Maximum window list size

[Juraj Vitko]

Hi everyone,

the option "maximum_size" of the Window List applet was removed a year
ago (http://svn.gnome.org/viewvc/gnome-panel?view=revision&revision=10483).

So now, if I don't set my panel to "expand", its size changes
depending on how many windows is currently in the Window List applet.
This was possible to prevent by setting the maximum_size of the Window
List applet to a reasonable value.

Basically, what I'd welcome is the possibility to prevent the main
panel from expanding to the whole screen width, when more windows are
added to the Window List.

My usage scenario:
I use a single Gnome panel, in the "top_screen" position, in the
"auto-hide" mode, with "expand" turned off, and with a long hide
interval (5 minutes).
The effect of this is, that the title bar of a maximized application I
currently work with is then hidden behind the panel (which saves about
20 x screen-width pixels of otherwise unused screen estate, as the
relevant portion of the application title bar - the application name -
is already visible in the Window List).
Now with the panel unexpanded, I still have quick access to the left
and right portion of that application's title bar, mainly to the
right-side buttons (minimize, maximize, close).

If this makes any sense to you:) I'd love to have the maximum_size /
minimum_size options added back (not to the UI, just accessible via
gconf-editor) - and these could be disabled (instead of having them
removed), by specifying a (default) value of -1 for each. (I know the
options weren't removed from the schema yet, I'm just trying to stay
simple here).
Another solution would be to add maximum size limit to the panel
itself (not to the Window List).

Other valid reason for adding the options back is that switching
workspaces using mouse scroll wheel positioned above the Workspace
Switcher applet doesn't work properly when the panel is in unexpanded
mode, as the position of the Workspace Switcher applet itself is
different on every workspace, depending how many windows is on that
workspace.

thanks for consideration,
J.
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[Calum Benson]

On 5 Sep 2008, at 13:18, Juraj Vitko wrote:

> Basically, what I'd welcome is the possibility to prevent the main
> panel from expanding to the whole screen width, when more windows are
> added to the Window List.

Haven't tried it, but you could probably just add a separator to the  
panel, to the right of the window list. You should then be able to  
drag the separator to the left, to constrain the window list to  
whatever width you like.

Cheeri,
Calum.

--
CALUM BENSON, Usability Engineer       Sun Microsystems Ireland
mailto:calum.benson@...            GNOME Desktop Team
http://blogs.sun.com/calum             [phone]

Any opinions are personal and not necessarily those of Sun Microsystems

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[Juraj Vitko]

Hi Calum,
just tried it, but doesn't work (tried also with two separators) - the
window list simply expands, pushing the separator along with the half
of panel the separator it's on.
Thanks anyway,
J.

On Mon, Sep 8, 2008 at 4:19 PM, Calum Benson <Calum.Benson@...> wrote:

>
> On 5 Sep 2008, at 13:18, Juraj Vitko wrote:
>
>> Basically, what I'd welcome is the possibility to prevent the main
>> panel from expanding to the whole screen width, when more windows are
>> added to the Window List.
>
> Haven't tried it, but you could probably just add a separator to the panel,
> to the right of the window list. You should then be able to drag the
> separator to the left, to constrain the window list to whatever width you
> like.
>
> Cheeri,
> Calum.
>
> --
> CALUM BENSON, Usability Engineer       Sun Microsystems Ireland
> mailto:calum.benson@...            GNOME Desktop Team
> http://blogs.sun.com/calum             [phone]
>
> Any opinions are personal and not necessarily those of Sun Microsystems
>
>

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[Calum Benson]

On 8 Sep 2008, at 23:31, Juraj Vitko wrote:

>
> Hi Calum,
> just tried it, but doesn't work (tried also with two separators) - the
> window list simply expands, pushing the separator along with the half
> of panel the separator it's on.

Ah well.  (Did you try locking the separator to the panel?)

--
CALUM BENSON, Usability Engineer       Sun Microsystems Ireland
mailto:calum.benson@...            GNOME Desktop Team
http://blogs.sun.com/calum             [phone]

Any opinions are personal and not necessarily those of Sun Microsystems

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[Juraj Vitko]

Locking doesn't help either. The panel stretches (grows horizontally)
at the position where the Window List is, so nothing on left or right
side of the Window List can prevent that.

Is there any chance the Window List could be limited to a maximum
and/or minimum width by resurrecting the old gconf options? (Setting
them to -1 to disable this.)

Would it help if I provided a patch?

I've seen more users want this, altough not an overhelming number.

Here is screenshot of the usability scenario I'm talking about in the
original email:
http://img395.imageshack.us/my.php?image=examplelt7.png

Thanks,
J.


On Wed, Sep 10, 2008 at 5:49 PM, Calum Benson <Calum.Benson@...> wrote:

>
> On 8 Sep 2008, at 23:31, Juraj Vitko wrote:
>
>>
>> Hi Calum,
>> just tried it, but doesn't work (tried also with two separators) - the
>> window list simply expands, pushing the separator along with the half
>> of panel the separator it's on.
>
> Ah well.  (Did you try locking the separator to the panel?)
>
> --
> CALUM BENSON, Usability Engineer       Sun Microsystems Ireland
> mailto:calum.benson@...            GNOME Desktop Team
> http://blogs.sun.com/calum             [phone]
>
> Any opinions are personal and not necessarily those of Sun Microsystems
>
>

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