Feature Request : Two way Align Buttons

Hmmm. I really doubt that there is a real benefit in adding so much UI just to avoid one single click.
Seeking one-click operation for every tool always have a bad side effect: Clutter or a dumbed down UI.
Is a wishlist item, anyway.

Sorry,
I clicked the "Request Features" button on the Inkscape home page. I
assumed that would file it in the right place.

-
Michael

On Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 10:58 AM, Guillermo Espertino (Gez)
<email address hidden> wrote:
> Hmmm. I really doubt that there is a real benefit in adding so much UI just to avoid one single click.
> Seeking one-click operation for every tool always have a bad side effect: Clutter or a dumbed down UI.
> Is a wishlist item, anyway.
>
> ** Changed in: inkscape
>   Importance: Undecided => Wishlist
>
> --
> Feature Request : Two way Align Buttons
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/362360
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

--
Michael Moore
-------------------------
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Michael:
You sent the request to the right place, don't worry.
Both bugs and feature requests are managed by the bug tracker. The request remains like a new, unconfirmed item until a member of the bug team marks it.
I marked your report as a wishlist item (a feature request). That's why I mentioned that. I meant that I don't agree with the feature itself, but your request is a valid wishlist item.

I find Michael’s proposal very interesting.
I generally agree with the objective not to clutter up the UI, so I think adding 5 new buttons is not worth it.

However, I loved the arrangement of the buttons (align up is up, down is down etc) which makes finding the buttons much, much easier. Here is another try (multi-align_2.svg). I did away with half of the "align left to the right" buttons, whose function, if I understand correctly, can be already achieved with their counterparts.

In any case, if this feature/UI change is not going to be accepted, it’d be good to mark this bug as wont-fix.

Patch for Michael and OC's ideas.

Screenshot comparison with/without patch.

Thank you John! I hope we can get other developpers’input regarding this patch.

Well, I'm not in favor of this change. The problem is that without adding the button for two alignments together (e.g. top and left alignment together), you have six holes in the UI. 6 white spaces which could occupy a button and imho unnecessarily enlarge the UI.

How about this compromise, that keeps the size of the UI the same, and keeps the (up/down/left/right) aligns relative to each other ?

That's more like it! :-)
The buttons are more logically positioned.

<opinion>
Personally, I don't like either of the two mockups (I didn't test the patch).
</opinion>

It is a nice grouping, but it still separates things in an equally uncomfortable way imho.

Any suggestions for improvement on the button layout ?

Please also note bug #189535 has been committed.
Users can align via these keyboard shortcuts , that align in a similar way to the proposed button layout.

Ctrl+Alt+Keypad 2 : Align bottom
Ctrl+Alt+Keypad 4 : Align left
Ctrl+Alt+Keypad 5 : Align horizontal and vertical center
Ctrl+Alt+Keypad 6 : Align right
Ctrl+Alt+Keypad 8 : Align top

Ctrl+Alt+v : Align vertical center
Ctrl+Alt+h : Align horizontal center

In my perception John Smith’s last proposal (left on screenshot) is much more usable. Looking at it from far away, or squirming eyes, I get a better impression of what the buttons mean than for the current layout.

To summarize: we have two opposite views here:
- current and proposed button position is not good
- new button position is better and more logical

While we might still improve the dialog (I do not know how) does the proposed mockup show any drawbacks to the current situation? I do not want to push the situation in one way or another, though if the modification improve the situation for some and do show any drawbacks for others, can the patch be committed?