GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 152224
dimensions in the new image dialog changes when units are changed
Last modified: 2005-03-23 00:24:55 UTC
This is an interface issue. I do not know if the HIG is saying something about it, but it was not a problem with gimp 2.0 "new image" dialog. I am afraid it could be a very often reported bug in 2.2. Imagine I want to create an image of 200 mm x 100 mm. The order in my mind is thus 200, 100, mm 1- file-> new 2- I go to width and type "200" 3- I go to height and type "100" 4- I go to the unit dropdwon menu and changes from pixels to mm result: width is changed to 16.93 and height is set to 8.47. I have to do steps 2 and 3 again. workaround: when creating a new image, set the dimensions the Yoda(*) way: unit first, then dimensions. This also means going in the widgets from right to left. This applies to any new image (is new layer affected too?) where the unit is different from the previously used. For example if after the previous attemp, I want to create a 300x200 pixels image, I would end up with a 3543x2362 one (*) IIRC in starwars, Yoda speaks kind of a German way, with inverted word order ;) PS: I have not found any bug corresponding to this, and I do not find it obvious to find and not trivial to solve, thus I create a bug report for it.
This is intentional. All our size entries work this way. Doing it the other way around would be inconsistent.
I think it would be a good idea to evaluate this in futher usability studies, such as the one done by Ellen Reitmayr last June. If such a study is planned, the task of creating a new image 200x100 mm, then another of 200x100 pixels would be a useful addition. Of course, it could be also possible to place the unit selector before the width and height fields, to guide the user to the correct workflow (i.e. enter the unit, and then only the values). I expect this issue to be raised when 2.2 will be out, for instance on OSnews if they review the Gimp. I just wanted to point it before 2.2
Good point. It may be intentional, but it's intentionally broken in terms of usability.
So you suggest that we change the behaviour of all size entries? Or change the bahviour of just this one? Come on. This dialog is around for several months and has been discussed in all details on the mailing-list. Noone has ever complained.
I am closing this report again until someone comes up with a reasonable solution.
As mentioned above, putting the unit before the number in reading order would be a reasonable fix. Besides, it's still a bug, even if no one can find a reasonable solution. If there really is no reasonable solution, it becomes WONTFIX, but I'd say it should stay open for more than two hours before you jump to the conclusion that it's unfixable.
It isn't fixable but I can wait two hours if you want me to. It would be a major regression to change the way that size entries work. It would even be a regression for the "New Image" dialog. It is very convenient to be able to quickly change between different units and _not_ change the actual size. Of course it might be unexpected the first time, perhaps even the second time. But I am sure that people will get used to it pretty soon. Especially since all entries behave this way.
Of course it would be a regression to get rid of the conversion feature! But that 's not the only way to fix this bug. Two possibilities come to mind right now. One is to arrange that part of the dialog like this: IMAGE SIZE Units: [mm ] Height: [300 ] Width: [200 ] The other thing we could do would be for this dialog only, add an option box marked something to the effect of "convert size to new unit" under the units dropdown, with the default being off, since it's more likely that in inputting a new image size, they will want to put in the number, then the unit, in reading order, then it is that they want to input the size in one unit, then convert that size to a different unit. (But sometimes you do want to do that, which is why you should still have the option.)
The first suggestion might make sense actually, the second one is a joke, right? The reason for changing this dialog was to make it simpler, not to add more obscure check buttons.
This dialog is actually owned by Jimmac and Tigert and I am not going to change it without approval by them. So please bring this up on the mailing-list if you want this to be changed,
Inkscape 0.39 is actually using the first suggestion in their document properties dialog (I think they target to be HIG compliant but have not yet finished this task, so I do not want to imply that this is a HIG-compliant solution). On the other hand, Photoshop Elements does it the same way as gimp 2.1, just without the "advanced" options. The third possibility, which I do not like would be to suppress the conversion. It would be a more natural interface, but most probably a regression however.
The dialog in Photoshop Elements behaves the GIMP way but doesn't offer a way to change the resolution? I can hardly believe that.
did I say that? no.
You said 'Photoshop Elements does it the same way as gimp 2.1, just without the "advanced" options.'. Since the resolution entries are in the Advanced options that statement would imply that the dialog in Photoshop Elements behaves the GIMP way but doesn't offer a way to change the resolution.
Oh, I get what you mean! That is a misunderstanding. What I meant here is that PE does not have the image comments, nor provide other stuff that Gimp 2.1 dialog has. For example, to resolution can only be in pixels/mm and pixels/inch while gimp also offers other choices. The purpose of the quotes was to say that I do consider these possibilities as more advanced, not to refer to the whole section.
This is clearly destined to sit around forever without anything being done about it, so I am going to WONTFIX it to get it out of the way. Based on comment #10, only Jimmac or Tigert should reopen it, and then only if they feel that rearranging the dialog is a good idea. There is a definite usability issue here, but we don't want to be stuck in limbo on it forever.