Colors / Themes

[eurytos]

If any of this is in the wiki I apologize, I did some searching but I may have looked for the wrong terms. Or if I am setting the colors incorrectly for the catalog screen let me know. Currently I change the colors in the catalog by right-click in that window / properties.


1 - Define Custom Color is not available to use? Unless I am missing something here the button never becomes available

2 - If I use the 'Add to Custom Colors' button the color does not stay under the custom colors section the next time I enter the interface. I would like to be able to create a custom color and then select it for other portions of the interface. I know I can copy the color code but that will not work for the catalog view because the interface is different (see below).

3 - Add the catalog view to the 'Interface Colors' screen. If I can modify the color settings for the tree and list view it makes sense to me that I would be able to set the color scheme for the catalog in the same location. As it is now if I create a custom color and I want the catalog to have the same color I need to copy the six separate settings to match them. If they were in the same interface I could at least copy the six digit color code. If you don't want to add the catalog view to this screen I would suggest adding the option to enter the color code in the catalog view area.

4 - 'Apply to All' button. For people like me it may be worthwhile to add an area under 'Interface Colors' where I could set a color and then define it to be applied to all sections of the interface. If I want color FFFFCE to be the background of my tree view there is a pretty good chance (at least for me) that I want it to be the background of my catalog and list view as well.

5 - O.K. this one really falls under the wish category User Defined Themes. It could be nice to get a color scheme all setup and then export it so I could use it someplace else or give it to someone else. This way we could build a list of configuration independent themes that could be available in the forum or maybe a special few could come built in to the application in the future.

Thanks

[serendipity]

If any of this is in the wiki I apologize, I did some searching but I may have looked for the wrong terms. Or if I am setting the colors incorrectly for the catalog screen let me know. Currently I change the colors in the catalog by right-click in that window / properties.


1 - Define Custom Color is not available to use? Unless I am missing something here the button never becomes available

True

2 - If I use the 'Add to Custom Colors' button the color does not stay under the custom colors section the next time I enter the interface. I would like to be able to create a custom color and then select it for other portions of the interface. I know I can copy the color code but that will not work for the catalog view because the interface is different (see below).

Also true. The issues you mentioned are mostly because catalog is considered an add-on to the main interface and all catalog things are saved in a .dat file which is separate from config file .ini. Therefore, i assume that catalog is something that cannot be easily integrated into main interface colors/themes.
But a solution would be to offer hex codes for catalog too. I also agree that custom colors should be remembered after user defines them. Atleast most windows apps have this norm.

3 - Add the catalog view to the 'Interface Colors' screen. If I can modify the color settings for the tree and list view it makes sense to me that I would be able to set the color scheme for the catalog in the same location. As it is now if I create a custom color and I want the catalog to have the same color I need to copy the six separate settings to match them. If they were in the same interface I could at least copy the six digit color code. If you don't want to add the catalog view to this screen I would suggest adding the option to enter the color code in the catalog view area.

Yes, i just had the same view under point 2 above.

4 - 'Apply to All' button. For people like me it may be worthwhile to add an area under 'Interface Colors' where I could set a color and then define it to be applied to all sections of the interface. If I want color FFFFCE to be the background of my tree view there is a pretty good chance (at least for me) that I want it to be the background of my catalog and list view as well.

List, Yes: Config|Interface colors|Apply box color to list
Catalog, No (or not yet): Like i said, catalog is different from main interface (as far as i know).

5 - O.K. this one really falls under the wish category User Defined Themes. It could be nice to get a color scheme all setup and then export it so I could use it someplace else or give it to someone else. This way we could build a list of configuration independent themes that could be available in the forum or maybe a special few could come built in to the application in the future.

There is already all the information in config file about colors but it is scattered right now. Maybe Don can separate the interface colors settings in .ini so that users can simply copy paste that part of the text and change themes quickly.
Obviously, best would be to completely separate all colors/fonts related settings into a separate ini, which can be exchanged like scripts now. Am i talking about version 10?

[jacky]

Just to add on that, you know what when you define Background/Text color (on Interface Colors) for Tree, they actually are also applied on Catalog (except when overwritten by specific Category/Item colors, obviously) ?

So if you want to use the same bg/text colors on Tree & Catalog, you got nothing to do, that's already how it works!

[Pagat]

1 - Define Custom Color is not available to use? Unless I am missing something here the button never becomes available

That's because the color dialog is already completely shown. Usually you only see the left part of that dialog and can expand it by clicking on "Define custom color". Apparently Don (or VB) forces the dialog to show up complete so there is no need for this button.

[eurytos]

Thanks for the replies that helps me a bunch!

List, Yes: Config|Interface colors|Apply box color to list
Catalog, No (or not yet): Like i said, catalog is different from main interface (as far as i know).

Ahh, I missed this because I didn't completely understand what the check box was doing. The description of the box is what threw me off but I admit the additional description on hover does help clear things up. But, I would still suggest something named 'Keep List box color in sync with Tree' or something like that (my description probably over simplifies the function of the check box so it may not be the best title). Or maybe Expand on the description given when the item is hovered over to give a little bit more information.

I am not nit picking for my benefit since I know what it does now. But, I do think that is an area where a user may be confused (and I am not just saying that because I didn't get it ).

Just to add on that, you know what when you define Background/Text color (on Interface Colors) for Tree, they actually are also applied on Catalog (except when overwritten by specific Category/Item colors, obviously) ?

So if you want to use the same bg/text colors on Tree & Catalog, you got nothing to do, that's already how it works!

oh! very nice thanks. I missed this because I already had some custom colors defined in the category window but I will clear those out and let them be applied from interface colors.