RFC: Preferences UI changes

[Martin de Weger]

Hi Willem,

Sounds like a good idea to me. It might help (new??) users to find the settings easier.


Met vriendelijke groeten,

Martin de Weger





> Op 4 dec. 2019, om 12:40 heeft Willem Ferguson <willemferguson at zoology.up.ac.za> het volgende geschreven:
> 
> I am wondering whether there is a need to reorganise the Preferences settings to make it more user friendly. Currently there are three main weaknesses of the Preferences UI:
> 
> 1) Preference settings are in obscure places. For instance "Show unused cylinder in Equipment tab" is under the Profile settings and "Default cylinder is under the  general settings.
> 
> 2) The examples above show that related preferences (in this case cylinder use) are located in different tabs. Other case is the settings relating to Media thumbnails (Profile tab) and ffmpg settings for video thumbnails (General settings).
> 
> 3) Some settings are not clear and actually obscure to the person not understanding the UI. For instance "Reset dive computers" on the main tab actually relates to dive downloads from dive computers and the "Import from dc" main menu item. The two Clear Settings preference item needs to be split, appearing on different tabs.
> 
> The current interface is difficult to operate for those not conversant with the history of this interface and who has not read the user manual in detail. We need a Preferences UI that is much more intuitive.
> 
> I do not think that the following preferences tabs need change. They are very specific and currently focus on single topics.
> 
> Units, Language, Georeferences, Network.
> 
> Although I do not use the Georeferences facility, it is probably very useful and effort should probably go into making that a more-frequently used facility by adding some text or other help that facilitates its use.
> 
> I see no use for the General Preferences tab as it is unspecific and actually makes the preferences UI more difficult to work.
> 
> My proposal is to create several more tabs on the lefthand of the Preferences panel, yielding a total of maybe up to 12 or 15 items. Items that should feature on the tab list on the LH side of the Preferences UI should probably be:
> 
> Dive log (e.g. default divelog location and dive log name)
> 
> Display (e.g. font, animation speed)
> 
> Equipment (e.g. cylinder-related matters)
> 
> Import from dc
> 
> Media
> 
> The Cloud settings are currently a frequent source of user problems and maybe that should be locatable by its own tab.
> 
> Clear settings to default
> 
> The current Profile tab should probably be renamed Tech diving preferences or something similar. I would remove the section with Misc settings.
> 
> An obvious aspect that needs attention is that, if the number of tabs increase, several may only have one or two settings as is currently the case with the Georeferences tab. This may appear to waste the efficiency of presenting preferences information. An obvious possibility is to keep preferences for more than one tab on a single page. For instance the preferences for Cloud and Proxy may remain on a single panel as they currently are. Selecting the Cloud icon on the lefthand side opens the appropriate tab (with both Proxy and Cloud preferences), but highlights the Cloud preferences in some way, maybe using a blue frame. In such a case more than one icon on the lefthand side may actually open the same tab, but each highlighting its own particular setting(s).
> 
> The overall objective is to make the preferences as easy as possible for uninitiated users. Upon entering the Preferences UI, the user should be able to locate the appropriate preference rapidly. I would probably try to enable a clickable link with each setting that opens the user manual at the appropriate text.
> 
> Any suggestions?
> 
> Kind regards,
> 
> willem
> 
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> 
> -- 
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> 
> Please refer to 
> http://upnet.up.ac.za/services/it/documentation/docs/004167.pdf <http://upnet.up.ac.za/services/it/documentation/docs/004167.pdf> for
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