How Fast Dial(beta) SHOULD handle Themes.
gumanov Sun, 12/28/2008 - 23:14
I have mentioned several times how the current way FD handles the exportation of themes may prove confusing to average users.
Me and chiaroscuro have recently been discussing this, but cannot seem to agree on the subject.
So, i have made this topic to get input of all the UL community on this issue.
Lets have a detailed look into the theme features as presented in FD v2.15 Beta 13...WARNING: Some content below may be difficult to understand.
Read only if you have patience, and understand atleast some technical details of Fast Dial.
The folder structure
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There is a "current" folder in the fast dial themes folder within everyone's profile.
(This folder does not exist if you are using FD's default theme)
This folder holds the theme that Fast dial is using at that moment.
It includes:
userstyle.css - current css style
style.css - if you are using an imported theme, a modification of one, or a theme that came with FD
an image file for a background - if one is in use
an image file for back button - if in use
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What else is inside the themes folder?
metallic.zip - a theme included with FD by default
transparent.zip - another theme included with FD by default
a whole bunch of other .zip files - if you have other themes imported.
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The export function
What happens when you hit the "Export" button?
Fast Dial asks you for a desired filename, takes what is inside the "current" folder, and Zips it up into a file with the filename you have typed in.
PROBLEM: Fast Dial makes it seem as though you are about to export the highlighted/selected theme (which is the last theme you used) - when in fact what you are exporting is your current settings..This can become confusing, especially to a user who is using FD for the first time.
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What SHOULD happen when you hit the "Export" button?
First off, "None" should be renamed to "Default". It is an actual theme.. it is not "empty"!
Second, Fast Dial should have an item in the themes listing called "Current Theme", which only appears when you have modified ANY setting of some other theme - whether it be the fd default theme, or any other theme!
Third, When you go back to the themes tab after making changes (in the thumbnail or page tabs), this "Current Theme" should not only already be there, but should be highlighted as well!
WHY?? Because this way you KNOW that if you hit that export button at ANY time, what is getting exported is the highlighted item
(no matter what it is! it can be "current theme"; it can be one of the themes that comes with FD: or it can be a theme you have downloaded and imported!)
Remember: what is highlighted.. should be what FD is using at that moment! (and NOT what was last used)
NOTE: When "Current Theme" is listed, and you decide to switch to a different theme.. "the "Current Theme" item should disappear!
WHY?? Because like i said, "Current Theme" only appears when you have made a change to a theme, or have made your own(basically the same thing, since you had to have started from some other theme!! FD does come with a default theme you know..)
And Finally, Fast Dial should prompt not only for a desired filename, but the "Author" , and "Title" of the theme(because this is what someone will see in the list, upon importing your theme!). If It does not prompt for these things, they will only see "filename.zip" in the FD themes listing.
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Please share your thoughts. And, most importantly, let me know if you agree or disagree!!
ULTIMATE SUMMARY IN A FEW SENTENCES!! The Export button does not export the highlighted theme item. It exports what is in the "current" folder. This is not the way it should be. What should be exported is the highlighted item in the themes list. This is why "Current Theme" item is necessary. ------- UPDATE: When using "Current Theme", the user should somehow be presented with an option to save this "Current Theme" as an actual theme to his or her "themes" folder.. Otherwise, without this function, the user must export, then import this "Current Theme" item if he or she wants it listed as a regular theme in the list.
Lets have a detailed look into the theme features as presented in FD v2.15 Beta 13...
Please share your thoughts. And, most importantly, let me know if you agree or disagree!!
ULTIMATE SUMMARY IN A FEW SENTENCES!! The Export button does not export the highlighted theme item. It exports what is in the "current" folder. This is not the way it should be. What should be exported is the highlighted item in the themes list. This is why "Current Theme" item is necessary. ------- UPDATE: When using "Current Theme", the user should somehow be presented with an option to save this "Current Theme" as an actual theme to his or her "themes" folder.. Otherwise, without this function, the user must export, then import this "Current Theme" item if he or she wants it listed as a regular theme in the list.
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Re: How Fast Dial(beta) SHOULD handle Themes.
Submitted by chiaroscuro on Mon, 12/29/2008 - 00:54For your interest:
none.zip (default settings) userstyle.css theme/export
template.css (user settings) userstyle.css theme/export. (my template file has no background)
Re: How Fast Dial(beta) SHOULD handle Themes.
Submitted by chiaroscuro on Mon, 12/29/2008 - 00:58I find the present System set up for making Theme zips from Preferences works very well,
And is extremely simple to use.
I can imagine that it was maybe telega's intention to add, at some point, an option in Themes for adding the users name to a Theme.
For the moment, however, I find that the setup works fine without this option, when one is simply making themes for ones own use, or importing another users Preference Themes.
Re: How Fast Dial(beta) SHOULD handle Themes.
Submitted by gumanov on Mon, 12/29/2008 - 00:58before, i thought it was bits of fastdial.css that was copied and used as userstyle.css for the "None" theme..
but now i see that i was wrong, you have proved that template.css is used.
thank you for posting the images, they were helpful.
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Upon exporting the true "None" theme, the "current" folder does not exist.
What is used instead is template.css
Fast Dial copies this file, renames it to userstyle.css and zips it to to create your .zip file.
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Remember: to truly export the "None" theme, you must switch to a theme other than "None", then switch back to "None"
Otherwise if you have made any changes, what you will export is not "None", but your current settings!
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--
SUMMARY OF TOPIC IN ONE SENTENCE:
The Export button does not export the highlighted theme item. it exports what is in the "current" folder.
This is not the way it should be. What should be exported is the highlighted item in the themes list.
Re: How Fast Dial(beta) SHOULD handle Themes.
Submitted by gumanov on Mon, 12/29/2008 - 01:35UPDATE:
When using "Current Theme", the user should somehow be presented with an option to save this "Current Theme" as an actual theme to his or her "themes" folder..
Otherwise, without this function, the user must export, then import this "Current Theme" item if he or she wants it listed as a regular theme in the list.
Re: How Fast Dial(beta) SHOULD handle Themes.
Submitted by chiaroscuro on Mon, 12/29/2008 - 03:54One option has occurred to me
As you know in another post I discussed my use of template,zip.
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Now perhaps what could be possible is the following
1. Go to None (Fast Dial Default Settings)
2. Enter ones own preferred settings in None
3. Click on a button in themes marked reset user defaults
4. From that moment on in none the user defaults would be stored, and no longer the Fast Dial defaults
5. Each time a new Theme was imported settings at none would then be reset to user defaults and no longer to Fast Dial defaults.
6. Each time one wanted to make a new theme one could then go to work in None, without having to set any Preferences.
7. This could be quite useful
With such a setup of course template.zip would be no longer necessary.