Interface UI

ThurahT · Post by *ThurahT » 2011-11-04, 13:29 UTC

I think that a skin/theme option would probably satisfy a lot of new users, as long as a "use native/default skin" (no skin) is in place of course..

Samuels points are ALL already there (except BTM and default icons where the latter could be in theme/skin if invented), they just need some configuration.. I think the default new install look is tradition and should stay that way.

I do agree on the BTM.. I'll paste from another thread I participated in: "What I do agree on is that background transfer/operation window is sleek to an extent that is uninformative. I would really like to have a queue system as in FileZilla or the like with a scrollable (max heightened) panel beneath and within the TotalCommander window. Be that unpacking, copying, and moving files. That would be a great enhancement in my book." And also as a standard for FTP of course.

This is more of an interface feature that would really be useful and something I've missed since the introduction of BTM.

elishnevsky · Post by *elishnevsky » 2011-11-04, 14:16 UTC

Skinnable file manager... lol
The UI is just fine.

neverthelesshello · Post by *neverthelesshello » 2011-11-04, 14:49 UTC

I use it for it's functionality and just put up with it's UI - I suspect a lot of people dont care for the UI but stick with the prog because it's so good.

Sob · Post by *Sob » 2011-11-04, 15:56 UTC

Lefteous wrote:A great new design would even make those happy who now say that everthing is perfect as it is.

I'm still trying to figure out what exactly I should imagine as "great new design".

Is it supposed to be some kind of one size fits all, everyone must just love it™ super-skin with lovely colors, daring gradients or shadows and such things? The kind that would make even Sir_SiLvA fall on his knees and cry from joy? ;)

Or is it more about layout arrangement, where should which interface element go? But there are not too many options here. It's two-panel file manager, one panel at the left, one at the right, optional command line at the bottom and button bar at the top also became kind of tradition. Hardly any wonders left to do with that in terms of visual appearance.

JohnFredC · Post by *JohnFredC » 2011-11-04, 16:29 UTC

Sob wrote:I'm still trying to figure out what exactly I should imagine as "great new design".

There have been so many posts in the forum over the years for UI enhancements, I'm sure the word "great" might be voiced by anyone whose dearest request was implemented. So, instead of a "new design" why not just implement the requests?

Always keep in mind that "UI" is more about paradigms for software behavior than simple appearance.

Windows 8 is going to change everyone's expectations, though, so I'd advise Mr. Ghisler to hold off even longer, see whether the new GUI is accepted, then incorporate bits of it in TC where appropriate.

Of course this means that my list of favorite un-implemented UI enhancements (tree visibility per panel, custom central toolbar, custom toolbars for each file panel, quickview in each panel, file extension displayed in column 1, etc, etc.) won't ever be implemented in TC. FreeCommander XE has all of them, though.

Lefteous · Post by *Lefteous » 2011-11-04, 17:04 UTC

Well of course UI is more than just visuals but I think this thread is about visuals. And yes it's not the first thread and yes many members contributed to these threads. I guess there must be some truth in this issue...

Sir_SiLvA · Post by *Sir_SiLvA » 2011-11-04, 17:50 UTC

JohnFredC wrote:Windows 8 is going to change everyone's expectations

How? As long as I cant switch back to Classic-Style I wont like it...

Sob · Post by *Sob » 2011-11-04, 19:00 UTC

@Sir_SiLvA: You won't like it. ;) Classic (win9x) style is gone. Only "new classic", i.e. normal non-Metro windows, but always with themes is available. Well, they can be bypassed somehow, but then the result looks like this: http://web.hisoftware.cz/sob/img/win8dp-themes-off.png
It's only preview and it can change, but I wouldn't count on it. Only chance for real classic style is to implement that look as theme. I'm pretty sure someone will do it eventually.

Sir_SiLvA · Post by *Sir_SiLvA » 2011-11-04, 19:15 UTC

2Sob
I know how W8 looks atm - but yet its only a preview and not even yet a beta...

I was only asking how W8 would change anyones expectations as I have not seen much new things between win 7 & 8....
(apart from the fact its time for another win me/win vista-fiasko

)

whytea · Post by *whytea » 2011-11-05, 03:06 UTC

People resist change. That is normal. There are still people who insist in running MsDos. There are also people who swear they don't need any newer Windows than XP. Then came the vastly improved Win 7...

Like it or not, software evolves just like we do :) TotalCmd will have to evolve too. Yes, it is great tool and it gets the job done no matter what the GUI looks like. But a file manager is pretty much "tied" to the OS. It's always good to have the same look-and-feel. TotalCmd GUI is what, two Windows generations behind? It will look more out of place with Win 8 comes along. It's not so much for those of us who are the die-hard users, but it'll be a different story when it comes to attracting new users. Sure it's hard for us to part with the old and familiar GUI, but TotalCmd as a product will have to look forward to the future too. From Mr. Ghisler post, he is fully aware of this. Perhaps he should do what every popular has done - provide a modern look and a new look. Gmail is now doing the same with its GUI.

One category of software that doesn't rely on its GUI is the text editor. Have a look at Bill Joy's vi...

One more thing. Some of the TotalCmd (more so than NC) clones have implemented more a modern GUI. Perhaps TotalCmd can learn something from there :)

/WT

Sir_SiLvA · Post by *Sir_SiLvA » 2011-11-05, 09:38 UTC

whytea wrote:People resist change. That is normal. There are still people who insist in running MsDos. There are also people who swear they don't need any newer Windows than XP. Then came the vastly improved Win 7...

you called windows 7 improved? rofl

One more thing. Some of the TotalCmd (more so than NC) clones have implemented more a modern GUI. Perhaps TotalCmd can learn something from there

Yes, with the disadvantage you cant custumize them like you can do with TotalCommander...

Sob · Post by *Sob » 2011-11-05, 10:04 UTC

whytea wrote:People resist change. That is normal.

People welcome change when it clearly brings something better. When the change is just a change without the better part, they tend to not to be excited about it too much.

There are also people who swear they don't need any newer Windows than XP. Then came the vastly improved Win 7...

Well, in terms of UI as whole, not just looks, I for sure like that nifty little function that stretches window vertically to full height when the top or bottom border is double-clicked. I love the ability to search in Control panel. I even like the new Start menu better, but hate how they made it the only choice and ignored all those people who liked the old one. And that's about it. "Vastly" means something much bigger for me. Although I may have missed something, because the best improvements have this unique property, that you start using them as if they always had been there and don't even realize they weren't. But even when thinking hard about it, I can't find any of them now.

One more thing. Some of the TotalCmd (more so than NC) clones have implemented more a modern GUI.

And those programs are .... ? And what's modern about their UI is .... ?

Although I'm not exactly convinced that comparing to other programs is the best direction for this thread, at the moment I don't see a better way how to finally learn what's supposed to be modern.

One interesting question might be if we're talking just about defaults, or if you think TC simply can't be forced to look modern using any of currently available customization options. In first case TC definitely does not look modern. It's almost unbelievable how big difference can just simple font change do. E.g. with default Win7 Aero, changing fonts to Segoe UI 9 regular changes the impression considerably. I wouldn't say it makes TC modern, it's still "dull old two-panel file manager", but IMHO it can be said also about all others I checked.

Samuel · Post by *Samuel » 2011-11-05, 10:30 UTC

Everyone talks about: Modernize or do not modernize. (in an very abstract way)

Almost noone gave input, what exactly should be changed.
I would appreciate some constructive criticism.

As TC is a very backward compatible program, there is no need to fear the new.

Sir_SiLvA · Post by *Sir_SiLvA » 2011-11-05, 11:15 UTC

I prefer the way TC looks now.
If Chris would have time to add/change things it would concern imho mostly the buttonbur like:

- more then one cmd on a button
- drag&drop on sub-buttonbar-buttons

whytea · Post by *whytea » 2011-11-06, 05:40 UTC

Sir_SiLvA wrote: I prefer the way TC looks now.
If Chris would have time to add/change things it would concern imho mostly the buttonbur like:

- more then one cmd on a button
- drag&drop on sub-buttonbar-buttons

"Prefer" is a choice between two. Since there is no new GUI (yet) to compare with, where did the "prefer" come from ?:)