I recent problem I had on a design puzzle made me question the reasoning behind the "Selection Interface" in Foldit.
I was trying to move a small protein separate from the main one in the Flu design puzzle, but found out I couldn't move it at all, unless I entered the Selection Interface. Initially, I thought that maybe I could use the Tweak tool, but realised that I couldn't. After wondering why changing the interface was required to move the small protein, I decided to look back at the Intro Puzzle level Movin' Along".
The selection interface for some puzzles, is better than the original interface.
It most certainly isn't superfluous.
The puzzle guide doesn't state that you need to be in the Selection Interface, nor does the overall Foldit GUI reference anything about the interface. I propose two suggestions:
1. Make reference to and/or update the interface, in the Movin' Along Intro level.
2. Re-think the entire interface's implementation. The only purpose for the interface, is to select specific segments of the protein you are working on (and display different versions of buttons). Why not just have this selection component implemented in the normal (or "Original") interface? At the moment, when you click on any segment in the normal interface, nothing happens. A single click is not currently assigned to any form of behaviour, even when retrieving segment information (mouse over + Tab key). It would be easier to implement the selection behaviour in the normal interface, so people don't have to switch backwards and forwards between interfaces. The key and mouse combinations will, however, need to be thought about, so that we can still access local tools, as well as select multiple segments.
I have just this minute done the moving along puzzle.
One does not need to be in the selection interface to do that puzzle. One only needs to use right click to bring up the move tool.
Perhaps you just are not playing the puzzle correctly.
Tealight, it's not that puzzle that I'm having troubles with; the "Movin' Along" Intro Puzzle puzzle was a walk in the park.
The point I'm trying to make is that the puzzle's guide / help tips in the "Movin' Along" Intro Puzzle didn't mention the use of the "Selection Interface", just the Move tool. I didn't know that I needed to change to the "Selection Interface" when doing the Design Science Puzzles (different to the Intro Puzzles), to access the Move tool.
To add to my previous comments, I have listed existing combinations against combinations that would work well, if the interfaces were merged:
Existing Combinations in "Original Interface" on a particular segment
<td width=35%>Left mouse button combinations</td>
| Left click: |
(nothing) |
| Left click & drag: |
Pull protein backbone from segment in direction of mouse pointer |
| Ctrl + Left click: |
Display local tools menu for local segments |
| Ctrl + Double Left click: |
(nothing) |
| Shift + Left click: |
Freeze segment |
| Shift + Double Left click: |
Freeze all segments |
| Ctrl + Shift + Left click: |
Display local tools menu for local segments |
| Ctrl + Shift + Double Left click: |
(nothing) |
</tr>
<td width=35%>Right mouse button combinations</td>
| Right click: |
Display local tools menu for local segments |
| Right click & drag |
Display local tools menu for local segments + option sweep select |
| Ctrl + Right click: |
Display local tools menu for local segments |
| Shift + Right click: |
Display local tools menu for local segments |
Existing Combinations in "Selection Interface"
<td width=35%>Left mouse button combinations</td>
| Left click on protein: |
Select segment / Display Move tool? |
| Left click & drag on Move tool: |
Rotate protein around point |
| Ctrl + Left click on protein: |
Select segment / add to current segment selections |
| Ctrl + Left click & drag on Move tool: |
Move protein along XY axis relational to screen |
| Shift + Left click on protein: |
Select all segments up to segment clicked, from previous segment clicked |
| Shift + Left click & drag up/down on Move tool: |
Move protein along Z axis relational to screen |
<td width=35%>Right mouse button combinations</td>
| Right click on protein: |
Display Move tool? |
| Right click & drag on Move tool: |
Move protein along XY axis relational to screen |
| Ctrl + Right click & drag on Move tool: |
Move protein along XY axis relational to screen |
| Shift + Right click & drag up/down on Move tool: |
Move protein along XY axis relational to screen |
Proposed Combinations for overall interface on a particular segment
<td width=35%>Left mouse button combinations</td>
| Left click: |
Select segment |
| Left click & drag: |
Pull protein backbone from segment in direction of mouse pointer |
| Ctrl + Left click: |
Select segment / add segment to current segment selections |
| Ctrl + Double Left click: |
Select all adjacent segments of segment's backbone type (loop, helix, sheet) |
| Shift + Left click: |
Select all segments up to segment clicked, from previous segment clicked |
| Shift + Double Left click: |
Select all segments (entire protein) |
| Ctrl + Shift + Left click: |
Freeze segment |
| Ctrl + Shift + Double Left click: |
Freeze all segments |
<td width=35%>Right mouse button combinations</td>
| Right click: |
Display local tools menu for local segments |
| Right click & drag: |
*(nothing) |
| Ctrl + Right click: |
Move protein along XY axis relational to screen |
| Shift + Right click: |
Move protein along Z axis relational to screen |
| Ctrl + Shift + Right click: |
Rotate protein around point |
*I have deliberately chosen to assign nothing to the right click & drag combination, since while the combination shifts the view of the puzzle when the mouse pointer is not over the protein, often the user unintentionally opens the local tools menu for local segments, when accidentally dragging on the protein instead. Because the menu is currently designed to allow a sweeping selection from the menu's options, the user may inadvertently activate one of the options, potentially causing an undesired action to occur.
I also have a few question marks against some items that I am unsure about in the existing setup, as I don't currently have access to a Design Science Puzzle; feel free to correct me if I have made a mistake.
You don't need to switch to the selection interface.
You can move the protein in either interface - just left click on a segment of the piece you want to move, and the purple star should show up.
I am in the puzzle 466: Flu Design Puzzle 3 right now, and I am able to move the protein fine in both interfaces.
Both interfaces are intended to be fully featured, and you shouldn't need to switch between them. It comes down to a matter of preference. Many players prefer the selection interface. It's hardly superfluous.
No, you are not getting the point.
There is never anytime that one HAS to be in selection interface.
Maybe "superfluous" is the wrong word– I think what tristanlbailey is suggesting can be rephrased as follows:
- There is some redundancy between the standard interface and the selection interface.
- Sometimes, a player might want to access a feature that's only available in the other interface. Switching is an option, but that means modified hotkeys and possible loss of certain functions.
- So, why not merge the two interfaces into one?
Yes, that's exactly what I was on about. I wasn't suggesting that the selection functions of the interface be removed from the game completely, but should instead be available at all times. There are enough gaps in the game's keyboard and mouse combinations at the moment, for the selection interface functions to be implemented with the rest.
The only other purpose for the Selection Interface (and please correct me if I am wrong), is the obvious menu buttons at the lower left-hand side. I guess the advantage in having larger buttons makes them easier to click on, which makes Foldit a good candidate for an accessibility app. Also, the fact that they aren't running along the bottom border makes the buttons a bit more user friendly in one respect, as I have often accidentally clicked the Start Menu button on my Windows 7 computer, which normally also resides at the lower left-hand corner of the screen (I have since moved the taskbar to the top of the screen). This could perhaps be re-implemented with a "Use bigger buttons" option in the View menu (on uses the bigger buttons, off uses the menu buttons on the "Original Interface").
As I am unable to currently access a Design Science Puzzle, I cannot confirm my previous troubles that I was having with moving the protein, so I may be mistaken in that regard. However, it was this problem that made me think about how the interface(s) work(s) as a whole, and led me to posting this suggestion.
The selection interface provides a lot more than larger buttons. It is a different way of thinking about how to work on the protein. The point of it is to be able to 'select' which segments you want to work on, and then be able to perform operations on those segments.
For example, in order to reassign some set of segments a different secondary structure, in the original interface you would have to first switch to structure mode, then right click on a segment and assign the structure, then left click and drag from that residue if you need that structure to extend to other segments. In the selection interface, you simply select which residues you want changed, and then hit whatever structure you want them changed to.
As for merging them - I don't see the point. The selection interface already provides all the tools that the original interface does (or should). It is a matter of personal preference.
On a side note, you should be able to access old puzzles if you select the show expired puzzles box in the science puzzle menu.
