Reorganizing the Windows view option dialog

[Vincent]

While adding new options to toggle the dwarf planet and minor moon labels and orbits, I found the Windows View Option dialog quite messy...
So I tried to reorganize the different check boxes in a more coherent way. Below is a first suggestion. I've also posted a shot of the current version of the dialog so as to compare. Any feedbacks/suggestions ?

[chris]

I like the direction that you're taking, Vincent: separating solar system objects into their own column is a good idea. May I further suggest that you organize label options into three separate groups:

- Things with orbits (stars and solar system objects)
- Deep sky objects (neublae, open clusters, and galaxies)
- Constellation related options:
- Labels
- Diagrams
- Boundaries
- Latin names

--Chris

[Vincent]

Chris,

You mean something like this (Photoshop montage):

[ElChristou]

Vince, don't know if this can help, but the actual panel on osX look like this (still don't have the new chekboxes):

[Vincent]

Vince, don't know if this can help, but the actual panel on osX look like this (still don't have the new chekboxes):

Ouah, didn't know you had so many settings in the Mac Preferences dialog. Thanks for sharing this, Christophe.
Looks like I'm going to spend some more time on it... If Chris stays in sanity mode and doesn't try to kill the Win32 version to quickly, of course...

[Vincent]

Here's another layout suggestion (no option added) that saves quite a lot of room:

[Guckytos]

Concerning your new suggestions,

it looks quite good, but I am not happy with the arrengement under "Show"

Perhaps because you try to stick to the arrangement of before and are just regrouping them.

Perhaps you should go a step further and really regroup them into logical groups with a border around? Something like:
Planetary Options: Atmosphere, clouds + cloud shadows, night side lights ...
Celestial Options: Galaxies etc ...

Hm, I see I don't really have a good idea what it could look like, I just feel it is not optimal in the way you show it.

Just my 2 cents.

Regards,

Guckytos

[Vincent]

Perhaps you should go a step further and really regroup them into logical groups with a border around? Something like:
Planetary Options: Atmosphere, clouds + cloud shadows, night side lights ...
Celestial Options: Galaxies etc ...

I already thought about that, but things are not that simple. As an example, atmospheres also apply on stars...
Moreover, the DSO group would contain only 2 items, whereas the Planetary group would include 7 items.
And naming explicitely each group would bring us a 'Show Stars' group that will only have one single 'stars' item...

Not that simple, indeed...

[ElChristou]

Not that simple, indeed...

The osX version works pretty well; have you tried something similar?

[Vincent]

The osX version works pretty well; have you tried something similar?

Christophe,

Actually, after reflection, there are a couple of reasons that refrain me from spending time on this:
- Even if the Windows version of Celestia will still be developped in the future, I think most of the Windows users will switch to the Qt4 version.
- I'm not sure that adding settings like the Ambient light slider will bring to a consensus, particularly among the devs team...
So I wouldn't like to be pointed out as the one who pushes for this, and who prevents other more important features from being developed...

[ElChristou]

I was asking for the check boxes layout, no more... (I suppose those need to be implemented, no?)

[Vincent]

I was asking for the check boxes layout, no more... (I suppose those need to be implemented, no?)

Actually, only the new dwarf planet and minor moon settings need to be added.
But the current dialog looks quite messy, that's why I suggested a reorganization...

The Mac layout is quite interesting, indeed, but we would need more opinions from Windows users
before going through a complete layout revision...

[Guckytos]

Hmm,

given the choice between the Mac layout and the current proposed windows layout I would still go for the windows layout.

A matter of personal taste, I think. But I find the windows one easier to navigate.

Just my 2 cents.

Regards,

Guckytos

[Vincent]

given the choice between the Mac layout and the current proposed windows layout I would still go for the windows layout.

A matter of personal taste, I think. But I find the windows one easier to navigate.

Guckytos,

Thanks for your feedback! Any other opinions from Windows users?

[BobHegwood]

Thanks for your feedback! Any other opinions from Windows users?

Hell, I like them all... Either is easy to view and/or use, so feel
free to update away - at least as far as Brain-Dead users are concerned.

Thanks, Bob

[Vincent]

Hell, I like them all... Either is easy to view and/or use, so feel
free to update away - at least as far as Brain-Dead users are concerned.

OK, thanks Bob, though it doesn't help that much to make a choice...

So here's how the new Windows View Option dialog will look like.

EDIT: Celestia screenshot after modification:

[BobHegwood]

OK, thanks Bob, though it doesn't help that much to make a choice...
So here's how the new Windows View Option dialog will look like.

Sorry, but they really DO all look good to me. Your current choice is very nice,
and I anticipate no trouble using this arrangement. I like the MinorMoons,
DwarfPlanets, etc. Very nice.

By the way, though, I do still have a question concerning the Cloud Shadows.
Does one have only to check this box to SEE the cloud shadows? Or, does one
also have to have a shadow texture to go along with the appropriate cloud texture?

I know this is probably a stupid question, but my last attempt at an answer
has not been clarified (at least to me.)

Thanks for all of your work here too. Much appreciated.

[cartrite]

By the way, though, I do still have a question concerning the Cloud Shadows.
Does one have only to check this box to SEE the cloud shadows? Or, does one
also have to have a shadow texture to go along with the appropriate cloud texture?

I know this is probably a stupid question, but my last attempt at an answer
has not been clarified (at least to me.)

Bob,
If you check the cloud shadow box, yes you should see cloud shadows without a cloud shadow texture.
There are a couple of catches though.
1. You can not be using a VT of earth.
2. You can not be using a VT of clouds.
cartrite

[chris]

Hell, I like them all... Either is easy to view and/or use, so feel
free to update away - at least as far as Brain-Dead users are concerned.

OK, thanks Bob, though it doesn't help that much to make a choice...

So here's how the new Windows View Option dialog will look like.

EDIT: Celestia screenshot after modification:

Vincent,

I think that this is a significant improvement over the current view options dialog.

--Chris

[Guckytos]

So here's how the new Windows View Option dialog will look like.

EDIT: Celestia screenshot after modification:

Vincent, I really like the new dialogue! It looks even a lot better organized than the last one.

But I have one little suggestion: Could you switch the position of "Comet Tails" with "Night Side Lights"?

That would imo look better and be a bit more, hmm let's say consistant as lights and planets and atmospheres go together.
The Comet Tails look a bit out of place at the moment. Whereas on the right side with the other items they would seem to be okay.

Regards,

Gucktyos