Why do InputFields not respond in Manipulate utilizing FindGeometricTransform?

Question

In the following code changing the InputField does not result in observing changes in a result from FindGeometricTransform, but moving the Locator does.

This is related to a previous answer would seem to have a solution, but the fix from that solution doesn't fix the observed behavior, or rather, it causes other problems.

Manipulate not working inside DialogInput

In this Question/Answer, LocalizeVariables is set to False for the Manipulate, and the control in question is explicitly set as Dynamic. This then allows the Manipulate to respond appropriately.

However, my FindGeometricTransform breaks when I try this.

In playing around with the system, I think that I have found that the situation is actually a bit more subtle than I thought. Using Nasser's suggestion, moving the Manipulate to the outside of the Module does partially solve the problem. I can get the GeometricTransform to update whenever I change the fields.

That would seem to solve the problem, however, it has a similar problem when I try to add data points to a table based upon the transform (my eventual goal). Here is a new function named maniTransform2 that illustrates the observed behavior.

    imageIUsed = ExampleData[{"TestImage", "Clock"}]
    maniTransform2[image_] := Manipulate[Module[{func, points},
        func = 
         Dynamic[FindGeometricTransform[{{coord1x, coord1y}, {coord2x, 
              coord2y}}, {loc[[1]], loc[[2]]}][[2]]];
        points = 
        If[Length[loc] > 2, 
           Setting@func[loc[[3 ;; Length[loc]]]], {}];

        Row[{Show[{
            Image[image],
            Graphics[{Red, PointSize -> Large, 
              Point[{{coord1x, coord1y}, {coord2x, coord2y}}]}]}],
          func, Spacer[40], 
          Grid[Join[{{"X-coord", "Y-Coord"}}, points
            ]
           ]
          }]], {{loc, {{10, 10}, {20, 20}}}, Locator, 
        LocatorAutoCreate -> True}, {{coord1x, 50, "x-Position"}, 
        InputField[#, Number] &}, {{coord1y, 50, "y-position"}, 
        InputField[#, Number] &}, {{coord2x, 100, "x-Position"}, 
        InputField[#, Number] &}, {{coord2y, 100, "y-position"}, 
        InputField[#, Number] &}];

    holderFunc := DynamicModule[{img = imageIUsed},
      switcher = 
       Panel[TabView[{Dynamic[maniTransform2[img]], "Other Functions"}]];
      DialogInput[Row[{Dynamic[switcher], InputField[Dynamic[img]]}]]]

So, calling maniTransform2[imageIUsed] directly, the GeometricTransform updates whenever I move one of the Locator points or if I change a value in one of the various InputFields.

If I call holderFunc, then if I move any of the Locator points the GeometricTranform2 updates. It also updates when I change one of the fields.

When I add a Locator (command-Click on a Mac), the procedure adds it to the Table of points below the transform function. Whatever the values are in the input fields are frozen for the transform at that point. Changing the values in the input fields will change the transform function, but they won't change the values of the points in the Table. For that matter, the If statement in general is frozen. I.e. it needs to be wrapped in a Dynamic somehow. However, doing so then places the func into a Dynamic and since func is declared in the Module, this is a no-no and it turns red.

Answer 1

The following code works. But, I am not sure if it was you are trying to achieve:

Version 1 creating a dialog as seems to be your intent (your code but with an additional image:

imageIUsed = ExampleData[{"TestImage", "Clock"}]
anotherImage = ExampleData[{"TestImage", "Airplane"}]
maniTransform[image_] := 
  Manipulate[
   Row[{Show[{Image[image], 
       Graphics[{Red, PointSize -> Large, 
         Point[{{coord1x, coord1y}, {coord2x, coord2y}}]}]}], 
     func[{{coord1x, coord1y}, {coord2x, coord2y}}, {loc[[1]], 
       loc[[2]]}]}], {{loc, {{10, 10}, {20, 20}}}, Locator, 
    LocatorAutoCreate -> True}, {{coord1x, 50, "x-Position"}, 
    InputField[#, Number] &}, {{coord1y, 50, "y-position"}, 
    InputField[#, Number] &}, {{coord2x, 100, "x-Position"}, 
    InputField[#, Number] &}, {{coord2y, 100, "y-position"}, 
    InputField[#, Number] &}, 
    Initialization :> (func[pointsInput_, pointsLoc_] := 
      FindGeometricTransform[pointsInput, pointsLoc])];

and using CreateDialog

 DynamicModule[{img = imageIUsed, switcher}, 
  switcher = 
  Panel[TabView[{Dynamic[maniTransform[img]], "Other Functions"}]];
  CreateDialog[Row[{Dynamic[switcher], InputField[Dynamic[img]]}]]];

Version 2 which I believe may be something closer to what you want (Manipulate within a Manipulate)

DynamicModule[{switcher},
 Manipulate[
  switcher = 
   Panel[TabView[{Dynamic[maniTransform[img]], "Other Functions"}]];
  Row[{Dynamic[switcher], InputField[Dynamic[img]]}],
  {img, {imageIUsed, anotherImage}}
  ]
 ]