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RE: Rev graph selected node colours

From: <Stefan.Fuhrmann_at_etas.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:37:37 +0100

Hans-Emil Skogh <Hans-Emil.Skogh_at_tritech.se> wrote:

> > Looking again at the rev graph colours, I can't see an easy way of
> > providing user-definable colours that will also work when a node is
> > highlighted without a hugely complex colour selection dialog.

It is going to be quite complex already due to
the missing alpha channel support in the MFC
color picker controls. But I have some idea how
to circumvent that issue for 1.6 at least.

> I think the functionality in the new revgraph is outgrowing the design.
> It's getting a quite hard to read due to all conventions (color, shape,
> border style).
>
> Maybe it would be time to take a fresh take on how we would like it to
> look?

That has already happened but is not fully visible
in the current graph. Driver of the whole rework has
been the upcoming merge support: Present much more
complex info per node on much more nodes while
remaining comprehensible.

In 1.6, however, only part of that has been implemented
because I wanted feedback first and the merge info
stuff should be implemented asap. Otherwise, there
would be no way to validate the UI design against
the final use-case.

> I think that (sometimes subtle) color-variations can be good to enhance
> the readability, but it should not be the only carrier of information if
> there is another solution.

Mayor enhancements planned in 1.7+:

* Docking windows to display various node properties,
  (instead of tooltips) overview, states, filter etc.
* alterntive representations
  (e.g. an ordinary tree control showing the branch
  structure)
* MDI (e.g. multiple views on the same graph)

> How about adding icons in each box to indicate their status? And maybe
> standardize the shape of the boxes to make room for informative icons.
>
> How about:
> __________________
> | SI* | Rev. | x-* |
> |------------------|
> | Path/To/ |
> | File.cpp |
> |__________________|
>
> Where:
> SI*: Status icon(s). Indicate the status of the node. (Created,
> modified, renamed, etc.)
> x-*: Perhaps the collaps/split-buttons permanently visible.

My design goal is to make nodes as small as 30x4 pixels:

* the revision number is not very interesting for the
  majority of changes -> show them only optionally
* details can be moved conveniently into floating /
  dockable windows
* branch structure is better visible
* selection / search (e.g. what revisions should
  be merged) result clearly visible
* use color coding to highlight "special" nodes
* use simple squares to indicate further properties
  (query result looks like a decorated Xmas tree)
  Todays display of folded tags is a rough approximation.

  +-+---------------+-+-+
  + | rev_no (opt.) | | |
  +-+---------------+-+-+

When the graph can be tilted by 90 degrees, you can
manage & merge conveniently 30 branches รก 800 revs
on a 30" monitor.

> Then we could use a thicker border for selection, for example.

I will try adding square on the left side of the box
for selected nodes and wait for the feedback.

-- Stefan^2.

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Received on 2009-01-27 12:37:58 CET

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