MMF2 Interface Suggestion

I did write a really long post, but Firefox crashed so here is a short version of what i was going to say.

Normal MMf2 Interface on 1280x1024 resolution:
http://www.nicandreb.f2s.com/forumte...mmf2layout.png

But this layout clearly gives a better space for editing in the Frame Editor:
http://www.nicandreb.f2s.com/forumte...mmf2layout.png

But the toolbars don't work very well when horizontal, as they are designed to be vertical only. So in a future update would it be possible to have these toolbars working better horizontally so everyone can have an easier to use interface?

Thanks for reading :)

How would you suggest them to work better horizontally? The only way I can really see is to have the text on its side, which doesn't do much for usability.

I see what you mean, though - perhaps the Layers toolbar might be easier to adapt for down there. If all else fails, get a second monitor!

[Stock image for showing off that everyone's sick of now] http://www.davidnewton.co.nr/images/loadsofspace.png

Since the workspace toolbar and properties have vertical text, it's of course really hard to have those toolbars horizontally. I'd go for a horizontal object list at the bottom instead.

IMO the default interface is alot more practical, having the Workspace Toolbar and Properties on the bottom makes them unusable, you might aswell remove them all together.

Id like to be able to move the Windows/Toolbars onto my second screen without having to make the MMF2 window span both screens.

Personally i would prefer to have the layers and the object list on the bottom, but the layers stack vertically. And unfortunately i can't find any way to move the object list.

I like the idea of having the properties window horizontal, it solves the problem for me of not having to always resize it to see all the object properties since it has a vertical scroll bar but not a horizontal one.

Or clickteam could just add a horizontal scroll bar like i asked a while ago ;)

I would really REALLY like to set up my MMF2 in a way that's more space efficient. I use a (fairly old) laptop, which has a maximum screen res of 1024x768. I find that, with the new interface, there's just not enough space.

I don't know how easy this is to do within MMF2 as it is, if there are any techniques I'm missing.

Imagine trying to work in an environment like this:

http://chris.planetabeo.com/stuff/MMF_Cramped.png

I've already shrunk the Layers toolbar as much as I can, but the real space-hogger here is the Properties Panel.

It's handy being there, but at the same time it's a bit of a bind.

You *CAN* use the Properties Panel as a dialog box (so it only appears when you right-click an object and select Properties). This is a bit more useful, but you can't right-click the layers, so unless you right-click something else to open the dialog and THEN select a layer, it's not possible to change their properties.

That's a big pain, cos it makes things like Layer Names and Scrolling Coefficients hard to get to.

Perhaps CT would consider a small bar down both sides, so you could mouseover it and the dialogs on the side would all expand. When the mouse goes back to the main editor, the side dialogs would blink 3 times (just in case you moved the mouse by accident, they won't instantly close again) and then close.

It'd also be cool if we could make the object selector horizontal.

Another possibility would be this: Add an option to the preferences which makes the object list act like the list of weapons in FPS games like Halflife, where you scroll the mouse wheel to bring up a dialog and cycle thru your options, then the next left mouse click selects one and closes the dialog.

This post is big. :) I'm off!

See that horizontal bar below the frame? the one with the arrows on either side? its called a scrollbar, if you drag the rectangle in-between the two arrows you can make the frame move over so you can see the sides of it.

See that "Notify" box, just bottom right of your post?

There's no need for a response like that and you know it.

Scrollbars are horrible, that's why Mouse wheels have done so well. Unfortunately, my Mouse Wheel (does everyone else find this, or is it just mine?) doesn't work with MMF2's Frame Editor.

I don't mind breaking the workflow to scroll the screen occasionally, but when it requires constant adjustment with even a small frame size, something's wrong.

That example I posted above is only a 640x480 frame, yet it barely fits within the display. Couple that with a pile of off-screen objects on the top and left edges, and you have a situation where constant scrolling is required. I seem to spend half my life attached to that wretched bar just because I can't use the mousewheel in MMF2.

I have a four direction mouse wheel, which is useful, but working in one big open frame editor would be a lot easier. Also, in MMF2 my mouse wheel scrolls up faster than it does down, i assume this is the same for everyone else too.

I was thinking, maybe there could be a button that toggles all the toolbars to disappear. For example if you pressed the key all the toolbars go away and you have the full window to work in, apart from the window title bar. Then you just press the key again to bring it back.