Opinions wanted: calibre's new widget style - Page 5

paulfiera · 06-14-2012, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

OK, I'll add the option in the next release.

Many thanks, Kovid!

fischbob · 06-14-2012, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

OK, I'll add the option in the next release.

Thanks!

terminalveracity · 06-14-2012, 03:04 PM

The new style is great--rounded corners everywhere give the interface a more unified feel. 2 minor things which may be beyond the scope of your question as they exist in both versions (using Win 7):

1. Connect/Share button doesn't match. It's missing the separator and the arrow isn't centered. Side note: I'd rather have the submenu options show up on mouseover rather than clicking the little arrow or have all the submenu options available as toolbar buttons.

2. The yellow highlighting to show placeholders for coverflow/book details/tag editor is distracting. Ideally, I'd rather be able to combine some/all of these into a single sidebar.

kiwidude · 06-14-2012, 03:19 PM

The buttons have different purposes when clicked on, and the arrow being different more clearly shows this. The one on the left when clicked down will give you a menu, the one on the right will perform an action unless you click on the split part off to the right which gives you a menu. Centering the arrows would make this way less clear.

kovidgoyal · 06-14-2012, 03:19 PM

The different arrow styles indicate different kinds of buttons, try clicking on them and you will see the difference. And you can right click on any button to get its popup menu. The yellow indicators are gone in the next release.

Since opinion favors the new style, the next release will have it as the default.

Note that if you prefer the old style you will have to change it back under preferences->look & feel->user interface style. This is a one time thing you will have to do after the next release.

terminalveracity · 06-14-2012, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

The different arrow styles indicate different kinds of buttons

I see what you mean; the connect/share button has no default action it just opens the submenu. Maybe I'm being too anal in wanting all the little arrows to line up.

Is there any chance we'd be able to add some of the submenu actions to the main toolbar? For instance, I have 4 different send-to addresses off the connect/share menu. Could I get 4 separate buttons on the toolbar?

JSWolf · 06-14-2012, 09:13 PM

The main problem is that the new buttons take up a lot more space width wise then the old buttons. On a limited width screen like my laptop, there is almost no space left.

kovidgoyal · 06-14-2012, 10:01 PM

@tv: No, that's not going to happen. You can create a custom plugin to d that for yourself, but it isn't going to be part of the default build.

@JSWolf: Consider making the buttons smaller and or hiding their text and or using a menubar in addition ot the toolbar.

Kumabjorn · 06-15-2012, 02:08 AM

You can change the size of the buttons?? Learning somethin new every day.

And ohh, if the button doesn't open up sub-menues, but initiate an action, perhaps it shouldn't have an arrow at all?

kovidgoyal · 06-15-2012, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

And ohh, if the button doesn't open up sub-menues, but initiate an action, perhaps it shouldn't have an arrow at all?

It doesn't

kiwidude · 06-15-2012, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

@tv: No, that's not going to happen. You can create a custom plugin to d that for yourself, but it isn't going to be part of the default build.

Funnily enough I did have way down my todo list to investigate whether it would be possible to create a plugin which would allow configuring "additional" toolbar buttons. I want a separate Eject button, and to replace the Add button whose default action I want to change. Others have suggested they want buttons to allow them to quickly switch to a different library. And then there is the request above of emailing buttons.

It would need some jiggery pokery specific to each suboption being supported. And there is always the risk that a user going into Preferences -> Toolbar to change their "standard" buttons might possibly destroy / badly interfere, I really haven't looked into the code for this purpose as yet. One day...

Hypernova · 06-15-2012, 04:44 AM

I'm too late. From the poll, it wouldn't make any different I guess. Well, might as well say it.

I'm using Windows 8 and 7, and I prefer the old style, for the fact that it use System style. I was glad when I ran calibre on Windows 8 for the first time and it didn't look out of place because it used system style. All the tweak to Aero went through the calibre nicely. Now the new style make it out of place. *sigh*

I'd like to argue that a program should fellow the system style by default, but it's ok to be able to choose a different skin. Well, the poll say people disagree with me, and I can still change it back so not much to complain about.

Kumabjorn · 06-15-2012, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

It doesn't

The illustration in post #63 begs to differ.
Or at least, that is the impression I got.

kiwidude · 06-15-2012, 04:57 AM

@Kumajborn - read my post below it again. The button on the left gives you a menu, the button on the right performs an action in the main area of the button but gives you a menu if you click on the arrow portion. *Neither* are buttons without a menu.

kovidgoyal · 06-15-2012, 05:29 AM

@Hypernova: Yes looking out of place is the principal drawback. But I think this poll shows that that is more than compensated for by the nicer looks/improved usability of the new style. Also, nowadays, more and more applications are choosing to no longer use the system style. Some examples: Microsoft Office, iTunes, *all* other ebook management programs. Not to mention all the webapps, that dont even have a "system style".

Still, calibre will continue to provide the system style as an option, for people that prefer it.

View Poll Results: What is your opinion of the new style?
I prefer the new style on Windows	68	57.63%
I prefer the old style on Windows	16	13.56%
I am indifferent	23	19.49%
I prefer the new style on OS X	7	5.93%
I prefer the old style on OS X	4	3.39%
Voters: 118. You may not vote on this poll

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06-14-2012, 03:04 PM	#63
terminalveracity Member Posts: 18 Karma: 6000 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Kindle	The new style is great--rounded corners everywhere give the interface a more unified feel. 2 minor things which may be beyond the scope of your question as they exist in both versions (using Win 7): 1. Connect/Share button doesn't match. It's missing the separator and the arrow isn't centered. Side note: I'd rather have the submenu options show up on mouseover rather than clicking the little arrow or have all the submenu options available as toolbar buttons. 2. The yellow highlighting to show placeholders for coverflow/book details/tag editor is distracting. Ideally, I'd rather be able to combine some/all of these into a single sidebar.

06-14-2012, 03:19 PM	#64
kiwidude Calibre Plugins Developer Posts: 4,652 Karma: 2162064 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Oasis	The buttons have different purposes when clicked on, and the arrow being different more clearly shows this. The one on the left when clicked down will give you a menu, the one on the right will perform an action unless you click on the split part off to the right which gives you a menu. Centering the arrows would make this way less clear.

06-14-2012, 03:19 PM	#65
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 44,014 Karma: 22669822 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	The different arrow styles indicate different kinds of buttons, try clicking on them and you will see the difference. And you can right click on any button to get its popup menu. The yellow indicators are gone in the next release. Since opinion favors the new style, the next release will have it as the default. Note that if you prefer the old style you will have to change it back under preferences->look & feel->user interface style. This is a one time thing you will have to do after the next release.

06-14-2012, 09:13 PM	#67
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,608 Karma: 130140792 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The main problem is that the new buttons take up a lot more space width wise then the old buttons. On a limited width screen like my laptop, there is almost no space left.

06-14-2012, 10:01 PM	#68
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 44,014 Karma: 22669822 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	@tv: No, that's not going to happen. You can create a custom plugin to d that for yourself, but it isn't going to be part of the default build. @JSWolf: Consider making the buttons smaller and or hiding their text and or using a menubar in addition ot the toolbar.

06-15-2012, 02:08 AM	#69
Kumabjorn Basculocolpic Posts: 4,356 Karma: 20181319 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Kindle 4SO, Kindle for Android, Sony PRS-350 and PRS-T1	You can change the size of the buttons?? Learning somethin new every day. And ohh, if the button doesn't open up sub-menues, but initiate an action, perhaps it shouldn't have an arrow at all?

06-15-2012, 04:44 AM	#72
Hypernova Hyperreader Posts: 130 Karma: 28678 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Current: Boox Leaf2 (broken) Past: H2O, Kindle PW1, DXG;Pocketbook 360	I'm too late. From the poll, it wouldn't make any different I guess. Well, might as well say it. I'm using Windows 8 and 7, and I prefer the old style, for the fact that it use System style. I was glad when I ran calibre on Windows 8 for the first time and it didn't look out of place because it used system style. All the tweak to Aero went through the calibre nicely. Now the new style make it out of place. sigh I'd like to argue that a program should fellow the system style by default, but it's ok to be able to choose a different skin. Well, the poll say people disagree with me, and I can still change it back so not much to complain about.

06-15-2012, 04:57 AM	#74
kiwidude Calibre Plugins Developer Posts: 4,652 Karma: 2162064 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Oasis	@Kumajborn - read my post below it again. The button on the left gives you a menu, the button on the right performs an action in the main area of the button but gives you a menu if you click on the arrow portion. Neither are buttons without a menu.

06-15-2012, 05:29 AM	#75
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 44,014 Karma: 22669822 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	@Hypernova: Yes looking out of place is the principal drawback. But I think this poll shows that that is more than compensated for by the nicer looks/improved usability of the new style. Also, nowadays, more and more applications are choosing to no longer use the system style. Some examples: Microsoft Office, iTunes, all other ebook management programs. Not to mention all the webapps, that dont even have a "system style". Still, calibre will continue to provide the system style as an option, for people that prefer it.

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