[Viewing] Changing note appearance with mousewheel

[Midas]

I think it would be really useful if one could roll the mousewheel while pressing ALT (for example) and have the number of lines that each note displays increase or decrease.

I usually keep the "maximum displayed text lines" at zero, but while searching, I have to change it to a couple of lines, in order to visualize note body search hits. With this feature, instead of going to View | Note appearance to change it manually, I could do it interactively...

What do you all think?

[Noddy330]

I think it would be really useful if one could roll the mousewheel while pressing ALT (for example) and have the number of lines that each note displays increase or decrease.

I usually keep the "maximum displayed text lines" at zero, but while searching, I have to change it to a couple of lines, in order to visualize note body search hits. With this feature, instead of going to View | Note appearance to change it manually, I could do it interactively...

What do you all think?

Yes, I like it. But what about doing it by using the mouse to drag down/up the line between notes. Nod

[Midas]

I wouldn't object to it; however, it should be noted that like that a finer control of the mouse is required, resulting in more potential carpal stress, while with the way I thought of it you'd only have to hover the notes, press ALT and roll the wheel to get going...

[kranor]

Although strictly speaking I do not need this option. I must say that I do prefer Midas's option. I work with too many apps that require dragging that have implemented this badly (and not just freebie software...Can everybody say SAP?) with the window or drag process stuttering.

[toddclausen]

I like this idea also! While I try to use the keyboard as much as possible I think I would use this. Wouldn't want to see implementation slow something else down though, but should be easy to implement??? How many lines would this scroll at a time? User configurable?

[Midas]

Maybe you could figure a keyboard equivalent, Todd. I reckon there's no need for a lines option, because one wheel click = one extra line, up to the 99 maximum... Also, don't get the scrolling allusion, as CN already works that way.

Let's wait for Alex's veredict.

Meanwhile, I call on all votes... this isn't a mods only issue.

[CintaNotes Developer]

Hi guys,

I think this is a nice idea, but as you see there are people who are against the suggested solution (I myself voted for "nice to have" btw).

Anyway, to explore all the possibilities, let's go back to the problem which needs to be solved, I think it runs something like
"changing how much note detail is displayed is now rigid and involves navigating a menu and using a dialog box, should be more convenient and dynamic". Am I right here?

Do you really need the down-to-a-line accuracy? Maybe something like view modes are the answer, with predefined options like "minimal", "compact", "normal" and "full"; and ability to toggle them on a hotkey? It would toggle the visibility of tags and other fields as well. Of course the fields and number of lines displayed in each mode should be configurable (at least via editing the settings file). Later on it would even be possible to let users define custom view modes.
I realize that my suggestion is actually _harder_ to implement than the original one, but to me it seems somewhat more user-friendly. Also a switching slider can be provided for these modes, like the "Article Length" slider in Safari RSS. And _then_ it would be possible to use Alt+MWheel (or Ctrl+MWheel) to move that slider.
Whatcha think?

[Midas]

Let me start by saying that for the sake of balance I have now changed my vote from it'd be nice to have to ASAP in the light of people voting against what is a simple usability improvement to benefit some users (if you aren't one of them, just ignore it) and not even caring to make the reasons known...

[...]
Anyway, to explore all the possibilities, let's go back to the problem which needs to be solved, I think it runs something like "changing how much note detail is displayed is now rigid and involves navigating a menu and using a dialog box, should be more convenient and dynamic". Am I right here?

Yes you are.

Do you really need the down-to-a-line accuracy? Maybe something like view modes are the answer, with predefined options like "minimal", "compact", "normal" and "full"; and ability to toggle them on a hotkey? It would toggle the visibility of tags and other fields as well. Of course the fields and number of lines displayed in each mode should be configurable (at least via editing the settings file). Later on it would even be possible to let users define custom view modes.

No to the first question (the line by line adjustment was merely an answer to Todd's previous question, based on the perceived default system behaviour). But the following propositions strike me as overcomplicating what would otherwise be a simple interface enhancement.

I realize that my suggestion is actually _harder_ to implement than the original one, but to me it seems somewhat more user-friendly. Also a switching slider can be provided for these modes, like the "Article Length" slider in Safari RSS. And _then_ it would be possible to use Alt+MWheel (or Ctrl+MWheel) to move that slider.
Whatcha think?

I really like the slider idea -- but as it departs from the general CN KISS philosophy by introducing one further interface element, I could as well live without it...