From Fedora Project Wiki

Abstract

This page discusses some improvements to the UI of im-chooser, to makes it simpler and less confusing for people who want to use input methods. Let's think about it case-by-case.

Mockups

Case 1: multiple IMs available on the system

  • Initial state
  • the initial state will be on (otherwise it's case 2)
  • the preference button is available if the selected IM has any GUI tool to configure it. otherwise the button is disabled.
  • Focus on the list
  • the default focus on the list will be the recommended IM (means the system default).
  • .xinputrc state
  • makes a symlink to /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/<IM>.conf under $HOME.
  • Once one turns off a checkbox, a symlink to none.conf for .xinputrc will be created under $HOME.
  • Order of the list
  • recommended IM
  • other available IMs
  • legacy IM

http://tagoh.fedorapeople.org/im-chooser/Screenshot-im-chooser-multiple-off2.png http://tagoh.fedorapeople.org/im-chooser/Screenshot-im-chooser-multiple-on2.png


Case 2: multiple IMs available on the system but default IM is off

  • Initial state
  • the initial state will be off to use IM.
  • (the preference button is available if the selected IM has any GUI tool to configure it. otherwise the button is disabled.)
  • Focus on the list
  • the default focus on the list will be a first entry at the list.
  • .xinputrc state
  • If one chooses any IMs from the list, a symlink to /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/<IM>.conf for .xinputrc will be created under $HOME.
  • Once one turns off a checkbox, a symlink to none.conf for .xinputrc will be created under $HOME.
  • Order of the list
  • available IMs
  • legacy IM
  • NOTE
  • This case may be obsolete if the restricted language list in xinput.sh is gone.

http://tagoh.fedorapeople.org/im-chooser/Screenshot-im-chooser-multiple-none-off2.png http://tagoh.fedorapeople.org/im-chooser/Screenshot-im-chooser-multiple-none-on2.png

Case 3: Single IM available

  • Initial state
  • UI to choose IM will be hidden.
  • the default state will be affected from where the recommended IM points to.
  • the preference button is available if the selected IM has any GUI tool to configure it. otherwise the button is disabled.
  • .xinputrc state
  • if the checkbox is turned on, a symlink for .xinputrc to only IM available will be created under $HOME, otherwise a symlink to none.conf for .xinputrc will be created.
  • FIXME: should label the IM name instead of "input method"?

http://tagoh.fedorapeople.org/im-chooser/Screenshot-im-chooser-single-off2.png http://tagoh.fedorapeople.org/im-chooser/Screenshot-im-chooser-single-on2.png

Case 4: Single legacy (XIM) IM available

  • Initial state
  • UI to choose IM will be hidden.
  • the default state will be affected from where the default IM points to.
  • xinputrc state
  • if the checkbox is turned on, a symlink for .xinputrc to the only IM available will be created under $HOME, otherwise a symlink to none.conf will be created.
  • FIXME: should makes any difference at UI? like say "Enable legacy IM" instead of "Enable IM"?

Case 5: No IMs available

  • Initial state
  • All selectable widgets are disabled.
  • Open a dialog to inform that any IMs needs to be installed. and exit im-chooser after closing it.

http://tagoh.fedorapeople.org/im-chooser/Screenshot-im-chooser-noim2.png


Comments

MatthiasClasen: Some comments (mostly based on the mockups for the first case):

  • --(I don't think the "Support" section title adds anything. We could just do without (compare the "enable" checkbox in the keyboard a11y capplet, eg.)--
  • Sure. updated. (AkiraTagoh)
  • --(The note should be at the bottom of the dialog, above the buttons (unless it only applies to the checkbox).)--
  • Okay, that makes sense. updated. (AkiraTagoh)
  • The list of input methods needs some bevel around it
  • I'm not sure if I understand this comment correctly though, just close round the list of input methods with an italic tag. (AkiraTagoh)
  • I don't particularly like the square brackets, it seems a bit inconsistent to have the name of the input method sometimes in the string itself ("Use UIM") and sometimes in brackets ("[SCIM] ").
  • Updated. However should we have any way of letting people know which IM you are supposed to use if only one IM is available (Case 3 and Case 4). (AkiraTagoh)
  • --(The section title should not be insensitive, just the list.)--
  • Updated. (AkiraTagoh)
  • --(Maybe there should be some hint in the dialog that e.g SCIM has its own configuration. )--
  • That would be really nice idea. added it to the mockups. (AkiraTagoh)

JensPetersen:

  • The only way I can see to address the fixme's in Cases 3 and 4 would be to include the IM list for those singleton cases too - otherwise probably the "Input Method" heading should be away in those cases too.
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