Layout menu: Easier handling

[Clo]

—> Olivier_G

Hello !

• Thanks, the pattern for the tree is my own, it's free to use…

• The separators are easy to add, only lines like :
MENUITEM SEPARATOR

• I drew the number as a button because it's more visible for me (and other oldies …),
but "flat" and¦or coloured might be nice too.

¤ Finally, the best solution could be to use a custom set for those who don't like the default. We have this in Total Commander as an INI entry i.e. for the drives icons, the bitmaps may come from a small external library. It could be a multipage TIFF as well (easy to create).
- Then, something like :

ExtLayoutLibrary = path

the default being used with no specified path…

KR
Claude
Clo

[Clo]

Pierre

Hello !

Ok, when you'll have good bitmap, send me them …

• It's done ! I've sent you a set (with a tree) and numbers via email.
- There are the nine bitmaps as is and as a small DLL I built
• It should be nice to give a try to use a custom DLL, like I said above

KR
Claude
Clo

[nightflyer]

Frankly speaking, I find the current symbols adequate enough, and not in a need for any change.

As for numbers, they are needed only when people are discussing while alpha/beta testing, so the need is very limited- to short time and very few people.

[helmut]

Thank you Clo for your effort in design symbols for layouts.

To be honest I don't like the folders in your draft since the folders are far too big compared to the rest. And the numbers look wrong to me, since they look like buttons - but you never have buttons in menus.

Adding some background for the numbers is a good idea, though, since people might have changed their Windows colour scheme and might not see the number at all.

Currently each section in the layout is indicated by a small image, thumbnails, or folders and many colours are used. Perhaps a design with less colours and specific colours dominating a section might allow quicker recognition.

[Olivier_G]

To be honest I don't like the folders in your draft since the folders are far too big compared to the rest.

Well, I think on the contrary that folders are really recognisable while thumbnails & preview are not!
We'd better focus on efficient symbols rather than realistic smallish blurred things (that's a former Civilization player on 320x200 screen who speaks... ).

I would rather enlarge those thumbnails by 2 and use some obvious pictures (sun, house...), while using something like arrows for filmstrips layouts (<-- -->). I'll try to come with some suggestions after this week-end (too busy right now).

[Clo]

—> Olivier_G

Hello !

• Well, the folder I used in this sample is the smallest possible keeping a meaning and a good look…

- I've sent a set to Pierre - especially to test an external DLL for this - with numbers as "flat"…

- I thought also to other motives for these images, i.e. a film-strip (I mean a piece of film as black & white) but like you point out, the image is too small…

- Finally, I guess that a chosen external resource could make everybody happy !
- Only a maximal size could be imposed for each image, to keep a reasonable menu size…

- I hope I'll have time enough to draw some samples…

KR
Claude
Clo

[Clo]

—> Olivier_G

Hello !

• I've drawn a set as a so “Spartan” style, and for large screens and high resolutions…

   
© C. Charries, 2006-2008.

• I've these images as separate bitmaps (64*32 each, total 55 colours only…), and as a DLL too

EDIT : Updated according to the new layouts set (10 pics).

KR
Claude
Clo

[Clo]

Pierre

Hello !

• Did you get the set of layout-bitmaps + DLL I sent you a while ago ? It could be a nice opportunity to test an external resource, that is missing in XnView, and should give it an advantage with regard to certain competitors !

• To complete this stuff, I made the large bitmaps above as a DLL,
and also with a slightly different symbol (variant) for the #8 and #9 (film-strip layouts).
- These bitmaps and the two corresponding DLLs are available as a small RAR archive HERE (9 KiB only).

• Glad to hear your feed-back…

KR
Claude
Clo

[Clo]

—> helmut

• Hi !

…but you never have buttons in menus…

• Sorry, this is not true, I've this in my HTML editor “Hélios” for years like shown below :

   

- Each icon in the menus shows a button when the mouse cursor hovers it.
- Moreover, that button works, you may click it!
- This avoid to select the icon of the menu item too, that looks better.
- Indeed, on idle the icon is flat.
- Anyway, I draw and sent other and larger bitmaps to Pierre, and didn't get any feedback
- Especially, about the support of external bitmaps DLL which could solve a lot of issues and free space on the forum server

G.
Claude
Clo

[helmut]

…but you never have buttons in menus…

• Sorry, this is not true, I've this in my HTML editor “Hélios” for years like shown below :

O.k. Do you have any other examples which are not your applications?

- Moreover, that button works, you may click it!

Interesting. Does the functionality of the button differ from the functionality of the menu item?

- Indeed, on idle the icon is flat.

More an icon than a real button.

Internet Explorer 7 does have some kind of buttons in menus: When opening favourites folders have an arrow on the right which allow for opening all favourites in that folder. This is something new and special, the menu items are still menu items and no buttons.

I think there are many application out there with many designers. So you may find examples for anything. But a standard is what many applications do. From what I can see the design rule written above still applies.

[Clo]

Hello !

• I've updated the large bitmaps set, please see above.

- The bitmaps & DLLs are available too, same link above…

KR
Claude
Clo

[Clo]

…Almost twenty-two months later…

Hello All !

• These suggestions are pending, and the images are still available (and even a bit polished up).

• Maybe this thread could be moved to the “Customization” section ?

KR
Claude
Clo