[Bug 147773] New: use "top tabs" for switching sidebar modes

[Per Bothner]

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http://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=147773         
           Summary: use "top tabs" for switching sidebar modes
           Product: digikam
           Version: unspecified
          Platform: Fedora RPMs
        OS/Version: Linux
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
          Severity: wishlist
          Priority: NOR
         Component: general
        AssignedTo: digikam-devel kde org
        ReportedBy: per bothner com


Version:           0.9.2-final (using KDE KDE 3.5.7)
Installed from:    Fedora RPMs
OS:                Linux

Both left and right sidebars have a vertical tab bar for switching between modes.
This wastes a fair bit of valuable screen real estate.  I suggest replacing them with a more conventional "top tab bar" (just across the sidebar of course) instead, which would use a lot less screen space, and I argue would be more natural too.

This will have to do instead of a real mock-up:  Assume we're in "Dates" mode for the left sidebar.  Above will show:
  [A] [D] Dates [T] [S] [X]
where [A], [D], [T], and [S] are the icons for Album, Dates, Tags, and Searches modes, respectively, while [X] is a close icon.  The '[D] Dates' part is highlighted.

Clicking on [A] will switch to Albums mode, and show:
   [A] Albums [D] [T] [S] [X]
Now '[A] Albums' is highlighted.

Clicking in [X] will remove/minimize the sidebar.

In addition the main View menu should have entries for Left sidebar and Right sidebar.
The Left sidebar brings up a sub-menu showing:
   Album
   Dates
   Tags
   Searches
   (Hidden)
Hidden is grayed out if the menubar is currently hidden.

Alternatively, we can have check-boxes like Firefox's View->Sidebar menu.
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------- Additional Comments From mikmach wp pl  2007-07-11 22:33 -------
Your solution also wastes space. Just in different way. When I have
many, many albums, tags, predefined searches vertical space in panels is
very valuable. Also paradoxically your proposition in many situations
will lead to even *more* waste of horizontal space. Why? Headers of
modes (as you call them will not fit in width of left panel. User will
have two choices: hassle with clicking on some button (usually small) to
scroll through list or make panel wider. Solution worse than supposed
illness.

Also I have some suspicions your perspective is skewed by environment.
Not bad thing in itself but Digikam is KDE program and mainly cater to
users of programs like Amarok and Konqueror where vertical tabs are used
too.

Better solution - and more in KDE way are subpanels like in
KPDF/Okular/KDevelop. Bad side of this it impossibility to turn panel
off/on without use of some arcane keyboard shortcut or navigating
through menus. Turning on panel in your proposition also is awkward.
Great thing about Digikam panels is easiness of switching it on/off with
one click. Your way gives easy turn off. What about turn on?
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[Per Bothner]

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------- Additional Comments From per bothner com  2007-07-12 02:02 -------
> When I have many, many albums, tags, predefined searches vertical space in panels is very valuable.

My proposal doesn't actually change the amount of veritical space available, since the existing side-bar header would be removed.  I,e, right now it says "My Albums".  That line is redundant now and double redundant when we have the tab bar.  I.e. "My Albums" gets replaced by "[A] Albums [D] [T] [S] [X]".

> Headers of modes (as you call them will not fit in width of left panel. User will have two choices: hassle with clicking on some button (usually small) to
scroll through list or make panel wider

Well, this is exactly as the current "sidebar mode bar" in 0.9.2 - it too only shows icons, except for the selected mode.

> Better solution - and more in KDE way are subpanels like in
KPDF/Okular/KDevelop.

That's ok - but it does use more vertical space than my proposal.

> Turning on panel in your proposition also is awkward.

In kpdf when the sidebar is missing, it leaves a thin gray border.  You can click on that, and drag it out to restore the sidebar.  That does require a little space for the border, but much less space than needed for the icons and the vertical current mode text.  An added advantage is it makes the window less cluttered. A downside is the UI for restoring it is less obvious; however, if it is also in the View menu I think it's OK since it's easy enough to find.
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[Gilles Caulier-4]

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caulier.gilles gmail com changed:

           What    |Removed                     |Added
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Component|general                     |Usability
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