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#19 User feedback inconsistencies when adding modules

wont-fix
nobody
None
v1.0_(example)
1
2015-11-06
2015-04-26
Anonymous
No

I have noticed a few inconsistencies when dragging and dropping modules, mainly due to user feedback. Mono and stereo modules act differently.

When dragging a mono module, once you go past the boundary of the first/last module, the white line drop indicator disappears. This is a bit confusing to explain so try these steps -

  • Start with no modules added
  • Find a mono module
  • Drag it above the amp head section
  • Hoovering over the top half of the amp shows the line above the amp, but once you move past the top of the amp, the drop indicator line disappears.
  • The same is true of the bottom half of the amp and once you move beyond the bottom boundary of the amp, the line disappears.

Once you hit fixed position modules on the top, or empty space at the bottom, the indicator line disappears. The line should still be visible when you go beyond these boundaries to indicate the nearest drop point.

Stereo modules act a bit differently. When adding a stereo module after mono modules, a box outline appears. This is good feedback but it only appears when you move past the boundary of the last module.

Expected user feedback -

When adding mono modules, even past boundaries, a line should still indicate the closest point at which you can drop the module.

When adding stereo modules, there should be an indication of where the nearest point in the chain is that you can drop it, without having to go past that boundary point.

I hope that explains it clearly. If not, let me know and I'll try to explain better.

Cheers

Discussion

  • brummer

    brummer - 2015-04-26

    Hi

    Thanks for your feedback about this.
    Let me explain how I see it.
    The white line indicate the point in the rack were the plug will slip in, when you release your button "now". If no line is visible, the plug will slips back in the toolbar on the left side.

    If you hover a plug past the top of the amp, the drop indicator line didn't disappears, it moves below the amp.

    So, a indicator line only pop's up, when your plug is near a plug-in point, otherwise it will slips back int the toolbox anyway, if you release your button.

    The stereo box outline only appears when the stereo rack is empty, in this case, there is no position to give, just a empty rack. As soon the first stereo plug is in the rack, it behaves the same way then the mono rack. The very same is true for the mono rack, just, the mono rack is never empty, as the amp isn't removable from the rack.
    The rack auto scroll to the button of the rack, to give a indicator, were you have to go with the plug, but again, if you release the button to early, the plug will switch back in the toolbox.

    regards
    hermann

     
  • Anonymous

    Anonymous - 2015-04-28

    Hi Hermann,

    Maybe inconsistent was the wrong word to use then. Is there a case for Guitarix highlighting the nearest point a module can be placed, even if it goes past boundaries? I think the process should be intuitive, as a new user doesn't always understand how things should work.

    Currently you have to be near a plug-in point for it to be highlighted. An example of the kind of thing that I think might confuse a user would be dragging a mono module into the empty rack area below the amp head. You get no feedback unless you are above the bottom half of the amp head, but this wouldn't be obvious to a new user.

    And while the rack auto scrolls when adding a stereo module, it doesn't highlight where the stereo module can be placed, unless your mouse happens to be above the empty rack space after autoscroll completes. This might just seem like it scrolled for no reason unless there is specific feedback on where the module can be placed. Also, when the rack is not full and has no where to scroll, there is no feedback on where stereo modules can be placed, again, unless the users mouse happens to be below all other mono modules. Users won't instinctively know that stereo modules have to be placed at the end and might think there is something wrong that they can't seem to place them anywhere else.

    If the user was given feedback on where the nearest point a specific module, mono or stereo, can be placed, it would educate them better as to how Guitarix works and make it quicker for them to set things up in general. Having to be over a specific point for feedback on where a module can be placed could make it seem more hit and miss for a new user. Just some thoughts.

    Cheers,
    Conor

     
  • brummer

    brummer - 2015-04-28

    Hi Conor

    I'm really unsure about that, but maybe that's because I use guitarix for so long, and for me, it is intuitive.
    I think, highlighting a possible position, and than, throw the plug back into the toolbox, when the user release the button, may confuse users even more. And, at some point we need boundaries from were a plug get added, or removed from the rack. The way, guitarix handles it right now, is, more or less the standard in nearly all desktop application which use d'n'd. You must be near the socket, before the plug-place react on the signal.
    Even, if we do, a new introduced mark like "come here to plug in, just come a bit nearer", needs some learning steps and may lead to even more confusion. Moving the boundaries for plug in versus remove, may improve the first user impression, but I guess in the long term use, it will be more hinder then help.

    regards
    hermann

     
  • brummer

    brummer - 2015-11-06
    • status: open --> wont-fix
     

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