Overview

Rather than create a complicated point-and-click interface for this program, it seemed simpler (for both the user and development) to use drop-down list boxes to select sections of the map. The final applet can be seen, along with the Restart Tool in Figure 4.2. When started, the applet loads the configuration file and creates a list of nodes in the first of its three list boxes. When one of these is selected, the second box shows the different lines that pass through that node. Once one of these has been selected (done automatically if there is only one), the final box shows the nodes next to the first one selected along the specified line. Once both end points and a line are chosen, the weights assigned in both directions between them are displayed. These can then be altered and submitted to the server. The program also displays and allows the editing of the global line-change penalty.

Figure 4.2: The Weighting & Restart Tools