Dual Pane Development Period

[CitizenD]

This is excellent news. I had actually just finished trialling Xplorer2 and was coming to a difficult decision - continue using XYplorer which I've purchased and used daily for two years, or switch to Xplorer2 for dual pane (yes, i used it that much). Now I'll wait for XYPlorer v8!

-D

[serendipity]

Well for example I really hate where the preview panel is. I prefer it to be on the side(probably right side). It might be ok for text files but it is not very good for images, videos, pdfs etc.

But there is no ergonomic advantage to it? It will eat up lot of column space especially with DP coming soon. And apart from preview there are other panels which need quite some width which is not feasible on the right.
Or, if you are suggesting that preview panel be completely detached from other panels then I think thats not good either. Its better and neater to keep all panels in one place.
My 2 cents.

[kartal]

No not at all I personally do not buy your argument. Because at the moment preview panel needs to be enlarged quite alot to be able to see anything useful as far as preview image size goes. Even if you resize the panel half way up you will see that images generally use around %35 of the whole bottom panel. You talk about efficieny but in this case 65% of the preview panel is lost. I know I can right click or hold click to see it bigger but that is now what I am talking about. As far as displaying images goes the current layout is not anything useful. I deal with images and multimedia files day and night so efficiency is very important to me. I am not browsing images occasionally. And based on my experience current layout is very inefficient. I think that the user should be able to choose what they want. Saying that putting panel on the side is a bad idea is kind of dictatorship. I would say it would be hard for you to judge before trying it. The reason I have given preview panel being on the side is that I actually use everything else(adobe bridge, xnview etc) pretty much the similar layout because it gives me more space for viewing the images. Again this layout stuff needs to be customizable and saveable so that the user can change the layout on demand.

Here is a screenshot from my xnview layout.

xnview.jpg (127.75 KiB) Viewed 4018 times

quote="serendipity"]

Well for example I really hate where the preview panel is. I prefer it to be on the side(probably right side). It might be ok for text files but it is not very good for images, videos, pdfs etc.

But there is no ergonomic advantage to it? It will eat up lot of column space especially with DP coming soon. And apart from preview there are other panels which need quite some width which is not feasible on the right.
Or, if you are suggesting that preview panel be completely detached from other panels then I think thats not good either. Its better and neater to keep all panels in one place.
My 2 cents.[/quote]

[j_c_hallgren]

kartal:

First: Looks like you dropped a "[" as it seems quote tags are mucked up...just a FYI

Second: Given a much larger screen than I have here (mine's a 14" 1024x768 laptop), I could see the layout style you have there working for some people, but likely not practical for smaller setups as compared to current...I see you have thumbnail view which I use only rarely as my main view is detail which lends itself nicely to preview at bottom, but not side by side.

So while I get the merits of this style of layout, I don't see it occuring as part of DP but rather as a separate issue that may likely not happen given Don's prior responses.

[serendipity]

Nice birds, but you forgot to include Dual pane in the equation. And I would rather sacrifice rows than columns. Sorry, but I prefer the way it is now and like I said its my opinion.

[kartal]

Well if Don would let users to define one of the dual panes as a viewer that would resolve most of the issues in my view. For example Freecommander does not have seperate viewer rather it is using one of the panes as a viewer which makes great sense to me.

I understasnd that everyone needs are different but I find current layout very dictating and demanding and only suitable for certain kind of usage behaviour. I personally only use the bottom pane if I need to search something, other than that I find it largely allocated and intrusive. For me bottom panel is irrelevant(because of the layout) but I can see the benefits of bottom panel as in setting quick properties and searching. If you actually check out the bottom panel under all tabs, %50 of the space is never used, this includes the search tab as well. If you could have the bottom panel on the side you can actually stack up most of those tabs under one window(except the preview) and have all under the same panel which can cut down mouse clicking or keyboard activity. Anyways I just wanted to point out an issue that I thought was important. I was not trying to disrespect other people`s needs.

[j_c_hallgren]

If you actually check out the bottom panel under all tabs, %50 of the space is never used, this includes the search tab as well. If you could have the bottom panel on the side you can actually stack up most of those tabs under one window(except the preview) and have all under the same panel which can cut down mouse clicking or keyboard activity.

I wouldn't say that it's 50%, as that somewhat depends on screen size, as on my smaller one, it's more in the 30-40% range...but I would agree that if it were vertical and decently wide that maybe some of the smaller tabs could be combined, such as Properties and Version.

Now while having the IP as substitute for one of the dual panes would seem possible, it may not be since it's a unique section of the overall layout and thus not adaptable to being there.

BTW, I certianly didn't see your comments as being disrepectful, but just maybe a bit impossible/impractical/etc.

[kartal]

I have never seen an application that has been developed steadily like XYplorer (considering that I possibly use hundreds of applications). I am sure Don knows what is needed and what can be done. I just hope that a real layout customization will be implemented at some point in the future.

[Jeff Bellune]

Because at the moment preview panel needs to be enlarged quite alot to be able to see anything useful as far as preview image size goes. Even if you resize the panel half way up you will see that images generally use around %35 of the whole bottom panel.

Have you tried MDBU (Mouse Down, Blow Up)?

-Jeff

[zer0]

Hehe, I bet Don is hard at work on this. 2 weeks since the last beta, feels quiet. Included with DP, I'm hoping for XY's own file movement operations, it's not mind blowing but it's really about time. Especially with Vista's SP2 looming on the horizon. XY had that "freezing" problem for long enough...

[j_c_hallgren]

So I changed plans and will jump into the Dual Pane Development Period (DPDP) now.

This means that all heavily addicted forum members will face a time of severe withdrawal symptoms: For the next weeks I won't be able to keep the usual pace of spilling out new BETA versions every one or two days.

Don, how about a quick update here so we know you've not fallen thru the code into some black hole vortex?

Nothing much needed...just a short report from the battle front, ok?

[admin]

So I changed plans and will jump into the Dual Pane Development Period (DPDP) now.

This means that all heavily addicted forum members will face a time of severe withdrawal symptoms: For the next weeks I won't be able to keep the usual pace of spilling out new BETA versions every one or two days.

Don, how about a quick update here so we know you've not fallen thru the code into some black hole vortex?

Nothing much needed...just a short report from the battle front, ok?

Oh, I'm doing fine. I hope you don't mind my enjoying the working man's splendid isolation. I confess: After attending the forum for almost 5 years non-stop it gives me a kick to just "be not there" for some time. And I will continue doing that for a while. But no doubts: I'll be back!

And thanks to all of you for keeping the forum alive by answering posts!!!

[PeterH]

Nothing much needed...

Oh, I'm doing fine. ...

Good idea, really! And thanks for the short info: it's fine to hear you're doing well!

[RalphM]

Well I was wondering the same a couple days ago, but JC beat me to it again.

Happy to hear Don is doing fine as well.
Whenever you're ready again you're more than welcome back...

[Jeeves]

Oh, I'm doing fine. I hope you don't mind my enjoying the working man's splendid isolation. I confess: After attending the forum for almost 5 years non-stop it gives me a kick to just "be not there" for some time. And I will continue doing that for a while. But no doubts: I'll be back!

And thanks to all of you for keeping the forum alive by answering posts!!!

I gotta admit, I was concerned you'd died or something similiarly horrific had happened. Still check for betas daily.
I feel reassured now though, enjoy the break!
/whew/