Status Bar - unnecessary clutter

[aurumdigitus]

The new Blue Button on the Status Bar in 10.80 when looked at objectively is a step backwards.

Indictment 1: It adds to screen clutter without providing additional function.

Indictment 2: For the true-blue mouse user the original method was superior as with "Extended|Mouse|Click on status bar toggles info panel" enabled one can click anywhere on the bar and not have to hit a small target.

When all is said and done a tweak to remove this new advance would be nice to have.

[j_c_hallgren]

The new Blue Button on the Status Bar in 10.80 when looked at objectively is a step backwards.

Sorry but I TOTALLY disagree with that! It's a nice step forwards.

Indictment 1: It adds to screen clutter without providing additional function.

That one little icon iasn't clutter at all and does provide addition function: A fully visible way for new users to show/hide IP as clicking on status bar is not obvious or intuitive. Don said so, and that's why he did it....not for us who know about that click method, but for those who don't, ok?

Indictment 2: For the true-blue mouse user the original method was superior as with "Extended|Mouse|Click on status bar toggles info panel" enabled one can click anywhere on the bar and not have to hit a small target.

While it's true that status bar click gives a longer area to hit, it does't give a wider area like a button does...because AFAIK, you have to click on the line and not the bar itself, and i find it easier to zip over to blue button cuase it's a larger target.

When all is said and done a tweak to remove this new advance would be nice to have.

Not needed...it's not that big...come on...if it were a huge icon, maybe, but it's tiny compared to size of screen.

[aurumdigitus]

Maybe it comes down to how much "mousing around" a person wants to do.

Benefiting the newbies has some merit. But if a GUI item were provided to access everything XY can pull off the monitor would need to be about six feet wide.

Then there is always RTFM. (Although with the PDF for 10.80 weighting in at 421 pages that is becoming a daunting task.

[j_c_hallgren]

Benefiting the newbies has some merit. But if a GUI item were provided to access everything XY can pull off the monitor would need to be about six feet wide.

And it was the newbies that it was really intended for...there have been threads here from newbies who were unable to figure out how to show/hide IP without using a TB icon.

And given that show/hide IP is something that is done fairly frequently, having a immediately obvious way to do so makes sense...I kinda relate the blue icon to the std mix/max/close that exists on many dialogs and which does not exist on the IP.

[FeatureCreep]

I'm with J_C on this one aurumdigitus. The new button fulfills a need. Before it was too easy to click on the status bar and hide the info panel when all you wanted to do was resize it. Locating a zone only a few pixels high can be irksome.

Actually, I would like to see one more button (far left) on the status bar. Dragging it would simultaneously resize the Tree, List and Info Panes.

It could even work with either the tree or info panel hidden i.e. dragging the button right shows the tree and dragging it up reveals the info panel (opening and sizing two or three panes in one operation). Minimum size of each pane would still be adhered to and could even be used as a threshold to block inadvertent opening of a pane i.e. you have to drag to or beyond a pane's minimum size to open it.

With X and Y in mind, it could be called the "Origin" button.

P.S. Sorry, if this should have been posted to "Wishes".

[PeterH]

The new Blue Button on the Status Bar in 10.80 when looked at objectively is a step backwards.

Indictment 1: It adds to screen clutter without providing additional function.

Indictment 2: For the true-blue mouse user the original method was superior as with "Extended|Mouse|Click on status bar toggles info panel" enabled one can click anywhere on the bar and not have to hit a small target.

To 2: for me this still works: left or right click "swap/toggle" info panel.

[aurumdigitus]

And it was the newbies that it was really intended for...there have been threads here from newbies who were unable to figure out how to show/hide IP without using a TB icon.

For those unwilling or unable to assimilate a tome in excess of 400 pgs. this is a valid position.

Also, the reference to "mix/max/close" is a potent analogy.