Haavard wrote: ↑Mon Apr 25, 2022 9:00 pm
Wow, there is a lot of text in these last couple of pages
I tried reading through again, and it feels as if we're fairly aligned in our views.
It seems we're getting close, yes!
Haavard wrote: ↑Mon Apr 25, 2022 9:00 pm
- M key should only toggle "Mode"
Definitely.
Haavard wrote: ↑Mon Apr 25, 2022 9:00 pm
- Separate shortcuts for the checkboxes
I don't think this was settled on, yet. Abdullah pointed out that it has a very strong possibility of creating shortcut conflicts while a tool is open and I'm inclined to agree. I believe he figured the best solution to this was exactly your next line:
Haavard wrote: ↑Mon Apr 25, 2022 9:00 pm
- Shortcuts to launch the most used configurations should be available for customization (launch center rectangle "directly" from shortcuts for example)
If this part gets implemented, then instead of having a shortcut to change a checkbox within the tool, you would just use the shortcut to launch the tool in the configuration that already has it checked. For example, instead of opening Rectangle with RR and then pressing F to toggle Frame, your shortcut might be RF to activate the "Rectangle with Frame" shortcut. Especially if RealThunder's new shortcut work is merged, then all the different shortcut combinations actually have a chance of being short and memorable.
Haavard wrote: ↑Mon Apr 25, 2022 9:00 pm
- Bring back the polygon icon
Yes please!
Haavard wrote: ↑Mon Apr 25, 2022 9:00 pm
- Mixed feelings if tool settings should remember the last used mode
Yes, a little mixed so far but I think the lean is more towards not remembering settings? If the settings are remembered, then there is a problem with repeatability of shortcuts where "RR" for the Rectangle Tool could do 8 different things depending on what the last use was.
After thinking more about my suggestion to include a "Remember Settings" checkbox in each tool widget, I have actually come to dislike it. Just like with the shortcut of RR doing 8 different things, now clicking the icon can do 8 different things. If I don't remember if a tool will be the correct thing when I click its icon (very likely I will not remember), then a Remember Settings checkbox doesn't even matter because I'm going to click the rectangle button and look through all my settings to confirm it is what I intended.
For the sake of mouse-heavy users, I think we should use @cadcam's idea of a dropdown for each tool and not merge the buttons at all. In fact, we'll end up with more buttons!
They won't take up more space than now, as any extras will be in the dropdowns.
Rather than
just "Rectangle", Rectangle is now a dropdown with all 8 versions. Then a mouse user could select their preferred settings for that tool with (at most) two clicks, and without having to check their tool settings every time. For a mouse user to get a centered rounded framed rectangle with
merged buttons, it would take...
Click toolbar icon
Move halfway across screen
Click mode dropdown
Click centered
Check frame
Check rounded corners
For a dropdown list in the toolbar, it's
Click dropdown arrow,
Click appropriate icon
It would also make the default tool the most recently used one just like it does now for dropdowns, so sometimes it would be a
single click. This is just the same as "Remember Settings", but with the huge bonus of actually seeing those settings visually represented right there in the icon that you click. This leaves nothing for you to remember at all.
It usually feels "cleaner" for there to be only one way to do things. I understand why it is so tempting to merge all these buttons once widget settings are a thing. But keyboarding and mousing are so different; I think we should do everything we can to support both workflows even if it results in a little bit of visual clutter. Only mousers will see the clutter regularly, and those are the folks who will get good use out of it. Having a full dropdown of options would also be a good place to put shortcut tooltips so mousers may become keyboarders in the future. Even as a fulltime keyboarder I definitely need a reminder now and then.
On the other hand, this isn't considering the frequency of use. Maybe Regular Rectangle is used 90% of the time and the other 10% is fine to mouse over for. It's so hard to know.
Haavard wrote: ↑Mon Apr 25, 2022 9:00 pm
- This tool it freaking awesome and Paddle and Abdullah are
the sketcher powercouple
100%, they are
killing it. I'm very grateful and can't wait to see this merged.