Multi Commander > Feature Requests and Suggestions
NEXT Version v4.x (?)
Mathias (Author):
--- Quote from: Kreator on October 09, 2013, 08:42:24 ---I agree with previous message about the bottom button panel. It isn't very important for me, but it could add some gracefulness and individuality to the interface.
What about configuration issues, I'll rejoin:
--- Quote from: GrantSP on October 09, 2013, 04:02:03 ---1) Configuration -- Quick Look'n'Feel Setup -- Customize -- Colors -- (choose from the list)
Too many clicks and changes of interface even within this one setting. File menu to new dialog to another new dialog and then a dropdown list.
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Maybe the last dialog is unnecessary (it's possible to add those dropdown lists to the previous dialog), but the option is called Look'n'Feel, it have to change lot's of settings. Maybe it should be reworked to 3 radiobuttons and those 4 dropdown menus, which will reflect the radiobuttons' change (i.e. you choose "MC style" and 4 dropdown menus change their items to "Commander style....", if you change dropdown lists manually, radiobutton "Customize" will be active). Here's some kind of example (in attachment).
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Something like that might work..
--- Quote from: Kreator on October 09, 2013, 08:42:24 ---
--- Quote from: GrantSP on October 09, 2013, 04:02:03 ---2) Configuration -- Explorer Panel Settings -- Display or Layout of Colors (choose Display and then...) Fonts... As well as these options there is a button on the bottom of this new panel to "Import" a new scheme which loads a new dialog with another dropdown list to select a scheme.
As with 1) too many different changes in interface to edit settings: menu options to dialogs to tabbed panels to more dropdown lists and buttons.
Selecting one of those schemes changed the font colors but nothing else which meant my previous layout of the Quick Look'n'Feel setup of alternating colors now had some text with same background color. Other elements also changed to undesirable styles and there is no option to restore the layout, color or style to "factory" settings. I now have to figure out which style element was changed by which option menu.
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I believe that the way it's made to choose tabs and then a dialog with the dropdown list is quite logical and easy to manage (it was clear to me). Maybe Core settings and panel settings should be mixed to one menu item and be shown together. Maybe it's a bit long way to click, but it's custom settings. You can do the trick from Look'n'Feel menu without opening settings at all. Most users do it that way, I guess.
I didn't use all Look'n'Feel options (I'm used to do all setting 1 by 1 in full list), I just chose WinExplorer style. But if different settings are made to colours from customization panel and from Look'n'Feel tool, it should be clear to a user what settings he's going to change with this or that button.
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Joining Core and Explorer Panel settings does not work. It is separated for a reason and that is because Explorer Panel is really an extension (Built into MC, but could have been a its own .dll.)
I know that it can sometimes be confusing if a settings should be found in Core or ExplorerPanel, It is where it is because of the Extension/Plugin architecture.
MC is build around an extension/plugin architecture, Almost everything in MC is a plugin. Many of the Build into MC but they should just as well have been separate dlls. It makes it easy to add new things but it also put up some limits.
Right now only core and explorer panel are using the "generic" settings views. (Some other plugins that will get some settings will also show up in the list in the future), The layout and connection to the settings files are actually defined in the MultiCommander_def.xml and ExplorerPanel_def.xml file, so it is easy to move stuff around and add new settings, But it also put limits on what kind of settings to show.
GrantSP:
Ok let's look at this again.
I actually think the way you have the Explorer Panel and the Core settings in tabbed panels is the best way to do it. I was in no way saying you should put all the settings onto one page, rather one location. There should be no reason why changing the layout or colouring of the explorer panel can be done by two or more different commands. Just one.
For instance, there is the Configuration -- File Coloring Rules Editor and then on the Colors tab of the Explorer Panel Settings there is the options to use that Editor. It should be easily seen that these two need to go together. To open one editor dialog and be told to use it you need to open another settings panel is needlessly obtuse and confusing.
Also I understand the need to have separate settings panels for core and explorer, because of the modular nature of your program but what is the need to change the style of interface with different menu options?
Your tabbed panel UI for the Core and Explorer Panel settings is excellent. It looks good, is functional, clean and informative. Why can't the other dialogs and menu options also be placed in similar tabbed panels? It would present a more unified and clean look.
So File Coloring Rules Editor -- into a tabbed panel
Quick Look'n'Feel -- scrap it. It can be accomplished just as well with the saved/exported configurations from the other methods
The other menu options under the Configuration menu can probably stay exactly as they are, unless they too can be moved to one of your tabbed panels.
I really like the look of that UI with the settings inside a panel in the main program, it has a touch of class or something about it. Nice job.
One minor point that needs fixing. In the Explorer Panel Settings -- Display and in the Fonts section. The first item is "Freepace" I assume that should be "Free space"?
Kreator:
--- Quote from: GrantSP on October 10, 2013, 01:58:39 ---For instance, there is the Configuration -- File Coloring Rules Editor and then on the Colors tab of the Explorer Panel Settings there is the options to use that Editor. It should be easily seen that these two need to go together. To open one editor dialog and be told to use it you need to open another settings panel is needlessly obtuse and confusing.
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It's the right way. But as I get it, now it's the limitation of modular structure of the program.
--- Quote from: GrantSP on October 10, 2013, 01:58:39 ---Also I understand the need to have separate settings panels for core and explorer, because of the modular nature of your program but what is the need to change the style of interface with different menu options?
Your tabbed panel UI for the Core and Explorer Panel settings is excellent. It looks good, is functional, clean and informative. Why can't the other dialogs and menu options also be placed in similar tabbed panels? It would present a more unified and clean look.
So File Coloring Rules Editor -- into a tabbed panel
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The author is moving that way, I think. It's just because all is done via plugins.
--- Quote from: GrantSP on October 10, 2013, 01:58:39 ---Quick Look'n'Feel -- scrap it. It can be accomplished just as well with the saved/exported configurations from the other methods
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I don't think LNF is bad idea. It's the key for those who don't like lots of settings and searching those settings. And for those who come from WinExplorer, not from TotalCommander. I think it's good solution.
Mathias (Author):
--- Quote from: GrantSP on October 10, 2013, 01:58:39 ---There should be no reason why changing the layout or colouring of the explorer panel can be done by two or more different commands. Just one.
For instance, there is the Configuration -- File Coloring Rules Editor and then on the Colors tab of the Explorer Panel Settings there is the options to use that Editor. It should be easily seen that these two need to go together. To open one editor dialog and be told to use it you need to open another settings panel is needlessly obtuse and confusing.
--- End quote ---
The old style coloring was inside the Explorer Panel settings. But the new File Coloring rules offer an UI that is more advanced and it is not possible to show by the generic settings panel.
So because of that it had to move to its own place.
--- Quote from: GrantSP on October 10, 2013, 01:58:39 ---Your tabbed panel UI for the Core and Explorer Panel settings is excellent. It looks good, is functional, clean and informative. Why can't the other dialogs and menu options also be placed in similar tabbed panels? It would present a more unified and clean look.
--- End quote ---
The Generic settings panel can not show that kind of UI. It only support standard options like Checkboxes (enable/disable) and Listboxes for picking one of many, and some other controls. I been planing to maybe moving some of the settings Dialog Windows to a dialog panel that is shown inside a tab, But that can sometimes give strange look if the tab is not large enouth and other strange issue that I have not had time to look at.
--- Quote from: GrantSP on October 10, 2013, 01:58:39 ---Quick Look'n'Feel -- scrap it. It can be accomplished just as well with the saved/exported configurations from the other methods
--- End quote ---
No, there is a need for a one click options to switch between Commander <> WinExplorer mode..
But I think I like Kreator's suggestions about joining the two dialogs.
--- Quote from: GrantSP on October 10, 2013, 01:58:39 ---One minor point that needs fixing. In the Explorer Panel Settings -- Display and in the Fonts section. The first item is "Freepace" I assume that should be "Free space"?
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Whops.. Thanks.. ( Why have I not notice before.... I might be going blind. )
Krekkie:
Maybe these are more like bugs instead of feature requests but all are UI related:
1) Active tab when closing a tab
Suppose you have 2 tabs open pointing to c:\ and d:\ in that order and c:\ is the active tab. Press Ctrl-T to duplicate the active tab. Then close this newly created third tab. I would expect the c:\ tab to become the active tab again but that is not the case. In practice: when you are doing stuff on a tab and then quickly create another tab to check something or whatever and close this again you have to go looking for your previous active tab.
2) Sort by extension
My explorer panel is always sorted by extension but sometimes when starting MC it reverts back to sorting by name and the little arrow besides Ext is gone. This happens in about 1 in 7 cases but I can't reproduce this on command.
3) Delete progress dialog
Since the new delete progress dialog has been introduced (build 1457) MC switches screens while deleting in a multi-monitor setup. Steps to reproduce this: put MC on the second screen and delete a file. The confirmation dialog also appears on the second screen but the progress dialog and any error dialogs appear on the main screen. This didn't happen with the 'old' delete progress dialog.
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