Modern UI

A forum for research and development of the user interface of FreeCAD
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ilanm
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2020 7:40 pm

Re: Modern UI

Post by ilanm »

Yeah I found him by searching the github by his username but I couldn't leave a message that I found it right away.

Anyways, what I wanted to try and do:
- I think making the combo view transparent would be pretty useful (because it can add to how much you can see at once) and trying to separate the tasks and model tabs, one to each side of the screen
- I'd like to try and group icons and only leave the most used tool icons visible, others would be in a dropdown menu, like they are in fusion 360 to minimize how much space it takes
- Use google drive as backup storage and add 'versioning'. This could be done using a simple JSON file for each .FCStd file or one per project in a similar format to this:

Code: Select all

{
	"filepath": "cad/projects/buggy/",
	"files": [
		{
			"file": "chassis-v1.FCStd",
			"comment": "Added bolt holes.",
			"date": "11.10.2020 14:59"
		},
		{
			"file": "chassis-v2.FCStd",
			"comment": "Changed the length of the chassis.",
			"date": "11.10.2020 15:22"
		},
		{
			"file": "chassis-v3.FCStd",
			"comment": "Added chamfer to holes.",
			"date": "11.10.2020 15:34"
		}
	]
}
I don't know if this can all be done with the Python API as I'm not much of a programmer especially with C++ but I'll give it a go once I get the willpower.

I like your UI design but making a dropdown menu vertically scrollable doesn't allow for a fast tool select (needing to scroll and find the tool because there's quite the number of tools for part design for instance). Also I don't know if you noticed this but with your UI the combo view often unpins and hides itself when you use the software.

(I am very Fusion biased, sorry.)
cadcam
Posts: 273
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2020 10:39 am

Re: Modern UI

Post by cadcam »

Related to ilanm's 2nd point, I have been trying some of the same ideas in
my lowly levels to generate a new work bench, see
[https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=51196, which has some images and code].
In the above posting I was having issues with the icons in dropdown menus remaining greyed out
when in the sketcher environment. I think this may be a level issue, but I am also seeing
two other issues. One relative general, i.e. both with normal interface and with ModernUI,
shortcuts are not shown. Perhaps related, in ModernUI I am not seeing any tooltip messages.
Are these expected behaviour? If yes, are there any tricks/code hacks that might remove
any of the issues, e.g. greyed out icons, no shortcuts displayed, no tooltips, in ModernUI?
If no, I assume it might be my set-up any hints as to what to change would be welcome.
I am still on Win7 and Intel graphics, but haven't seen any other issues.

I am currrently using the latest release from RealThunder, see below, but have seen the
same issues with a series of day releases of core 0.19.

Any thoughts would be very welcome.

OS: Windows 7 SP 1 (6.1)
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 2020.10.19.22739 +2669 (Git)
Build type: Release
Branch: LinkStage3
Hash: 413465d933e94061fb29486f3a322220e2604492
Python version: 3.6.8
Qt version: 5.12.1
Coin version: 4.0.0a
OCC version: 7.3.0
Locale: English/United Kingdom (en_GB)
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HakanSeven12
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Posts: 1481
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2019 10:30 pm

Re: Modern UI

Post by HakanSeven12 »

Firstly everyone need to understand that Modern UI is not a fully functional UI for now. Secondly I can't work on it because I have other problems in my life. You have two options. Use it as it is or use standard UI for better stability.
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Kunda1
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Posts: 13434
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2017 9:03 pm

Re: Modern UI

Post by Kunda1 »

HakanSeven12 wrote: Tue Oct 20, 2020 7:58 am Firstly everyone need to understand that Modern UI is not a fully functional UI for now. Secondly I can't work on it because I have other problems in my life. You have two options. Use it as it is or use standard UI for better stability.
To be fair, when you develop something and offer it, it's important to know you will get follow up questions, bugs, and feature requests. It sounds like you have a lot going on and your time and of course your time is precious. Hope everything works out for you.
Alone you go faster. Together we go farther
Please mark thread [Solved]
Want to contribute back to FC? Checkout:
'good first issues' | Open TODOs and FIXMEs | How to Help FreeCAD | How to report Bugs
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HakanSeven12
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Re: Modern UI

Post by HakanSeven12 »

Kunda1 wrote: Tue Oct 20, 2020 10:44 am It sounds like you have a lot going on
I have been unemployed for 3 months. So I'm under stress. That is the reason. I didn't want to be rude. Sorry.
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Kunda1
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Re: Modern UI

Post by Kunda1 »

HakanSeven12 wrote: Tue Oct 20, 2020 10:59 am
Kunda1 wrote: Tue Oct 20, 2020 10:44 am It sounds like you have a lot going on
I have been unemployed for 3 months. So I'm under stress. That is the reason. I didn't want to be rude. Sorry.
I hear you man. Hope it gets better for you. Let us know if you need help. I can't promise anything but even some encouragement is not to be underestimated in times like that. :)
Alone you go faster. Together we go farther
Please mark thread [Solved]
Want to contribute back to FC? Checkout:
'good first issues' | Open TODOs and FIXMEs | How to Help FreeCAD | How to report Bugs
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HakanSeven12
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Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2019 10:30 pm

Re: Modern UI

Post by HakanSeven12 »

Thanks for your good wishes.
cadcam
Posts: 273
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2020 10:39 am

Re: Modern UI

Post by cadcam »

Sorry for the delayed reply but echo Kunda's sentiments, I hope things get better soon.

Your work on ModernUI has pushed me to use it
( and some of the other amazing contributions on the forum) to play around with FC
to investigate what I thought might be a way to ease some of my students
from a commercial CAD to FreeCAD. It has been an interesting learning experience.
I am sure the approach is not to most users taste, but it is beginning to speed up my
model generation and catch foolish errors I see in mine and students work.
But I wouldn't even have attempted it without ModernUI, THANK YOU
Last edited by cadcam on Thu Nov 05, 2020 1:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
cadcam
Posts: 273
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2020 10:39 am

Re: Modern UI

Post by cadcam »

Image



For those who might be interested to see some of the mods I have been
hacking using the ModernUI interface see
https://youtu.be/ZrThO5LY1M8 , [Warning ~4:40 long!]
If you want to skip the more boring bits,
below are some of the more obvious changes implemented. I am sure most/if not all
have already been developed before in a better way but I hadn't found them pulled together in this way
[perhaps for good reason!].

Time Change

00:00 - 'Simplified 'UI. Only one Workbench, [Only commonly used
functions visible, others available via pulldown menus.
All functions required to undertake standard operations easily
accessible, reducing the need to hunt through wbs for a function.
Modified start page, text reformatted and embryonic project
page system

00:06 - Start parts for solid and sheetmetal {Assembly in development}

00:10 - Start part - with user info/materials/first body...
File automatically saved with time stamp in
temporary directory..

00:12 - Predefined planes for sketching

00:15 - Simplified toolbar and use of mnemonic shortcuts (see
https://forum.freecadweb.org/download/ ... id=114887
for an earlier version)

01:28 - Predefined standard holes

01:42 - Grouping of less used functions in pulldown menus

02:31 - Predefined drawing setups

02:34 - Check object selected to reduce empty views

02:45 - Default view Projgroup - auto aligned to
origin planes by default

03:04 - Checking of selection before insertion of view

03:18 - Easy access to orthographic & isometric views

03:26 - Easy access to hidden/ nohidden formats

03:40 - Increment/decrement view scale by BS8888/ISO standard ratios

04:15 - Predefined User and Part information spreadsheets

04:34 - Automatic update of BS8888 compliant template from spreadsheets



-------------------------
Currently running on Realthunder LinkStage3 branch, also works on Ver 0.19pre. However, sometimes get strange
start-up differences when changing branches, normally requiring reinstallation of either shortcuts or MordernUI***, so tend to stick to
one branch for a while.

*** I am not sure, but I think it is related to the way ModernUI, Selector toolbar and Shortcuts have different
entries for enabled/partially/unchecked workbenches.

OS: Windows 7 SP 1 (6.1)
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 2020.11.04.22739 +2727 (Git)
Build type: Release
Branch: LinkStage3
Hash: 8237733214ebae0a64a5d35571facee24237f87a
Python version: 3.6.8
Qt version: 5.12.1
Coin version: 4.0.0a
OCC version: 7.3.0
Locale: English/United Kingdom (en_GB)
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Last edited by cadcam on Thu Nov 05, 2020 1:18 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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HakanSeven12
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Posts: 1481
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2019 10:30 pm

Re: Modern UI

Post by HakanSeven12 »

cadcam wrote: Thu Nov 05, 2020 12:55 am Sorry for the delayed reply but echo Kunda's sentiments, I hope things get better soon.
I hope so
cadcam wrote: Thu Nov 05, 2020 12:55 am But I wouldn't even have attempted it without ModernUI, THANK YOU
You are welcome
cadcam wrote: Thu Nov 05, 2020 1:19 am For those who might be interested to see some of the mods I have been
hacking using the ModernUI interface see
https://youtu.be/ZrThO5LY1M8 , [Warning ~4:40 long!]

Your video is private
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