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Bug 132040

Summary:	problems with usability of chart designer
Product:	z_Archived	Reporter:	Vladimir <vladperl>
Component:	BIRT	Assignee:	Heng Li <liheeng>
Status:	VERIFIED FIXED	QA Contact:	Xiaodan Wang <xwang>
Severity:	enhancement
Priority:	P3	CC:	bluesoldier
Version:	unspecified	Keywords:	plan
Target Milestone:	2.5.0 M4
Hardware:	PC
OS:	Windows XP
Whiteboard:	Obsolete

Description Vladimir

2006-03-15 17:02:48 EST

I believe that usability of chart designer need much improvement.

It's wrong to define label rotation angle inside "edit font" window.
Especially if that window run from button located at size font box.
Rotation angle value is better to define in place that located close to "position" label box.

Inside "text format" window mixed options for title and labels.
That is clearly wrong. I never sow this kind of names used for options window.
I suggest to make separate windows for title and labels.

Visibility "title" axis define with checkbox located inside "Text Format" window  and visibility labels axis define with checkbox located in "Axis" area. 
Not good.

I could point on many inconsistents things related to chart designer.
For example lack of access from designer to predefined set of sripting methods is one of them.

Conclusion:
It make sense completely redesign Chart designer.

If the Birt team wish I could provide more suggestions on this topic. 
Just let me know.
I still have much to say on this topic :)

Comment 1 David Michonneau

2006-03-20 08:02:03 EST

The UI is under constant improvement and we realize there are still some 
usability issues. I wouldn't say we have to "completely redesign" the chart 
designer, actually we already have done so in 2.0. However further enhancements 
could be needed, particularly on the Format Tab. Your suggestions are most 
welcomed on this topic, the process to improve the UI goes like this:

- Use case problem (usage scenario causing problem, for instance: difficult to 
discover, inconsistent, bad flow,...)
- New mockups proposal to solve the use case problem
- Review by BIRT Chart team -> update mockups until agreed.

There are some constraints on the UI:
- UI has reached a maximum size, so we cannot really make it even bigger.
- The builder can work in standalone mode, this has some implications regarding 
birt integration (like url builder)
- The UI  can adapt automatically to the series type and axis/series structure 
(if there are several axes, several series,...)
- Popup Dialogs are self-contained. For instance the text popup dialog does not 
know about the axis, series type, ... This is because it can work for any type, 
any axis, any chart model. The chart model can be extended, and model 
extensions should benefit from the chart builder without changing the code for 
every popup dialog. 

Suggestions and mockups are always appreciated, you can post your mockups/use 
case proposal in bugzilla and we will review them. Or you can contact me 
directly.

Comment 2 David Michonneau

2006-10-03 12:09:58 EDT

A specification has been created for this project for the 2.2 release. You can 
view it here: http://wiki.eclipse.org/index.php/BPS15

Comment 3 Vladimir

2006-10-04 11:08:07 EDT

(In reply to comment #2)
> A specification has been created for this project for the 2.2 release. You can 
> view it here: http://wiki.eclipse.org/index.php/BPS15

Hi David,
God job! The specification definitily provided many improvements.
I have now only one small suggestion:

In area format chart probably make sense to use instead of many buttons such as
labels, regions, interactivity and so on make vertical oriented tab control.
I believe ui library from eclipse has such kind of control.

If for some reason you don't agree with the suggestion don't bother with explanation. I'm sure you are very busy in your daily work.

Comment 4 David Michonneau

2007-05-25 11:39:50 EDT

There has been several usability enhancements in 2.2. There is still some work 
to do, but the UI is now frozen, so postponing it to Future

Comment 5 David Michonneau

2007-09-05 04:35:54 EDT

please review UI spec to see what is missing.

Comment 6 Heng Li

2007-09-12 05:44:03 EDT

There are still little features in BSP15_Chart_UI_Usablity_SPEC_2_2.pdf don't be implemented, the features are:
1. Section 5.3.3, Legend Interactivity URL Parameter.
2. Section 5.3.4, Access chart variables from hyperlink expressions.
   Only script action of interactivity is implemented to support chart variables, the hyperlink and tooltip actions don't support chart variables selection, they should support.
3. Section 5.9, Area format popup sheet.
   The '-1' value should be replaced with 'Auto' as default for 'Height hint' and 'Width hint'.
4. Section 5.10, Title format popup sheet.
   The top-left, top-right, bottom-left and bottom-right options are missed in 'Anchor' field.

Thanks.

Comment 7 Heng Li

2008-12-01 03:03:41 EST

(In reply to comment #6)
> There are still little features in BSP15_Chart_UI_Usablity_SPEC_2_2.pdf don't
> be implemented, the features are:
> 1. Section 5.3.3, Legend Interactivity URL Parameter.
> 2. Section 5.3.4, Access chart variables from hyperlink expressions.
>    Only script action of interactivity is implemented to support chart
> variables, the hyperlink and tooltip actions don't support chart variables
> selection, they should support.
> 3. Section 5.9, Area format popup sheet.
>    The '-1' value should be replaced with 'Auto' as default for 'Height hint'
> and 'Width hint'.
> 4. Section 5.10, Title format popup sheet.
>    The top-left, top-right, bottom-left and bottom-right options are missed in
> 'Anchor' field.
> 
> Thanks.
> 

Implemented these features.

Comment 8 Xiaodan Wang

2008-12-09 04:05:28 EST

Verified in build (2.5.0.v20081209-0630).

Comment 9 Xiaodan Wang

2008-12-22 21:31:10 EST

Verified in build (2.5.0.v20081209-0630).