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Topic: minor interface request< Next Oldest | Next Newest >
Disposable Hero
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Posted: Dec. 04 2002,21:47
I would like if the # of items selected was displayed below the file selection pane. Sometimes one has many "<TRACKNR> - <TITLE>" named files, or similar - it would be nice to glance to see if the correct number of files for an album have been selected.

I assume that by putting the word 'minor' in this topic's title I have made it quite clear that I am not a programmer. So all changes are minor to me  :p
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Magnus Brading
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Posted: Dec. 04 2002,21:59
I'm not completely sure which "file selection pane" you mean, please specify.

Minor change... *curse*... *mumble*...  :p

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Disposable Hero
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Posted: Dec. 05 2002,01:49
When "Use Explorer Browse Tree" is selected, the "Select files to process" pane - bottom left of the interface.
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Magnus Brading
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Posted: Dec. 05 2002,02:59
Ok, but that might be a little bit confusing sometimes, since you can both select and mark files in it. And adding two numbers, one for selected files and one for marked files would probably be even more confusing. :(

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Disposable Hero
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Posted: Dec. 05 2002,18:30
Quote
Ok, but that might be a little bit confusing sometimes, since you can both select and mark files in it. And adding two numbers, one for selected files and one for marked files would probably be even more confusing. :(

Well, I'm certainly confused. I couldn't find anything in the help file about selecting vs. marking. I see that I can highlight filenames (marking?) without filling their associated checkboxes (selecting?) but don't know what that applies to. Help please, Magnus  :)
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Magnus Brading
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Posted: Dec. 06 2002,01:50
That's exactly what I meant. This "highlighting" is in normal "Windows jargon" often referred to as "selecting". See, it's even too confusing to talk about here, can you imagine what it would be like writing about it in the help file in a non-ambiguous way (not to mention getting people to understand it intuitively just by looking at the GUI)? :)

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Disposable Hero
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Posted: Dec. 07 2002,00:01
Magnus - I know you'll understand that I'm not ranting, but I would like to better understand:

What is the functional difference between selecting and marking?

Can you give a couple of use-case instances, ie. how the user would use selection vs. marking?

If a feature or function is not described in documentation, is it still a feature? Perhaps it is a selection Easter Egg ;)
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Magnus Brading
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Posted: Dec. 07 2002,18:14
Selection is the "normal" way of giving focus to a control (or a part of a control, e.g. a line in a listbox) in Windows. The user normally left-clicks the item in question, and it normally becomes high-lighted or otherwise visually indicative of its focus. This is done with practically all controls in Windows, and users are often very familiar with it.

More complex controls, like e.g. my checkbox listbox, might supply additional ways of keeping state information. In the case of the checkbox listbox you can for example put a checkmark on each row, which will stay even if the item is deselected. I refer to this as "marking" the item, but since this is not a standard Windows operation, the name could be whatever you like.

In the case of the checkbox listbox, selection is used as an aid to "mark" the different items of the list.

So, explanation satisfactory? :p

Edited by Magnus Brading on Dec. 07 2002,18:15

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Disposable Hero
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Posted: Dec. 07 2002,21:11
OK. So my last pitch is this: given the actual use of the selection and marking in MP3TS, marking (as you defined it) would be the logical choice for count display. My reasoning: marking for processing is the primary purpose of the listbox. The fact that a user can make sophisticated focus choices appears to be a function internal to the listbox, and not directly related to the utility of the program (processing files). And in practice, de/marking is (quite logically) the intent and effect of most user actions in the listbox.

Anyway, thanks as ever for thoughtful and helpful replies  :)
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Magnus Brading
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Posted: Dec. 07 2002,21:35
No problem, as always. ;)

But the sole fact that we're here discussing which of the two is the most logical choice is a pretty sure indicator that a lot of people will be confused whichever choice would be implemented. Hence, I think I'll have to pass on this suggestion for now, until we come up with a better way to implement it, ok? :)

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