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Variable captions in Fn bottom bar for keyboard modifiers

Posted: 2024-02-29, 15:22 UTC
by Helix751
I don't know if this was asked before and couldn't find it asked, so here it goes:
  1. Improving the Botom bar displaying button actions as variable captions in each button when keyboard modifiers (Ctrl, Alt, Shift) are pressed. Simething like this:

    Code: Select all

    F3        [View}
    Shift+F3  [View selected]
    Alt+F3    [View file (external)]
    Ctrl+F3   [Sort by Name]
    
    This may include description for other actions for custom key assignments when not default (taken from the key config).
  2. Includeg the buttons andd associated actions for F1 thru F12 keys, not just F3-F8... Also, Alt-F4 isn't necessary and would free some space for additional buttons, as the "X" close button is always available in the window caption.
  3. Including (if possible) custom key assigmnents in the menu items. For instance, I have defined since decades already the F1 key for "Reread Source", F2 for "In place rename" and F9 for "Terminal (CMD)".

Re: Variable captions in Fn bottom bar for keyboard modifiers

Posted: 2024-03-05, 11:06 UTC
by Hacker
Helix751,
This would require a billion new translations.

Roman

Re: Variable captions in Fn bottom bar for keyboard modifiers

Posted: 2024-03-05, 23:27 UTC
by browny
Hacker wrote: 2024-03-05, 11:06 UTC This would require a billion new translations.
Most standard action names already could be found in the main menu.

Re: Variable captions in Fn bottom bar for keyboard modifiers

Posted: 2024-03-06, 11:03 UTC
by Hacker
browny,
What about those that couldn't?

Roman

Re: Variable captions in Fn bottom bar for keyboard modifiers

Posted: 2024-03-06, 16:13 UTC
by joe910
+ I like the idea. All of the key assignments info is available - I use Ultra TC Editors to get a list of Hotkeys - default and user.

Unfortunately, it is a bit more complex than the example above which included F3, Shift+F3, Alt+F3, and Ctrl+F3. There are other combos such as Shift+Ctrl+F3, Shift+Alt+F3, etc.

Re: Variable captions in Fn bottom bar for keyboard modifiers

Posted: 2024-03-06, 21:33 UTC
by Helix751
Hacker wrote: 2024-03-05, 11:06 UTC Helix751,
This would require a billion new translations.

Roman
Really? These are already in the translations file. The UI just has to get them from the resources file by resource code, I believe. No need to hard-code the actions for each button state. And this way the UI could read custom defined actions as well, not just the predefined ones. And in case there's no translation available (incomplete translation or a new function), then the default English description could be displayed instead.

Re: Variable captions in Fn bottom bar for keyboard modifiers

Posted: 2024-03-06, 21:36 UTC
by Helix751
joe910 wrote: 2024-03-06, 16:13 UTC + I like the idea. All of the key assignments info is available - I use Ultra TC Editors to get a list of Hotkeys - default and user.

Unfortunately, it is a bit more complex than the example above which included F3, Shift+F3, Alt+F3, and Ctrl+F3. There are other combos such as Shift+Ctrl+F3, Shift+Alt+F3, etc.
Indeed yes, but how many modifier combinations are there?

plain key
Shift-key
Alt-key
Ctrl-key
Shift-Alt-key
Shift-Ctrl-key
Ctrl-Alt-key
Shift-Ctrl-Alt-key

And that's all.

Btw: FAR Manager already displays this feature. When a key modifier is pressed, all bottom bar button captions change accordingly.

Re: Variable captions in Fn bottom bar for keyboard modifiers

Posted: 2024-03-06, 22:09 UTC
by Hacker
Helix751,
Really?
Really.
These are already in the translations file.
You still need to shorten them to fit into the available space based on the minimum supported screen width (800 px, I believe).
And that's all.
And again with the Windows key.

Roman

Re: Variable captions in Fn bottom bar for keyboard modifiers

Posted: 2024-03-07, 17:25 UTC
by joe910
You still need to shorten them to fit into the available space based on the minimum supported screen width (800 px, I believe).
One of my editors handles this differently that could solve this issue. A text file in created during the install with the first nn letters of the command/description. Users can change that file as desired to shorten the text or embellish it.

Another way might be to use 'hints' with full text.

Of course there should be an option to use this or not.

Re: Variable captions in Fn bottom bar for keyboard modifiers

Posted: 2024-03-07, 17:59 UTC
by JOUBE
joe910 wrote: 2024-03-07, 17:25 UTC ... A text file ...
Is't the lng file basicly exactly to edit the texts according the needs?

Re: Variable captions in Fn bottom bar for keyboard modifiers

Posted: 2024-03-07, 18:00 UTC
by Helix751
Here are screenshots of FAR Manager's bottom bar when different modifier keys and combinations are pressed:

Plain key Image: https://ibb.co/pdW4kZX
Ctrl-key Image: https://ibb.co/4J12w2Q
Alt--key Image: https://ibb.co/Pmq8RFq
Shift-key Image: https://ibb.co/F0x0Nbr
Shift-Ctrl key Image: https://ibb.co/R3tJcYd
Shift-Alt-key Image: https://ibb.co/2WQvwP1

Re: Variable captions in Fn bottom bar for keyboard modifiers

Posted: 2024-03-07, 18:50 UTC
by petermad
Maybe just show a tooltip showing the alternative function when a button is hovered and modifier keys are pressed. That would not give problems with space for the text,

Re: Variable captions in Fn bottom bar for keyboard modifiers

Posted: 2024-03-08, 17:05 UTC
by joe910
petermad wrote: 2024-03-07, 18:50 UTC Maybe just show a tooltip showing the alternative function when a button is hovered and modifier keys are pressed. That would not give problems with space for the text,
+++

Re: Variable captions in Fn bottom bar for keyboard modifiers

Posted: 2024-03-08, 17:44 UTC
by Horst.Epp
petermad wrote: 2024-03-07, 18:50 UTC Maybe just show a tooltip showing the alternative function when a button is hovered and modifier keys are pressed. That would not give problems with space for the text,
Support +++

Re: Variable captions in Fn bottom bar for keyboard modifiers

Posted: 2024-03-08, 23:43 UTC
by Hacker
petermad,
Maybe just show a tooltip showing the alternative function when a button is hovered and modifier keys are pressed.
Or perhaps a tooltip for all modifiers could be shown when hovered even if nothing is pressed?

Roman