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    Requested Properties layout

    Irfan View is one of my basic apps with Total Commander, because it can be integrated very well.
    So I started a poll on the TC forum, about how many members used IV as the basic viewer/editor.
    So far, it's 40 %, which is quite substantial.

    But in the comments I noticed a common criticism about the content of options/properties, especially the 3 misc's.
    And I must say, they're absolutely right. It's a mess.

    Misc 2 even has a part called 'miscellaneous' again. Misc 1 has an item about fullscreen mode, while fullscreen has
    its own tag.
    So I think it would be nice if this collection will be re-organized in a way with more clear survey.
    0.6180339887
    Rest In Peace, Sam!

    #2
    I agree. Just renaming the tab labels would help a bit, and renaming Properties to Preferences or Options would be more consistent with other programs. A more radical redesign might be better, though changing the interface can upset a lot of users.

    With so many tabs I think the benefits of a tabbed dialogue are lost. You spend time searching for the right tab, even assuming you know which one you want. A tree of categories down the left would be better.
    Attached Files
    Last edited by Bhikkhu Pesala; 02.06.2007, 06:13 AM.
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      #3
      Hi,

      total commander is great

      (have a personal licence and i don´t want to miss it on my machine)

      New tab names are definitly necessary, because they are, as you said, not very meaningful !

      steve

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        #4
        I second.. uh.. fourth this.


        I also believe that having the different sections listed on the left would be a good choice.

        Usually, I think this is the rule of thumb for Options/Preferences windows:

        a few sections = use tabs at the top
        many sections = use a list on the left

        Multiple levels of tabs make for terrible and confusing UI.


        And I also agree that "Properties" should be renamed to "Preferences" or "Options";
        "Properties" on Windows mostly means info on files or folders.
        Last edited by remain; 02.06.2007, 06:40 PM.

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          #5
          Hi guys,

          i downloaded the language sdk and i could change the tab names + i do a small re- organisation of the "window option" (can be found under "viewing" now).

          You can downloaded my modified variant of the english language file - just try it and give me some feedback

          steve

          PS: File must be copied to the language folder
          Attached Files

          Comment


            #6
            That is definitely more comprehensible, though I would still prefer a list instead of tabs. I will be happy to use that as my default.

            One thing I noticed that I didn't before, is that the Properties dialogue does not open in the middle of the screen like other dialogues, but towards the top left. I think it would be better in the centre of the screen (or perhaps top right like the PNG options dialogue).
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              #7
              Hi,

              i´m going to write an email to irfan regarding that suggestion ( i read some posts in the total commander forum, that irfan does not know how to implement a treeview ?!) So i will ask him ...

              I will mention the problem with the window state (not right in the middle of the screen), too.

              steve

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                #8
                The same happened to TC if I recall correctly. First the options were tagged, and when it got too big, it was changed
                into a left-tree view with categories.

                Bhikku has a point about the semantic use of 'Properties' as a string. 'Preferences' would be an alternative,
                but 'Options' is not elegant, because one would get 'Options/Options. Besides that, 'Properties' is now bound to
                the 'P' key, so renaming could make this illogical, so a further complication.
                Unless 'Preferences' is chosen, because it still starts with a P.

                But before bothering Irfan with this, maybe it's better to do a further analysis first.
                The three Misc names is a obvious thing, but I think the mess starts already in the content of each of the 3 tags themselves.

                One could indeed say for example Misc 3 is about Cut and Paste. On the other hand, one item is about handling TXT-files,
                the other one about cutting a bitmap. Two quite different working areas.
                Another example : 'Folders' is a nice category, but now there is the item 'Window options', which has nothing to do with
                folders. And I already mentioned the 2 fullscreen related options of Misc 1.

                So I think, first a re-shuffling of the items within the Properties dialog should take place, to make a better survey.
                And not only within the 3 Misc's, but all categories, like the fullscreen items.
                In Misc 1 you have 2 items about showing transparant colors of PNG or TGA bitmaps. While in the tag 'Viewing' there is
                still room left for other items.
                I already explained why 'Options' as sub isn't such a good idea, so I propose to use 'System'.
                Things about the general use of the app like 'Only one IV active'.
                0.6180339887
                Rest In Peace, Sam!

                Comment


                  #9
                  Another small enhancement that would help is if the Properties (Preferences) dialogue remembered the last used Tab. I don't always want to change the JPG prerfences. More often than not, I want to change the last option I modified back to what it was before or choose a different colour for cut, background colour, etc.
                  Last edited by Bhikkhu Pesala; 06.06.2007, 05:40 PM.
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                    #10
                    I support this.
                    0.6180339887
                    Rest In Peace, Sam!

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                      #11
                      Has there been any feedback from Irfan on this?
                      I'm already using the English_New.dll language file.

                      I suspect that some further improvements could be made, but I haven't had time to take a close look.
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                        #12
                        Originally posted by steve View Post
                        Hi guys,

                        i downloaded the language sdk and i could change the tab names + i do a small re- organisation of the "window option" (can be found under "viewing" now).

                        You can downloaded my modified variant of the english language file - just try it and give me some feedback

                        steve

                        PS: File must be copied to the language folder
                        Oh please add this to V4.11! ;-)
                        Stuart Halliday

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by steve View Post
                          Hi guys,

                          i downloaded the language sdk and i could change the tab names + i do a small re- organisation of the "window option" (can be found under "viewing" now).

                          You can downloaded my modified variant of the english language file - just try it and give me some feedback

                          steve

                          PS: File must be copied to the language folder

                          Part of this is broken. The Folders - Set external editor is busted. The browse button does nothing and it just doesn't remember any path I enter.
                          Stuart Halliday

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by Bhikkhu Pesala View Post
                            Another small enhancement that would help is if the Properties (Preferences) dialogue remembered the last used Tab...
                            IrfanView already remembers the last used Tab. Well, actually the last tab that was selected when hitting OK.

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                              #15
                              Originally posted by TheOS View Post
                              IrfanView already remembers the last used Tab. Well, actually the last tab that was selected when hitting OK.
                              It does now. I don't think it did when I posted that request on 6/6/2007. Good to see some progress here, but it is still too complex. This is how it used to look not so long ago. (07.06.1999)
                              Attached Files
                              Last edited by Bhikkhu Pesala; 08.11.2007, 10:35 PM.
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