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

[Corey Burger]

Resending, now that I am subscribed.

On 10/11/07, Corey Burger <corey.burger at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 10/11/07, Frederik Ramm <frederik at remote.org> wrote:
> > 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.
>
> Yes, but most users are getting the jar straight and even with a
> windows installer, I don't see that changing.
>
> >
> > > 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.
>
> Oh, geez, the horror show that is plugin-modified UI. I will start
> running screaming now.
>
> >
> > > 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).
>
> Because the current design really doesn't do the trick. It doesn't
> represent the multitude of ways people can download data, as I
> outlined above.
>
> >
> > > 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.
>
> Sure, that woudl be even better.
>
> >
> > > 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?
>
> Really, did I miss with the latest versions?
>
> Corey
>