Multi-Column Selection

[gab1one]

If a command has only one input which is assigned to a column selection, e.g one input image, we should create a multi column selection for that input.

Notes

• there should be a way to turn this off programmatically (e.g. special
  annotation)
• If multiple columns are selected the command is executed for each of them and the resulting columns are either appended or a new table is created.

We need to have a multi column selection for input parameters. E.g. when we want to apply a filter to several image columns in a table.

Ideas:

Manual

• Add Varags Annotation that enables multiselect for a parameter.

JAVA:

@Parameter(attr={@Attr("multiCol" = "true")})
private ImgPlus[] inputImgs;

JavaScript:

\\ @Input(multiCol = 'true') ImgPlus[]  inputImgs

Automatic

Commandinputs fitting the following parameters will always get multi col select:

• Command with single input image will get multi selection for that input

[dietzc]

I'm not sure if we need the extra @Attr anymore.

[Squareys]

@dietzc Maybe a second StyleHook constant?

[dietzc]

If we have to add a hook, then certainly a StyleHook. However we have to be careful and think this through in all detail:

Use-case 1:

• We only have a single column selection in a ModuleInfo (either enforced by a hook or because there is no widget for it):
• We can add a Multi-Column Selection in this case, as we can process the module for each selected column individually.
• Output-table-style: New Table, Append Columns , Replace Column (by many).

Use-case 2:

• We have one or many Array input for which no dialog-widget exists, e.g. ImgPlus<T>[] or List<ImgPlus<T>> or ... This results in one or many multi-column selections where you can select the columns. Please note that we may have to use the generic-type-matching magic of @ctrueden in case of generics and nested generics.
• Output-table-style: New Table, Append Columns

Use-case 3:

• We have a e.g. a Float[] input for which a dialog-widget exists as well as a special cell-type in KNIME. For this Float[] we could enforce a column-selection but also a multi-column-selection.
• Output-table-style: New Table, Append Columns and Replace if single column selection.

So yes we need another enforcer-hook but we also need more. Let me know if it makes sense what I wrote and if not, what your concerns are.

[Squareys]

So yes we need another enforcer-hook but we also need more. Let me know if it makes sense what I wrote and if not, what your concerns are.

The "need more" only refers to code outside of the Scijava command, like the output-table-style etc., right?

We can add a Multi-Column Selection in this case

Meaning, we will add a Multi-Column Selection in this case, right?

Everything else makes total sense, I think those use cases are well separated 👍

[dietzc]

The "need more" only refers to code outside of the Scijava command, like the output-table-style etc., right?

We need to handle all the other use-cases. The output-table-style is a different issue (would be great if you could open the issue with a first proposal what we do on this front).

[dietzc]

Meaning, we will add a Multi-Column Selection in this case, right?

Can in the sense of: we are allowed without being inconsistent. So yes, we will ;-)