Hi Grace, Steven, Pete and the other programmers,
So to the programmer's I ask, what are the requirements for a Standard Windows Program?
If the rectangular program window ( not a floating app) includes:
1. A title bar: Program logo --> Program Title --> Minimize Restore/Down and Close buttons
2. A menu bar: with File Help About
3. Content Window ( the space between the titlebar/menu and any vertical or horizontal scroll bars or status bar.
A. A Background similar to the pasteboard background layer or body background on a web page or wallpaper.
B.The multi-page form field that contains the options that the user will select or deslect or otherwise modify.
a. The form itself uses check boxes, sliders, drop-down, list boxes, form entry fields etc.
C. Controls for the form - choose which form page displays
D. Some kind of control that chooses which program's registry options are being worked on.
E. Some kind of control buttons like OK Cancel Apply Finish etc.
F. Maybe tool tips or information buttons bringing up context sensitive help or just a help or support buttons
G. Status Bar
Questions - must the the form field B be rectangular? Microsoft's Page,
Changing the Appearance of Windows Forms has a section on
How to: Create Nonrectangular Windows Forms and other forms related info. Would creating a non-rectangular form be possible given the programming tools you have or is it unreasonably difficult?
With C# and using the framework toolbox we would need a square Form, and I could not find any way to change the colour of the title bar.
The controls within the form field (B.a) do they have to be the default ones provided by the OS or your programming library or can custom ones be used. Again, once custom looking sliders or check boxes or toggles are designed, and provided to the programming team in whatever formats and sizes they need to be, are they unreasonably hard to use and or maintain?
Again I would prefer to use the standard controls, although I have pretty good control as to colours and background graphics.
Pete brought up the idea of scaleablity. I can see where having the controls in a circle could make it difficult to add new tabs. New artwork at the very least would be required (although I think you will always have a stable of capable and willing artists available), but I'm guessing that the coordinates would also have to be adjusted in the code which adds complexity. So...
Is it possible to have a vertical list of tab buttons that is not visually attached to some kind of non-rectangular form field display. And could those tab buttons have a distinctive look the way web menus can?
I am not sure but I will think about this
Once some of these questions are answered then I think the design part of the team can come up with reasonable, but graphically interesting designs that meet programming needs.
Good Programming takes time and it doesn't occur in a vacuum - that is understood. But good graphical interfaces also don't happen overnight. I truly believe that they have to evolve side by side.
I think basic controls is the way to go initially. As this is open source others can also start playing with it and see what they can come up with. However, a major advantage of KISS is that people who come after us have something that is familiar to them
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