Experimental Features in IMatch 2023.3.2

[Mario]

IMatch 2023.3.2 introduces an Experimental Features option.

This option may enable additional features or changes in IMatch.
Not every public version (the IMatch version you use) will include experimental features and not every experimental feature will become part of IMatch. Experimental features can be added and removed with each release, as I see fit.

When new experimental features are available, I will explain them in a post here in the community.

The general idea of this is that I can try stuff out and get feedback from you early.
If you don't enable the experimental feature option (or turn it off again), IMatch will work and look exactly as before.

Experimental Features in IMatch 2023.3 (released today)

For the new video player , I wanted to create a stylish toolbar / ribbon component.
Users are used to sites like YouTube and the controls should mimic common usage patterns and behaviors.

I could not do this with the built-in toolbars in the 3rd party user interface toolkit I use for IMatch.
So I've created this on my own
As an additional benefit, I've added support for vector-based icons instead of the bitmaps the normal toolbars use. Which allows for perfect scaling of ribbon components and icons. Yay!
Check the ribbon out in the video player.

Now for the experimental features in IMatch 2023.3.2

If you enable experimental features, the toolbar in the Media & Folders View and the toolbar in the Metadata Panel are replaced with the new Mario's ribbon component. And a new set of more modern icons. All else works as before.

Let me know what you think about the two ribbon toolbars and the icons.
Do you like them? Are the buttons/icons understandable? Tooltips OK?

If people like the new ribbons, I can, over time, replace all toolbars in IMatch with ribbons and new vector-drawn icons for a fresher and more modern look.

Recalling the discussion about whether or not I should replace the colorful icons on the IMatch Help Welcome page and the many pro's and con's in that thread, I'm looking forward to your comments about the new ribbon and icons.

[javiavid]

I have installed the new version and I want to thank you for including a video player, it seems unimportant, but having it integrated is much more convenient.

Regarding the icons, I have a UHD screen and now the icons look clear and are easier to identify, for me it is a good improvement for the program.
Maybe it would be nice to have an option to see all the icons the same color, like in the previous design. The Events design with the white icons is also nice. But this can wait..

I know this all takes time, but I would love to see the entire program with this new line.

[Mario]

to see all the icons the same color, like in the previous design.

You mean the option to switch to grayscale icons?

[mopperle]

In your first post the link ,,experimental features option" does not work.

[Mario]

In your first post the link ,,experimental features option" does not work.

Fixed, thanks.

[javiavid]

to see all the icons the same color, like in the previous design.

You mean the option to switch to grayscale icons?

Yes, so that it looks like in events (I think at events they are white instead of gray)

[ubacher]

Tried out the experimental features:
M&F folder ribbon: I just miss the dropdown menu to select which folder to go to.

Metadata panel:
Does not fold when it does not fit. See screenshot.

[mopperle]

New icons look good

[Mario]

Metadata panel:
Does not fold when it does not fit. See screenshot.

This is correct. I have not implemented "folding" or wrapping into multiple rows. Just make the panel a bit wider.
Which screen resolution and screen DPI do you use?`
The back/forth buttons currently don't have menus. It's only about the icons and the ribbon design for now.

[ubacher]

I have 159 dpi and scaling of 150%

[ben]

Do we have to use a test database or can we just use the regular one?

[Mario]

Do we have to use a test database or can we just use the regular one?

The currently available experimental features only change two toolbars into ribbons. Nothing that can harm your database or makes changes to it.

[ben]

The new icons look nice, but the old ones seem more compact, i.e. less space between them. So i still like the old one a bit better.

The video player is fantastic.
Two notes:
1) how can one know if there is a bookmark without actually opening the bookmark window?
2) when in full screen it would be great to have the possibility to go to the next media without leaving full screen.

[Mario]

1. Why do you need that info without pressing <B>
2. Feature request please go into the feature request board.

[ben]

1. Why do you need that info without pressing <B>

Then i know, without looking into the bookmark, that i have already spotted an interesting position inside the video.
The next time i look at the video (or show it to someone else) i get reminded of this bookmark

2. Feature request please go into the feature request board.

Ok, i wasn't sure if this counts for the experimental features as well.

[Mario]

The video player is not an experimental feature.

[Carlo Didier]

I also prefer the old icons in the metadata panel because they are smaller. On my big screen at home I can of course make the panel wider (though I'd prefer not to have to do that), but when travelling, this is a no go when working with the laptop display only.
But the new ones really look better 

[jch2103]

I'd prefer that the size of the new icons could re reduced a bit. I have to devote more room to the panel where's they're displayed than I do with the old ones. Most recent example - I had to expand the width of my Metadata panel to be able to see the Reverse Geocoding icon. However I prefer the appearance of the new ones (as to several others here).

[Mario]

I have made the ribbon layout more compact for the next release.

[jch2103]

Excellent!

[HaWo]

Für mein Empfinden wirken die Farben etwas blass. Die Icons selbst sind aber ganz gut.

[Carlo Didier]

Für mein Empfinden wirken die Farben etwas blass. Die Icons selbst sind aber ganz gut.

Mir gefällt genau das daß die Farben nicht zu knallig sind 

[HaWo]

Knallig mag ich sie auch nicht, aber etwas kräftiger schon. Aber wie immer gibt es viele Ansichten. Bis jetzt es Mario immer geschafft, das IMatch ein ansprechendes Äußeres hat. Ich lass mich überraschen.

[Mario]

Für mein Empfinden wirken die Farben etwas blass. Die Icons selbst sind aber ganz gut.

...

Mir gefällt genau das daß die Farben nicht zu knallig sind 

See? That's the unsolvable problem
I usually cannot do it right for all users.

The ribbon uses alpha blending to display the icons.
I can control the "normal" alpha and the "hover" alpha (when the mouse cursor is over an icon).

I use a lower alpha to "fade" the icons when the cursor is not within the ribbon. And a 100% opaque alpha when the user moves the mouse over an icon.

The general idea is that the icons should not distract when the user is not actively using the ribbon.