User:Tagoh/IMChooser/UIImprovements

Abstract

This page discusses some improvements to the UI of im-chooser, to makes it simpler and less confusing for people who want to use input methods. Let's think about it case-by-case.

Mockups

Case 1: multiple IMs available on the system

• Initial state
• the initial state will be on (otherwise it's case 2)
• the preference button is available if the selected IM has any GUI tool to configure it. otherwise the button is disabled.
• Focus on the list
• the default focus on the list will be the recommended IM (means the system default).
• .xinputrc state
• makes a symlink to /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/<IM>.conf under $HOME.
• Once one turns off a checkbox, a symlink to none.conf for .xinputrc will be created under $HOME.
• Order of the list
• recommended IM
• other available IMs
• legacy IM

http://tagoh.fedorapeople.org/im-chooser/Screenshot-im-chooser-multiple-off2.png http://tagoh.fedorapeople.org/im-chooser/Screenshot-im-chooser-multiple-on2.png

Case 2: multiple IMs available on the system but default IM is off

• Initial state
• the initial state will be off to use IM.
• (the preference button is available if the selected IM has any GUI tool to configure it. otherwise the button is disabled.)
• Focus on the list
• the default focus on the list will be a first entry at the list.
• .xinputrc state
• If one chooses any IMs from the list, a symlink to /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/<IM>.conf for .xinputrc will be created under $HOME.
• Once one turns off a checkbox, a symlink to none.conf for .xinputrc will be created under $HOME.
• Order of the list
• available IMs
• legacy IM
• NOTE
• This case may be obsolete if the restricted language list in xinput.sh is gone.

http://tagoh.fedorapeople.org/im-chooser/Screenshot-im-chooser-multiple-none-off2.png http://tagoh.fedorapeople.org/im-chooser/Screenshot-im-chooser-multiple-none-on2.png

Case 3: Single IM available

• Initial state
• UI to choose IM will be hidden.
• the default state will be affected from where the recommended IM points to.
• the preference button is available if the selected IM has any GUI tool to configure it. otherwise the button is disabled.
• .xinputrc state
• if the checkbox is turned on, a symlink for .xinputrc to only IM available will be created under $HOME, otherwise a symlink to none.conf for .xinputrc will be created.
• FIXME: should label the IM name instead of "input method"?

http://tagoh.fedorapeople.org/im-chooser/Screenshot-im-chooser-single-off2.png http://tagoh.fedorapeople.org/im-chooser/Screenshot-im-chooser-single-on2.png

Case 4: Single legacy (XIM) IM available

• Initial state
• UI to choose IM will be hidden.
• the default state will be affected from where the default IM points to.
• xinputrc state
• if the checkbox is turned on, a symlink for .xinputrc to the only IM available will be created under $HOME, otherwise a symlink to none.conf will be created.
• FIXME: should makes any difference at UI? like say "Enable legacy IM" instead of "Enable IM"?

Case 5: No IMs available

• Initial state
• All selectable widgets are disabled.
• Open a dialog to inform that any IMs needs to be installed. and exit im-chooser after closing it.

http://tagoh.fedorapeople.org/im-chooser/Screenshot-im-chooser-noim2.png

Comments

MatthiasClasen: Some comments (mostly based on the mockups for the first case):

• --(I don't think the "Support" section title adds anything. We could just do without (compare the "enable" checkbox in the keyboard a11y capplet, eg.)--
• Sure. updated. (AkiraTagoh)
• --(The note should be at the bottom of the dialog, above the buttons (unless it only applies to the checkbox).)--
• Okay, that makes sense. updated. (AkiraTagoh)
• The list of input methods needs some bevel around it
• I'm not sure if I understand this comment correctly though, just close round the list of input methods with an italic tag. (AkiraTagoh)
• I don't particularly like the square brackets, it seems a bit inconsistent to have the name of the input method sometimes in the string itself ("Use UIM") and sometimes in brackets ("[SCIM] ").
• Updated. However should we have any way of letting people know which IM you are supposed to use if only one IM is available (Case 3 and Case 4). (AkiraTagoh)
• --(The section title should not be insensitive, just the list.)--
• Updated. (AkiraTagoh)
• --(Maybe there should be some hint in the dialog that e.g SCIM has its own configuration. )--
• That would be really nice idea. added it to the mockups. (AkiraTagoh)

JensPetersen:

• The only way I can see to address the fixme's in Cases 3 and 4 would be to include the IM list for those singleton cases too - otherwise probably the "Input Method" heading should be away in those cases too.