How to use a shape without using its tools?

[jaham at gmx.net]

On Thursday 07 July 2011 09:34:55 Inge Wallin wrote:
> I have just added a patch to the reviewboard:
> http://git.reviewboard.kde.org/r/101871/  This mail is about an issue with
> this patch.
> 
> Here is the description of (one of) the issues that it solves:
> > 1. It fixes a serious issue with loading frame shapes with unknown
> > contents. Previously, when a frame with unrecognized contents, such as
> > an embedded spreadsheet, was loaded, it went through all the objects in
> > the frame. If even one of the objects were recognized, such as a preview
> > image, then a shape was created for that object. This means that the
> > real contents of the frame got lost and only the preview image could be
> > saved back.  This is not how it's supposed to be.  The new logic is to
> > create an Unavail shape as soon as the payload of the frame, i.e. the
> > first object in it, is unrecognized. It is then up to the unavail shape
> > to load and store any preview images. It is also up to the unavail shape
> > to save everything back. This patch does this.
> > 
> > 2. It gives the Unavail shape the ability to show preview images.
> > Actually it gives the shape the ability to show both vector images using
> > SVG and bitmap images using any format that QImage supports. We have not
> > integrated this with the picture shape since we couldn't find a way to
> > disable the picture tool for this shape alone.
> 
> I chatted with Zagge about this, and he said that he didn't like the fact
> that with this patch, showing a preview image is only possible with svg
> and bitmap formats.  All preview of other vector formats like WMF, EMF and
> SVM is lost. This is true, and indeed serious.
> 
> 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.
> 
> So, as it is now the patch is important (it fixes a dataloss problem) but
> it also removes some nice preview features.  We would be able to solve
> this problem if we could find a way to use the image or vector shapes but
> with their tools disabled.  Any ideas on how to do that?

The easiest solution (hack?) I can think of is just to set a empty or different 
shape id of the shape you want to reuse. That way, the tool would not be 
enabled/shown when selecting that shape.

Ciao Jan