[Feature] Merge Timespans in SME

[Dananji]

Description

Timespans in the structure can be merged together into a single timespan. Condition and criteria for merging selected timespans;

• only timespans can be merged
• 2 or more timespans are selected
• selected timespans are next to each other (i.e. there are no un-selected timespans between the selected the timespans) and no time gaps between the selected the timespans (i.e. selected timespan ranges should be contiguous)

When these criteria are met, the timespans will be merged with titles separated by commas, and time range from the start time of the first timespan to end time of the last timespan selected.
A rough design for this feature in SME;

A button to merge timespans, inititially disabled;

Select timespans;

Merge timespans;
After pressing Merge Selected Timespans,
Option 1: present a single timespan with merged timespan titles separated by commas:

Option 2: present a single timespan inline form with merged timespan titles separated by commas (so that the user can give a suitable title to new timespan):

Option 3: Use drag and drop. Dropping one timespan onto another brings up the dialog to merge these.

Done Looks Like

Able to merge contiguous timespans into one.

[mcwhitaker]

@Dananji Thank you.
@joncameron - I asked Dananji to think about this feature because I have seen output from AMP that, once it gets to Avalon, would definitely require merging spans and allowing for that in a more user-friendly way will greatly improve the usability of SME.

If this is available on time to benefit the AMP project (within a couple of months), we would be happy about it.

By the way, I think we could ask the users at the Music Library to give feedback on this design proposal. They will be reviewing a few of these AMP outputs with SME soon.