[Feature] move camera or cursor

[jtmoree-github-com]

Prerequisites

• I have searched the existing issues for a duplicate request.
• I understand that each report must only contain one request. Other requests must get their own report.

The Problem

Using WASD for moving both cursors and camera coupled with the 2d/3d switches is confusing. I often don't remember what is going to move when I use WASD or I'm annoyed because I want the other one to move and have to find a button with the mouse so that I can use WASD to move it. It also interrupts my workflow to switch to a mouse button when Im doing the other operations with the keyboard.

Feature Description

I propose a new paradigm for moving the cursor vs the camera/view. We should make them both moveable with the keyboard and not require clicking a button or using the mouse.

We could allow the arrow keys to move the selection and keep WASD for the camera. That way both could be moved at the same time.

CAMERA

W: forward
A: left
S: back
D: right
SHIFT: down
SPACE: up

CURSOR

UP/DOWN: z axis
LEFT/RIGHT: X axis
PAGE UP/PAGE DOWN: Y axis

Alternatives

Using Capital letters to move the camera and lowercase to move the cursors. In that model the caps lock becomes the toggle instead of buttons. This model has issues since SHIFT is used for moving down and as a modifier. We'd probably have to switch to Right Shift for the modifier. We could map q an z as alternates but this may get confusing.

CAMERA

W: forward
A: left
S: back
D: right
SHIFT: down
SPACE: up

CURSOR

a: z axis
d: z axis
w: x axis
s: x axis
q: y axis up
z: y axis down

Additional context

I think this change would solve a lot of other issues

• Keyboard Focus Lost on Mouse Move #1282
• Problem with the "move selected" button #966
• [Bug Report] Move Selection eventually moves on it's own when you hold it. #882
• Problem with the "move selected" button #966
• [Bug Report] Wayland mouse input problems #976
• Add hotkeys to rotate Camera #773

maybe this one too

• [Bug Report] Keypresses not detected while holding down left mouse on button #1049

[jtmoree-github-com]

I have created a fork and wired up a number of user interface changes. We may not want to merge it but it is useful as a demo of what I'm trying to accomplish. It's at https://github.com/jtmoree-github-com/Amulet-Map-Editor/tree/new_interface

This issue is addressed in that code by 2 changes.

• change move buttons to a checkbox toggle [edit: i have since changed this to a button next to 2d/3d]
• add arrow key mappings

[jtmoree-github-com]

I created another branch that i call breaking changes. Feel free to examine as a proof of concept redesign.

The philosophy of this version of amulet is to improve workflow via keyboard optimization. Shift and tab work like other programs where shift is only a modifier and Tab is heavily used in navigating dialogs. Movement of camera and cursor can be done at the same time using mapped keys for both hands. e.g. left hand for camera and and right hand for cursor. In addition, many hotkeys will make functionality easier to access and menus have been expanded to use traditional style Alt Keys for access.

[gentlegiantJGC]

I am interested in exploring alternative control schemes but I don't know how much this would get used.

[jtmoree-github-com]

I have created a prototype rewrite to experiment with different ideas.

• added a lot of hotkeys,
• added support for two hand on keyboard mode
• separated mouse control mapping from keyboard
• added game controller support
• stopped mapping TAB so that it properly works in dialogs
• stopped mapping shift so that it properly works as a modifier

I bring this up because I agree this is not a critical issue but I find the current keyboard support limiting and frustrating which is why Im trying different ideas. fyi. i also redesigned the user interface in that branch but that's a different set of issues. just be aware if you do try it out.
https://github.com/jtmoree-github-com/Amulet-Map-Editor/tree/breaking_changes