We have updated ai2-test.appinventor.mit.edu with the first look at nb200. This is a big change, containing a massive update to the blocks editor (the last major overhaul was 2017).
Here's what to expect:
Add a prompt for picking your UI
Fix for loading multiple extensions in the companion on Android < 14
Update Blockly
Use the Ctrl/Option key to drag blocks from the middle of a stack
Join and create list blocks automatically extend to include new inputs if you drag values near them
Hold the shift key to drag a box to select, move, edit multiple blocks
Scroll the workspace automatically when dragging a block near edges
New block rendering algorithm that should give better performance
We'll be releasing more features to the block editor in subsequent updates. Some things we have planned include block search and keyboard navigation and editing.
Cheers,
Evan W. Patton, Ph.D.
On behalf of the MIT App Inventor team
I tried the SHIFT select a group of blocks, on dragging them, the blocks editor went haywire for a moment, the group dropped a block in the middle, but all other blocks in the project disappeared! I could then not release the remaining group of blocks in the blocks editor, and moving around / clicking caused weird scrolling behaviour. I could only get out by moving my mouse outside of the window, and then had to skirt around the edges to control PC. Returning mouse to blocks editor continued the same behaviour as described above.
Exited the project, reloaded AI2-test, and my project, all blocks except those in the group remain gone!
See the video (17mb)
[EDIT] Found all the other blocks, they were outside the view of the smallest (-), a Cleanup put these all back together.
Don't seem able to repeat the behaviour, but do notice, on occasion, the select only catches an inner block in an event, or misses an inner block in an event
[EDIT] repeated it! select some blocks, drag them away then drag them back, over another block, let go of the mouse button, mayhem ensues !!
Just tested in Firefox, not seeing the same behaviour.
Also, on first attempt, press SHIFT and drag mouse, this fails and drags the entire editor. Second attempt draws the rectangle to select. Also in firefox.
So far, with Chrome Version 131.0.6778.204 (Official Build) (64-bit) on Linux Xubuntu 24.04.01 LTS
Update Blockly
Use the Ctrl/Option key to drag blocks from the middle of a stack
Works - good feature
Join and create list blocks automatically extend to include new inputs if you drag values near them
Works - good feature
Hold the shift key to drag a box to select, move, edit multiple blocks
Works, on second attempt (first attempt just drags blocks editor)
Scroll automatically when dragging near edges of the workspace
Works - "when dragging a block!". This a bit disorientating at first, but guess it is something we will get used to
And there are too many menu items when right click, maybe we can consider to combine "Enable All blocks" and "Disable all blocks " as one, and "Show all comment" and "Hide all comments" as one.
Ironically, there are fewer menu items than on ai2 at the moment. I think the new Blockly CSS makes the menu items chunkier which gives the impression that there are more.
Ok, I was able to reproduce this. It seems to have to do with the window being short enough that the blocks/media on the left hand side is taller than the visible space. When this is the case, interacting with the blocks editor (such as moving the mouse over it) causes a focus event to fire, which scrolls the view so that the whole editor is in the viewport. If the window is large enough that the left column doesn't overflow the viewport, then the scroll isn't needed and the block editor is also fully within the viewport and the behavior is as expected. It also only affects the Classic UI, not Neo based on my testing.
