Object Manager

2006-03-02T17:23:58Z

Daiwai: /* Gradient Dialog Design Ideas */ fixed www.netsoc.tcd.ie images

<h1>The Inkscape Object Manager</h1>

<strong>A hybrid of the XML Editor and Item Properties dialog.. mixed in with a bit of love.</strong>

upload:obman2.png upload:gradients.png

<h2>Brief</h2>
<ul>
<li>An expandable list of the groups and objects within your SVG.<br />

Previews of what is within that group is handy but not essential ( like in the XML editor: when groups are selected , the relative items on the canvas are selected )</li>

<li>Groups can be expanded down to object level and each list item can be renamed.</li>

<li>Each list item has a visibility and sensitive check button.<br /></li>

<li>objects can be dragged from the list to the canvas. <br />

This will initiate a Use function to duplicate that group ( can we do this ? it would do wonders for economising file-size and graphics! )<br/>
--Should be able to. cloning objects does that now, and we are able to clone groups</li>

</ul>

<h2>Better for Semantics</h2>

<p>Many Users will identify this manager as a type of 'Object Library' for their SVG documents.<br />

The benefit here lies in the content. As users rename the objects they see in the manager they will be in-fact renaming the ID's in the XML.<br />

This means the more semantic their documents, the more the user is rewarded with a logical 'object manager'.<br />

Because it's as simple as double clicking your object in the manager to rename it, users will be not only encouraged too name objects for </p>

<h2>Better for Users</h2>

<p>When making objects sensetive and insensetive, users shouldn't have to go deep into the dark pits of the XML editor to make objects sensetive again. </p>

<h2>The Gradient Manager</h2>
<p>currently when an object uses an existing gradient, inkscape will create a new lineargradientXXXX def id so that the x1y1 x2y2 coords can be changed. <br />This def will then xlink:href to the existing gradient so that it can assume the colours and stops as the users.</p>

<p>The Gradient Manager provides a way to manage the names of both reference type gradient defs and also the gradient defs that contrain colour stop information.<br />
What also makes for a nice feature is you can re-use the reference gradients for exact-gradient positioning based off other objects :)</p>

<h3>Things that happen as you interact with the gradient manager</h3>
<p>
<ul>

<li>Draging and dropping objects above and below eachother changes their order in the xml</li>

<li>clicking on an object after it is selected allows the user to rename the id of that def</li>

<li>selecting a gradient after selecting an object applies that gradient</li>
</ul>

</p>

=== Gradient Dialog Design Ideas ===

* http://www.macromedia.com/software/freehand/productinfo/features/static_tour/07effects.html#3

* http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~horkana/dev/gnome/inkscape/screenshots/references/photoshop/adobephotoshop7_gradient-editor-001.png
* http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~horkana/dev/gnome/inkscape/screenshots/references/photoshop/adobephotoshop7_gradient-editor-002-noise-gradient.png
* http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~horkana/dev/gnome/inkscape/screenshots/references/photoshop/adobephotoshop7_gradient-editor-003-menu.png
* http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~horkana/dev/gnome/inkscape/screenshots/references/photoshop/adobephotoshop7_gradient-editor-004.png
* http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~horkana/dev/gnome/inkscape/screenshots/references/photoshop/adobephotoshop7_gradient-editor-005.png
* http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~horkana/dev/gnome/inkscape/screenshots/references/photoshop/adobephotoshop7_gradient-editor-007.png

And a screenshot of just the tool options bar for gradients:

* http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~horkana/dev/gnome/inkscape/screenshots/references/photoshop/adobephotoshop7_gradient-tooloptions-001.png

* http://turnipspatch.com/misc/inkscape/gradients.html

* http://jozmak.heydo.com/wallpapers/screensavers.htm

If we want a solution that will scale beyond a few dozen gradients I'm
convinced the task of creating or editing new gradients should be seperated
out from the task of selecting and applying a gradient.
Part of the reasion I created a set of gradients for [[OpenClipart]].org was
to have a sample set that made it clear to anyone redesigining the dialog
that it would need to accomodate a whole lot of gradients. -- Alan

The way Xara does it:
http://www.xara.com/products/xarax/flash/fill.htm

Inkscape Wiki - User contributions [en]

Object Manager