Info Panel New Look

[jacky]

Code: Select all

  *** Info Panel got a new look. Gone are the last remnants of Win95 
      look and feel... :) 

Well, I'd wish you'd change it a little more New look is nice, but the colors aren't so good I think, because I find the active tab isn't really standing out, sometimes I look at my panel and I wonder who's the active tab ??

For instance, right now when I hit Ctrl+F, I always think Contained Text is the active tab, because it's an active filter. But then I look down, and realize it's actually the Name & Location one that's active...

I think I would like it if active tabs were actually darker, just standing out more, so you really know which is active without a doubt in no time :

[admin]

You still can color the tabs in conf.

[jacky]

You still can color the tabs in conf.

oh, right. Yes I can, nice. I din't think of that because I had CCCCCC as my background for active tab, yet still I got nothing like that :


Anyways, set it to 999999 and it's pretty perfect now, thanks

[j_c_hallgren]

Well...I tried it...and... I think (nope, I'm 100% sure!) I'll have to revert back to last vers for now as this just does not work at all for me! Sorry!

1) The colors don't match my main tabs...not sure why...it's also some other variant of shading that varies and is not consistent...and I really miss that 'golden' stripe which I use to spot the active tab

2) There is absolutely no way (that I see) to tell where one tab ends and next begins which means I can't be sure where my click will go...it's just one long strip of selections...at least on menubar, when you hover over another one, it shows the outline box so you get the right one.

Here's what I am seeing:
Old vers:


New vers:


My colors and how IP tabs compare to main tabs:


The old style may be Win95 based, but it's what I really like and gives XY that simple but unique look which aids in productivity.

[admin]

Okay, I expected resistence. And with Marshall McLuhan (I think) I say: "You don't like my ideas? No problem, I got others!"

[j_c_hallgren]

Okay, I expected resistence. And with Marshall McLuhan (I think) I say: "You don't like my ideas? No problem, I got others!"

It's not that I dislike change...just when it interferes with my productivity and usability of the product, which this did...

If this was fully integrated with "themes" so that we could keep old style or pick newer/alternate one(s), then it would be fine, but this seemed to not be consistent with main tab settings.

[jacky]

If this was fully integrated with "themes" so that we could keep old style or pick newer/alternate one(s), then it would be fine, but this seemed to not be consistent with main tab settings.

I think the main thing with this new look, is that it doesn't really used the color defined in config.

I do use the "Windows Themes" visual style for my main tabs, so I don't really mind. But for people like jc who use the XY Classic style, it's understandable that this would be a problem...

[admin]

If this was fully integrated with "themes" so that we could keep old style or pick newer/alternate one(s), then it would be fine, but this seemed to not be consistent with main tab settings.

I think the main thing with this new look, is that it doesn't really used the color defined in config.

I do use the "Windows Themes" visual style for my main tabs, so I don't really mind. But for people like jc who use the XY Classic style, it's understandable that this would be a problem...

Okay, I have to agree. It's not the best solution to introduce a third tab style. However, using the ux style tabs seems to be too heavy for my taste. Look at the following mockup. Overkill, ain't it?

[j_c_hallgren]

Yes, while it may be overkill for my taste, it would appear at least more on-target than the current run-all-tabs-together thing...

I'd stay with conventional/traditional style myself, but a slight variant of mock-up might be good.

[jacky]

However, using the ux style tabs seems to be too heavy for my taste. Look at the following mockup. Overkill, ain't it?

OMG you're not even using the latest version!

Well, why not just use as background color the colors from config, maybe add a little gradient effect if you want, as long as it's quite light.

I think the main problem is that now when I set the background color to 999999 (153) then XY will gradient from b8b8b8 (184) to 9c9c9c (156) (btw it's probably intended but it does go down one pixel too much)

So the problem is that when one choose a color, XY uses a (much) lighter color since it gradients from much lighter to lighter. Given how XY Classic does use the color specified on config, no gradient or nothing, I'd stay do the same here...

OR:

What you could do is something like :

- XY Classic theme : you don't change nothing as what was before. So jc would get no change and have exactly what he had before, and the same on main tabs & panel (orange bar included)

- Windows Themes : you keep things pretty much as they are now, with gradient, etc
The only thing odd then, is that XY uses a much lighter color than the user asked for. Maybe make it so that XY would gradient from b8b8b8 (184) to 9c9c9c (156) not when user says 999999 (153) but aaaaaa (170) At least then it would be closer than the color set in config...

[bergfex]

XY Classic theme : you don't change nothing as what was before. So jc would get no change and have exactly what he had before, and the same on main tabs & panel (orange bar included)

Yes, Don, please give us back the old style. For me the new style and the Windows Classic theme (which I use) just don't fit together.

[admin]

XY Classic theme : you don't change nothing as what was before. So jc would get no change and have exactly what he had before, and the same on main tabs & panel (orange bar included)

Yes, Don, please give us back the old style. For me the new style and the Windows Classic theme (which I use) just don't fit together.

That's an option. But wait for my next attempt, and prepare to leave the Windows Classic theme for good...

[TheQwerty]

Okay, I have to agree. It's not the best solution to introduce a third tab style. However, using the ux style tabs seems to be too heavy for my taste. Look at the following mockup. Overkill, ain't it?

I can see where you are coming from but I have to disagree. Using the UX style for all of them makes the interface more consistent, and that consistency makes a big difference in giving the UI a more polished and simple look.

It's going to be interesting seeing what you come up with here.

[j_c_hallgren]

That's an option. But wait for my next attempt, and prepare to leave the Windows Classic theme for good...

Well, for old geezers like me ( ) who prefer the current style, please leave that as option, ok?
..and IF there are other choices that I can try and eventually like, fine, but I might just prefer to stay back in the past...

[admin]

Well, I probably wasted a bunch of time because a now I like the classic look better myself. But at least it's a "new classic" because some of the changes are actually good, as the bold captions and some subtle alignment stuff. Checl out 0104!