[Plasma] looks and usability of applet handle frame

[Celeste Lyn Paul]

Janz, 

I think we're on the same page.  Clicking and draging a widget (all widgets) 
makes sense. The some-widgets-are-cndable-and-others-are-not issue is what 
bothers me and I would like to see resolved in some way.  I don't care if 
there is a border or not or if the function icons move because I don't think 
it matters (i.e. it is probably on the personal preference level, not 
performance level).

~ C

On Friday 27 June 2008 16:37:24 Janz wrote:
> Celeste,
>
> I agree about the inconsistent moving interaction. Even 'cause (I'm new to
> KDE/Qt world but I don't think it'd be different) drag and click events are
> distinct, so I supose it would be possible, e.g., for Analog clock to allow
> clicking and dragging it to move and clicking it to open the calendar (but
> I don't know if the plasmoid developer has control over drag event anyway
> so that wouldn't be guaranteed).
>
> But I think that, from what is proposed till now, move all plasmoids by
> clicking and dragging them instead of a border or icon is, imho, easier and
> more intuitive to the user, as it's what we're used to do mostly: carry
> objects holding somewhere on themselves (except when there are form
> constraints - as size or shape -, then we have a handler, as a plasmoid
> developer would provide or leave some empty space on a plasmoid he fully
> filled all it's place with, e.g., text fields or other non-draggable
> stuff).
>
> Dismissing the border would allow the options to appear in a small area
> anywhere around the plasmoids (exactly how and where they do but without
> the move icon and that whole border). I think an extra click or hovering a
> cashew or similar is extra job to a simple action of, for example, remove
> the plasmoid.
>
> 2008/6/27 Celeste Lyn Paul <celeste at kde.org>:
> > I´m not sure if on-click interaction is consistent in all widgets.  For
> > example, most widgets have click and drag but for the Digital Clock
> > widget, click opens the calendar.  It is not click-and-drag to move like
> > the other widgets.  I only have the 10 widgets that come by default, but
> > I imagine there are other exceptions.
> >
> > The question becomes: should the on-click interaction be the same for all
> > widgets (then we can think about your proposal more)?  Otherwise we have
> > to stick with the border interaction.
> >
> > Truthfully I´m not too comfortable with the inconsistent interaction
> > because
> > it requires you to learn idiosyncracies of each widget instead of
> > class-level
> > interaction.  Are there any widgets where it makes sense that click does
> > something else (like open the calendar in Digital Clock).  Making
> > interaction
> > with widgets consistent should be a goal, regardless if the
> > function/configure icons stay in the same place or are adjusted
> >
> > On Friday 27 June 2008 07:05:18 Ismael Asensio wrote:
> > > Here it goes my proposal:
> > >
> > > Use icons over the plasmoid itself avoiding the extra handle frame. The
> > > feel of these icons would be pretty much like those on old amaroker
> >
> > plugin
> >
> > > for kicker.
> > >
> > > All icons are desaturated (ala cashew) but still recognizable, until
> > > the mouse goes over one of them. This icon "recovers the color" with an
> > > animation (sorry for the untechnical expresion) and it's ready to be
> > > clicked by the user. Of course, this behaviour only happens when the
> > > desktop components are unlocked, and I'm supposing that in this state
> > > the user only wants to play with the layout of plasmoids, not to
> > > interact
> >
> > with
> >
> > > them.
> > >
> > > Every action can be place in a different corner of the plasmoid, to
> > > help easy recognition, not only by the icon, but by its position. You
> > > can
> >
> > easily
> >
> > > remember that, for example, rotation is low-left corner and changing
> > > size is low-right, etc. The center of the plasmoid (greater area, easy
> > > to
> >
> > click)
> >
> > > can be set for dragging the plasmoid.
> > >
> > > Visually, it could be like the image attached. Sorry for the HORRIBLE
> > > HORRIBLE mock-up. It's done in a quick&dirty way with MS paint at job
> > > office... but I hope it helps to get the idea.
> > >
> > > 2008/6/27 Loïc Marteau <loic.marteau at gmail.com>:
> > > > Hello !
> > > >
> > > > Sorry if this has already been talked but i would like to open a
> > > > thread about the frame draws by the applet handle.
> > > > For people wo doesn't know well plasma terminology I talk about the
> > > > configuration frame who appears when mouse is over a plasmoid so the
> > > > user can resize, rotate, configure or move the plasmoid on the
> > > > Desktop
> > > >
> > > > My personal opinion is that this frame is not very pretty and that
> >
> > there
> >
> > > > is not interest to make it an entire frame around the applet. So I
> > > > feel that it disturbs the user visually and functionally speaking.
> > > >
> > > > Perhaps we can :
> > > >
> > > >    * just keep the small area who contains the icons, and add a move
> > > > icon. * better imho to a maximum reduce the visual pollution : add a
> > > > cashew for that ! on the top right corner of each applets
> > > >          o The cashew let appears icons and text for each possible
> > > >            action when mouse is over the cashew and not on mouse
> > > > click so we don't need to make one more click than before for doing
> > > > the same thing.
> > > >          o Like first solution, add a move icon.
> > > >    * Other ideas...
> > > >
> > > > What do you think about ?
> > > >
> > > > Cheers !
> > > >
> > > > Loic
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Panel-devel mailing list
> > > > Panel-devel at kde.org
> > > > https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/panel-devel
> >
> > --
> > Celeste Lyn Paul
> > celeste at kde.org
> > KDE Usability Project
> > usability.kde.org
> > _______________________________________________
> > Panel-devel mailing list
> > Panel-devel at kde.org
> > https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/panel-devel



-- 
Celeste Lyn Paul
celeste at kde.org
KDE Usability Project
usability.kde.org