I like the new Toolbar in 1.2.2, but I think there's room for optimization.
To me, the Toolbar's main task is to display information on long-lasting file operations. This works nicely with one operation, like copying one item.
Issue 1:
When you select multiple items and then copy them, the Toolbar combines the information into "Copying ... items to..." and displays one big progress bar. This works, but I would also like to see some more information about all enqueued items. What is currently copying, what is already finished?
Issue 2:
When you copy multiple items individually (move cursor, press F5), then NC creates individual entries, nice! But if you want to see information about the items, you have to click (!) on those little up/down buttons to navigate between the entries. This is cumbersome, you don't see the complete list and you don't see what's already done.
A nice design pattern that I've seen in some apps handles this issue like this:
- If multiple items are selected, e.g. for copying, show individual progress entries
- In the destination-panel, show indicators (e.g. progress bars) for incomplete entries
- Have a visualization for the complete queue (e.g. scrollable list) accessible by keyboard shortcut
Here's how it's done in ForkLift as an example:
(Cosmetic) Issue 3:
The progress bar in the Dock icon is currently almost unreadable. I've seen this design element in other apps, but it never worked for me. Maybe try a nice red badge with a percentage on the icon?
What do you think?
Toolbar in 1.2.2
Re: Toolbar in 1.2.2
...here's an example for the issue with the Dock icon progress bar. Who can tell how far the process is?
Re: Toolbar in 1.2.2
Sasha, thanks for the thoughtful feedback!
Speaking of Finder's/Forklift's approach to visualization of individual items' progress - that looks fancy, but honestly I can't see a way to implement such visualization without some horrible architectural/design hacks. Also that raises a myriad of possible edge-case scenarios, like copying a folder to some existing one or when two separate copy operations which have a same destination. So I doubt very much that this approach might be used in NC.
- I'll add hotkeys to control that part of the toolbar (stop, pause/resume, scroll up, scroll down) without leaving a keyboard.
- Later a separate windows "state" will be added, which will show states of ongoing and finished file operations.
This will have all of functionality that Forklift's popover has, but it will use a whole window.
I agree, that's a severe issue.sasha wrote: ↑Mon Aug 07, 2017 9:21 pmIssue 1:
When you select multiple items and then copy them, the Toolbar combines the information into "Copying ... items to..." and displays one big progress bar. This works, but I would also like to see some more information about all enqueued items. What is currently copying, what is already finished?
Speaking of Finder's/Forklift's approach to visualization of individual items' progress - that looks fancy, but honestly I can't see a way to implement such visualization without some horrible architectural/design hacks. Also that raises a myriad of possible edge-case scenarios, like copying a folder to some existing one or when two separate copy operations which have a same destination. So I doubt very much that this approach might be used in NC.
Agree, two points here:sasha wrote: ↑Mon Aug 07, 2017 9:21 pmIssue 2:
When you copy multiple items individually (move cursor, press F5), then NC creates individual entries, nice! But if you want to see information about the items, you have to click (!) on those little up/down buttons to navigate between the entries. This is cumbersome, you don't see the complete list and you don't see what's already done.
- I'll add hotkeys to control that part of the toolbar (stop, pause/resume, scroll up, scroll down) without leaving a keyboard.
- Later a separate windows "state" will be added, which will show states of ongoing and finished file operations.
This will have all of functionality that Forklift's popover has, but it will use a whole window.
I've tried to make the progress bar more readable: A red badge is an overkill IMHO