InfoQube IM - Community

Submitted by Tom on 2011/04/04 16:36

[quote=davet]

Selecting columns has been a real gotcha for me in InfoQube...it still is. Select columns really is used in two contexts: 1) to add and remove columns to the outline, and 2) to literally select the column in a table. To me IQ breaks the standards here + adds confusion factors (the Easter egg hunt for how to add and remove columns).

Video: /drupal5/files/351/Select column.swf[/quote]

this is improved in the new version "O".

I'm though wondering where this leaves sort? -

Can one no longer sort (when the sortber is showing) by clicking on the column header ?
Behaviour seems a little erratic when I click a few times on the column header - but not having done this before I'm not sure how it's supposed to work...

The other thing I'm wondering is whether the column header context menu should be re-arranged.

e.g. seeing as clicking on column header selects the column, that option could be moved down the list.

Displayed columns could be moved right up to (almost) the top of the list - I actually find the name okay, but wonder would Add / Remove Columns be clearer?

Set Tree Column could be moved down the list as I suspect it's very seldom used (dont be tempting fate with it up there!)

e.g.

Comments

> Can one no longer sort (when the sortber is showing) by clicking on the column header ? I'm not sure what you mean. You need to show the sort bar and then click on column headers to sort. >2 Behaviour seems a little erratic when I click a few times on the column header - but not having done this before I'm not sure how it's supposed to work... Clicking on the header shouldn't do anything other than move cells selection when the sort bar isn't visible. >The other thing I'm wondering is whether the column header context menu should be re-arranged. I agree with your suggestions. Moving those options seldom used to the bottom is logical.

[quote=Armando]> Can one no longer sort (when the sortber is showing) by clicking on the column header ? I'm not sure what you mean. You need to show the sort bar and then click on column headers to sort. >2 Behaviour seems a little erratic when I click a few times on the column header - but not having done this before I'm not sure how it's supposed to work... Clicking on the header shouldn't do anything other than move cells selection when the sort bar isn't visible[/quote]

When the sortbar is initially shown, clicking on a column header seems erratic - sometimes it sorts, sometimes it selects (seems to do both on the first click after adding the sortbar, after that it mostly selects but it does seem unpredictable...).

Clicking twice fairly quickly (qualifies as a slow double-click I guess**) reduces the column to a few pixels width (I presume this is a feature but I've never used it myself)

I see now, that when the sortbar is closed, ~~clicking on column header no longer selects the header~~ - second time round this works fine - might be just on the very first

** my double-click may be set very slow on this machine - must check

> Clicking twice fairly quickly (qualifies as a slow double-click I guess**) reduces the column to a few pixels width (I presume this is a feature but I've never used it myself) Yes this is a feature to quickly reduce a column quickly. Conversely, if re-double click, it'll expand to allow you to see fields content -- but it won't do anything if there's nothing to show. >When the sortbar is initially shown, clicking on a column header seems erratic - sometimes it sorts, sometimes it selects (seems to do both on the first click after adding the sortbar, after that it mostly selects but it does seem unpredictable...). You're right. And I think it also has to do with the other function allowing the user the move headers when you hold the click, that seems to get in the way. Maybe should column selection only work when ctrl is pressed.

[quote=Armando]Maybe should column selection only work when ctrl is pressed.[/quote]

I see Pierre has used that idea in "P" for when SortBar is on (Version 0.9.25P is now available !)

The problem here is -

elsewhere a simple click selects the column, people will naturally expect it to work the same here too.
elsewhere one cannot sort by clicking on the column header - so people dont have prior expectations - so,
I think it would be more logical and user-friendly to use Ctrl+Click to sort

I'll have a look at that, but it seems to me that ctr clicking to sort isn't very intuitive. ctrl-click is most often used for multiple selection.

[quote=Armando]I'll have a look at that, but it seems to me that ctr clicking to sort isn't very intuitive. ctrl-click is most often used for multiple selection.[/quote]

good point
I guess I was just trying to keep it simple

Let's see what other users find.

[quote=Tom]

e.g. seeing as clicking on column header selects the column, that option could be moved down the list.

Displayed columns could be moved right up to (almost) the top of the list - I actually find the name okay, but wonder would Add / Remove Columns be clearer?

Set Tree Column could be moved down the list as I suspect it's very seldom used (dont be tempting fate with it up there!)

e.g.

[/quote]

Tom,

I really like your idea of changing Displayed columns to Add / Remove Columns and putting it at the top of the list. And, get that damn Set Tree Column as far out of sight as possible...I have a real dislike for that thing after the problem it caused me. Set Tree Column would not be such a bad thing if Undo would undo it, and if it had some sort of mouse over explanation...or maybe a pop-up saying, " Only one column can be a tree column, normally this is the Item column. Do you want to make this column your tree column?" and then have a Yes or No button. There needs to be more idiot proofing/foolproofing in IQ...Quality Improvement Teams use the foolproofing strategy a lot.

Dave

>Set Tree Column would not be such a bad thing if Undo would undo it, and if it had some sort of mouse over explanation... There's a pop up warning now (version O). IMO, that's enough. You think it's not clear enough ?

[quote=Armando]>Set Tree Column would not be such a bad thing if Undo would undo it, and if it had some sort of mouse over explanation... There's a pop up warning now (version O). IMO, that's enough. You think it's not clear enough ?[/quote]

oh, I had missed that as well - looks very clear to me!

Armando,

Somehow I missed this fix in Version O. That is a great fix...I love it!

Dave

Ah! great then. :)

Armando,

I'd still like to see Tom's idea implemented:

Tom,

I really like your idea of changing Displayed columns to Add / Remove Columns and putting it at the top of the list.

Dave

[quote=davet]

Armando,

I'd still like to see Tom's idea implemented:

Tom,

I really like your idea of changing Displayed columns to Add / Remove Columns and putting it at the top of the list.

Dave

[/quote]

Me too, as I said:

[quote]

I agree with your suggestions. Moving those options seldom used to the bottom is logical.

[/quote]

But we shouldn't forget the main focus of the thread which was column sorting.

Pierre : I'll restate the problem which is easily reproducible here:

[quote]

>When the sortbar is initially shown, clicking on a column header seems erratic - sometimes it sorts, sometimes it selects (seems to do both on the first click after adding the sortbar, after that it mostly selects but it does seem unpredictable...).

You're right. And I think it also has to do with the other function allowing the user the move headers when you hold the click, that seems to get in the way. Maybe should column selection only work when ctrl is pressed.

[/quote]

(my emphasis)