RFC/VOTE: Change in the User Interface - Source Window

RFC/VOTE: Change in the User Interface - Source Window

[Fernando Nasser]

Some time ago I posted about the change in the position of the controls
that are currently at the bottom of the Source Window, moving then to the
top part.  

I even added an option (no UI way to change it -- must edit the .gdbtkinit file)
so that people could try it.

After using it every day for a month or so I can't just stand the old layout
anymore. Here is why:


1) I don't have to be moving my mouse up and down anymore.  I just bring it
down a bit to set/unset breakpoints or inspect some variable.  Most of the
time the mouse remain on the top area.

2) The combo box lists do not try to go below my screen nor give the strange
quirks depending on the host OS (I have a few bug reports of problems that
happen with the comboboxes at the bottom -- they don't happen with them at the
top).  Now they open naturally downwards.

3) When using Source Navigator, my eyes go looking for the file selection,
function selection at the top because it is the way SourceNav layout is.
And if we want to have a nice environment comprising of SourceNav and Insight
we need to keep things coherent.

4) Even when I am using Insight alone, it is a drag to look for this information
away from the other controls.

5) The status bar becomes more visible as there is less clutter at the bottom.
There is much less strain on my eyes now that is alone in there.

6) When I am downloading, the feedback is now very close to where I initiated the
action. Before one had to choose between focusing the eyes on the button states
or on the progress bar.  Now you can see both at a glance.


At first I found the appearance strange.  After spending so much time looking at
the source controls at the bottom I had a funny reaction.  After a couple of days
I started finding it cute, cleaner indeed. Anyway, functionality and usability should
have precedence over appearance.

I believe the controls are at the bottom for historical reasons.  They were 
originally just a status indication (the source code calls it status bar).
I imagine that at first you could only see where you are and could not
change it.  When functionality was added so it became possible to actually
control what you see, the position remained the same.


I would like to make this change permanent.  


P.S.: I know I will have to go after documentation and update the screen shots
or at least mention the new position (nothing else changed but the placement).





-- 
Fernando Nasser
Red Hat - Toronto                       E-Mail:  fnasser@redhat.com
2323 Yonge Street, Suite #300
Toronto, Ontario   M4P 2C9

Re: RFC/VOTE: Change in the User Interface - Source Window

[Jim Ingham]

Fernando,

This seems fine to me.  It is odd that you have to go up & down the 
window to get various useful controls.

Now if we can get a better way to indicate that the search window (i.e. 
the download progress window when it is not being used as such) to not 
be so coy about what it really does, this will begin to be a nice UI...

Jim

On Tuesday, January 16, 2001, at 09:56 AM, Fernando Nasser wrote:

> Some time ago I posted about the change in the position of the controls
> that are currently at the bottom of the Source Window, moving then to 
> the
> top part.
>
> I even added an option (no UI way to change it -- must edit the 
> .gdbtkinit file)
> so that people could try it.
>
> After using it every day for a month or so I can't just stand the old 
> layout
> anymore. Here is why:
>
>
> 1) I don't have to be moving my mouse up and down anymore.  I just 
> bring it
> down a bit to set/unset breakpoints or inspect some variable.  Most of 
> the
> time the mouse remain on the top area.
>
> 2) The combo box lists do not try to go below my screen nor give the 
> strange
> quirks depending on the host OS (I have a few bug reports of problems 
> that
> happen with the comboboxes at the bottom -- they don't happen with them 
> at the
> top).  Now they open naturally downwards.
>
> 3) When using Source Navigator, my eyes go looking for the file 
> selection,
> function selection at the top because it is the way SourceNav layout is.
> And if we want to have a nice environment comprising of SourceNav and 
> Insight
> we need to keep things coherent.
>
> 4) Even when I am using Insight alone, it is a drag to look for this 
> information
> away from the other controls.
>
> 5) The status bar becomes more visible as there is less clutter at the 
> bottom.
> There is much less strain on my eyes now that is alone in there.
>
> 6) When I am downloading, the feedback is now very close to where I 
> initiated the
> action. Before one had to choose between focusing the eyes on the 
> button states
> or on the progress bar.  Now you can see both at a glance.
>
>
> At first I found the appearance strange.  After spending so much time 
> looking at
> the source controls at the bottom I had a funny reaction.  After a 
> couple of days
> I started finding it cute, cleaner indeed. Anyway, functionality and 
> usability should
> have precedence over appearance.
>
> I believe the controls are at the bottom for historical reasons.  They 
> were
> originally just a status indication (the source code calls it status 
> bar).
> I imagine that at first you could only see where you are and could not
> change it.  When functionality was added so it became possible to 
> actually
> control what you see, the position remained the same.
>
>
> I would like to make this change permanent.
>
>
> P.S.: I know I will have to go after documentation and update the 
> screen shots
> or at least mention the new position (nothing else changed but the 
> placement).
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Fernando Nasser
> Red Hat - Toronto                       E-Mail:  fnasser@redhat.com
> 2323 Yonge Street, Suite #300
> Toronto, Ontario   M4P 2C9

--
Jim Ingham                                   jingham@apple.com
Developer Tools - gdb
Apple Computer

Re: RFC/VOTE: Change in the User Interface - Source Window

[Steven Johnson]

Sounds and looks good to me. Im a "FOR" Vote.

Steven

Re: RFC/VOTE: Change in the User Interface - Source Window

[Fernando Nasser]

Thanks for your feedback folks.

I made it the default today, so new users will already get it at the top.

Later today or during the weekend I will check in the NEWS file (and the TODO
as well) and then remove the test (that causes old users to still see it in the old
position).  I will then proceed to update the documentation.


Jim Ingham has pointed to another UI deficience we have.  Our search entry widget
acts also as a "double" of download progress bar is not self evident.  A message
about this follows.


-- 
Fernando Nasser
Red Hat - Toronto                       E-Mail:  fnasser@redhat.com
2323 Yonge Street, Suite #300
Toronto, Ontario   M4P 2C9