Reorganizing 'Options'

Ideas for improvements and requests for new features in XnView Classic

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Olivier_G
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Post by Olivier_G »

About the use of List + Tabs to organize options, here is what it could look like:
from IcQnD
from Foobar Columns UI

XnView would probably fit in-between.
=> What is your opinion about using both list and tabs to organize options and simplify the list?

Olivier
Last edited by Olivier_G on Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Dreamer »

Olivier_G wrote:=> What is your opinion about using both list and tabs to organize options and simplify the list?

Olivier
I agree, but only 2 levels (one level for list and one for tabs).
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Post by ckv »

Dreamer wrote:
Olivier_G wrote:=> What is your opinion about using both list and tabs to organize options and simplify the list?

Olivier
I agree, but only 2 levels (one level for list and one for tabs).
I agree too. Absolutely the right way to solve this. Dreamer you mean like this http://i5.tinypic.com/157kfah.png
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Post by Olivier_G »

Based on latest suggestion of list and tabs, XnView would look something like:
(focus on list & tabs only, not options themselves)
Image

The list is on 2 levels (main categories being in bold) and there are 3 tabs at max (ie: only 1 line).
Dreamer wrote:I agree, but only 2 levels (one level for list and one for tabs).
I think the 2 levels list looks fine as showed here, don't you agree?
=> Pierre: can you confirm that it's possible to bold & indent the list as showed?

Olivier
PS1: is there a tool to create windows with list/tabs/checkbox/combobox faster than just drawing them? I need that badly...
PS2: next issue is the use of combobox for the Read/Write image format options.
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Post by Olivier_G »

Side note: the list and tabs names should be carefully chosen in order to avoid duplicates that could be confusing.
Example in the previous screenshot: avoid the use of tab 'General' under the View list item... to not confuse it with the 'General' list item... :?
(suggestions welcome)

PS: you can see how slow I am to draw those things, as I missed CKV's message... :mrgreen:
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Post by xnview »

Olivier_G wrote: => Pierre: can you confirm that it's possible to bold & indent the list as showed?
I think that i can do that
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Post by Olivier_G »

xnview wrote:I think that i can do that
That would be great. Thanks... :D
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Post by Olivier_G »

About the drop-down Read/Write lists

Here is an upated idea using a box-list (instead of drop-down list) on the left to select the format and the corresponding parameters on the right (idea taken from the batch>transformation dialog... :D ):

Image

The main Options list would not be cluttered with those formats and the parameters are small enough to fit in that panel.

It would even be better to gather both Read and Write parameters into a single list (ex: set all PNG read and write parameters on the same view).
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Post by Olivier_G »

After more thinking, I prefer this updated structure:

Code: Select all

General               (tabs: Main, Files lists, Adobe plugins)
  Keyboard/Mouse
  Read/Write          (tabs: Main, Formats parameters)
Interface
  Toolbar             (tabs: Main, Buttons, Skins)
Browser               (tabs: Main, Folder tree)
  File list           (tabs: Main, Items displayed, Cache)
  Thumbnails          (tabs: Main, Appearance, Labels)
  Preview
View                  (tabs Main, Misc)
  Fullscreen
System integration
  Associations
It is simpler/shorter and put more emphasize on important settings in the main Options list.
(I also wonder whether 'Fullscreen' and 'Associations' should not appear as tabs under their main Categories... comments?)
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Post by xnview »

Olivier_G wrote:About the drop-down Read/Write lists
Any feedback, i start the new option dialog box, so i must have all suggestions :-) And currently the Read/Write options is a problem...
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Post by marsh »

Maybe 3 sections:
Read/Write: __Universal read/write options like "ignore read errors".
File Types> __JPG, PNG (related read/write options combined)
Write File Types> __Choose formats which appear in Save as.
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Post by Olivier_G »

I'd better show my current draft for the Read/Write item... :)
It's currently on 2 tabs:

Image

Image


As I said, it's a draft:
- I now think that separate Read/Write tabs may be better, especially to keep the opened Write options (from Save dialog) as straightforward as possible.
(alternative: only one list, but add " - Read"/" - Write" to listed formats to keep separated dialogs)
- Orientate image based on EXIF may found its place elsewhere (and I wonder about 'Disable animation').
- 'Default' button may be simpler than 'Most used' and I will try change those 'main' tabs to more meaningful names.

Sidenote: there are not a lot of updates showed here, but I can assure you that there is quite a lot going 'behind the scene' in order to come up with improved options reorganization and present you a good suggestion.
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Post by marsh »

Olivier_G wrote: (alternative: only one list, but add " - Read"/" - Write" to listed formats to keep separated dialogs)
If no room on the dialog, then have PNG followed by PNG Write? Or do you mean PNG always followed by PNG Write?
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Post by Olivier_G »

marsh wrote:If no room on dialog, then have .XYZ followed by .XYZ Write? Or do you mean .XYZ always followed by .XYZ write?
I meant Read / Write always separated and specified in the list, like here (even if there is enough room for all settings):

Code: Select all

...
Camera RAW - Read
DPX/Cineon - Read
DPX/Cineon - Write
GIF - Write
...
The idea is to avoid confusion for the user when opening the option button in the save dialog, and show only the required settings for Writing.

But I much prefer the separate tabs for Read/Write, as one usually set 'Read' parameters once and for all, whereas 'Write' parameters will be modified more frequently -> it is more satisfying to visually separate them.
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Post by marsh »

I don't think any tabs are needed, but maybe I'm too accustomed to looking at current dialog.
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