Distribute Palette (further ideas)

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nitramr

I've been thinking about the new implementation of the Align and Distribute palette and looking at the two sections, I think the Distribute section has some redundant buttons.

There are 8 buttons that control the distances between objects.

I think you could also add a reference selection here, and then just one button each for horizontal and vertical distribution.

The mode contains two options:
1. Absolute (enables and takes into account the distance input)
2. Relative (automatically calculated distances)

@a.l.e what do you think?

AdmFubar

While you are thinking about making changes here.. I'd like to be able to align objects within a text column to the column edge.
Using Scribus 1.5.8 & 1.6.2, openSUSE 15.5
Advanced hobbyist

a.l.e

You really really want to put the horizontal and vertical groups on the same row! : - )

Jokes aside, here are my thoughts...


While doing the refactoring work, I had the clear feeling that there are too many buttons, and it's hard to understand which one does what.

I think that your change, with the selection as the default reference and only three buttons in the horizontal and vertical section is more likely to help the user to automatically do the right thing.

The references with the page and the margins are not really obvious to use, but it's something that is probably not used that often. For those who use it, after a few times, it will probably be better than the current way.

Finally, we're at the new "Mode" and the row with the gap: what about making the mode a checkbox in front of the gap input box (instead of having the two tool buttons at the top)?
It would make one of the longest row longer and busy, but the intent might be more evident, if it's next to it.

We will then have two busy rows and two very light ones that cannot really be merged into one... but it might work well.

MrB

#3
When I first built the palette, it was 100% the same as Inkscape's so functionality was the same across apps. Despite the recent change, I think we should consider that still. However, note theirs is now more complicated.


nitramr

#4
I now think that a reference for distribution is not very useful.
The reference does not affect every function, only the "spacing" functions. In addition, the number of buttons has not really decreased, and you have to make 2 clicks (reference selection + distribute button) to distribute an object.

Here is another suggestion. The two buttons on the right have a double function.
1. Automatic spacing if the checkbox is not checked
2. Fixed spacing + direction if the checkbox is checked

Maybe we can also remove the direction button and use the anchor point of the selection as a reference for the direction.

a.l.e

I think that removing the "making equal gaps" from the horizontal / vertical groups is the most important thing: that forth button makes it hard to understand which button makes what.
(If they are three, it's clear to me that the first is left, then center, then right. Or top, middle, bottom.)

In the "spacing" row, I think that the two last should be the two first (selection, margins, page).

With only three items in the H/V I would suggest:

  • A first row with Horizontal / Vertical
  • A second raw with Spacing
  • A third Row with "Distance & Direction" and "Swap"

What do you think?

Also I would love to agree with Craig that we should stay closer to what Inkscape does.

Except for the replacement of the drop down by a list of buttons, the dialog in Scribus seems to be very close to the current one in Inkscape.
(I did not check before!)

But I don't have the feeling that when looking at the Distribute section I can "naturally" go to the target button (I mostly need to first read the tooltips...)

I feel that tim_occ's proposal goes in a good direction... If we can solve that last row...

I would even be happy with a non optimal last row that we will further improve in the future...
(Looking at the Inkscape tool, there are other actions that can be added... Not that I feel a need for them.)

nitramr

Perhaps the swap group will be in a fourth row, because the distance input is bigger in real UI. BTW Inkscape has it below too.

Just an additional idea: The icon of the "object space" can change if you check or uncheck the checkbox.

a.l.e

i'm fine with the six together in the second row.

horizontal vs. vertical seems rather obvious to me.

if there are group, i would rather want: selection, margins, page (i see now, that i got them wrong in my patch. sob.)

nitramr


MrB

I can see the intention in the new version but find it confusing/obscure. There's no obvious relation between the checkbox and the two other buttons that change mode. I'd prefer to leave as is.