Changes between Version 7 and Version 8 of SophieWishlist


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Timestamp:
12/15/08 20:51:57 (16 years ago)
Author:
danvisel
Comment:

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  • SophieWishlist

    v7 v8  
    77Steve  would appreciate your ideas for how we should use this list. 
    88 
    9 TIMELINES 
     9== TIMELINES == 
    1010 
    11 * Timelines really don't need their own tab on the left - this should work differently. 
     11 * Timelines really don't need their own tab on the left - this should work differently. 
    1212 
    13 * The way that timelines are related to the structure of a book - opening a Sophie 1.0 book, figuring out which pages a timeline is attached to can be tricky. 
     13 * The way that timelines are related to the structure of a book - opening a Sophie 1.0 book, figuring out which pages a timeline is attached to can be tricky. 
    1414 
    15 * Would be nice to be able to clip audio/video through the timeline interface. 
     15 * Would be nice to be able to clip audio/video through the timeline interface. 
    1616 
    17 * Locking events on timelines. 
     17 * Locking events on timelines. 
    1818 
    19 * Grouping events on timelines. Right now you can command-click (on a Mac) to select multiple events or pages - but sometimes what you want to do is select pages 1 through 10 and move them all. Clicking 1, then shift-clicking 10 should select inclusively. 
     19 * Grouping events on timelines. Right now you can command-click (on a Mac) to select multiple events or pages - but sometimes what you want to do is select pages 1 through 10 and move them all. Clicking 1, then shift-clicking 10 should select inclusively. 
    2020 
    21 * Just about everyone is confused by the slider in Sophie 1.0 - can we separate out the zooming functionality and the scrolling functionality? 
     21 * Just about everyone is confused by the slider in Sophie 1.0 - can we separate out the zooming functionality and the scrolling functionality? 
    2222 
    23 * Need a more comprehensible way to know whether an object on the timeline is visible/invisible 
     23 * Need a more comprehensible way to know whether an object on the timeline is visible/invisible 
    2424 
    25 RESOURCES 
     25== RESOURCES == 
    2626 
    27 * The metadata inspector only works on resources - it would be very nice if you could get metadata on a resource that's on a page, because sometimes you want to figure out which of the resources it is. (If you have a lot of audio, seeing an audio icon on a page doesn't give you a clue which audio it might be.) This is also something that could be used in conjunction with the page structure palette. 
     27 * The metadata inspector only works on resources - it would be very nice if you could get metadata on a resource that's on a page, because sometimes you want to figure out which of the resources it is. (If you have a lot of audio, seeing an audio icon on a page doesn't give you a clue which audio it might be.) This is also something that could be used in conjunction with the page structure palette. 
    2828 
    29 * If a resource is added to Sophie when a resource of that name already exists, user should be asked if they want to replace 
     29 * If a resource is added to Sophie when a resource of that name already exists, user should be asked if they want to replace 
    3030 
    31 * Human-style alphabetization of resources (rather than ASCII-style A-Z, a-z). (Case insensitive sorting - SWR) 
     31 * Human-style alphabetization of resources (rather than ASCII-style A-Z, a-z). (Case insensitive sorting - SWR) 
    3232 
    33 * User-created folders for resources. 
     33 * User-created folders for resources. 
    3434 
    35 * Would be nice to be able to save objects with links (or groups of objects with links) in the resources for reuse - right now you can copy and paste these, what we're talking about is a library of copied objects/groups of objects. 
     35 * Would be nice to be able to save objects with links (or groups of objects with links) in the resources for reuse - right now you can copy and paste these, what we're talking about is a library of copied objects/groups of objects. 
    3636 
    37 MEDIA 
     37== MEDIA == 
    3838 
    39 * Need a way to change the image for audio clips on a page. 
     39 * Need a way to change the image for audio clips on a page. 
    4040 
    41 * Would be nice to have a background images for movies that would show when they're not playing. 
     41 * Would be nice to have a background images for movies that would show when they're not playing. 
    4242 
    43 * Support for streaming video: we want to be able to start playing movie without caching the whole thing first if the server supports this. (We know that not all servers do allow this.) 
     43 * Support for streaming video: we want to be able to start playing movie without caching the whole thing first if the server supports this. (We know that not all servers do allow this.) 
    4444 
    45 * Quicktime dependence: is there a way around this? This has been an enormous obstacle to PC uptake of Sophie. If we had some open source library that could be used instead, that would be preferable. 
     45 * Quicktime dependence: is there a way around this? This has been an enormous obstacle to PC uptake of Sophie. If we had some open source library that could be used instead, that would be preferable. 
    4646 
    47 HUDS/FRAME 
     47== HUDS/FRAME == 
    4848 
    49 * HUDs vs property inspectors - would it make sense putting at least some things (frame properties, for example) in a control bar. 
     49 * HUDs vs property inspectors - would it make sense putting at least some things (frame properties, for example) in a control bar. 
    5050 
    51 * Would be nice to be able to save object styles (frame backgrounds, borders, margins, etc) 
     51 * Would be nice to be able to save object styles (frame backgrounds, borders, margins, etc) 
    5252 
    53 * People want a scrolling text field - I assume this is possible with the new flow reworking. 
     53 * People want a scrolling text field - I assume this is possible with the new flow reworking. 
    5454 
    55 * The problem of images that are larger than their frames: sometimes people have enormous images that they want to put in a tiny frame that the reader will scroll around in. I imagine this is something that might be handled differently in Sophie 2 just because frames work differently? 
     55 * The problem of images that are larger than their frames: sometimes people have enormous images that they want to put in a tiny frame that the reader will scroll around in. I imagine this is something that might be handled differently in Sophie 2 just because frames work differently? 
    5656 
    57 TEXT 
     57== TEXT == 
    5858 
    59 * Would be nice to be able to save character styles. 
     59 * Would be nice to be able to save character styles. 
    6060 
    61 * The default next paragraph style should not be "default" but rather the same style as the paragraph itself, whether that's saved or not. 
     61 * The default next paragraph style should not be "default" but rather the same style as the paragraph itself, whether that's saved or not. 
    6262 
    63 * There's presently no way to delete paragraph styles. 
     63 * There's presently no way to delete paragraph styles. 
    6464 
    65 * Would be nice to have previews of paragraph styles and page templates rather than a generic icon. 
     65 * Would be nice to have previews of paragraph styles and page templates rather than a generic icon. 
    6666 
    67 * Better font properties for styles (dropdown menu for font name, dropdown menu for font style - Mac-style rather than Windows-style). 
     67 * Better font properties for styles (dropdown menu for font name, dropdown menu for font style - Mac-style rather than Windows-style). 
    6868 
    69 * We would really like to have hyphenation of text. 
     69 * We would really like to have hyphenation of text. 
    7070 
    71 * Spellcheck interface should be better - this should not be a palette but an inspector that could be brought up when needed. As-you-go spellchecking would be great. 
     71 * Spellcheck interface should be better - this should not be a palette but an inspector that could be brought up when needed. As-you-go spellchecking would be great. 
    7272 
    73 * Only a subset of Mac fonts are available in Sophie; of these, only some work properly on Windows machines when the book is published. Ideally, we'd be able to use all generally supported formats of fonts across platforms. 
     73 * Only a subset of Mac fonts are available in Sophie; of these, only some work properly on Windows machines when the book is published. Ideally, we'd be able to use all generally supported formats of fonts across platforms. 
    7474 
    75 * Everyone complains that we don't support tabs, which is true. I don't know that we need a full tabbing system, as that requires a lot of interface; if pressing TAB inserted 1 em of space (the height of line-spacing) most people would be happy. 
     75 * Everyone complains that we don't support tabs, which is true. I don't know that we need a full tabbing system, as that requires a lot of interface; if pressing TAB inserted 1 em of space (the height of line-spacing) most people would be happy. 
    7676 
    77 EMBEDDED BOOKS/BOOKS 
     77== EMBEDDED BOOKS/BOOKS == 
    7878 
    79 * Embedded book interface is terrible. Need better ways to embed one existing book in another; need a way to convert a linked book into an embedded book (on publishing, for example, where this becomes a problem). Embedded books need their own HUD/properties - controlling size when they're on a page, whether or not they get their own status bars, whether their windows are resizable, etc. 
     79 * Embedded book interface is terrible. Need better ways to embed one existing book in another; need a way to convert a linked book into an embedded book (on publishing, for example, where this becomes a problem). Embedded books need their own HUD/properties - controlling size when they're on a page, whether or not they get their own status bars, whether their windows are resizable, etc. 
    8080 
    81 * Would also be nice, especially if we're talking about presentation mode, to have a way of linking to another book that allows replacing the current book's window with the linked book (rather than showing the new book's window over the existing book). This could be a choice in the embedded book's HUD. 
     81 * Would also be nice, especially if we're talking about presentation mode, to have a way of linking to another book that allows replacing the current book's window with the linked book (rather than showing the new book's window over the existing book). This could be a choice in the embedded book's HUD. 
    8282 
    83 * Would be nice to have book-level HUD that controls whether or not status bar is shown, lets you change page size of book. 
     83 * Would be nice to have book-level HUD that controls whether or not status bar is shown, lets you change page size of book. 
    8484 
    85 * Need way to delete embedded books. 
     85 * Need way to delete embedded books. 
    8686 
    87 PAGE STRUCTURE PALETTE 
     87== PAGE STRUCTURE PALETTE == 
    8888 
    89 * Layering - would be nice to be able to drag things up and down in the page structure palette. Would be nice to be able to create layers - essentially a group of objects which could be moved up and down. Also would be nice to be able to interleaf regular objects and objects that are on the book template - right now all the objects on the book template move together which is not always what people want. 
     89 * Layering - would be nice to be able to drag things up and down in the page structure palette. Would be nice to be able to create layers - essentially a group of objects which could be moved up and down. Also would be nice to be able to interleaf regular objects and objects that are on the book template - right now all the objects on the book template move together which is not always what people want. 
    9090 
    91 * Hide/showing via page structure palette checkboxes is still very confusing to most people. Need to separate hiding/showing things while editing (because you want to get things out of the way to work on things underneath them) and hiding/showing states. 
     91 * Hide/showing via page structure palette checkboxes is still very confusing to most people. Need to separate hiding/showing things while editing (because you want to get things out of the way to work on things underneath them) and hiding/showing states. 
    9292 
    93 * Selecting an event on the timeline should select it in the page structure palette and vice versa, just as objects on the page are selected when they're selected in the page structure palette. 
     93 * Selecting an event on the timeline should select it in the page structure palette and vice versa, just as objects on the page are selected when they're selected in the page structure palette. 
    9494 
    95 ANCHORING 
     95== ANCHORING == 
    9696 
    97 * Anchoring is basically unusable now - in part because it's still very buggy - and needs to works differently. Need to be able to move anchoring point, set objects to be anchored or not anchored. Objects should be anchored to existing flow by default. 
     97 * Anchoring is basically unusable now - in part because it's still very buggy - and needs to works differently. Need to be able to move anchoring point, set objects to be anchored or not anchored. Objects should be anchored to existing flow by default. 
    9898 
    99 * Anchored frames need to be represented in the page structure palette: ideally this should identify the frame that they're anchored to. 
     99 * Anchored frames need to be represented in the page structure palette: ideally this should identify the frame that they're anchored to. 
    100100 
    101 PAGE TEMPLATES 
     101== PAGE TEMPLATES == 
    102102 
    103 * Saving page templates with links. 
     103 * Saving page templates with links. 
    104104 
    105 * Page-numbering field would be nice thing to have - there's support for things like this in the architecture, but no interface for it. 
     105 * Page-numbering field would be nice thing to have - there's support for things like this in the architecture, but no interface for it. 
    106106 
    107 * "Template content" frames need to be implemented differently - a HUD asking whether or not the content in the frame should be shared across pages that use the page templates would be a better way to do it. This could also be done through the page structure palette. 
     107 * "Template content" frames need to be implemented differently - a HUD asking whether or not the content in the frame should be shared across pages that use the page templates would be a better way to do it. This could also be done through the page structure palette. 
    108108 
    109 * Would be very nice to be able to rename frames/layers in the page structure palette rather than having them be "non flow frame 1" "flow frame 2". 
     109 * Would be very nice to be able to rename frames/layers in the page structure palette rather than having them be "non flow frame 1" "flow frame 2". 
    110110 
    111 * An easy way to add x number of pages using page template y would be nice. 
     111 * An easy way to add x number of pages using page template y would be nice. 
    112112 
    113 BOOK TEMPLATES 
     113== BOOK TEMPLATES == 
    114114 
    115 * Book templates need to be able to include links and timelines. 
     115 * Book templates need to be able to include links and timelines. 
    116116 
    117 LINKS 
     117== LINKS == 
    118118 
    119 * Link actions need to be more comprehensible - right now it's a long confusing list. 
     119 * Link actions need to be more comprehensible - right now it's a long confusing list. 
    120120 
    121 * Link colors should be adaptive - I make a text link, color it. The next time I make a link, it uses the same colors as the defaults. This should be a general principle for the interface - I drag a page to the timeline, change its duration to 30 seconds, next page I drag to the timeline should be 30 seconds. 
     121 * Link colors should be adaptive - I make a text link, color it. The next time I make a link, it uses the same colors as the defaults. This should be a general principle for the interface - I drag a page to the timeline, change its duration to 30 seconds, next page I drag to the timeline should be 30 seconds. 
    122122 
    123 * Flag/dropping thing on link interface is really confusing and inconsistent. Flag should not appear if you can't use it. 
     123 * Flag/dropping thing on link interface is really confusing and inconsistent. Flag should not appear if you can't use it. 
    124124 
    125 * Need a better interface on selecting part of a book to link to - this would also be useful for commenting. In Sophie 1.0 it's only text, and this is only in Author, though it could theoretically work elsewhere. 
     125 * Need a better interface on selecting part of a book to link to - this would also be useful for commenting. In Sophie 1.0 it's only text, and this is only in Author, though it could theoretically work elsewhere. 
    126126 
    127 FILE FORMAT 
     127== FILE FORMAT == 
    128128 
    129 * Windows file format is basically unusable right now because people find the folder structure far too confusing. Needs to appear as a single file - this is important for online use as well. 
     129 * Windows file format is basically unusable right now because people find the folder structure far too confusing. Needs to appear as a single file - this is important for online use as well. 
    130130 
    131 COMMENTING 
     131== COMMENTING == 
    132132 
    133 * Right now you can only turn empty frames into buttons - need to be able to change graphics into buttons as well. (This did work at one point, it doesn't any more.) 
     133 * Right now you can only turn empty frames into buttons - need to be able to change graphics into buttons as well. (This did work at one point, it doesn't any more.) 
    134134 
    135 * Need a way to put links into comments. Comment fields should be more like regular text fields, not their own weird interface. Also would be nice to be able to include inline graphics/audio/video - with minimal interface. 
     135 * Need a way to put links into comments. Comment fields should be more like regular text fields, not their own weird interface. Also would be nice to be able to include inline graphics/audio/video - with minimal interface. 
    136136 
    137 READER 
     137== READER == 
    138138 
    139 * Bob wants a way to hide/turn off text links in Reader. (minor) 
     139 * Bob wants a way to hide/turn off text links in Reader. (minor) 
    140140 
    141 * Would be nice to have a highlighter tool rather than selecting text, going to the menu, choosing Highlight. 
     141 * Would be nice to have a highlighter tool rather than selecting text, going to the menu, choosing Highlight. 
    142142 
    143 * Tab interface for open books is obviously bad. 
     143 * Tab interface for open books is obviously bad. 
    144144 
    145 * Would be better to have a multi-window interface for Reader that could be switched into presentation mode. Right now we have books that link to other books - we'd like the focus to be brought to the other book, but right now it hides the calling book. 
     145 * Would be better to have a multi-window interface for Reader that could be switched into presentation mode. Right now we have books that link to other books - we'd like the focus to be brought to the other book, but right now it hides the calling book. 
    146146 
    147 * Need way to hide status bar if desired. 
     147 * Need way to hide status bar if desired. 
    148148 
    149 * Need a page view to select pages (like in Mac Preview etc.) 
     149 * Need a page view to select pages (like in Mac Preview etc.) 
    150150 
    151 SEARCH AND REPLACE 
     151== SEARCH AND REPLACE == 
    152152 
    153 * Searching: would be nice to have a way to select which books/embedded books/annotations you want to search through. Sophie 1 just searches the main book, I think. 
     153 * Searching: would be nice to have a way to select which books/embedded books/annotations you want to search through. Sophie 1 just searches the main book, I think. 
    154154 
    155 * Need to integrate search with search and replace - having them in two separate palettes is dumb. Also would make more sense to have this as a free-floating palette rather than in a tab. 
     155 * Need to integrate search with search and replace - having them in two separate palettes is dumb. Also would make more sense to have this as a free-floating palette rather than in a tab. 
    156156 
    157 GENERAL INTERFACE 
     157== GENERAL INTERFACE == 
    158158 
    159 * The idea of an adaptive interface: having the settings for a new objects being the same as the last object used. (This is specifically mentioned above in the context of link colors.) The general idea of this is that if I drag out a frame, set its size, background fill, and border (for example), the next frame I drag out will have those settings because it's more likely that the user will want what they last used rather than any particular presets (as Sophie 1.0 defaults to). So if I drag a page to a timeline, change its duration to 30 seconds, the next page I drag out should also be 30 seconds; if I make a new paragraph, change its style, then add a second paragraph, the second paragraph should default to the first paragraph's style rather than "default". 
     159 * The idea of an adaptive interface: having the settings for a new objects being the same as the last object used. (This is specifically mentioned above in the context of link colors.) The general idea of this is that if I drag out a frame, set its size, background fill, and border (for example), the next frame I drag out will have those settings because it's more likely that the user will want what they last used rather than any particular presets (as Sophie 1.0 defaults to). So if I drag a page to a timeline, change its duration to 30 seconds, the next page I drag out should also be 30 seconds; if I make a new paragraph, change its style, then add a second paragraph, the second paragraph should default to the first paragraph's style rather than "default". 
    160160 
    161 * Space around the page and inside the book window could be used to keep objects that are going to be used on the page but aren't yet being used (as Adobe apps and Quark allow). 
     161 * Space around the page and inside the book window could be used to keep objects that are going to be used on the page but aren't yet being used (as Adobe apps and Quark allow). 
    162162 
    163 * Better keyboard shortcuts (zooming, for example) 
     163 * Better keyboard shortcuts (zooming, for example) 
    164164 
    165 * Sophie all in one window? It would be nice to have a multiple-window interface, especially in Reader. 
     165 * Sophie all in one window? It would be nice to have a multiple-window interface, especially in Reader. 
    166166 
    167 * Need more PC-intuitive interface than drag-and-drop - Windows users always seem confused by this. 
     167 * Need more PC-intuitive interface than drag-and-drop - Windows users always seem confused by this. 
    168168 
    169 * Much more balloon help than exists in Sophie 1.0. 
     169 * Much more balloon help than exists in Sophie 1.0. 
    170170 
    171 * Need hourglasses when there's going to be a delay. 
     171 * Need hourglasses when there's going to be a delay. 
    172172 
    173 * Keeping all palettes stuck in a tab/flap is dumb - some things should be freefloating (most of the things in Tools, for example). 
     173 * Keeping all palettes stuck in a tab/flap is dumb - some things should be freefloating (most of the things in Tools, for example). 
    174174 
    175 * Sophie 1.0 doesn't handle saves well when the book has been moved to another location - this is something that people tend to do a lot (esp. on Macs, I think) and there have been a lot of crashed books because of this. This needs to be handled more gracefully. 
     175 * Sophie 1.0 doesn't handle saves well when the book has been moved to another location - this is something that people tend to do a lot (esp. on Macs, I think) and there have been a lot of crashed books because of this. This needs to be handled more gracefully. 
    176176 
    177 * The way the frames toggle and the test mode toggle are connected makes most people crazy - they should not be related to each other. 
     177 * The way the frames toggle and the test mode toggle are connected makes most people crazy - they should not be related to each other. 
    178178 
    179 * Some of the controls in the book window status bar - for example test mode & frames - operate across all books currently open in Sophie. It would make much more sense conceptually to have these controls in an application-wide status bar and limit the controls in the book status bar to those which affect only the book. 
     179 * Some of the controls in the book window status bar - for example test mode & frames - operate across all books currently open in Sophie. It would make much more sense conceptually to have these controls in an application-wide status bar and limit the controls in the book status bar to those which affect only the book. 
    180180 
    181 * Grids/rulers: Bob has always wanted the ability to snap to grids (as can be done in the Adobe apps or how TK3's rulers worked). 
     181 * Grids/rulers: Bob has always wanted the ability to snap to grids (as can be done in the Adobe apps or how TK3's rulers worked). 
    182182 
    183183---- 
    184184 
    185 * Allow reader to export a file of clipping points (inpoint, outpoint, URI) that can be imported into Author as resources. 
     185 * Allow reader to export a file of clipping points (inpoint, outpoint, URI) that can be imported into Author as resources. 
    186186 
    187187---- 
    188188 
    189 * Determine features necessary to provide plug-in capability to add interfaces to external repositories, such as Internet Archive 
     189 * Determine features necessary to provide plug-in capability to add interfaces to external repositories, such as Internet Archive