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The finetracker is a user interface that looks like an ordinary button with an arrow pointing to the side it is hinged.
The primary function of the finetracker is to move positions with lesser extents than the coarsetracker, hence the name fine. This extent varies with the current tracklevel. It moves by the number of pages equal to the DynRadix raised to the power of the TrackLevel. If the current TrackLevelMax is equal to zero (0), or no division by the radix or dynradix has taken place, then unless the Coarse Granule is greater than the DynRadix, the finetracker system will be removed automatically. In the former scenario, the finetracker will have used a FineDynRadix=2 and it will scroll two pages at the most. In the last scenario, there is no need for it because the only extent possible is used by the coarsetracker, and the latter can already perform all necessary move operations.
This function is invoked by a drag-by-tracker, drag-by-track, or soft-touch operation. Unlike the coarsetracker, the resulting movement considers the previous position. Hence, the new position may not be the beginning line-item of the chosen group.
Unlike the coarse tracker, which can cover the whole number of pages from beginning to end of the coarsetrack, the fine tracker can do only a number of pages equal to the DynRadix multiplied by the current move extent. With just one operation, a special drag operation is necessary to cover beyond these limits.
The fine tracker provides another operation, which if repeated, can cover the whole number of pages. This is the Garter operation. Because of this feature, the finetracker gives visual clues different from the coarsetracker.
The finetracker always occupies a garter position when not involved in a move operation. This position is relative to the number of pages before and after it. If there are still more pages beyond what the finetrack represents, and which the finetracker can cover before its position, the latter will be located at least somewhere at the center or after. Otherwise, it stays closer to the beginning of the track; and the track before the tracker represents the whole number of pages before the finetracker. In the same manner, if there are still more pages beyond what the finetrack represents, and which the finetracker can cover after its position, the latter will be located at least somewhere at the center or before. Otherwise, it stays closer to the end of the track; and the track before the tracker represents the whole number of pages after the finetracker. Hence, it will be somewhere at the center if there are still more pages beyond what the finetrack represents, and which the finetracker can cover before or after its position.
The garter operation, therefore, is a move operation with the finetracker involving a complex mouse operation completed by a seek to the new or old garter position of the finetracker, depending upon the manner of disengagement. In effect, the pages beyond are pulled into focus by the finetracker before returning to the stationary position similar to a stretched spring system or a rubber band, thus the name garter.
See Scroll Info Tab and DynRadix for more information.
4/13/2006, 1:16:00 PM
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