[josm-dev] Improving the first run experience with JOSM

[Frederik Ramm]

Hi,

On Thu, Oct 11, 2007 at 07:47:37PM -0700, Corey Burger wrote:
> 1. I raised the possibility of merging the validator into JOSM in a
> seperate email

I have repeatedly said: If something works well as a plugin then why
not keep it that way? Much easier for maintenance, and if we have
Windows installers, Debian packages and so on we can easily package a
number of things with JOSM and the novice won't even notice it is a
plugin.

> 2. Redesign the data download dialogue. There are 5(?) different ways
> to get a bounding box to download:
>  * Parsed URL
>  * Manually enter in bounding box
>  * Select bounding box on map
>  * Bookmarks
>  * Whatever is on the screen

There are also plugins that extend this list (that was the idea behind
the current "tabbed" design), for example the "name finder" and a
plugin to download by selection from a slippy map display.

> One possible way to do this would be to change the methods of download
> to a drop down list, showing the various fields as people choose them.
> However, I haven't yet come up with a great idea but I think somebody
> else might have one, hence this email

I don't really understand what it is you want to redesign. If you want
all "tabs" on one big dialog - I can see how that might be nice but it
would break the ability for plugins to add their own (the dialog would
become much too large).
 
> 3. Add download and upload to the file menu, to make it clear (as
> currently open and download can be confused)
> 4. Rename open to "Open File"

Makes sense.

> 5. Create a higher resolution image for a bounding box

You mean the world image? It is pretty big already... maybe the slippy
map chooser plugin is the better way.

> 6. Potentially add a list of major cities as default bookmarks (as a
> seperate dialog, possibly)

Could do but I find the name finder plugin does a very good job
finding existing places. (Unless you search for Iceland and find only
UK supermarkets.)

> 7. Add a status bar on the bottom of the download dialogue (similar to
> the one on the select bouding box from a map) to show if the bounding
> box, either via URL, etc is too big and will be rejected. This is most
> common when you download via the "what is currently on the screen"

Don't really understand... there is such a message below the pane
where you enter the URL or bounding box... where else do you want it?

Bye
Frederik

-- 
Frederik Ramm  ##  eMail frederik at remote.org  ##  N49°00.09' E008°23.33'