as a complete field or a complete line.)

[Dan Lawyer]

My experience with both 2009 Plus and the new 2010 Plus version of Street Atlas is that a double click only selects the entire word your cursor is over when you double click. ( Some programmers allow a double click to select a complete word and a triple click to select more, such as a complete field or a complete line.)

Absolutely no need to apologize, you weren't complaining any more than I do all the time. I have a bad habit of using short one word, coded waypoint names for most of my routing, so your point here is well taken. They could have allowed for the other click option(s) to select all of the text, which they didn't and should have, so your suggestion is very valid. In verifying this, I did manage to find out that if you rt mouse click in the input field, there is a "Select All" option, which should help with this problem until they allow for other click options (don't hold your breath though;>)

Another option is a quick left mouse click and hold, then swipe the field to select multiple words. Hope this helps some.

[John Moran_2]

In Topo8, mousing into either the Start or Finish fields will let you <Tab> down or (Tab+Shift> up between fields. A New Route requires six(6) <Tab> depresses to get to Start. Seems like standard windows procedure to me, but the Tabbing between fields goes like this:

New/Edit Button (default)
Directions Button
Advanced Button
Plan Trip Button
File Button
Name Field
Start Field (perhaps could be new default)
Finish Field
etc.
JM_2