Tough words about GUI

[admin]

I went ahead and did a mockup of what I would like the dialogue to look like. Let me know what your thoughts. I believe it provides all the necessary information and functionality in a more organised manner than XY's current dialogue

xyplorer_progress_dialogue.png

I really like the style. Somebody should write a Windows skin like this!

Thanks for the mockup. It will add to my considerations.

[j_c_hallgren]

I went ahead and did a mockup of what I would like the dialogue to look like. Let me know what your thoughts. I believe it provides all the necessary information and functionality in a more organised manner than XY's current dialogue

Because you have "time remaining" above the summary of files, is it for that file specifically or is it for the entire process? It makes it appear as applying to the specific file and not the overall copy because of placement.

And if for the overall, then I'd say we still need something about the progress status for the current file (percent is best) because having both is better than just overall...yes, it may be less common but when it's available, I find it useful.

[admin]

And if for the overall, then I'd say we still need something about the progress status for the current file (percent is best) because having both is better than just overall...yes, it may be less common but when it's available, I find it useful.

It's there behind the filename: (39%). But it does not tell what's happening, copy or verify. OK, the mockup implies that verification is done en bloc, but this is not implemented currently (I might add it optionally later).

The percentage printed onto the progress bar is not recommended by MS and I think they are right here.

There is something missing in the mockup concerning the results (stats) which are featured in "Files processed" and "Remarks" in my current design. It will not be that clear when the operation is finished and with what results.

My design has an additional line below "Remarks" which becomes only visible when there are failures.

I must say I like the layout and captions of the buttons in the mockup. I also like that the number and total size of bytes is shown at the top.

[admin]

Besides, click here and notice how progress bars are usually either at the bottom or at the top, but relatively rarely mixed up in the middle of the dialogue.

Hmm, the link rather shows that total anarchic design chaos rules. Anything goes...

[j_c_hallgren]

And if for the overall, then I'd say we still need something about the progress status for the current file (percent is best)

It's there behind the filename: (39%).

I looked at it 3 different times and NEVER noticed it! So...that tells me that it's not a good place for it because the location then varies based on length of file name...I'm more expecting it to be in a fixed spot...could it work to have it before the file name?

[Minimax]

I like zero's mockup.

For what it's worth here are Microsoft's ux design guides as a source for inspiration.

Controls, in particular progress bars.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa511482.aspx

And here is the entire guide:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa511440.aspx

[Borut]

Let me too try to be a source of inspiration: I find it good the way WinRar does it...

Areas:
Top: current file (Name, progress bar, %)
Middle: Total job (time elapsed, time left, progress bar, %)
Bottom: Buttons...

Background button... to switch the task to background mode
Continue... resume from pause, or pause processing
Cancel... Stop
Mode... Change some processing parameters
Help... Context sensitive help

Note:
In XY-Dialog I like the plenty of space for long (path)names - I find that this is important. On the other side, I find progress bars also important (in addition to %) and I was not able to see any recently. In my view WinRar achieves to present quite a lot of information in a clear manner.

[eil]

So it is also a matter of personal taste, no? Most of the time, the progress bar appears at the bottom. Like in pictures that I linked to, player applications, etc It has been at the bottom in Explorer progress dialogues as far back as I can remember.

and once more you're talking about Win7 style applications players etc have nothing to do here - their bars are placed bottom for their "most needed"-status = easier control(like OK\Cansel in bottom and File\View\.. at the top). Explorer did always have progress bars in bottom - agreed. but don't we use XY because we don't like Explorer?(or it lacks something)

Logic has the most impact here. It's not software's job to make a user learn new ways of working. It's a de facto standard that certain command buttons are in the bottom right corner. Just check other dialogues in XYplorer

does software made for user or software? what's easier: to make software more comfortable, or to make users get used to standards. i know, mostly second choice. like with top-right-corner Close button, all Win users got used to. i'm sure you've seen how frustrated such users become meeting Mac interface there is a joke: an ideal software must be tough enough to stand a "direct-line full-power shot" of a most fool user.
de facto standart is just something someone stated times ago.

I get a feeling that English is not your native language (is it Russian?), which may be causing a misunderstanding/confusion.

not native, correct. but why exactly Russian?


i join the statements about not good dependence of current file percentage from file name lengs, and time remaining relation. still your sketch is not bad(for backup, imo). but i still hope Don willn't take same design to future xycopy, and will leave buttons in different corners(please!!), and progress bar at the top(saying other way - he'll keep his line). = it seems like it's only mine taste, but with progress bar at the bottom, it always distracts from static info above, 'cause been dynamic(moving\changing).

[admin]

i join the statements about not good dependence of current file percentage from file name lengs...

Uh, this is not a problem in the current version anymore, right?

[serendipity]

Just to put it out there, here is teracopy's GUI.

teracopy3.gif (31.3 KiB) Viewed 3378 times

teracopy.gif (43.27 KiB) Viewed 3378 times

[eil]

i join the statements about not good dependence of current file percentage from file name lengs...

Uh, this is not a problem in the current version anymore, right?

that was about zer0's variant of dialog, not your's, Don.

Just to put it out there, here is teracopy's GUI.

that's more to a xycopy, not backup. by the way TeraCopy was not the first one to use such interface, and though now it's a bit ahead in development, it's still "copies" it's predecessor in style never the less, such interface is rather(if not saying Most!) usable\useful for coping-managers.

[admin]

BTW, I tried the button order "Report | Pause | Stop" at home. Result: No, does not work.

[zer0]

And if for the overall, then I'd say we still need something about the progress status for the current file (percent is best) because having both is better than just overall...yes, it may be less common but when it's available, I find it useful.

It's there behind the filename: (39%). But it does not tell what's happening, copy or verify. OK, the mockup implies that verification is done en bloc, but this is not implemented currently (I might add it optionally later).

No problem, I have modified the mockup so that instead of "File:" it has "Copying:" like it has now and to show action that is currently happening.

The percentage printed onto the progress bar is not recommended by MS and I think they are right here.

OK, I tidied that part up.

There is something missing in the mockup concerning the results (stats) which are featured in "Files processed" and "Remarks" in my current design. It will not be that clear when the operation is finished and with what results.

My design has an additional line below "Remarks" which becomes only visible when there are failures.

For stats, I think you can put them next to counts of files copied/verified. For "Remarks", I made an empty line for that information to appear, if needed, between transfer rate and the progress bar.

xyplorer_progress_dialogue_v0.2.png (31.53 KiB) Viewed 3384 times

I looked at it 3 different times and NEVER noticed it! So...that tells me that it's not a good place for it because the location then varies based on length of file name...I'm more expecting it to be in a fixed spot...could it work to have it before the file name?

I doubt it. File name is more important, so it should come first. Putting it after "Copying:" isn't good either as that would imply the overall progress status. I think after the file name is the best position as it would be more comfortable to understand when reading from left to right. I imagine the thought pattern to go "Copying of ThisIsAReallyCoolLinuxDistro.iso is at 39%".

and once more you're talking about Win7 style applications players etc have nothing to do here - their bars are placed bottom for their "most needed"-status = easier control(like OK\Cansel in bottom and File\View\.. at the top). Explorer did always have progress bars in bottom - agreed. but don't we use XY because we don't like Explorer?(or it lacks something)

You have to understand that Vista/Win7's GUI style and functionality will only become more in-demand as its user base increases. Just check how many wishes there have been for libraries and breadcrumb menu There is nothing wrong with "borrowing" certain aspects from Explorer, because it makes users feel more familiar with software.

BTW, I tried the button order "Report | Pause | Stop" at home. Result: No, does not work.

Doesn't work in what sense?

[admin]

BTW, I tried the button order "Report | Pause | Stop" at home. Result: No, does not work.

Doesn't work in what sense?

The appeal of having "Pause | Stop" together was the analogy to the well established pattern from media controls. But "Stop" does not work in that position, because

1) Cancel is absolutely expected here. Everything else is almost a shock for the user.

2) Cancel here is overloaded in that it first cancels the processing and then cancels the dialog. The word "Stop" does not work for this.

3) The alternative "Pause | Cancel" looks totally awkward.

4) Removing the overloading and doing "Report --- Pause | Stop --- Cancel" would work, but has a button more (I need the space for probably 2 more buttons later), and would put users in a mild confusion about the difference between Stop and Cancel.

[serendipity]

Just to put it out there, here is teracopy's GUI.

that's more to a xycopy, not backup. by the way TeraCopy was not the first one to use such interface, and though now it's a bit ahead in development, it's still "copies" it's predecessor in style never the less, such interface is rather(if not saying Most!) usable\useful for coping-managers.

That was more to show that progress bars on top are not that uncommon.
@Don: I am liking the new backup . Few things:
1) Maybe in Config | File Operation | backup operation | verification dropdown, you can add 'Ask' for those who want to decide on each backup what verification to use.
2) Its nice that Resume and Cancel are apart, but its still easy to stop the backup with ESC with no way of resuming back. Maybe a prompt before canceling? or only way to cancel could be via clicking cancel.
3) During a backup I did not realize that few files were skipped. Maybe some visual indication that files were skipped? like red font? And maybe XY taskbar button flicker/color change when I am away from XY window?