[POLL] New GUI for Fony

[hukka]

I did some major redesigning of Fony's user interface which is largely user customizable but I thought I'd ask your opinion first.
You can download either version to test the interfaces. The choices are:

1.


A slightly improved version of the old interface - the Tools window and the new Glyph Palette can be displayed as either floating windows or docked to any side of the main window.
(Download test)

Pros:
* Simple and clear layout
Cons:
* No customization (except for the tool window layout)

2.


A revamp of the interface with everything changed into user customizable, draggable toolbars.
(Download test)

Pros:
* Customizable to a large extent (buttons can be added or removed, toolbars can be moved or hidden)
* Skinnable
Cons:
* Looks more cluttered than the original interface

So, which one would you guys prefer?

Also, which icon style do you prefer, the old or the new one?

[Spike]

Am not registered here (though you have my address via gmail). I can adapt to either user interface. I took a copy of the first revision with the Glyph Palette to play around with, and noticed: (1) Unlike the scroll bar of icons, the glyphs in the palette do not update when you set and clear pixels; (2) Moving the glyph palette presents a different UI from the rest of WinXP (disconcerting) and you can move the glyph palette INSIDE the other tool window (which I would never want); (3) Fony did not remember whether I had enabled or disabled Glyph Palette. As you are adding user customization, I suspect Fony now remembers the user's preferences; forgive me if you've already fixed or decided not to fix the other two things.

[buzbard]

I definitely like the new-gui the best, it's a lot more customizable and I like the new icons, gives it a "Not so Win95 look"

and you can move the glyph palette INSIDE the other tool window (which I would never want)

I agree with Spike on that.


I've noticed that once a .fnt file is installed in the Windows\Fonts folder I can't edit it with Fony unless I go to the Windows\Fonts folder and double-click it (I have .fnt files associated with Fony).
Clicking "File"/"Open Installed Font" only shows .fon files.
Clicking "File"/"Open File" will list the fonts(.fon & .fnt) in the Windows\Fonts folder but none are selectable.


Feature request:
Could you add the ability to right-click a glyph in the glyph palette and pop up a edit menu for copy & paste? That would make things a lot easier that having to move the mouse all the way to the edit menu every time.

Thanks.
Great program, looking better all the time!

[Spike]

Buzbard, I used to have to cut and paste a bunch of glyphs (see my "User Review" elsewhere on this forum). You can use Ctrl-C for Copy and Ctrl-V for Paste, as elsewhere in Windows.

[buzbard]

May 3, 2009 17:21:33 GMT 2 @Spike said:

Buzbard, I used to have to cut and paste a bunch of glyphs (see my "User Review" elsewhere on this forum). You can use Ctrl-C for Copy and Ctrl-V for Paste, as elsewhere in Windows.

Thanks Spike, I already knew about Ctrl-C & Ctrl-V, but that means that I have to move my hand from the mouse to the keyboard, and then back to the mouse, I'm just lazy I guess.

[hukka]

May 2, 2009 1:19:49 GMT 2 @Spike said:

I took a copy of the first revision with the Glyph Palette to play around with, and noticed: (1) Unlike the scroll bar of icons, the glyphs in the palette do not update when you set and clear pixels; (2) Moving the glyph palette presents a different UI from the rest of WinXP (disconcerting) and you can move the glyph palette INSIDE the other tool window (which I would never want); (3) Fony did not remember whether I had enabled or disabled Glyph Palette. As you are adding user customization, I suspect Fony now remembers the user's preferences; forgive me if you've already fixed or decided not to fix the other two things.

The first revision wasn't meant to be finished, but just to show one of the two possible directions I could take with the interface. It wouldn't have made sense to implement things such as storing the layout if I was to abandon the interface anyway, which I am in fact now doing.

Instead I'm going to go with the second interface option, since I like it better and no one seems to have a particular beef with it. (Also, that version already saves the layout and doesn't have the other problems you mentioned either.)

While you can move the glyph palette inside the font preview tool window, you don't have to if you don't want - it's not going to be there by default. Personally I like to have it there though.

To address other issues mentioned in this thread, I fixed "Open Installed Font" to list FNT files and am now adding a context menu for the glyph palette.

After that I'm almost ready to release the new GUI version, I'm just waiting for a bugfix to one of the third-party components I'm using.