[Qgis-developer] Better options dialogs

Matthias Kuhn matthias.kuhn at gmx.ch
Fri Jan 4 15:47:53 PST 2013


On 01/04/2013 07:24 PM, Larry Shaffer wrote:
> 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.

I'll wait until the new tab layout is ready and change the dialog style 
then. It should be a very simple task, I already changed this dialog 
from tabs to toolbox once before.

Regards,
Matthias
>
> 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
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>>>>>
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