[Pipet Devel] getting started with Loci

[J.W. Bizzaro]

This is in Loci's README file:

--------------------------------------------------------

GETTING STARTED WITH LOCI

There are four basic objects you will be working with in Loci:

    (1) Workspace
    (2) Locus
    (3) Connector
    (4) Windowlet

When you first start Loci with the Gnome interface (default start), you will
see an empty 'workspace' (for now).

To place a 'locus' on the workspace, press the right mouse button, and you
will get a pop-up menu:

                    +------------+
                    | Locus    > |
                    | Add      > |
                    | Session  > |
                    | Help     > |
                    +------------+

Choosing the sub-menu Add, you will find a list of loci that can be placed on
the workspace.  Choose a locus.

                        +------+
                        |      |
                   O----|      |---->O
                        |      |
                        +------+
                       [Locus One]

Each locus (represented by an icon) will appear on the workspace with lines
radiating from a central icon.  These lines are 'connectors' and will be used
to connect one locus to another.  The lines with an arrow pointing away from
the icon are 'output connectors'.  Lines without an arrow are 'input
connectors'.

            +------+                +------+
            |      |                |      |
       O----|      |---->O     O----|      |---->O
            |      |                |      |
            +------+                +------+
           [Locus One]             [Locus Two]

You will also notice that there is a red dot at the end of the connectors.
The colors indicate the connection status: red for unconnected, yellow for
connection in progress, and green for connected.  It's simple.

Connecting loci is simple too.  Just drag-and-drop the dot from one connector
onto the dot of another connector.  (Note, you can only connect connectors
that have been unconnected, plus output to input and visa versa.)

            +------+                +------+
            |      |                |      |
       O----|      |------->O-------|      |---->O
            |      |                |      |
            +------+                +------+
           [Locus One]             [Locus Two]

You can examine the GUI for each locus by double-clicking on the center icon.
This will lower a 'windowlet', which is akin to an X window but always stays
on the workspace and attached to its locus.

                        +------+
                        |      |
                   O----|      |---->O
                        |      |
                        +------+
                       [Locus One]
                +----------------------+
                |                      |
                |                      |
                |                      |
                |                      |
                |                      |
                |                      |
                |                      |
                +----------------------+

The windowlet will contain all sorts of goodies related to the function of
the locus.  Double-clicking on the center icon again will raise the
windowlet.

--------------------------------------------------------

Jeff
-- 
                      +----------------------------------+
                      |           J.W. Bizzaro           |
                      |                                  |
                      | http://bioinformatics.org/~jeff/ |
                      |                                  |
                      |        BIOINFORMATICS.ORG        |
                      |           The Open Lab           |
                      |                                  |
                      |    http://bioinformatics.org/    |
                      +----------------------------------+