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Improvements to linked attribute UI and reference handling

Open robyngit opened this issue 6 months ago • 0 comments
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Soon attribute lists can be linked using EML <references> (#2652). There are a few more enhancements we could add to make the UI easier for users and references a little more robust.

(note: we should make a sub-issue for each of these)

  • Allow unlinking a referenced attribute list

    • Add an "Unlink" button when viewing an attribute list that references another.
    • This should convert the reference into a standalone copy of the original attributes, so the user can edit them independently.
  • Show more detail about linked attributes in the target entity

    • When an entity uses a referenced attribute list, improve the way we present those attributes:
      • Full detail option: Render the full list of attributes (like a normal editor), but disable editing and indicate that they are “linked from [Entity Name]”.
      • OR Minimal option: Show just the attribute names as we do now, but add tooltips with attr description and allow clicking the name to view the original source.
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  • Show which entities reference a given attribute list
    • When viewing a source attribute list (one that is referenced by others), display which other entities link to it.
    • This could be shown as a list or badge for context.
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  • Make the EML References model more robust
    • Track and handle the case where the referenced element is removed (either the backbone model or the EML DOM element). Ideally, warn the user before deleting a source element.
    • If the source's XML ID changes, update the references accordingly to avoid breaking the link.

robyngit avatar May 19 '25 22:05 robyngit