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#1 2010-05-21 23:02:29

DB88
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-05-20
Posts: 42

Need a way to comment within a script

When downloading other people's scripts in order to get ideas or learn from them, it is sometimes hard to figure out what they were doing or thinking within their scripts.  Most languages provide a way to type comments within the code for this purpose.

What do yo think about adding a MS Excel type commenting feature?  In Excel, when you right-click on a cell and select "Insert Comment", a little red triangle appears in the upper right hand corner of the cell and a text entry window appears.  You can enter a text comment in this window, and when you click somewhere else on the worksheet the window goes away, but the red triangle stays.  If you then hover the mouse pointer over the triangle, the comment pops back up.  I think adding this ability to every block would be incredibly useful, easy to use, and would promote the learning by sharing concept that the Scratch community embraces.

Thoughts?


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Four Bar Linkage Animator:  http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/DB88/1102417  ...... Moon Defender:  http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/DB88/1092234  ..... BUGS:  http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/DB88/1095318

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#2 2010-05-22 02:40:01

Chrischb
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-07-24
Posts: 1000+

Re: Need a way to comment within a script

There's already a feature called a comment - you can make one by right-clicking the scripting area and selecting "add comment".  smile

Comments can be reshaped horizontally (the text flows to change its height as well), and can be neatly attached to blocks within a script.  wink


I fall: It's a tragedy. You fall: It's comedy.
Hmph enjoy your fall - I get a lovely spring... without pans of new leaves.

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#3 2010-05-22 08:59:29

DB88
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-05-20
Posts: 42

Re: Need a way to comment within a script

Thanks.  Don't know why I hadn't found that before :wipes_egg_off_face:, but that takes care of it  smile

Now if people would just use it more  tongue

Last edited by DB88 (2010-05-22 09:00:11)


Most Recent Projects: 
Four Bar Linkage Animator:  http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/DB88/1102417  ...... Moon Defender:  http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/DB88/1092234  ..... BUGS:  http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/DB88/1095318

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#4 2010-05-23 21:53:02

DB88
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-05-20
Posts: 42

Re: Need a way to comment within a script

Actually, now that I've tried the current comment feature, I think the implementation I proposed in my OP would be much nicer.  Dangling comments off the side makes things messy, and it is hard to comment neatly on adjacent blocks.  By making them pop up when the mouse is over the triangle it will keep things neater.  So I hope this suggestion can be reconsidered by the development team.  I do think a better implementation would encourage more Scratchers to add comments, which is in keeping with the concepts of encouraging sharing and learning from others.

Last edited by DB88 (2010-05-23 22:08:57)


Most Recent Projects: 
Four Bar Linkage Animator:  http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/DB88/1102417  ...... Moon Defender:  http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/DB88/1092234  ..... BUGS:  http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/DB88/1095318

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#5 2010-05-24 01:46:34

Chrischb
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-07-24
Posts: 1000+

Re: Need a way to comment within a script

Hmm... there was a previous version of the comment block where the text was placed directly inside a script; it's not exactly what you want, but it would be closer...

I don't think it'll be brought back, though.


I fall: It's a tragedy. You fall: It's comedy.
Hmph enjoy your fall - I get a lovely spring... without pans of new leaves.

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