On Tue, 30 Jan 2007, Thorsten Wilms wrote:

Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 14:13:34 +0100 From: Thorsten Wilms <t_w_@...1631...> To: inkscape-user@lists.sourceforge.net Subject: [Inkscape-user] Layers dropdown, was: Baffling UI

On Tue, Jan 30, 2007 at 12:43:00PM +0000, Alan Horkan wrote:

Not the best point to step in, but I deleted most of this thread to not get angry ;)

Hopefully we can come to some conclusion without anyone getting too heated. Everyone is keepings polite but persistant and it isn't what you'd call a flamewar.

...

Why not give it a try for a release, or for a while during the unstable time between releases?

With trying you mean removing the layer dropdown?

Yes.

I use it all the time. I often have a number of layers, but work in one layer for a while and don't switch layers that often. If is elect something on another layer, I look down there to see 'where' I am. The layer palette is only allowd to eat

Good to know even if it backs up bulias point ;P

FYI Adobe Photoshop includes this information in the titlebar of the form

Filename @ Layername - Adobe Photoshop (roughly, I just saying from memory)

If you are only using it for status and not making much use of the hiding or locking buttons do you think an indication in the title bar would be helpful?

So:

• Layer dropdown takes space that could be used for something

else.

• for what?

this started because the status bar messages were unclear and abbreviated.

one idea I've seen elsewhere is that clicking on the status bar pops a message dialog so that even if you have a small status bar you do have a way to see the full status bar message.

I'll file a request if asked but I should nearly file one against GTK ...

• Dropdow could mislead new users to think its all there is.
  • it's in the menus and the documentation. Users are new to an app only once ...

You'd think people are only beginners once but unfortunately many people stay there, I for example dont use Blender often enough to retain what little I have learnt and I'm effectively a beginner everytime. If you have worked in technical support you find many more users are like this when it comes to their computer. without really trying inkscape has been successful in attracting artistic users who want inkscape for their various kidns of crafts work it will help if things can be kept simple with one right way to do things and not too many assumptions made about inkscape users being experts at technical drawing and wanting many different possibilities to achieve the same end results, as it is the results that matter.

• My claim of different scenarios for drodown and palette

(see above)

Hope you will consider my counter suggestion and perhaps further describe how and why you use the dropdown. Might be interesting to know if anyone actually uses the menus for switching layers.