What small workflow improvements would you like to see in the future?

[Rob-Xar]

Ok so there's a lot to go through am I'm still going through it all so don't worry if what you have mentioned isn't below, it just means I haven't gotten to it yet I'll give some comments on some suggestions already:

please push the file name into the export box for whatever type of export--but just PDFs

Should be doable I imagine.

A lot of what you said Gary is....well quite big stuff There's a lot of good requests however I fear they would be lost here. Ideally I'm looking for small tweaks that would help with workflow that are easy to do, like what Mike has suggested above.

Sticky option for Content Catalog so the user can import several objects at one time

You can hold Shift while clicking import to keep the CC open after

wheras xara's non-destructive bitmap editing is all well and good, many times it is necessary to 'fix' a bitmap first by making a bitmap copy [eg in order to trace] - a one-click internal copy function would be nice, such as is available for export

I thought there was a right-click > create bitmap copy option?

Resizing text in variants. I spend more time checking between the variants than actually making them look how I want them. I then have to 'Stop Sharing With Variants' which kind of defeats the whole idea.

We have an article here on how to resize text in one variant only: https://help.xara.com/article/154-li...cross-variants. Text across variants is annoying though I know and may fall under the web stuff we're looking at to improve.

Have the flip vertical and horizontal buttons always available. Or let me at least add it to my custom toolbar.

There does seem to be a running theme of having access to options in this thread without having to switch tools constantly, and in which case the panel that Jonopen very nicely drew up would make sense, but that would be a huge undertaking and I would struggle to get any sort of approval for something like that. No harm in trying I suppose.

[handrawn]

I thought there was a right-click > create bitmap copy option?

that opens the dialog box Rob.. the idea is that you could just use [pre-defined] default settings without the dialog box, in the way that the Export JPEG, Export PNG in the file menu do... with the added advantage that you wouldn't even need the 'choose a name' step because the program does that automatically for bitmap copies - truely a one click operation

[Chris M]

We have an article here on how to resize text in one variant only: https://help.xara.com/article/154-li...cross-variants.

That will do me!

Funny how you miss things when you're looking. I've searched this topic, and looked in the Styles menu and never actually saw the option. Wood and trees come to mind.

[Jonopen]

Hi Rob

Here are a few suggestions that I personally would find help in my workflow and generally enhance my user experience.

1. Remembering last used settings
Xara programs are pretty good in this respect, but wherever possible it's always a time saver when the last used settings are remembered. It might useful when the QA testers go through things to check this is the case.

2. Ability to specify attribute values to SmartShape options
Provide text input options for all QuickShape / SmartShapes options. This will also help make them feel more integrated with the program. See mock-up idea of a toolbar.



Also see this post #25 (idea for a properties panel)

3. Eye dropper / Colour picker shortcut
Keyboard shortcut to activate the colour picker whilst a vector object is selected, and shift + shortcut to select line colour.

4. Dashed line
At the moment if a dashed line property is applied to a line, to change it back to a solid line you have to select the continuous line from the line gallery not from the Freehand and brush tool context toolbar.

Also when you select 'Line Gallery...' from the right click menu it opens the Line gallery in a different position, rather than sliding out from the side as normal when you click the side button. See screenshot example.



5. Inserting number symbols
At the moment to search for numbers in Insert Symbols panel you have to enter 'one' and 'two' to find 1 and 2, but from then on you have to enter '3' to find 3, '4' to find 4 and so on.

6. Crop tool
Ability to lock the aspect ratio of the crop tool by holding down a key for example Ctrl key, when the Lock aspect option is not active.

Also add an additional fixed aspect option of 1:1 to the toolbar or better still provide an option to specify your own ratio.

7. Smart transform
Add an additional button to toggle on/off Smart transform

8. Colour editor
Make clicking the colour editor button on the status bar toggle the colour editor on and off

9. Copy & paste SmartShape/QuickShape format attributes
Currently padding margin and other attributes cannot be copied from one shape to another

10. Local Designs gallery folders
Make the open/closed folder icons in the Local Designs gallery more distinctive, perhaps just a different colour. See example.



Longer term ideas

11. Grid improvements
I believe a good grid system is a core foundations of a design program. Whilst the one available is useful, there is room for the addition of further options for and alternative types of grids beyond the two on offer.

A first step could be for an option to display the grid with colour customisable solid lines rather that just blue crosses. See attached screenshot of an triangular grid from anther well-known graphics program as an example.



12. Window scaling aware
I believe any time and effort spent in this area will extend the lifespan of the Xara programs, enhancing the use with large high resolution monitors. To see an example of the detrimental effect Windows scaling currently has on the interface, see the screen capture from point 10. above.

13. Properties panel idea
See dutchim's idea from post #17 and corresponding idea for a useful workflow tool post (post #25)

Thanks for listening :-)

[MarcT]

Hi,

Yeah I agree with Jono on remembering last settings.
I can think of the warp option in the shape painter tool and the DPI of exported bitmaps.

And also for the keyboard shortcut for the picker would definitely be productive.

There was also talk at some point that the center of rotation would work also with the scale blobs. That would be nice.

Marc