Hi, Dňa Fri, 31 Jan 2014 00:25:08 +0100 Hans Breuer <hans breuer org> napísal:
At 30.01.2014 20:39, Slavko wrote:Dňa Thu, 30 Jan 2014 06:41:34 -0800 Octavio Alvarez[...]This could be great feedback on usability for the project, either to improve documentation or to improve the interface itself.For me, the most missing GUI parts are: + toolbar with my common task (best is customization) - properties (colors, etc), bring to front/back, align...Placing actions already available in the menu should be an easy task given the right selection. Customization would require some deeper knowledge of GTK. The hardest part would probaly be to put some of Dia's custom property widgets into the toolbar and en/dis-able them based on the current object selection.
You are right, the proper selection is terrible part. I see the place for toolbar buttons for alignment, brink back/forward. Buttons for back and forward (Ctrl+Z/Y), etc. Customization can be very basical too. Perhaps prepare more toolbars, which will group properties/items as they are in (sub)menus, and make simple customization by enable/disable whole toolbar as start point? (My knowledge about GTK is basic only). Or duplicate all menu items to these toolbars and allow simple enable/disable for particular buttons. IMO there must be some type of common properties, e.g. stroke and fill (in SVG terms), which can be added.
+ there is not a cursor change, when it is above the object resize point, the GUI feedback is missingAvailable with Dia master by
And for all other implemented parts: thanks :-) Is the new release on plan in near future?
There is a simple interface to select the line width and colors (below the shape list), but this affect only new shapes, not existing. And the recently colors in this interface is not corresponding with the recent colors from object's properties...Not sure if you are asking for the Palette preset in the Select color dialog. That's just the standard dialog from GTK. The color menu in the Object properties dialog is specific to Dia including it's recent entries management. But given that the latter again uses the former (More colors...) I prefer to not duplicate the recent entries in the Select color dialog.
Yes, i ask something similar as palete presets. Or any system, which will allow to share the same color sets on different places. I don't know, if the classic GTK color dialog allow to load custom palette.
Dynamic guides would certainly be a nice addtion to Dia. I have no plans to implment them myself, though ;)
:-(
Allowing to hide (enable/disable, not delete) whole shape lists is
I was thinking about this one as well, but did not come up with a good UI idea. Maybe replace the current approach with some autocompleting, read-only combobox of all the shape names?
IMO current list is good, only when the number of items grows, is there a problem. I see the base of the problem in history. There was not a custom shapes system (as i know) and users did copy/install them manually. But now i install custom shapes package and i get a lot of lists, which are not all useful for me. But there are not all useful for me from the build-in too. Hmm, i don't know how to write this in English, but now i have more items now than they can take place on my screen (1920x1080) and i must to scroll it to see all items. What about simple interface with checkboxes for any shape lists somewhere in configuration? Which can be default to True (Display), to prevent hiding the new (unknown state) lists? The list of shape's lists can be loaded by the same manner as now. Or simple add this checkbox to the existing shapes and lists customization dialog (F9)?
A basic gradient editor and gradient support for shapes is still missing.
Gradient support for shapes was what i mean. The Dia diagrams are very useful for me. They are technically really good, but some eye candy is missing. I did custom network SVG shapes (still not finished) in Inkscape. I did a lot of try-fail until i get it working, but i have still a problem with (e.g.) line widths when shapes are resized :-( Back to gradient - i am not a artist, then simulate the gradient by layering SVG shapes with different colors is nothing for me...
Thanks for the exhaustive list although - to me - it mostly does not seem to be geared towards beginners problems ;-)
Yes, they all are not a beginner problems. IMO the beginner problems are not related to bad GUI or missing GUI parts. I see only one missing part - very basic Quick start tutorial with some screenshots. Now i think not for my students - i am able to describe them the basic work with Dia. But for people which find the Dia by self and have nobody to ask around. I tried to create one (in my native language), but i fail with definition/selection of the beginner's tasks. Perhaps i will prepare it in future, with the next year students. I have plan to do the same experiment, but with the tutorial creation on the mind. regards -- Slavko http://slavino.sk
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