[Qgis-developer] Better options dialogs

[Larry Shaffer]

On Fri, Jan 4, 2013 at 10:50 AM, Matthias Kuhn <matthias.kuhn at gmx.ch> wrote:
> Hi Larry,
>
> On 01/04/2013 06:47 PM, Larry Shaffer wrote:
>>
>> Hi Matthias and Nathan,
>>
>> I was just about to bring this topic back up myself. :^) Yes, I can
>> work on this next (probably this weekend). I'll start with the main
>> app options dialog, cause it's the simplest.
>>
>> Option dialog candidates to switch to vertical tabs (for
>> useability/consistency):
>> * App options
>> * Project options
>> * Vector and Raster layer properties
>>
>>
>> Matthias, do you think the new diagram options setup can be moved to
>> horizontal tabs, instead of a toolbox, once there are vertical tabs
>> for the vector dialog?
>
> This would be the preferred layout of this dialog for me. If you need me to
> do anything, please let me know.

I suppose you could switch that dialog to horz. tabs whenever, since
it is in a separate .ui file. It'll just be tabs-under-tabs until the
vector layer dialog is switched to vert. tabs (which IMO should
happen, unless there is serious objection to the results of the app
options dialog's switch). Unless, you want to wait until everyone is
OK with the switch, to keep from doing unnecessary work.

Regards,

Larry

> Regards
>
>>
>>
>> Nathan,
>>>
>>> ...  If you need some help I can lend a hand.
>>
>> Remember that little custom toolbutton widget we chatted about for
>> data defined option overrides? (to the right of labeling options in
>> redesign [0]) I think you mentioned some kind of abstracted data
>> binding class that widgets like that could use or inherit. Such a
>> class, that worked with the new vector API, would be very handy and
>> greatly help with the labeling dialog redesign (and elsewhere). Do you
>> have some time to work on that?
>>
>> See http://irclogs.geoapt.com/qgis/%23qgis.2012-11-26.log starting at
>> (14:44:28)
>>
>> [0] http://drive.dakotacarto.com/qgis/labeling-redesign.png
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Larry
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Jan 4, 2013 at 7:12 AM, Nathan Woodrow <madmanwoo at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Larry,
>>>
>>> If you do have time for this I too would really like to see this added.
>>> The
>>> tabs situation is becoming a mess and is only going to get worse as we
>>> move
>>> forward.  If you need some help I can lend a hand.
>>>
>>> - Nathan
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Jan 4, 2013 at 5:51 PM, Matthias Kuhn <matthias.kuhn at gmx.ch>
>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi Larry,
>>>>
>>>> What is the status of the vertical tabs? Do you still have a branch with
>>>> them ready?
>>>>
>>>> I noticed, that the new labelling dialog in the vector layer settings
>>>> has
>>>> two columns of tabs, which look a bit uncommon, and I'd see vertical
>>>> tabs as
>>>> a good replacement for either the first or the second level of tabs in
>>>> this
>>>> dialog.
>>>>
>>>> Cheers,
>>>>
>>>> Matthias
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 09/05/2012 09:10 PM, Larry Shaffer wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>> I've been working on reducing overall clutter and excess space, and
>>>>> trying to increase efficiency and extensibility, with options dialogs.
>>>>>
>>>>> Problems with current option dialogs' parent QTabWidget approach:
>>>>>
>>>>> * Tab widget uses unnecessary vertical space (bad for small screens).
>>>>> * Tab widget limits the use of reasonably needed tabs for option
>>>>> sections (avoiding tabs-within-tabs unfortunately trumps useability).
>>>>> * Horizontal parent tabs limit how many option sections can be offered
>>>>> (already too wide, without text truncation, on Mac).
>>>>> * Horizontal parent tabs dictate the width of the dialog, causing form
>>>>> layout elements to optically stretch too far apart.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Possible solution: Move 'tabs' to simple list widget on left side of a
>>>>> splitter and have option sections loaded on right.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have done mockups for the app and vector layer options [0], which
>>>>> show the following advantages:
>>>>>
>>>>> * Vertical height is maximized without sacrificing layout of option
>>>>> section form elements (good for smaller screens).
>>>>> * Number of option sections is not graphically limited.
>>>>> * Number of option sections no longer dictates width of option section
>>>>> forms (forms look much better).
>>>>> * List item widget can have its splitter section collapsed to a set
>>>>> size to show only icons for sections.
>>>>> * Consistent look across platforms, with larger icons for sections.
>>>>> * More current 'look' for v 2.0 without too much work.
>>>>>
>>>>> Other than making the dialogs clearer and less cluttered IMHO, the
>>>>> full useability of the dialogs at smaller sizes helps the user see
>>>>> more map canvas when testing options with Apply.
>>>>>
>>>>> Any comments or suggestions?
>>>>>
>>>>> [0]
>>>>>
>>>>> https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yy0j3mmg4l4kw7x/Ar_S-eYqCv/qgis/options-dlgs?lst
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Larry
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Qgis-developer mailing list
>>>>> Qgis-developer at lists.osgeo.org
>>>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-developer
>>>>
>>>>
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