Free Layout current limitations

[thibaud]

Here is a common layout we should be able to achieve with the free layout (but currently can't):

would tearing tabs be difficult to implement ?

[xnview]

You means to be able to have preview/properties/exif/.... as panel not tabbed?

[thibaud]

You means to be able to have preview/properties/exif/.... as panel not tabbed?

I mean to be able to 'tear off' any off the preview/properties/exif/... tabs into a dockable panel.
so we can have for example (screenshot) preview and properties visible at the same time.

[xnview]

You means to be able to have preview/properties/exif/.... as panel not tabbed?

I mean to be able to 'tear off' any off the preview/properties/exif/... tabs into a dockable panel.
so we can have for example (screenshot) preview and properties visible at the same time.

Ok, so it's possible. Currently preview+others infos are not as dockable panel, i think that it's better for normal user. Perhaps 'all dockable' as an option???

[thibaud]

Currently preview+others infos are not as dockable panel, i think that it's better for normal user. Perhaps 'all dockable' as an option???

that's up to you Pierre,

but if you'd ask me, I'd simply make it dockable.
if the 'normal' user screw the layout up he can always revert to one of the default layouts.

[JohnFredC]

Perhaps 'all dockable' as an option???

Pierre, perhaps this is a solution to some of my concerns expressed in this other thread?

[thibaud]

I thought use vertical layout was broken in MP.
but I just realized that "use vertical layout" is only working in MP when "preview in tab" is not selected !
un-selecting "preview in tab" finally allowed me to have the preview visible above the properties, etc... tabs just like I wanted.

I guess that's another good example of how too many options can be cumbersome to manage... and also hard to understand ...even for the 'not so new' users.

so yes, for me using dockable and closable tabs would definitely allow greater layout flexibility and why not, even allow to clean the view options menu from alien options like "use vertical layout", "preview in tab", and even "use tab"

my advice: don't add yet another option that will make it even harder to manage and understand. just remove a bunch of them instead by providing a simple and powerful ui solution.

[JohnFredC]

Important, though, with so many possible layout combinations:

1. A user-designed layout must persist between XnView sessions and be re-displayed exactly as the user defined it. Otherwise, why bother?

2. A method for the user to save multiple named layouts is essential. Not just one "custom" layout, but as many as the user requires. This is not hard to program.

3. User-defined layouts must be available at the top surface of the UI. This means layout selection and display should occur with a single mouse action (click or click-drag-release) or keyboard shortcut.

Since MP is so "young", it is important that these issues be addressed now, because later, when the UI architecture is "locked in", it may be difficult or impossible to solve them. See my post here for more ideas about layouts, themes, etc.

[xnview]

2. A method for the user to save multiple named layouts is essential. Not just one "custom" layout, but as many as the user requires. This is not hard to program.

Currently it's not possible with QT Dock Widget

[thibaud]

2. A method for the user to save multiple named layouts is essential. Not just one "custom" layout, but as many as the user requires. This is not hard to program.

Currently it's not possible with QT Dock Widget

Here is a screenshot of nuke 5.1 (using QT framework)

as you can see nuke proposes a fixed set of layouts to read and write to.
I'm not sure multiple saved layout is as 'essential' for an image viewer than it is for some other application.
I'm quite happy with current implementation , but like JohnFredC said it can't be a bad thing to get things right at the start to have a strong ui paradigm to build onto.

Here is another screenshot showing the extremely modular approach nuke has implemented to customize the layout.

for me, this is THE solution to ALL layout issues:
.All views are always holded in a tab.
.All tabs can be docked in any panel.
.Layout is done by splitting and removing panels.
(and it is all build with QT - probably not standard classes though )

once you have such a 100% modal ui base you are freed from all layout issues or requests (and strange options like 'use vertical layout', 'preview in tab' etc..)
way to go cmon it's 2009 guys.

[JohnFredC]

Currently it's not possible with QT Dock Widget

Hi Pierre

After my short time with QT Designer, even I do understand that now.

But maybe there is another way to approach this with QT. Don't hold your breath, but if I get some time to experiment further with QTDesigner I might have something to suggest.

MP is in embryo. It should have the best DNA from the start, regardless of library limitations. Careful design at this stage could make MP a major player in the future.

[vommie]

but if you'd ask me, I'd simply make it dockable.
if the 'normal' user screw the layout up he can always revert to one of the default layouts.

I agree.

Especially for users with two monitors dockable panels are great. I always wanted to have the preview, categories and favorites panel on the second monitor. At moment it seems only the preview pane is able to go on 2nd monitor. Users who don't care about docking could just use the standard-layouts with docked or freezed panels, so they can't moved by mistake. I have to say for me beside the new caching system (so there aren't memory overruns at big folders) dockable panels would be the coolest thing for xnview.

[vommie]

Hey, me again.

How are the plans? Will we see dockable "Info"-, "Favorites"-, "Folders"-panels? I really, really would like to drag them like the preview pane to the 2nd monitor.

[budz45]

+1 I support

[xnview]

How are the plans? Will we see dockable "Info"-, "Favorites"-, "Folders"-panels? I really, really would like to drag them like the preview pane to the 2nd monitor.

I don't understand, Favorites, folders are dockable?