How to use a shape without using its tools?

[Inge Wallin]

On Thursday, July 07, 2011 10:21:34 Thorsten Zachmann wrote:
> On Thursday, July 07, 2011 10:13:16 Inge Wallin wrote:
> > > > When preparing this patch, Dan and I tried to integrate the picture
> > > > shape and if that had gone well also the vector shape. However, that
> > > > failed because we couldn't find a way to disable the picture tool. We
> > > > do not want the user to be able to replace the preview image with
> > > > something else.
> > > 
> > > I think we should not limit this functionality. I feel it would be much
> > > better to display a warning when the user edits the shape that it
> > > contains e.g. additional information that will be lost when the
> > > operation is done.
> > 
> > Remember that it's not the shape data itself that the user would be
> > manipulating.  That data cannot be edited per definitions, since if
> > Calligra  understood it it wouldn't use the unavail shape to begin
> > with.  A typical example is an embedded document, like a spreadsheet in
> > an text document. Instead it's the image that is supposed to show the
> > user what that data looks like. Since the user cannot edit the data, he
> > shouldn't be able to edit the preview image.
> > 
> > If we allow the user to change the preview image and then save the result
> > back, we could end up with an absurd situation like an embedded
> > spreadsheet  with a preview image of a flower.
> 
> Sure the data can not be change but he can change the image which will
> result in the KoUnavailShape getting replaced by the new PictureShape if
> the user wants to do that. That is why I said that showing a message in
> that case is helpfull for the user so that he undertands there is not in
> the shape than the think he might see.
> So when saving back only a image will be saved and nothing form the
> KoUnavailShape.

Ok, then I see what you mean.

But I think this shouldn't be done by the tool of the picture shape.  There 
should perhaps be an Unavail tool that has a button "Convert to Image" or 
something.  But frankly, I suspect that this usecase is rare.