Re: GIMP [Re: [Usability] HIG and MDI/SDI/Tabs]

["Curtis C. Hovey" <sinzui cox net>]

On Tue, 2003-09-02 at 11:57, Alan Horkan wrote:
> On Mon, 1 Sep 2003, Curtis C. Hovey wrote:
> 
> > The Gimp is an anomaly, firstly for separating the application menus
> > from the document menus, secondly, for hiding the document menu bar from
> 
> I urge those of you who agree with this sentiment to voice these opinions
> and provide patches to the GIMP developers.
> I am finding some projects very resistant to improve their user interface
> (and follow the HIG) because "the GIMP does it this way".  It is difficult
> to get things changed in the GIMP so I am trying to start really small,
> but getting the GIMP to follow the HIG provides a very important if
> difficult example.

GIMP isn't a GNOME app so there is little to be done.  No I take that
back.  Fixing the app, and doing the usability test is the only way to a
UI change accepted.

> > the user.  This would be a non-issue if we had a document-centric UI
> > that hid the application from the user.  It would be nice if GNOME had a
> > global menu like the Mac to alleviate the menu clutter of multi-document
> 
> how about a panel applet to swallow the menubar of the current
> application?  the GTK on OS X is going to have to solve this problem at
> some point if it has not already done so, hopefully this
> behaviour/functionality could be made available in some way (but I
> digress).

Yeah.  This comes up every year.  If I learn enough about GNOME UI I
will give it the team try.    Integrating GNOME's menus with OS X is a
lot easier because there is an existing API ready be be linked too.  Do
we think that a fitt-compliant menu must also play well with KDE?

> > desktops too.  Something along the lines of alt+# to switch between
> > document windows as well as document tabs.
> >
> > we also must address the fact that the application/user may have
> > additional windows needed work with the document.  I like the Gimp's new
> > (1.3x) palettes--they provide an excellent example of how single-view
> > and multi-view can operate.  I would only alter it to offer a menulist
> 
> > if that is the user's preference.  The menulist solves the problem when

I'm referring to the optionmeun as used by Nautilu's side bar to switch
between views.  Bad terms on my part.  Sorry.

> menulist, do you mean document menubar?
> The GIMP 1.3 has had a document menubar for quite a while.
> 
> > tabs are two large to fit in the space of the window.
> 
> i assume you mean too large.

yes

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