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design:appfinder [2011/08/18 13:17] – [Ideas] stephandesign:appfinder [2012/02/22 17:09] (current) – [Comments] amic
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     * I was thinking since the dropdown shows the history, it could be used instead of the expander to show the extended mode with history focused (instead of showing an actual dropdown). If that's impossible I'd vote for something like a more subtle togglebutton. I'll see whether I can come up with a decent mockup. --- //[[simon.steinbeiss@univie.ac.at|Simon Steinbeiß]] 2011/05/31 01:26//     * I was thinking since the dropdown shows the history, it could be used instead of the expander to show the extended mode with history focused (instead of showing an actual dropdown). If that's impossible I'd vote for something like a more subtle togglebutton. I'll see whether I can come up with a decent mockup. --- //[[simon.steinbeiss@univie.ac.at|Simon Steinbeiß]] 2011/05/31 01:26//
     * Completion including rich text and icons can be done using GtkEntryCompletion with a GtkListStore combined with any cell renderers.  --- //[[christian@twotoasts.de|Christian Dywan]] 2011/05/31 03:19//     * Completion including rich text and icons can be done using GtkEntryCompletion with a GtkListStore combined with any cell renderers.  --- //[[christian@twotoasts.de|Christian Dywan]] 2011/05/31 03:19//
 +    * Might we please have tab completion? Thank you. --- //[[canciman@gmail.com|Amir Dizdarević]] 2011/11/27 10:55//
  
  
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 ==== Comments ==== ==== Comments ====
   * Not sure if we should hide the completion in expanded view. I guess we have to try it first, see if it feels natural. I think we should also skip the history popup menu, like we have it now in xfrun4, and expect users to use the expanded view for that.\\ That said I really like the design. Maybe we can use the space below the icon for the category list as well, but it looks clean and usable for sure. --- //[[nick@xfce.org|Nick Schermer]] 2011/05/31 16:24//   * Not sure if we should hide the completion in expanded view. I guess we have to try it first, see if it feels natural. I think we should also skip the history popup menu, like we have it now in xfrun4, and expect users to use the expanded view for that.\\ That said I really like the design. Maybe we can use the space below the icon for the category list as well, but it looks clean and usable for sure. --- //[[nick@xfce.org|Nick Schermer]] 2011/05/31 16:24//
 +
 +  * There is a problem with the up/down key : if you do two times down you are going in the expanded view, but now you cannot do up again to be in the reduced view (you have to do 2x Shift-Tab, and then Up. Concerning the history popup menu, I think it is a bad idea to remove it (this is what I use most).  --- //[[Amic]] 2012/02/22 17:03//
  
  
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   * Picking the idea up from error-handling, the appicon could be clickable (should prelight like a button on hover) and give a drop-down of alternative browsers/services for webaddress (sticking to the example from above). --- //[[simon.steinbeiss@univie.ac.at|Simon Steinbeiß]] 2011/06/03 12:17//   * Picking the idea up from error-handling, the appicon could be clickable (should prelight like a button on hover) and give a drop-down of alternative browsers/services for webaddress (sticking to the example from above). --- //[[simon.steinbeiss@univie.ac.at|Simon Steinbeiß]] 2011/06/03 12:17//
   * We always use the default web browser. I am not sure we want to integrate something like "Open With" in the appfinder. Probably not. --- //[[jannis@xfce.org|Jannis Pohlmann]] 2011/06/04 00:17//   * We always use the default web browser. I am not sure we want to integrate something like "Open With" in the appfinder. Probably not. --- //[[jannis@xfce.org|Jannis Pohlmann]] 2011/06/04 00:17//
 +    * I actually like the idea. --- //[[stephan@xfce.org|Stephan Arts]] 2011/08/18 13:26//
 +
 +===== Panel Plugin =====
 +
 +A button, which looks like the Applications Menu button and toggles visibility of an AppFinder widget.
 +
 +The AppFinder widget is displayed next to the panel (like applications menu), without window borders and without "Preferences", "Close", "Launch" buttons. Optionally it has an additional padding.
 +
 +AppFinder preferences are available through a plugin context menu.
 +AppFinder plugin preferences (icon, visibility of a label etc.) are also available through the context menu. (a separate dialog?)
 +
 +==== Implementation ====
 +
 +[[dev:appfinder-plugin|Appfinder panel plugin]]
 +
 +
 +==== Implementation Constraints ====
 +  * To save memory the panel applet shares the model (app data) with the xfce4-appfinder process (if any). Possible solution:
 +    * The plugin requests opening the widget over DBUS.
 +    * The widget is rendered by the xfce4-appfinder process.
 +    * The widget is embedded in a widget opened by the plugin in order to add some padding, hide the widget etc.
 +    * (alternative) The widget is not embedded and its position and visibility is controlled over DBUS.
 +  * The panel plugin is shipped with AppFinder (building and installation should be optional and enabled by default).
 +
 +==== Comments ====
 +
 +  * I don't see what makes this easier then popping up the window. I feel more for a verve-like launcher for this.  --- //[[nick@xfce.org|Nick Schermer]] 2012/02/07 14:13//
 +    * Well I think it's mostly about the look'n'feel of traditional appmenus like Windows used to promote them (but it seems they're perishing anyway). About the verve-idea: I don't see what makes it easier to put keyboard-focus into a panel-plugin than to hit a keyboard-combo to launch appfinder ;) No, seriously, I think "power-users" don't need any of that. The straight-forward appfinder would be enough for them. It might still be worth to do such a plugin if it's not too much effort.  --- //[[simon.steinbeiss@univie.ac.at|Simon Steinbeiß]] 2012/02/07 14:38//
 +    * Answering the "why" question: think of it as of a better (at least for some users) applications menu. It can be bound to a key but it is still useful to have it in the panel - if only for discoverability for new users (just like the menu). Besides, "why _not_"?, appfinder is here and is pretty good, why not expose it a bit more.  --- //[[ndrwrdck@gmail.com|Andrzej]] 2012/02/07 18:27//
 +  * Two observations related the dbus support in appfinder: 1) xfce4-appfinder doesn't install a .service file, 2) it doesn't have a --daemon command line option for starting only the service (without showing a window). --- //[[ndrwrdck@gmail.com|Andrzej]] 2012/02/07 18:51//