Better defaults and simpler menus

Hi Merlijn,

Thanks for taking the time to think about a better design.

With regards to the default options, we have to keep in mind that Xpad needs to work (preferably) in many Linux distributions. So, right now I am not sure how to deal with this, but that is a nice thing to research.

With regards to the confusing menu, in the past I already created a blueprint since my girlfriend complained about it too :D
And since girls are much better in design and usability, it is a very clear signal. :)

https://blueprints.launchpad.net/xpad/+spec/xpad-menu-organization

So yes, I would love to discuss/research your propositions, although my time is a bit limited these days. Most of my time for Xpad development is spent on reviewing, testing, merging and releasing. If you have code that improves Xpad, I will merge it into the main branch.

My suggestion is to use two blueprints (one for the defaults discussion and one for the menu layout) and attach these to a milestone, ie. v4.5 / v4.6. After that, you create a personal copy of the main branch and when it is finished, you propose it for merging. Please keep commits organized by topic and preferably not to big, so it is easy to review and to roll back, if necessary.

Are you able to create new and edit existing blueprints?

I'm not able to create or edit blueprints

Hi Merlijn,

I like both blueprints (defaults and menu) and I believe it is almost ready to start developing.
Would you mind to do this?

If you can, please create a personal copy of the main branch.
If you can't, I have to add you as a developer first.

Please group the commits together by subject, i.e. the moving of the menu items to the global preferences is one commit.
Reorganizing the menu is another commit.
Rather many small commits, than 1 or 2 big ones.

Try to reconstruct the menu using the GMenuModel that would be great if you able to do this.

That is a good idea.

I also would like to see the return of the menu icons and menu accelerators (= keyboard shortcuts).
Thinking about the addition of these items, it might be better to split these two wishes in separate changes.

I suggest we keep the blueprint as is and add the change to the GMenuModel, including icons and accelerators to this bugreport. Sagar already started on this in the past.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/xpad/+bug/1331136

Sagar, what is the reason you changed this bug report to "Public Security"?

Accidently I clicked on it :D That's the reason :D :P

I do not fully understand how the translation works. Are all the translation files in the "po" subfolder? I try to find the translation for "_Properties" but it is not in the po folder.

Hi Merlijn,

Honestly, I don't understand all of it too.

However, as far as I understand, if you provide text fields with a underscore (as in your example), the rest will be done automatically by the translators through launchpad.
So no need to worry about translating in the source code.

If you want to translate yourself, you can do that here.

https://translations.launchpad.net/xpad

Hi Merlijn,

The improvement of the menu reorder and menu items have been implemented and merged in the main branch, which is half of this bug report, for which I thank you!

Do you feel like designing and implementing the other half, which are the better Xpad defaults?

https://blueprints.launchpad.net/xpad/+spec/xpad-better-defaults

I have been working a bit on the better defaults, but I can't seem to
understand how to use a makefile to add a .desktop launcher to the startup
folder. Could you help with that? I've made a unix.stackexchange question
but it isn't answered yet...
https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/170596/how-to-put-desktop-launcher-in-autostart-directory-using-makefile

Op 21 dec. 2014 13:25 schreef "Arthur Borsboom" <email address hidden>:

> Hi Merlijn,
>
> The improvement of the menu reorder and menu items have been implemented
> and merged in the main branch, which is half of this bug report, for
> which I thank you!
>
> Do you feel like designing and implementing the other half, which are
> the better Xpad defaults?
>
> https://blueprints.launchpad.net/xpad/+spec/xpad-better-defaults
>
>
> ** Changed in: xpad/trunk
> Status: Fix Committed => In Progress
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1395889
>
> Title:
> Better defaults and simpler menus
>
> Status in Xpad:
> In Progress
> Status in Xpad trunk series:
> In Progress
>
> Bug description:
> So first an introduction: I have been using Linux for 2 years now, and
> I finally convinced my girlfriend to make the switch. She had a few
> requirements of what should be on her Linux. One of the requirements
> was something like to the Windows Sticky-Notes. see:
> http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-use-sticky-notes-in-
> windows-7.html
>
> I have heard that Xpad could do this, so I installed it. After
> installation, I thought "this is not what I am looking for". By
> default Xpad shows window decorations, making it look like a "normal"
> app, not a "widget". I saw the screenshot in the USC, so I knew that
> it could be configured to do what I want. After configuring some
> things, I got it to look like a real "sticky-note" widget.
>
> After these config changes, Xpad is exactly what my GF wanted.
> However, she still gets lost in the right-click menu. I think Xpad is
> a great app, and has the potential to be even better.
>
> These are the things I configured:
> - autostart xpad on login
> - Hide window decorations
> - Disabled "hide skip taskbar" in compizconfig (
> https://answers.launchpad.net/compiz/+question/258180)
>
> I think it would be better if this was the default configuration of
> Xpad because I think this is the primary use-case for Xpad. I also
> think the current layout of the menu is confusing. If you are
> interested, I would like to discuss a different menu layout.
>
> I know a bit of c, c++ and gtk. I can try to hack some patches
> together, but I don't want to waste my time if you are not open to
> such contributions.
>
> 1) What do you think of my propositions?
> 2) Will you merge a patch that does these things?
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/xpad/+bug/1395889/+subscriptions
>

Hi Merlijn,

Are you still stuck on this topic?
Do you still have the intention to develop the easier to use menus as you designed?

Hi Arthur

If I remember correctly, the menus are already developed and the changes
are merged. I am not planning on working on the defaults anytime soon since
my autotools knowledge is almost zero.

Kind regards
Merlijn

2015-11-08 23:48 GMT+01:00 Arthur Borsboom <email address hidden>:

> ** Changed in: xpad/trunk
> Status: In Progress => Confirmed
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1395889
>
> Title:
> Better defaults and simpler menus
>
> Status in Xpad:
> Confirmed
> Status in Xpad trunk series:
> Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> So first an introduction: I have been using Linux for 2 years now, and
> I finally convinced my girlfriend to make the switch. She had a few
> requirements of what should be on her Linux. One of the requirements
> was something like to the Windows Sticky-Notes. see:
> http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-use-sticky-notes-in-
> windows-7.html
>
> I have heard that Xpad could do this, so I installed it. After
> installation, I thought "this is not what I am looking for". By
> default Xpad shows window decorations, making it look like a "normal"
> app, not a "widget". I saw the screenshot in the USC, so I knew that
> it could be configured to do what I want. After configuring some
> things, I got it to look like a real "sticky-note" widget.
>
> After these config changes, Xpad is exactly what my GF wanted.
> However, she still gets lost in the right-click menu. I think Xpad is
> a great app, and has the potential to be even better.
>
> These are the things I configured:
> - autostart xpad on login
> - Hide window decorations
> - Disabled "hide skip taskbar" in compizconfig (
> https://answers.launchpad.net/compiz/+question/258180)
>
> I think it would be better if this was the default configuration of
> Xpad because I think this is the primary use-case for Xpad. I also
> think the current layout of the menu is confusing. If you are
> interested, I would like to discuss a different menu layout.
>
> I know a bit of c, c++ and gtk. I can try to hack some patches
> together, but I don't want to waste my time if you are not open to
> such contributions.
>
> 1) What do you think of my propositions?
> 2) Will you merge a patch that does these things?
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/xpad/+bug/1395889/+subscriptions
>

Okay. Thanks for reminding me about the menus. :)

I will give the defaults for Window decorations and the autostart a try.

Simpler menus are implemented in v4.5
Default disabled window decorations implemented in v4.6
Default Xpad autostart implemented in v4.6
Prevent minimization of Xpads ignored, since an application cannot overrule the window manager.

All suggestions implemented. Closing bug report.